“I don’t know, Tessa,” I reply hesitantly.“It’s still new—”
She cuts me off, a beaming smile on her face.“I knew it was something.I just knew it.There’s no way Leo was going to walk away from you.He’s been single since I started working for Lauren and Jack, and I couldn’t figure out why.He was waiting for some badass woman chef to come along and sweep him off his feet.”
She’s talking so fast that I can’t help but laugh.It feels like she’s more invested in mine and Leo’s relationship than we are.Not that I’m not invested.Hell, just earlier today I was talking myself off the ledge of telling him I love him.He’s perfect.We’re perfect for each other.He understands the job and the hours, and there has not been a single issue, including in the sack.
“Tessa,” I wail, “it’s going so well.I hate to jinx it by talking about it, but I have so much I want to tell you.”
“Then spill it!”she yells, clapping her hands.“And do it fast because Dylan’s going to be home soon.”
“Well, we’ve definitely gone beyond making out and I don’t think I can ever sleep with another guy because Leo and his dick puts them to shame,” I announce, my mind wandering to the first time I saw him without his pants.Sex with anyone else will be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway.
“Leo’s not just hot in the kitchen, huh?”Tessa asks, and I look at her with a what-the-fuck look that only makes her laugh.“I was just trying to use some kind of cooking pun.It failed.Move on.”
“But yes, he’s hot in the kitchen and in the bedroom.The best part, he totally respects me in the kitchen.He’s always game for me to try out new recipes and he’s all about tasting and helping me make things better.”
“Okay, you’re talking about the actual kitchen, right?”Tessa asks.“Not one of these is a euphemism for sex, right?”
“Yes, I’m talking about the actual kitchen, although we have had sex in the kitchen.That man is a genius with his hands and his mouth.”
“Hannah!You’ve had sex in the kitchen at Apple Jacks?”Tessa now asks, sounding appalled and disgusted and rightfully so.Apple Jacks is a restaurant and not a place for us to dirty up with sex.
“Never!”I screech.“What kind of chef do you think I am?I would never contaminate a kitchen like that!But we’ve pretty much done it everywhere else, and he’s super into toys, taking the whole thing up a few notches.”
“Toys make everything way better.Does he know about Dylan’s invention?”Tessa questions, wrinkling up her nose.“That thing is pretty damn epic.”
“While I agree with you, I still have a hard time separating its association with my brother.But no, I haven’t told Leo about it, but I plan to introduce him to it tonight.”I wink and Tessa laughs.
“I was thinking of giving them out as a favor at the baby shower,” she jokes and while I know she’s not serious, I’m pretty sure Lauren, Penny and Ellen would graciously accept it.
We’re both laughing when Dylan walks in with the pizza.Tessa leans over, whispering to me, “Better eat quick and get home.I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your nightly hook up.”
We finish dinner and thanks to Tessa for her great acting skills, Dylan sends me on my way, telling me that Tessa is tired and needs to get to bed.It’s eight o’clock and Tessa is not ninety years old, but I don’t push back.This will give me time to get back to my house, change into some sexy underwear and get over to Leo’s before he gets off work.
I tell them both goodbye with Tessa smiling like an idiot, and if Dylan was a little more observant, he’d know something was up.But again, I’d rather he not know just yet.I’m not ready to dive into announcing this to my family, especially my mom who will immediately start asking when I’m getting married and having a baby.At least I have Tessa to take some of the stress off of me.
On my way home I stop off at a lingerie store, picking up something seriously hot that I hope blows Leo’s mind when he walks in and finds me in his bed.
All I hope is that he’s feeling what’s happening between us, because I’m seriously and totally crazy in love with Leo Marsh.
Chapter Twenty
Leo
It’s late by the time I finally finish up at work.The whole night has felt weird, not having Hannah in the kitchen with me.Even though we’ve only been sharing a kitchen again for a couple of weeks now, I’ve already grown used to seeing her in my space.
I like having her here and I’ve missed her tonight.Way more than I thought I would.
And I really hope she is waiting for me at home like I bossily told her to be in my text earlier.
Locking up the restaurant, I call out goodnight to the rest of the crew as I make my way through the darkness of the property to my place.There are a few lamps to light the way, although I don’t really need them anymore, having spent so much time here.
Unlocking my front door, the soft music that’s drifting down the stairs, along with the low lighting at the top immediately tells me that Hannah is upstairs waiting for me like I’d hoped.And I’m now grinning like an idiotic fool as I sprint up the stairs and through the living space to my bedroom.As soon as I reach the dividing wall and doorway that separates my bedroom from the rest of the loft though, my smile disappears only to be replaced with what I’m going to assume is a look found on the face of every horny fifteen-year-old kid upon discovering his dad’s Playboy collection.
“Hey,” Hannah says, smiling up at me from where she lies on my bed.
In nothing but underwear.Seriously fucking sexy underwear.
Red.
