Page 110 of Spring Break Fling

She glanced at the screen, annoyed. “Just as I predicted. They’re caught up with a last-minute issue at the farm. Some sort of problem with the irrigation system. They’ll be an hour late.” Hannah put the phone down on the counter with a little more force than necessary.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

She managed a small laugh, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “I’m not really surprised. It’s why I chose lasagna. It’s easy to reheat. It’s not like chicken or fish.”

“You know them well,” I said.

She nodded, opening the oven door again to check on the bubbling cheese. “I’ve had a lifetime of practice. Anyway, it gives us a bit more time alone together, which isn’t a bad thing.”

I agreed with a nod, moving around the kitchen to help her set the table. She directed me to the cupboard where the plates were kept. I grabbed them and set them out on the table one by one.

“I’m glad you can see the silver lining,” I said as I aligned the forks and knives next to each plate.

“I’m used to it,” Hannah replied, bringing over the salad and placing it in the center of the table. “Sometimes you have to look for those small blessings in disguise.” She pulled off her apron and hung it up inside the tiny pantry. “I say we bust open the wine. They snooze, they lose.”

“We have plenty to go around,” I said. “I’ll open it for you. I’m going to stick with beer. I’ve never drank as much wine as I have since I’ve been here the last two weeks.”

Hannah laughed. “Well, I’m glad I can introduce you to new experiences, even if it’s just drowning you in wine.”

I fetched the bottle she’d picked out earlier—a robust red—and uncorked it with more finesse than I usually managed. After pouring her a glass, I handed it over with a flourish. “For the lady.”

She took the glass, her fingers brushing mine, sending a spark of warmth up my arm. “Thank you, kind sir,” she teased, before taking a sip and closing her eyes to savor it. “Mmm, perfect choice.”

I opened one of the IPAs she said her father liked. It wasn’t my thing, but I wasn’t a beer snob. She grabbed one of the cookies she had made earlier and took a bite.

I cocked an eyebrow. “Dessert before dinner? I think that breaks some rules.”

She rolled her eyes. “One of the only good things about being an adult.”

She took another bite before washing it down with some wine. There was a smudge of chocolate on her lip. Something about the sight of it stirred something inside me.

“I’m going to say something crazy right now,” I said and stepped forward.

“Oh?” she asked, her eyes sparkling. “Let’s hear it.”

I reached out and rubbed the pad of my thumb across her lip, wiping away the chocolate. “I love you.”

The words came out far easier than I imagined they would.

Her eyes widened, and she sucked in a sharp breath. Surprise was written all over her face.

“Yeah,” I said, smirking. “Is that crazy?”

For a second, she just stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then, suddenly, she went up on her tiptoes and kissed me, her hands gripping in my shirt.

“I love you too, Nikko,” she murmured against my lips.

I deepened the kiss, pulling her closer until there was no space left between us. Her fingers skimmed up my chest. I couldn’t resist sliding my hands to her waist, then lower, until I had her perched on the edge of the counter.

“You sure about this?” I asked, my voice rough.

She nodded, her eyes dark with want. “Silver linings. Now shut up and kiss me.”

I did as I was told, and everything else—the smell of the lasagna, the hum of the old fridge, the fact that her parents were due in less than an hour—faded into the background. All that mattered was her and the way she fit perfectly in my arms, like she’d always been meant to be there.

38

HANNAH