Chapter 5
KNOX
Ilove that Hanna is as obsessed with books as I am, possibly more. I also love that she's so mature for her age. With her poise, I’d have guessed she was at least twenty-seven.
Maybe she's an old soul. I don't usually believe in that stuff, but with Hanna, who knows.
A quick glance around the restaurant confirms we’re being ignored, which is a relief. The beachy theme, especially in this back booth, is kind of romantic.
After we finish our meal, we linger over dessert. Our conversation is interrupted when I stare into Hanna's eyes so long that she blushes.
“What is it?" she finally laughs. "Something in my teeth?"
"You're so stunning that it’s distracting," I say plainly. "One minute I'm explaining why I love a spy thriller, and the next my entire mind is consumed by thoughts of kissing you."
Her perfect rosebud lips fall open, and I turn my back to the room as I edge closer to kiss her gently. I adore the way her breath catches as she leans in, just as eager as I am, her fingers clasping mine under the table.
Our mouths open, the kiss deepening, our bodies shifting together. In the back of my mind I think about that romance I read. Half of the problems were caused by the two of them being physically close, but the guy never having the balls to mention his feelings.
My arm wraps around Hanna's waist, pulling her tighter as our mouths move over each other, our breath becoming fiery and urgent.
Then I pull away enough to whisper, "Darlin', I don't have the words for all the things I'm feeling, because it's brand new. But you need to know that real feelings are happening over here."
Her lovely eyes shine as she looks up at me, smiling shyly. “I was thinking the same."
"Good. All this talk about books, we should make sure we're on the same page, right?"
Her hand squeezes mine. "That’s a bit cheesy, but for sure."
My face transforms into a mock scowl as I growl at her. "Cheesy? Cheesy?! Here I am, going out on a limb, baring my feelings for you, and you—"
Hanna bursts into laughter. I stroke her back, pushing the table a few inches out of the way so we can slide closer together. With her legs draped over mine, and our arms wrapped around each other, there's no way to hide the fact from anyone who might look that we're having a private moment.
I grin, nodding at the giant mural of ocean waves behind us. "I'm going to take you on so many beach vacations, beautiful. Watch you splash around in a cute little bikini."
Her gorgeous blue-green eyes dart around nervously. "I don't know if I could wear a bikini in public."
"No problem. We’ll take a private jet to a private beach."
She laughs again, then sputters to a stop. "Hey now. I love fantasy in books, but let's keep our feet on the ground here, buddy."
I shrug. "A bunch of my cousins have a tech company where they run around the world, taking private jets to exotic locations. I've done them dozens of favors. I can easily call one in and put us on a private beach beside a five-star hotel in the middle of nowhere."
Damn, I love the way her eyes sparkle.
"That's an interesting thought for the future," she says, squeezing my hand and squinting at me. "But my deal with Aunt Blaire is to work for her for three months, then she says she'll give me a great recommendation for another job."
"You don't want to work your way up to manager there and eventually take over the store?" I ask with an eye roll. "Isn’t everyone supposed to be focused on upward mobility these days?"
Hanna sighs against me. "Apparently, she has a problem getting people to work up here on the mountain. I'm pretty sure that’s why she insisted on having me live with her."
My hand scoops under her knee and tickles the back of it. "Maybe she realizes that she's a psycho bitch, and that’s why nobody wants to work with her."
Hanna barely holds back her laugh, as she attempts and fails to appear stern. "Hey, that’s my family you're talking about."
"I'm talking about someone who insulted my darlin' girl. I'm not a fan."
"Me neither. " She sighs. "But Mom insisted. I think she wanted me out of the house for a few months."
"Do you get along with your mother?"
She shrugs. "Kind of. She thinks I'm nuts for wanting a career that has anything to do with books. I'm not a writer, unless you count short reviews. Editing isn't my thing, and I don't think I'd enjoy marketing. But I'd love to work in a bookstore."
"Which is why you want a stunning retail recommendation, I assume?"
"Exactly. There's a big bookstore and café in Kingsville that I’d love to work in."
Her eyes catch mine, and we share a long look that seems to go on forever. Finally I breathe, "Unless…you stay here."
She blinks sharply. "Yeah. Unless I stay here."
We sink into another kiss, and I feel her curvy body shift and melt in my arms. "You're so sexy," I murmur. "You're driving me wild, darlin'."
Her breasts are heaving as I snake my hand up her thigh and squeeze her hip before letting it settle at her waist. My thumb stretches up, up, until I'm just barely brushing the bottom of her breast with the tip of it.
I feel her shiver against me. "Do you like the way I touch you, darlin'?"
Hanna nods, breathless with desire. My hand slips higher to stroke the bottom of her breast more firmly. The second her eyes become hooded, I drop my hand back down to the back of her knee, sneaking it under her skirt and up to her thigh.
"I love it when women wear dresses. Just the thought of slipping my hand up here whenever I want…" I pause to caress her skin with my rough fingertips, then chuckle. "Sorry, I mean you. There are no other women on this planet anymore. Just you."
She starts to laugh. "Knox, you can't just say things like that."
"Why not? It's the truth.”
This time when I kiss her, everything becomes immediately heated. As if the very air around us is steaming.
I shouldn't be clutching her body to mine like this, taking full advantage of the angle to pause the kiss for a moment and trail my lips along her throat, under her ear, before possessing her mouth again.
I shouldn't be letting my hands wander all around the outside of her thigh, her hip, feeling the lacy edge of her panties under her dress.
But every breathless gasp tells me that Hanna wants more. Much, much more.
"It feels like you need this as badly as I do, darlin'.”
Her eyes are glassy as she nods quickly, leaning in for another rough, fiery kiss.
Dammit, if we weren't in a restaurant, I'd… I feel a prickle at the back of my shoulder blades even before I break off the kiss to glance behind me. A handful of people can see into this nook of the restaurant, and from the way they’re looking very intently at their plates, I know they were staring at us a split second ago.
"We need to go," I rasp, setting Hanna's feet on the floor as I straighten up.
"I completely forgot myself for a minute there.
" She looks worried, but I lift her chin up with my finger, kissing the tip of her nose as she giggles.
“You make me crazy, beautiful. It's not your fault.
And at the same time, it's completely, totally, all your fault. "