Hannah looked at her tip jar, which was overflowing with cash. “Holy crap, what a great night,” she said.
Kate flipped the open sign to closed and twisted the lock on the door. Then she turned back to Hannah and did a little two-step dance. “It was amazing! So many people told me how much they enjoyed your readings. And I sold out of the pet baked goods tonight. I had more sales tonight than in the last couple of weeks combined. Can you come back every week?”
Hannah smiled so widely her cheeks hurt. “I don’t think you really want me underfoot all the time.”
Kate walked over from the door and stood close enough to touch. She reached up and took the tassel of the string tie in her fingers. She toyed with it gently, “Maybe not all the time, but I’d love for you to come back.” Her big green eyes stared at Hannah.
Hannah could feel her pulse in her throat. She licked her lips. Kate still held the end of the tassel. “I would like that,” Hannah managed to get out. She could smell Kate’s scent, and she realized it had citrus undertones. Hannah wondered what she would taste like. Hannah leaned forward, invading Kate’s space further. Her breathing was shallow. She felt like she wason the brink of something huge. Something that would change the course of her life. For a second, she wished she could consult the cards.
Kate’s gaze dropped to Hannah’s lips. Warmth pooled in Hannah’s abdomen, and before the haze of desire enveloping them could lift, Hannah allowed herself to be carried away, pressing her lips against Kate’s black lipsticked lips. They were soft and firm at the same time, just as Hannah had imagined they would be every time she’d seen Kate and wondered what kissing her would be like. Kate made an “oh” sound, and Hannah jumped back and knocked into the rack of dog and cat Halloween costumes. Before the blush could fully bloom all over Hannah’s chest, Kate wrapped her arm around Hannah’s waist. Hannah held her breath as Kate placed her other hand on Hannah’s cheek, tilted her head down, and kissed her.
Kate’s tongue teased her lips, and Hannah opened her mouth, eager to let Kate taste her. Their tongues intertwined. Kate placed one hand on Hannah’s hip and moved her other hand away from Hannah’s cheek and into her hair. Hannah moaned as she pressed herself against Kate’s hard body. Hannah’s breasts ached as Kate continued her exploration of her mouth. Hannah’s core throbbed with want, and she was tempted to take Kate’s hand and put it in her pants, anything to relieve the ache. Kate pulled back from the kiss and pressed her forehead against Hannah’s.
Hannah tried to control her breathing. Kate pulled gently on a lock of Hannah’s long red hair. “Well, that was unexpected.”
Chapter Four
Kate’s body was a live wire. She let go of Hannah’s hair to run a hand through her own short hair. She was so drawn to this beautiful creature, with her delicate features and those wide eyes behind the glasses that kept sliding off her face. If she could have her way, she’d take Hannah’s hand and lead her upstairs to her apartment. Then she would slowly undress her until she could see every inch of this woman’s gorgeous body. But that would be crazy. She hardly knew Hannah, but she knew Hannah was local and someone she’d run into all the time. Kate didn’t think it was a good idea to get involved. When or if things didn’t work out, she’d be stuck seeing Hannah around town all the time. She needed to think with her head and dispel any thought of this continuing further.
Reluctantly, she pulled her hands away from Hannah and shoved them into her pockets.
“I, ah,” Hannah took off her glasses and wiped off the steam that had condensed on them with the hem of her cape. “I mean,would you like to grab a drink sometime? It doesn’t have to be booze. It could be anything: tea, coffee, boba. I, um, would love to, ah, hang out?”
“Are you asking me out on a date?” Kate cocked her head to the side.
Hannah’s chest was flushed pink, and Kate was dying to know how low the blush had spread.
“Would you want that?” Hannah asked, surprising Kate.
“I’m not much for dating, especially around here.”
Hannah’s face fell. Kate felt an uncharacteristic ache in her chest. There was something about Hannah that made Kate want to please her and get that brilliant smile back on her face.
“Oh,” Hannah said.
“That kiss, though. It was unexpected and lovely. Thank you for that.”
Hannah put her head down and started to pick up the cards. Kate watched her, noticing how her shoulders were hunched again. She could feel the sadness rolling off Hannah as she continued to pack up. Kate stood, unable to walk away, but also unable to say yes to a date with Hannah. She didn’t need the complications of dating and a relationship. Her last relationship had ended when she’d moved to Marley Creek and opened her store a couple of years ago. She’d just started testing the waters with a few dates here and there over the last six months, always making sure the people she met on the app didn’t live in her town. She still wasn’t ready for more, and Hannah, she thought, would demand more. Hannah deserved more than Kate could give her.
Still, she was drawn to Hannah beyond belief. How could she say absolutely no to this woman?
“Maybe…” she started, and Hannah looked up from the box she was packing.
“Yes?” The hope in Hannah’s voice caused that ache to resurface in Kate’s chest. Was that her heart? She had locked that away the day Brittany had left her for her ex-boyfriend.
“Maybe we can hang out. But you have to understand I’m not looking for a relationship.”
Hannah pressed her lips together. “Is this how it usually works?”
Kate scrunched up her face, “What do you mean?”
Hannah frowned. “I’m sorry. That sounds really dumb. When I get nervous, I usually talk too much or blurt out an inner thought.”
Kate tapped the velvet bag containing Hannah’s cards. “What if I sit for a reading?”
Hannah shook her head vigorously. “Oh, no, not that. Like I said, I’m not ready to read humans.”
Kate smiled and put her hand on Hannah’s arm. “Come on, it will just be for fun. Let’s see if the cards think we should hang out.”
