Page 20

Hannah

I swear to god this guy is working really hard to make me fall in love with him.

After what happened yesterday in the kitchen, I’m having a hard time not blurting out that I am in love with him.

It feels amazing to finally be respected in my career and to have a boss who sees all that I have to offer.

I was beginning to believe my old boss when he said I was incompetent.

Turns out, it was him all along. I fucking kick ass at this whole thing.

This is the first night I have off, but Leo is working. It feels weird not having him here with me, since we’ve basically spent every night together for the last few weeks. But a little time apart is good and it gives me an opportunity to send him a few sexy texts to get him through the night.

I send him a picture of my shower along with my dildo, all suctioned and ready to go. Of course, I add a couple of emojis to really drive the point home and in typical Leo fashion, he replies immediately.

Leo: Be at my house when I get home, Hannah.

Me: That feels a little bossy.

Leo: Be at my house when I get home, please.

Me: Dressed or undressed?

Leo: Is that really a question?

Me: I’ll see you later tonight.

I head over to my brother’s house to have dinner with him and Tessa.

Even though I see him every Sunday for breakfast, we haven’t seen much else of each other, and I want to get the plans for Tessa’s baby shower nailed down.

With the restaurant being closed, I have more free time making it the perfect opportunity to have the shower without me having to take off work.

I walk into Dylan’s place and there’s zero cooking going on which means he’s hoping I’ll make something. I get it though. When he does try to cook for me, I’m always hovering over his shoulder or telling him what to do or analyzing the meal while we’re eating.

It’s kind of understandable given my job, but I guess I don’t go around telling him how to bottle cider or invent… That reminds me, I have to tell Leo that story. Obviously under the pretense that he keep it a secret. Dylan is pretty quiet about that part of his life.

“Guess I’m cooking on my day off, huh?” I say when I find Dylan and Tessa on the couch watching TV.

“Not tonight, sis,” Dylan says, not even looking away from the screen, too wrapped up in some sci-fi movie he’s watching, that if I had to guess, he’s already seen a million times. “Tess and the baby wanted pizza.”

“I hope that’s okay,” Tessa adds, looking up at me. “I’ve been craving pizza from Vito’s and I figured you’d be good with taking the night off from cooking.”

“Totally fine by me. It’ll give me more time to obsess over the menu for your baby shower.” I flop down on the couch across from them, pulling out my laptop, ready to share all my ideas with them. The menu will be my thing, but I know Tessa will want some input on the décor.

“Do you have a color scheme in mind? I know you aren’t finding out what you’re having,” I now say, and Tessa smiles, also reaching for her laptop that is sitting on the coffee table. Coming over, she sits down next to me.

“I was thinking pastels, but neutral. Like yellow and gray, maybe some silver in there too,” Tessa says, pulling up a few examples on her laptop and they’re adorable.

A few of them have cute little bees on them, which would work perfectly since we’re planning to host the shower at one of the P, T and Bee buildings.

Tessa designed the tasting room for P, T and Bee when Tommy and Penny were starting their mead business and it’s the perfect place to host the shower.

It’s a stunning building with a vaulted ceiling and reclaimed wood beams. It has a bar and tables that will make a great location for the small shower Tessa is envisioning. We can add some greenery and bring in the cute little bee theme to really set everything up.

“Do you have any dates in mind?” I ask, knowing Tessa is busy with the restaurant renovation and trying to get ready for the baby. Dylan’s schedule is a little more flexible and while he isn’t hanging on our every word, he has looked over at us a few times, chiming in with his own ideas.

“Possibly having it on a weekday in the evening would be best since the weekends are usually pretty busy and I would hate to take business away from Tommy and Penny by using the tasting room,” Tessa says, graciously.

“I talked with Lauren and Penny and was able to nail down a few good dates,” I tell Tessa, pulling them up on my phone and letting her select the one she wants.

Once she’s picked the date, I add it to my calendar, making sure I have the day and the day before free so I can focus on the menu.

I’m sure Leo will be happy to help me, but that might mean I need to come clean with everyone that we’re dating.

“So what are your menu ideas?” Tessa asks, rubbing her hands together and smiling. She knows how much I enjoy this aspect of the planning. Just like I know she loves the designing aspect of her job.

“I have so many!” I squeal. “I was thinking an apple cider chili along with seasoned mixed greens with apples and walnuts in a honey vinaigrette for a starter. Totally farm to table, using honey and apples and cider from the property and sourcing meat locally.”

Dylan laughs out loud, shaking his head. “It’s hilarious to see you so damn excited about something. Only you would act like you’re talking about meeting a celebrity, when in reality, it’s just food.”

“Oh my god, Dylan! Just food? What the fuck? You know it’s not just food to me and you’ll be singing my praises once you taste this fabulous menu I’ve created.”

“I already sing your praises,” he says, hitting me with a smug look. “Who helped you land your dream job at Somerville’s? I’ll wait,” he adds, pausing for a second before saying, “Oh yes, it was me, your amazing brother.”

“Dylan,” Tessa warns, glaring at him. “Why don’t you go pick up the pizza?”

“Fine, fine. There better be a steak on that menu,” Dylan says, like I would leave off his favorite thing.

“Don’t worry, despite all your mocking, I’ve got you covered. Filet in a cider reduction with autumnal vegetables,” I shoot back.

“You know you can just say vegetables because I have no idea what autumnal means,” Dylan replies, making Tessa and I laugh.

“Just go get the pizza, please,” Tessa says, flicking her hand toward the door. Dylan lets out a hard sigh, leaning down to give Tessa a kiss.

“You didn’t order the cheesecake,” Dylan whispers against Tessa’s mouth. “I’m going to get it for you because I know you want it and I really don’t want to go out and pick it up later.”

“Thank you.”

Dylan leaves and Tessa’s head immediately whips around to look at me, the room falling silent for a few seconds and then she spits out, “Tell me what’s going on with Leo!”

Her voice is loud and I panic for a second that Dylan could have forgotten something. I picture him walking through the door and hearing his adorable fiancée squealing about my sex life with my hot boss.

“Tessa, shush!” I whisper-shout, widening my eyes at her.

“Don’t worry about him. Right now, he’s sitting in the car trying to figure out if he should bring home one or two pieces of cheesecake and if he should stop and pick up vanilla ice cream in case I have heartburn.”

It really is so funny to see how much Dylan has changed and how much he seriously loves and adores Tessa. She’s changed him for the better, making him into a doting partner and soon to be father, something I thought I would never see. It makes my heart happy.

“So,” Tessa adds, rolling her hand to get me to talk.

I clench my teeth, worried about saying too much.

Leo and I have kept this whole thing pretty hush-hush and not because either of us aren’t all-in when it comes to our relationship.

It’s more about how it looks to the outside observer.

He’s my boss and the last thing we need is people thinking there’s any favoritism going on.

“I don’t know, Tessa,” I reply hesitantly. “It’s still new—”

She cuts me off, a beaming smile on her face.

“I knew it was something. I just knew it. There’s no way Leo was going to walk away from you.

He’s been single since I started working for Lauren and Jack, and I couldn’t figure out why.

He was waiting for some badass woman chef to come along and sweep him off his feet. ”

She’s talking so fast that I can’t help but laugh.

It feels like she’s more invested in mine and Leo’s relationship than we are.

Not that I’m not invested. Hell, just earlier today I was talking myself off the ledge of telling him I love him.

He’s perfect. We’re perfect for each other.

He understands the job and the hours, and there has not been a single issue, including in the sack.

“Tessa,” I wail, “it’s going so well. I hate to jinx it by talking about it, but I have so much I want to tell you.”

“Then spill it!” she yells, clapping her hands. “And do it fast because Dylan’s going to be home soon.”

“Well, we’ve definitely gone beyond making out and I don’t think I can ever sleep with another guy because Leo and his dick puts them to shame,” I announce, my mind wandering to the first time I saw him without his pants. Sex with anyone else will be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway.

“Leo’s not just hot in the kitchen, huh?” Tessa asks, and I look at her with a what-the-fuck look that only makes her laugh. “I was just trying to use some kind of cooking pun. It failed. Move on.”

“But yes, he’s hot in the kitchen and in the bedroom. The best part, he totally respects me in the kitchen. He’s always game for me to try out new recipes and he’s all about tasting and helping me make things better.”

“Okay, you’re talking about the actual kitchen, right?” Tessa asks. “Not one of these is a euphemism for sex, right?”

“Yes, I’m talking about the actual kitchen, although we have had sex in the kitchen. That man is a genius with his hands and his mouth.”

“Hannah! You’ve had sex in the kitchen at Apple Jacks?” Tessa now asks, sounding appalled and disgusted and rightfully so. Apple Jacks is a restaurant and not a place for us to dirty up with sex.

“Never!” I screech. “What kind of chef do you think I am? I would never contaminate a kitchen like that! But we’ve pretty much done it everywhere else, and he’s super into toys, taking the whole thing up a few notches.”

“Toys make everything way better. Does he know about Dylan’s invention?” Tessa questions, wrinkling up her nose. “That thing is pretty damn epic.”

“While I agree with you, I still have a hard time separating its association with my brother. But no, I haven’t told Leo about it, but I plan to introduce him to it tonight.” I wink and Tessa laughs.

“I was thinking of giving them out as a favor at the baby shower,” she jokes and while I know she’s not serious, I’m pretty sure Lauren, Penny and Ellen would graciously accept it.

We’re both laughing when Dylan walks in with the pizza. Tessa leans over, whispering to me, “Better eat quick and get home. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your nightly hook up.”

We finish dinner and thanks to Tessa for her great acting skills, Dylan sends me on my way, telling me that Tessa is tired and needs to get to bed.

It’s eight o’clock and Tessa is not ninety years old, but I don’t push back.

This will give me time to get back to my house, change into some sexy underwear and get over to Leo’s before he gets off work.

I tell them both goodbye with Tessa smiling like an idiot, and if Dylan was a little more observant, he’d know something was up.

But again, I’d rather he not know just yet.

I’m not ready to dive into announcing this to my family, especially my mom who will immediately start asking when I’m getting married and having a baby.

At least I have Tessa to take some of the stress off of me.

On my way home I stop off at a lingerie store, picking up something seriously hot that I hope blows Leo’s mind when he walks in and finds me in his bed.

All I hope is that he’s feeling what’s happening between us, because I’m seriously and totally crazy in love with Leo Marsh.