Page 131 of Square Deal

Hannah pulled away and rested her forehead on mine. The heat from the sun was ruthless. Our skin was covered in sunscreen, sweat, and salt. The tequila on her breath and coconut lip balm made tasted like summer.

“You’re a good man, Isaac Lawson.”

31

ISAAC

Hannah breathed in sharply as we walked up the steps to the Hayes estate. Guests milled about with glasses of champagne in hand.

Alcohol was a good idea.

“Nervous?” I asked.

“What makes you think that?” she asked with feigned surprise. “I’m absolutelythrilledto see my mother. I’m justsoexcited.”

I chuckled.

Marlene Hayes was a hateful shrew of a woman. Hannah had warned me on the way in that Marlene wasn’t the forgive and forget type.

She would definitely remember me ripping her a new one over the phone on Christmas morning. And she would sure as hell take that grudge to her grave.

Marlene wouldn’t show it, though, and that pissed me off. It was easier to come at someone when they threw the first punch.

Southern women were a special breed. They were all sugar and pearls. But earn yourself abless your heart, and it was their way of politely saying, “Fuck off, you darling idiot.”

I learned that the hard way when Hannah took me to an all-night diner and the ancient dinosaur of a waitress laughed when I asked for an egg white omelet with greens.

She said, “Well, bless your heart, darlin’. Don’t worry, I’ll bring you somethin’ that’ll put some meat on your bones.”

Everything that had been set in front of me was deep-fried. I was surprised she hadn’t figured out a way to batter and fry the pancake syrup.

Hannah sucked in a nervous breath as we walked up the steps to the estate.

Alcohol. Need alcohol.

As we approached the entrance, I pulled Hannah behind an elephant-shaped topiary.

“What are you?—”

I fused my lips to hers. “I love you,” I said, pulling her against my chest. “And I’m on your side.”

Hannah wrapped her arms around my neck and looked up at me like I’d hung the stars just for her. “I love you too.”

“And you look sexy,” I murmured against her skin as I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I can’t wait to get you naked later.”

Hannah looked good enough to eat. She was in a sexy little one-shouldered number in burnt red that Spenser’s husband sent down for the occasion, and a pair of slate blue stilettos.

She adjusted my tie and smoothed her hands down the front of my suit. “Are you nervous?” she asked.

“No.” It wasn’t a lie.

Hannah let out a shaky breath and glanced over her shoulder at the front door. “That makes one of us.”

“Hey,” I said, grabbing her hand. “You can’t win if you’re not on your own team. Let’s give ‘em hell, ma’am.”

That did it. Hannah plastered on her self-assured smile and went straight into the lion’s den.

“Hannah, darling,” Marlene Hayes said as soon as we werethrough the door. “How nice of you to make it. I wasn’t sure if you were coming or not.”

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