“It reminded me of old times,” she said, doing the same.
They washed the coal dust off in silence. Logan cupped his hands and let the water fill up. Splashing it onto his face, he took extra time to rub his cheeks where Hannah had put charcoal. When his face was clean, he grabbed a few paper towels.
Hannah had been much more strategic with washing her face. No doubt, she didn’t want to wash off her makeup. A black smear still ran underneath her eye when she moved to release the bar.
“Hang on,” Logan said, grabbing a paper towel and wetting it under the water. “You have a little right here.” Reaching out, he cupped her chin in his hand. He tried to ignore the surge of feelings that raced through him every time he touched her. After a few dabs of the paper towel, the charcoal streak was removed.
When he brought his gaze up to meet hers, he paused. Her cheeks reddened as she smiled. “Is it gone?”
Emotions boiled up inside of him. Every fiber of his being wanted him to kiss her. To wrap her up in his arms and love her like a man loves a woman. “Hannah, I—”
Her eyes widened as she took a step back, breaking their connection. “No.”
His heart broke at that one little word. “But—”
She turned. “I’m going to go find Samson. I suggest you find Charity.”
The sound of her shoes clicking on the cement floor marked her retreat. Soon, Logan stood there, all alone. He tilted his face up toward the ceiling and closed his eyes. He needed to stop trying. She’d already told him what she wanted. Why wasn’t he listening?
Crumpling the towels up into a ball, he threw them into the nearby trashcan. He knew why. He was never going to stop trying to make it work with Hannah. She was the one. She had always been the one. As much as he wanted to deny it to protect his heart, he couldn’t anymore. He loved her. From the deepest depths of his soul—he loved her.
Scoffing, he slapped the drinking fountain button and took a long drink. What good did that do? She had all but told him that she wasn’t interested. Not with Charity in the picture.
He squared his shoulders as he headed back down the hall toward the gymnasium. A soft Christmas song could be heard as he neared. He stood in the doorway and glanced around the room. The lights had been dimmed to allow the decorations to shine.
Logan located Piper within a few seconds. Her red curly hair and contagious smile were easy to spot. He leaned against the door frame and thought about Hannah’s words. A nagging feeling pulled at the back of his mind. There had to be a way to get the woman he loved and keep his daughter happy. And he wouldn’t give up until he found it.
HANNAH
Her stomach was in knots when she walked into the kitchen to find Samson. She rubbed her face in the spot where Logan had touched her earlier. But no matter how hard she tried to wipe away the feeling of his warm fingers against her skin, nothing she did removed that memory. She needed to be careful from now on.
A short woman with dark hair and tanned skin that Hannah could only dream of tsk-tsked her as she hurried past. “Hair net, my dear. We don’t need any of those children eating one of those golden strands of yours.”
Hannah’s hand flew up to her head as she glanced around sheepishly. “Sorry. I’m looking for Samson. Have you seen him?”
The woman waved at her to follow. “No time to stop, honey. I must walk and talk, or I will have a riot on my hands. The refreshment table doesn’t fill itself.”
Feeling the urgency the woman was projecting, Hannah quickened her pace to fall into step with her. After the woman barked a few orders at a mom with the green sparkly sweater, she glanced back at Hannah. “Who did you say you were looking for?”
“Samson.”
The woman raised her finely plucked eyebrows. “I haven’t seen him. After I corrected him while he was massacring the watermelon I gave him to cut up, he high-tailed it out of here.” She sighed as she glanced at up at Hannah. “How hard is it to cut one-inch circles?”
Hannah just nodded as if she understood, but she really didn’t. “Do you know which direction he went?”
The woman waved her hand toward the back door.
“Thank you,” Hannah called over her shoulder and headed in the direction the woman had motioned. Pressing the silver handle, Hannah stepped outside. The setting sun washed the sky in yellows and oranges. “Samson?” she called out as the door clicked closed behind her.
“Samson?” she called again.
“Over here,” Samson said as he rounded the corner of the building.
Hannah smiled. “Why are you out here?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Blanca is crazy. Once she came over to inspect my work, she started yelling at me in Spanish and took my knife away.”
“Yeah, I can see that. She’s pretty intense.”
Samson nodded as he reached out and wrapped his arm around Hannah. “And those kids are crazy. I mean, one kid almost punched me in the stomach when the mini doughnut bowl got too low.” He leaned back and widened his eyes.
Hannah laughed. “Yeah, kids can get crazy sometimes. Especially when sugar’s involved.”
He pulled her against his chest again. “Makes me miss Ohio and our quiet life. When are we going back? My mother is hosting this amazing dinner party in New York. I was thinking we could fly there first and then make it back to Ohio for the Christmas party the company is throwing.”
Hannah wiggled until he released his grip. “Samson, I’m here to visit my family. I’m spending this time with my mom, and then Christmas day I’m going to my dad’s.”
He studied her. “But why? It’s okay. You’ve done your daughterly duty. You’re always saying how much you dislike spending time with your mom, anyway.”
Hannah took a step back. “I don’t always say that.”
Samson gave her a pointed look. “Yes, you do.”
“Well, that might have been true, but things have changed. We’re trying to mend our relationship.”
Samson sighed. In the same way he did when his driver told him there was traffic. It was a this is going to inconvenience me sigh. Hannah wasn’t sure what she thought about being on the receiving end of it. She studied him. What she did know was, she didn’t like the idea that he wasn’t open to spending time with her family.
“What was that earlier?” she asked.
His phone chimed so he pulled it out. After a few seconds, he spoke up. “What was what?” His gaze stayed fixed on the screen.
Hannah fought the urge to take it and chuck it in the dumpster. “When you said you didn’t like being around kids. Did you mean it?”
Whatever was on his phone had his undivided attention. “Yeah. Kids are loud and sticky. And they cost a lot of money.”
A tingle raced down Hannah’s spine. “But our kids won’t be like that.”
He snorted. “Our kids?”
Stepping away from him, Hannah wrapped her arms around her chest. This conversation was not going well. “Yes. Our kids.”
Samson was silent. When she glanced back, he’d turned his attention to her. “You want to have kids?”
Was he serious? “You don’t?”
“Eh,” he said as he shrugged and turned his attention back to the phone. “I’d be fine if we didn’t have them.”
Hannah’s gaze focused on the parking lot where a mom and a dad and two daughters were walking arm in arm to their silver minivan. It was everything she’d ever wanted in a family since she was a kid. Her heart sank. And the man standing behind her, the one she was engaged to, didn’t want this.
At that moment, she didn’t want to think about it anymore. No conclusion she could draw from this would be good. Perhaps, for the time being, it was best to push this far from her mind. No matter how much Logan’s voice echoed in her mind. She wasn’t running away—she was being wise.
Two arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. She tried to relax as Samson nuzzled her neck. “Why are you so far away?” he breathed into her e
ar.
His closeness no longer sent tingles up her spine as it had done in the past. She sighed. She really was bothered by the fact he didn’t want kids. Shaking her head, she pushed the feelings of doubt away. It was Christmastime—a time of cheer. She was sure Samson would change his mind when the time came.
She turned and allowed him to press his lips to hers. When she pulled away, she glanced up. “You’ll change your mind about babies when you see ours,” she said, glancing up at him.
He pinched his lips together. “We still on that? Come on, Han. You can’t say you’d rather be home changing diapers and wiping noses over flying to Paris on a whim? With babies, we’d be tied down.” His phone chimed, so he kept one arm around her and glanced at the screen in his other hand.
“Samson, who’s talking to you?”
He locked his phone and shoved it into his pocket. “Just Mom. She’s wondering if we will make it to her holiday party. She wants to show off her future daughter-in-law.”
Hannah studied him. “You told her we won’t be able to make it, right?”
The smile on his face seemed a bit too forced. “Of course. It’s important for us to be here.” He wrapped his free arm back around her and pulled her close. “Now, where were we?”
Hannah allowed him to embrace her. As she stood there, she forced her mind to relax. Maybe she was being a bit ridiculous. After all, he told his mom that her family was a priority right now. That did make her feel important.
And so what if he didn’t want to have kids right now? Look at how quickly he changed his mind about the holidays? As she wrapped her arms around him, she breathed in his cologne. But as much as she tried to force the feeling of home in his embrace, it just wasn’t there.
21
HANNAH
People began to trickle out of the building as Hannah and Samson stood there. She tried to keep her gaze off of the hyped-up kids and stressed-out parents. It didn’t matter how hard parenting looked, she knew it was what she wanted. She turned to smile at all the rosy-cheeked, sticky-faced kids.
Her heart raced when Logan and Piper came through the door. He had her on his shoulders as she held a giant, rainbow-colored teddy bear. Charity followed right behind them, grounding Hannah back to reality. She squared her shoulders as they approached.
“Miss Hannah! Miss Hannah! Look what I won,” Piper said, wiggling around as she tried to get off Logan’s shoulders.
“Pip, hang on.” Logan laughed as he bent over and helped her down.
Piper raced up to Hannah with the bear extended. “Isn’t it amazing?” She leaned down and kissed it on the cheeks.
Hannah crouched down and looked it over. “I don’t know…” She glanced up at Piper, whose face fell. Then Hannah smiled. “I don’t think it’s amazing. I think it’s fantabulistic.” She patted the teddy on its head, and Piper glowed.
“I can’t believe I won it. I didn’t think I was going to, but I didn’t give up at the ring toss, and I won.” Her smile looked as if it was going to explode off her face.
“Okay. Okay, Piper. Calm down. It’s just a bear,” Charity piped up from behind. Hannah fought the urge to glare at her. It wasn’t like she’d notice, though. She was too busy glancing around sheepishly at all the parents who were walking by and staring at them.
“Well, I think it’s great. We should celebrate.” Hannah smiled.
“Actually, Han. Don’t you remember? Bachelor and bachelorette parties?” Logan glanced down at her and tapped his watch.
Hannah’s stomach sank. She’d forgotten. “Right.” Peering into Piper’s disappointed face, she smiled. “Rain check?”
Piper studied her. “Only if we can play with Truly and Samantha. I want them to meet Rainy.” She reached out and patted the bear’s head.
Hannah stuck out her pinky. “I promise.”
Piper gripped her finger with her own and brought it up and down a few times. “Deal.”
Standing, Hannah glanced up at Logan. “What time is it, anyway?”
He twisted his wrist. “Seven thirty.”
“Crap. I need to be at the first bar by eight.” She glanced behind her to Samson, who was back on his phone. “Can you make it home by yourself?”
“Actually,” Charity said, stepping forward, “I was hoping to tag along with you.”
Hannah glanced at her, then over to Piper. “Really? I figured you’d want to spend some time with your daughter.”
If Charity noticed Hannah’s tone, she didn’t show it. “I’ve spent all day with her. I’m ready for some girl time. And besides, I haven’t seen Sandy since high school.” She widened her eyes as if she were trying to convince Hannah.
Hannah took a step back. Didn’t she know that wouldn’t work on her? “Um…” When she glanced over to Logan, she studied his expression.
“How about Charity goes with you, and I’ll take Samson with me?” he offered.
“I want to go,” Piper said, glancing around.
“Sorry, sweetie. Adults only,” Charity said.
Hannah tried not to let her heart break from the sad look that swept over Piper’s face. “Tomorrow, we can play with my dolls. Okay?” she whispered to Piper, who nodded and went back to hugging her bear.
“What do you think?” Hannah asked as she glanced back to Samson.
“Beats hanging out with your mom all night, sure.”
Hannah tried not to let it bother her that he’d say that. Instead, she turned around. “Sounds good. Okay, you’re coming with me.” She nodded to Charity.
“And I’ve just gotta drop off Piper with my mom, and then we’ll head out.”
Hannah tried to ignore the skeptical look on Samson’s face as she waved at Charity to follow her. Pulling out her phone, she hit Bert’s number.
“Ready?” he asked after one ring.
“Yep.”
“Be there in five.”
“Perfect.”
She hung up the phone and slipped it into her purse. She tried to ignore the raised eyebrows of Charity.
“Who was that?”
Hannah brushed her hand against the nearby bench and sat down. “Bert. He’s a cab driver.” She pulled her purse up into her lap.
Charity did the same. “Ah. No car?”
Hannah shook her head. “Didn’t rent one this time.”
Silence filled the air. Hannah willed Bert to hurry.
“So, why did you come back?” Charity asked.
Hannah turned to look at her. Was she serious? “My mom lives here.”
“Last time I heard, you and your mom were no longer speaking.”
Heat raced to Hannah’s cheeks. How much did this woman know about her personal life? “Well, we’ve had our problems. But we are trying to work on it.”
“Convenient,” Charity whispered, as she glanced out to the parking lot.
“Excuse me?” Hannah leaned forward.
Charity turned and smiled at her. “Nothing.”
Anger filled Hannah’s stomach. “No. Not nothing. Why is it convenient that I came back for the holidays to visit my mom?”
Charity’s smile grew wider. “Nothing. It’s fine. Geez.”
Hannah wanted to punch the girl. Here, she had an amazing husband and daughter, and yet she chose to leave them, all for selfish reasons. And she had the gall to call her shady.
Before Hannah could push the conversation forward, Bert pulled up next to the curb. He rolled the window down. “Ready, girlie?”
If he only knew. Hannah stood and made her way to the cab with Charity right behind her. She motioned to the back and pulled open the passenger door. Bert looked at her with wide eyes as she buckled.
Hannah returned his look. She hoped he’d sense her need to get away from Charity. He paused and then nodded.
“All right, Hannah and Hannah’s friend. Where are we off to?”
“To the Admiral Arms,” Hannah said.
Bert nodded. “On it.”
LOGAN
Logan
stood in the doorway of the Captain’s Cabin, staring at the massive party that Veronica had put together. He knew he should have called and canceled her services when she laughed after he told her money was no issue. He gulped as a waitress in a tight sequined dress walked past, holding a tray of what could only be astronomically expensive cigars.
A squeal sounded behind him. He turned to see Veronica’s beaming face as she rushed over to him. “I love you,” she proclaimed as she grabbed his arm and shook it.
“Veronica… this is not what we talked about.” He nodded around the room.
She stuck out her bottom lip. “It’s not that bad. Come on. Never has a client told me there was no price limit to a party.” She pulled on his arm so he followed her.
“I rented out the entire restaurant just for the party. I had all the food flown in from New York’s finest restaurants—”
“Veron—”
“Oh, come on, Logan. You’re rich now. Embrace it.”
He shushed her as he glanced around. This was not what he wanted.
Veronica rolled her eyes. “Relax. Everyone knows. Mrs. Trumble got ahold of the news; now all of North Carolina knows.”
Logan’s stomach sank. “What?”
“The real question is, why did you want to keep it a secret?” she asked as a man in a tuxedo approached her with a tray of tiny hors d’oeuvres. She stuck one in her mouth and groaned. “Oh, my— you have to try this,” she said, shoving one toward Logan’s lips.
Before he could step back, she pushed it into his mouth. For a moment, he considered spitting it out, but when the buttery texture hit his tongue, he was entranced. It was the best—whatever it was—he’d ever tasted.
“Veronica. That was amazing.”
Veronica’s eyes sparkled. “I know, right? This is your future life.” She smiled as she waved her hand toward the elegant wallpaper and tableclothed tables.
A feeling settled in his gut. The problem was, this wasn’t what he wanted.
“Dude.” Jimmy’s voice filtered through the slow jazz that carried around the room.
Forgiving the Billionaire (A Clean Billionaire Romance Book 2) Page 15
