Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 95311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
"That's okay," she said, glancing around but knowing she wasn't going to find it. Knowing him, he probably threw it away, "we don't have to do breakfast."
Elliott looked up with a raised brow. "You need to eat," he said in a tone that almost sounded chastising.
Hannah shrugged, slipping into a pair of black flats. "Alright then," she said, grabbing her purse and opening the door, leaving him to rush to catch up.
He met her at the bottom of the staircase, coming up behind and placing a hand at her lower back. She wondered fleetingly if it was an act of possession or just a casual thing men did with all women they were with.
When they stepped into the dining room, Hannah noticed the eyes of at least a dozen townspeople she knew. They gave her a friendly smile which she returned, feeling self-conscious. Elliott led her to a table by the windows and pulled out the chair for her. She never realized before how nice of a gesture that was.
Apparently, Mr. Michaels had been raised with very good manners.
The waiter came over, offering no greeting as he handed the menus to them and poured two coffee cups. Hannah had a raised brow that Elliott shrugged at. When she looked up, she felt a jolt of recognition.
"Tristan Thomas," she said in the tone of a cross math teacher. Tristan looked up, surprised, "I know it's been a while," she said, noticing Elliott had put down the menu and was looking at her, "but I used to babysit you. And I'm sure Michelle would not be happy to hear about how rude you are to customers."
A look of recognition dawned on Tristan's face, a smile pulling at his lips. "Aww, come on, Hanny," he said in a fake five-year old voice, "don't tell mama I was bad."
Hannah laughed. A real, genuine unexpected laugh. "You were always a little terror," she remembered, making the staid Tristan grin.
"Some things never change," he winked, then gesturing to Elliot said, "he seemed to like my tableside manner."
"Yes well... that hardly recommends you," she said and Elliot chuckled.
"We'll have two of the deluxe breakfasts and orange juice," Elliott ordered and Hannah felt her spine stiffen. She wasn't a fan of being ordered for. But it was exactly what she was in the mood for, so she let it slide.
Hannah sipped her coffee as Elliott handed back the menus and looked around. "So how many people in this room hate me for defiling the town babysitter?" he asked and Hannah choked on her coffee.
"Definitely not my mother..." she said, noticing Moira had conveniently decided to have brunch with a few friends at the inn that morning. She had winked at Hannah as they sat down and then nodded at Elliott's back with an appreciative grin.
Elliott's eyebrows shot up. "Your mother is here?" he asked and there was real male terror in his voice.
Hannah wanted to laugh but took pity on him instead. "It's not like that. My mother is..."
"A free-love hippie. And by 'free love' I mean she had really enjoyed her share of men before settling down," Emily said, pulling up a chair at the side of them, not caring that she was completely blocking the aisle for the servers.
"Way to make mom sound like a slut, Emmy," Hannah said, smiling.
"Hey, I'm just helping ease this guy's nerves," Emily said, her eyes piercing into Elliott. "You have nothing to worry about with Moira. She is probably thinking it was about damn time Hannah got herself some... male company."
"Em," Hannah rolled her eyes.
"Hey, that was tame. My original phrase rhymed with duck... and muddy."
"Oh, my God shut up," Hannah said, her cheeks turning read.
Elliott sat back, enjoying the banter at his table. He and Hannah had made some progress in the linguistic department, but they were still utterly awkward together. Having a third party was making the morning easier. And watching Emily tease Hannah in an older-sister kind of way was amusing and telling. Hannah's blush was ridiculous and adorable.
He casually glanced around, trying to spot Moira. His eyes found her easily, a gorgeous older version of Hannah at a table of four other women. Her head shot up as soon as his eyes landed on her. She looked different with her hair down and a lack of paint on her delicate white dress. She smiled at him widely, a warm genuine smile. He smiled back, his chin lifting in acknowledgment.
He never had to deal with the strangeness of seeing a woman's parents much. Dan being the exception, but that was all very formal and expected as though Dan and her father had talked about it many times before.
It felt odd for him to see a woman who clearly understood that he was having sex, casually, with her daughter.