Page 19 of Somehow You Knew

“Is it because you think I don’t remember you?” I ask, throwing her a bone since she seems to be just as stubborn as I expected.

She tilts her head to the side. “So youdoremember me?”

I huff out a laugh, leaning back in my chair as I lift my coffee cup to my lips. “Yeah, Hazel. I remember you, babe.”

“Ugh. Don’t call me babe. You don’t even know me.”

“I know you better than you think.”

She rolls her eyes again. “Just because your aunt talked about me doesnotmean you know me. You only know the version of me she wanted you to.”

“Well, based on your reaction to me, I’m guessing the version she painted ofmewasn’t the best?”

Sheshakes her head. “The opposite, actually. She spoke very highly of you, but I’m having a hard time seeing it, given how you’re behaving.”

The corner of my mouth lifts. “And how exactly am I behaving?”

“Like an immature man who can’t have an adult conversation with a woman because he’s afraid she’ll see right through his tough guy act and force him to be honest for once in his life.”

Jesus, Gage. She just figured you out in record time, and it barely took five minutes.

“Funny. You didn’t seem to have a problem with me when I had my hands on you last year.”

Hazel’s eyes widen, and she stumbles over her words. “I—I honestly was in such shock during that experience, I barely registered what was happening.”

“Uh-huh.” I tilt my head, my grin growing. “I’m calling bullshit. You wouldn’t be so pissed off if you hadn’t thought about it.”

We stare at each other for so long that I’m wondering if her heart is hammering as hard as mine is right now. Those hazel eyes of hers are hypnotizing, deep and soulful, highlighting the disposition I’m getting to know. This woman has stories. She’s lived a life in her twenty-nine short years, and I hate that I want to know more about it, that I want to know more abouther—just as much as I did when I left her the first time.

Keely comes over with Hazel’s coffee, breaking our standoff, and part of me is relieved because I have a feeling Hazel could have kept going.

Yeah, my aunt was right. One hell of a spitfire she is.

Hazel takes a sip of her coffee, then crosses her legs and leans back in her chair, drawing my eyes back to her legs before I catch myself.

Unfortunately, she catches it too.

“Can we move on and talk about why we’re really here, please?” she asks pointedly.

“Fine,” I agree. “Probably a good idea.”

“You’ll come to learn that I’m full of them.” She smirks as she takes another drink, her full lips a deep pink that distract me all over again.

Snapping out of it, I clear my throat. “Well, I think we both have a lot to learn about each other if we’re going to get married.”

Her eyes widen slightly, but she recovers quickly and studies me with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. “Does that mean you’re agreeing to this?”

I brush a hand through my hair and release a breath. “I’d be stupid to pass up 5.1 million dollars.”

Hazel scoffs. “Right? That’s how I feel.”

“But I’m serious when I say, that’s theonlyreason I’m doing this, Hazel.” I lean forward again so she can see how serious I am. “Timothy was right. I have always wanted to open my own tattoo shop, and this money would make that happen very easily. But love? Feelings? They have to stay out of it. I don’t do that shit.”

Hazel rolls her eyes. “Shocker,” she says, lifting her coffee and taking a slow sip before setting it back down with a quiet clink. A beat passes before she continues. “Look, I have things I want to do with this money too. Expand my business, travel like I’ve always wanted. So I get it, and I agree—feelings have to stay out of this.”

I scratch my jaw, drawing Hazel’s eyes to the sight. “I loved my aunt. That woman was more of a mother to me than my own, so I guess in some way, yeah I am doing this for her too. I know she thought we’d be good for each other. Believe me, I’ve lost track of how many times she tried to set us up. But it’s like I told her—love isn’t an option for me. It’s more trouble than it’s worth.”

“You sound… very cynical about the idea.”