Charming Hannah (Big Sky 1)

She nods. “I know. I’m pretty tired.”

That makes two of us. I close my laptop and walk out the door to the nurse’s station.

I’m still in my scrubs. I’m so damn exhausted I’m surprised I’m still walking. I want to curl up somewhere soft and warm and sleep for about four days.

Maybe five days.

I’m going to finish up my notes and go home. I’m not going to talk to anyone because I’ll get stuck here for longer. Do not make eye contact with anyone at the nurse’s station. Just keep walking to the office.

But when I approach the nurse’s station, everyone is grinning at me, sipping coffee and munching on bagels.

And my stomach immediately growls.

“If you tell me none of that is left, I might throw a temper tantrum here and now.”

Lucy, a nurse that I’ve worked with since I moved here, grins and passes me a coffee and a note.

“This was delivered,” she says with a wink. “All of this is for you, but it’s for all of us, too.”

“You’re speaking in riddles,” I reply, my exhausted brain not able to keep up. So I open the note and feel everything in me soften.

Hannah,

You have to be exhausted and running on empty. Here is some fuel. Call me later.

Brad

“He brought me coffee from Sips and bagels from Little Deli.”

“And thank the good lord for it,” Lucy replies. “Because he brought enough for everyone.”

“And then some,” another nurse, Betty, says.

“He was here?” I ask.

“No, Mrs. Blakely delivered them.”

“I’ve always liked Mrs. Blakely,” I murmur, speaking of the owner of Little Deli. “And he got my usual coffee.”

“You should call and thank him,” Lucy says.

“Do you guys even know who he is?” I ask.

“Honey, this is a small town. We’ve all known for a few days now that you’ve been dating Chief Hull.” Betty takes a sip of her coffee. “And I’d like to say, you should keep dating him if he’s going to bring us treats.”

I shake my head and laugh, walking toward my office. I need to call and thank him.

“Hull,” he says into his phone, sounding distracted.

“I’d like to report a disturbance at the hospital amongst the nurses over a bagel delivery,” I say and smile when he chuckles in my ear. “Thank you, Brad.”

“You’re welcome. I figured you’d need something.”

“I do.” I could use you. “I’m almost wrapped up here, and then I’m going to go home and sleep, then wake up and eat another bagel for dinner.”

“Don’t eat a bagel for dinner, sweetheart. I’ll bring something.”

I rub my chest, just over my heart and the slight ache I have there whenever he speaks to me in this soft voice.

“I’ll be so out of it, it won’t matter.”

“If it doesn’t matter, then I’m coming over,” he says and I just smile, already excited to see him.

“Okay. There’s a key under the flowerpot in the corner of the porch. Just let yourself in because I probably won’t hear the doorbell.”

“Are you okay to drive home?”

“Yeah, it’s not far.” I yawn and then take a sip of my delicious java. “And I have coffee to sustain me until I get there. Thanks to a handsome police officer I know.”

“Who is he? I’ll kill him.”

I snort. “You’re no killer.”

“This has turned into an odd conversation.” He pulls the phone away from his face to talk to someone in the room with him and then comes back. “Sorry, Hannah, I have to go. Be careful getting home and I’ll see you later.”

“Thank you for all of this. Sincerely.”

“You’re welcome.”

And with that he’s gone and I’m left sitting in my office, barely able to keep my eyes open, despite the caffeine kick.

I need to go crash.

After quickly finishing up a few last notes, I gather a few bagels, a tub of cream cheese, and my personal things and then head toward home.

When I pull into my driveway, someone pulls in right behind me.

“Hey,” Grace says when I get out of my car. “I saw you drive past me at the four-way stop a few blocks back, and thought I’d stop by for a second. How are you?”

“Exhausted.” I lead her up my porch and into my house. “I haven’t been home since yesterday morning.”

“That’s a long shift,” she says and peers inside the bagel bag. “Are you willing to share one of these bagels from Mrs. Blakely?”

“Sure. Let’s do it. I’m starving.”

I reach for a knife to spread the cream cheese. “What are you up to today?”

“Well, that’s the other reason I came by. Jacob and I are leaving later today for New York. I guess he has a couple of meetings, and a swanky party to go to. I have a dress and shoes, but I don’t have a pretty clutch, and I know you have that Gucci one that Drake got you for Christmas a few years back.”