Page 26

TWENTY-TWO

DANIEL

Everything is set. I’ve confirmed with the restaurant and the liquor store. My shirt smells like detergent and a hint of cologne. No cigars or any other odor. And a look in the mirror in the hallway confirms there’s nothing in my teeth.

“You’ve got this. Small moments, big gestures.”

I give myself a final once-over in the mirror and then knock on Hannah’s door.

At the sight that greets me when it swings open, my heart stutters. She’s fucking gorgeous. Chestnut waves cascading down to the tips of her shoulders. A long, yellow, silky dress that highlights her curves and her damn cleavage, which has my mouth watering. Glossy lips that lift in one of her knowing smiles.

“They look good, don’t they?” She peers at her tits, then, eyes on me, she cups one and whimpers. “They’re supersensitive too.”

My dick kicks at my zipper and saliva pools in my mouth. I’m literally going to drool if I don’t get it together. I push a multicolor gift bag toward her and step into the apartment.

She tugs at the paper, revealing her gift, her expression morphing into one of confusion. “Tequila?”

I bob my head. “The first shot we ever did together. I got you a lifetime supply of it. So you never forget me.”

With a hand on her stomach, she laughs. “Pretty sure you already gave me a gift that’ll last a lifetime, Playboy, but thank you?” Her voice lifts at the end, almost like that last part is a question. “I’ll, um, go put this in the liquor cabinet since I can’t drink it just yet.” She steps away, then quickly spins back. “Unless you want some before we go?”

My gut churns. Dammit. A lifetime supply of tequila for a pregnant woman. What was I thinking?

I shake my head. “Nope. Just for you.”

As she disappears, I berate myself. Should I call and cancel the lifetime supply? No, I already told her about it, so?—

“You ready?” she asks as she reappears.

My breath escapes me this time when I get a look at her. She’s so pretty.

“Your dress,” I croak.

She glances down at it, her brow knitted. “Too fancy? Figured it won’t fit much longer, and who knows how my body will change after this pregnancy. Might be my last shot at wearing it.” She slides her hands down the glossy fabric.

I itch to do the same. “It’s perfect, Hannah. You’re perfect .” I flex my hands at my sides. “Sorry. I’m already screwing this up. I meant to tell you that you look beautiful, but I lost my words when you opened the door.”

She holds out her hand, and when I grasp it, I swear I’m shocked by a current of electricity. I’ve always had a thing for Hannah. Always felt a pull to be near her, a rush of sensation in her proximity. But this is more. She’s having my baby. We’re going on a date. She dressed up… for me . The sensation floating around inside me now is more than just a casual affection. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself.

“I’m not sure what you think you could screw up. No expectations. Let’s just have a good time tonight.” She steps closer and presses a kiss to my cheek. Before she can pull away, I yank my phone from my pocket and snap a picture of us. When she giggles at my antics, the nerves that have held me hostage melt away. Practically floating, I lead her out into the summer night.

On the way to the restaurant, she tells me about her visit to the park with Noah and Oliver and mentions stopping at the salon to get her nails and toes done. When I ask her what she’s got coming up and she tells me about the next away stretch, my shoulders droop. I shake it off quickly, intent on focusing on the time we have together. As we approach the doors to the restaurant, her eyes widen with excitement. When she says she’s always wanted to try this place, my chest expands with pride.

I hold the door open for her, and when she walks into the empty room, she turns back to me. “Are you sure they’re open?”

Hand on her back, I smirk. “Yup. I paid the owner to close it down so we could have the place to ourselves.”

Glossy lips pressed together, she glances around the eerily quiet steakhouse. “But there’s staff here, right?”

I smile. Of course there’s staff. I survey the place, and when I don’t spot a soul, I start to worry. I take out my phone and text the owner. “Gavin told me how he closed this place down for Millie once. The guy said he’d give us the same treatment.”

Hannah snorts and brings a hand to her mouth. “Wait—you do know why he shut down the restaurant that night, right?”

The twinkle in her eye has me taking a step back. “Do I want to know?”

She coughs out a laugh and points a pale yellow nail toward the bar. “No, you most definitely don’t want to know that your twin sister experienced her first ever O right there on that bar top after Gavin paid a hundred grand to get her alone.”

My stomach roils violently. “I’m going to be sick.”

She doubles over. “You brought your pregnant baby mama to the restaurant where your twin got it on .” She wheezes out a breath. “Oh god. I’m all for reenactments, and we know I love my orgasms—” She rights herself, swiping at the tears streaming down her face. “But I’m hungry, and I’m guessing there’s no kitchen staff, either, is there?”

My phone buzzes in my hand, and I groan as I read the text from the owner telling me it’s empty, as he promised. “Fuck.”

Hannah bursts into laughter again, the sound filling the quiet restaurant where I am very clearly not going to feed her.

All I can do is stare in awe. She doesn’t seem the least bit upset that I’ve screwed up this date more than once. And damn, I love the sound of her laugh. Maybe I’ve made a fool of myself, but it’s worth it to be enveloped in her delight. My body warms at the sound, my heart pounding and my toes tingling too. If I could only hear one sound for the rest of my life, I’d want it to be that.

Her happiness brings me a joy I didn’t know existed. If she’s laughing—even if it’s at my expense—I’m smiling.

Even as her laughter dies, a smile remains on her lips. She reaches for my hand. “Come on, Playboy. I’ve got dinner covered.”

Shoulders back and head held high, she leads me out onto the busy Boston street, looks left, then right, then up at me. “How do you feel about hot dogs?”

I tilt my head. “Hot dogs?”

She hums. “I’ve been craving the ones from that vendor right outside the stadium. What do you say?”

“Yes.” Already, I know it’ll be my go-to answer when it comes to her. Hannah doesn’t know it yet, but she owns me. And if I’m lucky, maybe one day I’ll own her heart too.

“So does it live up to your expectations?” We’re sitting side by side on a bench in the park across the street from the stadium, hot dogs in hand. Hannah got two with everything on them. She added ketchup and mustard, but when she got to the relish, she hesitated, biting her lip and eyeing me. When I asked if it was because she didn’t like it, she told me she loved it, but she said she worried that if things were heading in the direction she hoped, she didn’t want to have bad kissing breath.

My heart fucking floated in my chest.

So I dropped a glob of relish on mine and told her to go crazy, that we’d both taste the same.

Now she pops the last bite of her hot dog into her mouth with a hum, and I stare like the lovesick puppy I am.

“It’s so good.” Wiping her hands on her napkin, she turns to me. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything. That’s what we promised, right? Complete transparency and honesty. It’s the only way this will work.”

She sets her napkin down and takes a sip of her lemonade. The freshly squeezed drink was another must have, and damn am I glad I listened to her. It’s incredible. “Why did you buy out the restaurant like Gavin did for Millie?”

I shudder again. If I never have to see that restaurant again, it will be too soon. “It’s stupid, really.”

“Complete honesty, Daniel,” she chides, bumping her shoulder into mine.

I wipe my mouth, hiding my smile. I always seem to be wearing one around her. “Last night, I was talking to the guys about what they did to get their women to fall for them.”

Her brows raise, but she doesn’t speak.

So with a deep breath in, I continue, hoping she won’t focus too much on my motivation. “Beckett said small things like paying attention to the drink he and Liv had the night they got married?—”

“The only red they ever serve at their house,” Hannah says with a knowing smile.

I nod. “He says he bought a case and replenishes annually.”

“He’s cute when it comes to Liv.” Her tone almost comes out wistful. It’s unlike anything I’ve heard from her before. Interesting.

“Gavin mentioned the restaurant?—”

She laughs. “Not investigating what happened in that restaurant before you paid so we could have it to ourselves was an epic error on your part.”

I hold up my hand. “You’ve got to stop.”

The laugh turns into a manic fit of giggles.

Desperate to avoid hearing any more about my sister and her husband, I continue. “Brooks cut his hair, so I considered a buzz cut?—”

She shakes her head. “No, you don’t have the forehead to pull that off.”

My jaw drops. “Excuse me?”

“You’re very pretty, Daniel Hall, but please don’t touch your hair. I’m a fan.”

A fan? Noted. “The last Langfield cloned Lennox’s phone and reads along with her books. I was thinking”—I waggle my brows—“maybe I’d clone your computer so I can read what you’re writing.”

The glare she hits me with is almost powerful enough to knock me out of my seat. “I’ll kill you.”

“Jeez. Touchy.” I return the look with a grin.

Her expression smooths out. “There’s a reason writers tend to be protective of their works in progress. They normally suck.”

I shake my head. “Pretty sure nothing you write could ever suck.”

“Because you haven’t read my books before they’ve been edited. I’m telling you, they’re garbage until my editor works her magic.”

She’s magic. This moment is magic. Learning anything about her feels special. I’m so glad we promised one another honesty. I don’t know if I would have admitted the truth if we hadn’t.

“If you ever want to share it with me, I’d love to read anything you write.”

She smiles coyly. “Maybe one day. Oh, did I tell you that I received a gift from Beckett today?”

I groan internally. I’m still beating myself up for not thinking before I told him about her pregnancy. “Oh yeah?”

She wipes at her lips with her thumb, catching a little mustard, then pops the digit into her mouth. “Flowers and ginger cookies. Apparently Liv loved the cookies when she was pregnant with the twins. He sends his congratulations.”

“That’s nice of him.”

Dammit. Why didn’t I think of ginger cookies? They would have been a much more appropriate gift for a pregnant woman than tequila.

Her nose scrunches. “I tried one of the cookies—not my favorite.”

I laugh. “We’ll find another dessert for you.”

She places her hand on my thigh, and my cock jumps. “Please tell me I’m your dessert.”

“Is that what you want?” I turn and bury my face in her hair, my lips at her ear. “You want me to eat your delicious pussy for dessert?”

I pull back, but she stops me by fisting the front of my shirt.

“ Daniel .” Blue eyes wild, she pleads with me. “My nipples are ready to poke out of my dress. They’re so needy. Please take me somewhere and fuck me… quick .”

I snag our trash from the bench and pull her to her feet. “Where do you want to go? Your place or mine?”

“That’s too far.” Her lips twitch and her eyes dance with mischief. “Are you up for an adventure?”

A thrill races through me. “You name it; I’m game.”

She bites her lip and tips her head. “I’ve always wanted to have sex on the field.”

Electricity bolts down my spine. “ Lang Field?”

“Yeah, I have keys. What do you say?”

I toss our trash in the garbage behind the bench, then clutch her hand. “You’re going to get us fired.”

“Nah, I put out the fires.”