Runaway Heart (A Game of Hearts #2) (30 page)

A smile worked across her lips as I came to a skidding halt in front of her.

“A little dramatic, don’t you think?” Hannah asked, stormy eyes glittering like stars.

“Don’t care,” I said, cupping her face with my hands and resting my forehead against hers.

“Please tell me I’m not dreaming,” I whispered against the tightness of my throat.

Hannah placed her hand against my pounding heart. “You’re not dreaming.”

“Why didn’t you call? I’ve been waiting for ye to call me…” I winced, hearing the way my voice wavered.

She clenched my shirt, pulling herself closer to me. “I have so much I want to tell you.”

A heavy hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing. “Violet and I are getting ready to kick this lot out of here.”

Hannah swayed on her feet, blinking slowly as the sounds around us filtered back in. “I shouldn’t have bothered you at work.”

“Nonsense,” Charlie said, reaching down and picking up a bag by Hannah’s feet. “We’re glad ye’re here,” he continued, putting his arm over Hannah’s shoulder, leading her to the bar.

I fell in step behind them, a little outside of myself in some sort of euphoric bubble yet to be popped by reality.

Charlie helped Hannah onto a barstool. “Now, sit here, and Ed will go ‘round the other side and pour ye a drink whilst I get this lot cleared out.”

“But I…” Hannah protested as Charlie beamed at her, and then turned to me.

“Get her a drink, Ed. It’s clear as day she needs one.” He gave me a good-natured shove to get moving.

Across the bar from her, I was able to see what I’d missed earlier in my haste to hold her. Large, purple half-moons hung heavy under her grey, bloodshot eyes. She was tired. No, she was exhausted. And barely hanging on to boot.

Her chin found her hand, and she propped her head up on it with a deep sigh. A sleepy smile lifted the corners of her lips as she watched me watching her.

“I’d take a soda or something with a little sugar in it to help keep my eyes open,” Hannah said.

I busied myself getting her drink, wondering why in the hell I was standing on the opposite side of the bar when she was within arm’s reach. The ice hit the glass, the soda popping and fizzing out over my hand when Charlie crossed the room and bustled a handful of people out onto the street. The headlights of two cars beamed brightly as the drivers sat idly waiting for their drunken charges to climb in and close the doors behind them.

As I handed Hannah’s drink over to her, she caught my hand up in hers. “It’s really good to see you again, Ed.”

I swallowed hard.

“Violet, load what’s left of the glasses for washing, and, Ed, I need you in the back for a quick minute,” Charlie called out as he locked the doors to the pub, rattling them for good measure.

I followed Charlie to the back, but not before throwing a quick look over my shoulder in Hannah’s direction. A little of the tension left my shoulders when Violet said something to Hannah, making her laugh.

“You okay?” Charlie asked, snapping me out of my daze.

I was better than okay. I’d be even more so when Hannah and I had a chance to talk. “Ye called me back here to ask me that?”

Charlie sighed. “No, I called ye back here to point out something ye clearly missed.”

My eyebrows tugged together. “And what’s that, mate?”

“The bag she brought with her?” Charlie looked at me in question.

“What about it?” I asked, unsure where he was going with it.

“It’s not a very big bag, Ed,” Charlie hinted, wincing as if it hurt him to say it. “Look, I know ye’re probably not thinking straight right now. I can’t blame ye for it. Having her show up out of the blue has to be a bit of a shock, but what happens if she’s not staying?”

I screwed my face up at him. “Why wouldn’t she stay? And really, how can I answer anything when I haven’t even had a chance to talk to her? Ye saw to that yourself,” I answered, feeling a rolling sense of anger.

He’d pulled her right from my arms and done his best to put some distance between us.

“I did that so ye’d come back to the surface again. Ed, I’m not telling ye what to do here, but as a friend, can I ask ye to keep your head about this? Talk it out with her before ye’re blindsided again.”

I crossed my arms. What the hell was wrong with him? Shouldn’t he at least be happy for me? “I’m not sure I follow ye.”

Charlie rolled his eyes. “She only brought an overnight bag, Ed. Ask yourself what that means.”

“I don’t think Hannah’s gonna be able to keep her eyes open much longer,” Violet said as she poked her head around the corner.

Charlie’s words punched a hole in my gut. Why would Hannah only travel out of the country with an overnight bag?

“I’ll go start the car,” Charlie answered, ducking into his office and right back out again with a small bag hanging from his hand. He jostled it at me as if to say ‘see’.

The lights were doused at the front of the bar, masking the confusion on my face in the red glow of the exit sign of the back door as Violet led Hannah to where I stood rooted to the floor.

“Ready?” Violet asked, brushing past us.

Hannah wrapped her arm around my waist. “Can you give us just a minute?”

When the back door swung shut behind Violet, Hannah shifted nervously on her feet. “I didn’t get a chance to ask you earlier, but is it okay if I stay with you tonight?”

My heart swelled and then sank all in a single heartbeat. “Just tonight?”

She chuckled. “It’s a start. Right? Besides, I only have enough clothes for one night. The rest of my stuff is at Della’s.”

“Della’s? Hannah, why is the rest of your stuff at my aunt’s house?” I asked, unsure I heard her right.

Her hand shot up, covering a yawn that shook her from head to toe. “Because I didn’t want to haul two massive-ass suitcases around tonight.”

Two suitcases?
“That’s a lot of stuff. How long are ye staying?”

She jerked back. “I’m too late. Aren’t I?”

“Too late for what?” I prodded, unsure what she meant.

“I should have called you. I didn’t because I was scared, and then my mom… I saw my dad, Ed. It’s such a long story. I know I owe you a huge explanation. Please, tell me I’m not too late. I know I said I needed time, but it was unfair of me to take so long. I had to get my shit together… I had to come to terms with everything, but then I couldn’t, so I tried burying everything under work and school. But I couldn’t bury you. You just kept popping up in my head no matter how hard I tried, you never left my thoughts… I was a mess. I’m still a mess…”

I silenced her with the kiss I’d been dying to give her since I’d first saw her when she arrived at the pub. Her lips trembled against mine when it ended.

Bringing my hand up, I cupped her face. “Hello, love. It took ye a while, but I’m glad ye’re here.”

She pressed her cheek into my hand. “I’m glad I’m here too.”

I kissed her forehead, and then tucked her into my side, leading her out to Charlie’s car.

Violet claimed the front seat, cracking one eye open when Hannah and I slid into the back. She gave me a sleepy smile as the car moved forward.

Charlie cleared his throat, my eyes catching his in the mirror as he glanced between Hannah and me. “So, Hannah, how long are you staying?”

Violet’s hand shot out, hitting him in the shoulder. “Charlie!”

The car swerved. “Bloody hell, woman. Ye should know better than to hit the driver. And I only ask because I know Ed will want to take some time off while she’s here. Scheduling, ye know,” Charlie said, taking a firmer grip on the steering wheel.

Hannah sort of melted into my side as she turned her own questions on Charlie. “How long am I staying with Ed, or in the country?”

“Either, both,” Charlie fired back with a tired laugh.

Hannah reached for my hand, hooking her fingers through mine. “I packed up my entire life in two suitcases. Sold what I couldn’t bring, and then boarded a plane. I’m not going back.”

Hannah gripped my fingers tighter in hers as my heart hammered so hard against my chest that I swore it would burst. “You’re staying. For good?” I asked, wishing we were anywhere but the backseat of Charlie’s car so I could pull her in my arms and spin her round in circles like they did in the movies when that pivotal moment between two estranged lovers happened.

“I’m here for the long haul. I even have a job. Can you believe that?” She sounded as deliriously happy as I was.

The car slowed as Charlie pulled up alongside my building. Hearing Hannah say she planned to stay shut Charlie right up. Violet grinned a knowing sort of smile. Hannah must have already told her when Charlie asked to talk to me in the back.

Violet rolled her window down as Hannah and I got out of the car. “Here, don’t forget this,” she said, hoisting Hannah’s bag out the window.

I took it from her, ducking down to see inside the car to talk to Charlie. “Thanks for the lift, mate.”

He nodded. “Should I take you off the schedule tomorrow night?”

Hannah ducked down beside me, overhearing our conversation. “Yes. Please, but only one night.”

“Only one?” I joked.

She tipped her head and gave me a smug smile, making her eyes twinkle like the stretch of stars above us. “We have plenty of time now, Ed. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”

A jolt of need shot through me, flickering to a slow burn as her eyes blinked slowly. “I’ll call ye,” I told Charlie, taking Hannah’s hand in mine as I gave them a brief wave of my fingers.

Violet wiggled her fingers in my direction as the car pulled away.

“Let’s get ye to bed, love,” I said, leading Hannah to my flat.

She hummed, trudging along beside me. “That’s the best thing you’ve said all night.”

I unlocked the door and stepped back, allowing Hannah to brush past me. She stood in the middle of my kitchen as I closed the door and locked it. It was like a dream come true seeing her there. I’d pictured it a million times, but the reality of it was far better than I could have ever imagined.

She swayed on her feet as I dropped her bag on the couch. “I’d ask ye if you’re sleepy, but that would be a dumb question seeing how ye’re half asleep standing here.”

She fought a yawn, but she lost to its overwhelming power. “I’m sorry. I probably should have waited and come tomorrow after a good night’s sleep. I just had to see you. I couldn’t wait.”

“I’m glad ye didn’t wait,” I said, helping her out of her jacket.

She leaned into me. “Me too.”

I picked her up, cradling her in my arms, and carried her to my room, setting her down on my bed. “Let me go and get your bag.”

By the time I made it back, she’d kicked off her shoes and was snuggled up under the comforter on my bed.

I dropped her bag on the floor next to the bed and undressed, climbing in beside her. She rolled over, tucking the length of her naked body up against mine as her hand slipped over, settling in the middle of my chest.

“I can’t go to sleep just yet without telling you something,” she whispered against my skin.

I lifted her hand from my chest, placing a kiss to her fingers. “Whatever it is, love, I’m sure it can wait until ye’ve rested.”

“I don’t want to wait. I need to tell you now.”

I turned over onto my side. Unable to see much of anything against the darkness of the room, I trailed my fingers up her arm, along the slope of her shoulder, and up to her neck using my touch to guide me. “What is it?”

She leaned closer, lips brushing mine as she whispered, “I love you.”

I wasn’t sure if it was me that rolled over, settling between her hips, or if it was Hannah that guided me there, but somewhere in the oblivion, I sank inside of her. She pulled me deeper and held on tighter as I moved within her.

I kissed her long and deep, rocking our bodies slowly as my release built. A moan rumbled from her as she dug her fingers into my back.

“I love you, too,” I answered as she shuddered under me.

I couldn’t think much past that. My body tensed, everything inside me stilling as I fought off my own release. I’d waited so long for her, needed to feel myself inside her longer because she felt so good. She felt like home. Sweat broke out along my brow as I fought to catch my breath.

Hannah rocked her hips under me, urging me to move. My resistance crumbled. It always did where Hannah was concerned. I let go, hanging briefly in the abyss of my own release before coming back into my body.

Hannah’s lips crashed into mine, taking my breaths and mingling them with hers as a wave of tremors rolled through me.

I wasn’t sure what I would have done had she not come back. The nagging emotion prodded at me. “I thought I’d lost ye,” I said, allowing my thoughts free rein.

“You could never lose me, Ed. You were the one who kept me from losing myself.” Her sleep-filled words ignited enough hope inside me to float a hot air balloon. I could have lifted up from the mattress and kept on floating right on out into the night.

Rolling over, I tucked her against me. The soft, even sounds of her breathing filled the silence as I thanked my lucky stars she was in my arms again with no plans of running away.