Page 56 of Ruining Hattie

HATTIE

T he wind whips snow in my face as I make my way down the sidewalk toward the café. One thing I don’t miss about Wisconsin is the winters, that’s for sure.

Both Bast’s and my mom’s operations went well, although Bast’s recovery is harder than my mom’s, she has a longer stay in the hospital.

My dad still needs to work, and having me around lets me help her during the week.

She’s doing much better, though, and I don’t anticipate having to be with her for longer than another couple of weeks.

I’ve made a few weekend trips back to Seattle to see Bast, and he’s come out here as much as he can to see me.

This weekend is another one of his trips out here, and I’m eager to see him.

Though I’m unsure why he asked me to meet him at the café where we used to see each other rather than coming straight to my place.

The bell dings when I rush through the door, looking down to stomp the snow off my boots on the mat. When I look up, I still. The café is empty. The lights are all on, but no one is here. No customers, no employees, nothing.

“Hello?” I call and take a few tentative steps forward. “Is anyone here?”

No one answers, and I take another look around. This is so confusing.

“Hello?” I step farther in, and movement to my left behind the counter draws my attention.

Bast saunters out of the staff door, looking for all the world as though he owns the place.

“Hi…” I’m excited to see him but still so confused as to what he’s doing behind the counter. “What’s going on?” I motion toward the empty café. “What are you doing back there?”

He grins and hops over the counter with one hand on it with seemingly little trouble. “Don’t I get a kiss hello?”

He draws me in with his hands around my waist and presses his lips to mine. It’s a good thing no one is in here because the kiss turns heated quickly.

I’m always like this when I’ve gone through a spell without seeing him—desperate and needy for both his company and his body.

When he pulls away, he rests his forehead against mine.

“How was your flight?” I ask.

“Fine. How’s Carla?” He nuzzles into my neck and places a chaste kiss there that makes goose bumps break out on my arms.

“Still making strides every day.”

The relationship between him and my mom is still a little strained, but they’ve come a long way. They’re not close by any means, but he can be in her presence, and no one feels as though they’re walking on eggshells around them anymore.

Maybe they’ll develop a mother-son relationship in the future, or maybe they won’t, but either way, it’s okay. I think just knowing each other has healed a little something in each of them.

“Does that mean I get you home with me soon?” he says against the sensitive flesh under my ear.

I hum low in my throat. “Very soon, I think.”

He straightens and gives me a wide smile. “Good.”

“Are you going to explain what’s going on here? Why is this place empty?” I motion to the empty seats.

“Because I kicked everyone out.”

I lean back, and my forehead wrinkles. “I don’t understand.”

Bast chuckles. “Come with me back to our section.”

There’s no denying that I get a thrill in my belly when he refers to it as our section.

He takes my hand and leads me to the lounge area near the fireplace, which is going given the weather outside.

“Here, let me take your jacket.” He holds out his hands.

I get to work removing my jacket and beanie, then I pass them to Bast, who sets them on the back of one of the armchairs, and finger-comb my hair.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” I set my hands on my hips and give him a playful smile.

“This is where we met.”

I giggle. “Yes, I know.”

“Because of that, it’s special to me, even if we did meet because I was an emotionally stunted asshole.”

We both laugh, and I shake my head. I’ve gotten over how things started between us, but sometimes I think Bast is still punishing himself.

“Do you remember what I said when you asked why I was in town?” He cocks his head and steps up to hold my hands.

“You said you were looking for a business to invest in.”

He nods. “That wasn’t true at the time, but it is now, so I bought the café.”

“What? Really?”

“Really. I want this place to stick around for a long, long time, so I bought it so that I can be the one to preserve it.”

That is so sweet. I squeeze his hands.

“The reason I want it around for so long is because I’d like to be able to take my kids here one day and tell them that this is where their parents met. That this is the first place I realized that my wife was going to change my life.”

“Bast—”

Before I can say anything more, he drops to one knee.

I gasp, and my hands fly out of his to cover my mouth.

He slides his hand in his pocket and pulls out a ring box, then opens it to reveal a huge pear-shaped diamond ring.

“Hattie, I love you more than life itself, and I cannot wait another moment to bind you to me. If it weren’t for everything going on with your mom, I would have already done this, but now that she’s doing better, I want to think about our future.

Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? ”

“Yes!” I shout, my arms flailing above my head.

Bast lets out a whoop and stands to slide the monstrous ring on my left ring finger, then kisses me.

“We should elope. You’re too good for me and I need to lock this down before you come to your senses,” he says.

I laugh. “I’m a little bad, though.” I waggle my eyebrows.

There’s a glimmer in his eyes. “You know, you’re right. You’re just the right amount of good for me, and I’m just the right amount of bad for you.”

“The perfect combination.”

“Thank you, Hattie.”

I run my palm down his cheek. “For what?”

“For showing me that all is not lost, even when it might seem like it is. That there’s always an end to the storm, and that’s when the rainbow appears.”

We kiss again, and I say a little prayer of thanks. I may not spend all my time in church these days, but I know for certain that someone was looking out for me when they sent me Bast.

Bastion was first introduced in His Subordinate from our Ritual Room Series . If you crave billionaire alpha males who’ll burn the world down for the one woman who undoes them, the Voss Brothers will be your new obsession!