Chapter 20

GEORGE

An hour later, we were sitting in the beer garden at Builders’ Arms, under a massive old oak tree in dappled sunlight, enjoying a round of drinks, and sharing a bowl of fries and a plate of nachos. The weather was so warm that our clothes had dried in no time, although a faint musty scent of river water remained and Hannah had taken her soaking wet sneakers off and left them in the sun. Olivia had joined us about fifteen minutes ago, having kayaked all the way up to Battersby Island and back again. She’d shown us photos of the crumbling castle, and we’d filled her in on being stranded in the kayak and our accidental dip in the river.

I reclined in my chair, taking it all in. Summer always lifted my mood, and today, despite still being only early June, had felt like quintessential summer. Finally, an afternoon off. And I got to spend it with some of my favorite people. My eyes lingered on Hannah, who was deep in conversation with Olivia. Hannah was rapidly becoming one of them. Our conversation about the kiss had been the only blip on an otherwise perfect day. But surely, now I knew where I stood with her, I could just move on.

“This was really fun. We should do it again soon,” Jenny said during a comfortable lull in conversation.

My gaze connected with Hannah’s for a moment, and she smiled at me, sending my belly fizzing. You need to move on, George.

“I’m always up for a kayak,” Olivia said, grinning. “Is the farm next weekend?”

Jenny’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes! I’d forgotten about that. Hannah, you should come with us—if you’re not busy. We’re going fruit picking at Red Tractor Farm.”

Hannah’s eyes flicked back to me. Is she wondering if I’m okay with her coming along? I smiled reassuringly, just in case.

“That sounds great!” Hannah said.

“Hey, are you feeling okay?” Blake, who was sitting next to me, murmured.

“Yes…why?” I frowned. Those words didn’t usually bode well for what was to come. I’d just been thinking how great I felt, but had I prematurely aged myself over the last few weeks due to stress? Or were my feelings for Hannah plastered on my face every time I looked in Hannah’s direction?

“Your face is very red.”

I touched my face. It was hot.

“Hmmm. Maybe I got a bit sunburned.” I looked down at my legs, and the contrast between the small section of pale skin on my thighs that had been protected by my shorts when I was lying on the kayak, but was on display now that I was sitting, and the remainder of my crimson legs sent my heart sinking. “Crap. Okay, maybe I got a lot sunburned.” Goddamnit. In the rush of getting ready, I’d completely forgotten to put on sunscreen.

I peered at Hannah. She also looked more flushed than usual.

I stood up. “I’m just going to head over to the general store and grab some aloe,” I said to Blake as I stood.

Thankfully, the general store was close to Builders’ Arms. After I’d bought the aloe, I sat on the bench outside the store and smeared it all over my legs, arms, and face. I exhaled as the cool gel gave my red skin some immediate relief.

I reentered Builders’ Arms a few minutes later. As I stepped out into the beer garden, I almost collided with Hannah.

“Hey! Sorry, I just slipped out to get some aloe. As you can probably tell, I got sunburned,” I said, smiling at her.

“Me too,” Hannah said, grimacing. “I’m kicking myself for not thinking of sunscreen. I was just going to the bathroom to splash water on my face.”

“Well, you’re more than welcome to use this.” I waved the aloe bottle around in the air like a complete dork.

The grimace vanished, replaced with a full smile. “That would be amazing. Thanks.”

We stepped farther into the beer garden, next to a brick wall that was covered in green ivy so we weren’t blocking the door. I handed her the bottle and Hannah started to apply it to her face and arms. Watching her rubbing the aloe into her skin was strangely mesmerizing, sending tingles vibrating through me. Sexy wasn’t the first word that usually appeared in my mind when it came to green gel-like substances, but it did when Hannah was involved. I couldn’t look away, which was why I noticed she’d missed a patch of the delicate skin under her eyes, and on her upper chest, just below her collarbone, both of which were distinctly pink.

“You missed a bit here,” I said, patting the skin under my eye with a finger. “And, um…on your chest.” Helping with aloe application was the sort of thing friends did for each other, right? Maybe not bosses, but I pushed that thought down.

“Here?” Hannah asked as she smeared more aloe on her cheeks and chest, only partially covering the un-aloed patches.

“Do you want me to help? You still missed a bit.”

“Sure.” Hannah gave me a grateful smile and handed me the bottle.

Stepping closer, I put a dollop on my index finger and gently swiped it under both her eyes. Hannah’s soft breath tickled my face. Her mouth was only inches from mine. Our eyes locked, and a thrill rushed through me. I bit my lip. FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, remember. Hannah made it very clear.

I dragged my eyes away from hers, and without thinking, they dropped to the patch of skin on her chest that she’d also missed, and then down to the soft swell of her breasts rising up from under her tank top. Eyes up, George. Offering to help her had been a terrible idea.

I swallowed.

“George!” Blake yelled far too loudly as she appeared out of nowhere and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. “I was wondering where you two had gone.”

I flinched and turned my head to stare at Blake. It was out of character for Blake to be so loud and demonstrative. Had she downed one too many beers, or was she suffering from heatstroke?

Blake’s facial expression gave nothing away, but it did bring me back down to reality.

“Well, I think that’s good now,” I said to Hannah, my face feeling even hotter than before.

“What the hell was that?” I whispered to Blake as we made our way back to our table.

Blake frowned. “You told me to chaperone you to make sure you didn’t do anything with Hannah.”

“Um, I’m pretty sure I said I didn’t need you to chaperone.” Although, it was probably for the best Blake had interrupted us.

Blake shrugged. “Well, you definitely said you wanted to keep things ‘friendly but professional’ with her.”

“I was just applying aloe on her sunburn,” I said, wincing at the defensive tone in my voice.

Blake’s eyebrows rose. “George, you were standing inches away from her, staring at her boobs, and licking your lips. That did not scream ‘friendly but professional’ to me.”

I groaned softly. I couldn’t argue with that. My feelings toward Hannah were anything but professional. I sat back in my chair in the dappled sunlight, took a sip of beer, and shut my eyes for a moment. I had to focus on what I did have—sunshine, good food and drink, and the company of my friends—and accept that was all Hannah and I could be. Friends.