“Good morning, Hannah. How are you this morning?” he asks pleasantly.
“Ummm, fine thank you,” I say, pausing my steps I narrow my eyes. I can count on my two hands how many times I have had a conversation with this man in recent years. I also notice how he’s ignoring Logan standing beside me.
“Have you been keeping well?”
“Yes,” I reply, furrowing my brow.
“Very good.” He angles his head and leans further back in his chair. “I’m rather surprised to see you with this one, though. I thought you learned your lesson the last time you were involved.”
“What did you say, old man?” Logan, who has been patiently waiting, suddenly tenses as he looks down. His hand tightens around mine as he glares at Brian.
“It’s okay, let’s go.” I try to pull Logan towards the door. The last thing I need is there to be a confrontation in the middle of Maggie’s bakery.
Brian slowly stands meeting Logan’s eyes and sneers. “I believe you heard exactly what I said, Mr. James. But I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that you have found yourself in Hannah’s bed again in such a short time. You have always been obsessed with her. Makes me wonder why you stayed away as long as you did though, hmmm.” My eyes widen. What the fuck is happening right now?
“Let’s get something straight. You will keep Hannah’s name out of your fucking mouth and learn to mind your own god damned business. Our relationship is none of yours or anyone else’s concern, got it?” Logan barks with anger.
Ignoring Logan, Brian turns back to me. “Just remember to be careful, dear. Apples never fall far from the tree.”
“That’s enough. Both of you.” Maggie comes between them, hands on her hips and scowls. Turning to Brian, she says in a tone that means business, “I think it is time for you to go. You can come back when you have found your manners. You’ve disrupted my customers enough for one day.”
Brian slowly collects his things, carefully placing them into a well-loved leather messenger bag. Nodding his head at Maggie, he says, “Very well then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Logan is practically vibrating as we watch Brian walk towards the door, pausing he turns to look over his shoulder at me. “Hannah, do tell your mother I say hello. I haven’t seen her around the village lately. Someone must be keeping her busy.”
My eyes widen as I place a firm hand on Logan’s chest to keep him from following, Maggie shoos Brian towards the door. “Out you go. Make it two days,” she calls after him. “I don’t want to see you in this bakery for two days, Brian. I will not let you antagonize my customers.” Nodding subtly in acknowledgement, Brian exits the bakery and walks across the street to his car and gets in without looking back.
Turning towards the remaining customers, who have gone completely silent, Maggie claps her hands twice. “Show’s over, everyone. Please enjoy the rest of your meal and before you leave come to the counter for a complimentary donut.” She claps her hands again and conversations quietly resume.
Logan spins and places hands on both my shoulders and looks me up and down with concern in his eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Really, Logan.” Smiling, I try to reassure him. I’ve grown used to Brian’s looks and off-hand comments over the years. And perhaps, if I were the only target of his vitriol and unwanted attention, I’d be more concerned. Apparently, he already knows about Mom and Mason. Hopefully, that isn’t going to cause them any problems.
Turning his attention towards Maggie, “What was that? Does he always talk to your customers that way? Why do you allow him to be here day in and day out?” he asks with a frown.
“Logan, please let’s go.” I just want to return to our little bubble for the rest of the day and forget about this minor interaction.
“That’s a fair question, Logan.” Maggie smiles softly at us both before continuing. “Brian has been coming in daily for years. He mostly just sits here and works away quietly on his computer. People stop by and have a coffee with him, off and on all morning. I will not allow him to be disrespectful though, and today he crossed a line.”
“It’s not a big deal. I don’t care what he thinks, and you shouldn’t either.” Rubbing my hand up and down his arm, I continue, “Do I think it’s weird that he brought up my mom, sure, but I’m not going to obsess over it. He’s probably just lonely and looking for attention.”
“I don’t like it.” Logan crosses his arms and plants his feet.
“I understand. Just know that for every secret Brian may share, he also knows how to keep them when it really counts.Now I must get back behind the counter and hand out those promised donuts.” As she spins around, her dress twirls out around her showing off her purple and white striped leggings and black doc martins. She’s so cool.
Returning my gaze back to Logan, I place a calming hand on his face and look up into his eyes. “He can think and say whatever he wants about us. It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you are here with me now. And I’ll be even happier when we get back to your place.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
“I seriously don’t want to go in. I can’t believe you are making me do this,” Logan grumbles as I pull my jeep into the parking lot behind Bob’s. The evening sky has become an inky blue and I smell the fresh, earthy scent of the changing autumn leaves. The wind is cool and I’m glad I changed into a sweater dress and knee-high boots.
“Come on, it will be fun.” I pat his leg before opening the door and walking around to meet him on the sidewalk. Placing his hand on my lower back, we walk towards the entrance. He slows his stride so I can keep up. I don’t remember him being this much taller than me, and I appreciate the consideration. There’s nothing ruder than when your date walks ahead of you.
Earlier in the week, Beck suggested that we all attend karaoke, and I accepted on our behalf, to Logan’s dismay. Bob’s hosts regular theme nights every month and this is one of her favourites, closely followed by trivia night. Tonight, will be the first time Logan and I have hung out with all our friends since we decided to get back together and I’m looking forward to it. Logan wishes we chose to go pretty much anywhere else.
“I honestly don’t think I should show my face in there ever again.” Even with a pout on his lips, he looks incredible. Thesleeves of his black button up are rolled showing off his tattooed forearms, black jeans, and brown boots. Of course, he’s wearing the necklace turned bracelet I made him so many years ago. His hair is perfectly disheveled like hands have recently been run through it. For complete transparency they may have been mine about twenty minutes ago.
“Nobody will even remember,” I reassure him.
