Saving Hanna (Romantic Suspense)

by A. L Long

  Pulling my hand from his grasp, I waited until his eyes met mine. “I don’t see anything the same about this house. You’ve changed everything.” I tried hard to keep the tears at bay, but knew if I remained in this house they would be falling.

  With my eyes on him, he walked over to the kitchen closet and stood there for a moment before opening the door. When he pulled the door open, the tears that I had been holding back finally fell as I stood saddened by the memories created on the door frame. Every mark on the frame was a reminder of the years that I spent in this house. There were small notes written by my father for every milestone in my life: my first haircut, losing my first tooth. There was even a reference to my first kiss. Of everything that I loved about this house, the timeline of my childhood and the memories it held were the most precious. Even with all the changes made to this sweet old house that I still referred to as home, Aiden managed to preserve what mattered the most

  Looking at Aiden, I asked confused, “Why did you save this? It meant nothing to you.”

  “Because I knew that it meant something to you,” he confessed.

  Cupping his hand against my face, he brushed his thumb along my cheek, taking a stray tear with it. Pressing against his touch, I closed my eyes, feeling only the warmth he sent my way. Before I could open my eyes, his lips were on mine and I could feel my body take him in. As much as my mind wanted to tell me this was wrong, my body didn’t want the moment to end.

  When our kiss finally broke, there was an awkward moment where nothing was said between us. His hand was still on my cheek and without thinking, I placed mine over his and moved it away. Stepping past him, I turned my head and said, “I hope you enjoy this home as much as I did.”

  Chapter Seven

  AIDEN

  I had no clue why I didn’t go after her, but something in my gut told me to let her go. I also had no clue what she meant by her comment. Was she breaking off our deal? There was no way I could let that happen. There was something between us when I kissed her. I could feel it. Turning to face her, I watched her leave through the kitchen door. I knew that I would see her again tomorrow at the diner so there wasn’t any reason to chase after her.

  Laughing to myself and shaking my head, I waited a few more moments before heading out of the house. I might be losing my touch. I was sure I had Hanna right where I wanted her. I just needed to be patient. Sooner or later, the only person she would ever think about would be me.

  Getting into my car, I headed down the dirt road and back to Houston. Ben must have seen that I was handling Ms. Marsh and left. His truck was nowhere in sight as I traveled further down the short bumpy road. Reaching the main road, I was surprised to find that Hanna’s car was still parked alongside it. She must have been having car troubles based on the way the hood was propped open.

  Her car had to be just as old if not older than her. Pulling around the front, it was quite a sight to see her bent over under the hood. Her legs went on for miles as the more she moved the higher her dress rode, revealing more of her legs. Pulling over in front of her car, I would have loved to watch her more, but I could tell that she was struggling to get her car started.

  Her expression was one of disgust as she stood, pushing away from the car, crossing her arms as though she didn’t understand why the car wouldn’t start. Enjoying the view, I couldn’t allow her to torture herself further. Cutting the engine to my car, I stepped out to see if there was something that I could do. Her car was ancient, and I had a funny feeling that it was time to put it to rest. Still, I had to see if there was something that could be done.

  Standing behind her, I said, “Car troubles?”

  “I think so,” she answered. “I don’t know why it won’t start. I’ve never had problems with it before.”

  “Mind if I take a look?” I knew a thing or two about cars and from the way it looked, she needed a complete overhaul.

  As she stepped aside, I lowered my head to get a better look at the engine, or at least what I could see. There was so much grime and grease on the engine which more than likely added to it not starting. Pulling out each spark plug, I was amazed that they were in good condition. The battery also looked as though it had been recently purchased. Seeing nothing that would determine why the car wouldn’t start. I suggested that she try to start it again.

  Waiting until she was behind the wheel, I commanded, “Turn the key.”

  When a faint clicking sound could be heard, I knew then she wouldn’t be going anywhere in this car. I wasn’t a mechanic, but I knew enough to know that her starter was shot. Poking my head around the side of the hood, I signaled for her to stop trying.

  Her head was hung low, knowing that there wasn’t any amount of praying that was going to make her car start. Closing the hood, I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and used it to wipe my fingers clean. Hanna stood beside me and asked, “No luck?”

  “I’m afraid not. I’ll call my car service and have them send over a tow truck.” I knew it wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but it was her only option. If she left the car parked on the side of the road, it would be tagged and towed and then she would be in a bigger mess. Giving her a sympathetic look, I suggested, “Let me give you a ride. Tomorrow we should know more about what is going on with your car once my mechanic looks at it.”

  Even though I could tell that she wasn’t keen on leaving her car, she knew it was her only choice. Safely settled inside the car, she looked over and said, “Thank you.”

  With a warm smile, I put the car in gear and turned the wheel to the road. I could tell that Hanna was nervous from the way she was fidgeting with her dress. Even though there was already a lot that I knew about her, I pretended that I didn’t when I tried to make her feel more comfortable. “So, do you enjoy working at the diner?” I asked.

  “Not in the beginning. I knew nothing about waitressing, but once I learned it became more enjoyable,” she said, her soft voice matching her nervousness.

  “I can’t imagine doing what you do. There is something to be said for people that can wait on others with a smile.” I knew I may have said the wrong thing the way her head turned my way. Digging myself out of the hole I dug, I asked politely, “How about we grab something to eat before I take you home?”

  “That won’t be necessary. If you could take me home that would be great,” she replied.

  “Don’t misunderstand what I said. I just meant that it takes a special kind of person to deal with customers all day.”

  “I knew what you meant.”

  “So, what do you think? A steak or seafood?” I asked. Maybe by giving her a choice she wouldn’t refuse me again.

  “They both sound very tempting and it's been a while since I had a steak,” she admitted.

  “Steak it is then.”

  Before she could change her mind, I exited onto 222. Little did she know that I would be taking her for steak at my place. Hitting the hands-free on the steering wheel, I waited for Albert to answer. Forgetting that Hanna was in the car, I pulled my phone from my suit jacket and said, “Prepare two steaks for dinner, medium rare,” I ordered, turning to face Hanna for confirmation. “Ms. Marsh and I will be there shortly.”

  ~*~*~*~

  Pulling into the drive, after a silent ride, I could tell that Hanna was confused. Turning the engine off, her hand was on mine as I tried to pull the key from the ignition. Staring down at our hands, I noticed that her fingernail polish was a soft shade of pink which was chipped on the majority of her fingers. She must have felt self-conscious as she removed her hand and hid it with the other. I wasn’t at all bothered by her need for a manicure like I normally would have been. I knew she was a simple woman and keeping up appearances wasn’t on the top of her list.

  “I thought we were going to a restaurant to eat, not your home,” she said.

  “Albert’s cooking is phenomenal. It will be the best steak you will ever have.”

  “Albert?” she questioned.

  There w
as no accurate way to describe him. He was my cook, chauffeur, butler, and an all-around great man. Opening my door, I simply replied. “You’ll see.”

  Leading Hanna from the car, we walked up the steps to the front door. Typically, Albert would be there to greet us, but since I didn’t tell him when we would arrive, I knew that he would be busy with dinner. Opening the door, the lights were low on the chandelier that hung in the foyer just above the round table in the middle of the room. I was no stranger to the classics and had always wanted a grand entrance into the home. I could tell it might have been somewhat overwhelming to Hanna from the way she stared at the chandelier.

  Clearing my throat, I leaned toward her and said, “Shall we?” as I took hold of her hand and guided her to the dining room that was to the left of the foyer.

  Her eyes didn’t move off of the glistening crystal until it was no longer in view. It made me appreciate the little things that I would otherwise consider necessities.

  Looking around the dining room, her eyes finally met mine. Stunned and amazed, she said, “Wow.”

  I had to smile at the one word that described everything. There was no doubt that she was impressed with my home. Brushing my hand across her cheek, I smiled briefly and said, “Come, let’s eat. I’ll give you a tour later.”

  Just as we took our seats, Albert entered the room holding a tray with our meal. I was just about to introduce them when Hanna said, “You must be Albert. You are nothing like what I expected.”

  “I’m not sure if that is a good thing or bad, but it is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Marsh,” Albert stated politely.

  As Albert placed our dinner in front of us, I took the initiative to pour the wine in the glasses. “I hope the wine is to your liking,” I said, knowing that it was the best vintage I had purchased.

  “I’ve never had wine before, but I’m sure it is wonderful,” she confessed, taking a small sip.

  At first, I wasn’t sure how well she liked it, but then she took a larger drink and I knew that she did. The smile on her face was also an indicator that she liked what I had chosen. Unable to stop staring at her, I covered up my rudeness and said, “I’m glad you like it.”

  Cutting into my steak and taking a bite, I found that once again, Albert had prepared it perfectly. With the delightful sounds beside me, I could tell that Hanna was also enjoying her perfectly cooked steak. There was nothing more enjoyable that a well-prepared meal. Well, maybe one, but that would have to wait until later. For now, all I wanted to do was watch Hanna devour her meal.

  As we sat and ate, I was thoroughly impressed by our conversation and the things that I was finding out about Hanna. She was as simple as a country girl could be. She began telling me about how her dad had shown her everything there was to know about living on a farm. When she was old enough to reach the pedals on the tractor, her father taught her how to drive. Every day was like a new adventure for her. I didn’t understand what she meant by that since I knew nothing about farming, but she explained that she never knew what the day would bring. The chickens that she took care of could have laid one egg or there could have been as many as six. She also never knew what kind of mess the pigs would have made. According to her, they were like no other pigs she knew.

  This seemed strange since I thought all pigs were the same. The thing that got to me the most was when she talked about her mom and dad and how much they loved each other. When her mother died, her father had lost all interest in the farm. Each day got worse until one day he couldn’t take it anymore. I could tell that Hanna loved her dad very much and when the tears began to appear, I knew that it was time to change the subject. It made me feel guilty for making this deal with her. Almost.

  Chapter Eight

  HANNA

  I couldn’t believe how amazing Aiden’s home was. After we finished our meal and my slight breakdown, I was relieved that he offered to show me the rest of his home. Even though it was beautiful, it was over the top. It reminded me of one of the homes you would see on one of those fancy TV shows showing where the rich and famous live.

  I was just about ready to thank him for the wonderful meal and the fantastic tour of his home when he suggested we sit on the back patio and finish what was left of the wine. I was a little hesitant, but then he said, “I would hate for a good bottle of wine to go to waste.”

  I agreed with him. It was very tasty, and after all, there are starving children in Africa, as my father always said. He taught me that food should never be wasted. I’m sure he wasn’t referring to wine, but the concept was the same.

  Agreeing to stay for a while longer, just long enough to finish the bottle of wine, I followed him out of the house and onto the patio. It was a beautiful night and I didn’t want to miss taking advantage of the great weather. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the most amazing view appeared before me. It was like looking at a garden from heaven. In front of me was the biggest waterfall I had ever seen. The water cascaded down a rock wall and into a pool that was bigger than the house I was currently renting. Flowers and foliage surrounded the waterfall and were lit up with little fairy lights that enhanced the water flowing down the rocks. It made me wonder what it would feel like to be in the pool, pretending to be in a tropical oasis.

  Aiden took hold of my hand and led me down the sandstone steps and to a sitting area near the pool. As we sat down, Aiden placed two wine glasses on the table and began filling them with the opened bottle of wine. Handing me a glass, he said, “To new beginnings.”

  He couldn’t have made a better toast. Soon it would be a new beginning for me. I would no longer be in the bad neighborhood I currently lived in, and my dream of living back on the farm would soon become a reality. I knew I wanted more than anything to be back in Danbury, I just didn’t know when I wanted that to happen. I felt the need to get to know this man better before I chose a night to spend with him. There was also the feeling that there was more involved in this deal than just one night in exchange for the farm.

  Taking a large sip of my wine, I placed it on the table hoping that it gave me enough courage to find out more about this proposal. “I know that I agreed to one night with you, but I want to know what it entails.”

  Giving me a smile, he placed his hand around the neck of the bottle and topped off my glass of wine. “Let’s just say, I would like to get to know you better. More intimately.”

  “So, you want to have sex with me?” I asked, almost downing the glass of wine he just filled.

  Chuckling, he replied, “It would be much more than that. I don’t want you to give me my one night until you are ready, Hanna.”

  “I don’t understand. Why, of all the women in Houston, would you pick me? I am a nobody. And you clearly need someone that is more refined than I could ever be,” I confessed, waving my hand to remind him of his wealth.

  “It is for that reason that I chose you, Hanna.”

  As he moved from his chair to sit next to me, already my body was becoming overly warm. The wine was also beginning to make me feel fuzzy. Taking the empty glass from my hand, he placed it on the table. It could have been the wine, but all I wanted to do was kiss him. When his eyes met mine, there was nothing to stop me from doing just that. Wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders, I pressed my lips to him in a forceful kiss in which I held nothing back. The best part was that he hadn’t pulled back. Instead he took me into his arms and tenderly kissed me back. I could taste the sweet wine on his lips as his tongue brushed my lips before it invaded my mouth with wet heat. The kiss, although drunken and sloppy, was one to be remembered.

  I knew that with a kiss like this, it would lead to much more. Even though I was in no state of mind to refuse, I knew that I would regret it in the morning if I allowed it to continue. Breaking free before things got out of hand, I wiped my hand across my swollen lips and said, “I think it’s time that I left.”

  As I stood to my feet, I could feel my surroundings begin to move in all directions. My body swayed back and f
orth as I tried desperately to hide the fact that I shouldn’t have had that last glass of wine. Holding me close to his body to steady me, Aiden lifted my chin. “I think it would be best if you stayed here tonight. I am in no condition to take you home and Albert has probably retired for the evening.”

  Who was I to argue? His point was well made and I wouldn’t be able to afford a taxi to drive me home, nor was I going to take a handout. Nodding my head, I responded, careful not to slur my words. “Wouldn’t want to wake up Albert.”

  Putting one foot in front of the other, I concentrated on my steps, careful not to sway too much as I walked toward the house. With one arm around me, Aiden helped me do just that. When we reached the foyer, I looked to the stairs, wondering if I would be tumbling down them in my condition. Walking on a flat surface was one thing, but climbing steps was another. Feeling my apprehension, Aiden scooped me up in his arms and carried me with ease up the stairs. I was beginning to think that he wasn’t as drunk as he implied.