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When they reached the café, he smiled when he saw the milkshake machine. It was the same one as in the kitchen at Molly’s. “How about a milkshake?” he asked Hannah. “No alcohol, no caffeine.” He smiled. “Very wholesome – and not at all creepy, right?”
She laughed. “Very wholesome, apart from all the sugar.”
“Shit – I mean, shoot. It’s not a problem, though. I bet they can make us a sugar-free version.”
She raised her eyebrows, and he shrugged. “I have a friend who loves these things and only drinks them sugar-free.” He realized that probably sounded like he was talking about his girlfriend, but he didn’t clarify. There was no point. He’d know Hannah for less than an hour. After that, they’d get on that plane and say goodbye. He’d seen her seat number when she showed him her boarding pass. She was up front in first class, and he was all the way in the cheap seats in the back. By the time he deplaned in San Francisco, she’d be long gone, no doubt whisked on her way by another limo while he rode the bus out to long-term parking, even though he’d only parked there yesterday.
“What can I get you?” the girl behind the counter asked.
“Two milkshakes, one strawberry, one …” He raised his eyebrows at Hannah.
“Vanilla.”
“Both sugar-free,” he added quickly. Hannah was pulling her wallet out, but he held his hand up and gave the girl his debit card.
“Thanks.”
Yeah. She might be a rich chick, but she was sweet and had nice manners. The girls Grady used to go out with expected everything and were grateful for nothing. That was another reason he’d had no issues with getting attached. He watched Hannah smile and thank the girl when she handed over her milkshake. She wasn’t like that. He wished again that he’d ignored Monty. He had no desire whatsoever to get a picture with Hannah, just to prove his friend wrong. He did, however, wish that he could get to know her better – and no way was that going to happen.
They went and sat at a high-top table, and he watched her take a tentative sip through the straw. He laughed when her cautious expression turned to surprise. “Wow! That’s amazing. Forgive me for doubting.”
“Consider yourself forgiven.” He took a sip of his own drink and nodded appreciatively. Ava loved the chocolate version, but the strawberry was his favorite. Not that he had them often. Just sometimes when they wanted to share a treat. He smiled, picturing the look on her little face when she took the first sip. She looked a lot like Hannah just had.
Hannah, who was now watching him with raised eyebrows. Shit. He should be talking to her. He should at least entertain her now that they were here. This had been a bad move. He didn’t want her to feel like he’d hit on her and then immediately lost interest. Especially since he couldn’t actually hit on her for real – and he had a feeling that it’d be a long time before he forgot her.
“So, you’re a vanilla girl?” Shit! He so should not have said the first that came into his head. The look on her face said she was reading a whole different meaning into his question than he’d intended. He gave her a rueful smile. “I’m talking about milkshakes. If your mind went somewhere else, that’s on you – not what I intended.”
She laughed. “Good save. I’m not sure if I believe you, but still, you saved it well.”
He held his hands out, palms up. “Milkshakes, that’s all. I promise.”
“Okay. Well, in that case, yes. Plain vanilla.”
Her playful smile made him want to ask if she was plain vanilla in the bedroom, too, but he couldn’t go there – it wouldn’t be fair to either of them when he had no intention of ever taking her to a bedroom. He shifted in his seat as the thought stirred his interest. Desire to take her to bed? Oh, yes. Desire was humming through his veins. But desire and intent were two very different things.
She twirled her straw between her fingers. “But you’re not.”
“Not, what?” He’d been so caught up in where his desires could take them that he wasn’t sure what she meant.
She pointed at his drink. “You’re not plain vanilla.”
He shifted in his seat again, his interest undeniably aroused now. He gave her a rueful smile and held up his milkshake. “I guess strawberry is just another version of vanilla. Straightforward, familiar, nothing unexpected.” He couldn’t help smiling and adding, “But still incredibly pleasurable.”
She laughed. “Okay, so neither of us is very good at innuendo, then.”
He laughed with her. “Apparently not. So, since we got that out of the way, tell me about Hannah. Where are you going? Are you off on a trip or heading home?” All of a sudden, he could feel his heart beating faster – which was dumb. He wanted to hear that she was on her way home – because San Francisco was a whole lot closer to Napa than LA was. But it didn’t make any difference either way. Even if she lived in San Francisco and wanted to see him again, he wouldn’t be able to. He had Ava, and Ava came first. That didn’t leave time for dating.
She took another sip of her milkshake before she answered, “Kind of both, kind of neither.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Go on. I was never any good at solving riddles.”
She blew out a sigh. “I’m going on a trip.”
His heart sank.
“But it’s a trip home to see my brother.”
His hopes rose again, even though he knew there was no point.
