Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Kate’s body was a live wire. She let go of Hannah’s hair to run a hand through her own short hair.
She was so drawn to this beautiful creature, with her delicate features and those wide eyes behind the glasses that kept sliding off her face.
If she could have her way, she’d take Hannah’s hand and lead her upstairs to her apartment.
Then she would slowly undress her until she could see every inch of this woman’s gorgeous body.
But that would be crazy. She hardly knew Hannah, but she knew Hannah was local and someone she’d run into all the time.
Kate didn’t think it was a good idea to get involved.
When or if things didn’t work out, she’d be stuck seeing Hannah around town all the time.
She needed to think with her head and dispel any thought of this continuing further.
Reluctantly, she pulled her hands away from Hannah and shoved them into her pockets.
“I, ah,” Hannah took off her glasses and wiped off the steam that had condensed on them with the hem of her cape. “I mean, would you like to grab a drink sometime? It doesn’t have to be booze. It could be anything: tea, coffee, boba. I, um, would love to, ah, hang out?”
“Are you asking me out on a date?” Kate cocked her head to the side.
Hannah’s chest was flushed pink, and Kate was dying to know how low the blush had spread.
“Would you want that?” Hannah asked, surprising Kate.
“I’m not much for dating, especially around here.”
Hannah’s face fell. Kate felt an uncharacteristic ache in her chest. There was something about Hannah that made Kate want to please her and get that brilliant smile back on her face.
“Oh,” Hannah said.
“That kiss, though. It was unexpected and lovely. Thank you for that.”
Hannah put her head down and started to pick up the cards.
Kate watched her, noticing how her shoulders were hunched again.
She could feel the sadness rolling off Hannah as she continued to pack up.
Kate stood, unable to walk away, but also unable to say yes to a date with Hannah.
She didn’t need the complications of dating and a relationship.
Her last relationship had ended when she’d moved to Marley Creek and opened her store a couple of years ago.
She’d just started testing the waters with a few dates here and there over the last six months, always making sure the people she met on the app didn’t live in her town.
She still wasn’t ready for more, and Hannah, she thought, would demand more.
Hannah deserved more than Kate could give her.
Still, she was drawn to Hannah beyond belief. How could she say absolutely no to this woman?
“Maybe…” she started, and Hannah looked up from the box she was packing.
“Yes?” The hope in Hannah’s voice caused that ache to resurface in Kate’s chest. Was that her heart? She had locked that away the day Brittany had left her for her ex-boyfriend.
“Maybe we can hang out. But you have to understand I’m not looking for a relationship.”
Hannah pressed her lips together. “Is this how it usually works?”
Kate scrunched up her face, “What do you mean?”
Hannah frowned. “I’m sorry. That sounds really dumb. When I get nervous, I usually talk too much or blurt out an inner thought.”
Kate tapped the velvet bag containing Hannah’s cards. “What if I sit for a reading?”
Hannah shook her head vigorously. “Oh, no, not that. Like I said, I’m not ready to read humans.”
Kate smiled and put her hand on Hannah’s arm. “Come on, it will just be for fun. Let’s see if the cards think we should hang out.”
“I don’t know.” Hannah gnawed on her bottom lip.
Kate stood back. “That’s fine. No worries. I’ll let you finish packing up.”
Hannah took off the cape and folded it. “Here’s the cape back.”
Kate moved away from Hannah and started cleaning off the counter.
She should feel good. Their kiss had been freaking electric, surprising, and enjoyable.
And she’d avoided getting entangled with someone she’d probably be running into at the business association meeting next week.
So why did she feel like she was about to miss out on the adventure of her life?
“Is Mercury in retrograde or something?” Kate asked.
“No,” Hannah replied as she was trying to flip the table over so she could fold it down.
Smack!
Kate startled. “Here, let me help you with that.”
Hannah stepped back, and Kate effortlessly unlocked the table legs and had the table folded and ready to load into Hannah’s car.
“Thanks for the help,” Hannah said. Kate inhaled. There was something about the way Hannah smelled that made Kate think of a cozy cabin with a fireplace crackling and what it could be like if she were snuggling in that cabin with Hannah.
“I can carry it out to your car. You parked out back, right?”
“Yep.”
“Let me grab my jacket.” Kate walked over to the counter, pulled a jean jacket out from under the counter, and put it on. She checked the pocket to make sure she had the store keys and then led the way out the back of the store.
Hannah pressed her key fob, and the car lights flashed. Kate held on to the table while Hannah opened the door, and then Kate slid it into the car. Within a minute, Hannah’s car was packed, and suddenly Kate wasn’t ready for her to leave.
Hannah opened her car door and turned back to Kate. “Thanks again for having me out to do the pet psychic night. I suggested it to Zaina a while ago, and I’m so glad we could make it happen.”
Kate grinned widely, “It was a huge success! I can’t thank you enough. I am sure I’ll hear more great feedback from customers over the next few weeks.”
Hannah smiled. “Amazing, I appreciate you! Can you believe it’s almost Halloween? Our busiest time of year is almost here.”
“Maybe we can—” Kate said, and then Hannah’s phone rang. “I’ll let you take that. Thanks again—for everything.” She wrapped her arms around herself and watched as Hannah got in her car and left.
She didn’t like all the emotions that were bubbling up.
Kate had been able to avoid thinking about Brittany leaving and about how she had refused to let Kate have their dog, Oreo.
She took a deep breath. Now was not the time to dwell on the past. She needed to get some sleep because tomorrow she’d be baking up a storm.
Kate went back into the shop to close things up.
On the counter next to the POS, someone had left one of Hannah’s cards.
It read: “Maxim the Magnificent, Tarot Cartologist,” and below was a phone number and an email.
She put the card in her back pocket, unsure what she was going to do with it.
Would she call her or just let things be?