Chapter 6 – Michael
Chapter Six
MICHAEL
“ D o you have an hour and a half to wait?” Nathan wipes oil from his hands and looks between Hannah and me. “You could go hang out at the coffee shop for a bit.”
I have to check my laugh. He’s bluffing. It’s the slowest part of the day; he’s always talking about how he finishes the dropped-off cars in the morning and then doesn’t get another rush until the islanders get off work around five.
“Do we?” Hannah turns to me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Nathan grin. My suspicions are confirmed—my buddy is trying to set me up.
I’ll have to buy him a drink next time we go out.
I’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to ask Hannah out for a do-over, but I’ve been swamped with work and Katie. The fact that we bumped into each other today—literally—is perfect. And since Jenny has the girls, I can steal away for a little while.
“I do,” I say. “Does that work for you?”
“Um.” She adjusts her glasses and shifts her weight.
That’s right. She had said she planned on going home and resting. Is she not feeling well?
“No pressure,” I tell her. “I can drive you home, if you like, and then bring the car to you once it’s done.”
“No, don’t do that.” She touches my upper arm, then seems to realize what she’s doing and pulls back, her face pink. “You’re both doing so much for me already. I can wait, and coffee sounds good.”
My stomach swoops with excitement. I meant what I said about driving her home, but I sure am glad she declined the offer. There’s nothing I would rather do more right now than cozy up with her somewhere.
We head out of the garage, Nathan winking at me behind Hannah’s back, and across the street to Tall Order. The afternoon sun kisses our faces, and dried leaves blow down the street. Hannah casts a shy look my way, and I grin back at her.
“After you.” I open the door to the coffee shop and bakery, the delicious smells of fresh bread and roasting beans wafting out of it.
About half of the seats are taken, most of them by Pine Island’s retired population and people working remotely on their laptops. The best spot is available, though, and I lead Hannah to the little table next to the fireplace.
A few logs crackle in the hearth, creating a cozy ambiance. Hannah takes off her jacket and slips into a seat.
“It’s so cute in here,” she comments, looking around at the plants and macramé art.
“You’ve never been in?” That’s hard to believe.
“A few times. I never stayed, though. I just grabbed a drink and left. Plus, I don’t really drink coffee.”
“In that case, I feel like an idiot bringing you here.”
“No!” She laughs, her face lighting up. “I would go anywhere with you.”
Her eyebrows rise in shock, and she bites her lip. Obviously, that last part just slipped out, but I don’t mind it at all.
“I like hearing that.” I let my gaze linger on hers for a moment longer, feeling confident in a new way—a way that has nothing to do with piecing together a deck or putting out a vehicle fire in record time.
Hannah makes me feel like a man who is important in other ways. Ways that I ache to explore.
Licking my lips, I push those thoughts away for the time being. “If you don’t drink coffee, how about a hot chocolate?”
“Sounds perfect. Thank you.” The blush is fading from her face, but the way that she fusses with her clothes suggests she’s still embarrassed. I want to tell her not to be, that everything she does and says is undeniably cute, even if she feels like she’s being awkward. I have to hold back, though, yet again. I’m all too aware that if I say too much, especially about delicate things, I could scare her away.
I need to keep doing my best playing it cool.
Whatever the hell that means.
Basically, I’m making this whole thing up as I go, hoping that I’m at least doing some things right and leaving a positive impression on her.
“Be right back,” I say, eager to stop thinking and just do something. I always was better with my hands.
At the counter, it’s the same deal it always is when I go out in town. Cade Rignola, one of my firefighters, skips back a few spots in line to talk to me.
“Is that who you were on a date with the other day?” He nods subtly at Hannah.
“Oh, mind your own business, Cade,” Summer, who owns Tall Order, says from behind the espresso machine. “Or you aren’t getting that extra chocolate on top of your cappuccino.”
“Hey, I’m asking what everyone wants to know.” Cade raises his hands in surrender.
“How was your shift?” I ask Cade, eager to talk about something that isn’t my personal life.
He gives me the general rundown as I place my order and wait. By the time I have a hot chocolate and an americano in hand, though, I’m eager to head back to Hannah and what precious time we have together.
“See you later,” I tell Cade, walking back to the table as fast as I can without looking frantic.
“Thank you.” Hannah takes a sip from the huge mug. A fleck of whipped cream lingers on her lips, and she dots it away with a napkin.
Heat rolls through me like a thundercloud across a summer prairie. Good God, what is wrong with me? We’ve barely touched, and yet I feel like a complete horndog around this woman.
“Was your class everything you wanted it to be?” I ask, half because I want to know and half because I need to distract myself from… other thoughts.
She beams. “It was amazing. I met Katie and Rose.”
“Oh yeah?” My pulse picks up, worry threading through me. They’re both polite and I’m not too worried about their behavior around adults, but this is Hannah. Someone special.
“They’re really nice girls.”
I sigh a little in relief. “They didn’t ask you about our date, did they?”
Under the table, my knee brushes hers the slightest bit. A tingle rushes through my leg, but I pull back, not wanting her to think I’m making a move this soon.
“They’re about the only people from this island who haven’t asked,” she laughs. If she even felt my knee touch hers, she’s either playing it off well or doesn’t care.
My hope is that she’s just as affected by it as me.
“What did you work on with them?” I ask, trying my best to keep my mind on her class with the girls and not on…other things.
“We’re doing scarves, but today was all about figuring out which yarn type is best for your project and casting on.”
“Ah.” I nod.
Hannah cocks an eyebrow. “You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you?”
“Not one bit.”
We both burst into laughter, and she shakes her head. “I can teach you sometime, if you like.”
“I would love that.”
She studies me over her mug. “Really?”
“Absolutely. It’s been too long since I learned something new. I wish I could teach you something in return, though.”
“I’m sure you know how to fix all sorts of things. I could use a lesson or two in taking care of leaky faucets and loose door hinges.”
“Those things are a piece of cake. I can show you anytime.”
The thought of getting a look at her house is thrilling. It’s probably cozy and decorated in warm colors, just like her shop. And I wouldn’t be surprised if she has a little garden behind it or some herbs in the kitchen window. She seems like she has a green thumb.
My phone beeps with a text, and I pull it out to see it’s Nathan.
“Your car is ready,” I announce, my stomach sinking. How did an hour fly by so fast?
“Oh.” She sounds just as surprised as I am. “That was quick.”
“Way too quick.” Pocketing my phone, I study her—a long gaze that she blushes under.
“How about a redo of that first date?” I ask.
“I thought this was a redo.”
“Then a second redo.”
“Sure,” she laughs. “I’d really like that.”
“Awesome.” I stand and lead her out of the coffee shop. As we walk onto the street, I feel multiple eyes on us, but for the first time in quite a while, I really don’t care.
Let them stare. My eyes are busy too—but only for one person.