A Place to Call Home (29 page)

“They’re fine. Luke’s arm is healing. Doesn’t hurt much. Ryan’s still grounded and bored to death. Aidan, well, he’s been a big help, at work and home. And I’ve let him know it.”

“Good.”

“Hannah.” His knuckles skimmed her cheek. When she didn’t offer resistance, he nudged her until she settled against his chest, glad she didn’t turn and bolt. “I came to apologize.”

“You can do that after,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“After? After what?”

“After you make love to me. I’ve missed you, Austin,” she whispered.

“Not nearly as much as I’ve missed you, brat.”

He lifted her into his arms and carried her into her bedroom. She melted into his embrace, seeking comfort in the strength of his arms. His erection strained against his jeans, already wanting to be inside her.

Placing her back on her feet, they stood at the end of her bed. Her hands worked quickly, removing his T-shirt over his head, those slender fingers roaming his chest, her nails scraping along his heated skin, driving him insane with lust.

He noticed she wore one of his T-shirts, but didn’t bother to look at it too long. With one fluid movement, he stripped her of it, pleased she wore nothing underneath except tiny blue panties. He grasped her full breasts, kneading them, his fingers toying with her rose nipples, her moans encouraging him on.

“You are so friggin’ beautiful, Hannah,” he whispered, need coursing through him.

“So you’ve said before. Now show me just how beautiful I am.” Her hand wrapped behind his neck to pull his mouth to hers, her lips moving across his greedily, her tongue pushing into him, feasting like a starved animal.

Her demanding kisses, threatened to knock him to his knees, thrilling him beyond any control he possessed. Her sweet perfume drenched his every breath. He inhaled deeper wanting to never forget that scent. Breaking the kiss, pulling away breathless, he scanned the softness of her face, the green depths of her eyes, the fullness of her mouth. God, he’d missed this amazing woman. Missed everything about her, like she was the other half of his soul.

She pulled his head back down, her passion scorching his lips, the delicious taste of her, sweet and hot, stirring a hunger so deep in his belly, a depth he’d never known existed until now. With a growl, he dipped his hand into the waistband of her panties and yanked. The ripping sound played to his primal instincts. Take her. Show her strength. Dominate her.

Her naked body molded to his, and clinging to his shoulders, she kept her mouth on his, occasionally nipping his jaw.

She fought him for control, her movements mirroring his as though she wanted to command him, rule the mood, engage the moment, win the battle. His resolve evaporated when her hands unzipped his jeans and freed his erection. Those long, slender fingers wrapped around the length of him, stroking slowly.

Mac broke from her kiss. “Hannah.” He struggled to talk while her hand continued its movement up and down his cock. “Much more of that and you’ll have me coming in your hand.”

“That’s not where I want you to come,” she whispered, her voice frisky.

With his gaze on hers, she slid down his body, onto her knees in front of him, and took him deep into the warmth of her beautiful mouth. Standing there with nothing to hold onto, his body shook at her intimate touch. This had been better than any fantasy he could’ve conjured up about her.

Closing his eyes, he willed his body to calm down, to enjoy the attention of her mouth. She sucked the entire length of him, his cock throbbing with every lick. The solid grip of her determined fingers applied pressure in the right spots, bringing him to the edge but refusing to push him over. Her delicate tongue bathed him in the most exquisite pleasure he’d ever known, his body trembling each time she took him deep into her throat. When she moaned, the sound half muted by the obstruction of his erection, every muscle in his body tightened, the sexy sound unraveling his very core. Eyes closed tightly, his only thoughts, his only concern, had been the glorious attention she continued to give his cock while she brought him to the edge and dragged him away again over and over. His balls ached, straining for endurance. He hovered like that for an eternity until he could wait no more. He couldn’t come in her mouth. Oh no. His cock lusted for the sweetness of her hot pussy.

Mac lifted Hannah, her protests short-lived when he dropped her onto the bed on her back. Stripping himself, he rolled a condom onto his very willing erection and climbed on top of her. With a long thrust, he entered her.

“Yes, Austin. Oh, my God. Yes!”

His body shook with every pump into her, the need to go on forever like this warring with the need to explode deep inside her.

“Austin! Austin! Austin!”

Spasms wracked her body and a million exquisite contractions milked his cock.

With a final plunge into her wetness, Mac screamed out, “Hannah! Oh, God, Hannah!”

His body rocked like a building in an earthquake, until his passion had been spent, and he slid out of her. His sweat-slicked body had never felt so relaxed, so relieved, so alive. Collapsing next to her, he held her against him, his mouth placing lazy kisses along her jaw, forehead, lips.

“Mmm,” she moaned.

Not wanting to leave her but needing to clean up, he slid from her bed. He returned in minutes to gather her into his arms, with her cheek on his chest. Lying there together, he listened to her soft breathing.

“Tell me when I can start apologizing.”

“Okay. Now’s a good time.”

“My behavior was an abomination the other day. I wouldn’t blame you if you never spoke to me again, Hannah.”

She laughed, soft, sexy. “I think we can say I will since you’re lying naked in my bed.”

He cradled her to his chest and brushed a long red curl from her face. “You are so beautiful, Hannah. I guess I wasn’t prepared for the impact you’ve had on my life and in such a short time.”

“I’ve been nothing but myself, Austin.”

“Exactly. That’s the damn problem. You come into town and you’re just yourself. Wonderful, feisty, stubborn, beautiful Hannah O’Leary. Before I knew it you have me and my boys wrapped around your little finger.”

She stared at him, the green circles hazy with spent passion. “I never meant for that to happen. I didn’t do it on purpose.”

He continued to hold her stubborn curls back so he could see her eyes. “I know, baby. That’s why I guess I’m so damn confused. You had every right to be out of town.”

“Gee thanks.”

“Don’t be a smart ass. What I’m saying is I wasn’t mad that you left for a few days. I was mad because I couldn’t remember what my life was like without you here.” He swallowed hard, unable to lodge the knot in his throat free. “And that scared the hell out of me.”

She sighed, her breath tickling his chest. “Because I’ll be leaving in a few months.”

“Yes.”
Can I survive without her?

“Can’t we just enjoy today? Live for today and not worry about tomorrow, Austin. I’ve been enjoying your company. Why can’t we just leave it at that?”

“I think we both know it’s gone beyond that. Even if we wanted to, I don’t think we can just do that.” Damn stubborn woman.

She leaned up and kissed him. “We can at least try.” She rolled off of him and snuggled against his side.

So even if she loved him she’d still balk at a relationship? Guess he’d better try harder. Wrapping his arm around her, he stroked her skin. “You said you loved me.”

“Yes,” she said, her voice soft.

His heart danced in his chest. “Was it true, Hannah?”

After a moment, when he thought she might recant, she spoke.

“Yes. I don’t know how it happened. It just did. Given my past, you can understand why I don’t believe in the love at first sight thing. Or why I don’t know how to believe in love at all.”

“And given my past you can understand why it’s hard for me to love again? To trust again?”

She sighed. “Yes. I can. But even if you don’t love me back, I can still love you, Austin. I have no choice. You stole my heart.”

He laughed and kissed the top of her head, cuddling her in his arms to see her face. “Of course, I have very strong feelings for you, Hannah.” Admitting his love would be like offering his heart on a stake. She’d already slashed ideas of a long-term relationship. Did he want to give his heart any more exposure to pain? “But you’ll still think of leaving in a few months.”

When she shivered, he held her tighter, not wanting to let her go—now or ever.

“I have to. That’s what I do. I move around and set up restaurants.”

How could he change her mind and convince her to stay with him? Desperation consumed him while he sought the right words. “When will you stop, Hannah?”

“What’s that mean?”

“I mean how many restaurants will be enough? You live frugally. It’s not like you need to keep making millions to support any expensive habits. Shit. The most expensive thing I’ve seen you own is that BMW and I’d say, knowing you, you bought that particular car not for flashiness but because it’s practical. You’re on the road a lot. That’s a decent, dependable car.”

“I don’t require a lot of material things.” Her fingers twirled the black curly hair on his chest.

“Exactly. So why keep opening restaurants? You’re not doing it for the money. When will you stop and just enjoy the empire you’ve already built?”

Those emerald eyes filled with sadness and broke his heart.

“I don’t know how to stay in one place, Austin. I just never have been able to for more than six months. So I guess while it’s hard for you to love again because of your past it’s hard for me to settle down with a permanent address because of mine.”

After awhile, he thought she might have dosed off because she remained so quiet with her head against his chest but then she whispered, “Austin?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for my cupcake. What made you think of that?”

“Because on the outside you may be a brat but inside there’s a little girl who never knew how special she was. I just thought the lady she grew into would like to know.”

She sniffled, turning into his arms. “I think you deserve a reward,” she said and straddled him.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Hannah had finally completed her final draft of her menu. She assembled it on the kitchen counter and looked it over for typos. But it proved useless. She’d read the words so many times they just blurred.

She ventured downstairs where the renovations moved along ahead of schedule. Mac had planned extra time for any problems that they ran into. So far they had lucked out and while the place had been poorly kept up, the guts of the building had been in good shape, keeping Mac on schedule.

Hannah found Mac with a group of men in the rear of the dining room, hammering and sawing. Mac nailed the new hardwood floor into place one row at a time. His tool belt hung on his narrow hips as he knelt and worked at a quick pace while Aidan handed him the next slat that Harry had cut. After thirty minutes, the men noticed her and Mac called for a break.

“Hey, how long you been there?” Mac grabbed her waist, his head bending to kiss her. “That’s all I can give you, darling. I’m all sweaty.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You forget that I like you when you’re sweaty.”

He grinned. “Christ, Hannah. Don’t give me a hard-on down here. Do you need something?”

“Oh, yeah,” she said huskily.

Mac looked over his shoulder. The men, including Aidan, watched them. “Okay, you little brat, out with you.” He took her by the hand and escorted her back to the entranceway. “I forbid you to come down here anymore today,” he said, his tone light.

“You forbid me? Oh good. I like a challenge.”

He smiled wide. “I knew that wasn’t the best word to use. How about this? Please stay out of here today. I’m making great progress on the floor installation and with any luck and few breaks I think it’ll be done by tonight.”

“Really?” Her eyes grew wide. Oh, it all seemed to be coming together so fast.

“Yeah. So you know what that means?”

She jumped in place several times and clapped her hands. “The chandeliers can be installed.”

“You got it. But only if you behave yourself and stay out of trouble.”

“Agreed.” She rose up on her toes up to kiss his lips.

“Okay. I’m getting back in there. Be good, brat.” He disappeared into the back.

Hannah returned to her apartment. Might as well start working on scheduling interviews. An hour later, Hannah had arranged six interviews for the manager position. Reviewing the applications and resumes, she had been happy to see some very good prospects for the one position in her restaurants that would be totally responsible for the entire operation in Hannah’s absence, which, of course, would be most of the time.

When her doorbell rang, she used the intercom to identify her visitor.

“It’s Aidan. Dad wanted me to give you something.”

“Hi, Aidan,” she said opening the door.

“Dad said to please look through these.” He handed her two big booklets of sample wallpaper.

“Did he really say please?” she teased and smiled.

His blue eyes twinkled. “Oh, yeah. He told me I had to emphasize that word.”

She laughed. “Okay, you can tell him you did a good job.”

“He wants you to please make a choice by tomorrow because it takes some time to order the wallpaper.” He sounded like a machine repeating the message.

“Why didn’t he come up himself instead of putting you in the line of fire?”

Aidan cracked a grin and shrugged.

She stared at the books. “He’s just trying to keep me busy so I stay out of his way. How come there are only two books? Usually there’s like ten to choose from.”

Aidan glanced over his shoulder then back to her. “Okay, but you didn’t hear it from me. Dad has the rest downstairs. Says if he gave them all to you then you’d never make a damn choice. Sorry, his words not mine.”

“Oh, he did, huh? Really?” she said, eyeing the books. “Well, you tell your dad that—” She stopped and stared at the man climbing the stairs to stand behind Aidan. “Dad,” she whispered, her stomach turning. In the daylight, the man had aged quite a bit, but his tall, broad frame remained threatening, still much bigger than hers.

Aidan looked where she stared.

“Sweetie-pie. Long time, no see,” he said in a gravelly voice. “This one of your boyfriends?” He shot Aidan an intimidating look—the same one he had used on her too many times to count.

Hannah swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “Aidan. Go downstairs. Now,” she said calmer than the fright swirling within her. She kept her eyes on her father.

Aidan slowly backed away, his thumbs hitched in his pockets.

“Aidan.” She called out, barely able to maintain her composure. “Give your father a message for me please. Tell him I’m more than satisfied with only the two booklets. I’ll rush my decision to make his life easier. Will you give him that exact message right away please?”

“Yeah, sure.” Aidan looked back and forth between Hannah and her father then strolled down the stairs.

Her father stood in front of her. She had to stay outside where she’d be the safest. She had been glad to get Aidan out of the way. It would be impossible to know what kind of mood her father showed up in. One thing had been for certain, it would always be foul, but how foul was yet to be determined.

“You know, Hannah, how much I fucking hate looking all over the fucking place for you?” he snarled, leaning into her face. The sour hint of whiskey rolled off his breath.

Her legs shook. “Dad, now’s not a good time. I have company inside. Plumbers working.”

“You gonna lie to your pops? You know what happens to lying bitches. I’ve been watching you for two fucking days waiting to get a chance to get in this Fort Knox here.” He stepped closer forcing her back into the apartment. He shut the door without a sound.

“Did you come for money again? Fine. I’ll get my purse.” And the bottle of mace she always carried.

He grabbed her arm and shook her viciously, wrenching her shoulder. “You back-talking already, you ungrateful bitch?”

“No, Dad. Just let me get my money. Let go.” She struggled but his grip tightened. Than Mac’s voice whispered in her mind,
stand up for yourself
.

She bit down on her bottom lip to keep from crying out since he would enjoy that. He always beat her more when she cried out. But she wasn’t a little girl now.

She twisted and flailed her arm until he let go. “Don’t you dare touch me! I’m not a child anymore,” she yelled.

His hand swung out to slap her but she ducked.

“Get out of here,” she demanded, pointing toward the door. “I’m not giving you anything.”

“You’ll do what I fucking say.” He lunged but the booze tripped him up. He stumbled when she escaped, backing into the kitchen.

She grabbed the rolling pin from the counter and clutched it with a death grip in her shaking hands. Hatred flowed freely through her veins remembering the helpless child she’d once been. Helpless to defend herself against his cruelty.

“No, Dad. You’ll do as
I
say and leave my home. You’re not welcomed here. I never want to see you again.”

“Now I didn’t know I raised such a disrespectful child. I thought I taught you better than that,” he said, standing again.

Her front door opened and Mac’s voice boomed. “Hannah!”

“In the kitchen.”

Mac entered the room and filled the doorway with his massive body. He shot her father a deadly look.

“Everything’s okay, Austin.” Relief swam through her. Thank God he came. Her father wouldn’t hurt her with Mac here. “I’ve got this under control but if you wouldn’t mind staying a moment. My father was just leaving.”

“I’m not going fucking nowhere until I say,” her father yelled and coughed. “Who are you to tell me what I’m going to do? I guess I was too easy on you when you was a kid. Should’ve taught you a lesson.”

Tremors shook her entire body, memories flooding her. “Oh, you taught me a lot, Dad. You taught me how to fear you, how to take a beating without crying, how it felt to get beaten with your belt, or with your fists, or with whatever was handy at the time, how it felt to be dragged out of my bed at night after one of your drunken binges and be beaten black and blue head to toe all because you needed a punching bag.” She stalked toward him with the rolling pin raised above her head. “You needed someone to bully. You needed to terrorize me,
your
little girl, because it made you feel like a fucking man,” she screamed.

His grin proved pure evil. “You deserved everything you got. You were a bad child.”

“No, Dad. You were a horrible father and husband. The only thing Mom ever did that made me proud of her was the day she packed us up and ran from you. I thank God to this day that she took me with her so I could get away from you.”

He lunged. She screamed, jumped out of his way, and swung the rolling pin down on his shoulder. In two long strides, Mac stood beside her.

Courage poured into every cell of her being while she stared down the monster of her past. “You get the hell out of here, Dad, and stay away from me forever. You ever touch me again and I’ll crack your skull open. Then you’ll rot in jail forever.”

When he continued to stand there, Mac spoke in a deadly tone, emphasizing each word. “I think what the lady is trying to tell you is you’ve worn out your welcome and now you’re going to leave.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

Mac stepped in front of Hannah, his voice eerily calm. “I’m your worse nightmare if you don’t do as the lady says. Now.”

“Is that true, Hannah?” Her father asked in a sad voice. “You kicking your ol’ dad out?”

“Y-yes.” She shook with uncontrolled emotion, her fingers numb from gripping the wooden rolling pin so tight. “That’s what I said. Leave.”

“No problem. Give me my money and I’ll leave.”

“I only have
my
money and you’re not getting a dime. I never want to see you again.”

He stumbled out across the foyer, swearing the whole way and not bothering to shut the apartment door behind him. Hannah swung back her arm, prepared to launch the pin at her father’s head, but Mac caught her before she could send the missile flying.

“Easy now, baby. He ain’t worth it.”

She shook and brushed him off her, her breathing ragged.

“Fight me all you want, baby,” Mac said and trailed his fingers down her arm. “But right now I need to hold you.”

Damn, if she didn’t just kick her father’s sorry ass out, something she wished she’d done long ago. Mac held her in place just studying her. Oh, holy hell. The reality of what she had just accomplished hit her hard, stealing her courage and deflating her temper. She turned and collapsed into Mac’s strong arms, taking the comfort he offered.

Then she cried. And cried. And cried.

When no tears remained, she looked up, dizzy and weak. She clutched Mac’s shirt and noticed the wet stains she had left behind. “Thank you, Austin. You gave me the strength to stand up to him.”

“No, honey, you had it in you. You just needed to know it was okay to stand up to your own father.” Mac lifted her chin and stared into her eyes. “He doesn’t deserve you, Hannah. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“I’m used to it.”

“Yeah, but tonight you stood up for yourself and told him you’d put up with it no longer. Good girl.”

Another tremble sliced through her. How she wished the shaking would stop like the crying had. “He’s why I have nightmares.”

“Now why doesn’t that surprise me?” He glanced toward the door. “He is a fucking nightmare.”

“Austin,” she whispered, snuggling closer against his chest. She inhaled his woodsy scent. She loved the way his name sounded to her ears, the strong ring of it. “That’s why I think you’re a great dad, because I know what a horrible dad is.”

“And now I do too,” Aidan said from the doorway.

Mac’s head shot up to stare at him. “How long have you been there, son?”