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“Yes,” she said. “You said that.”
“My mother is a Bee,” he said. “She, uh, owns ninety percent of the town, and well, a couple of the bigger resorts out in Hill Country too.”
Hannah didn’t know why this made him uncomfortable. “Sounds like a lot of work,” she said.
Luke blinked at her and started laughing again, and Hannah didn’t know what she was doing. This felt like a date, and he wasn’t her boyfriend. At the same time, she didn’t want to say goodbye to him in another couple of hours.
“It was a lot of work,” he said. “My uncle manages most of it now that my family’s moved to Las Vegas.”
“She must be a black sheep, your mother. Land-owning Texans don’t usually up and leave.”
“My father wanted to try real estate development, and Vegas was in a huge boom,” he said. “That’s what I’m doing there now. Working for him.” He reached for his water glass, his eyes flitting all over the place before he finally looked at her again.
She got the feeling talk of his job made him uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the conversation about his family. No matter what, it was something.
“Hannah,” a man said, and she looked up at Jared. They laughed, and Hannah launched herself out of the booth to hug him. “How are you? I haven’t seen you in at least a week.”
“Oh, come on.” Hannah stepped back and tucked her hair. “It’s been at least nine days. Maybe only eight.”
Jared grinned at her. “Whatever you’ve been doing is working.” He whistled as he looked down to her toes and back to her face. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.” Hannah cocked one hip and put her hand on it. “Now, we want those special crispy potato nachos that aren’t on the menu…” She raised her eyebrows, and Jared laughed.
“You got it, Hannah. What else can I get you guys?” He glanced at Luke, and Hannah did too. He wore an expression of wonder, and the buzz in Hannah’s veins made her feel beautiful and charming.
“I want the peach sunrise,” she said. “And the spinach and bacon soufflé, with the grapefruit segments.”
“Makin’ me work this morning,” Jared said, grinning. “For you, sir?”
Luke looked like he’d been asked an impossible question. He hadn’t picked up the menu, and Hannah just watched him. She was just about to say maybe he needed another minute when he said, “Do you have anything like a western omelet?”
Jared flicked his eyes to Hannah for the briefest of moments. She kept her smile hitched in place. “I have a western omelet breakfast roll,” he said. “It comes with a toast cup or fresh fruit.”
“I have no idea what a toast cup is,” Luke said. “Or a breakfast roll, but it sounds great.”
“Comin’ up,” Jared said, and he walked away.
“He’s the chef-owner,” Hannah said once he’d gone.
“And you know him personally.”
“Yes,” Hannah said, smiling at him. She reached for her water glass too, and hid halfway behind it as she added, “I actually dated him for a while.” She took a drink immediately afterward, watching Luke.
He looked steadily back at her, and he finally folded his arms and rested them on the table in front of him. “Hannah, if I ever came back to Texas for good, would you…I don’t know. Would you consider going out with me?”
Hannah’s smile felt like it was made from pure gold. “We’re out right now.”
“Are we?”
“Aren’t we?”
“I thought you were dating someone,” he said, leaning back in the booth. He shook his head. “Nah, this can’t be a date, because you’re not a cheater, and I would never go out with someone who was dating someone else.” His eyes sparked with something bright and hot and dangerous.
Hannah swallowed and nodded. “Of course. You’re right. I’m seeing Chuck.”
“This is just breakfast on the way to the airport with a friend, because his flight got delayed.”
Hannah leaned into the table now. “Sounds like a great way to start the day. Now, about these luxury resorts in the Hill Country…can you get, I don’t know, discount rooms or passes for your friends?”
