“Old, apparently. A grandfather?” He whispered. “I’m done. No one wants to date a grandpa.”
Hannah laughed her throaty, sexy laugh, and I felt a little jealous that I wasn’t the one to get that sound out of her body.
“You are still a good-looking man, Mr. Hartley. I bet a lot of women wouldn’t mind you being a grandfather.”
My father blushed and I wanted to poke my eyes out. After the divorce he dated women around Hannah’s age, and I sincerely hoped he wasn’t getting any ideas about little Spencer in that twisted sugar daddy head of his.
Harry Spencer obviously thought about the same thing because he cleared his throat and suggested they should go talk to Clem. Hannah left without acknowledging my existence. A week ago, I would be thrilled. That night though? I felt strangely unhappy about it.
“That girl,” my father started when they turned their backs on us. “That girl is a catch.”
“Easy there, grandpa.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he clarified. “I just remembered I caught you two once. She was still in high school. You were making out in the…”
“I remember,” I lifted a hand in the air to stop him.
“You are both grown-ups now. Why don’t you go for it?”
“I don’t want a girlfriend.”
“Today you don’t, but sometimes people change their mind after a while.”
“I won’t change mine. And she has a boyfriend.”
“Bummer. When I saw her with her parents, I assumed she was single.”
Madison walked out of the house, looking around for someone. I waved at her, knowing she would change the subject for sure. She waved back and bolted towards us.
“Hey, Dad.” They kissed and she turned to me. “I was looking for you.”
“What’s up?”
Madison took a long look at Dad who eventually got the hint.
“Still keeping secrets from your old man, I see. I’m going to talk with the Coles. See you later.”
When he left us alone, Madison hesitated for a moment, then blurted out.
“I fucked up with the venue.”
“Excuse me?” It wasn’t only the revelation, but also the language. This one never swore.
“I fucked it up. I didn’t book it.”
“Clem told me you booked it.”
“I lied.”
I cocked my head sideways examining her face. She didn’t look like she was bullshitting me.
“Why the hell would you do that?”
“I’ll fix it. Obviously.”
“It’s their wedding. Clem is pregnant.”
“Relax. I’ll book it. I have a month. The owner is some jerk who just refused to listen. I tracked down his PA and bribed her. She promised to squeeze me in his calendar if I can’t convince him over the phone. I will fix it.”
“What did you bribe her with?” I asked.
“To plan her wedding for free,” she said, and my disbelief must have shown on my face because she added, “I’m a big deal in New York, Ty.”
“Clem is going to kill you.”
“She won’t, because she will never know. I will book it.”
“This will bite you in the ass.”
“You are so ungrateful. Just like the others. Why did I even bother with you people?” She murmured.
“Because you are a control freak and you can’t help yourself,” I deadpanned. Madison’s lips twisted into a smile. “Why did you tell me?”
“You fuck up a lot,” she shrugged. “I thought you might tell me something useful. Which you didn’t, by the way. I also knew you wouldn’t rat me out.”
“Oh, monster Maddie,” I grinned at her. “Why would I rat you out? It would be so much more entertaining to watch you squirm and explain to everyone you lied.”
“Unlike you, I am actually capable of cleaning up my own mess, Tyler.”
I didn’t know for sure she could clean that mess, but mine only grew bigger and bigger with every year that past. The only thing I did successfully was to attract a mobster.
My phone started buzzing in my pocket. It was Chloe. She was probably returning my call from earlier. I pressed the red button. The bar was still closed. She was home. She was safe.
I looked up from my phone, but Madison wasn’t paying attention to me anymore. I followed her gaze and found Hannah Spencer in the middle of something resembling a nervous breakdown.
Chapter Seventeen
Hannah
I couldn’t breathe. It was like I was ten all over again. Scared that people might say something to me. Because I knew their words were going to hurt.
My father stood in the middle of the backyard laughing and patting that man’s back in front of everyone.
All the humiliation and insults I suffered because of that man’s case and the fact that my father agreed to represent him flooded back to my mind. They took over the control.
I was shaking. Shaking with rage towards my father. It filled up my body. My heart pounded in my chest.
A little voice screamed inside my head. It told me to go hide somewhere. Get a hold of myself, before I caused a scene. But I couldn’t move. It was probably related to the fact I couldn’t breathe properly.
The worst part was that he knew. My father knew how much effort I made during my high school years to distance myself from his image, from his reputation.
And here we were. Surrounded by neighbors and friends. At an engagement party of all places. And he acted like all that happened to me, to our family, because of that case, didn’t mean a thing to him.
A warm, steady hand wrapped around my upper arm. I glanced up. Tyler turned me around and dragged me inside the house. I didn’t know if it was because of his closeness, but I inhaled a ragged breath. My blood was roaring in my ears. I saw things around me as we moved. People too. But I didn’t register anything beyond my blind rage.
The next thing I felt was a cool hard surface on the back of my thighs. Then nothing. Minutes passed and then I heard my name.
“Hannah? Are you okay?”
I forced myself to lift my head up and met Tyler’s startled gaze.
Was I okay? I wanted to wreak something. That should count for an improvement from a few minutes ago when I was frozen to the spot. So I nodded.
“Good,” he said, and I heard the air leaving his lungs. I dropped my head down again.
He stayed close, hovering over me. I could feel the warmth of his body seeping into mine. The breath leaving his mouth tickled the sensitive skin on the side of my neck.
We were in a bathroom. I was sitting on the counter, with Tyler’s hands placed on it on both my sides. His tall, lean body leaning forward. Leaning over me.
He didn’t talk. He didn’t touch me. But he didn’t leave me alone either.
I was grateful he gave me space to calm down. I didn’t want to talk about the reason for all of this. Not right now anyway. But there was something I had to ask.
“Did everyone notice?” I asked looking down at my legs. They were tightly pressed together. My voice was hoarse. I took one deep breath and exhaled shakily.
“I don’t know,” he answered quietly. His voice was steady, unlike mine. “Madison saw you. My guess is she is used to watching for party poopers at these types of events.”