The first thing I notice are broad shoulders. The next thing I notice is how well those shoulders fill out the obviously tailored shirt he’s wearing. My eyes drift down in a covert assessment of the man’s ass which is definitely worth a second look. Before I can do any further study of his assets, the man begins to turn around. My eyes shoot back up to his face before he can notice me checking him out.
“Hi,” he says, shooting me a smile that I’m totally unprepared for. Damn. He’s hot. His hair is a light golden brown trimmed shorter on the sides than on top. He’s got a jaw that could cut glass and dimples that would make a lesser woman swoon. Good thing I’ve built up an immunity to hot guys during my years of working for Finn.
“I’m checking in for the Harmon wedding,” the man says. “Lucas Wolfe.”
To my credit, I’m only stunned for a moment before my professionalism kicks in and I return the smile.
“I’m Hannah Travis,” I say. “The manager. Welcome to The Queen’s Jester. Let me get you checked in, Mr. Wolfe.”
He leans in closer and I can smell a hint of some kind of expensive cologne.
“Call me Luke,” he says in a voice that I can only assume he uses to convince women to call him whatever he likes.
I nod and tell myself not to blush. He’s just being friendly. Who cares if he’s officially the second hottest guy in town right now? Not me. Right?
Luke looks at me as though he’s dying of thirst and I’m a tall glass of water. Which is ridiculous. But he’s definitely checking me out. I’m not used to this kind of single-minded attention. I’m not sure how I feel about it.
“Hannah,” he says in that low, bedroom voice of his. “What’s there to do for fun around here?”
I clear my throat, determined not to show any reaction. “There are any number of attractions in the immediate area,” I say, maintaining my professional demeanor by sheer will power. “But I’m sure the wedding festivities will keep you pretty busy.”
If possible, Luke leans even closer. “I’m never too busy for a little fun,” he says, holding my gaze. His eyes are a clear blue-green that remind me of a spring fed lake I visited once in Florida. A girl could definitely get lost in those eyes. My gaze drifts down to his mouth, full with just a hint of a curve upward at each corner. Part of me wonders what it would be like to kiss this man. It’s barely a thought in my mind before it vanishes and I shake my head, smiling wide.
“Can I ask you a question?” I say in a soft voice.
His grin widens. “Anything.”
“Does that line work often?”
He lets out a little laugh and rolls his eyes. “More than you might think.”
“So, hitting on the first woman you meet in a new town, huh?” I say, still smiling. “That’s your thing?”
He has the manners to look slightly sheepish. “I admit, it wasn’t my best work.”
I give him a pitying look and click my tongue. “Kinda lame, man.”
Now, Luke Wolfe lets out a loud, full-bodied laugh that’s infinitely more attractive than the leering he’d just been doing. I can easily understand how a woman might fall for that.
“You’re right,” he says when he finishes laughing. “It is pretty lame.”
I shrug as though I’m some sort of an expert, then I go back to checking him into the Jester’s computer system.
“So, what does work on a girl like you, Hannah?” Luke asks.
I look up at him with one eyebrow cocked. “Seriously?”
He tries to look innocent but fails. “Just for research purposes.”
I roll my eyes and hand him a room key. “Up the stairs, third floor, take a left. Room 12.”
He narrows his eyes at me as though I’m some puzzle he intends to solve. Then he takes the key from me, intentionally brushing his hand against mine. I make a sound like a gameshow buzzer and shake my head which makes him smile again. He makes his way to the staircase and turns to shoot me another puzzled look. I smile back innocently and give him a little wave. He looks confused and disappointed which thoroughly amuses me.
Chapter Six
Finn
It’s midmorning before I finish my workload from yesterday. My neck hurts and my eyes are feeling the strain of staring at the computer for the past 2 hours. But it had been worth it to see Liam’s eyes light up yesterday when he’d finally gotten the hang of hitting the ball. Not to mention the look in Hannah’s eyes when she’d thanked me. I scrub a hand over my face and sigh. I have got to stop thinking about her that way. I’d been so tempted yesterday. If Liam hadn’t been there, I might have said to hell with it and kissed her. This isn’t like me. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I’m going to have to find a way to get it under control before I do something stupid.
I stand up from my desk and stretch intending to make my way to the dining room and scrounge for whatever pastries might be left over from breakfast. As I approach the reception area, I see Hannah talking to a guest. Is it my imagination or is the man standing entirely too close? I stop walking and watch the scene before me. The man says something that makes Hannah smile. She answers him. He leans even further across the desk toward her. I feel a rush of something hot course through me. I refuse to call it jealousy. It’s more like protectiveness. Yes. That’s it. I only want to look out for Hannah and make sure she’s not in a situation in which she may need help. I’d do the same for any employee.
As I watch, the man says something else to Hannah. Her eyes
