books a million

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[hazel-winters-blog]

Harrison repeats that all is fine just as Hazel sputters out,

“Wait. You’re saying you tried to fight Harrison? Awww, Daniel…. I can’t believe it. That’s really sweet. Not fighting Harrison but trying to protect Jane. Aww.”

[grumpy-dan]

Daniel could feel heat raising to his face when Hazel found out.  “Yeah.  I mean I wouldn’t do it now that I know who Harrison is.  But I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.  And I know you don’t want me going off at customers but I thought that would be an exception to the rule.”  

He kind of ducked his head slightly, he wasn’t good with the spotlight but especially didn’t want it on him and his violent ways.  He was still worried that Hazel might be mad that he almost fought her - husband? boyfriend? He didn’t exactly know what Harrison’s relationship was but he did know that he was a lucky man to have Hazel.

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[graywarenwritings-blog]

Harrison gives a good natured laugh and shakes baby Jane’s small fist. “You shouldn’t be sorry. I’m really glad these two have someone looking after them so well.”

[grumpy-dan]

Dan had to admit he was relieved that Harrison didn’t seem to hold it against him. “Still, it’s not a very good first impression and I am sorry about that.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[hazel-winters-blog]

The sudden pinkness of Daniel’s cheeks when Harrison mentions their first meeting doesn’t escape Hazel. The explanation she receives is vague, but she thinks she’s figured out what happened.

“Oh, Daniel.” She tries to pull a disappointed face in spite of her amusement. “You tried to kick him out?!”

[grumpy-dan]

Daniel shook his head, already embarrassed that he has to be the one to explain.  “I didn’t realize who Harrison was or that he was meeting you.  So I may have gotten a little bit defensive when I saw him picking up Jane. I know it wasn’t really my place but I couldn’t just let it happen.  It was just bad all around.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[graywarenwritings-blog]

“I’m sure you deserve the credit she gives you. From what I hear. And you did, after all, jump valiantly to the defense of little Jane here. Very heroic” Harrison jumps in, deciding to do Daniel a favor and let him show off in front of Hazel, who Harrison is enteritely convinced Daniel is interested after their exchanges all night.

[grumpy-dan]

Dan blushed a little when Harrison brought up their first meeting in the bookstore.  “I’m really sorry about that by the way.  I didn’t know that you knew Jane or Hazel for that matter.”  He turned to Hazel and gave her a sheepish explanation.  “Harrison and I didn’t have the warmest introduction as you may have liked us to have.  It was all my fault though and I am sorry.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[hazel-winters-blog]

She listens as Harrison assures Daniel that he does like the family business more than he did when he was younger and only interesting in playing and spending time with friends, all the while avoiding mentioning that it’s Hazel’s family business as well.

“Hey, I doubt that.” Hazel argues, knowing he’s not as gruff as he likes to believe he is. “You’re a lot more nicer than you give yourself credit for. Some lady is gonna be crazy about you someday.”

[grumpy-dan]

Daniel laughed and agreed that kids are always more preoccupied with playing with friends.  He smiled softly at Hazel when she objected.  “And you have a habit of giving me too much credit.  I guess we’ll have to see who’s right.  That is, if you can put up with me at the store for that long.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[hazel-winters-blog]

She meets eyes with her cousin nervously, urging silently that he won’t go into further detail about their family or their business. 

When Daniel protests that nobody would tolerate him, her eyebrows furrow in protest but she allows her cousin to speak first.

[graywarenwritings-blog]

“I appreciate that, Daniel.” Harrison answers warmly, meeting Hazel’s eyes and giving her an imperceptible nod before answering that he does, very much like working in his line of business. “I used to hate it when I was younger, but now I think hospitality suits me. It’s not a bad way to spend your days,”

“That’s noble of you!” He listens to Dan some more before leaning back in his chair and countering. “Oh, I don’t believe that! You seem like a nice guy. Hazel here seems to like working with you.I’m sure you’d have no trouble finding yourself some nice girl…. Are you sure there isn’t anyone you have in mind?”

[grumpy-dan]

Daniel nodded a little and chuckled.  “I guess it wouldn’t be too bad.  I probably wouldn’t be so good at it so I’m glad you enjoy it! But I get it, I used to hate running the store when I was younger but you start liking it right?”

He shrugged, not used to all of this attention and compliments.  “Well Hazel seems to be the only one who does.”  He wanted to say that she was really the only one that comes to mind but he knew that wouldn’t be appropriate.  “Not a lot.  Haven’t really gotten out there much, not that it would work out.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[ashevxlle-blog]

Harrison wrinkles his nose at the mention of Twilight, but he can’t help but smile knowingly at Hazel’s poor attempt to flirt with her boss. 

“Oh, that’s alright. There’s not much I can say for myself that Hazel can’t tell you herself so I don’t mind letting you two take the lead. But since you asked, I’m actually in the hospitality business myself. Family business.” He decides to leave it at that, since he’s got a suspicion that Hazel hasn’t told her boss that she’s one of the heirs to a multi-million dollar resort chain. 

“And you? Is the bookstore a family business too? I mean, it’ll be nice to pass it down to your own kids someday, right?”

[grumpy-dan]

“Well I just didn’t want you feeling left out.”  Daniel also didn’t know how to bring up that he and Hazel haven’t really talked about their personal lives all that much, so he just left that part out.  “Oh well that sounds interesting! Do you enjoy it?”

“It is! My dad started it a while ago.  When he got a bit too old to take care of it himself I bought it from him.”  Daniel shrugged a little.  “I’d like to.  But that requires someone tolerating me enough to start a family and that the kid would like the business enough.  I’m not going to force them to do something they don’t like.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[hazel-winters-blog]

“Ok, fine… not bullying. But definitely difficult when all I wanted was to make our world a better, more profitable, and caffeinated place. But you did admit I was right about that so I’m happy.” Her grin matches his and she leans towards him. “I’m still saying… you should be nicer to your fan club. They’re definitely there for you. I mean, broody is definitely hot. Think Twilight.”

[grumpy-dan]

“Alright that’s fair, I did make it difficult for you.  I will admit that.  I still don’t believe they really deserve it but you are right and it has been worth it.”  He scoffed slightly and shook his head.  “Twilight? Really? I don’t know if I want to be comparable to a sparkly vampire.”  Daniel tried to bring the conversation back to Harrison.  “So what do you do Harrison? I don’t mean to be hogging all of this talk.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[graywarenwritings-blog]

Harrison raises a brow and smiles pleasantly. “I’m sure she’ is. She’s a chronic perfectionist, this one. Don’t let her bully you though.”

[hazel-winters-blog]

“Not true!” Hazel protests, unable to keep laughter from escaping her. “I am not bullying. If anyone is, then it’s Dan. For making me work so hard to get that damn coffee maker.”

“Keep telling yourself that Daniel. I see the way the ladies look at you. Especially with the whole broody thing you do.”

[grumpy-dan]

"Woah woah I wouldn’t say I was bullying either!”  He grinned despite his protest.  “I mean I will admit that there may be some evidence to me being a bit bully-ish to customers but never to you!  You just caught me in a bad time, and it all worked out for the best didn’t it?”

Daniel scoffed.  “I do not brood! I have a reasonable amount of distaste.  And besides, wouldn’t people be put off by ‘broodiness’? I will firmly believe that no one is looking at me the way you’re implying.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[grumpy-dan]

Daniel couldn’t help but laugh at Hazel’s response.  “It’s true, I really don’t.  But you deserve it, Hazel.  You really do.”  He gave her a small smile before he broke eye contact to look down at his menu again.  Anything to try to hide his slight embarrassment.

“Well I have absolutely no idea who your teacher is because it sure isn’t me.  We all know the customers love you more than me.”

[hazel-winters-blog]

Hazel smiled to herself again, savoring Daniel’s words. She knew she’d be playing them over and over again all night, grateful to be good at something and have that be recognized. 

“That’s true.But if you were nicer, they’d probably like you better. I know all those older ladies aren’t coming in for me.”

[grumpy-dan]

“But if I was nicer that would mean they would talk to me more and that just seems like a lose-lose situation.”  He turned to Harrison to explain.  “I love owning the store but I just can’t deal with the customers most days.  Hazel’s trying to keep me in line though.”

Daniel couldn’t help but blush slightly.  “Please they aren’t coming in for me either.  You’re the friendly face in the bookstore.  No one gives me a second glance.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

[hazel-winters-blog]

She’s famished by the time they get to the table, the smell of food getting to her and poking at an appetite she didn’t know she had. It’s easy to skip meals when she’s focused on her work at the store.

Harrison sits himself next to Jane and begins to play with her and Hazel takes the opportunity to scan her menu. Before she’s settled on an option, she’s pulled from her thoughts by the mention of her name.

She’s not used to praise like the kind Daniel is laying on her and she feels her smile growing when he calls her a great worker. 

“You hear that, Harrison? I’m a natural businesswoman.” Hazel grins proudly. “And he doesn’t give compliments that easily.”

She knows he’s talking about her coffee suggestion and she won’t say I told you so yet, but she makes a mental note to gloat about it tomorrow.

“Though I guess I should say I had a good teacher.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

Harrison smiles at the praise Daniel gives to Hazel, taking note of the way his cousin beams. Baby Jane begins to slobber on his hand and he pulls it away but Hazel, who usually worries over every little thing with Jane, doesn’t seem to notice. She’s still smiling at Daniel and Harrison can’t say he’s surprised or dissapointed.

“That so?” He asks.

[grumpy-dan]

Daniel couldn’t help but laugh at Hazel’s response.  “It’s true, I really don’t.  But you deserve it, Hazel.  You really do.”  He gave her a small smile before he broke eye contact to look down at his menu again.  Anything to try to hide his slight embarrassment.

“Well I have absolutely no idea who your teacher is because it sure isn’t me.  We all know the customers love you more than me.”

[graywarenwritings-blog]

dinner for three (and a half)

They’re seated by a server and Harrison maneuvers himself to make sure he’s seated between Jane’s carrier and Daniel. Not to keep Daniel away from the baby, but to ensure the bookstore owner is seated next to who Harrison is sure is his favorite employee. 

He grins pleasantly at the server and glances at his menu. It’s not a terribly fancy restaurant by any means, but this place is a bit nicer than anywhere Hazel would have allowed him to take her to a few months ago, when she was still bitterly insisting that she wouldn’t take any of the family’s money, despite Harrison’s arguing that she had every right to it. Now he supposes it might be fortunate she took employment at The Bookstore, it gives his cousin something to take her mind off her own troubles. And he suspects having Hazel there isn’t half bad for Daniel.

Hazel is studying her menu now and Harrison is grateful she isn’t throwing looks his way as she’s wont to do when she wants to protest the prices. He’s found she’s more likely to let him pay for their meals now that she is stretching out her paycheck.

Jane stirs in her carrier and Harrison offers her his hand, which she promptly takes between her two smaller once.

“So Daniel, how is Hazel here adapting to the store?” He asks conversationally, curious as to how Daniel will describe his cousin.

[grumpy-dan]

Daniel had to admit he was a bit surprised when Harrison and Hazel invited him to dinner, especially after the awkward introduction he and Harrison had earlier.  But he agreed and tried to be as pleasant as possible for the two of them.

The restaurant was far from what he was used to.  Not that he usually went out to eat, but if he did it would be far from a place like this.  So he felt a little out of place.  Both in the restaurant and at the table.  He tried focusing at the menu, looking for something simple he might like that wouldn’t break anyone’s budget.

Daniel’s head perked up when Harrison asked him a question.  “Oh she’s a natural, if anything the store is adapting to her.”  He gave Hazel a small smile.  “Honestly she’s a really great worker and I’m lucky to have her.  In the store, I mean.  And I have to admit she already has made some changes that have brought more people in.”  Daniel knew that Hazel fought hard for the coffee and he felt like she deserved some recognition for that.

[faerydragon]