Chapter 3
KNOX
I’m already falling for this incredible girl.
Every freckle, every eyelash. The way she describes the books she enjoys. I love the way her mind works – like how she decided that splitting a churro drizzled with chocolate sauce counted as an after-dinner snack.
I've never felt this much emotion at once before. There’s a shift deep within me while staring at Hanna's bright eyes. Not just in the center of my chest, where my long-neglected heart presumably resides, but also in my guts. Up and down my spine.
Hanna is mine. My woman. This knowledge is already there, in a primitive, caveman way. Something I just understand. Like recognizing the scent of the air ten minutes before it rains, or how I trust gravity, without understanding the mechanics of it.
"You're staring." Hanna dabs at her luscious lips with a napkin. "Do I have chocolate on my face?"
My hand reaches out, and I gently caress her cheekbone with my thumb. "No chocolate, just beauty."
She blinks sharply in surprise, then her pupils widen. "Do men usually say stuff like that on a first date?"
My hand drops, trailing my fingers down the side of her neck, then I pull back. "I forget. It's been ages since I've even considered going on a date." I hesitate. "About that. Hanna, how old are you? "
"Twenty-two." She bites her lip. "You?"
"Thirty-three. Is that okay?"
She looks up at the ceiling, tipping her head back and forth. "Well, it means you have all that important life experience. I don't." Her eyes meet mine, then she rolls them. “Just crazy overprotective parents, and now my aunt, who I'm staying with for a few months."
"But we've both lived dozens of lives through books, right?" I grin. "We're both ageless."
She smiles while nodding. “Sure, let's go with that."
The restaurant has cleared out a bit, and Hanna looks around before leaning close. "People have pretty much stopped watching you, by the way. Just in case that makes you feel more comfortable."
It's sweet of her to point that out. Then it hits me. "Hanna, you're shy around people, aren't you?"
She slowly nods. "Around strangers I’m a bit awkward, yes."
I take her hand under the table, loving the way her thigh twitches slightly as my wrist lands on it. Her fingers feel so perfect entwined with mine.
"I avoid strangers myself. It feels like everyone on this mountain thinks they know me and expect me to behave a certain way, but I don’t know what that is.
" I exhale, then meet her eyes. "Wow. I've never told anybody that before.
" We both smile. "What makes you feel awkward around strangers? " I ask.
“Customers are usually okay. I help them and they leave. Simple.” Hanna’s gaze drifts to the smudges of chocolate on our empty plate. "My family…" Her nose crinkles. "You're always supposed to love your family. But a lot of the time I don't really like them."
I squeeze her hand. "I get it. You just don't click with some people, family or not."
"And if my own family aren't nice to me," she practically whispers, "I guess I expect strangers will be even worse. Does that make sense?"
Dammit. Her whole energy changes when she mentions her family. It’s as if she’s resigned to her fate. I have no idea how I'm going to fix this, but I’m going to.
"Why was your aunt being such a bitch to you?" I ask bluntly.
Hanna's eyes roll again. "I'm living in the apartment over her garage and working in her shoe store for a couple of months. My parents are so overprotective that they only let me take jobs with people they know. At the same time, they only helped pay for one year of college. So they shipped me out here to a small town on the mountain. Apparently, it’s safer to work for Aunt Blaire. "
"You're twenty-two years old. Shouldn’t your parents have backed the hell off by now?"
"Well, they both lived at home until their late twenties. So they think that's the way."
My jaw clenches. "Family traditions are supposed to be things like opening one present on Christmas Eve, not deciding how your entire life unfolds."
Hanna laughs. "It's ridiculous, right? I thought that a couple of months wouldn't be so bad. Work experience with someone I know, that I thought would be a decent boss.”
"But she isn't?"
Her head shakes. "No. I think she wanted to have a young woman at the store so more men would come in." She shudders. "It's a shoe store, so when I'm sizing men’s feet, I'm basically kneeling in front of them." Her shoulders pitch forward again in that way that makes my stomach clench.
I’ve always hidden myself away, hoping that people won’t recognize me. This is one of those moments where a moment of discomfort will serve a higher purpose.
I lift her chin with my fingertip. "Hanna, look at me."
When her eyes lock with mine, I smile. "I could make it so that none of those men would ever dare treat you with anything other than the utmost respect. Would you like that?"
For a split second, she gives me a hopeful smile.
Then she pauses. "Wait. You clearly don't like everyone staring at you.
You're not thinking of making this…public or anything, are you?
" She squeezes my hand and shakes her head firmly.
"I can already tell you're not comfortable with that.
So, no thank you. I'm doing fine. I’ll just have to get used to it. "
This gorgeous woman “getting used to” being treated as anything less than a princess? Not on my fucking watch.
I turn to glance to catch our server Jamie’s eye, and she comes over. "Will there be anything else, Mr. Wolfe?"
"No, thank you. It was a wonderful meal. Please thank the kitchen for me."
"Of course. I'll just put the meal on your tab?"
"Yes, thank you, Jamie."
I slip a couple of twenties under the edge of the plate for a tip, then flash Hanna a grin. “I know how to make sure no man in town will even consider being inappropriate with you.”
“Really? How?”
“By announcing to the world that you’re with me.” Leaning close, I whisper in her ear. “I want to tell the entire town that you’re my girl. Is that being bossy again, or is it a good idea?” My breath stops as I wait for her answer.
She smiles slowly, fluttering her eyelashes. “It feels ultra-fast.”
“It is. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”
“What if you change your mind tomorrow?”
As if that would ever happen. “Highly unlikely. But if you change your mind about me, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t still protect you.”
Her eyes sparkle and dance. “You’re aware this is totally crazy, right?”
“I am.”
“Okay. I’m curious. Whatever your idea is, go for it.”
I read something once about Marilyn Monroe being able to walk around with a scarf over her hair, and people wouldn't realize who she was.
If she wanted to be noticed, all she had to do was sort of lift her chin and adjust her posture.
Within seconds people would begin whispering, "Look – that's her! "
Strangely, my brothers and I have a similar kind of thing. If we truly try, we can be mostly ignored, at least until someone examines our faces straight on. Then there's no mistaking who we are.
Well, now it's time for me to pull a Marilyn Monroe. I would never have imagined doing that before today.
I stand up, taking Hanna's hand. Normally I soften my voice, since it's deep and tends to boom. Now I let it ring out through the restaurant. "Shall I take you home, darlin’?”
I've seen many wonderful things in my life: blazing sunsets, incredible summer storms, and iconic works of art in museums around the world. Nothing comes close to the pure beauty of Hanna's smile at this moment.
"Sure," she murmurs.
On the way out, I make a point of flashing a grin to every other diner.
Once we're on the street, I slip an arm around Hanna and keep it there while wishing everyone we see on the street a good evening.
We take the long way back to my truck, passing two more restaurants and a café.
At each front window, I look in and make eye contact, nodding a greeting to anyone who looks even vaguely familiar.
By the time we get to the truck, Hanna is failing miserably at holding back her giggles. "They all looked completely shocked!” She slaps my arm playfully as I unlock the door. "You could've been wearing a hat decorated with glow sticks and rubber chickens and they could not have been more amazed."
I’m surprised at how easily I laugh with her, but I like it.
"They know I'm not a people person. I've never been seen out and about with a woman.
Trust me, this is big news that will be all over town within the hour.
" I help her into the truck, making the most of the opportunity to hold her elbow and lean in close.
She gives me her address, then as we drive, I ask, "Other than the potential for men to be…well, men… How is the rest of your job?"
"Not bad. Mainly sorting and organizing shoeboxes. Nothing thrilling, but it's fun updating the displays around the store and in the front window once in a while."
I pull up in front of a modest red brick house. "You’re close enough to walk to work, so I guess you don't need a car. That would help keep expenses down. Although I'm sure your aunt is paying you fairly."
I turn just in time to see a strange expression pass across her face. Racing around to her side of the truck, I help her down, then wrap my arms around her. "Hanna, please tell me she’s paying you what you deserve."
Her body feels so good against mine, but I hate the way she trembles.
“I've had part-time jobs before, but Aunt Blaire says that shoes are an entirely different market.
So technically, I was an unpaid intern for the first two weeks, then got bumped to minimum wage.
I get the apartment at fair market rent, of course. "
Jesus. For the moment, Hanna seems okay with it, so I don't want to upset her, but I’m going to fix this.
There's a wide stretch of lawn between the houses, and I take her hand and lead her to a flowering tree. Her aunt’s yard is pretty untidy compared to the next door neighbor, featuring a few underwatered buckets of plants, scraggly grass, and a cobbled together pizza oven structure made with what seems to be leftover bricks.
"Look." I point up at the perfect crescent moon above us.
"So pretty," she whispers.
"Not as pretty as you." My lips drift over the top of her hair as she rests her head against my chest. Then I clasp both of her hands, moving back a little so I can take a better look.
"Your eyes are magical. You make a jackass like me laugh so easily.
You're sweet and beautiful and… Basically, you're a fairytale princess, darlin’. "
Even in the dim light, I can see her blushing. "You read a lot, darlin’. What happens when a grumpy-ass man has stars in his eyes for a beautiful woman?"
Her perfect lips curve into a smile. "It depends on the book."
I shake my head. "No, no, no. This is where you're supposed to say he kisses her. You got your line wrong. Want to try again?"
"Okay…?" She looks up at me curiously.
I clear my throat. "What happens when a grumpy-ass man has stars in his eyes for a beautiful woman?” I tilt my head toward her expectantly.
"I guess…" She hesitates, smiling at me. "I guess he needs to decide whether to give her a polite kiss or knock her off her feet with one she'll remember forever."
“And what kind of book are we reading right now?"
She grins. "I think I’d like one where you take charge."
I move slowly, sliding my hand around her waist, then to the center of her back. My other hand caresses her cheek, then slips into the back of her hair. Hanna melts against me, the pressure of her breasts against the front of my shirt sending fire through my veins.
By the time our lips touch, I can hear my pulse pounding in my eardrums. Damn… She tastes like she looks…soft. Sweet. Delicate. Feminine. My head is spinning as I pull her closer, our mouths opening as this impossibly perfect first kiss takes on a life of its own.
Her fingers reach up to caress the short stubble at the back of my hair. Then her hand snakes around, stroking my scruff of beard, exploring my neck, my shoulder.
Someday soon, she's going to be naked in my bed, where we can explore each other completely.
Someday soon, I'm going to be telling this incredible woman that we belong together and she's going to be mine forever.
That everything is already decided. I don't know why, but I can feel it in the back of my mind.
But not tonight.
I kiss her until she's breathless, then step back. "See you tomorrow, darlin’."
"Oh! Are we going out again?"
My eyebrow lifts. "You said you like me bossy. So, yes." I kiss the tip of her nose. "Now let me watch you walk inside. I want to check out the way you move in that sexy dress.”
Her eyes widen again as her lips tighten in a way that tells me that she's partly amused and partly in disbelief that I just said that.
As Hanna struts across the grass for me I admire every wiggle. Then she flings her hair over her shoulder and blows me a kiss before darting inside.
Holy crap. My brand-new girlfriend already knows how to drive me wild.