Page 57 of Novel Problems

I resisted the urge to wrap my arms around George and beamed at her instead.

Her eyes dropped from my face to my body and lingered there for a moment. “My clothes look good onyou,” she murmured, sending my body humming with desire.Damnit.I hadn’t thought about how challenging working with George while dating her might be, when all I wanted to do was to jump back into bed and continue what we’d started last night.

Eager for a distraction, I offered to get Hugo ready for the day. However, as I switched him on, checked the water levels, and made sure the steam wands were working, I couldn’t help thinking about George. George had done so much for me, welcoming me into her café and friend group, giving up sleep to help me sign 841 books, inspiring me to write again, and now this. I wanted to do something to show her how grateful I was, to repay some of her kindness. But what?

In between helping George clean up after the carpenters left, serving customers once the café opened, and hoping that there was a slice of cherry pie left by the time I went on my lunch break, I spent the morning brainstorming ideas. In the early afternoon, a woman in her mid-seventies came in asking for fantasy recommendations for her teenage grandson. I leaped at the chance to assist and walked her to the fantasy section, where my eyes landed on a title by Chris Chen, and an idea hit me. Not only would the first book in Chris Chen’s series be perfect for her grandson, but Chris Chen themself could be the perfect thing for George…

I’d never met Chris, but they lived in New York, and we’d exchanged multiple emails, raving about each other’s work. They’d been very appreciative that I’d blurbed their book, which had come out recently, and I knew they were still in publicity mode for it, so perhaps they’d be willing to travel to Sapphire Springs to do an event at Novel Gossip. IfChris said yes, I’d have to deal with revealing my identity to yet another new person, but I was willing to push myself out of my comfort zone if it meant doing something nice for George. The first spare moment I had, I would email them.

GEORGE

“Shit!” I muttered under my breath as my foot caught a backpack lying on the floor near their chair, causing my heart to leap into my throat as I nearly lost balance. I steadied myself, apologized to the customer and started walking back to the kitchen.

Working with Hannah had been distracting before we’d gotten together. Now, with memories of last night swirling in my brain—Hannah topless on the countertop, arching her back in pleasure, Hannah’s warm, naked body pressed against mine on the bed and then waves of orgasm washing over me—it was even more difficult to keep my mind on work. I’d already given two customers the wrong coffee order and now I’d almost tripped over holding a stack of dirty plates due to a flashback of me caressing Hannah’s breasts. But while it worried me that my concerns our relationship might impact Novel Gossip may not have been completely unfounded, my feelings toward Hannah were far too strong for me to entertain any genuine doubts about us. Last night had been incredible and I had absolutely no regrets.

I glanced over at the newly installed floating wooden shelves and smiled. I also had no regrets about the shelves either, especially after seeing Hannah’s reaction to them.

I made it back to the kitchen unscathed and left thedirty plates in the counter. Romina and Shane were busy cooking, Romina’s face still set in a scowl. Now was definitely not a good time to talk to them about me and Hannah. I felt uncharacteristically nervous about how the team would react to the news. Not because we were a same-sex couple—I had no concerns about that. But they might be justifiably concerned our relationship could affect the team dynamics or feel it was inappropriate, given I was her boss. And some of the information that had persuaded me that I wasn’t overstepping an ethical boundary—such as Hannah being a best-selling novelist who didn’t actually need to work in a café—I couldn’t share with the team. With Josie on board and Hannah still working most days, my staffing issues finally seemed to have been resolved. I just hoped this news didn’t disrupt the team’s equilibrium.

There was a lull in customers mid-afternoon. Romina and Shane had finished prepping for tomorrow and were cleaning the kitchen. Thankfully, Romina’s mood had improved as the day wore on, so it seemed like an opportune time to call a team meeting to tell everyone about me and Hannah. Josie wasn’t working today, but I’d speak to her tomorrow. Hannah had already left. She’d offered to stay for the talk for moral support, but I got the strong impression she was dreading it, so I told her it was probably better she didn’t attend, as the rest of the team might feel more comfortable airing concerns or asking questions if she wasn’t there. The look of relief that splashed across her face when I said that convinced me I’d made the right decision.

Unlike Hannah, I was more in theripping the Band-Aid off quicklycamp when it came to difficult conversations, especially since becoming a small business owner. Often, if I didn’t act quickly to have that awkward conversation with a supplier or an employee about an issue, it could directlyimpact Novel Gossip, and I loved this place too much to risk that.

“Ben, do you mind coming into the kitchen for a moment?” My hands were clammy, despite the air conditioning.

Ben followed me into the kitchen, and I cleared my throat.

“So, there’s something I wanted to tell you,” I said.

Romina continued scrubbing the stovetop, but I didn’t take it personally. She liked to keep moving. Ben and Shane leaned back against one of the kitchen counters, Ben eyeing me with interest, Shane staring at his feet.

I took a deep breath. “Um, so I just wanted to let you know that Hannah and I have started dating. This won’t affect anything at work—we’ll keep it very professional—but I thought I should tell you all, given how fast gossip moves in this town. Does anyone have any questions?”

Romina, who’d moved on to wiping down the range-hood, snorted. “Is that it? You don’t think we noticed she was wearing your clothes this morning? And how the two of you have been gazing at each other since Hannah started?”

I chuckled uncomfortably, dismay that we’d apparently been so obvious mixing with amusement at Romina’s reaction. Trust Romina to tell it like it was. But at least she didn’t appear to have any objections.

I glanced over at Shane. His expression betrayed no emotion. He looked at his watch, clearly eager to finish his shift. I guessed it wasn’t surprising that a teenage boy wasn’t too concerned with ethical issues or interested in his boss’s love life. My gaze continued to Ben, who was smirking.

“Ben?”

“Well, all I can say is thank god, because it’s been, quite frankly, painful watching the two of you acting all googlyeyes over each other for the last two weeks without doing anything about it.”

I laughed, taking his feedback as a stamp of approval, and my shoulders relaxed. That hadn’t gone too badly at all. Any remaining concerns I had about the perceived power imbalance between me and Hannah evaporated.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

GEORGE

“I’ll just change out of my work clothes. Make yourself at home.”

Hannah hung her bag on a hook next to the front door and disappeared into a room on the left. We’d officially been dating for a week now and it was my first time inside Hannah’s house, so my curiosity was high. Holding the paper bag of takeout we’d picked up from Pok Pok on the way over here, I commenced some light snooping.Well, she did tell me to make myself at home…

I peered in the room opposite—a study.This must be where the magic happens.An antique wooden desk looked out over the cottage garden in the front yard, a laptop, notepad, and pen on top.

I still hadn’t quite come to terms with Hannah being my favorite author. Thinking about it brought onpinch me, this is kind of amazingfeelings mixed with a slight sense of unease. I’d shrugged it off, telling myself it’d take some time to get used to, especially since I knew Hannah only as Hannah, not H. M.Stuart, first.

A large bookcase covered the wall behind it. I wandered over, unable to resist examining its contents. Books about writing craft. Alotof fantasy books. But also an eclectic collection of other genres, from romance and thrillers to literary fiction and non-fiction books about gender theory and feminism. I smiled in approval.

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