“I think you look amazing,” I said. I glanced down at my watch. “And besides, we’re only going to be there for a few hours – how do you feel about dinner after?”
Hanna flushed. “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” she said, tossing her head and holding her chin high in the air. “I might decide I’m sick of you after an hour or two.”
I pretended to wince. “Of course,” I said, bowing deeply. “I understand. I am your slave.”
Hanna grinned and stepped closer, putting her hands on my face. “Good,” she said softly before leaning in and kissing me deeply. She moaned softly as she slipped her tongue into my mouth and I took her by the waist and pulled her body close to mine. Our kiss grew passionate and intense and I groaned as my cock twitched in my pants. Just as I was about to hike up Hanna’s skirt and take her right there in the hallway, Hanna pulled away and smirked at me.
“Down, boy,” she said, shaking her head and licking her lips. “We shouldn’t be late.”
I took Hanna’s hand and guided her down the stairs, watching the heart-shaped curve of her ass as she walked in front of me on the landings. On the street below, Nick was waiting with my car. I helped Hanna into the backseat, then climbed in after her.
“So, who is this family friend, anyway?”
“Richard Langdon was a friend of my father’s,” I said. “And my brothers.”
“You have a brother?”
“Two, actually,” I said, glancing out the window as we crawled down Manhattan street. When I turned back to Hanna, she was frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Hanna said. She bit her lip. “It’s just, wow. I can’t believe I didn’t know that about you – that’s like the most basic information there is. Why didn’t you tell me that night, you know – the night you ordered that massive amount of Indian food?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t think it was something you needed to know.” I cleared my throat. “Besides, I haven’t been in touch with them for a long time.”
Hanna reached over and touched my hand with hers. “Sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have tried prying like that – I know it’s not a good look on me. I just…” She trailed off, biting her lip. “I just want to know you, James,” she said softly.
“You’ll learn about them sooner or later,” I said darkly, thinking of Jeremy and Jordan. “But not tonight,” I added in a firm voice. “We’re going to have fun tonight, Hanna.”
“I hope so.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Should I be?” Hanna looked down at her bare legs. “Maybe I should’ve worn something more conservative.”
“You’re fine,” I told her as I squeezed her hand. “There are going to be so many people there, you won’t stand out at all.”
“Good,” Hanna said. But her voice was quiet and I heard a ripple of apprehension as Nick pulled up outside of the Boston Gallery of Fine Arts and stopped the car.
“Here we are,” I said. I handed Hanna her wrap and I pulled my scarf close around my neck.
“Wow, it’s really inside the museum?” Hanna stepped out of the car and blinked, shielding her eyes from the glaring bright lights with her hand. “I haven’t been here since I was in college.”
I chuckled. “I gotta be honest with you – I don’t think I’ve ever been inside…except for Langdon’s dumb parties.”
Hanna rolled her eyes. “You would say that,” she said. “We should go sometime,” she added. “I mean, assuming you like art. Do you?”
I shrugged. “I never really had time to find out…but I’d like anything with you,” I said.
Hanna looked pleased. “Good,” she said.
I led Hanna carefully up the steep marble steps and into the museum. As always, Langdon’s planners had outdone themselves. Hanna was practically gasping at the giant Christmas trees, lit with real candles and draped with foil. I couldn’t help staring for a few seconds, myself. I wasn’t the most festive (or religious) man in the world, but something about Christmas had always seemed magical to me.
“This is so beautiful,” Hanna said, leaning close and whispering in my ear. “I can’t believe it – it looks like something from a movie.”
A waiter dressed in an elf costume passed with a tray of champagne flutes and I lifted two from the tray, handing one to Hanna.
“To Christmas,” I said. “Pity it’s not in Jamaica again.”
Hanna flushed. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, I felt a hand at my elbow.
“You made it!”
Turning around, I saw Harry standing there. He grinned.
“Harry, this is Hanna,” I said, putting my hand in the small of Hanna’s back and guiding her forward. She smiled apprehensively.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Harry said. He raised an eyebrow and stepped closer. “And hey, some of it was even good!”
“He’s kidding,” I said quickly. “Don’t worry.”
Hanna flashed me a big smile. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said to Harry. “I’ve heard some things about you, too.”
Harry smirked. “Just as lovely as you painted her, James,” he said. “Pity it took so long to meet.”
Inwardly, I cringed. The evening was already making me uncomfortable, and we hadn’t even put our coats in the check room yet. I began to wonder if perhaps taking Hanna here hadn’t been the biggest mistake of my life.
Hanna and Harry were making small talk as I frantically glanced around for the coat check room. By the time I turned back to them, they were both laughing, although Hanna looked slightly embarrassed.
“Let me take your wrap,” I told Hanna. “And I’ll bring you another drink.”
Hanna laughed nervously. “James, you’re not getting me drunk,” she said sternly, holding up her champagne flute. “Let me finish this one first.”
“Yeah, buddy,” Harry said, giving me a look from behind Hanna’s back. “Don’t be a dick to the lady.”
I rolled my eyes. “Enough,” I said, shaking my head. To Hanna, I said: “I’ll be right back. I’m just going to find the coat check.”
Hanna nodded. I could tell she wasn’t thrilled about being alone with Harry, but she smiled. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll be here.”
I pushed my way through the crowd until I found the coat check. There was a huge line, and I groaned as I stepped towards the back.
“James!”
My head snapped up and I saw Richard Langdon himself, making his way through the crowd.
“Hey, Richard,” I said with a smile. I held out my hand to shake but Richard pushed it aside and pulled me into a hug. “How the hell are you?”
Richard nodded. “Doing very well,” he said. “Glad to see you’re doing the same, eh? I heard you brought a girl here.”
“I did,” I said. “Hanna. You can meet her after this line,” I said, stretching to my tiptoes and looking around the room. To my relief, Harry and Hanna were still standing right where I’d left them.
“Good,” Richard said. He shook his head. “I need a little cheering up.”
The line moved forward a few inches and I frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Richard sighed. “Nothing worth concerning you over,” he said. “But James, you get it – hell, you spent an entire goddamned year in London, sorting out Magnate!”