“Anyway, I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive my shitty attitude.” I smile, trying to take the conversation back to something more casual. It seems to work because Hannah returns the smile and rolls her eyes.
“You know I can’t stay mad at you.” She shrugs. “Of course, I forgive you.”
After my conversation with Hannah, I return to my office. I know I should feel relieved that she’s no longer angry with me, but I’m unsettled. I know why, even if I won’t admit it aloud. I don’t like the idea of Hannah dating. I want to keep her to myself. I know it’s ridiculous of me to feel so possessive over someone I have no claim over, but I can’t seem to help myself. I want Hannah. I want her in a way I’ve never wanted another woman. I nearly laugh at the absurdity. It would be funny if it weren’t so damned pathetic.
I manage to keep myself closed up in my office for most of the afternoon. I don’t need to subject anyone else to my dark mood today. Around 5, I decide to call it quits for the day. Tomorrow evening is the rehearsal dinner. It promises to be a busy day. Luckily Matt will be back to run the desk, freeing Hannah up to handle all the wedding party details.
I scrub my hands over my face as I make my way to the back exit. The image of Hannah biting that full lower lip pops into my head for the millionth time today. It’s as though now that I’ve admitted to myself that I want her, she’s all I can think of. And they’re not innocent thoughts either. My mind is full of all the different ways I’d like to touch and taste her. To make her cry out in pleasure. I let out a groan of frustration as I push open the door. One of the dining room servers is on the porch. He gives me a weird look.
“Everything okay?”
I answer quickly. “Fine. Thanks.” He doesn’t look convinced, but I give him a smile and an awkward wave before nearly jogging to my truck. I just need to get out of here. I need to take a cold shower and find some way to get Hannah off my mind.
Chapter Nine
Finn
After a restless night filled with vivid dreams, I wake up well before my alarm. I decide to go into work early so there’s less chance of running into Hannah in the parking lot. I’m not avoiding her, exactly. I’m just getting a head start on work. Tonight is the rehearsal dinner for the Harmon wedding and there are a ton of things to do to prepare. I’m sure Hannah has everything well in hand, but I’ll help where I can. Maybe there’s something I can do out on the grounds. Far away from Hannah. Though I can’t think of anything right now.
Despite the two cups of coffee I drank before leaving my house, I’m still in a sleep-deprived fog when I walk into the Jester. I grab another cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin from the dining room before closing myself up in my office again. I pull up my daily calendar and attempt to focus, but I don’t manage much work before there’s a knock on my door.
“Come in.”
The door opens and Hannah peeks in. “You busy?”
I smile, determined to act like nothing has changed between us. “Not really.”
“Good,” she says, walking into the room. “Because I need you.”
I freeze at her words. It’s just for an instant, but Hannah notices.
“I mean, I need your help.” A faint blush stains her cheeks and she can’t quite meet my gaze.
I stand. “Sure. What do you need?”
“Oh. Um, right. I talked to Van and he’s planning to send over some staff for the dinner tonight, so that’s covered. He said to tell you that you owe him one.”
I smile. “I’m pretty sure we’re even at this point, but okay. You said you needed help?”
“I’ve been waiting for the flower arrangements to be delivered, but they were late. The bride ordered from some fancy place in the city. Anyway, it turns out the idiots delivered them to Mack’s instead of here.”
I roll my eyes. “Just picked the first King they could find, I guess?”
“Guess so. Anyway, I need to take the van and go pick them up. And since you used it last…” She holds out a hand and smiles. “Keys, please.”
I open my desk drawer and pull out the keys but I don’t hand them over right away. My eyes narrow. “How many flowers are we talking?”
She sighs. “I’ll probably need to make two trips. And I need to go asap because I have a million other things I should be doing.”
I tip my head toward the door. “So, go do them. Let me handle the flowers.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.” I make a shooing motion with one hand. “This, I can do. I make an excellent gopher. Whatever other magical spells you’re weaving are all you.”
She gives me one of those wide, true smiles that threatens to steal my breath. I look away before I do something stupid like offer to kiss her senseless.
“Thank you, Finn. You’re the best.”
“No problem.”
I spend the rest of the morning driving back and forth between my brothers’ restaurant and the Jester, loading and unloading elaborate flower arrangements. Hannah had been wrong. It had taken three trips with the van to bring all the flowers over from Mack’s. Just how many flowers did one bride need for a rehearsal dinner? I’ve never personally planned a wedding, but I’ve witnessed several over the years and this seems to be a ridiculous amount
