The Naked Truth (The Honeybrook Hamdens)

He got to his knees and tried to open the cabinet he remembered from so many years ago. The one he and Julie used to use to hide their booze in when the rest of the family wasn't around. Mrs. Hamden was right, all right. The damn thing was stuck, and good.

"You're awfully quiet over there," he said, and he could feel Julie's eyes on him as he appraised each and every cabinet and drawer.

"You wouldn't tell," she said again, though this time her voice shook a little. "You don't know anything."

"I know enough to start asking questions."

"Chase--"

The whirr of the chainsaw outside died, and a moment later the door clicked open and Luke stalked into the room. "What's the damage?"

"It's bad all right." Chase silently cursed his friend's timing, but sent Julie a meaningful look all the same. "I'll need some WD40 and some time."

"You got it." Luke headed in the opposite direction again and when the coast was clear, Chase turned to face a red-faced and clearly flustered Julie.

“You’re right, I’ll keep your secret—at a price.”

“I shudder to think of the cost.” She glared.

“Give me one night.”

“Are you asking me to—?“

“No. I want a date. The one we never got to have.”

She considered him for a long moment, then said, “You’re seriously going to blackmail me to get me to go out with you?”

“You’ve left me no other choice.”

“Fine, then. We’ll go out. On one condition.”

“I thought I was the one with the leverage.”

“And you will be as long as you listen. Just…” She glanced around her again, the grabbed her bicep and bit her bottom lip. “Nobody can know it’s a date, okay?”

“You ashamed of me?” He raised his eyebrows.

“No, it’s just…My mom and Amy and Luke all think I have this great boyfriend back in the city. I don’t want to clue them in to the fact that things may not be, you know, as perfect as I said they were.”

“Got you.” Chase nodded. “I have to say, I’m trying not to laugh at the way the tables have turned here.”

“Yeah, it’s positively hilarious.” Julie rolled her eyes.

“So…seven o’clock tomorrow?” he asked.

“I guess it’s a date.” Julie nodded, then started from the room, but when she reached the archway she turned around and said, “Hey, do you think you can sand out…you know. That thing that’s in there?”

Chase frowned. “Yeah, I can probably do that.”

“Cool.” Then she was gone and he was left there, sitting on the floor and imagining again their initials carved deep inside the little hutch’s cupboard with a big heart encircling them.

There was no way in hell he was getting rid of that, though.

Not yet.

Chapter Six

Ten Years Ago