Chapter 34

GEORGE

I took a large gulp of coffee, hoping it would counteract my terrible night’s sleep. I’d had a vivid dream that Alexis had won the presidency, and I was at her victory speech, standing behind her on the stage with a smile plastered on my face, desperately wishing I didn’t have hundreds of eyes and video cameras pointed at me. My happiness for Alexis was mixed with horror that I was about to become First Lady and that I’d have to sell Novel Gossip to focus on my new role. But when I’d turned to Alexis, it was Hannah, instead, standing behind the podium, looking radiant as she announced she was going on a world-wide book tour for twelve months—a book tour she’d failed to mention to me. I’d woken with a start at the news and then taken two hours to get back to bed. I kept telling myself that Hannah wasn’t like Alexis and that Novel Gossip was going to be just fine, but I couldn’t help wondering if the dream was a sign my subconscious wasn’t completely convinced.

“What time will Hannah be arriving back?” Mom’s voice cut through my thoughts as I sat in the armchair, cupping my mug with my hands. “If you need me to look after the café while you go pick her up, that’s fine with me. I think I’m really getting the hang of things.”

I smiled at Mom, who was eating cereal on the couch, Max curled up next to her. By the time we closed the café yesterday, Mom had well and truly found her feet. If she’d been a paid employee, my only complaint would have been that she spent too much time chatting with customers. And I had offered to pay her—an offer she’d firmly refused.

“You are. If you keep this up, I’ll be enlisting your services every time you visit,” I said. Mom grinned with pride. “But to answer your question, Hannah’s going to stay another day. Something came up that she needs to deal with.”

Disappointment flitted across Mom’s face. “Oh, that’s a shame. Alexis used to do this sort of thing all the time too?—”

“Mom!” I cut her off abruptly, unable to keep the frustration out of my voice. “Hannah is not Alexis.”

I clenched my teeth. Alexis had often had to extend her work trips or cancel our plans at the last minute because of a political crisis or an unexpected media interview or a networking event had arisen, but this was different. While Mom only had my best interests at heart, her making these comparisons was not helpful. Deep down, I knew that Mom’s concerns about Hannah were baseless, but her words still triggered a flicker of doubt in my mind and unearthed latent insecurities.

“Well, I Googled her last night, and she certainly has a lot of media attention at the moment,” Mom replied defensively.

“Yes, and she didn’t ask for any of it,” I snapped, guilt sweeping over me immediately. “Mom, I know you mean well, but I don’t want to talk about this right now. You haven’t even met Hannah yet, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make assumptions about her. Let’s change the topic.” I smiled at her, pushing my annoyance aside. “So, how many dates do you think you’ll be asked out on today?”

“It lookslike your mom is really enjoying herself,” Blake said, grinning over the counter as I made her a coffee. I glanced up to see Mom befriending another patron.

I chuckled. “Yeah, she’s actually been a huge help the last few days.”

“Have you heard from Hannah?”

I looked up, checking that no other customers were waiting in line. Thankfully, we were in a quiet spell. “Yeah, it sounds like things have been going about as well as they could, and she’s decided to stay an extra day to try to sort out some divorce stuff with her ex.”

I hit the pitcher of frothed milk on the counter to break up some larger bubbles that had formed.

Blake grimaced. “That doesn’t sound fun. Are you holding up okay?”

I poured the frothed milk into a mug. “Yes. I’m not worried about her ex or anything like that…”

“I feel there’s a ‘but’ coming.”

I paused, collecting my thoughts. “You remember how, before we started dating, I was worried about our relationship being imbalanced because I was her boss?” Blake nodded. “Well, all the events of the last few days have brought home just how successful Hannah is, and while I think that’s amazing and she deserves it, I guess I’ve had this underlying worry that perhaps our relationship is imbalanced, just not in the way I originally thought. It’s not helping that Mom keeps trying to draw parallels between Hannah and Alexis. It’s also been a real struggle having her gone, which has made me think again about the impact our relationship might have on Novel Gossip.”

Blake pressed her lips together thoughtfully. “I don’t think a relationship is ever going to be perfectly equal. Jenny did so much for me when we first got together, and now she’s working hard building up her business, and I’ve been doing more around the house, looking after the pets and that sort of thing, to take the load off her. Those kinds of swings and roundabouts are quite different from what you described with Alexis, which was basically you being the one to make all the sacrifices without any sign she’d be willing to do the same for you, to the extent that you were completely miserable. From an outsider”s perspective, at least, it doesn’t seem like that’s the case with you and Hannah.”

I nodded, thinking over all the times Hannah had stepped in to help me. Hannah had initially kept working at the café because she felt bad leaving me in the lurch, baked multiple cakes of the day with me, saved Novel Gossip from burning down and organized Chris Chen’s talk, which I could tell had caused her anxiety. I smiled. It was definitely swings and roundabouts with us. And Hannah had checked with me first, asking if it was okay for her to go to New York, so it really wasn’t fair to treat her absence as evidence that our relationship might damage Novel Gossip or that she didn’t value me. My employees also needed to be able to take time off. I just had to stop letting Mom get to me.

I exhaled. I couldn’t wait for Hannah to be back in Sapphire Springs tomorrow. Unless something else delays her. I pushed down the thought. For now, my priority was to finish making Blake’s double-shot latte.

An hour later, I was making yet another coffee when someone walked through the door. As usual, I lifted my head to greet them and did a double-take, my heart skyrocketing.

I blinked.

Just like the very first time I’d set eyes on her, Hannah stood near the front door, dressed in brown sandals, wide-legged navy pants, and a white t-shirt, looking absolutely gorgeous. But this time, she was looking at me and smiling.

My face broke into a grin so broad my cheek muscles ached. What the hell is she doing here? It took every ounce of self-control not to throw down the milk jug, run over, and take her in my arms, but I’d almost finished this latte and the customer who’d ordered it had been looking at their watch and sighing. In any event, having a reunion make-out session in the middle of my café was probably not the most professional look. Surely she’d walk over here any minute.

But Hannah spotted a recently vacated table that hadn’t been cleared yet and, instead, beelined toward it and started stacking the plates. Goddamnit. I want her here, now.

Mom, who’d just picked up a food order from the kitchen and was about to deliver it to a table, stopped next to me, frowning.

“Why is that customer clearing tables, honey? Should I tell her to stop?”

I laughed. “That’s not a customer. It’s Hannah, Mom.” I poured the frothed milk into the latte, forcing myself to focus on the coffee rather than the fact that Hannah was now walking back toward us.

“Oh!” Mom watched her silently for a moment. “Well, I guess I’d better deliver this to Mr. Jackson, and then you can properly introduce us.”

I handed over the triple-shot caramel latte, and Hannah came around behind the counter, balancing a stack of plates and coffee cups, still smiling and her eyes glowing. Screw being professional.

I walked toward her, grabbed the plates, put them on the counter, and then wrapped my arms around her waist. I kissed her, closing my eyes and reveling in her soft lips and her familiar scent. Damn, I’d missed this.

Before I got too carried away, I pulled back, opening my eyes and looking intently at her. “What are you doing back early? I thought you were going to be at least another day. Is everything okay?”

“I saw Ben’s Instagram post from Fire Island. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me he was away this week. How have you coped?”

I grinned. “I found another staff member.”

“You did?” Hannah’s eyes widened.

“Hannah, meet the newest staff member of Novel Gossip: my mom, Helen.” I pulled away and gently turned Hannah around as Mom walked back behind the counter.

Hannah froze for a moment before stepping forward and enveloping Mom in a warm embrace. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived and you’ve been roped into working.”

Mom raised her eyebrows as she looked at me over Hannah’s shoulder and tentatively placed her arms around Hannah. After a few moments, she took a step back and looked at her. “Well, you’re here now,” she said with a half-smile. “And, you know, I actually don’t mind working here at all.”

“Yeah, it’s not too bad. Although, the boss is a real taskmaster,” Hannah responded, her eyes twinkling as she turned to look at me.

Mom laughed, and I breathed out, relieved that their initial interaction seemed to be going smoothly.

“She’s already made friends with all the regulars and has been invited out on a date by Rory Goldsworthy!” I said, excited to finally share the latter with Hannah.

“What?!” Hannah’s eyebrows leaped up.

“Don’t worry. I turned him down,” Mom assured her.

Hannah let out a peal of laughter. Our eyes connected, and all I wanted to do was lift her into my arms and carry her up the staircase and into the privacy of my apartment in a fit of Herculean strength I definitely didn’t have.

A cough brought me back down to earth. I turned to find a line had formed in front of the counter. Hannah jumped into action, taking orders and processing payments behind the counter while I made the coffees, and Mom and Josie ferried food out from the kitchen and took orders from customers at tables.

“George, is this what I think it is?” Hannah asked behind me.

I turned from the counter to find her beaming at me, holding a plate of beef Wellington, Dauphinoise Potatoes and green beans that she’d just picked up from the kitchen.

I grinned. “Yes. Romina made it as a special on Tuesday, but it’s been so popular I’m planning to add it to the menu.” I didn’t mention that it had been a special I’d asked Romina to make for Hannah to celebrate The Realm of Furies release.

“Oh my god!” Hannah exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, I’ve already asked Romina to make sure there is one set aside for you for lunch.”

“You are the best, George O’Grady,” Hannah murmured in my ear, surreptitiously placing her hand on my butt and giving it a squeeze as she walked past me to deliver the food.

With the four of us working, everything ran like a well-oiled machine. After the lunch rush was over, I waylaid Mom, who was carrying plates back to the kitchen. “Mom, why don’t you take the rest of the afternoon off and relax? You’re on vacation, after all.”

“No, no. I’m happy to stay and help,” Mom protested.

Hannah, standing nearby, turned. “Why don’t both of you finish up early so you can spend some quality time with each other? Josie and I will manage fine without you.”

Part of me didn’t want to leave Hannah, but I also wanted to make sure Mom enjoyed her stay here, and so far, all she’d really done was work and help me cook. It would be nice to take her for a walk down Main Street, go to the antique store she loved, and perhaps grab an ice cream from the creamery and walk along the waterfront. Mom’s face brightened at Hannah’s suggestion, making the decision easier.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

Hannah nodded emphatically. “Positive. Go on! Go and have some fun! You two deserve a break after the last few days.”

Momand I had a lovely afternoon doing all the things I’d planned, although I couldn’t help feeling guilty that I was itching to get home and see Hannah again the entire time we were out. By the time we returned to Novel Gossip, Josie had left, and Hannah had almost finished mopping, her hair falling over her face as she scrubbed a stubborn mark in front of the counter. How the hell does she even manage to make mopping hot?

“Mom, why don’t you go upstairs. I’ll just finish up down here,” I said, unable to take my eyes off Hannah.

Hannah looked up, her face breaking into a contagious smile. Damn, it is good to have her back.

“Here, let me.” I held my hand out for the mop.

“I can do it,” Hannah protested, but I shook my head,.

“I know you can,” I said, “but I want to.”

Our hands brushed as she gave me the handle, and even though it was brief, a thrill shot through my spine. Time for that later. The floor wouldn’t mop itself.

I took over the last section of the floor, making quick work of it, and then we headed upstairs together. I was itching to have a proper conversation with Hannah, but with Mom staying, our privacy was seriously lacking. Thankfully, as soon as we entered the apartment, Mom excused herself to take a shower.

As soon as she was out of sight, I wrapped my arms around Hannah again, enveloping her in a bear hug. “I missed you,” I murmured into her hair.

“Me too. I know it was only two days, but it felt like an eternity.”

“It really did.” I pulled back so I could see her face, my arms still around her, and regaled her with a few highlights from the past few days of working with my mother.

“I’m so sorry,” she managed to say, trying to bite back laughter. “I would never have left if I’d realized you were so understaffed.”

“Well, I’m glad you did. Not only did Mom discover her new calling of working in a café, but it sounds like you managed to sort out a lot of things.” I could have stayed like this, face to face with Hannah, for hours, but I was conscious that we’d be eating late if we didn’t put the marinara sauce on to simmer soon. “Are you okay if I start making dinner?”

“Of course.” Hannah nodded and walked with me to the kitchen. “What can I do to help?”

I passed Hannah garlic and onion to chop while I got out the saucepan and searched for the cans of tomatoes.

“I guess you didn’t get a chance to speak to Tania or your parents today?” I asked as I opened the can. Hannah had arrived back at the café before noon, which meant she’d have had very little time in New York this morning.

Hannah’s face broke into a broad grin. “Actually, I did both!”

I did a double-take. “You did?”

“I was very efficient—spoke to my parents at seven-thirty this morning and Tania at eight-thirty,” Hannah said.

“Wow! That must have been an intense couple of hours.” My face softened. “How did it all go?”

As Hannah chopped the alliums, she filled me in on the conversation with her parents. My heart ached hearing their reaction. They sounded awful.

“I’m so sorry it didn’t go well.”

Hannah gave a small smile. “Well, in some ways it did. My side of the conversation went well. I kept my cool and told them how I felt. Even though their response was disappointing, it felt good to finally be open and honest with them. As your therapist said, you can’t control how people react.”

My chest swelled with pride. “I’m so glad to hear that, babe. And how did things go with Tania?”

“That went better. We worked out the asset split, and while the conversation was definitely awkward, we got through it without things getting nasty.”

Hannah tipped the garlic and onion into the saucepan. They sizzled as they made contact with the hot oil.

She turned around to me, her smile broadening. “It’s such a relief to have both of those conversations behind me. And while I can’t control how my parents react, I can control who I surround myself with.” She stepped toward me, holding my gaze. “And there’s one person in particular I want to surround myself with as much as they’ll let me.”

“Oh, really?” I grinned. “And who might that be?”

Hannah wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me gently before pulling back.

“Who do you think?” She smiled, her eyes crinkling, sending warmth rushing from my chest to my extremities.

“Well, I don’t think you’ll be hearing any objections from that person.” I leaned in and kissed her again. “I would quite happily spend twenty-four seven with you.”

As our kiss deepened and I slipped my hands under her top to caress the soft skin of her back, I was overwhelmed by the intensity of the feelings I had for Hannah.

Damn, I love this woman.