“Oh, and Hannah?”
“Hm?”
“Put your shoes on.”
She scowled but grabbed the pair of slippers she’d stowed in his office. She heard his chuckle as he made his way to the kitchen and she made her way to the parlor. Pausing briefly, she overheard Thomas speaking as she approached the open door.
“Gwen, tell me about your brother’s fiancée. Where is she from? Has he known her long?”
“I believe she’s from Chicago. He hasn’t known her particularly long, I suppose.”
“She sounds British.”
“Oh, yes. Well, there is that.”
“Do you know which part of England she’s from?”
“I don’t. I’m sorry.”
“What about her family? Does she have one here?”
Gwen mumbled something Hannah couldn’t catch and then Thomas spoke again.
“You look very pretty today, Gwen.”
Hannah shivered involuntarily.
“Thank you,” Gwen said quietly.
“What is Christopher’s schedule like this week? Will you be spending it together?”
He was asking personal questions that made Hannah very uncomfortable, so she decided to break up the interrogation. “Christopher’s checking on dinner,” she said as she came in the parlor. “Where’s Sam?”
Gwen smiled. “He’ll be here shortly.”
Hannah sat on the couch next to Gwen and sipped her wine as she observed the young man sitting across from them. “Thomas, how long have you and Christopher worked together?”
“About a year now.” He settled back in his seat.
Something about this guy gave Hannah the creeps and she knew she was going to have to talk to Christopher about it.
Samuel arrived a few minutes later and apologized for his tardiness. Hannah liked him immediately. He was tall, almost as tall as Christopher, with sandy blond hair and light blue eyes. He had a quick smile and was open and warm. Christopher came into the parlor and let everyone know that dinner was ready, so the group made their way to the dining room.
Thomas didn’t ask any personal questions during dinner, which raised even more red flags for Hannah. Her private eye training was kicking in, and she knew there was something decidedly off about this guy.
When dinner was over, Thomas kissed Gwen’s hand gallantly and then went on his way. Sam lingered for a few minutes but left shortly after Thomas.
“Well, I’m exhausted,” Gwen said. “I’m going to turn in.”
Once goodnights were exchanged, Hannah followed Christopher back into the parlor. He sat on the couch and pulled her down beside him.
“How much do you know about Thomas?” Hannah asked him.
Linking his fingers in hers, he kissed her hand. “He’s been working with us for about a year. We don’t know him well. Why?”
“There’s something not right about him, Knight. When you went to check on dinner, I overheard him grilling Gwen for information about us. But he didn’t ask those same questions when I came in the room.”
“Why is that strange?”
“If he wanted to know information about me or you, why wouldn’t he ask us directly... or speak to you? It’s as though he’s trying to get information from Gwen.”
“He likes my sister,” Christopher said distractedly.
She squeezed his hand. “You wig out because your friend pays attention to her, but aren’t concerned that a man who you’ve known for a year “likes” your sister?”
“Hannah.”
She sighed. “You’re contradicting yourself, and for what it’s worth, I don’t think Thomas does like Gwen. I think he wants to get close to you.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Why is it ridiculous?” She was now, admittedly, irritated with how dismissive he was.
“One, she’s being courted by Sam, and two, Thomas sees me almost every day. He’s already close to me.”
Hannah turned to face him on the couch. “But he’s not. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. He may be close as a colleague, but he was trying to get personal information that you wouldn’t necessarily share with an associate. I don’t want Gwen hurt, and I think there’s the potential for him to really mess with her head.”
“I highly doubt he’s that interested in my life, Hannah.”
Hannah stood and threw her arms in the air. She paced the room in frustration. “How exactly did you get onto the President’s detail if you’re so dense?”
“Hannah.” His tone pitched low in warning.
Crossing her arms, she glared at him. “Don’t ‘Hannah’ me, Christopher. Are you dismissing what I have to say because I’m a woman, or is it that you don’t think I’m particularly intelligent?”
He rose to his feet. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, it has to be one or the other, because right now you’re dismissing your sister’s safety, and I’d like to know why.”
“How exactly am I dismissing my sister’s safety?”
“That man is up to something, Christopher, and if you don’t see it... you know what, forget it. I’m going to bed.” She turned and walked out the parlor door, angry and hurt.
* * *
Christopher sat on the couch for several minutes. She was right, he had dismissed her, and he had to admit, it was because she was a woman. He’d never met anyone like her. Certainly none of the women in his life were as intuitive as Hannah, and he’d acted the superior. He hated himself for it.
Making his way slowly up the stairs, his intention to turn in, he found himself standing outside Hannah’s bedroom. He knocked, but there was no answer. He knocked again, but this time turned the knob and walked in. She was lying on her bed, in her robe, and staring at the ceiling. “Go to bed, Christopher.”
“Not until we discuss this.”
“I’m all talked out to be honest, but feel free.”
He closed the door with a click. “Would you please sit up and look at me?”
Hannah huffed but did as he asked. Her hair spilled around her face and cascaded down her arms as she sat forward. He groaned internally. She was magnificent.
“I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right. I did dismiss you, and it was wrong. You could very well be right about Thomas. Clayton has some of the same concerns.”
“He does?”
Christopher nodded.
“Did you dismiss him, too?” He frowned and Hannah grinned as she slid off the bed and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Apology accepted.”
He stroked her hair. “Clayton and I will increase our inquiries about Thomas.”
“Good.” She looked up at him. “Just watch him, Knight. He’s bad news.”
“I will.” He smiled down at her as he cupped her cheek and kissed her. “Now, why aren’t you in your nightgown?”
“Because I can’t figure out how to get this stupid thing off.” She opened her robe and indicated her corset. “A man must have invented it.”
“Invented a female undergarment difficult to get off? I highly doubt it,” he said with a chuckle.
“Well, I cannot imagine a woman would have.”
“Let me help.” He desperately tried to keep his raging thoughts in check. Standing before him in her corset, her breasts emphasized by the boning, the thought of what was under her clothing made him crazy. She let her robe slip down her arms and presented her back to him, which didn’t distract from her sensuality on any level. He loosened the laces and then pulled her robe back up onto her shoulders.
“Thanks,” she said and turned to face him.
“I love you, Hannah.”
“I love you too.” She kissed him one more time before he left her to go to his room.
* * *
The blackness surrounded her. She knew she was running, but didn’t know if she was running toward something, or away from it. She heard a scream.
Is that Gwen? Why is she screaming and where is she?
Hannah
couldn’t find her. She heard her scream again and tried to call out, but had no voice. She tried to yell again, but still no sound. She could see light. It was coming from under a door. A door that was huge. Wide and tall. She had to stand on her tiptoes to reach the handle. She pulled the lever down and pushed the door open. She stepped out into a large field and saw Gwen tied to a tree.
Thomas stood over her with a gun as she begged for her life.
Hannah tried to scream again. Tried to get Thomas’s attention away from Gwen. But she still had no voice. She ran towards Gwen, but the faster she ran, the farther Gwen seemed to slip from her. Thomas cocked the gun and pointed it at Gwen’s head.
“Hannah?”
She heard her name and began to slip away from Gwen.
“Hannah?”
“No, Gwen, I’m here,” Hannah yelled.
“Hannah? Sweetheart, wake up.”
She opened her eyes to see Christopher’s concerned face looking down at her. “Hi.”
“Are you all right?”
She sat up and nodded. “I think so.”
“What happened?” He climbed onto the bed to lie down beside her.
“Knight, it was just a dream.”
“Tell me.”
She relayed the dream to him as he pulled her into his arms and stroked her face. “I’m okay now, Knight. Go back to bed.”
“No, sweetheart, I think I’ll stay here for a little while.” He pulled her further into his arms and kissed her forehead. She rolled over so that her back was to him and he wrapped his arm around her waist.
THE NEXT MONTH flew by for Christopher. The Maddens returned as planned, and Hannah went back to their home, while Gwen returned to her parents. Christopher was once again left alone in his townhouse, and where he used to enjoy his freedom, he now cursed the loneliness without Hannah. He spent as much time at the Maddens’ as he could until he had to leave in the evenings and came home feeling empty without her, despite the daisies he filled the house with.
One afternoon he and Clayton surprised the girls with a picnic basket and an offer for lunch in the park. The couples made the short walk to the city’s favorite outdoor place to see and be seen and found it filled with people enjoying the sunny day.
“Oh, look. Margaret’s here,” Emma said and grabbed Hannah’s hand. “Clayton? Do you mind if I introduce her to Hannah?”
Clayton smiled. “Not at all. We’ll be over by the willows.”
Christopher released Hannah with a squeeze of her hand, and Emma pulled her over to meet her friend. Introductions were made, and after a few minutes of small talk, the girls made their way back to the men.
Emma gripped Hannah’s arm and stalled. Hannah glanced up at her and then toward Christopher. He stood with a tall blonde woman, whose dress was entirely too low cut. She was touching Christopher as they talked, despite his attempt to deflect her hand. Hannah pushed down her jealousy. “Who’s that?”
Emma sighed. “Delilah Patton.”
“Emma,” Hannah growled. “Who is Delilah Patton?”
“Stay calm.”
“Emma,” Hannah seethed.
“According to Gwen, she’s someone who’s had her eye on Christopher.”
“Like a girlfriend?”
“More like an ex... although, I don’t think they made it official.”
“She’s all over him, isn’t that frowned upon?” Hannah scowled. “Chris will barely hold my hand in public.”
Emma frowned. “She’s pretty bold. But don’t worry, she’s got nothing on you.” She moved forward and grasped Hannah’s hand. “Come on.”
Delilah laughed and laid her hand on Christopher’s forearm as they approached. “Oh, Chris, you are so funny.”
Clayton coughed into his hand, and Christopher raised a guilty face to Hannah.
Clayton held his hand out to Emma and smiled. “Sweetheart. Do you remember Miss Patton?”
Emma took his hand and gave a slight nod. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Hannah’s glance at Christopher quickly turned to a glare when he didn’t physically remove the hand that Delilah had slipped into the crook of his elbow. Emma pulled Hannah close.
Christopher glanced at Delilah. “Delilah, this is Miss Nelson.”
Delilah nodded regally, and Hannah raised an eyebrow at Christopher. He didn’t elaborate on their relationship... or remove her hand from his arm.
“Are you a friend of Christopher’s?” Delilah asked.
Hannah bit her lip and then forced a smile. “You could say that.”
“Hannah is staying with Emma while she’s in town,” Christopher said.
“Oh?” Delilah mused and smiled up at Christopher. “So, acquaintances, then?”
Clayton coughed into his gloved fist and Hannah narrowed her eyes at Christopher.
Christopher shifted from foot to foot. “Yes.”
“We’re going with that, are we, Mister Butler?” Hannah challenged and squeezed Emma’s hand so hard, she whimpered and yanked it way.
“Han,” she whispered.
Christopher grimaced, but said nothing further.
Delilah giggled... well, more of a cackle, really. “Chris and I were just getting reacquainted. I haven’t seen him in—”
“You know, I have another engagement. I should go. It’s nice to meet you, Delilah,” Hannah interrupted.
She turned and stalked away, her anger rising when she heard the woman say, “Well, that was rude. I didn’t give her leave to use my first name.”
Hannah made it to the edge of the park before Christopher caught up to her. “Hannah, stop.”
“No.” She walked faster. “Just leave me alone.”
Christopher flanked her and took her hand. “Talk to me, please.”
Her head whipped up. “Why? So you can lie to me?”
“I haven’t lied to you.”
She yanked her hand away from him. “You didn’t see the need to share anything with me, either.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Who the heck is this Delilah person?” she hissed. “And why did you need to the hide the fact we’re engaged?”
Christopher grimaced. “I wasn’t trying to hide anything from her.”
“Seriously?” Hannah rushed toward Emma’s house. Reaching the front stoop, she rushed up the stairs, through the front door, and into the parlor. She ripped her bonnet and gloves off and was brought back to reality at the sight of her ring.
Christopher strode into the room and laid his hat on the side table. “Sweetheart, let me explain.”
Hannah took her ring off. “We were probably rushing everything.”
“Hannah, don’t do this.”
The sting of tears pricked her eyes. “Don’t do what, Christopher?”
“Delilah is no one of significance.”
“She’s the one who was hanging on your arm, while I was the one you referred to as a guest of the Maddens! I’m apparently no one of significance either.”
“Hannah.” Christopher ran his hands through his hair. “It’s complicated. I have business with her father and have yet to share the news with them.”
“So? You’re the one who wanted to scream your love from the mountaintops.” She scowled. “You’re hiding something else. Who is she to you... really?”
Several minutes passed before he said, “She’s a young woman I met at a presidential dinner a little over a year ago. We formed a friendship.”
“A friendship?” A tear slipped down her cheek. “A courtship.”
“No, it hadn’t gotten that far.” Christopher reached out to wipe her tear, but Hannah pushed his hand away. “I have made no promises to her.”
“Are you insensitive, or just playing dumb?”
“Neither.” Christopher took a deep breath. “I recognize that she may have some affection for me, and it was my intention was to speak with her when I returned.”
“You’ve been back for over a month! Did you speak to her and she
ignored you?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“So, you proposed to me when you had another waiting for you somewhere else?”
“Delilah is not waiting for me.”
“Could’ve fooled me. You lied to me.” She grabbed his wrist, slipped the ring into his palm, and walked up the stairs to her room.
* * *
Hannah didn’t turn when she heard a knock on her door, and she didn’t turn when the door opened. She just let the tears stream down her face and stared out the window.
“Han-Han?” Emma closed the door and made her way to Hannah’s side.
Hannah angrily wiped the tears from her cheeks. “He lied to me.”
“Did he?”
Hannah shrugged.
“Hannah, what did he say?”
Hannah stood silent for several seconds before answering. “He said that he intended to speak with her when he got back to D.C.”
“Okay. So, explain to me where the breakdown is.” Emma turned Hannah to face her.
“We have been back for over a month, and he has not only not told me about her, he has failed to speak with her.”
Emma rubbed her arms. “I’m not sure that there’s anything for him to say.”
“You saw her, Em. She had her hands all over him, and he let her!”
The door opened, and Hannah glanced over to find Christopher standing at the threshold. “Go away.”
Christopher shook his head. “I won’t. Emma, would you please excuse us?”
Emma nodded and made her way out of the room.
“Traitor,” Hannah growled.
Emma blew her a kiss before she closed the door.
Christopher held his hand out to her. “Hannah, please let me explain.”
She crossed her arms and gave a curt nod. “Explain.”
“I should have told you about Delilah—”
“Yes, you should have,” she interrupted.
“However, there honestly isn’t anything to tell. I don’t have an affection for her, and I’m not even certain of her feelings for me—we’ve never even approached the subject. I had planned to speak to her the Monday we returned, but everything has been so busy and, quite frankly, my focus has been on spending time with you.” He pried her arms apart and lifted her palm to his lips. “I will make an appointment to speak with her this week. I will resolve it.”
The Bride Spy (Civil War Brides Book 3) Page 17
