Page 10 of With A Little Luck

Chapter Nine

Quincy

A nother day, another embarrassment. I just have to keep reminding myself that it’s not as bad as when I used to have to run to the bathroom to vomit my guts up anytime anyone ordered the salmon…

Or the fish sticks.

God, I tried to talk Hart into taking them off the menu so many times. It finally got to the point that he started delivering the food for me if anyone at the table ordered the fish.

He really is a good friend and a great boss.

Even though I needed the quick break and nutrition, I still try to make up for it by finishing every bit of side work for the other servers on shift before gathering my stuff to head out.

Pulling the flyers out of my bag, I head to the lobby. There’s a community board along with a few candy machines, and I use a thumbtack to pin up the roommate flyer.

Hopefully I don’t get a bunch of weirdos. It might be a good idea to ask Hartley if he would be open to hanging out if anyone asks to come for a tour.

Having a male presence around couldn’t hurt, right?

I would consider asking Trigg, but I’m still majorly confused about this morning.

He was so intense, and my system loved every bossy second of it.

Only, he got his to-go box and left in the same way he always does.

He left two hundreds on the table, along with two twenties to cover both meals, but I guess I was expecting more…

I don’t know.

It’s hard to explain.

I’m also like a million months pregnant. It would be silly to assume anyone could actually be attracted to me right now, but I was hoping we might have a moment to talk before he left.

Hiking my bag higher on my shoulder, I meander down the hallway and pop my head in Hart’s office door.

I frown when I spot Harrison. When I was first hired, Hartley’s brother was hardly ever around, but he has started popping in more and more over the last few weeks.

Shit.

I don’t think I’m mentally prepared for the day Hartley is no longer needed. He’ll go back to wherever he’s from, and it’ll be weird without him.

It’s clear they’re in the middle of discussing something, so I wave and smile. “Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to let you know I’m on my way out.”

“Have a good rest of your day,” Harrison says. “By the way, be careful in the parking lot. There are several patches of black ice.”

Hart frowns. “I’ll walk you out. You’re wobbly these days.”

It might sound insulting if not for two things. One, he’s right. I am a wobbly mess lately, and two, the sexy little smirk that tips at his lips as he strides toward the door.

“I’ve got it,” Hart says, jogging forward to open my car door.

I stop dead in my tracks.

I don’t think a man has ever opened a car door for me. Not that this is a date or anything special. It just kinda makes me recognize all the ways I’ve settled for less than I deserve in relationships.

It brings back a flicker of the way Ridge placed his hand on my lower back as we walked, guiding me with the steady comfort of his palm.

He also held the doors open when we exited the bar and entered the hotel, but I’m not sure if he was just laying on the gentlemanly behavior because he knew I was going to climb him as soon as we were alone.

I don’t think that was it.

Ridge seemed very genuine.

The same pang hits my heart that happens every time I think of him. I can’t even fathom how angry he would be with me if we ran into each other five or ten years down the line.

“Here.” Hart holds out a hand, nodding for me to get into my car. “Let me help so you don’t slip.”

Shaking my head, I get myself together and slide past him. When I don’t take his hand, he links his arm through mine and helps support my weight as I get into the driver’s seat.

“Thank you,” I whisper, dropping my purse onto the passenger seat. Turning back to the front, I shove the key in the ignition but jolt.

Hartley leans across me, buckling my seat belt. “We can’t forget that. Got to keep you and the nugget safe.”

“Thanks,” I say, sounding like a broken record. Apparently the only words I know at the moment are words of gratitude. If I start talking about anything else, I might ask him what is happening.

Hart teases his hand over my stomach. Not only am I in my uniform top, but I’ve also got my huge wool coat on over it, and I still swear I can feel the warmth of his skin. It’s probably all in my head, but seeing him squat next to my car door while running a hand over my stomach is a lot.

It’s freezing in Vermont in January, and while he put on his coat, he didn’t bother with a scarf or gloves.

He’s got to be cold.

I never thought I could tough out a winter here, but I’ve managed okay. Luckily they salt the roads regularly, and my grandmother’s house has a solid furnace.

“You should go back in,” I finally force myself to say. “You’ve got to be freezing.”

“Well, I’m not warm.” Hart laughs. “If you don’t have plans tonight, I was thinking I might stop by.

Normally I wouldn’t be off for a few hours, but with Harrison back in the office, I doubt he needs me.

” He shrugs, gives my stomach a final pat, and stands.

“I can run by the grocery store and grab food. I know you’ve been craving marinara sauce, and I think I can tackle spaghetti…

” His lips tip up, and the faintest tease of dimples pop in his cheeks under his beard.

“If you’re up for it? I promise to do the dishes so you’re not stuck with them. ”

My heart thumps erratically as he rocks on his heels, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.

Maybe he’s just really lonely.

Except he grew up around here.

I’ve seen multiple people stop in who must have known him in high school or when he was even younger. Now that I think about it, I’m sure a former pro-football player is not hard up for company—or female attention.

“Come on, don’t leave me hanging.” He chuckles. “I swear I can cook spaghetti and make it edible. Also, I’m freezing my balls off, so if you’re going to let me down, just do it gently?—”

“Okay,” I say, smiling. “I’d love to have dinner with you.”

The smile that takes over Hartley’s face takes my damn breath away. Before I know what’s happening, he leans into the car and kisses my temple.

“Perfect,” he purrs close to my ear. “Get home safely.”

My life is weird lately.

Dinner is surprisingly comfortable. For being famous on some level, Hartley is great company, but I’ve always known that.

He also knows how to cook a mean spaghetti with two types of sauce, which I think might be the sweetest thing a man has ever done for me.

He makes one marinara and another meat sauce.

Both are delicious.

Although I kinda regret stuffing myself full of garlic bread when my stomach starts hurting. Not to mention, the risk of having horrendous breath.

I excuse myself to the bathroom, making sure to gargle with mouthwash since my toothbrush isn’t down here. I’m not sure it helps, but heading upstairs to brush my teeth seems weird.

Making it back into the kitchen, I stop dead in my tracks.

Hartley is shirtless at the sink, doing the dishes.

Holy back muscles covered in tattoos…

And those sexy little indents just above his ass. Those only show because his jeans rest so low on his slender hips.

Hartley is built a little like an upside-down triangle—all strong, broad shoulders and a slim waist. His dark jeans cling to his ass in a way that makes my knees weak.

It takes way too long to realize I’ve been objectifying him.

A heavy sigh escapes as I refocus on the counter next to him. He already put all the food away too. “I wasn’t trying to leave you to do all the cleanup.”

He drops the sponge and spins around. “The sprayer and I had it out. My shirt lost. I tossed it over there to dry.” He chuckles, nodding to the table where his shirt rests over one of the chairs.

The veins on his hands and forearms bulge as he dries his hands off on his jeans, and I have to bite my cheek to keep an embarrassing whimper from escaping.

“I felt bad I forgot dessert, but if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll just offer myself up in its place. ”

“Are you flirting with me?” My eyes widen as he prowls closer.

Christ.

That’s a lot of well-defined muscles, and they’re all covered in tattoos.

I kinda thought obliques were a myth until seeing Hartley without a shirt.

His wavy blond hair falls over his forehead as he approaches with his head tilted predatorily.

“Just for the last six months or so, but it’s cute that you finally noticed. ”

My heartbeat picks up as I retreat. I’m not even sure why I’m backing away, but my ass hits the wall behind me, and I squeak.

Hartley doesn’t stop until he’s only inches away from our chests brushing. There’s no hope of sucking in to make my stomach stop pushing against his, so I ignore it. His forearm hits the wall above my head, and I swallow thickly.

I’ve been attracted to Hart since the first day we met. At first, I was still grieving over not being able to find Ridge and everything that meant for the baby. My instincts were heartbroken, and maybe I was too.

It was quick, but I felt a connection with Ridge.

He made me feel safe…in the same way Hartley does.

“Did I tell you my brother is coming back to work?” Hart’s warm fingers land under my chin, tilting my face up to his. “You know what that means, beautiful?”

“That you’ll be leaving town?” My chest rises in rapid pants as his snowy, woodsy scent floods my nose. All I can seem to focus on is how dilated his eyes are as he stares down at me.

“Nah,” he murmurs, dipping his lips even closer to mine.

He gets so close, but our skin doesn’t actually touch.

It feels like he’s giving me an opportunity to put a stop to it if I’m uncomfortable.

He still smells faintly of the spaghetti, but I think he might have popped in a mint while I was in the bathroom because there’s a light scent that isn’t his own.

“It just means I’m not your boss anymore, so I can do this. ”

My eyes flutter as my heart pounds wildly, waiting to see what happens next.

I don’t have to wait long.

Hart’s soft lips brush over mine, and his tongue swipes across my bottom lip. Everything in me aches to know what it’s like to really kiss Hartley Adams.

I gasp, and he doesn’t hesitate to deepen the kiss.

Hart growls, and his hand lands on my hip, snaking between me and the wall. Every gasping breath fills my senses with more of him.

His scent is like a drug.

I’d toss him down and bury my nose in his throat if he tried to get away.

Maybe lick him a time or two.

All I know is that I want more of him.

He keeps me trapped to his front with his hand on my lower back, but he pulls his forearm off the wall above my head and cradles my cheek in his huge palm.

He peppers me with quick, tender kisses, pulling back between each so I can catch my breath. My eyes pop open, and he grins mischievously.

“You’re so fucking pretty.” He growls out the words and dives for my lips once more.

His thumb teases over my jaw as he presses against my front.

This time, he doesn’t immediately pull back, and each swirl of his tongue around mine makes me squirm.

Heat builds under my skin as my stomach flutters with butterflies and desire for more.

“I swear to God, you’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. ”

I moan, clutching at his back. This time, I think I dive for his lips, stretching up on my tiptoes to make it possible. He gives in, smiling into the kiss. It takes everything in me not to beg for his knot.

Alpha and omega dynamics are so weird, but feeling the way his fingers splay over my back makes it seem like I’m safely confined in him. It does wild things to my impulses, and my nerve endings light up.

If just kissing Hartley can be like this, am I even prepared for what it would feel like to do more?

My shoulders lean against the wall for support as my body gets floaty the longer he devours me in sensual kisses.

I whimper, following his lips as he pulls back.

The smirk on his face makes me ache to drag him upstairs to my bed.

“You need rest. After a long day of serving, you shouldn’t be on your feet,” he murmurs, brushing his nose against mine. “Do you have a TV in your bedroom?”

I nod frantically.

“How do you feel about cuddling up in bed and watching a movie with me?” he asks, pecking a final kiss on my lips.

There are many things I’d like to do in my bed with Hart, but I guess cuddling is a good start.

“Yeah, let’s do it.”