Page 149 of Square Deal

“Casually?”

I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose. “No. What’s with the twenty questions?”

Steve hunched over and clasped his hands together. “You’re tellin’ me that you found a woman you love, who loves you back. One who could easily fit in with—” he waved his hands around Luca’s apartment “—all this, and yet you know she doesn’t want it. She might be the one woman on earth who doesn’t give a fuck about your name or your money. Hannah’s happy in Beaufort, and I think if you got your head out of your ass, you’d realize that you like it there too. So, tell me what the hang-up is because I don’t see it.”

I pressed my fingers into my eyeballs. “I don’t want to let her down,” I groaned. I knew he was right. Hannah felt like the one person in the world I could trust with everything, but I knew I’d fail her.

His countenance softened. “Look, man. I’ve done it twice now. Not because I wanted to, but because that was the hand I was given. After my wife died, I didn’t think I could do marriage again. Didn’t think I’d let myself love anyone again. Losing Heather hurt too much—Erica changed all that. I realized I’d do it all again because loving someone is worth the risk. It’s worth the risk of failing. Given the way that you go after things with… Whatever it is that you do. I have a pretty good feeling that you’d go after Hannah the same way. The trick is to never be satisfied. Keep working at it. Keep getting better. Keep learning everything you can about her. I worry about some of the girls, but I don’t worry about Hannah. She’ll demand her worth. Never stop chasing her.”

Huh.It was basically the same advice I had given Kristin’s brother—stay hungry, work hard.

Was it really that simple?

“Is marriage really that different from, you know—just being together long-term?”

Steve grinned. “Fuck yeah. Marriage is fuckin’ awesome.”

35

HANNAH JANE

Iswiped a fresh coat of red lipstick on in the rearview mirror as I sat in the parking lot at Revanche. There was no way I’d kiss an undeserving man when my lipstick cost forty-six dollars.

My stomach churned because I didn’t want to go on a date with a random stranger.

As I contemplated bailing and having Maddie apologize to whoever it was for the cancellation, a text popped up.

Maddie

Stop stalling. I can see you.

Hannah Jane

Don’t be a creeper.

Reluctantly, I got out of my car and smoothed down my dress. It was nothing special—just what I wore to the inn to muddle through another day of brides and bouquets. I exhaled, squared my shoulders, and held my head high as I walked into Revanche.

Carol Hong greeted me from the host stand. “Miss Hayes, Chef Dorsey said you would be dining with us this evening.”

I mentally high-fived Maddie for continuing to use her maiden name professionally. It would have been confusing as hell to have two Chef DeRossis running around.

“Good to see you, Carol,” I said with a smile as I looked around to see if I could spy the mystery man.

She read my mind. “Your date arrived a moment ago,” she said as she led me through the dining room to the spiral staircase. “Chef Dorsey reserved a rooftop table for you two.” Carol smiled conspiratorially. “And if I may say,well done.” She winked.

We rounded the top of the stairs, and I laughed.

Of course it was him.

Carol hid her smile behind a menu. “Chef Dorsey and Chef Christensen are preparing you a special dinner, but a server will be by momentarily to take your drink orders.”

I thanked Carol and held my hands out to greet my date. “Austin Hale,” I said with a laugh.

Austin, in a pressed button up and dress pants, leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Miss Hannah Jane.”

Oh, Lord—he smelled good. Like his soap was a mishmash of pine trees, cedar, and something spicy. He pulled my chair out and scooted me in as I sat down. I took a sip of the water that was already on the table to calm my nerves.

The two of us had met during my first week in Beaufort. I bought my fixer-upper of a house, knowing it would need work. What I didn’t know was that there was a short in the wiring, and it may or may not have caused a small—very small—fire.

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