Page 49 of Unhinged

Luke couldn’t help but grin. “If you want to… yeah. Of course.”

Quick as a flash, her entire demeanor changed, and her teeth sank into her lower lip. “There’s something…”

He immediately thought of the man who had shown up Wednesday evening and dragged Hannah away before he had even had a chance to speak with her. “Are you seeing someone else?”

Her head tipped slightly to the side. “What?”

“The guy who stormed into the health center the other night—are you two dating?”

It took a moment for her brain to connect the dots, and understanding lit her eyes as she shook her head. “No, that’s not... We’ve never dated. Dr. Chandler is a colleague and a friend.”

He wondered if the man knew that. He seemed awfully territorial for just a friend, but Hannah didn’t seem too interested in the guy, or he figured she would have called him last night. Still, the memory of her climbing out of a strange car yesterday morning, a man at the wheel, was burned in his brain.

He shut it down before he could overthink it and changed the subject. “I have to head home so I can shower and change. Will you be okay getting to work?”

She nodded. “I’d prefer we show up separately anyway.”

He understood, but the comment stung a little nonetheless. “Okay.”

She slid from under the covers and stood next to him, arms wrapped around her waist. “Do you want some coffee before you go?”

He examined her for a moment, his eyes sliding over her body of their own volition. Her curves were outlined by the thin camisole and shorts she wore, and he felt his resolve begin to waver. He wanted to run his hands all over her and make her forget all about the other man. He couldn’t figure her out. Was she telling the truth about him or not?

Her eyes seemed sincere, large and gray in her face, and she just stared back, waiting on his response. Trying to get a read on her was like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree. Finally, he nodded. “That’d be great, thanks.”

Pulling a robe from a chair in the corner, she slipped her arms inside and tied the sash tightly around her waist. They descended the stairs in silence, and the atmosphere remained tense and uncomfortable as Hannah began to make the coffee. He was just about ready to forego his daily shot of caffeine when she finally spoke up.

“I… I just wanted to say thank you. Again.”

He dipped his chin. “It was no big deal.”

“So…” She fiddled with a cup on the counter, her expression one of intense discomfort. “Were you serious about wanting to go out with me? Or were you just being nice?”

He regarded her warily. “What do you mean?”

She bit her lip and shook her head. “Never mind.”

He reached across the counter and hooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet his stare. He could feel her throat move as she swallowed hard. He was afraid to let himself hope as well, but the stupid emotion burst into his heart as her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment. “Tell me what’s going through that head of yours, beautiful.”

“I just… I’m not good at this kind of thing—dating, talking with guys. I get all awkward, and… weird.” She blew out a little breath. “I was kind of hoping you weren’t just saying you wanted to go out. I mean, people say that all the time, but then…” She shrugged and dropped her gaze back to the slab of granite that separated them.

He released her and circled the bar. Sliding his hands up her arms, he cupped her elbows and pulled her close. “I always mean what I say.”

She lifted her face and stared up at him for several seconds, seeming to weigh his words. “Okay,” she whispered.

He dropped a soft kiss on her upturned mouth, and her eyes fluttered closed. He kissed her once more, breathing in her sweet scent before reluctantly releasing her. “All right, beautiful. I’ll let you get ready for work. See you in a few?”

She nodded. “Sounds good.”

He laced his fingers through hers and tugged her toward the front of the house. Pausing by the door, he turned to her. “Be careful and make sure to lock up behind me.”

“I will. And, Luke? Thank you.”

“Any time.” He locked his hands together at the base of her spine, pulling her close and kissing her again. She fit him perfectly, felt so good within the circle of his arms, that he didn’t want to let her go just yet.

She rolled her lips together before meeting his gaze. “Would you like to come over for dinner again?”

The question was tentative, like she thought he’d turn her down. But he wasn’t giving her up now, not when he was just starting to figure her out. “Of course. I’ll see you back here at seven.”