Page 9

Leo

I smile against her neck, inhaling deeply as I lick a path up to her ear. “In for this,” I reply, moving my lips back to her mouth so I can kiss her again.

God, I feel drunk on her.

And even though neither of us has defined exactly what this is, I’m not sure I could stop even if I wanted to. She’s like a drug and I am one hundred percent addicted.

“Leo,” she moans into my mouth, her hands sliding higher under my jacket until they are pressed against my chest.

I turn and back her up against the counter, standing between her legs, my hand on the back of her head as I kiss her hard, our teeth and tongues clashing.

I feel her fingers curl into my skin as though she’s clawing at me, and it makes me groan with lust. Thoughts of turning her around, bending her over this counter and fucking her hard, flash through my brain.

“Fuck,” I breathe out, finally pulling back. As much as I want this to continue, this is not the time or the place.

Hannah smiles up at me, her face flushed and sexy as hell, her hair falling out of the messy pile on top of her head thanks to my fingers. “So that’s what going with it is, huh?”

Chuckling, I brush the hair back from her face. “Yeah, I guess it is,” I reply. “Although to be fair, you started it,” I add, giving her a wink.

She smirks. “Right, so it’s me who was out of control this time, huh?”

“Well,” I say, dragging the word out, “not entirely.”

She slides her hands out from beneath my jacket, resting them back on my stomach as she looks up at me. “What are we doing here, Leo?” she asks, her tone serious now. “Because I really like working here and as much as I like this too, I can’t lose my job. I don’t—”

“You aren’t going to lose your job, Hannah,” I quickly say, meaning it.

She raises a brow in question, a questioning look on her face that makes me laugh. “You sure about that?”

Cupping her face in my hands I lean in closer. “Positive. I’m not that much of a dick.”

“But, what about…I mean how…”

Exhaling, I lean closer until my forehead is resting against hers. “How about this?” I start, not sure if it’s a good idea, much less if she’ll be up for it. “Let’s just see where this goes. No pressure, no expectations and no…”

“No telling anyone at work?”

I lift a shoulder in a shrug. “Yeah, I mean, that might be a good idea. Not that I think anyone will care, it’s just…”

“We don’t need the gossip?”

“Right,” I say with a nod. “We definitely don’t.”

“And I don’t need people talking behind my back, thinking I’m getting special treatment or whatever,” she adds. “I really want this job, Leo, I’m serious.”

I drop my hands from her face, taking a step back. “I know you are, and I really want you working here too. You’re an excellent chef and you’ve really fit in well. Everyone likes you and I know Jack and Lauren are really happy with you too.”

I pause, my own words sinking in and making me wonder if us continuing this is a good idea after all. Maybe I’m not being fair to her, because as much as I might want her, it is different for her and the last thing she needs is to be the subject of kitchen gossip.

“Shit,” I exhale, scrubbing a hand over my face.

Hannah seems to read my mind, nodding slowly. “I need to finish this before the dinner shift,” she says, gesturing to the stove.

“Yep, okay,” I say, tugging on my bottom lip, trying to figure out what it is I want to say here. How I can reassure her that I’m not going to let anything happen to her because of this.

“It’s cool, Leo,” she says, her hand on my arm.

I nod. “Okay, yep. I’ll see you in a bit.” Then I walk out, wondering what the fuck just happened.

Somerville’s restaurant is busy with the usual Saturday night crowd, which means Hannah and I manage to avoid any awkwardness, even though this is the first time we’ve worked together since this whole thing between us started.

Whatever this thing is.

Still, that’s one good thing about a busy kitchen and an endless stream of orders, there’s no time for flirting or trying to figure out what the fuck happened earlier when I kissed her in the catering kitchen, only to walk out more confused than ever.

“Shit,” I mutter to myself as I realize I’ve used the last of the cream. I look around, wondering if there’s someone who can grab it for me, but everyone else is busy with their own thing. Pushing the pan off the heat, I walk to the huge walk-in fridge to grab some.

I open the door and step inside, relishing the cold air after hours in a hot kitchen. Closing my eyes briefly, I lean back against the door and take a second. When I open them though, I nearly jump out of my skin at who’s standing in front of me.

“Hey,” Hannah says, two crème br?lée in her hands as she stands watching me, a tiny smile on her face.

Without even thinking about it, I push off the door, take the desserts from her hands and put them back on the shelf, before pulling her into my arms and kissing her. Again.

She lets out a soft moan as her lips part for my tongue, and we kiss hungrily, unable to get enough of each other.

“I wasn’t sure if you wanted to do this again,” she murmurs against my mouth.

Letting out a soft laugh, I tell her, “Not sure I can stop, even if I wanted to.”

“Do you want to?”

“Do you?” I throw back at her, knowing she’s got more to be worried about here.

She takes a deep breath, her fingers gripping the front of my jacket. “No,” she eventually whispers. “I mean, I meant what I said earlier, but no, I don’t want to stop either.”

Smiling now, I lean in and brush a soft kiss to her lips. “Neither do I,” I whisper, reaching for the desserts, which I hand back to her. “We’ll figure it out, but right now, we should get back to work.”

“Yes, boss,” she says playfully.

I give her a light smack on the ass as she walks past me, which earns me a cheeky smirk that makes my blood heat. God, I don’t know what it is about this woman, but I don’t think I’ve ever reacted to someone like I have with her.

When she leaves the cold room, I grab what I came for before walking back outside, glancing briefly at the dessert station before making my way back to the stove and the pile of orders that have accumulated in the short time I was gone.

Moving the pan back onto the flame, I get back to doing what I’m here to do, which is cook. And not think about my sexy as fuck sous chef and how much I’d like to strip her naked and have my way with her.

The rest of the night passes without any drama. I’m kept busy with orders and making sure everyone knows what they’re doing. I check in with Hannah a couple of times, but it’s quick and all business as I make sure she’s cool with the desserts she’s making and how everything works.

There’s no doubt she’s been taught well.

She’s a quick learner too, easily picking up the recipes we’re running here and at Apple Jacks.

Combine that with the awesome work she’s been doing with the catering side of things, and I really do owe Dylan big time for suggesting his sister for the job in the first place.

Without mentioning the whole wanting to hook up with his sister part, of course. I’m not quite sure what he’d think about that.

“Okay and we’re clear!” comes the call from Michelle, the head server when she pokes her head through the door, which is followed by a cheer from the kitchen staff.

Smiling, I switch off the burners as I start piling up the pans to wash.

Everyone works quickly and efficiently, all of us dying for that post-work drink we’ve been waiting all week for.

I walk into the wash area to drop off the pans before making the rounds of the kitchen to check everyone is okay.

When I get to the dessert station, I smile at the fact that Hannah is already done and wiping down the counters.

“Impressive,” I say, leaning my hip against the counter, arms crossed over my chest as I watch her.

She flashes me a smile. “Just doing my job.”

Chuckling, I push off the counter. “You staying for a drink?”

She pauses, looking up at me, a small smile on her face and a question in her eyes, as though she’s wondering whether she should.

“Stay for a drink,” I say, quieter now.

“Okay,” she says with a nod.

“Good,” I reply, before heading back to my office to close out the admin things I need to take care of.

By the time I’m done, the cleaning is finished and everyone is outside at the bar enjoying their drinks. The Apple Jacks crew have also come down and I throw my jacket over my desk and head out there to join them.

Heading behind the bar, I grab a pint of the new wheat beer we have on tap, my eyes scanning the room for Hannah. She’s sitting down at the end of the bar, laughing and chatting with another one of our sous chefs, Jamie, who kind of looks like he’s trying to flirt with her.

Before I even have a chance to feel jealous, Hannah glances up, meets my gaze and gives me a quick wink before turning back to whatever it is Jamie is saying to her.

It’s enough to make my heart pound in my chest and I’m about to walk over and stake my claim with her when someone nudges my shoulder.

“Hey, you good?”

I turn and see Tom standing beside me, a beer in his hand as he quietly observes the room. “Hey, yeah, all good. What are you doing here?”

As much as the Saturday night drinks invite is open to everyone, we don’t get many of the other staff joining us regularly, having finished their jobs long before we have. Tommy shrugs, taking a sip of his beer as he says, “They had a bachelorette party in the tasting room, was helping Pen out.”

I laugh, shaking my head a little. “Oh, so there to provide the entertainment then?”

Tommy cracks a half grin as he says, “Fuck off.” I follow his gaze, which is firmly locked on Penny who is now wandering over toward Jamie and Hannah. I smile at the interruption, silently thanking Penny for going over there as I watch her greet Hannah with a hug and a smile.

“So, how’s your new chef working out?” Tommy asks.

“Good,” I reply, taking a sip of my beer. “Really good, actually.”

Tom glances sideways, a brow raised in question as he hits me with a smirk.

“What?” I say laughing.

He laughs too, shaking his head a little. “Did I say anything?”

“No, well not with words anyway,” I reply, knowing he’s clearly thinking something. I really like Tommy, he’s a cool guy, even if he is a man of few words.

He shrugs, turning back to Penny and Hannah. “She seems nice, and I know Pen really likes her. It’s good she’s working out.”

I nod, even though he isn’t looking at me, as my eyes move back to Hannah as she laughs and talks to Pen.

God, she’s fucking hot. Tom raises his glass at me, a sly smile on his face as he heads over to join his wife.

I want to go over and join them too, but I’m afraid that if I do, I won’t be able to keep my hands off Hannah.

“Fuck me,” I mutter, refilling my glass before I turn and head back to my office, knowing I cannot risk outing us in front of everyone.

I’m lost in paperwork when I hear a knock on my door. Glancing up, I see Hannah standing in the doorway, a small smile on her face.

“Hey, so I’m heading out, just stopping by to say goodnight.”

I glance behind her, noting the dark and very empty kitchen.

Without saying a word, I stand from my chair, walk around my desk and toward her.

Pulling her inside my office, I close the door behind her and back her up against it.

She looks up at me, her lips parted, her breath coming out in soft puffs.

I brush a thumb across her cheek as I lower my mouth to hers in a soft kiss. Hannah smiles against my mouth as she whispers, “We seem to be making a habit of this.”

Chuckling, I curl my hand around her neck. “I’m blaming you for that.”

“Me?” she asks, mock surprise in her voice as she pulls back, her head resting against the door. “How is this my fault exactly?”

Smiling, I lean closer, my hips now resting against her hips, as I brush my nose against hers. “Because you’re so fucking sexy,” I whisper against her mouth. “And I can’t seem to get enough of you.”

She smirks, her hands slipping under my t-shirt, her fingers gliding over my skin and setting me on fire. “I think the feeling is mutual.”

“Is that so?” I ask as I trace her bottom lip with my tongue.

“Uh huh.”

“Fuck,” I breathe out, my hand slipping to her ass and pulling her against me as I kiss her hard and deep. Hannah groans, as a low growl sounds in my chest, possessive and demanding. God, I want this woman so badly.

“I should go,” she eventually breathes out. I can feel her heart pounding in her chest, mirroring my own.

“You’re not driving back to San Fran, right?” I ask, wishing she was coming home with me, wondering if she’d say yes if I asked her.

“No,” she says, shaking her head. “I’ve officially moved in with my brother.” She rolls her eyes in a can you believe it kind of way.

Chuckling, I sneak another quick kiss as I ask, “And I’m guessing he’d notice if you didn’t come home tonight?”

Hannah hits me with a sexy as hell smirk, as though she knows exactly what I’m really asking with that question. “He would,” she says. “He’s already in full-on dad training mode, so yeah, he’d notice.”

“And there would be questions?”

“There would be questions,” she repeats. “Lots of very nosy, painfully annoying questions.”

Laughing, I lean in, kissing the corner of her mouth as I move mine to her ear. “Then I guess we better find you somewhere else to live.”