Knox: Would it make your aunt happy if I came a bit early to buy some new shoes? Or should I wait a few weeks, so I don't look like an ass kisser?
A few weeks. We've gone out once, and he assumes that we're going to be together weeks from now. Have I fallen into an alternate dimension where I'm suddenly in a relationship with a gorgeous older man whose family practically runs the town?
Maybe wait a bit.
Knox: No problem. You know, I could cook you dinner instead. Would you like that?
I really miss cooking. Can I help?
Knox: You bet. 54 minutes until I see you.
Knox: Not that I’m counting or anything. Oh, cool. 53 now.
LOL!
My aunt must catch me grinning as I come out of the back hallway, since she jumps out of her chair and rushes over to me. “That Wolfe you met in the store yesterday – you really went out with him?”
“Yes. You saw us leave together.”
“But…” She sputters. “People are saying that you were acting like a couple last night. Is this a real thing?”
Good question. “I guess we’ll know in a few weeks. For now, we’ll have to keep having dinner until we’re sure.”
Her eyes narrow. “As long as it's only dinner. In this town, people talk."
"That's their problem, not mine."
She looks me up and down. Does she realize that I’m an adult? The last time I spent any real time with her, I was twelve, with purple ribbons in my braids. Maybe that’s why she treats me like I’m a teenager, not twenty-two. Then she stares at my chest and smirks.
"If you were going to shake those boobs to catch a Wolfe boy, you should have gone for one of the billionaire tech ones. Not a grouchy bastard from Rathlock.”
I wish I had the nerve to tell her off when she says such things. I barely knew my aunt before I moved here, but now I’m realizing why she tends not to be invited to more family festivities, and her husband barely spends time with her.
I get back to work, wanting the store to be spotless by six o'clock. When I go to lock the door, Knox is standing in front, and he steps inside. "Hey, darlin’. Ready?"
Aunt Blaire instantly comes trotting over. "I should be keeping a better eye on you, Hanna. Where did you say you were going?"
I look to Knox for help.
He nods politely. "Well, ma'am, Hanna mentioned she hasn't been cooking as much as she’d like lately. We’re going to make the most of my kitchen and cook dinner together."
"Absolutely not," she snaps. "That's too far a drive. You can't have her home that late."
"I have my own apartment," I murmur. "I won't disturb you on the way in."
Her lips purse. "Well, I need you to come to work early tomorrow. No excuses. There's a new shipment arriving and it all has to be in place by nine."
Before I can panic, Knox says, "No problem. We’ll just grab a quick bite at one of the restaurants here."
My aunt huffs away, and I grab my purse and sneak out before she can make up any more new rules. Knox wraps his arm around my shoulders as we walk down the street.
"I'm sorry…" I begin.
"Hey, I understand strange families. It's fine." After we turn a corner, he asks, "Want to go to the beach?"
Looking up at the sign, I laugh. "Sure. I've heard about this place." Sandcastles is a beach-themed restaurant – charming, and just a bit tacky in the good way.
The hostess makes a fuss about finding Knox a window table, but he asks for a booth tucked away at the back. "Is this okay?" he asks, sitting beside me on the leather bench.
