by Ana Jolene
“And crazy parents,” Maison chimed. Holding Hutch’s gaze, she threw the shot back and wished her mother could see her now. Laughing, drinking, and for once, having fun.
Hutch checked his watch. Normally, he wouldn’t care about hanging out late at a bar, but they still had work bright and early in the morning and Maison looked like she’d had enough to drink.
The alcohol had loosened her up and they’d ended up talking for hours, laughing and spilling secrets. As much as he loved it, it was probably best to head back home. There was no doubt Maison had drunk more than she was used to and he worried that her hangover would be a bad one if he didn’t get her home now.
He quickly paid for their drinks and gently guided her into his car.
“I had fun tonight,” Maison said as she buckled in. “Best night I had in a while actually.”
“Glad to hear that.” He’d enjoyed himself too. After tonight, he felt like he knew her better now. After making sure her seatbelt was on securely, he closed the door and jogged to the driver’s side. “Are you okay?” he asked once he was settled. Maison nodded, her glassy eyes focused on the area before her. “Worth the trouble?” he teased.
Her gorgeous light eyes flashed with mirth. “You’re not really trouble, you know.”
“I’m not?” He started the car and pulled onto the road.
“No, I just said that to convince myself that you’re not the man for me. But you’ve never actually done anything to me that’s bad.”
“Not even when I tried to kiss you in front of all our co-workers?”
Maison laughed. “No. Not even then.”
Good. He’d hate if she’d regretted their first kiss.
For a few minutes, they sat together in simple silence, enjoying the ride and each other’s company. But then Maison turned to him, her gaze expectant. “How many girls have you kissed?”
The question was so unexpected he felt completely off guard. “Uh. Quite a few,” Hutch answered honestly. He glanced over at her to gage her expression. He hoped that that wouldn’t upset her.
Her brows knitted together but she didn’t seem too angry about it. When they finally reached her house, Hutch walked her to the door. “You sure you’re going to be okay?” he asked once they stood at the steps.
“Yes. I’ll be fine.”
As he smiled down at her, he couldn’t help but think about kissing her. But he fought off the urge to do so. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said instead. Grabbing a hold of her hand, he brought it to his lips.
He wasn’t trying to tease or torture her; he just wanted to make sure she didn’t have another one of those freak-out moments when he kissed her again.
The next time he kissed her, Hutch was going to make sure she loved it. And so with a simple goodnight, he slid into his car and forced himself to drive home.
EIGHTEEN
Why does my head feel like someone used it to smash a walnut?
As the world slowly came into focus around her, Maison’s second thought was of Hutch. Normally thinking of the sexy man was enough to get her all riled up, but instead of feeling better, she felt worse.
“Oh God, what happened last night?” Groaning, she realized she was still dressed in her clothes from the night before. A few buttons of her blouse were undone but thankfully her pants were still on. She was glad that the drinks she’d had hadn’t suddenly turned her into a hussy and made her jump Hutch on her front porch. God, she wasn’t sure what she’d do to herself if she had drunk sex with him.
But usually kisses preluded the action down below and as the night came back to her in pieces, she recalled the way Hutch pulled back from her. Why hadn’t he wanted to kiss her? Was he afraid she’d make a run for it again if he tried?
God, she was really regretting having all those shots now. But the night had been so fun for her that she really would do it all over again if given the chance. Groaning, Maison pushed herself up into a sitting position.
“Shit!” One look at the clock and she realized that she was already late for work! Why hadn’t she heard her alarm? And then she remembered it was because she’d forgotten to set her alarm in the first place! Fumbling for her phone, she called Matthew to let him know she would be running late this morning.
“Good morning, Maison,” Matthew drawled when he picked up. “How are you feeling?”
Maison paused. He was unusually cheery this morning. “I’m sorry, but I’m running a little late today.”
“Don’t worry. Take your time. I’ll see you when you get in.”
“Okay.” He hung up without another word. What the hell? Why was Matthew in such a good mood?
Whatever. She had to get a move on and haul ass if she wanted to make it in before it was lunch. But that proved more difficult than she anticipated. Her movements were sluggish as she grabbed her towel and a change of clothes for her shower. It also didn’t help that her head was pounding ruthlessly at her temples. Hmm. What were the chances that someone would find her in her home if she passed out in the shower?
Grumbling, Maison started the water, turning it all the way until it was freezing. A cold shower was just what she needed to wake herself up.
She started with washing her hair before reaching for the bar of soap. It slipped out of her hands before she could get a good grip on it and it fell to the ground. “Goddammit.” Bending down to retrieve it, she promptly lost her balance as her foot slipped out from underneath her. Her head slapped hard enough on the ground that her teeth clattered.
Ugh! This was why she didn’t drink. It stopped her from being productive and she didn’t like having to make excuses for herself. “I’m never drinking again,” she vowed. Even if that meant saying no to Hutch.
Hutch spent the morning in his father’s office. When Maison didn’t show up in the morning, he had explained to his father that he’d apologized to Maison last night and took her out for a few drinks. He expected a lecture from his father on how to treat women more delicately, but instead he surprised him by shooting him a cocked grin. “It’s about time she let herself have some fun.”
Hutch blinked. “Wait a minute. You’re not mad?”
“I was upset at first,” he admitted. “But I realize that if you don’t push Maison out of her comfort zone a little bit, she’ll happily stay within her shell forever.”
Yeah, the drinks last night had definitely brought her out some more. “I think she may be regretting it now though.”
“Why? How much did she have to drink?”
“About the same amount as me.”
Matthew’s eyes went wide. “Hutch!”
“Yeah,” he agreed with sympathy. He hoped she wouldn’t hate him all over again.
“Let’s hope she’s brought some aspirin with her when she gets here.”
“I brought some for her.” He’d actually gone and made his own homemade hangover cure. Hopefully it would ease her a little bit.
A half hour later, Maison finally arrived at the office. For someone who was suffering from a hangover, she sure looked beautiful.
Her hair was still a little bit damp and was pinned back away from her face in a high ponytail. She also didn’t have a stitch of makeup on. She’d chosen a flowy blouse in a sweet blush color and a tight beige pencil skirt that showed off her curvaceous figure. While he presumed she’d gotten ready in a rush, she still looked as polished as ever.
“I’m here, I’m here,” she called out as she reached her desk. She had her purse in one hand and her planner in the other.
“Get in here,” Matthew called out.
“I’m so sorry, sir—” she started but his father lifted his hand up, effectively silencing her.
“How are you feeling?” he asked her.
Surprise seemed to hit her like a brick because Maison stood there, adorably confused. He moved forward, offering the hot cup of coffee he’d gotten for her.
She frowned at him. “What is it?”
“It’s coffee. You know what coff
ee is, right?”
Matthew gave a chuckle behind his desk.
“Yeah, I know what coffee is,” she growled irritably but she did take the mug from him. Hutch suppressed a snicker. Yup, she was definitely hung over.
“Drink it all. It’ll help. Trust me.” In his other hand, he held out a bottle of aspirin. “This will help too.”
“Go on, take it,” Matthew encouraged. “I need you functioning for our meeting later.”
Hutch groaned. “Why do we need to have another meeting?” It seemed like every day they had one.
“We have some important stuff we need to discuss.”
“Really?” Because in all the meetings he’d been to so far, the majority of the time people were staring down at their phones or their laptop screens. The only person talking was Matthew, with the occasional pitches from Clive or someone else.
His father pinned him with a look. “Yes, really. And I expect the both of you to be present for it, understand?”
Hutch scowled. “Fine. Come on,” he said to Maison. “You need some food.”
“But I just—”
Matthew spoke over her. “Go with him,” he said. “I doubt you had breakfast yet, am I right?”
She nodded.
“Then I’m sure your work can wait a few more minutes while you get some food into you.”
Wow, even Hutch seemed surprised by his father’s kindness. “Come on, let’s go.” He couldn’t help but smile when she slipped her hand into his and followed him out the door.
NINETEEN
Together, they went down and walked across the street to the breakfast place that a lot of their co-workers frequented. But instead of letting Maison choose what she wanted, Hutch ordered for her. He knew she’d likely choose something small because of her diet, and after the night they had together, she needed something a little more substantial than toast or yogurt.
“Is it just me or has your dad been acting weird lately?” she asked as they settled at a table.
“Weird?” he echoed.
“Yeah, he’s in a good mood.”
“Yeah.” He’d noticed that too. “I don’t know what’s changed for him but he does seem less angry.”
“How are things at home?”
“Good actually, now that you mention it. We haven’t been fighting much.”
“Wow, that’s great.”
“Yeah,” he agreed.
Maison shot him a small smile. “Hey, I’m sorry about last night.”
“What do you have to be sorry for?” Did she regret it again?
“I’m sorry for the way I acted. I don’t really drink that much.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” he said with a sly grin. “But you don’t need to apologize. I had a great time last night.” He leaned in, brushing his fingers across her cheek. “Besides, I liked taking care of you.”
That beautiful blush returned. “You were really nice.”
“Nice.” He gave a laugh and sat back in his chair. “I don’t get called nice very often.”
“You are. Not many men would’ve walked away when you did.”
He arched a brow at her. “So you’re glad I didn’t kiss you?”
“I don’t know. At first I was disappointed,” she admitted. “But at the same time, I think I like it more that you didn’t.”
“And why is that?”
“It shows you care about me.” A small smile accompanied her words. Fuck, she was cute when she blushed like that.
“I do.” He brushed his thumb against her cheek again. “I care a hell of a lot.”
When she flushed even more, Hutch chuckled and pulled away.
That was when their food arrived and Hutch watched happily as Maison dug in. “Ugh. I can’t eat anymore,” she said when she’d finished half her meal. “I’m already way off my diet restrictions.”
“I still don’t understand why you’re on a diet. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with your body.”
“You’re just saying that to be nice.”
“I’m not. I promise you. From what I’ve seen of your body, I love it. So finish that plate up.”
Grinning, Maison stabbed a hash brown with her fork and brought it to her mouth. “You’re cute when you’re bossy like that.”
He grinned right back. “After finishing that, I want you to drink this bottle of water. It’ll help rehydrate.”
Her lips curled into a smile. “Sounds like you’ve had a lot of experience with hangovers.”
“Oh yeah. Lots.”
“I wish I could go home,” she admitted. “Lying in bed sounds good right about now.” Immediately, images of Maison lying on white sheets flashed through his mind and Hutch grew painfully hard.
“Why don’t you just take the day off?”
Maison shook her head. “I can’t. We have the meeting later on, remember?”
“Screw the meeting! We’re all just going to be packed into the room like sardines, listening to Matthew talk. When was the last time you took a sick day anyway?”
“I haven’t.”
“Ever?”
“Nope,” she said with pride. “Not once since I started working for the company.”
“That’s insane! How does Matthew expect you to work those kind of hours?”
“Actually, he’s always telling me to take some days off. But I decline.”
“Why?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t really have any places I want to go and I know no one would go with me anyway. I hate traveling alone. Trust me, it’s not worth it. So I just continue to work.”
Hutch remembered what his father had said to him earlier about Maison. If you don’t push Maison out of her comfort zone a little bit, she’ll happily stay within her shell forever.
“You know what I think you need?”
“What?”
“You need an adventure.”
“An adventure?”
“Yes, you just need to take off and do something spontaneous.”
“Like what?”
“Anything. Go hiking or take a road trip.”
Maison scrunched her face together. “That doesn’t scream ‘fun’ to me.”
“Okay, then. I have something else in mind. Let’s go.”
“Wait! I have to pay for my meal.”
“Already got you covered.” He’d paid for them both while ordering.
“Hutch!”
“Don’t worry about it, you can get the next one.”
“There’s going to be a next one?”
“Oh yeah.” Hutch took her hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
Maison had absolutely no idea where Hutch was taking her, but she had to admit, she was enjoying his spontaneity. She wasn’t much for going with the flow so already she could feel her heart racing in her chest.
He’d quickly led her to his car, instructing her to get in. As Maison put on her seatbelt, she couldn’t help but wonder what Hutch was thinking. “So where are we going?”
Reversing from the parking lot, Hutch let the roof down, allowing the sun to pour in and the wind to blow tendrils of her hair free from its ponytail. She didn’t have her sunglasses because they were still in her purse, so Hutch offered to let her use an extra pair he kept in his glove compartment. “They look good on you,” he said when she examined herself in the side mirror.
“You think?” She hardly recognized the woman staring back at her. Her hair was frizzy and flapping in the wind. And although she was still a little hung over, she’d never seen herself happier.
It wasn’t long before Hutch started slowing down. He stopped behind a truck surrounded by kids. “We’re getting ice cream?”
“What, you don’t like ice cream?”
Oh, she did. It was one of the reasons why she had to go on a diet in the first place. “I do but I don’t think I should have some.”
Ignoring her, Hutch opened her door and led her towards the truck. “Which one do you want? I think I’m going for the Choco Taco.”
“You’ve never had a Choco Taco?”
She shook her head. “It looks like a taco but it’s actually made of waffle cone, vanilla ice cream, peanuts, fudge, and chocolate.”
Wow. Her mouth was watering at his description. “Sounds delicious.”
“It is. Do you want that one too?”
Oh, why the hell not? She’d already fallen off the tracks with her diet with that breakfast. Might as well make today a cheat day. “Yes, please.”
“Good. Wait here.” The smile he shot her made it seem like she’d agreed to another date with him.
She watched as Hutch walked up to the truck. Surrounded by kids, his height made him tower over them and she chuckled to herself as one kid tugged on his pants and held out his hand. For a beat, Hutch stared down at the kid in confusion before the kid said, “Don’t leave me hanging!”
“Oh!” He gave the kid a high five and Maison laughed again.
When he returned, Hutch was grinning from ear to ear, looking just as excited for the ice cream as all the children surrounding them were. “Come on, let’s go back to the car.”
As they settled back into the car, Maison thought they were going to eat there, but Hutch turned on the engine. “Too many kids,” he said by way of explanation.
A minute later, they stopped on a smaller road away from traffic and people. “What is this place?” she asked.
Hutch grinned and waggled his brows at her. “It’s my secret spot.”
It was beautiful, and despite living here for years, Maison had never encountered a place like this. Trees surrounded them, giving them some privacy, but they actually weren’t so far away from everyone else because she could hear the kids shouting and playing.
“Hey, don’t forget about your ice cream,” Hutch said. “It’ll melt.”
“Oh yeah.” After peeling the packaging off, she took her first bite and groaned as the sweetness touched her tongue. It had been a long time since she allowed herself a treat like this. Similarly, she never allowed this much freedom in her life before either. If it weren’t for Hutch, she’d never find herself in this position.