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Chapter 10

GEORGE

I cursed Blake. If she’d told me the movie we’d be watching would be about horny teenagers, I would not have invited my new employee. My new employee, who I’d just discovered was single and interested in women.

In between enjoying the main course, beef Wellington paired with an amaretto and whiskey sour, I couldn’t help stealing glances at Hannah and blushing furiously at every sexual innuendo in the movie. Thank god the sun had set so Hannah couldn’t see. Although, given the heat my cheeks were letting off, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were glowing in the dark. This was giving me flashbacks to the embarrassment I’d felt as a kid at any hint of sex in a movie I was watching with my parents. I knew I was being ridiculous, that Hannah and I were both grown adults, and sex was absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. But the romantic setting, Hannah’s close proximity, her off-limits status, and possibly also the two cocktails I’d consumed in the last hour were making me particularly sensitive to any hint of sex. The fact that, before the movie started, we’d been getting along like a house on fire didn’t help either.

Hannah’s leg brushed against mine, sending tingles up my thigh. As much as part of me yearned to maintain that contact, I pulled my leg away.

When the credits finally began to roll, my body relaxed. Thank god.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket to check the time and spotted a text from Ben.

Feeling much better today. Think I’ll be back tomorrow or Friday.

I exhaled in relief. While Hannah and I had just been coping, having Ben back would make a huge difference. I also really needed to give Hannah a day off soon too. She was about to work her third long day in a row, and I didn’t want her getting burned out. With that weight lifted off my chest, I put my phone away.

Hannah picked her satchel up off the ground, and we both stood at the same time.

“The cocktails and food were incredible,” Hannah said. “Especially the beef Wellington. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that before, but it was delicious. I don’t understand why it lost popularity after the 1980s.”

I chuckled. “Agreed. There are lots of things about the ‘80s that deserve never to see the light of day again—mullets, slap bracelets and fast-food buffets, to name a few—but the beef Wellington is not one of them.”

Hannah laughed. “I personally don’t mind a good mullet. They’re very practical when you think about it. They keep the hair out of your eyes, while protecting your neck from sunburn.” I shot her a horrified look. “Look, I accept mullets are controversial. But I can’t see why anyone would object to beef Wellington. Tender beef, melt in your mouth mushrooms, fresh herbs and buttery crisp pastry. Maybe you should put it on Novel Gossip’s menu, as part of a campaign to bring back the beef Wellington.”

“I’ll talk to Romina and see what we can do to support this important cause,” I said, trying my best to keep my tone serious.

“If you do, I promise to rave about it to any customer who’s willing to listen.”

I grinned. “It’s a deal. Perhaps together, we can turn around the fate of the beef Wellington and reinstate it to its rightful place on menus nationwide.”

In the dim light, I saw Hannah swing her satchel over her shoulder. “While we’re on the topic of ‘80s revivals, can we also bring back the fanny pack? I don’t understand why they get such a bad rap. The way they hold everything securely within arms’ reach is just so practical. And you don’t need to worry about leaving it behind because it’s attached to you at all times.”

“Look, I wholeheartedly endorse reviving the fanny pack, but I think we have to be careful about overextending ourselves. There’s a limit to what we can do.”

“Fine! We’ll just tackle one ‘80s trend at a time,” Hannah replied. While Hannah’s face was only inches from mine, I couldn’t make out her facial expression in the dark. However, judging from the playful tone to her voice, she was enjoying our exchange as much as I was.

“Hey! Do you guys want to have a quick drink at Builders’ Arms?” Jenny asked from behind us.

Suddenly conscious of how close we were standing, I took a step back, nearly knocking my chair over in the process. Another burst of heat rushed to my cheeks. Very smooth, George.

“I’m in,” I said. I turned to Hannah. “Would you like to come?”

My pulse picked up as I waited for her response.

“Sure. Let’s do it,” Hannah said after a pause.

I exhaled, smiling into the dark. I didn’t want our night to end just yet.

“Hannah seems nice,”Blake said, leaning against the bar at Builders” Arms while we waited for Dan, the owner, to finish serving another customer. The pub was bustling with locals, including some who’d attended the movie night. The male couple from Manhattan were sitting at a round high table next to one of the front windows, sipping red wine, and Roger and Prue were at a small table in the back corner, drinking what looked like whiskey neat.

I shot a look at Blake. Was her tone full of meaning, or was I just being paranoid?

“Yeah,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual.

Blake glanced at me and then over at Hannah, who was sitting at one of the rustic wooden tables with Amanda, Jenny, and Olivia at the back of the pub. Okay, that look definitely had meaning. I was not being paranoid.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing. Did you say she was married?”

“I did say that, but I must have misunderstood Ben. Apparently, she’s single.”

Hannah’s revelation about her marital status had sent a buzz of excitement mixed with confusion, vibrating through my body. While the confusion was well-founded—I could have sworn Ben had said she had a husband—the excitement was not. She was an employee and so strictly off-limits when it came to dating.

“Okay, great.” Blake smiled, an expression that could only be described as sly on her face.

I rolled my eyes. Blake could be infuriatingly economical with words at times. “Come on, spit it out. Why are you asking all these questions about Hannah?”

Blake grinned. “Jenny and I couldn’t help noticing that you two seemed to be getting along very well. We intercepted a few lingering glances and playful looks.” Blake scrunched her face into a terrible wink, which I couldn”t help chuckling at. “If we hadn’t known better, we’d have thought you two were on a date.”

I shook my head. “There’s nothing going on. The only reason it might’ve looked like we were on a date is because we were seated at an intimate table for two, watching a movie rated R for strong sexual content—a fact that you failed to warn me about.” Despite my words, a small buzz of excitement rose in my chest on hearing that Blake and Jenny had sensed some chemistry between us.

Blake gave an apologetic grin. “Sorry about that. We genuinely didn’t know what the set-up was. But to be honest, I’m not very sorry. It looked like you two were having a great time.” She paused, looking at me intently. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look at someone like that before.”

Hannah’s laugh rang out, and I couldn’t help glancing over at her. She was talking animatedly about something, her eyes sparkling. There was no denying that I was attracted to her. Not only was she gorgeous, but she was funny and sweet, and so easy to talk to. And I’d really enjoyed the rapport we’d built this evening.

“I mean, she seems great. But she’s also my employee, so she’s not an option. And anyway, work’s so hectic at the moment, I don’t have time to date.”

Blake shot me another loaded look, and I regretted speaking. I should have just denied it and moved on, rather than listing off reasons why dating Hannah was a bad idea and signaling to Blake that I’d given the subject some thought.

Dan approached us with a warm smile, and we ordered our drinks.

“I don’t think it’s illegal to date an employee,” Blake said when he’d gone. “When I worked in the hospital, there were plenty of relationships between senior and junior medical staff. As long as you handle it appropriately, which I’m sure you would, isn’t it okay?” Blake raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I don’t think it’s illegal. But dating employees is a recipe for disaster. There’s massive power imbalance, which isn’t exactly a great foundation for a healthy relationship. It could also be incredibly awkward if things didn’t work out. Who wants to work with their ex every day? Or what if I make a move, and it isn’t reciprocated? It could expose me—and Novel Gossip—to sexual harassment claims.” After working so hard to make Novel Gossip a success, I didn’t want to do anything that would put it at risk.

Blake frowned. “I don’t know her, but from what you’ve said, she’s sensible, smart, and kind, so that all seems pretty unlikely to me. And while I don’t know her, I do know you, and I know you’d act with integrity if you broke up and wouldn’t use your power imbalance to her disadvantage.”

“But even if you know that, Hannah might not, and that’s what’s important. She might not feel comfortable breaking up with me out of worry of losing her job, even if the worry is unfounded.” I shook my head firmly. “No, that’s a line I don’t feel comfortable crossing.”

Dan placed our drinks in front of us and we paid.

“I’m not trying to convince you to do anything you’re not comfortable with, it just seems like a shame to discount the possibility completely if you do have a connection with her,” Blake said gently.

I shook my head. “I’ve seen these sort of power imbalances play out in real life with my parents and then with Alexis. So maybe I am particularly sensitive about it, but it’s for a good reason.”

Blake tilted her head and looked at me. “Because your mom was your dad’s secretary?”

I nodded. “Their relationship was so unhappy. I’ve always wondered if she would have left him if she wasn’t reliant on him for a job or at least references.”

Blake furrowed her brow. “But how does Alexis fit in? I know when you started volunteering on her campaign she was effectively your boss, but I thought by the time you broke up with her you were off the campaign and working back in tech?”

I realized that while Blake knew about my relationship with Alexis and about the app, I’d never explained how intertwined they’d been.

“That’s true. But you know the app I sold, the one that let me pay off all Dad’s debts and buy Novel Gossip?”

“Mmmh,” Blake said, clearly confused about what that had to do with my story.

“Well, because I created it to help Alexis with grassroots campaigning, when the tech company approached me with the offer to buy it, they insisted Alexis needed to sign some paperwork giving up any rights to it.”

Blake frowned. “Why?”

“Because I’d developed it while I was a volunteer on her campaign they were worried Alexis might be able to claim some rights over the app, even though I’d done all the work in my personal time.”

Blake shook her head, her brow still furrowed, and took a sip of her drink.

“It was terrible timing,” I continued. “Not only had I just discovered that Dad, who’d died a few years earlier, had left Mom with a mountain of debt and Mom’s house was at risk of being foreclosed, but I’d also just decided I needed to break-up with Alexis when I got the offer from the tech company.”

Blake winced. “Shit.”

“Yeah,” I said, pausing to try my beer. “I knew that I had to break-up with Alexis before asking her to sign the paperwork. Doing it the other way around would have felt underhanded. But with Mom’s financial future on the line, I starting freaking out that Alexis would lash out in hurt or anger and refuse to sign the documents.” I grimaced at the memory. I’d had such severe anxiety about the whole situation that I’d started seeing a therapist to help me work through it.

“How did she take it? I’m assuming she signed it since the app sale went through?”

I pressed my lips together in a weak smile. “Yeah, she did. She was really upset about the break-up, but she signed everything without any hesitation. But that period was one of the most stressful times of my entire life. I vowed I’d never put myself in a similar position again. I’d also hate for someone else to be in that position with me. Either way, if there is a significant power imbalance, it’s not exactly the foundation for a healthy relationship.”

Blake turned to me with a softer expression on her face. “Okay. I’ll tell Jenny not to get too excited. You know how she prides herself on her match-making skills.”

A twinge of disappointment vibrated through me. A part of me had hoped that Blake would find a loophole in my reasoning and convince me that dating Hannah wasn’t a terrible idea.

Just then, peals of laughter rang out, and we turned to their source. Hannah, Jenny, Amanda, and Olivia were laughing uncontrollably, tears streaming down their faces.

“Looks like we’re missing out on something hilarious. Should we head back?” Blake asked.

I nodded, unable to keep my eyes off Hannah as we returned to the table with our drinks. Seeing her getting along so well with my friends sent a burst of warmth rushing through me. Hannah looked up, smiling, and caught my eye. The warmth was replaced with a jolt of electricity.

Is this one of those lingering glances Blake and Jenny had intercepted? Could my attraction to her be reciprocal? Hope sparked in my chest.

I dropped my gaze, inwardly shaking myself.

Get a grip, George.

As you just explained to Blake, she’s off-limits. And she needs to stay that way.

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