Besides being called like a cat and having to slightly stifle the laugh at her expense for doing so; there had come a private decision not to mention it at a later time either. Merely taking the effort of complying to the former asking.
Once the homestead had given way to morning, he’d have already been well awake. Leaving the means of morning eatery to the women this day for the beckoning of departure had come by phone to request an audience with that of himself. Seemingly having discovered potential interest that required his physical presence! Not that he was keen on leaving the homestead entirely by its own value, having gotten at least a new being to make their appearance there for the time being as it seemed foolish after the topic that had been spoken of the night prior. Being unsure of what could happen, it had been a slight bother when it came to telling the other man to make his being known within the place.
It would become more of a norm certainly, something he would have to express to Juliette that those who worked with him tended to be more common than one might have thought. The place practically a communal area that housed vampires and humans like. Leaving the method of the day to be in the form of a human since Dominic would first have to deal with Eden to get what he needed. Plus having Felix within the place would at least be a face Juliette had met once so far.
Though the former police sergeant didn’t look particularly thrilled to be on house watching duty for now. Having settled at least at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee scrolling through his phone to the latest news posing as gossip.
“Unlike you, I AM actually capable of cooking a meal without burning a whole house down!” announced Hannah loudly, to be sure Juliette heard that barb before she detoured off to her office. Giggling softly to herself she strode into the kitchen – and promptly made a tiny yelp, freezing there in the doorway, unsure of her next move!
For one thing, wearing nothing but long tshirts and socks around the house was perfectly fine when it was just Jordan or familiar faces, but not some strange guy she’d never seen before! Hannah was pretty sure Elisa didn’t morph into a man over night!
Juliette appeared behind her, furrowing confused brows until she nudged Hannah out of the way and found what the squeaky nonsense was about. She herself had actually gotten fully dressed that morning in a flattering blouse and pair of slacks, though still missing shoes to complete the ensemble. In her arms was the laptop she’d fetched out of her office, intending to do some work while Hannah took over the cooking.
“Hmm! I was wondering when you’d appear again. Good morning Mister Matthews!” she chimed, heading over to a seat to slide into a chair and open up her laptop.
Hannah got her bearings now that it was made clear this wasn’t some strange weirdo sneaking in from the street to help himself to drinks. Almost demurely she tip-toed over to the fridge to see about what to fix up.
“I’m making breakfast Juliette, but I’m not serving you your coffee,” she warned.
The brunette wrinkled up her nose, dropping out of her chair to make herself a cup.
“This is Hannah. Are you here for Jordan or has he decided the house itself needs a guardian?” Juliette asked curiously. It seemed unnecessary to have someone at the house, but at least Juliette could understand why now that they were both on the same page about David’s potential threat. In fact, it was sweet he was that worried, leaving Juliette to wide smiling as she poured herself a hot cup of caffeine.
Blinking up over the rim of coffee as a petite little dame made a swing into the kitchen, only to stop short. Beckoning his stare to graze up and down her to assess just who she was. Guessing momentarily that this was in fact the friend to Juliette. The one Jordan mentioned was named Hannah but hadn’t said too much beyond that. Then again, the guy was whisking so fast out the door that had anything else been said it was most likely not heard. Needing not to guess what sort of reason had pulled the leech from within the home to go out. Able to simply guess a plethora of reasons that all could be very viable.
Without missing much of a beat to finish that sip and a swipe of thumb that scrolled feed upwards for continued reading, he would have to wait.
For the lady of the manor was prompt to follow in behind. At least a little more dressed than her counterpart. “Felix. Just Felix.” He corrected, “Calling me Mister Matthews makes me feel older than I am.” Scowling at the phone like it had just called him particularly ancient. “But yes, good morning.” His gaze slid over to assess the first woman, “To you both.”
Of course it seemed that the entry of the red head had been long enough, for she kick started once more. Migrating over to declare she was making breakfast but not going to be a waitress for the queen herself. Apparently aware of the den of vampiric souls she was slowly becoming more enlisted too. That at least made things slightly easier.
Settling the bottom of cup down with guidance of its ear, head shook. “The latter. He left in quite the hurry this morning, so something has pulled his attention.” He gave Juliette a knowing look to express that it wasn’t his human business but the grim darker aspects. “And with things being slightly wonky with other problems, he’s a little over zealous. He was going to ask Dominic to pop in but the kid had to go and talk to another. So it’s just little ol’ me.” Though there was a knowing look on his face, “Though this is a two part reason to my presence, I’m supposed to ask about your level of self defense Juliette. Jordan was rather intrigued to suggest that you might need to be taught some things.” Being sure to keep his tone calm as not to express that the king wasn’t saying she couldn’t handle a human, but to know more about how to potentially handle a vampire.
Hannah made a soft hyena like little laugh as she dug some eggs and fresh veggies from the fridge, seemingly having something to say about Juliette’s self defense capabilities, drawing Juliette to cast her an unseen glare.
“I could handle myself well enough with some dolt on the street, but I think a few more advanced lessons would do me well,” Juliette admitted. Where Juliette delighted in the idea of shooting at Emery Hart, in reality that might not go over so well. It’d do some good to actually learn how to handle a vampire!
Adding just a tiny bit of cream to her coffee, Juliette returned to her temporary office space at the kitchen counter. Drawing up the morning emails and seeing if everything was going in the directions she wanted. Checking in on her assistant at the home office to be sure in the upcoming days, while she was busy with the wedding and her honeymoon that things would stay the course until her return.
“I tried kick boxing once,” chimed in Hannah. “Didn’t do too great. Turns out it’s a lot harder to hit somebody than you’d think.” She didn’t elaborate any further on that, instead stopping at the counter to peer at both Felix and Juliette. An eagle eye attempting to weed out juicy information.
“So what’s the deal with all this then,” she gestured a hand at them both. “Mister Bodyguard here and then good ole Dom later. Is it like those high stakes corporate espionage? Advanced computer chips and high tech weapons or something with government contracts? Seems to be a lot of worry about bodily harm around here. I know you said you were concerned about David, but this is kind a lot just for that shady creep!”
“You know we would have to kill you if we told you, Hannah, why do you even ask?” murmured Juliette, hiding her smile by taking a drink from her mug.
“Okay, you can make your own breakfast then, madam.”
“Hmm.” The sound was both understanding and slightly storing the information away that she knew at least some basics to keep herself safe. Which in this world, was a good idea. But when it came to dealing with a vampire, well that was something else entirely. Hopefully she never would have too but it was better to be over prepared than under. Applauding mentally Jordan’s means to assure his fiancée would be able to stand her ground against some snarling beast that was having one of those temperamental days. Willing to bare fangs and claws in hopes to scare someone off.
He’d like to say it didn’t happen but it would be a lie. Eventually one or two of them would try their luck. An ugly sort of rite of passage, he assumed. Though there was a mental switch that flicked on that suggested it wouldn’t go well for anyone that attempted to do that to Juliette. It was pretty clear to see that Jordan was rather fond of the woman and not just for business matters.
Then came a sparrow’s voice. Looking over towards the maiden flitting behind the counter to point out that she had tried kickboxing once. “Once?” He asked seeming to keep the uncertainty in his voice. “It takes time to teach one’s muscles the memory needed to complete the task.” There was a meeting of eyes to keep them upon the girl. Till she seemed to be searching for some information which brokered no sooner Juliette laying out a super spy comment.
Making him smirk a little at least. “Is it a lot for one shady creep?” He asked then, “People are unpredictable after all. And it is better to be overly cautious than not, considering you can never tell what someone is going to do. You might think you know but they will always surprise you. Add on the fact that both Juliette and Jordan are rather high exclaimed business owners and David already made an appearance once to bother them both, I don’t think it’s incorrect to think that he might try other things.” Then he looked at Hannah rather calmly, “Most murders are done by those who thought the other person would never.”
“A series of lessons,” explained Hannah with some offense. As if she’d go to a class only one day and not give it a proper chance! She didn’t pursue that further, as the rest of his commentary was far more interesting!
“Oh, you’re one of those,” she remarked, now blinking in understanding and looking him up and down. Seeing what little details she could get out of his clothes and the rest of his stationary habits. “Monsters and dangers around every corner. I bet you look people up on the internet after you meet them.” She shrugged her shoulders, Hannah laughed flicked her hands at him, as if to brush away that sort of nonsense think.
“I can’t argue that they might be in danger from who knows what, I guess. Actually, it’s kind of romantic that Jordan is so worried about her!”
“You think everything is romantic,” grumbled Juliette. “Bodyguards are romantic. Fist fights are romantic. Murder is romantic.”
Hannah made herself busy with snatching up a little onion, not having the best of knife skills and taking long enough to do the cutting that it was making her sniffle and her eyes water up. She kept blinking one eye closed and then swapped to be sure she could see what she was doing.
“Don’t exaggerate, there’s context too.” Hannah defended. “I guess you’re worried David is going to harass me too, and that’s what Dominic is for? Jesus, what a total assbutt! Huh, I can for sure say if I see David out in the wild I’m going to waltz right up to him and kick him right in the balls first thing. Lets see him predict that one.”
Juliette laughed!
“That’s fine. To be honest, I also wanted to make sure you’re being entertained while I’m busy. I intend to have a nice private date out with Jordan, and I also need to find a good dress for an event for Rosendrey later this week.” she explained. “You’re welcome to join us for that one. A think a silent auction would be delighted to host a not quite famous author.”
“One of those?” Repeating with the same infliction as though it were the invite for her to continue. Not really needing the verbal gesture for her to do so before lips tugged back into a winsome grin. “I was an police officer for a long while, some habits are hard to break. But I’ve also seen things that well, are less than pleasant. So yes, I am one of those people. When you watch someone die because of another’s cruelty, you tend to start to get cautious in many ways. But I don’t look up people on the internet. That’s just a bit too mundane.” He glanced towards Juliette for a simple second before brows popped up on his head. Nearly flying off with the comment that it was romantic for Jordan to be worried.
“I wouldn’t say romantic, that gives it too much flowery prose. It just shows that Jordan gives a shit and values the person and those around her to want them to be safe.” With a slow shake of head not sure he could understand the romance in that, Juliette supplied more information.
Which grew a frown on his face at the latter. “God I hope that was a joke.” Surely it was. Thankfully it seemed Hannah wasn’t about to prove she had a cement thick head full of stubbornness that meant she was somehow reckless. Just that she mentioned going up to David to kick him in the jewels, well that was hard to entirely ignore. Chuckling as well before taking a new sip of the mug. “All I know is, there are people here that care about both of your safety.” Even yet as the madam of the home spoke, he smirked a little strangely. “You managed to convince that devil to go out on a date. Boy, he really does like you. And to go out to an event, I ought to tip my hat off to you Juliette. As long as I’ve known Jordan, he’d never do either of the things without being tricked or pushed into them.” He leaned on the table, “Do you have some magical secret?”
Hannah pulled an immediate face at the mention of Felix being a cop, though it did shift quickly from dislike to an expression of thoughtfulness and finally resting on curious. She definitely intending to continue more on that line of conversation, but with Juliette speaking up, Hannah had to settle for gathering a bowl to whisk some eggs in.
“The event was Jordan’s idea, or rather, I suspect his Board of Directors made an irrefutable demand for his presence.” she laughed breezily. Juliette understood well the need to make social appearances to make sure all your investors and clients felt safe and secure about their leading people. Probably her least favorite thing about running her business. Though now, between her and Jordan both going together as a couple, perhaps they could make these sorts a little more entertaining for the both of them.
“They’ve been good for each other,” chimed in Hannah once she had the chance. Heating up a skillet with maybe a bit too much butter and tossing in her onions. “Despite the fact neither of them seem to have a romantic bone in their body.”
Juliette sighed, reaching for her coffee mug once more for a sip.
“You woke up in a fuss today, I see! Will it make you feel better to know that Jordan often does little things that I think are delightfully romantic. He is quite sweet when things are quiet and there’s no one else lurking about. When one gives him a chance,” she mumbled. Herself included, she was realizing now. Jordan didn’t like being directly told what to do, or strong armed into things. But he did take directions well when requests were made. Juliette was just going to have to learn to be less… dominating? She almost laughed right there, and that was not a thought process she wanted to explain!
“Good! I’m glad. You both should have tons of sweet romantic moments, and not just… work all the time. There’s so much more to living than work, work, work.” Hannah lectured, pouring her eggs into the hot skillet and immediately getting to the scrambling. “Oh look at that, we’re back to work again. A police officer, you say! I want to hear more about that! Why does Jordan have the police in his pocket?”
“Oh probably. Which means if what you are saying is correct, I bet you will be meeting Horus very soon.” Felix nodded more to himself, “Older gentleman, one of the better men on the board that isn’t out for money or glory. Commonly described as a Santa Claus figure, I am sure you will like him.” The fellow idly rubbed a hand across the table, “This charity event has been in planning for a while now. A good couple of months, so it’s pretty likely that it’s going to be busy. Hopefully with you going along, you might be able to keep Jordan from getting too snarly.” Internally chuckling at the reference finding that it was probably a good private joke to keep.
Just that his visual peepers were connecting back with the woman making her own fury of culinary arrangement behind the counter. Mentioning that they had been good for another. Which fairly, he could slightly agree with. Though it was clear that Hannah had a rather broad scale for what she considered romantic. Prompting him to stare at her. “You’re awfully obsessed about romance.” Calling it out with a long look that seemed like it was trying to decide if she had ever experienced it properly herself. Or was she just someone that seen the fluttery pink fluff of cherubs and stuff.
Which it seemed the other woman was prompt to point out something that might have been colourfully noted by herself. Of course he couldn’t say anything on the thought of how Jordan liked to show his affection.
A short lived statement for within seconds he found his head lifting to the other. “Trying to make a conspiracy theory?” Asking outright to the idea of having the police in his pocket. “Former police. I no longer work as such. More of a right hand man to Jordan now.” Of course he wasn’t about to suggest his knowledge was used to get around things. “He needed the services of someone who could sleuth about but overly, I am just a glorified assistant. Nothing messy or underhanded happening, sorry Ms. Novelist. There isn’t a scoop here for you to have.”
“Romance is my business. My bread and butter my whole life. Calling it an obsession just isn’t enough!” proudly chirped Hannah. “There’s nothing better and more powerful in the world than falling in love! And people really don’t give romance it’s credit where it is due.”
Juliette already knew arguing with Hannah on the subject of romance would be a losing battle, thus kept her own attention to thinking about how she might make a good impression for this Horus, as well as Jordan’s Board at this charity event.
Hannah, true to her word, could actually cook up some eggs without starting any fires or burning things to the skillet. Once she was satisfied with the state of her eggs, she grabbed a couple plates to load up. One for Juliette and one for herself. Then she turned to Felix to waggle her spatula at him.
“Do you want? Poison free, of course.” she grinned wide. “Besides, I don’t have to make up a conspiracy theory, when I already know one is going on around here. That one,” she gestured at Juliette, “is the worst liar ever. Oh she’s real good at telling you things that are technically true and leaving out the important details, but very bad liar.”
Juliette wrinkled up her nose in offense, snatching her plate and digging into her breakfast, but it seemed to was a correct enough insult that she wasn’t going to protest it.
“So he’s some kind of king right? You can’t deny it cause, oh, have I heard plenty! You try to set me up with Prince Pudding Skull, now that you have Kings in your little black book! Which makes this ‘glorified assistant’ what… Captain of the Royal Guard?”
“Is it now?” Asking the question like it might be a prelude to what was coming next, “And let me guess, with it all being your bread and butter. Your everything, you’ve never actually experienced it.” One ruddy red brow lifted. “You can spin tales about it but there’s been no actual interaction, experience and comprehension that knows romance is not always the biggest, grandest gestures. That sometimes, the smaller things matter most. Even just to be told you are appreciated.” Generally he gave a buffering of hand as though trying to brush the meat of the subject aside.
Hannah wore her colours for him vividly. A free spirit that might have her head so far in the clouds about how it should be when in reality, love… romance… commitment did not have to be the grandest of things. There was more about it than just one side.
In turn he shook away the idea of a meal, “Ate already. Coffee is good enough.” Lifting the cup for good measure of showing before she seemed to mention having already known a conspiracy theory. Pointing out that Juliette was part of it, while being a terrible liar.
Only for Hannah to express that she was calling Jordan a king. Which wasn’t wrong but not the way she knew it. Which had him shortly snorting and laughing a genuine sound. Unsure if it was at the kingly part or being called captain of the royal guard. “If Jordan is a king, I doubt I’d be the captain of the royal guard. I’ve certainly not done anything guard like! Nor do I have a sword or shield. No armour.” Felix peered across the cup, “You know, you’re pretty cute little miss. If your head wasn’t so far in the clouds, I’d dare say you might make a decent bit of conversation. But I can’t match that upbeat unicorn pooping rainbows stuff.” Another snort, “A king. Worst king I’ve ever seen then, where’s his castle? And undying legions of adoring fans…” Daring a look at Juliette, “Wouldn’t he have consort wives then and one queen? Yeah, I’m not buying it. Whomever said he was a king must have had a good day pulling some legs!”
Leave it to him to not sell himself down the river of truth.
“Felix, you are unfair. A king is far more likely to have legions of enemies, not fans. You can’t say he doesn’t have plenty of those!” Juliette laughed along with Felix, though not at Hannah’s expense! Hannah could defend herself just fine, she didn’t need Juliette’s mothering on this one. Her laughter was purely at Felix’s yarn of Jordan not being a king. Spinning more of a fairy tale version of a ruler, than what Jordan actually was.
“I guess you weren’t a very good cop, were you,” responded Hannah. If she was furious, she wasn’t showing it. Leaning on her hands at the counter as she spoke, giving Felix the biggest widest smile. Even a flash of teeth.
Oh, she was mad. Juliette was certain then. Still giggling slightly under her breath, Juliette suddenly found taking a few bites of her breakfast the most interesting thing in the world!
“I’ve been out and about on plenty of dates. Hundreds of them! All sorts of wonderful romantic experiences, and a few not great ones – BUT! The point is, I have tons of experience that department! And you’re totally wrong about Jordan too, despite how this traitor is snickering,” huffed Hannah.
Juliette just ended up laughing again, prompting Hannah to throw her hands up in the air.
“Okay, cackle like hyenas then! You’ll thank me for my advice when you and Jordan are actually merry on your honeymoon and you,” Hannah pointed boldly at Felix. “can stick with whatever boring unromantic stuff you’re out there doing. Bodyguarding and scrolling news feeds. I will be out and about gloriously looking for love around every corner!”
“Am I?” Another question to her. Was he really being unfair? “I mean those people in the business world of financial crap probably think he is a villain. So he might have many enemies just this is the modern age. No one is going to come stomping through the mud with banners waving and the princess locked up in the tallest tower.” Daring a look to Juliette, “Yeah, doubtful. You’d be picking the lock on that one.” Not even a shred of him believed that she would sit there waiting for prince charming to come and rescue her.
Yet it seemed he had struck a nerve with this one, “Maybe I wasn’t.” Shrugging it off as nonchalantly matter of fact thoughts. “Probably best I left before I became worse at it.” At least the red of her hair seemed to be on pair for her turning firecracker personality. Offering him a full toothy grin that earned a dull blink back.
Allowing her the chance to claim next she had been on plenty of dates. “So you’re telling me your a serial dater. You’ve been on so many that now you’ve so focus on your mister perfect, or misses, can’t say I know which way you which or both. But regardless, You’ve been on so many dates now that no one is good enough for your high calibre tier of perfect romance. That pedestal has been set so so high that no one is ever going to meet your measure. Hmm…” Brushing fingers across his chin with a dutiful thought, it seemed like he was really giving this a good think.
Listening to Juliette giggling till the other was literally throwing her hands up. Declaring that without her help, Juliette and Jordan were set to fall flat on their faces. “So who’s getting married here. You or, her in a vicarious way?” He asked making sure to point his finger at them each respectively.
“Okay. Thank you for your blessing for me to continue living my boring unromantic life, but do tell me how it goes as the serial dater but always a bridesmaid.”
“Standards are important,” protested Hannah, gesturing her hands at the kitchen as something there was part of her presentation.
“Eat your food you silly duck,” interjected Juliette quickly. “It’s going to get cold.”
Hannah gave Felix her best I’ll get you soon enough squint and frown, before snatching up her plate and taking a few pointed, spiteful bites. After a moment, she simmered down, clearly having needed a little food in her stomach.
“Oh, I will definitely tell you how it goes,” warned Hannah, having a moment of inspiration. She set aside her plate to half hop onto the countertop and snatch Felix’s phone right out of his hands. Fully expecting the potential of a police chase, Hannah took many steps backwards and prepared to run, even as she swiped over to his contacts and added in her number. Then promptly texted herself so she’d have his too.
“Alright, while this was quite an entertaining breakfast, I do have to go out and do things today,” laughed Juliette. She finished off the last of her eggs and quickly swallowed the rest of her coffee before closing up her laptop and gathering it under and arm. “It was nice to meet you more casually, Felix.”
Goodness, this one was a handful. Sure standards were important but when you had too much of a good thing, that also was a bad thing! But if she was blissfully content to live as she was, who was he to say otherwise. Just a stranger supplying an unwarranted opinion! She would do as she wanted and vice versa. Though, he did smirk a little as she appeared to be very stuck to her guns. Probably the type of person that wouldn’t change their mind even if they were given different information. Likely to think the sky was green because that was how she seen it.
With some soft mothering from the other to keep Hannah from potentially spiralling into a tirade that no one asked for, the squint in his direction was met with a polite enough nod. Looking into his cup to see how much remained till he was suddenly devoid of a phone.
Comically blinking at his hand as it was swiped by the thief, looking ready to run! Apparently about to make sure he knew every detail like this was a punishment. The darting up glance as though he was about to climb his butt off this stool to chase after her; Felix exhaled heavily. Plucking ear of mug to drain the remainder of his drink leaving the novelist to her devious of plans.
“It was a pleasure Juliette. Do take care this day.” He offered in a gentlemanly reply before holding his hand out for his phone, “May I please have my phone back, miss duck.”
“Are you leaving me to do the dishes?!” complained Hannah at Juliette’s hasty escape, only get a wide cheeky smile as a response before the woman dashed off out of the kitchen. Hannah could hear her laughing her way up the stairs too. Spoiled monster that she was!
“You shouldn’t steal people’s nicknames, copper,” Hannah responded, gliding across the kitchen floor with the sweetest of smiles and slapping his phone back in his hand.
Her contact said Hannah Lucas (Best Girl).
“Are you really a big romance hating brute, or is that just to rile us ladies up so we won’t worry about the scary monsters you’re supposed to be looking out for?” Hannah asked, stopping her wicked grinning to ask a genuine question. “She says I shouldn’t worry, but like… you don’t hand out chaperones like candybars unless someone is actually in danger.”
Perfect timing to escape to evade doing anything as menial as cleaning up the crockery from being used. Surely if Elisa had been here, she might have at least given some rather matronly eyes to not leaving a mess behind but the elder woman wasn’t. So it was more or less a free for all. Leaving Hannah to be the one to mend to the clean up. Or at least so it seemed.
“Not stealing, merely trying it out. Would you prefer me to call you something else?” Gaze making an obvious pass over her to determine something before settling, “Well you’re certainly feisty, would you prefer me to call you something as such or well… no… I think I’ll just reference you as Lamb. All bark so far, but too cute to be anything frightening. At least so far.” Felix felt like it was a fitting name to call the spunky girl, having seen how lambs could get rather wild themselves. Headbutting wasn’t outside the picture after all!
Though she was clearly impressed with her title addressed in phone by her own fingers. Less he wish to lose it again, it was put into jean pocket. Escorting himself up by the press of hands upon counter so he could stand proper.
Where finally it seemed the colourful little beansprout had finally started to look serious. For him to point towards the sink, “You wash, I’ll dry and put away.” Was the first comment, “And no, I am not. A romance hating brute, I just don’t think things need to be overzealous. Nothing wrong with showing a pretty little filly how you feel with sentimental gestures that matter. Not so showy but a lot more personal.”
Reaching for the drying towel hung on the range’s handle, Felix shrugged nonchalantly. “I would say not to worry is slightly foolish. But being a fretting pot of worry, that isn’t necessary either. It’s precaution since David had showed up at Juliette’s office while her and Jordan were there. The mere fact alone that was brought up was how he was let in without someone prompting Juliette of him being there is a problem. Men tend to do stupid things when they think they lost control of something that was never theirs. From what I’ve gleaned about David so far, he’s not above being rather underhanded.” He gave her a softer look. “Do you really think that he wouldn’t try something to piss off or hurt Juliette at this point, wee lamb? Or do you want to err on the side of accident when its too late. You matter to Juliette from what Jordan has said, and well, you just get to hang out with me today. It’s only one day, you’ll have Dominic to harass later.”
“Ugh, gross,” she scrunched up and nearly shudder. “You can call me lambkins all you want if you promise to never say little filly about a woman ever again!”
Hannah in turn was eyeing him just as much, trying to get his measure and debate on how she intended to handle him. She was far more expressive than Juliette in terms of physicality, though she also wasn’t trying to hide those thoughts either! Clearly, she was still undecided about continuing these interactions, even with his offer of helping with the dishes.
At least until she finished up eating what was left of her own food and got to gathering up the dishes.
“I think if anyone is a real life serial killer, it’s David for sure,” Hannah admitted, taking her bundle of dishes and cookware over to the sink. Luckily with everything fresh, all it’d take was a quick bit of soaping and sponging. “But I also think he is way too smart to try and kill one of us. Also, I have bear spray in my purse.”
Bear spray given to her by Juliette – and now she wasn’t getting it back. Especially if Hannah had been pulled into some sort of weird stalker thriller with crazy ex boyfriends. She’d be happy to use it liberally!
“It’s only one day,” she mimicked with gravelly voice. “Lucky for both of us, a meeting and a book signing much trouble for you! You can stand there being all brutey brute and intimidating as you like. Dominic will be a much more enjoyable bit of company for a bar crawl. You won’t have to witness the first meeting of my one true love.”
“You say that with such disdain, it makes it hard to now want to call you anything but!” Chuckling at how swift she was to decide his term of commentary on the fairer sex was beyond standards. But that was simply her opinion and it was starting to lean on him that she might need to be called it a few more times.
For now he was looking to at least help with the clean up. Considering he really didn’t have too, the offer and intention was abundantly clear. Allowing him certainly a chance to speak on the things he did know while scuffing around the other bits that weren’t meant for her to have. “Desperation is a powerful tool however. He might be smart but at the same time, still very unpredictable. Unless you are him, you may never know what he could do. Would do. Can do.” It was starting to sound or seem like Hannah was certainly a know it all. For it sounded like whatever someone else might know, it was deemed invaluable. Worthless. Might give an insight to why she was without that true love.
Comments he kept to himself. Nodding at the mention of bear spray in a casual conversation before she was mimicking him. “As you like.” If she was looking for him to banter her on being a watchful companion, she was going to be sorely disappointed. “I wish you the best in meeting your one true love then.”
“Hmm,” the hum was her simple response. Giving him a bit of that watchful side eye as she squeezed up a sponge with dishsoap and little water until it was good and sudsy.
He was one of those types, all right. The sort that thought she was a bubble-headed dingdong, all because she put love first and foremost in her life. Because she liked things, light, pretty and sweet, and thus would never take anything serious! These sorts like to stay grounded in their ‘reality’, where love was all about paying the bills on time, or that dumb agreement to skip Valentine’s Day because ‘they can celebrate love on any day of the year’ but they never get around to it do they!
All this she kept to herself, though. As he likely wasn’t going to be the type to listen. She wasn’t so bad as Juliette to assume she understood him all in one day, but… when someone showed you their colors, you had to believe them, right?
“Do you ever try looking on the more brighter side of things? I get being prepared for the worst and all, but really, if you’re so caught up in the worst, how are you going to see something good when it happens?” she asked quite seriously after rinsing the plates and setting them aside in the strainer from him to dry.
“What says I don’t?” Asking curiously rather than to say it in such a way that demanded he just knew how things worked. If she was about to enlighten him to what she thought of him, she was more than welcomed too. Not about to stifle someone else’s when it came to forming an opinion of well.. himself! First impressions and the like.
Taking up one of the articles deposited into the empty basin of the sink, did he give it a quick rinse. Being sure all the suds were gone before picking it up. Lightly shaking any excess before starting to meticulously dry the surface of the strainer. “Suppose I have a very critical point of view but that comes with the things I’ve seen. Witnessed. Things that linger just long enough to make it difficult to always see that things are better than what they appear. Old habits and what not. But to suggest that I don’t see something in a better light isn’t exactly true either. You can’t learn all about someone in one sitting. If that were the case, there’d be a lot happier speed daters out there.” Turning a look from profile to consider the younger girl calmly.
Setting aside the strainer once it was thoroughly dried so he could move on to the next item. “I would like to say I am the opposite. I’ve seen enough terrible things that when something really good comes along, my appreciation for it is all the more. You only live once after all and none of us are getting out of this alive. So why not enjoy what you have for what you have? It’s why I enjoy the smaller things.” Chuckling a little as shoulders were given a lazy shrug. “But I suppose that isn’t enough, now is it?”
Felix glanced about for only a second, “And what would you suggest I do differently then, little lamb? With the little information you know about you, you can recommend a quick fix and I’ll be all spiffy new?”
“See, your problem is that you don’t come across as someone who has suffered through the bad and now appreciates the little things.” explained Hannah in earnest, no hint of malice or ire in her tone. Just a simple explanation for his question as she soaped up the plates and the left over coffee mugs and then set them aside.
“You came out trying to rain on my romantic parade with all of your real life pessimism! Naturally, that’d make me assume you’re the worst, seeing as I deal with all of my long hard suffering by being one of those sparkly upbeat unicorns. And when we assume things, whom does that make an ass of?” she chimed, wagging her wet finger at him, giving him the most cheeky of grins.
“You have to be careful with all of that critical viewing and dream crushing, copper. If you aim that stuff at someone soft like Juliette, you might hurt their feelings. Lucky for you, my feelings are forged in steel. They are limitless and unbreakable!”
“I see.” Mulling over the information lent to him for a price of nothing, he had to actually take it into consideration. However there wasn’t entirely a lot of substance for him to think that what was uttered was exactly the gospel truth either. Then again, who was he to try and temper down her fluttery thoughts either. If she was content with her bubbly and knowing all personality then that was hers to make. Not his own.
Though he couldn’t resist looking at her when she suggested Juliette was a dainty flower easily hurt by words. “Well then, I will take those things into consideration for the future. But as stated, this is simply a one day thing, so you won’t have to worry about myself beyond what I am asked to do.” With a few more items pulled and dried, he started to put things away.
It was fine to agree to disagree. Which was pretty much this situation. Each allowed to keep their own views to however they seen fit! At the end of the day, he was here to fill the role that was intended to assure that there was someone keeping an eye on the surroundings regardless if she felt it was unwarranted, it mattered to Jordan. And he suspected a little mattered to Juliette. Doubting that the vampire king would even bother then if it wasn’t a tiny bit of an burden on the lady’s mind.
“What time would you like to head out, Hannah. I follow your lead for what is on the agenda today.”
Wow, she was getting a real life bodyguard for the day. Dominic being her escort wasn’t anything wild or special, as he was a good time and a chill sort of guy. This one, though, he took his job seriously. Hannah bet he’d even do that perimeter sweep thing whenever they entered the room.
It’d be a little weird, but she could have fun with it. Test drive what it was like just in case one day she became a famous best seller.
She dried her hands off with a kitchen towel before she skipped for the exit.
“Oh, about two hours! I need to get dressed and I don’t want to arrive too early and have to wait in the lobby.” she paused briefly to peep around the doorway with a grin. “And I’ll get us lunch too while we’re out. The least I can do for Jordan’s studious knight.”
“Two hours. Got it.” Good grief, what was with this knight nonsense. Surely if she knew the whole truth, she would promptly ditch that! He was no knight and while Jordan may be the king of the mortal’s version of a living hell, he wasn’t exactly a medieval king either. Though with the way he was seeing how happy go-lucky she was, he’d almost fear she’d think the vampire stuff was dreamy. Or likely to make some sort of written yarn that might embellish the facts of things that they as human’s probably didn’t entirely understand.
With the items finally managed and Elisa wouldn’t come back to her kitchen in a total disarray to scold them each for making it as such –even if some party members hadn’t done so- he’d just rather avoid it. Letting the housekeeper focus on other tasks instead of coming home to a mess in some way or shape.
Thankfully with Hannah going off so she might be dressed to meet her adoring public; he was given a chance to return to a seated position. Scrolling through the phone for nothing in particular besides texting Dominic that he was going to have so much fun taking over. Being promptly given an emoji that might be sarcastic or actually excited. He couldn’t tell. Sure that the vampire kid would at least pull everything off that nothing wild would occur.
Though if he was expecting a moment of silence, it seemed that Myra and Eden had decided him and Baldwin were due to be pulled into a group chat. Promptly emptying a bunch of blithering facts that invited the other woman to start babbling about things that weren’t exactly work related. Staring at the messages blinking off in rapid succession, sure that this was some measure of torture. Guessing by the lack of commentary from Baldwin, the old codger most likely was either ignoring it or nose deep in one of his own tasks. Doubting that he was the only one given something to do in the means of keeping things settled. Maybe being on guard duty wasn’t so terrible, it meant avoiding whatever… this nonsense was!
Shortly turning over the phone to rest on the counter, “It’s a good thing I get decently paid for all this, cause I swear.” He muttered to himself.
Hannah wanted to quiz Juliette on why she needed a bodyguard escort and not, say, Juliette and Jordan who seemed to be the actual targets of potential assassination, but the only answer she got in response was Juliette laughing and suggesting anyone that came after Jordan would have a death wish, and likewise she’d shoot a fool herself. Which was fair, but still. This was so dramatic.
Okay, who was she kidding, Hannah loved all the drama.
Juliette left first, having morning meetings of her own and muttering something about needing to have a dress ordered for the silent auction. The rest of her day would be spent with Jordan, and Hannah delighted in how excited the woman seemed to be, even despite her trying to play it off as nonchalance. It was nice to see Juliette opening herself up experiences, instead of just standing back by the walls and spying on everything from afar.
As for herself, Hannah had her own business to attend to. Getting dressed in a cute little pink suit, she was the picture perfect representation of a romance novelist. Red curls pulled up into a bouncy tail out of her way, simple gold jewelry, and her phone in her hand, she was more than ready to tackle a meeting with her publisher and then a bookstore meet and greet!
Of course, she’d also taken so long in getting ready that now she was running late.
She’d gotten all the way downstairs to the front door and was about to call herself up a car when she remembered she was supposed to have her escort for the day.
“Drats! FELIX! Felix it’s time to GO!”
Time had been a countdown. Paired alongside watching Juliette disappear under the means of having to do work from her actual business office, he could simply use the motions of people’s forms as the literal seconds of time. Ticking down one by one till he was glancing at watch when it seemed that a half hour was nearly closing in on its final space when he heard the novelist making her rounds to potentially get ready.
Internally smirking at the very thought that of course she was going to live up to the stereotyped suggestion that all women took forever to get ready. Having settled himself in the living space to mindlessly flip through a few books of no value and replied to a few messages before he was standing up and looking out the nearest window. Glimpsing towards the awaiting vehicle that would be expecting movement sooner than naught. Had it been a miserable day, he could have auto-started the item to be nice and warm but such wasn’t a necessary action. For the beams of light had of course been abundantly bathing itself across the spread of land with no reserve! Making it a hot muggy style day. The sort that made your clothing cling to you in inappropriate ways if you were unlucky.
“Hmm?” The sound of feet thumping down the stairs paired with a rather large bellow of his name. Tugging him out from the living room to look at her like she had somehow come into possession of someone else’s lungs. “I think the neighbours heard you.” Giving this pink suited up woman a lengthy stare before moving to open the door. “After you, iron lungs.” Damn she was loud for such a tiny thing!
Making sure that when they left, he hit the lock button on the keypad of the front door. In turn unlocking the doors to the truck waiting for them – lucky he had side railings so she could help herself up rather than flail about- “Directions? Where am I taking you this afternoon?”
Hannah made nothing more than a soft amused snicker at being called loud – after all she dang well could be when she wanted! But it was his truck that had her pausing for a minute to blink at it, before the surprised faded into that little knowing look she’d get when she’d figured out some new tidbit of information.
Being even shorter than Juliette even in her highest of stiletto heels, Hannah practically had to monkey climb into his truck, and appeared delighted in the accomplishment. Almost immediately she was poking about to see what all of his buttons did, before his request of directions set her to focus on bringing them up on her phone.
“It’s the… All the Page bookstore in downtown. I have a long- er… brief meeting with my publisher before the meet and greet starts. Hopefully I’ll be signing lots of autographs, and you – well I guess you’re going to find it boring! There’s not a lot of danger when housewives and gay book clubs are involved.”
Was there a momentarily amusement watching this little baby pink dressed in a suit woman have to shimmy shammy up her way into the truck? Absolutely. Barely managing to suppress a smile, let alone a laugh, at the fact she might have needed some climbing boots to get this finished. Yet should he applaud when she managed to crawl her way in with a look that reminded him far too much of a child who had overcome the greatest obstacle? There was a deep consideration that truly wondered if he should. Would it feed her ego or warrant a swat in his direction?
The fates on that one were unclear.
Regardless, with less of an ordeal to climb up into the driver side, here she was prodding at all sorts of things. “First time in a vehicle?” He asked with deep sardonic wit situated in every letter. Needing not to prolong anything as the mechanical beast was given life with a rotation of key. Belts slipped in for safety while he was turning to look back over his shoulder to navigate backwards before straightening out so they could leave the fancy manor’s inner paved reach.
“All the Page. Alright.” Mentally arranging the place into his thoughts figuring that the downtown area was easy enough to navigate. Feeling no need to bring up a gps direction for it. “I’d prefer boring. Then you get to gloat about how nothing terrible has happened and I get to feel secure that I did my job even if it was thankfully fruitless. Which is a win for both of us, I would assume.” As they left the iron gates to hit the pavement properly, he did reach up to grab sunglasses. Popping them on while keeping visuals on the road ahead. “Also pair on you will get a perfect chance to rub it in Juliette’s face that nothing happened as well, which I assume you want to do? Since she and Jordan arranged all this.”
“I like to know how everything works, so when I write about it later, it’s accurate,” she confessed, giving him a wicked sort of smile that might just suggest she wasn’t just talk about vehicles but people as well. Hannah scrambled to make sure her own seatbelt was on before he got to far, but alas did not seem to remember her own pair of sunglasses to help shield her eyes. Instead she flipped down the passenger visor and adjusted it where needed.
“As much as being smug about everything turning up roses is, it’s also… a bit dull! Not that I want anything serious or tragic to go down, don’t get me wrong. A little bit of unpredictability spices up life, though! I like when things go wrong in all of the right ways.”
Now that her poking at buttons were done, she glanced around the truck cab and even peered through the rear window to see what else she could discover. What little details about Mister Felix Matthews that might be useful at a later date. Or maybe even to base a character on too, if he turned out to be particularly inspiring.
Once she’d visually gathered up as much as she could, Hannah took to watching out the side window at the scenery that sped by.
“I’m guessing you’re not married. Not the marrying type, I bet. You have that whole life is too dangerous for love sort of thing going on. What about kids? Oh! Dogs maybe? I can see you with dogs!”
“Should I begin to worry what you may write that you need an accurate description?” Brows pinched as though trying to reason just what sort of on point detailing she needed from the inside of a vehicle. Surely doubting that really anything within this very capsule was worth that level of attention! But then, he wasn’t a writer, now was he! So long as something worked, he was content with that.
Leaving it well enough alone since there didn’t need a drug on dedicated discussion about that. Instead mentioning how if the day was wonderfully boring, she would have a chance to gloat about it all to her friend and the unknown vampire king. Sure that would go well. Surely to rub someone the wrong way if they weren’t familiar with her antics. “Do things go wrong in the right ways?” This time he was actually curious. Not sure how such things might actually go tits up but in wonderfully delightful fantastical ways!
Much like that inquisitive child needing to map out their entire surroundings, her head was bobbling backwards. Looking into the cab of the additional crew area till it seemed suitable enough for her passing. And in turn to ask him questions. Or assumptions pointed at him. “I was married. Widowed.” Felix stated gingerly, “She passed away four years ago due to complications of her health.” His tone was slightly impassive. Eyes forward thankfully. “We couldn’t have kids due to that and no, no pets either. It wouldn’t be fair to the animal that I am not home enough to give them the proper attention they deserve.”
There was a subtle glimpse her way, “My wife was someone I cared greatly for and I’d slightly appreciate that you don’t try to make it sound like I am devoid of emotion. You can’t see everything someone has under the surface. Was it not you earlier that remarked what happens when you assume?”
Whoops! Hannah had inadvertently said something offensive in her desire to snoop information about him. How was she supposed to know a dead wife was involved? Usually it was like, heartbreak and divorce!
She stopped her window staring to turn in her seat towards him, green eyes gone wide.
“I’m sorry, Felix. Genuinely sorry. My assumptions were only for a bit of teasing and getting to know you conversation. I didn’t mean to drag up something painful.” she apologized, earnestly and without even a hint of insincerity. There might have even been a hint of red to her face, because wow, what a flub, Hannah!
“Are you comfortable talking about her?” she asked curiously, lifting up a hand to halt him. “It’s okay if you don’t want to! I’m still basically a big mouthed stranger and all. I could instead tell you all the ways things can go wrong in the best of ways or… tell you a bit more about me, I guess! I’m pretty sure by now you’ve not even heard of me before. My fame is… lackluster.”
It seemed her attempts to dig and poke at him for being a stalwart and calm individual had finally backfired. Where her thoughts of knowing everything had proven that she was still a human person that needed to understand she was by far not omniscient. To assume he didn’t believe in love, or romance or marriage was a mistake on her part. Something he wasn’t too bothered by but it still stung. There was nothing quite like being told you were somehow invalid because you didn’t act the way they wanted. So maybe this was a temporary humbling experienced for the woman.
For the spare moments as she expressed an apology paired with this was how she was trying to know someone that wasn’t going to be around a lot, it was puzzling at best.
Then she did just say she liked to make sure she had things accurate. Did that mean she was trying to pry something out of him for her own amusement to write down?
“It doesn’t upset me. I can’t change the past but I can remember my wife and all the good things we had.” But he seemed to catch on then even as she expressed he didn’t have too. “I don’t know if I should, you might just continue to make fun of me. Or pen down ideas in ways to slander my character for your own benefit.” He gave a lazy noncommittal flip of hand. “How can I trust that you won’t rip apart who I am because it doesn’t suit your needs? Or you might speak about my late wife in ways because we weren’t storybook romantic? I’ll probably just disappoint you.”
Oh goodness. He was another soft hearted baby just like Juliette. Had she completely gotten him all wrong then? Was he actually, deep down inside, actually a true romantic who, for whatever terrible reasons, was now trapped under his salty shell? Regardless, she didn’t mean to actually hurt his feelings and now she was going to have to fix it. At the very least to make sure he knew she wasn’t out to get him!
“Well, now who is making assumptions,” she chided gently. “I’m not a journalist you know, I write novels! Why would I want to tear you down, or a woman I’ve never met! That’s not what I do.”
Settling back in her seat with her arms crossed, a quite serious expression fell over her features.
“I’m sorry if I came off that way too. Honestly, I just enjoy people in general and getting to know them. It’s really fun seeing if my first impressions are right or wrong. Generally I have much better luck in conversations with women as men find me kind of… Awful, I guess! I seem judgey just because I like things a certain way for me mind you, I honestly don’t think less of any guy that doesn’t fulfill those things! Like I am some kind of romance terrorist, or something.”
Hannah squinted her eyes at the scenery through the front windshield.
“I don’t know, maybe I should lean into. Be the Wicked Witch of Romance. My publisher might love the branding.”
“You behave as one. Just a little.” Words came immediately in reply at the idea that she wasn’t a journalist. Having dealt with more than his liking of those types of vultures when it came to stories that they wanted to dig into. Damn aside those victims families that needed the time to mourn without someone shoving pen, pencil or mic in their face to ask the obvious painful questions. To be fair, some novelist he suspect were probably the same. Especially when it came to researching things they wanted to write for historical accuracy. Digging deeper with less of a care to what it might be received as. Picking at a person for their own goal. Unaware that they might be coming off crass or inconsiderate because their own joy lied in the fact they just wanted to write.
In effect he hummed to agree or maybe not when she said it wasn’t what she did.
Thus far, he wouldn’t say it wasn’t something she did either.
Turning down an avenue for the means of evading too much traffic clustering up the streets, he dared a side glance. Considering her sitting back with an arrangement of features turned into a deep reflective hold. For her to speak that she was apologizing if how she came off was exactly that. Expressing further her joy was just to see if her clever wits had pegged down a person at first value. Where in turn it seemed she might be aware that her personality may have come off as awful towards the opposite sex. While he could understand that she liked things her way for herself, it did make it very difficult if she was expecting the perfect person to come riding up to whisk her away. “You say you don’t think less but do you portray that? No one is perfect, if we were we wouldn’t be human. And those who act like they are perfect, usually have something deeper hiding. Telling them to act that way so they can be glorified.”
He thought a moment after. If he was going to be blunt within his thoughts, it sounded like she sabotaged herself. Wanted what she wanted but when someone might come in to try and offer, she pushed away. Or maybe they weren’t good enough.
“Aubree.” The name appeared from thin air, “My wife’s name. I’d known her since we were kids. Her dad and mine worked together so we were bound to see another. The type of girl who did super well in school but had a very select group of friends. We dated on and off throughout high school but nothing ever solid as kids tend to do. Only got together after her second year of college and eloped after eight months together.” Felix chuckled more to himself, “Her mom was pretty pissed off because she didn’t get to pick out the wedding dress with her daughter. I don’t think I was ever forgiven for that, even to this day.” Another glance was made at Hannah as if to say there, now you know something.
Hannah debated on if she might be actively putting off the vibe that she didn’t think a man was good enough for her unless he was a romantic debonair. She supposed maybe out of context, sure! It was always easy for someone to misunderstand her interests and her teasing, hell he just did himself. When she was actively dating – of course not! Hannah knew better than to bruise a man’s ego when she was flirting. They were so fragile.
“See, that does sound so wonderfully lovely!” she chirped with a good-natured clap of her hands. “Plenty romantic to fall in love with your childhood friend, coming together and growing apart until the time was finally right for you. I get why her mom was mad,” she laughed. “But it’s beautiful. It’s an unfair shame you couldn’t had your full life together.”
Hannah shifted to a more comfortable position in her seat, lifting a hand to adjust her sun visor again to protect her eyes.
“In the spirit of sharing, you of course know I have dated many men. Many, many, many men. Some ladies too! Nothing ever really got much farther than the first few dates. Not because they weren’t good enough for me, as some are now my bestest of friends. It’s more like… something is always missing. I want that meeting someone and having sparks! Fireworks! Chemistry… you know, I want to feeeeel something. It just hasn’t happened yet.”
“Everyone has their theories as to why, of course,” she mused, tilting wiggle her finger with a little spin at his temple. Giving him that amused look as if she knew his own wheels were turning about it. “Nothing I haven’t already wondered myself. It’s been this long, it’s probably me. But I won’t stop looking though! I will cheerfully date a thousand more people until I find the right one. And I’m going to be real mad if it’s that Augustus guy, since I’ve officially been banned from him by two people already!”
“Hmm. I always find that it’s better to know a person as a friend first than to date them. With me and Bree, we had been that. I knew what she liked, hated. Her quirks and things that truly bothered her. But I learnt much of that first as a friend, so there was no need to have first date mask on. She and I got to know another as people, rather than trying to impress another to make sure we stayed invested. We knew who we were. For the best and for the worst.” Wheel turned in hands, “It was certainly better we got together later in life. I wasn’t mature enough when I was high school. Too bothered with what other’s thought of me and forgetting that at the time, she was someone who ought to be just that. Important. Young, stupid and immaturity assured that we didn’t click. But rather than ruin each other, we departed. I wouldn’t say amicably. She handled it better than I did.” Felix chuckled despite himself. “When we came back together, that first proper date I already knew she was the one I was supposed to be with. Though it wasn’t my idea to elope, it was hers.”
He glanced at her then, “Nothing more than a motel out in the middle of some random town that we got married. Just the fact we got to go together, was all that mattered. Though we did promise that when we hit the ten years mark, we would have a proper ceremony. The dress, the venue, the guests. Just—” Shoulders shrugged as no need was given for the end of the tale.
“I had a life with her. It was short but it was still ours. I wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s part of my past that helped form who I want to be now. Bree was a guidance for me and a council plenty of times.”
Smiling once more there was a quiet for a stint. Before the novel writer herself spoke up. Trying to debunk perhaps why she was having issues with finding whom she wanted to be with. The zing mentality. Looking for sparks where maybe it didn’t happen on the first or second go.
Though he offered nothing to lend her as to opinions why. That wasn’t his judgement to make. What he could say however was the latter. “Good god, you really do have bad taste in men. Augustus?” Felix’s feature tensed into a grimace, “Nice guy for business but personal, jeez you might as well date a rock. At least at the end you could throw that. And I don’t think you should date distant relatives of Jordan.” Granted really distant, like centuries distant but that wasn’t about to be pointed out.
First Hannah laughed because everything he described about his relationship with Aubree was in fact very romantic, leaving her to decide that Felix Matthews must’ve assumed the only sort of romance she saw was the extravagant and dramatic kind. Which, fair! Hannah was a drama queen. But she could appreciate a good friends to lovers story as well!
Then she laughed even harder because apparently the entire world seemed to believe Augustus was the absolute worst. Did that poor man know everyone was practically cursing his name?
“You too, huh? He just getting more and more interesting at this rate. I think if Dominic says the same I am going to have to introduce myself proper,” she decided. Partially just as a tease, but mostly because the man was becoming a taboo legend and Hannah just couldn’t resist. She wouldn’t do anything crazy, of course. Just get to know the guy and see what all the fuss was about! Especially from someone that was so handsome it made her heart stop a little!
“I think I am inspired. I’ll try to reconnect with a few old flames and see if anything sparks up. Tonight, though, I am going to try out the elusive one night stand.”
Oh hell, this woman just couldn’t see the red flags being thrown up in front of her. At this rate she ought to make herself a scarf from them when she was apparently sounding like she was going to ignore the warnings. So that meant he might have to tell Jordan about it which in itself might be the smartest move. As there might be only one person Augustus would listen too and it would be the impale-r king since it was like this woman just wanted to be dined upon.
He should probably also let Juliette know just in case. Cross all his bases. “So you’d introduce yourself to someone that now three people have all stated that he isn’t someone you ought to go after. Three different sources I might add. That’s like seeing caution electric fence and still grabbing it because you don’t think you will be electrocuted. Either you are incredibly bad at listen or I hate to say it, my initial impression of you being a smart woman was wrong.” Was that terribly nice to say, no? But at this point he might as well try stating it one way further before alerting the upper two so that Augustus could be threatened in whatever way possess that if Hannah tried to get with him, Augustus wouldn’t even dare.
Less he liked being used as punching bag.
“Better idea.” Not really, one night stands were just so… cliché. But at this point it was smarter than going after a fucking vampire!
Turning his sights out as they made a few more turns to eventually be locked within the downtown core, he was careful navigating his way around. Eventually finding a curbside parking with a meter to shut everything down. Pushing sunglasses to rest on top of his head. “Alright, shall we?”
“I sure never said I was a smart woman,” she retorted, the bright wide smile on her face, seemingly having a grand time with everyone’s frustration and outrage on the subject of Augustus. At this point she may very well just be doing it to harass everyone!
Popping open her door she leaned out giving the curb a quick blink. Getting out of this monster truck was going to be precarious business! Hannah twist in her seat to throw her legs out, did a little scoot and then hopped down with a soft clop, only ever so slightly almost losing balance. Thank goodness for truck doors!
“Just follow me, copper!” she chirped pleasantly, leading the way to the bookstore doors.
The All the Page bookstore was a nicely sized business, certainly one of the bigger corporate bookstores in town. The place already seemed to be pretty busy with a few early arrivals milling about ready to meet the author of the day. A few even having started a line at the long table setup where a stack of books were being placed at one side, opposite to a tripod with a wild looking sign featuring a half naked man.
MEET HANNAH LUCAS
Author of beloved titles like
Two Vikings Too Many
Knight on the Streets, Pirate in the Sheets
and her newest novel
Bad Boys Wear Kilts
Signing autographs today only!
“Hannah! Do you have any idea how late you are?” exclaimed a middle-aged woman in what could only be described as the wrong shade of red. “Who is that? Don’t tell me he’s anoth-“
“Oh, no no. Penny no.” interrupted Hannah. “Don’t mind him, he’s my bodyguard today.”
“Bodyguard! Who did you piss off now! Ugh, nevermind, we don’t even have time to discuss anything! The short of it is that the publisher wants to know what the next book is about so they can get started on the promotion work now. They’re so thrilled with the current one, they really want you to maybe expand into a series. You’ve got fifteen minutes to sit your ass down and get settled in. Okay? Okay!” ‘Penny’ gave Felix one good look up and down, but was already bustling off to order about a few assistants to fetch coffee for the client.
“I think Penny likes you, Felix.”
With a little more ease of stepping out of the truck unlike the feminine counterpart, there was no fuss or muss when she suggested previously to follow her. Locking up the vehicle of their driving pleasure for today to promptly follow behind on her heels. Where he could curiously look about the bookstore upon entry and appreciate the smell that came from such a place. He might not be a reader himself but there was something truly comforting about the smell of ink, pages and covers. Almost homey in an old timey sort of way.
There appeared to be some people already lining up with the intention of getting the author’s signature though his gaze may have gravitated over to stare at the signage that declared the woman and her pieces of work.
Leaving him to comically blink at the names.
He’d admit a couple of them were pretty clever, and the others were just almost tasteless if he was to be a judge on any of that. At least internally, mostly staring at the newest one with a sort of bewildered horror perhaps.
Nearly left to contemplate it’s very existence before someone was calling out to Hannah with the pointed accusation of knowledge that she was late. Pulling him to turn gaze over to stare at the woman looking particularly feisty before she was pointing a verbal finger at him. Shortened when the author pointed out what his purpose was before it was shooed away. Much like a particular stink, he had to ponder on this one but found how the woman named Penny seemed like she might be puckered as tight as a nun’s asshole. Responding to her up and down with one of his own. Observing her toddling off to go issue her demands at some other, “Oh yeah, I feel that. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.” Liked him as much as someone likes getting poked in the eye! “She always that… uppity?”
“One time she said if I don’t answer my phone when she calls, she’d chuck my dead body into the Thames. We weren’t even in England at the time, so I can only imagine how she planned to do it.” she responded with nothing but amusement.
Hannah rested her hands on her hips, looking very much the tiny little pink-clad business woman as she gave Felix a serious, apologetic frown.
“Okay, Bodyguard. I’m going to be stuck in that chair,” she pointed just in case he needed to know specifically which one. “for at least two hours. Very likely to be the most boring two hours of your entire life. I’m going to shake a lot of hands, give a lot of hugs, and there’s going to be an alarming amount of little old ladies saying some really gross things about a man’s penis!”
By the way she explained it, it sounded like she was going to be trapped in a really weird version of bootcamp!
“That said, you really don’t have to stick around for this. You can go browse the shop or go out and get yourself a coffee or something until I’m all done here.”
“Well, you are certainly around colourful people then.” Vengeful angry people that seemed like they really did need to pull the wedgie out of their hungry ass, because holy hell. But it might be just how Hannah was describing the situation that it sounded a lot more hostile than it might have been.
Maybe.
Regardless, he wasn’t about to go rushing after Penny to see if she had eaten any children recently, rather looked towards the girl once more. Polishing her hands upon hips in what he might have guessed was trying to seem intimidating rather than just small, pink and a writer of really weirdly named smut. With detail she expressed where she would be sitting. Doing. Talking and mentioning strangely old ladies talking about men’s parts. Which did earn her a very odd look. Like did she mean that or was she trying to pull a reaction out of him.
“That said, you don’t pay my wage.” He stated gingerly enough, “Here to do my job which means keeping an eye on you. Regardless of how long, what you are doing and possibly disturbing conversations that may forever haunt me into my dying years. Sorry Lamb, it’s just how it is going to be. You will just have to deal with me being your unwanted gargoyle for this afternoon.”
“Not unwanted,” Hannah responded brightly, with a wide genuine smile. “Just worried about your delicate sensibilities, is all. But if you must do your job, I won’t get in the way,” she laughed! “Not that I can, I have my own to do!”
Hannah crooked a finger at Felix to beckon his following over to her laid out table, where she gestured with her hands for him to make himself comfortable… where ever or however that worked for a bodyguard. She kind of imagined he’d be looming somewhere behind her, all stony faced and intimidating. Slowly twitching and losing his mind because honestly… if you didn’t like this sort of thing, it must be dreadful having to stand around and watching a bunch of people spit out the weirdest comments.
Not for Hannah, though. Hannah loved it.
Once Hannah was all settled into her seat and given a cup of coffee from one shaken looking assistant, the dragon in the worst shade of red gave a brief introduction to Hannah Lucas along with a length amount of rules for the Meet and Greet, from no special autograph requests, to no touching, to two minutes per guest.
All of which Hannah promptly ignored.
Hannah greeted fans as if they’d been friends their entire lives. Enthusiastically engaging in conversations about their favorite characters and beloved scenes. She’d take the time to look at pictures of pets named after characters, or pose for a silly selfie. She was happy to sign books, and shirts, and whatever else someone brought in – sometimes even just giving them one of the books off her table much to Penny’s hissing complaint of you’re supposed to charge for those!’.
The only time her sunny disposition cracked were those particularly strange fans that’d ask her questions that were a little too personal. On most occasions she’d laugh it off, as plenty of people asked innocent enough things that she didn’t find all that offensive. But here and there a person would blend the line between characters in the book to Hannah herself, to which she would very quickly thank them for seeing her and send them on their way.
In fact, Penny did a lot of fussing herself to try and urge things along, as at this rate Hannah would be there until nightfall!
Delicate sensibilities!?
Well she had an answer for everything, now didn’t she? Even if it was incorrect considering what sorts of things he had been through, seen and was working for now; that was hardly the case for someone to worry. Suspecting that this was intended to be a rather plain joke, he kept a studious eye upon her. As she went to rest herself upon her makeshift throne and he in turn –after he was beckoned of course- to come and find a place as well. Not so much looming cause that would do nothing for either one of them, but lingering. Periodically standing as just to keep moving around and avoiding the dull ache that happened in one’s knees after sitting too long.
Though whatever safety precautions the living humanoid of a dragon woman was issuing, were cast aside. Thrown to the winds while Hannah certainly proved that she enjoyed the people. Extroverted to the highest degree but with a sense of class that at least ought to do well to affirming her adoring public were left with a good impression.
Most of it was as she stated. Mundane, which he took happily.
It wasn’t until he seemed to notice the influx of someone that liked to step over a line of comfort and social decorum that there was a view in Hannah’s expression that it waivered. Prompting him to at least watch the situation to decide if there was a need to intervene or not. It came apart seemingly easy enough with the novelist shooing them on but there was certainly some additional length happening to this meet and greet. Making him slightly wonder why she bothered having a publicist if she was just going to ignore the ways they set things up. Shouldn’t she then just self promote and the likes? Things he didn’t understand but was coming to maybe grasp that Hannah Lucas wasn’t particularly a woman that considered things others did for any purpose but to be broken or warped.
Slightly selfish and inconsiderate? Maybe, he wasn’t sure on that one.
Just that he did step in a little after the interaction. “All well?” He whispered to see how she was fairing thus far at least.
For someone who did not seem to take well the comparison to being a knight, he sure seemed quick to step in and check on her the moment she appeared to be struggling. Which told her first and foremost, he must actually be very good at his job! Hannah didn’t think she’d let that slip out, she was usually pretty good at keeping her sunshine face on even when she was feeling a little off.
It also revealed that he was likely a very kind person. Everything here was fine and safe, Hannah doubted any normal bodyguard just paid to watch over some kooky writer by an overprotective bestie would have bothered to check on her.
“There’s a lot more people than I was expecting,” she admitted with her own whisper, sounding a bit tired but smiling softly at him all the same. “I hate to go before seeing all of them, though. They came all the way here.”
Hannah supposed if she had followed Penny’s strict plan of greeting, more people could’ve come through faster but… how impersonal and dispassionate was that! She owed them at least a conversation for the love and time fans made to come see her! They were only an hour or so over the time limit, that wasn’t so bad?
As she was explaining what one could abundantly see around them, shoulders shrugged slightly. At least she drew a decent sized crowd for someone that was suggested earlier as not a well known name. She had enough people come out to praise and talk with her about something that had been her passion. That wasn’t nothing after all, but she was clearly more worried about them than her own limitations. Her own comfort. Which he could both say was noble and possibly worrisome.
“Then take a short breather.” He suggested quietly, “Just five minutes to collect your bubbly spirit and maybe a drink. Revitalize yourself if you want to assure all the people that came to see you get to experience just that. Rather than watching wilt down slowly because you are pushing too hard.” Felix offered before he made a look about.
Maybe about to do something he wouldn’t usually, “Do that and I will go over to get a couple of coffee’s? My treat of course.”
Hannah was tempted to gasp and tease him about daring to leave his post, but the suggestion and offer actually sounded quite nice! With a little coffee, she could boost herself up and power through the last of the remaining crowd. Hopefully before it got too late and they ended up missing dinner too! Her plans for tonight were too glorious to miss!
“Okay,” Hannah agreed with a quick nod. “That sounds like a good plan.” What a sweet and worrisome temporary guardian. She resisted reaching out to pinch his cheek too. Felix probably wouldn’t appreciate that!
“Pen-neeee~!” she sand out, catching the attentions of the red dragon with a wave of her hand.
“Are we done?” immediately asked Penny leaning over the table with a low voice. “Time for me to shoo the peons away?”
“No, no! I’m just going to take a quick bathroom break and Felix is going to grab me a drink. Then I’ll finish up with everyone here.” Hannah explained, scooting back her chair to stand and wincing a bit as she cracked her back in the process. Those metal folding chairs were always the worst.
“It’s such a huge waste of time to go past the event time like this. You’re not even getting paid!” complained the woman, gesturing towards the remaining people. “They already bought the book!”
Hannah just laughed, waving away the woman’s concerns.
“The bookstore is getting lots of extra revenue from our visitors, and here! Check my Instagram!” she handed over her entire phone to Penny so the woman could scroll through her pings. “It’s lots of good PR, the publisher will love it! I’m going to the bathroom and be right back. Read everyone chapter seven if they get restless.”
That out of the way, Hannah pointed at the bathrooms so Felix would know where she might be, then gave him a wink and finger guns as she scooted on her way.
Penny, now with Hannah’s phone for inspection, refused to read ‘chapter seven’ out loud to a bunch of strangers. However, she did summon one of the terrified assistants to do it for her.
At least she accepted it with no further commentary in some way besides maybe giving him a bit of a look that he was probably reading far too into. One that wasn’t actually there, just imagined instead! Thankfully it seemed like things weren’t liable to read to a verbal commentary flinging back and forth as he dared one final look about the room. Checking over faces as if he was trying to memorize them before glancing towards the sound of Hannah calling after the dragon styled woman. Cueing his exit to depart now so he wouldn’t give too much time for Hannah to try some antics.
Or something wild. At this point, not putting it past her to decided to get it into her head that she could climb the bookstore shelves to swing from the ceiling lights like a monkey!
Before he was beckoned or something else from the store, the immediate turn was given. On the search for coffee for them each. Though he wouldn’t admit it to Hannah, he was pretty sure if someone tried something here, Penny herself might turn into Conan the Barbarian! Which he would watch, from a safe distance.
In the bathroom Hannah checked under all of the stalls to make sure no one was in there, before she popped into one for her own personal business. Afterwards she stopped at the sinks to wash her hands and dab a little cold water on her face,
She stared at her reflection in the mirror, checking to make sure her makeup was still fine.
“Okay, best girl. You got this! We’re going to get through the last of this crowd and then go home and find the hottest dress in Juliette’s closet for the best night ever!” Hannah did a few poses to boost herself up, until inevitably she tossed her head back and sighed out loud.
That hangover yesterday really did a number on her! Even today it felt difficult to be back up to her usual energy. She glanced toward the tiny window up in the corner, briefly daydreaming about crawling out of it and running off down the street. Penny could handle things like a champ – she had worst more high maintenance clients. But maybe Hannah’s Bodyguard-of-the-day wouldn’t appreciate coming back to find she’d escaped into the city. Though it was an amusing train of thought to imagine him having to use his detective skills to figure out how she escaped and where she went!
“Get out of the way of the sink!” croaked an old lady, who promptly thwacked Hannah on the shin with her cane, effectively making the girl apologize profusely and scrambled for the door.
What a witch! Hannah stuck her tongue out at her and then rejoined the bookstore proper. Glancing around the shelves and the few people that were milling about actually there to shop for books, Hannah thought the she caught sight of a familiar crop of dark hair. She quickly ducked behind a shelf.
Was that David! Hannah couldn’t believe it. Was Juliette’s over-exaggerated worries not so over-exaggerated after all? Ducking behind a bookcase and peering through the gaps between the shelves, she followed the movements of her dark haired prey. Hannah was not afraid of David. Sure, he was probably a serial killer but what could he do in a crowded business? In fact, she ought to pounce on him and threaten him within an inch of his life should he ever dare make a scene for her or Juliette ever again!
Waiting until just the right moment, Hannah jumped out from behind her hiding spot to point a threatening finger at her prey. Had she thought about it, she might’ve had her bear spray but that was in her purse over at the signing table.
“Listen, you messed up sack of straight garbage!” she hissed out – only to promptly choke on her own words. “O-Oh.”
“What the hell, lady? Are you crazy?”
The guy was absolutely not David. Sure, the same hair color and height, and a similar build and even that douchey popped collar style the pyscho was so fond of. …but it wasn’t David. This guy was now staring at her like she was some sort of lunatic fresh out of an asylum.
“I- Yeah. I’m crazy. Sorry! Sorry! Please return to your browsing, thank you!” she chimed out, quickly backing up and finding a new shelf to hide behind.
Drat it all, how embarrassing! All this fuss and worry and drama of Juliette’s and Jordan’s was certainly interesting and fun to listen to, but now it was getting into her head and making her paranoid too! It was so silly, as beyond a fan or two that got aggressively friendly, no one out there wanted to do any harm to Hannah herself!
So much for a restful break, indeed.
At least for one of them the whole excursion wouldn’t turn into a wannabe detective attacking some random citizen. Thankfully the fetching of liquid gold would be rewarded with just that. A gathering of drinks and himself returning to find the remainder of loyal fans to potentially raunchy smut books still intact. Setting down the cup of coffee with a few fixings on the side –so Hannah could dress up her drink in whatever way she wanted- he found his attention veering around once more.
Looking towards madam dragon –who had yet to actually breath fire- to that of the collection of remaining fans. Scouring them over quietly till his vision shifted to others within the store that were browsing its actual wares.
Leaving the sense of relief that nothing was actually going tits up. It didn’t seem likely that Hannah might be a target for David or whomever else but at this point, if the two fabled royals were worried, who was he to say no to their woes. If they wanted to send out people to watch over the eccentric red head, so be it. At least he was thinking so till the author would eventually return and he made a head tip towards the drink. “Ready for your second breath, madam author?” Felix asked easily, sipping at the lip of the cup of deep dark dirty bean water.
“I wish it had bourbon in it,” exclaimed Hannah, quickly sliding into her seat and claiming her cup. Of course, that wasn’t her normal go-to. Despite this week’s festivities, Hannah wasn’t the usual alcohol sloshed party girl, throwing back shots like it was nobody’s business. This week was a special occasional. Tonight was a special occasion. Right now – right now she was just jumpy!
Hannah popped the lid off her cup and dumped in a liberal amount of cream and sugar. Enough that it could barely be considered a coffee anymore, and promptly took a few heavy swallows.
“I guess this means there was no trouble on your end, copper?” she asked with a teasing smile. He didn’t need to know that she nearly assaulted some poor innocent guy only a few minutes ago. Nor was she planning on confessing all this fuss was starting to get into her head. What could he do about it anyway, besides continuing to do his job? Once she was through with the signing, it’d be back home to change for her night out on the town, and he would get to go back to… well, whatever it was he did for Jordan! Securing buildings and doing stake-outs, Hannah imagined.
It was comical how swiftly his own features drooped down to look at his cup when she mentioned bourbon. Studying the very liquid as though it needed any assistance at this time before adjusting the level of eye control to stare at the author. Processing whether or not he just heard her correctly whilst she was making her cup a blond colour instead of black. “I didn’t think it was that rough of a day.” Felix queried mostly in rhetoric. “Unless you are trying to channel your Stephen King style authoring now.”
Maybe she wanted to turn into a drunk that wrote scary books all the sudden? He wasn’t sure what her motive was but he did think it was a little too early to start giving drinks an added zip!
“Unless you think a woman who was upset that she didn’t get soy milk in her latte as trouble, no, nothing. Which is exactly what we want after all.” He stole a second to drink once more, “If nothing happens, then remember. You get to gloat to Juliette and Jordan that they are both highstrung for no apparent reason. And I get to fade into the background like some half badly written side character that has no further purpose than temporary assistance.” A smirk appeared across his features at her then, as though he knew enough about writing to guess that was how he might be written out of a book at all!
Hannah was pretty sure Stephen King was taking a lot more than bourbon with his coffee, but that wasn’t a conversation for the here and now!
“I do love to gloat when I’m right,” admitted Hannah slowly, giving Felix a bit of a once over about his writer-esque commentary. She supposed he thought he was being clever, which no, but the attempt was amusing. Leaving Hannah with a broad smile.
“You could join me and Dominic and maybe Myra for bar crawling tonight? It’s almost guaranteed to be absolute trouble.” Probably not the sort bodyguards were needed for, but he seemed like he needed a night out to do something silly himself with that serious face of his.
A Hard thump on the signing table made Hannah jump, for it only to be Penny glowering at the two of them and pausing long enough to tap at her wrist to gesture that time was important, and all this dilly-dallying needed to cease. With a wrinkle of her nose and a suppressed grin, Hannah down the rest of her coffee in a few fast swallows and resettled herself in her author’s chair.
“Okay, okay! Back to signing, speed round this time, no nonsense!” Hannah chirped.
“I never would have guessed.” Mouth moved a little faster than the filter to stop it could. Uttering out his false disbelief that Hannah might have never been the type to enjoy gloating when she was right about something. Rather the sarcasm of reply rolled out that even after he realized it’s exit, all he could do was take a sip after the fact. Like the scalding drink would be strong enough to erase the very comment from ever existing.
Though she would prove to be a little demon in disguise at the very –assumed- offer that really wasn’t there to be truthful. “Myra too? I think I would sooner consider ten ways I would cook my own flesh than join in such a bar crawl.” Looking down into the depths of drink like it turned into a crystal ball, “You younglin’s can have all the sort of fun and trouble you want. I’d sooner just be old and stay at home.” Making it sound like he was nearing fifty rather than in his thirties!
Of course there were other things that most likely would warrant his attention, than just going home to sit on his merry little tuff.
If he was about to divulge such wit, it seemed the reincarnation of Matilda’s Miss Trunchbull had declared by the tap of one’s wrist that time was wasting. Having to turn slightly to hide the smirk that pulled on his face, “I would suggest you find a speed faster than that, otherwise Penny may just truly start sprouting horns!”
“Who knew the real danger here would be publicists,” teased Hannah with a soft whisper in Felix’s direction. Apparently not softly enough, as Penny made a loud enough scoffing to rival even the toughest of drill sergeants.
From there on out Hannah went strictly by the book – for all of ten minutes. She honestly did try to keep things moving swiftly, especially with her coffee fueled second wind. Except, it seemed that she just couldn’t help herself, soaking up a person’s enthusiasm to chat with her about favorite scenes or some mentioned side character, that she’d missed (or pretended not to notice!) one or two people had been sneaky enough to sneak in for a second turn.
Though she finished up with plenty of time for the bookstore to still have open hours left for cleanup, it still took far too long. On the bright side, there wasn’t a single Hannah Lucas book left in the store! The entire lot had been sold or given away by Hannah Herself.
“Why can’t you make stupid demands and harass the assistants, Hannah! You’re the worst!” complained Penny, already directing those assistants to pack up everything they needed.
“I know, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” apologized Hannah in a rush, moving to stretch quickly before gathering up her phone and purse, giving Felix a frantic look of we must escape!
“God, they’re not even that good! I could be working for an actual literary award winner! That might actually be worth-“
Hannah was absolutely not listening to Penny’s complaining, instead taking Felix by the hand for a quick dash out the front exit, an apologetic grimace all across her features completely for his sake.
“Sometimes you just have to let her stomp about,” she finally explained once they were well on their way to his truck. Seemingly not to be offended by the woman’s insults of Hannah’s writing.
It probably wasn’t necessary but boy did he start to readily nod in agreement to the idea that perhaps the real danger was a woman named Penny! For she was truly looking more and more like the troll that liked to hide under the bridge to collect tax for each person crossing! Of course he might have had a little more tact when it came to saying such things compared to Hannah. But he also didn’t deal with the dragon woman on a frequent basis! Unknown to him what could be said and gotten away with in comparison! “I’ll make a mental note to pass on to that of Jordan and Juliette.” Meeting her jesting nature at this particular moment in the state that their real worries was the publicist; he might have avoided looking Penny in the eye then and there.
Sidestepping back into statue practiced guarding to be the animated humanized gargoyle that was watching the steadfast interaction of the novelist. Prying visual peepers across each newly met person that she was surprisingly moving swiftly through. At least until some gathered back for a second round and he had to wonder if perhaps Hannah selected the wrong career. Being charismatic enough, maybe she should have gone into a business type that required her to sell. Wondering idly if she could be a used car salesmen in a former life somehow. Or a fortune teller that swindled people out of their hard earned cash.
He wasn’t sure, but there was something about her that felt like it might have been better suited in some con style way.
Amusing himself and finding that perhaps truly nothing was going to happen, the moment freedom came parading itself nearby like a breath of fresh air; he was momentarily surprised when Penny spoke up in a rather snarly commentary. Warranting a double take as though expecting her to start sprouting a second head that was spewing flame! Making him awe at how someone who was supposed to work and aid a novelist could be this cranky!
Rather than take the risk of saying something, he was being moved by the hand! Tugged forward till he was sure the apologetic look paired with her own utterance of words was enough to tickle his funny bone. Chuckling deeply, “Is that what you call that? Stomping it out? I hadn’t known that the biggest terror today would be someone you work with, now I can see why you might need a night out! Never thought I would witness an older woman having a tantrum like a three year old!”
“I imagine she is a lot more pleasant with people she actually respects,” mused Hannah out loud, tilting her head to give it some thought. “She’d rather be working for a Pulitzer Prize winner, or someone writing literary classics. Instead she got me, and apparently all I write is horny garbage.”
She grinned brightly at that, neither confirming nor denying the potential accusation. Merely shrugging her shoulders to brush the entire thing off, as if it didn’t matter to her in the slightest.
It did, of course. A teeny tiny bit. But there were more important things for Hannah to worry about, than all the people in the world that thought her books were trash!
“About that offer to come out tonight!” she chimed, tugging his arm playfully and giggling with what could only be described as devious warning. Now that he’d reminded her about her fun evening – not that she forgot about his earlier comments about Myra, either! “Are you sure you don’t want to come along for an hour or two? I promise I won’t try to find you the love of your life – although, I’m sure we’re going to run into all kinds of interesting people.”
“I feel like I am missing something in that. You’d think that she’d be happy she works with someone that is able to do the said work and has actual people purchasing. Rather than bitchin’ potentially about not getting more. Though if her attitude is a factor, I can see why she isn’t pulling anyone that might be the next Pulitzer prize winner.” Daring a glimpse backwards over his shoulder like he was expecting the demon in human form to appear then and there; Felix could only hum.
It took all sorts of course but if you were able to do your job successfully, then why would you complain. Just because you could?
He was missing something. Which was probably a good thing! Considering it didn’t appear that it bothered Hannah at all. Though that may also be that she could be incapable of feeling anything but sugary pixie filled thoughts and a little bit of snarky sass!
Rather than brood on a topic that clearly had no invitation for him to partake in; fingers were already slipping out the keys so he might unlock the vehicle. “Hmm?” Giving noise to suggest he was listening at first, tugging focus next due to the way she was then using his said arm to bounce herself nearly upon’ he had to pause. Think and refilter the statement she gave him seconds after.
“I’m too old for such things.” Once more venturing down pre-maturely in his station of being suddenly years older than he was. “Nor do I need to cramp your style. I do suspect the interesting people you three might run into would be a show all by itself, but you really don’t need an old badger of a cop toddling around after you three.” Felix slowed to open the passenger side door for her. Gesturing at it in case she wasn’t paying that much attention. “Dom and Myra can keep up and not cramp your style, Hannah.”
“You’re not that old, Felix,” chided Hannah, stopping only for a second to give him a quick examining look over, just in case. He seemed to be late thirties at most, and other than a few lines of stress, obviously still in pretty good condition! If he were a good ex-cop security guy, he had to be out doing regular exercise at least.
“Besides, you can go out and have fun at any age! People don’t stop having fun as they get older!” she explained, while trying to gracefully climb up into his giant truck with her ridiculous heels. Especially now that he was standing right there and watching. It took a small bit of hoisting (and a soft little grunt), but she plopped herself into her seat without needing to ask for his help.
“Think about it though? Like, genuinely!” Hannah encouraged with that pixie smile of hers even as she turned away to buckle in her seat belt. “A blend of personalities makes everything a lot more interesting. …Unless you’re also one of Myra’s exes, in which case I would love to hear that story and won’t dare ask again.”
“Maybe not but I certainly feel it.” Though if he was to look at his employer who was well deep into his four hundreds, he was like a fresh babe! Toddle about with no real worries but of course he couldn’t say that! By all means there was a merit at looking upon the vampiric lord and feeling slight envy that he was still ‘young’ and fit as he was. Even if he was crotchety as all get out some days. Barely a cane shake away from yelling at children to get off the lawn. Granted, he personally felt those moments too. Looking at the younger generation and wondering just when in the hell he grew to dislike some of their choices.
It was a conrundrum that was not worth the mental effort of deliberation right here and now on the sidewalk.
Especially in the presence of one of them young sorts that was pointing out that he could go out at any age and have said fun. “Suppose you aren’t wrong, just as you get older your tastes change. Drinking and loud music doesn’t sound as thrilling when you sound like a crunchy bag of nails rattling about even just getting out of bed.” There was a laugh in there even if it was sad that it was slightly true!
Granted he might have been short to start snorting at watching her climb the side of the vehicle with her less than effective spikes that were for walking, rather than sideways scaling! Yet she managed to eventually settle inside that he might extend the measure of gentlemanly behaviour that intended to shut the door. Pausing to look at her when she suggested he think about it.
An idea that was put on hold, “What? Oh god no. The girl is nearly ten years younger than me and I have no business getting into that! I’d be more afraid of her father strangling me than of Myra!” Shaking his head at the very terrible idea of dating the personified tornado! Yet, there was something here that made him linger in keeping that door open. “Why the big insistence on having me tag along? I would have thought you’d be thrilled to go out and colour the town a obnoxious shade with Dom and Myra.”
Hannah found his insistence that he was so old and Myra so young incredibly amusing. She herself couldn’t be more than a couple years older than Myra. Hannah supposed he thought she too was just one of those wild youths, out for drinking and partying, and carrying on with chaos! Maybe she hadn’t yet hit her thirties… but he hadn’t hit his elderly years either, he ought not behave like an old man before he actually was one! Since when was middle age the end of your life?
“Well, I am excited to go out!” Hannah laughed out loud turning to lean out towards him. “There’s no weird motive to it, Felix, you just seem like somebody that needs a change of pace. Something to shake you up a little bit.”
To punctuate that point, she booped him right on the nose before quickly retracted her hand and returning to her seat proper.
“Honestly, it’s what I’M doing tonight. Most of the time I am at home doing research or writing or going to scheduled publicity events. I don’t often get the chance to go out and do crazy things. Like not these kind of crazy things! Juliette’s wedding has just provided a few awesome opportunities.”
“A change of pace?” Repeating it like he was tasting the very source of it with disbelief. Wriggling nose after she so easily decided to tippy tap its very end, “I don’t know if I need shaking up. Though I am not so convinced there isn’t some underlying reason to why you would even want me there at all. I’d think Dom and Myra would be plenty clowning entertainment for just about anyone!” Really there seemed to be an ulterior motive to why she would be so insistent that he tag along their goon squad. Sure that Dominic alone would be fair enough expression to just why he didn’t need a change of pace.
Being part of a vampiric underground mythology world as a human, was plenty exciting!
“I feel like there is something I am missing here. You say there is no weird motive but it feels like you are avoiding giving me a reason besides it’s exciting! Or change of pace. It couldn’t be that you might like my company even a little bit, now would it, Ms. Lucas?”
“What?” the incredulous statement was out of her mouth before she could think twice and say something a little less… well… surprised! Hannah blinked in a dumbfounded stare for a moment, before she burst into laughter.
He was one hundred percent a cop, through and through. Had he been analyzing their entire conversation this whole time? No doubt trying to figure out her angle, or game, or whatever strange motif she had for dragging him along. A plot or a scheme to wind around him!
Not to say she wouldn’t plot and scheme, but this time she honestly wasn’t up to anything. How hilarious!
His closing statement was the best part, though. Hannah’s laughter fell off as she cast him her widest, sweetest smile.
“As nice as you are, Mister Felix Matthews, you are definitely not my type. At least – I don’t think you can handle what I’m going to be up to tonight!”
If it wouldn’t be too frontal and obvious, he might have dared to pull his phone out for the snap shot of the century –he suspected. The expression crossing over her features in a hasty dash after his commentary was easily worth a expensive price. Doubting that she was so easily caught off guard or rather surprised. After all the things she had uttered in the last few hours, it was not difficult to think that Hannah was a difficult person to crack on her sugar and deviant cookie style personality.
Instead smirking at her till she seemed to come back together and it was then his turn to join in on the idea of her laughter. “I think you are assuming that is what I meant, it had nothing to do with suggestion such things. I meant,” he dared to clarify, “My presence that you find enjoyable. Nothing so forward as to suggest types or preference.” But of course now that he knew her thoughts went in that direction, he was arching a brow at her. “You might spend too much time writing such things if you assume that is what I was trying to say. Or I phrased it in a way that you took it down that avenue.”
He shook his head, “And what makes you think you’d be my type anyways?” Eyes lifted to the top of each socket, maneuvering feet to begin shutting the door. “All the more reason why I shouldn’t tag along.”
Hannah was rolling her eyes herself, waiting as he rounded the vehicle and then climb into the truck.
“I swear, Felix!” she exclaimed with exasperation. “You are the most argumentative, contrary, difficult man I have ever spoken to!” Hannah was clearly a little frustrated with him, but not the blistering mad she had been earlier that morning when he seemed to want to rain dark clouds all over her sunshine parade. She was starting to figure out, he really couldn’t help himself. Maybe it was the cop thing, and always trying to find double meaning and lies hidden under the surface of every conversation. He likely didn’t trust anything or anyone, so of course he was going to be a real pain in the ass with her – a person who very much loved to get down into people’s business way beneath the layers of their outer masks.
Still, just because she understood it, didn’t mean it wasn’t incredibly infuriating.
“I’m a lot of people’s type – but if I am not yours that is fine by me,” she chirp, proudly sitting in her seat with that little smile of hers. Hannah knew perfectly well she was nice to look at. It took a lot of work to keep her hair from turning into a coiled mess of frizzy curls, and weekly yoga to stay flexible and trim. Her looks weren’t what kept her from finding a dream lover!
“Don’t worry about it. You don’t want to have fun, that’s cool, I am still going to send you a play by play via text though. Well. If it’s love at first sight. That’s probably not going to happen exactly tonight, but oh, the beginnings of it for sure.”
Helping himself up into the driver’s side as to catch the final act of her verbal tirade of just what sort of character he had been; well who could have helped the way mouth turned upwards into a pleasing arch. Spreading till it was fully bolted down and finding himself lending her a look that seemed to simple read tell me more. Mayhaps a little surprised that Hannah might have found his nature now all the sudden irritating enough that it was worth the commentary.
But of course it wasn’t without expressing that she was clearly a lot of people’s type. Which didn’t stop him from giving her a obvious look up and down. Assessing her being from both appearance to personality. Humming like he was making notes to lodge away for a later date but kept his mouth modestly shut to point out, that she was seemingly only people’s type for the idea of dating and bedding but nothing further.
Deciding he didn’t need to witness her reaching over and trying to strangle him or something worse!
With a press of the key into ignition, he left it well enough alone. “As you wish.” Leaving the lackdascial reply as the idea that she could text him all she wanted. If he was going to be annoyed by it, the very idea wasn’t present to be seen. Granted he’d probably just leave his phone in the living room if he was at home and not bother with it less it was coming from some other’s.
“Shall I return you back to your friend’s newly acquired estate then so you might prepared for the evening?” He asked in his best chauffer’s voice.
“Yes, Jeeves, back to the manor,” she responded, just as cheekily in the worst rendition of a posh English accent anyone could have ever done. As much as he was frustrating he was also entertaining! At least so far, Hannah quite liked the people in Jordan’s life. Juliette would be well taken care of with a cluster of nice people and Hannah could put all her focus searching the world for her own whirlwind romance.
Hannah put aside all her fussing and attempts of convincing Felix to do fun things, spending the ride back to the Soon-to-be newly weds estate checking the messages on her phone only to pause for a delighted moment to show him a picture someone tagged her in on Instagram of the book signing, where he was now immortalized forever as a stony-faced statue.
She also made sure to message Dominic to let him know she’d be dressed and ready to go in an hour and a half.