Home for the Holidays

“Oh, hello, Joe. How are you doing? How did the big move go?” Robyn said, a welcoming smile on her face.

“I’m good, thanks. And the move was pretty smooth, all things considered.”

“Did you want to come in? Or were you after something? Goodness, is that a pizza?”

“Um, yes, it is. I was actually wondering if I could have a quick word with Hannah?”

Robyn’s smile widened. “Of course you can. Why don’t you come in and I’ll go grab her?”

Joe stepped into the foyer as Robyn disappeared up the hallway. He glanced around as he waited, taking in the fussy wallpaper and antique hat stand in the front hall. Interesting. Not the kind of furnishings he’d imagined a woman like Hannah favoring.

There was a family portrait hanging next to it, a photograph of Robyn and two young girls. He moved closer and recognized the oldest girl as Hannah. He guessed she must have been about twelve or thirteen when it was taken. Her hair was cut short and she wore jeans and a football sweater. She had her arm wrapped protectively around her younger sister and there was a challenge in her eyes as she smiled down the barrel of the camera.

Full of attitude, even at thirteen. It figured.

A door closed somewhere in the house and Joe turned away from the photograph just as Hannah entered the foyer wearing a pale green satin bathrobe. Her hair was wrapped in a towel and she had her arms crossed defensively over her chest as she stopped in front of him. She glanced at the pizza and arched an eyebrow.

“It’s for you. Ruby made it,” he said awkwardly.

She looked different without her coverall or biker gear. Softer. More vulnerable.

“To say thank you for the motorbike ride I didn’t take her on, I assume?” Hannah asked coolly.

He squared his shoulders. “Yeah, about that. I owe you an apology. I jumped to conclusions. I should have let you explain before I barged in.”

“Yep, you should have.”

He shifted his weight. He hadn’t expected her to make it easy for him, but he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this uncomfortable. “I can’t remember exactly what I said, but I was out of line and I’m sorry.”

“Let me see if I can refresh your memory. Reckless idiot, I think you called me.”

He winced. “I’m sorry.”

She eyed him for a moment, then her gaze dropped to the pizza. “Ruby made this for me—is that what you said?”

“Yes. It’s a Ruby superspecial with the works. Homemade base and everything.”

She held out her hand and he passed the pizza over. Now that her arms weren’t crossed over her chest, he could see the outline of her breasts against her robe. The soft shape of her nipples was clearly visible beneath the silk, and he realized that she must be naked beneath it.

For a moment he got caught on the thought, his mind filling with images of soft skin and even softer curves.

Where the hell did that come from?

He shoved his hands into his pockets. Then he cleared his throat. “Before I go, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to talk with Ruby. I know she probably got in the way. It was kind of you to let her help.”

Hannah gave him a scathing look. “It wasn’t kind. She’s a good kid. Smart, funny. A minor miracle, considering who her father is. But I won’t hold that against her.”

She stepped forward and opened the front door. “Tell Ruby thank you for the pizza,” she said.

His audience was over. He stepped over the threshold and turned to face her. “I will. And I just want to say again—”

The door closed in his face. He blinked, then slowly turned away. Despite everything, a reluctant smile curved his mouth.

Hannah Napier was a handful. He’d got that much right about her.

And despite that, he wanted her.

The realization killed his smile. He hadn’t felt a thing for another woman since Beth died, yet for some crazy reason every time he looked at his new neighbor he found himself thinking things he had no business thinking.

It’s only sex. You haven’t touched a woman in two years. You’re only human.

All true, but somehow not enough to ease the tight feeling in his gut. He didn’t want to be attracted to another woman. He wasn’t over Beth yet, not by a long shot.

CHAPTER FOUR

THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON, Hannah pushed through the double doors to The Watering Hole, the local pub and her favorite after-work hangout. It was the kind of pub that used to dominate the suburbs of Melbourne before slot machines were introduced—scuffed and dented around the edges, friendly vibe, no pretense about it. She loved the cream and burgundy tiles behind the bar and the dusty memorabilia hanging on the walls.

Her mate Bugsy raised a hairy arm in greeting when he saw her. “Napier. Took your time.”

She smiled. She didn’t know what she would have done without her biker buddies over the past few months. Bugsy and Grunter and the rest had quietly circled the wagons when the wedding fell through. No one had said a word, but she knew they’d felt for her and she’d appreciated their silent support.

She slid onto a stool beside Bugsy and accepted the beer he pushed toward her. “Cheers,” she said, raising her glass.

“Straight back at you.”

She took a long pull from her beer. There was nothing better after a long day at work. She rested her elbow on the counter and smiled at Bugsy. “Gonna let me whip your ass on the pool table?” she asked.

“You can try, little girl.”

She laughed. Then she caught sight of a man out of the corner of her eye and did a double take.

Joe Lawson.

Man. Was it too much to ask for her to have a moment’s reprieve from the guy? She felt as though he’d invaded her life since he’d moved in.

He was talking to Mandy, The Watering Hole’s longest-serving waitress. Hannah hoped she was giving him directions to someplace far away. Hannah had come here to relax and she was pretty damn sure she wasn’t going to be able to do that with him sitting across the bar.

He glanced up and caught her staring. His expression didn’t change but his shoulders shifted. For a moment they stared at each other, then his focus returned to Mandy.

“What’s wrong?” Bugsy asked.

“Nothing,” she said. She took another mouthful of beer. “Let’s go play pool.”

She slid off the stool and grabbed her jacket with one hand, her beer with the other. Bugsy led the way to the seen-better-days pool table in the back corner, but she couldn’t help glancing over her shoulder as she followed him, just to check on where her nemesis was. She almost walked into the cigarette machine when she saw Mandy ushering Joe behind the bar. What the hell …?

Mandy was gesturing toward the spirits lined up on the shelves behind the bar. Joe nodded, asked a question. Mandy turned and pointed to the beer taps along the front edge of the counter.

“You coming or what?” Bugsy called from behind her.