The Real Heiress Is Coming Back (Hannah Carter) novel Chapter 152

Chapter 152

Barnaby just stared, speechless.

He never gave a damn about those shares that man left him on his deathbed.

He hated that man. Did that man really think tossing him a few shares could make up for breaking his mother’s heart? Could it erase the fact that the Thole family drove his mom to her death?

He didn’t need any of it.

But he never expected that this would end up being used by Hannah as proof about his sexual orientation.

“Here, the legal age for a woman to get married is 20,” he said.

Hannah was puzzled.

“So it’s not that I don’t want to get married. It’s just that the girl I like isn’t old enough yet.”

Hannah was stunned.

That was way too much to take in. Hannah was totally thrown off. “Wait, you’re not… into guys?”

“No!” Barnaby cut her off, sounding dead serious.

“Then what about all those times at work when you were…?” Hannah trailed off, suddenly realizing none of that mattered anymore. What really shocked her was, “Hold up, you actually have a crush on someone?!”

‘Who on earth could make a guy like him fall for her?’ Hannah couldn’t help but wonder.

Barnaby looked straight at her, his voice low. “Yeah.”

Hannah stared at him, a bitter feeling rising in her chest. “Then why did you…” She almost blurted out, Why did

you seduce me?’

‘No, that’s not it!’ she snapped back in her mind.

‘This guy changes his tune faster than the weather. Who even knows if anything he says is true or just another lie?’ she thought.

‘I can’t let him fool me!’ she warned herself.

It was only now that Hannah realized she barely knew anything about Barnaby at all.

Seeing Hannah hesitate, Barnaby placed his big hand gently on the back of her head. “What else do you want to know?”

“You still haven’t proved you’re telling the truth!” Hannah shot back.

Barnaby frowned at her guarded expression. “How do you want me to prove it to you?”

Hannah was at a loss for words.

‘How would I even know how he could prove something like that?’ Hannah thought, feeling flustered.

“You,” Hannah barely got the word out before Barnaby swooped in and kissed her, cutting her off mid-

sentence.

Her eyes flew wide open, his face so close she could see every detail, and the soft press of his lips sent her mind spinning into a total blank.

Wait, was that my first kiss?!’ Hannah’s heart was racing, shock flooding through her.

She shoved him away, cheeks burning with anger. She tried to slap him, but Barnaby caught her wrist in a flash.

“Does that count as proof?” he murmured, his other hand still cradling the back of her head, their foreheads touching, his eyes dark and intense as he stared at her.

Hannah’s lashes fluttered as she pressed a hand to his chest, trying to keep him from kissing her again.

For someone who was always so clever, her brain just short-circuited. She stammered, “How could you… You clearly have someone you like…”

Barnaby thought she looked absolutely adorable when she was all flustered. Every cell in his body was screaming at him to pull her into his arms, make her his, and keep her all to himself.

His gaze burned into her. “Don’t you get it yet?”

Hannah’s heart felt like it was on fire under his intense stare.

Her ears burned, her lashes fluttered, and she quickly dropped her gaze, too afraid to meet his eyes, afraid that the last shred of her sanity would be consumed by the heat in his gaze.

“Just… let me get my thoughts together,” she stammered, breaking free and pushing him away with both hands on his chest.

“However you want to sort things out, I’m right here with you,” Barnaby said, his voice low and gentle.

He blocked the office door, making sure she couldn’t leave.

He realized he couldn’t keep letting her guess about his feelings anymore. He had to spell it out for her, or who knew what kind of mess they’d end up in next.

“Right now, I can’t tell if you’re being honest or just playing games with me,” Hannah said, her voice trembling.

“What did I say that makes you question me?” Barnaby asked softly.

Hannah’s face flushed as she remembered the awkward scene at the hot spring village. “Back at the hot spring village, you clearly pushed me away!”

‘Figures, she got it wrong,’ he thought.

With a flick of his wrist, Barnaby locked the office door and started closing the distance between them, step by

step.

“Baby, did you forget how old you are? Playing with fire is risky when you’re underage,” he teased, his voice low and playful.

Barnaby took a step back, but the heavy rosewood desk behind her blocked her way. There was nowhere left

to go.

Barnaby kept moving closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper right by her ear. “I’m a normal guy, you know. I’ve got desires, and you keep tempting me, testing my limits, right on the edge of trouble.”

“And your brother is watching me like I’m some kind of predator. If I hadn’t pushed you away, he probably would’ve come after me with a knife.”

As he spoke, his warm breath brushed against Hannah’s ear, sending a shiver down her spine and making her

heart flutter.

‘Honestly, who’s testing who here?’ Hannah thought, feeling both wary

and annoyed.

She leaned back, gripping the edge of the desk behind her, eyeing Barnaby warily as he got closer.

“Just a couple days ago, your little boyfriend showed up, and you actually went out with him!” Hannah snapped, her voice tinged with jealousy.

Barnaby let out a helpless laugh. “Do you know how many people try to climb into my bed every single day? Guys, girls, all sorts of crazy reasons. You can’t seriously think every one of them is my little fling, right?”

Hannah was speechless.

‘Why does he sound so proud of that?’ she thought, rolling her

eyes.

“Don’t worry, I’ve been keeping myself just for you,” Barnaby murmured, lifting her chin, his gaze lingering on her lips. His thumb traced her lips, as if reliving that kiss.

Hannah’s heart fluttered. She glanced down at his lower half, suspicion in her eyes. “Not even with your left or right hand?”

Barnaby was speechless.

“Are you sure you want to go there?” Barnaby asked, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Hannah was speechless.

“This is getting a bit too personal,” Hannah muttered, her cheeks burning.

“Honestly, if we keep this up, things might get out of control,” Barnaby said, sounding completely serious.

“Then why are you still holding on to me?” Hannah shot back, her voice a little shaky.

Barnaby smirked and suddenly leaned in close. Hannah braced her hands against his chest, thinking he was about to kiss her again, but before she could react, he pressed a warm kiss to her forehead.

She went completely still, all thoughts of resistance forgotten.

Barnaby released her and stepped back, his eyes lingering on her. “So, do you still have any doubts, my girl?”

Hannah turned her back to him, picked up her coffee, and took a sip. “Don’t go thinking I’ve agreed to anything yet!”

Barnaby just shrugged. “It’s only a matter of time.”

“Wow, you’re pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?” Hannah said with a half-hearted smile. “I still don’t trust you completely.”

Just then, Barnaby’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and said to Hannah, “No rush. We’ve got all the time in the world. But before that, I bet you’re way more interested in the whole Gemma situation.”

Hannah’s eyes lit up. She glanced at his phone and urged him to pick up.

Barnaby let out a low chuckle and answered the call. “I’m at Ascent Ventures. Come over and tell me in person.”

*****

Lauren was holed up in a run-down motel, chewing on some stale bread.

Her phone lit up, and she instantly dropped everything to check the message.

Piggy: [The package has arrived. Don’t forget to pick it up.]

Lauren shoved the last bit of bread into her mouth and texted back: [Got it.]

She grabbed a hat and a mask, bundled herself up tight, and quietly cracked open the door. But before she could even blink, several men burst in and had her on the ground in no time.

“Police! Don’t move! Lauren Baker, you’re coming with us for questioning,” one of them barked.

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