Page 11
Leo
It’s been a couple of days since I saw Hannah and all but said I’d be taking her home with me if we didn’t have to worry about her brother asking us a million questions about what’s going on with us.
It’s not that I’m hiding whatever this thing is that’s happening between us from him, it’s more that it’s so new that I’m not even sure how I’d explain it. I also don’t need the drama that comes from everyone knowing my business, which seems to be the norm here at Somerville’s.
Plus, I really need to remember how this all looks for Hannah.
I’m her boss and she’s only just started working here.
The last thing I need is for the rest of my staff, or anyone else for that matter, thinking she’s getting special treatment or whatever, because that is definitely not what’s happening.
Even if I do think about her literally all the time now.
Still, in a bid to not make it obvious that I do constantly think about her or want to spend all my time hanging out with her, I’ve taken to rostering her on at the other restaurant to the one I’m working at most days.
I’m hoping this helps hide the obvious attraction I have to her and also saves me from potentially chopping my fingers off because I just can’t take my eyes off her.
Not that any of that is happening today, because it is a rare couple of days off on account of the restaurants being closed on Monday and Tuesday nights.
I was half tempted to text her last night and see if she could maybe sneak out and come over for a couple of hours, but that had felt kind of weird.
Almost like I thought of her as a booty call. Which I don’t, not even close, and I certainly don’t want her thinking that. This whole sneaking around thing is hot, except for when it isn’t.
So, I’d spent the night alone, killing time in front of the TV while I made a half-assed attempt to work on some new menu ideas.
I’d woken up this morning horny and frustrated, really wanting to see her, maybe spend a couple of hours with her with no pressure or expectations. No risk of being caught either.
Pulling on some clothes and my sneakers, I decide to go out for a run while I try to come up with a plan. I usually try to get one in every day, enjoying the peaceful quiet that comes from living at a winery.
Most people probably think it’s weird that I live at my workplace, but I honestly love it. I love that I can come and go as I please, that I have a place that perfectly suits my needs and an awesome view anytime I step outside my door.
I run down the steps of the loft apartment I live in above the catering kitchen.
Outside, I make a right turn and head away from the main property and down through the vineyards, looping up past Tom and Penny’s place before making my way back down the gravel road that leads to some old buildings that Tessa has been working on.
As I round the corner, my heart pounding in my chest and sweat dripping from my body, I suddenly stop in my tracks at the sight of Hannah, carrying a box into one of the newly renovated cottages that sits out here.
“What the fuck?” I mutter to myself, scrubbing a hand over my face as though to clear my vision. But she’s still there, not having noticed me as she struggles with the box and trying to get the door open.
Without thinking, I jog over, Hannah finally noticing me as she turns at the sound of my sneakers on the gravel.
“Hey,” I say, taking the box from her hands. “What are you…you live here?”
Hannah laughs, opening the front door now that her hands are empty. “I do now, yep.”
“Wow, I…” I trail off, as my gaze finds hers, an unspoken promise floating between us because we both know what this change in living arrangement means.
She’s no longer living with her brother.
She has her own place and it’s right here at Somerville’s. Where I also live. In the middle of nowhere with no one else around.
Holy fuck, the possibilities are endless.
“Thanks,” she eventually says, moving to take the box back as though remembering where we are.
“I’ve got it,” I say. “Just tell me where to put it.”
Hannah pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, nodding once as she turns and walks into the cottage.
I follow her in, my gaze taking in all of the changes and improvements.
I remember when this place used to be nothing but a shed, and I can’t help but be impressed by what Tessa has done with the place.
“Just in here is fine,” Hannah says, indicating the kitchen island. It’s all sleek wooden counters, stainless steel appliances and white cabinets, with a huge window that overlooks the vineyards.
“Shit, this place is amazing,” I say, putting the box down as I take in the small but well-appointed kitchen.
“I know,” Hannah replies, moving to a cabinet and grabbing two glasses and filling them with water from the fridge. “I don’t know how I got so lucky, but Lauren is happy for me to live here, and the rent is like…well, it’s…”
“Too good to be true?” I say, smiling when she nods. “I know, I feel the same way about my place. But Ellen, Lauren and Jack aren’t just amazing employers, they’re great people too.”
“They are,” she says, handing me the glass. “Here, you look like you need this.”
Chuckling, I glance down at myself, my t-shirt soaked with sweat and sticking to my skin. “What I need is a shower.”
When I look up, I find Hannah’s eyes glued to my torso, that lip of hers between her teeth again.
The look on her face is intoxicating and I find myself stepping closer.
When she lifts her gaze to mine, I can see all of the lust and want there, the same things I know are written all over my face too.
“So do I,” she murmurs, and I can’t help it, my eyes trailing slowly over her body.
She’s clearly been working all morning, probably hauling more boxes of stuff inside. She looks hot, her cheeks are flushed and the hair that’s piled on her head is messy with loose strands hanging around her face.
God this woman is fucking gorgeous.
“Hannah,” I murmur.
She swallows hard, her green eyes pulling me in. “Yeah?”
I step toward her again, closing the distance between us as my hand curls around the back of her neck and I haul her against me. My mouth lands on hers, kissing her with a raw desperation as her hands claw at my sweat-soaked t-shirt, pulling me even closer.
I put my glass on the counter as my other hand finds her hip, my fingers slipping under her t-shirt and grazing her skin, teasing along the waist of her shorts before sliding under the waistband.
She moans into my mouth, her body swaying into mine and holy shit, I could literally fuck her right here in the kitchen, I’m that turned on.
The fact that I can, because no one else is around to bust us has me backing her up against the kitchen island, my mouth never leaving hers. Our hips are pressed together, and I know she can feel everything this is doing to me.
“I like that you’ve moved here,” I murmur, my lips against hers.
“Yeah?” she says, smiling against my mouth. “Think I’ll be a good neighbor?”
I chuckle, my fingers slipping from her shorts and moving up now, under her t-shirt, my fingers curling around her ribs. “I think you’ll be a great neighbor,” I whisper.
Hannah chuckles softly as she pushes my t-shirt up, pulling back a little as she peels it up and over my head, the sweat-soaked material hitting the floor with a soft thud.
“Well, I’m always here if you need to borrow a cup of sugar,” she says, smiling as her hands move over my chest, her fingers brushing across my pecs, tracing the lines of my tattoos and lighting my whole body on fire.
My hand moves to her breast now, pulling down the lace of her bra, my fingers finding and teasing her nipple, which hardens at my touch. “Oh, I can think of something much sweeter than sugar that I want from you,” I murmur, as I lift her t-shirt off.
Our gazes meet again, hers filled with so much want it almost brings me to my knees. “Oh yeah?” she whispers. “And what would that be?”
I grin, my fingers pinching her nipple before I lower my mouth and suck it into my mouth. Hannah groans, long and low as she arches into me, my arm banding around her waist as I hold her close.
“This would be a starting point,” I murmur, my mouth still on her breast as I kiss a path back up to her mouth. “But there’s somewhere else I want to taste on you, too.”
“Leo, fuck,” Hannah moans, her arms wrapping around my neck.
Chuckling, I nip at her neck, before moving my mouth back to her breast. “Yeah, I wanna do that too,” I confirm, my fingers now at the waistband of her shorts, itching to push them down and move my mouth lower. “But first I want to taste how sweet your—”
“HANNAH!”
The sound of her name echoing through the house from the still-open front door has both of us freezing. My mouth is still on her breast and neither of us is wearing a shirt and I estimate we have about ten seconds to get dressed before our cover is well and truly blown.
“Fuck,” I say, pulling back as I quickly reach for her t-shirt on the floor, practically throwing it at her. “Here, put this on, quick.”
Hannah doesn’t say anything, quickly pulling it over her head as the sound of two sets of feet on the hardwood floors make their way toward us. Before I have a chance to get my own shirt on, Olivia and Oscar burst into the kitchen, huffing and puffing as though they’ve run here.
“Hey, hi, welcome!” Olivia shouts as she throws her arms in the air.
Hannah looks from Olivia to her brother and then to me, her face flushed from everything we were just doing, even with the look of confusion she now gives me.
“I take it you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the infamous Oscar and Olivia yet?” I say, my hands on Oscar’s shoulders.
Her mouth drops open a little, her lips still swollen from the kisses we just shared. “This is Oscar and Olivia?” she asks.
“Uh huh,” I confirm, giving Oscar’s shoulders a little squeeze. “Word of advice, keep the front door shut so…” I trail off, my eyes widening a little as I give Hannah a look, as though she possibly needs the reminder of what we were just doing.
“Noted,” she says, forcing a smile as she glances down at Olivia. “And I’ve heard lots about you two, it’s nice to finally meet you.”
Olivia smiles up at her, all butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth sweetness, as she hands over a gift bag. “Here, it’s a housewarming gift. We just got home from school and Mom said we could bring it to you.”
Hannah’s eyes widen in surprise as she glances quickly at me before taking the bag Olivia is holding out to her. “Thank you, that’s really sweet of you.”
Olivia smiles, clearly pleased, while her brother tips his head back and glances up at me, seemingly registering my appearance for the first time.
“Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?” he asks, an accusatory tone in his voice.
I know this kid, he’s like Jack, doesn’t miss a fucking thing. “Because I was out running,” I tell him, letting go of his shoulders as I reach for my shirt on the floor. “I got hot.”
Oscar gives me a look that suggests he totally does not buy my excuse, but before I have a chance to change the subject, he casts a quick gaze over my torso and says, “What’s with all the tatts, man?”
Hannah lets out a soft laugh and when I look over, she’s shaking her head, trying not to smile. I try mouthing the word “help” at her, but it only makes her laugh again as she shakes her head in disbelief.
“Are you like in a gang or something?” Oscar now asks and this time, I can’t stop the laugh.
“A gang?” I ask, pulling my t-shirt back on and hiding most of the ink that covers my arms and part of my chest and ribs. “Where do you get this stuff, kid?”
“TV, Uncle Jack,” he says with a shrug.
I reach over and ruffle his hair, chuckling at the annoyed sigh he lets out as he pulls away. “Well, contrary to popular opinion, your Uncle Jack doesn’t always know what he’s talking about and a lot of what you see on TV is complete horseshit.”
Oscar and Olivia both giggle now and when I look over at Hannah again, I can tell she’s also trying not to laugh.
“Pretty sure that was a naughty word,” Hannah says, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
“I’ll give you naughty,” I say, my voice low.
“Promise?” she teases licking her lips and I swear to god, I don’t even care that these kids are here, I want this woman that badly.
“Okay seriously, what’s going on here?” Oscar asks, reminding me again that we are not alone and most definitely being watched by two ten-year-olds who don’t miss a damn thing, but who I also know have extremely big mouths and zero filter.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, feigning ignorance as I lean against the counter, my arms crossed over my chest.
Oscar looks from me to Hannah and back to me again, his brow narrowed in concentration. “I’m thinking that—”
“You’re overthinking things, kid,” I say, cutting him off. “And I think it’s time for us to go and leave Hannah in peace,” I add, even though I have every intention of revisiting what we were doing before we were interrupted and as soon as possible.
I shuffle the twins toward the front door, stalling a little as I trail after them, wanting a second to speak to Hannah alone before I have to make like I’m leaving too. When they finally reach the still open door, I stop, turning back to Hannah who’s close behind me.
“Have dinner with me?” I quickly ask.
Hannah smiles, crossing her arms over her chest. “You offering to cook for me?”
I grin back at her. “Among other things, yeah.”
“When?” she asks, glancing over my shoulder to what I assume are the twins, impatiently waiting and possibly trying to listen in on this conversation.
“Tonight, my place,” I confirm. “You know where to find me?”
“I know where to find you,” she repeats.
“Good,” I reply, backing down the hallway, my eyes never leaving hers. “I’m looking forward to it.”