Page 26 of The Perfect Secret
“So I guess you enjoyed yourselves?”
“We did.” Hannah looked at Tess for confirmation. At Tess’s nod, Hannah’s chest swelled. “But now we’re hungry…or at least I am.”
“I’m starved,” Tess said.
“Good, me too,” Dan said. “Let’s eat.”
Tess walked ahead to check out the food vendors. Dan pulled Hannah aside. “Thanks for the break.”
“Break? What break?” She winked at him. She wrapped her arm around his waist. Nothing else needed to be said.
Chapter Eight
“Was I right or was I right, Dad?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” He tried to maintain a straight face, but thought she noticed the strangled sound of his voice as he tried not to laugh.
After finding food—hero sandwiches, sodas, and chips—they ate their lunch at the same set of tables and chairs where he’d rested. Hannah and Tess told Dan about their time together; the rapport they were building warmed him inside. Now, as they checked out the last of the vendors, he linked arms with Tess as Hannah rushed ahead to check out a vintage dealer.
“Yes, you were right,” he said. “I’m glad you got a chance to meet.”
She shoved him playfully with her hip so he turned to her, one eyebrow raised. “Really?”
Biting her lip between her teeth, she reminded him of when she was five, and the way she looked at him when she wanted something, brown eyes like chocolate coins seeming to fill her entire face. Beth had always been able to resist, but not him. Never him. He staggered as the memory swamped him.
“Did I hurt you, Daddy? I didn’t mean to.”
Giving her a quick squeeze, he shook his head. “You? Hurt me? That could never happen, kiddo. Promise.”
She unlinked her arm from his and walked to Hannah. By the time he caught up with them, they were deep in conversation. They pulled apart and Tess giggled.
“What did I miss?”
“Oh…nothing,” Tess said.
Girls were so secretive.
Hannah grabbed his hand. She was soft and warm and…to hell with Tess’s admonition, he wanted to kiss his girlfriend. He tipped his head and pressed his lips against hers. She tasted fruity. Hoping she could read his desire in his expression, he pulled away to look into her face.
“Eww,” Tess said. With a toss of her hair, she moved on to the next vendor.
Hannah’s eyes twinkled. “Tess and I bonded, don’t worry.”
“I’m not,” he said. “I figure as long as you don’t sayewwevery time I kiss you, or roll your eyes, we’re good. Are you finished looking around here?”
“Leg hurt?”
She’d never been this direct before.Breathe, he told himself. It’s a natural question. He was rusty because other than Tess, no one talked about his leg. “Yeah, some, but don’t stop because of me.”
“I’m not. If there was something I really wanted to search for, I’d suggest you sit and wait for me. But I’m good. As long as Tess is ready to go, we can leave anytime.”
He pulled her into a hug and inhaled the scent of her auburn hair. He believed the scent of her could melt away all his pain. “As long as I’m with you, I don’t care where we are. Tess, are you ready yet?”
Tess sauntered over and frowned at his arm around Hannah’s shoulders. “I guess so.”
“Great, let’s go to my apartment,” Hannah said.
She stayed pressed against his side as they walked to the car. He wasn’t sure if she did it because she wanted to be close to him, or if she was giving him something to lean on. If he were honest with himself, he’d admit he leaned on her a little. But he wouldn’t analyze it. Her touch was heaven. Her fingers curled through his belt loop and stroked his side, her hair tickled hisneck. There was no way he would say anything to push her away, even if Tess thought it was gross.