“Mr. Brennan, good evening.”
“How are you, Maggie?” Jeff smiled at the hostess.
“Fine, sir. I’ve set aside the customary table.”
“Thank you. Maggie. This is my friend Hannah Moore.”
“Miss Moore.” Maggie extended her hand. “Is this your first visit here?”
“Mine? Yes.” Hannah gave Jeff a pointed look that inspired his grin. “Whereas my family has been coming here for years,” he cut in. “Grandma grew up in Olean and she and Grandpa liked to bring us here for special occasions. Birthdays. Holidays. Family reunions.”
“And your grandmother is well?” Maggie asked as she led them to a quiet table.
“Quite well. And your family?”
“All fine.” She waited as Jeff held out Hannah’s chair. When Jeff took the spot alongside Hannah, she sent him a relaxed grin. “And I know business is booming for Walker Electronics. I read the feature article in last Sunday’s Herald, but I’m glad to see you get away from your desk now and again.”
“This coming from a woman who works every holiday known to man,” Jeff quipped back.
Maggie acknowledged that with a wry smile. “Too true. Family businesses are nothing to be taken lightly. But a nice heritage, all in all.”
“It is.”
Was it? Hannah wondered. The thought of Maggie working every holiday, the rush of business on weekends… There was no such thing as a weekend off in the restaurant business, but Maggie’s words said something else.
She saw the work, the dedication and the diligence as part of her heritage, and that put a new slant on Jeff Brennan’s ambitions. Inheriting a family business would come with no small level of responsibility, and that made working his way up the ladder of success more amenable.
A college-age waiter approached them for their drink orders. Jeff sat back, letting Hannah take the lead. “Do you serve lattes?”
The young man nodded. “Flavored?”
All the better. Hannah smiled. “Yes, please. Caramel?”
“Of course. And you, sir?”
Hannah leaned closer. “Someone who doesn’t know you. Must not be part of the family.”
Jeff smiled, grasped her hand and squeezed before answering the waiter. “Regular coffee, please. And I think we’re going to forgo appetizers tonight because the young lady mentioned a hankering for dessert later.”
“Or now.” When Jeff turned her way, she quipped, “Life’s short. Eat dessert first.”
“Whatever you’d like, Hannah.”
His easy words melted another corner of her taut heart. Something in his comfortable gaze, his winning manner, his gentle touch reminded her this wasn’t Brian.
And then he withdrew a vibrating cell phone from his pocket, negating the little glimmer of reassurance she’d grabbed. He scanned the phone, let the call go to voice mail and turned the phone off.
Now she felt guilty. What if the plant needed him? What if some very important person had to wait to talk to Jeff and then called another supplier instead? She reached a hand toward the phone. “You can keep it on.”
Jeff swept her and the phone a look before slipping it into his jacket pocket. “Why?”
“In case something important happens.”
“Then they’ll leave a message and I can check it later. And the plant manager has Grandma’s numbers, as well. And Trent’s. We’re covered.”
“But Trent is out of town.”
Jeff nodded slowly. “Yes.”
“And what if your grandmother falls asleep or something?”
“Then she’ll awake to the same message I find later. What’s this all about, Hannah?”
She frowned, not sure herself. “I just don’t want you to think you can’t work if you need to.”
“Well. Thanks. I think. What if I’d rather spend the evening talking with you?” He leaned back but kept her fingers loosely in his. “Getting to know you? Teasing you?”
“I’m not interrupting something important?”
He eased forward, lamplight softening the strong planes of his face. “Hannah, you are something important. For tonight, everybody else goes on hold. Not you.”
By the time they got to dessert, Hannah realized she shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions about Jeff Brennan, and that he might be just about the nicest guy she’d ever met, which might make holding to that just-one-date scenario a little tricky. Or downright impossible.
He’d wanted to get to know her better tonight.
He had, somewhat, but her reaction in the car on the way to Olean had cautioned him to hold off. Take his time. And since taking time with Hannah wasn’t exactly a hardship, Jeff was okay with that for now.
He pulled into the driveway of her apartment house, switched off the engine and rounded the car to walk her to the door.
“I had a great time tonight.” She withdrew her keys from her bag and smiled up at him. “Although that crème brûlée was probably an indulgence that will push me to an extra two miles of running tomorrow.”
Jeff laughed. “This from the lady who doesn’t have a training regimen.”
“It’s not a regimen. It’s…common sense.”
“Uh-huh.” He stopped talking, letting his eyes wander her face, her eyes, her mouth. Settling there, wondering what it would be like to kiss Hannah, then deciding that wondering wasn’t enough.
Her gaze flicked up to his, and he saw his question reflected in her pretty blue eyes. “Hannah.”
Her answering expression offered silent permission. Jeff lowered his head, his hands gently grasping her shoulders, the nubby feel of her tweed wool coat a kiss of fall while Jeff lingered over a different kind of kiss.
Sweet. Soft. Warm.
The adjectives that filled his mind softened his heart; his worries about work, time and Matt disappeared in the wonder of kissing Hannah. And when he stopped, he didn’t pull away, couldn’t pull away. He embraced her in a hug, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other arm wrapped around her, glad they’d taken this step.
She dropped her forehead to his chest, then eased back. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”
“It was fun. And the kiss speaks for itself, I hope.”
Her blush said it did.
Jeff straightened his shoulders and tweaked her nose. “Can we plan the next date now, or do you have to put me through the wringer again?”
She thought a moment, then arched a brow. “Church in the morning?”
He ahemmed out loud, daring her to smile.
She did.
“Big step.”
“I’m feeling braver by the minute.”
“I see that.”
When he took a few seconds too long, she stepped back, lifting her left shoulder in a light shrug. “Sorry. It’s one of my litmus tests and you just failed.”
He gripped her shoulder, not allowing the retreat. “I wasn’t hesitating on saying yes or no. But which one? Yours or mine?”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.”
“Mine,” she declared, sure and certain. “You’re the guy, you’re supposed to go the distance. And Reverend Baxter is a sweetheart.”
“And Reverend Hannity isn’t?”
“Since they’re related, the point is moot. And I’m second-guessing the invitation in any case.”
“Rude, Hannah. No take-backs allowed.”
“Who’s making these rules?”
“We are.” He leaned forward, wanting to kiss her again, knowing he’d best refrain.
“So you’re in?”
“Their service starts at ten?” At her nod he winked and gave her hand a light squeeze. “I’ll be here at nine-thirty. Be prepared.”
She frowned, confused. “For?”
“The talk and speculation. A marriageable man and woman walking into church together in a small town, well…” He let the twinkle in his eyes say the rest.
Her composure wavered. Her expression stilled. “I didn’t consider that.”
He shrugged. “No big deal.”
Maybe not to him, but it was huge to her. Hannah stepped back. “No, it is a big deal. If I’d been thinking clearly I’d never have suggested it.”
He’d been edging toward the step, but now he moved forward again. “Are you afraid to be seen with me, Han?”
The nickname almost pierced her armor. No one besides her Grandma Grady called her “Han.” Until now. “It’s not smart. Not at this stage of the game.”
“I don’t play games.”
Um, right.
Maybe guys like Jeff and Brian finagled so often, they didn’t see it as game playing, but Hannah refused to be maneuvered ever again. She took a firm step back. “I had fun tonight. A lot of fun,” she admitted. She glanced left, then down, bit her lip and drew her gaze back to his. “But remember what I told you? I don’t take chances. I don’t guess the sure thing because it doesn’t really exist. Maybe we can go out again sometime, but maybe we should just smile and nod, say we had fun, part ways and leave it at that.”
His expression shadowed. A hint of reluctance darkened his eyes. But then he squeezed her shoulder lightly, nodded and stepped away. “You’re probably right. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Hannah. I had a great time.”
“Me, too.”
She let herself into her small apartment. The neighborhood was silent in the cool fall night.
Her phone blinked a welcome as she crossed the room. She lifted it, pressed the code for her voice mail and smiled when she heard her younger brother’s voice. “It’s a girl! We named her Caitlyn Jean, for Mom, of course. She weighs seven pounds, two ounces, she’s twenty inches long and Leah says to tell you she looks like you, which is perfect because we’d like you to be her godmother. Are you available in late November for a baptism?”
Hannah glanced at the time, decided congratulations would have to wait until morning, then slipped into the big easy chair she’d found at a moving sale up Route Nineteen.
Tears stung from nowhere, part joy for Nick and Leah’s news, part pity party, wondering why she’d just turned away from the nicest thing that had happened to her in years. Was she totally crazy or just a little unsure of herself?
She didn’t know anymore.
Going to church with Jeff wasn’t earth-shattering. It would be nice. Typical.
Had she contained herself so long she’d forgotten that ordinary, customary things weren’t out of the norm? Perhaps.
Time to change that. She swiped her hands over her cheeks and headed for the bedroom.
She’d told Jeff no in no uncertain terms, but a woman’s prerogative was to change her mind. To that end…
She’d go to services at Good Shepherd tomorrow. Reverend Baxter would totally understand since Reverend Hannity was his father-in-law.
Now the big question would be what to wear since she’d already worn the blue…
With work demands pressuring him, Jeff almost didn’t make the longer drive to Jamison when Wellsville churches were more convenient.
But he loved Reverend Hannity’s homilies, so he’d cruised up Route Nineteen, figuring he’d make up time later.
He was glad he did when Hannah slipped into the worn chestnut pew next to him wearing a fall floral dress shot with bronzed thread that sparked light when she moved; her thin ivory sweater a tribute to the cool fall morning.
He edged closer, facing forward, part of him wondering if this was a good idea while another part warned him not to blow it. “You caved.”
She nodded, thumbing through the prayer book, her face serene. “I did.”
“And you admit it.” He colored his whispered tone with surprise, pleased when her lips quirked up in a smile. “That’s a big step forward.”
She turned and looked up at him, right at him, her gaze making him feel ten feet tall and hideously unprepared, an odd pairing. But then, he’d already figured out that Hannah was no ordinary woman. Soft, lilting notes of a flute stopped her comeback, the gentle call to worship commanding in simplicity.
He’d have to work to concentrate this morning. He’d figured that out the minute she took the seat alongside him. His urge to shelter and protect elevated to “high” in her presence.
Why was that? He snuck a glance left and sighed quietly, noting the dip of her chin, the sweep of dark lashes, the soft, slow blink she did when lost in thought.
It didn’t matter why. They were in the getting-to-know-you stage, except he knew next to nothing about Hannah while she’d learned a great deal about him.
But did she? his conscience scolded. Did she discover anything of substance, or just the face you want the world to see? The strong, successful good guy who’s nothing like his father.
Except you are. And you know it.
Jeff shoved the admonition aside. He wasn’t like his father, despite the mirror image. He’d worked strenuously to prove that, day by day.
And he’d keep doing it, making sure the world understood that Neal Brennan had passed on nothing more than a last name.
Well, there is that little wrinkle of an illegitimate half brother back in town.
Jeff fumbled with the songbook as the congregation stood, trying to put thoughts of his father aside, but Matt’s presence in the area made that harder to do.
A light, chill rain started midservice, the steady sound drumming on the church’s roof. “Did you walk?” Jeff asked when the service had concluded.
Hannah tugged her sweater closer. “Yes, but it’s not really cold. I’m fine.”
He sent her an “are ya serious?” look before pushing open the back door of the old church. Reverend Hannity stood on the broad top step, only partially covered by the overhang. He greeted people with one hand clutching an umbrella. Jeff cast the umbrella a wry look. “Change is in the air, it seems.”
“In many ways.” The reverend swept the pair a smile.
Hannah’s shoulders tightened.
Jeff defused her reaction with a light shoulder nudge. “I was referring to the weather.”
The reverend’s smile deepened. “Duly noted, of course. My vantage point on the altar allows me greater perspective so I find myself aware of subtle change before the majority of people. But sitting in church together? That’s like putting your new friendship on the JumboTron at a football game.”
“Speaking of which, there is a four o’clock game today and I’ve got work to do if I want to catch it.” Jeff raised his hand, indicating his watch. “Have a good day, Reverend.”
Reverend Hannity reached out and grasped Hannah’s hand, his expression intent. “While I don’t have the youthful verve and vigor of my son-in-law across the way—” he angled his head toward Holy Name where his daughter and son-in-law served “—I’ve got age on my side. Wisdom. And a wife who makes great cookies. Thanks for coming over, Miss Moore.”
His sincerity softened the set of her shoulders. She smiled, a small dimple flashing in her right cheek. “My pleasure, Reverend. You won’t tell, will you?”
He grinned. “Oh, I will. I’ll brag it to the heavens to keep that son-in-law of mine humble. And if my team wins today? All the more reason to crow.”
“The stadium will be washed in red, white and blue this afternoon. You’re not going to the game?”
The reverend shook his head. “I go once a season as a gift from my wife. Stadium crowds get rowdy and I can jump up and shake my fist at the TV screen in the rectory with no fear of knocking over someone’s soda. Other than my own.”
“And the living room is climate controlled. Definitely a plus as the weather turns.” She smiled up at him and Jeff watched the pastor’s smile bloom.
“Never a bad thing at my age. You folks have a nice day, okay?” The hint of blessing in his tone reflected the gentle look in his eye as he released Hannah’s hand.
“We will.” Hannah started toward the parking lot. “You, too.”
“See you on Tuesday night, Reverend. We’ve got that council meeting at seven, right?”
&nb
sp; “I’ll be there.”
“Good. Between you and me maybe we can keep Hank’s subdivision off the auction block.”
The reverend frowned. “I don’t think that’s possible, but I’ve been praying for a good outcome all around. Sometimes the worst wrongs produce wondrous good.”
Christ’s life epitomized the saying. Jeff nodded. “I can’t argue that. See you then.” He loped down the stairs and across the lot until he caught up with Hannah. “You know football?”
“I have a father, a stepfather and a brother. It was inevitable.”
He grinned, grabbed her arm and headed toward his car. “Hop in. I’ll drive you home.”
“It’s a five-minute walk and the rain’s letting up.”
“It’s cold and you’re only wearing a sweater. In.” Before she could set her face in what he was coming to recognize as pure stubbornness, he bent a smidge lower and met her gaze. “Please?”
The please did it. She smiled, rolled her eyes and climbed in, but she was pleased he insisted. It showed in the curve of her jaw, the twinkle in her eye. “Breakfast? My treat.”
Like he was about to let her buy him food on the slim paychecks she brought in from two low-end jobs. Right. In any case…
He grimaced, reluctant. “I can’t. We’ve got a final bid due tomorrow and I’ve got to number crunch today, make sure I’m on target. And then there’s a second one due on Tuesday. Trent’s due back then, but not soon enough to shoulder any of this.”
“Of course.”
“Normally it wouldn’t be a problem,” he began, then wondered why he felt the need to explain. Could it be because she’d edged away the moment he cited his work schedule? That she’d taken a dislike to his responsibilities?
With military contracts, time equaled money and sometimes lives. Jeff took both seriously, knowing the future of Walker Electronics and Allegany County loomed brighter with the continued partnership with the armed forces. Trent’s vision had become the new normal, and Jeff couldn’t let anything interfere with that. Too many people depended on them for paychecks, benefits, opportunities for advancement. Not to mention the soldiers in the field, manning front lines, whose communications capabilities might mean life or death.
Mended Hearts Page 8