“Yes, that’s fine. And don’t worry about a specific time. Come as soon as you can or as late as you want. We’ll be here. I’ll text you the address.”
Jake hung up, thinking the guy sounded pretty sincere. Like he genuinely missed his daughter and wanted to see her. When Hannah finished with the phone clerk, and they were back in the car, he brought it up.
“So, your dad seems really worried about you. And he says your family misses you and would love to see you. He didn’t go in to why you hadn’t talked for so long but did say he’d explain if you come over. I know you said to set it up, but I didn’t commit to anything and told him the decision was yours. That way you have an out if you want it.”
“What would you do?”
“Honestly, you don’t have anything to lose. If you get there and it sucks, I’ll be waiting outside, and you can just leave.”
“If I go, will you come in with me? I can’t face them alone, and since you’re the only person I know right now…”
“If that’s what you want, sure. There’s something else I need to tell you about them.” He ran his hand through his hair. “They’re rich. Like really, really rich.”
“What? Are you saying I come from money?”
“A shit ton.”
She huffed out a laugh. “Huh. That has to be what the estrangement is about then. Don’t you think? Stuff like that is always about love or money. What if I was a greedy little bitch, and they kicked me out? I don’t know if I can find out I was a horrible person, Jake.”
“I don’t think that’s it at all. You weren’t a bitch before the accident, and I can’t see you being greedy. You’re actually a very generous person. Last Thanksgiving, you volunteered at a homeless shelter to hand out meals. You may not have a lot of money to give, but you are always kind and helpful. That’s a direct quote from your coworkers, by the way.” That made her smile.
“Well. All right. Let’s do it. Can we go back to your place first, so I can clean up? If I haven’t seen them in years, I don’t want to show up in jeans and a hoodie.”
They got back to the farm in the early evening. It was already dark and raining.
“I’m not going to attempt another bath, but I would like to put some makeup on and change my clothes. I put my new phone on the charger, so we can dive into that when we get back.”
“Sounds good.”
While Hannah went to get ready, Jake sat on the couch, smelling the various candles he’d purchased and trying to decide whether to light one. He’d bagged up all the pillows and only left the softest blanket on the couch. Whatever Hannah didn’t want, he’d take to the Goodwill.
She’d barely been here twenty-four hours, but he was already used to having her around. When she came out and asked if he could help her with her makeup, he panicked.
“Uh, I can try,” he said, coming to her in the bathroom.
“I think I can apply it myself. I just need you to tell me how much I wore or how I wore it.”
“I don’t think you wore much. You don’t need to. You’re beautiful without all that.” He nodded to her assortment of eyeliners and lipsticks that were piled up in a makeup bag she’d taken from her apartment.
“That’s nice of you to say,” she said, and lowered her head. “Jake, I think I made a mistake.”
“Okay. I can call your dad back and say we’ve had a change of plans,” he said.
“No, not that. I mean with you. I don’t know why I would have said no to dating you.” Thoughtful hazel eyes met his, and his heart did a wonky little thing. That was the second heart flutter today—maybe he should see a doctor. Though the guilt still lingered from withholding the truth this morning, he still couldn’t bring himself to tell her it was his reputation that had turned her off. That she’d parked him in the friend zone because he slept with anything in a skirt. That she was way better than him, and he didn’t deserve her.
The look in her eyes was unmistakable. She wanted him to kiss her. How was he supposed to turn down that invitation?
Not waiting for him, she stood on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close, aligning their bodies, then tilted his head to deepen the kiss. She moaned and slid both arms around his neck. He buried his other hand in her long, soft hair. It was even more luxurious than he imagined.
Just as things were heating up, he thought better of it. He couldn’t do this to her. Not telling her the truth was only justifiable if he kept things platonic. Otherwise, he risked being a giant, lying asshole.
He broke the kiss and put his forehead on hers. “Hannah, this isn’t a good idea,” he said. “You were pretty clear you didn’t want to get involved with me. I feel like I’m taking advantage of you while you’re sick. We should wait.”
“That was the old, stupid me,” she said. “I’ve decided to change things up. Make some decisions based on my heart rather than my mind.”
He let his arms fall and took a step back, and she reluctantly did the same.
“You’re the kind of woman that wants love and believes in happily ever after.” He paused to plow a hand through his hair and then put it in his pocket. “You deserve better than me.”
