Page 18 of Claim to Fame

“What’s the difference?” Hannah asked.

“Haven’t a clue. But Jamie is very particular about his produce.” Tessa smiled, but it seemed hesitant. “And I’m afraid there’s been a small change of plans.”

“Oh?”

“We live in a very small cottage and our daughter doesn’t like to sleep through the night,” Tessa said with an uncomfortable chuckle.

Oh.I’m being sent away.

That was fast.

“Okay, sure,” Hannah said, nodding as her mind unspooled. Why couldn’t they have told her this before she drove four hours from New York? “It was a lot to ask. I’ll see if my driver is still here and I—”

“No, no, I’m explaining this poorly. You can stay. We want you to stay. You just won’t be staying with us.”

“Who will I be staying with then?” It was bad enough to stay with people she’d never met, but at least they were relatives of her friends. That almost made them her friends, through the transitive property or something.

“My father lives on the other side of the vineyard and has a lovely guest room. I should know—I’ve stayed there many times myself,” Tessa said.

“Your father?”

“I promise he doesn’t bite and you’ll be perfectly safe. I’m sure Daemon and Liv would agree if you want to check in with them. Honestly, you staying with him would be doingmea favor because I wouldn’t worry so much about whether or not he’s feeding himself,” Tessa said. “I know it’s not what you were expecting, but I really think you’ll have a much better time and sleep so much more soundly if you stay with him. I can take you back and introduce you before you decide.”

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. It wasn’t what she’d planned, but it was only temporary. And her friends’ parents had always loved her growing up. This would be like that. She shook out her hands, as if she could shake off the anxiety slowly simmering inside her.

It can’t be worse than paparazzi climbing the fire escape.

Tessa led Hannah down the hallway past even more black and white family photos and glass doors offering glimpses of rooms filled with artfully displayed bottles of wine. At the end of the hall, the only solid wood door in the place stood slightly ajar. Tessa pushed it open, sauntering into the large office space. Like the lobby, it was decorated in dark hardwood and leather with an entire wall of windows overlooking the vineyard.

“Hey, T. When did you get here?”

Ethan’s familiar voice crashed into Hannah, bringing her up short as her eyes caught a glimpse of the man in question through the partially open door. She froze where she stood in the hallway, drinking in the sight of him—strong forearms beneath the neatly rolled sleeves of his shirt, the beard she’d become intimately acquainted with only a few days before—

“Just now.” Tessa gestured towards the doorway where Hannah stood. “It’s alright. You can come in.”

For a moment, Hannah considered turning around and running, begging Micah to send the car service back to pick her up, locking herself in her apartment and ignoring the photographers with their incessant phone calls and pounding on her door. She’d thank Daemon and Liv but tell them she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t stay here. Not when Ethan was standing right there looking at her like he’d seen a ghost—

But she didn’t have anywhere else to go.

She took a deep breath and stepped into the office.

“Hannah?” Ethan’s forehead creased, his brows drawing together, and he moved towards Hannah with alarming speed and a confused sort of half-smile. “What are you doing here?”

“You know each other?” Tessa asked.

His eyes flicked back towards Tessa, his lips pressed together. “We’re acquainted.”

“What areyoudoing here?” Hannah asked, the panic she’d barely contained stirring and stretching in her chest.

His eyes crinkled and his lips spread into a smile, disarming and questioning, and she wasn’t sure if she should kiss him or run.

Run. Definitely run.

Or kiss him.

Maybe kiss him?

“I live here. This is my vineyard,” Ethan said, looking at her like she should have known that crucial piece of information.

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