Hunter (Mixology Book 1)

by Krissy V

  As soon as I’ve said that it’s like watching a tightly wound coil, slowly unwind. She visibly relaxes and smiles at me. “Then I’d love to join you for a stroll,” she says, in a really posh voice.

  We both start laughing.

  Keaton comes up behind me. “Will you take your break so I can get on mine quicker? This girl is hot to trot.”

  “You can go first, then I don’t need to rush back after my break,” I say, slapping him on his back.

  He smiles. “Sure?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  He leaves, dragging the girl from on the bar with him.

  Scarlett looks a bit sad.

  “What’s the matter, Scarlett? I swapped because I don’t want to rush our time together.”

  “It’s not that. It’s seeing Keaton going off with that girl. It reminds me of you and last night. I’ll be fine. Just go serve those poor, thirsty girls and then you can walk me down by the sea.”

  I kiss her on the cheek once again and then go and serve the thirsty, horny girls.

  “Come on gorgeous,” I say to Scarlett when Keaton is back and there’s a lull in the bar. “Let’s go for a walk.” I come out from behind the bar, take her hand, and guide her through the bar and out the front door.

  I didn’t really think this through. As soon as I step through the front door, Zac is on me.

  “You coming out the front instead of the back, Hunter? That’s not your normal style.”

  “Fuck off, Zac,” I say, wishing I could throttle him. “This is Scarlett.” I hope to stop him from saying anything else to piss me off.

  “We already met, didn’t we, pretty lady?”

  “We sure did,” Scarlett says.

  I look at her. She doesn’t seem fazed by meeting my family.

  Ainsley butts in, “I met her too. You’ve got a beautiful woman there, Hunter. You’d better treat her right.”

  I turn to face Scarlett and kiss her on the cheek. “I sure do and I certainly will. Come on. Let’s get out of here. These two are cramping my style.”

  We cross the road and walk along the seafront, holding hands.

  Okay, so this is a new concept to me and I thought it would feel strange, but it feels right. We come to the deckchairs where I met her earlier in the week and she goes to sit down.

  “No. Don’t sit there. I don’t want to think about that bastard and the way he was treating you that night.”

  She smiles at me and walks over to the railings by the sea. I stand behind her and wrap my arms around her with her back to my front.

  I nuzzle her neck and breathe her in. She smells tropical, like coconuts, and there’s something else. It reminds me of the suntan oils we used to use when we were kids to get a really good tan. I smile at the memories of me and my brothers and sister having fun on the beach. That was when we were young and carefree.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asks.

  “Just remembering playing down here with my family. They were good days.”

  “Yeah, we used to come down here as well. I don’t go to the beach these days. It seems like too much hassle.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  We don’t say anything, but she leans backwards into me. My cock hardens from her brief touch and her beautiful aroma. I move my hips away because I don’t want her to think I’m going to jump her bones or anything. Although, that’s what I really want to do.

  “Hunter, tell me how you came to have Mixology at such a young age.” She leans backwards. It’s like she wants every part of her body touching mine.

  “I left Uni with no degree. Something happened and I had to leave. I went to Australia to learn how to become a mixologist. The first course I did was in Brisbane, and I loved it. Then I moved to Sydney, and the cocktails there were different again. I learnt a lot in the few years I was over there and then I got a letter from a lawyer telling me that the guy who had taught me in Brisbane, Victor, had died and left me some money. I knew I had been the best student and he kind of looked after me as I was eighteen and on my own, but I was shocked.”

  “You must have made a really good impression, Hunter. That is a big deal.” She turns her face towards me and kisses me on the cheek.

  “I know. I thought it was a scam at first, but I had to fly to Brisbane and meet with the lawyer. Victor left me enough to buy Mixology outright, renovate it, and enough money for me to be comfortable for the rest of my life. I decided to come home and open Mixology with my family. It might be mine on paper, but it’s ours, really. We all have our part to play in the running of the bar and no decisions are made unless we all agree.”

  “That’s amazing. You’re amazing.” She turns in my arms, wraps her arms around my neck, and brings my head down to kiss me.

  Her kisses are like small shots of electricity powering through my body. They make me want to consume her and never leave her. When we break apart, I feel cold. It’s like I need her to keep me warm.

  “Mmm. You’re not bad yourself.” I kiss her again.

  This time when we part, I take her hand and we walk back to Mixology. I don’t let go of her hand until she’s sitting in the seat she left earlier.

  The rest of the night flies by, as it’s really busy, and it’s another successful night. I keep looking at Scarlett, and when I get a chance, I go over and talk to her. When the bar is closed and we’ve tidied up, it’s time to leave.

  “Can I walk you home?” I ask her, nervous she’s going to say no.

  “Why thank you.” She laughs, curtseying. “That would be great.” She blushes and looks down at the floor.

  I lift her chin and kiss her.

  “Come on,” I say as we break apart. “Everyone ready?” I shout to the rest of the family. They all shout that they’re ready to leave too. When I’ve locked the doors, I put my arm around Scarlett’s shoulders and we walk towards where she lives.

  “So, Scarlett, what do you do?”

  “I’m a legal secretary for Harte, Wilson & Cooke.”

  “Really? They’re my lawyers.”

  “No way? It’s a small world.”

  We walk in relative silence and then she takes my hand and pulls me into an exclusive block of apartments.

  “You live here? These are really nice.”

  “Are you coming in?” she asks me, blushing.

  I think about it for a minute and then I say, “No. Not tonight. You’re different to all the other girls, Scarlett. You’ve got under my skin and I like it. I never thought I would, so I don’t want to ruin it by not treating you right.”

  She looks down at the ground and doesn’t say anything. Then she slowly moves her head to look in my direction. “Don’t you like what you see?” She asks with what looks like tears in her eyes. Fuck! I don’t want her to cry.

  “Of course I do. We got off to a bad start and I want to do things right. If I take you upstairs and fuck you then that’s me being a bastard.”

  I push her against the wall and devour her. My resolve is starting to slip, but I want to do this right, not fuck her and then leave. I need her for more than that.

  She pushes herself against me, rubbing my hardened cock in the process. “Hunter, please?” she whispers.

  I can’t do it. I can’t stay. I want her so much. I feel a connection and I want more of it. I want it all.

  “Scarlett, I want you so bad. You can feel how bad I want you,” I say, rubbing my cock against her stomach. “I want you as a person more though. I need to prove to myself that this is not just about sex. Does that make sense?”

  “Yeah, I suppose. I know it already.” She smiles as she pulls away from me and walks through the door. She turns at the last moment. “Night, Hunter. Hope you have some dirty dreams about me.” She turns and closes the door behind her.

  I laugh. She is a naughty little minx.

  I’m still laughing as I leave her building and start walking towards the seafront to get home. I’m not even five minutes away when I can hear someo
ne behind me.

  “Hunter!”

  I turn to see who it is. There are two guys with black balaclavas on, staring at me.

  “What the fuck? Who are you?”

  They don’t answer me, they just move closer. I’m rooted to the spot. Who the fuck wants to hurt me?

  “Didn’t you get our message the other night?”

  “You vandalised my bar?”

  “Yeah, and now we’re going to vandalise you.” I see the iron bar just a few seconds before it hits me in the stomach. I bend over, winded. The second guy smacks me over the back and I’m useless against the two of them and the bars. They keep hitting me until I’m on the ground then one of them stands over me and says, “Maybe you’ll understand this time.” Then he kicks me in the face.

  I don’t know how long I’m laid there, but I can feel someone trying to lift me.

  “Are you okay?” I hear someone saying. “Oh my God.”

  I can’t speak; it hurts too much. “Taxi,” I mutter.

  “I’ll get you an ambulance. You need to go to hospital.” He sits me up and leaves me leaning against a wall.

  I hear him telling the controller that I need an ambulance and he waits with me until they get to me. “Name?” I ask him.

  He ignores me. “Good luck, Hunter,” he says as the paramedics put me into the back of the ambulance. He must recognise me from the bar or something.

  Chapter Five

  Sloe Comfortable Screw

  1 1/2 Oz Sloe Gin, Orange Juice

  What the fuck is that noise? It’s a lot of beeping. I try to sit up but it hurts like fuck. Someone is in the room; a woman. She comes over to the bed.

  “Good morning, Mr James. How are you feeling?” she says as she starts looking at things behind my head.

  “What’s going on?”

  “You were brought into hospital last night. You’ve been beaten very badly,” she says sympathetically.

  “I need to get out of here.” I try to get out of the bed.

  “We’re hoping you can get out later, but we need someone to stay with you when you’ve gone home.”

  “That’s fine. I have a very over-protective mother.” I chuckle then realise it hurts too much. “My brother. I need to ring my brother.”

  “Give me his number and I’ll ring him for you. We didn’t know who to ring and it was so early this morning.”

  I give her Keaton’s number and I know it won’t be long before my peace is shattered.

  It takes Keaton about three quarters of an hour to round everyone up and get into the hospital. They all walk in behind him. That’s one thing about my family… we would do anything for each other.

  Mum rushes over to me and takes a deep breath in. “Hunter, what happened?”

  “I wish I knew, Mum. I walked Scarlett home and then two guys jumped me. They were the same guys who vandalised Mixology the other night.”

  “Mixology was vandalised? Why don’t we know about this?” Mum asks, looking at Dad.

  “There was no need to tell you. We thought it was a random attack,” Keaton says, trying not to worry Mum.

  Mum turns her attention to the nurse. “When can he get out of here?”

  “He’s going for some more x-rays first. We can send him home today, but we need to ensure someone will be with him all the time. We need the beds and it looks like he has enough people to care for him.”

  “He can stay with me,” Mum says. I groan. I haven’t lived with my parents for a long, long time.

  “Mum, can we stay at mine please?”

  She smiles at me. “We can, but if things get too hard then I’m taking you home.” She leans down to kiss me.

  I’m wheeled away for more x-rays and the doctors say I’ve broken a few ribs, a broken nose, and bruising to my face. Thankfully, they didn’t break my jaw.

  The doctor discharges me with some heavy painkillers and a letter just in case my ribs don’t start to improve.

  When we get home, I lie on the couch as Mum makes everyone tea.

  “So, do you know who it was?” Zac asks, looking like he could kill someone.

  “They admitted to vandalising Mixology, but I couldn’t see them and I didn’t recognise their voices. Who would do this to me?”

  “It could be someone whose girlfriend you slept with. You know you never ask for their relationship status before you fuck them,” Ainsley says, trying not to laugh.

  “Fuck off, Ains,” I say, laughing.

  “It’s not a bad suggestion. Who have you been with this week?” Keaton asks.

  I look at him as if to say are you joking? I don’t remember their names, and barely what they look like. Except for Scarlett.

  I can feel the colour drain from my face.

  “What?” Zac asks.

  “Where’s my phone? I need to ring Scarlett.”

  “Why?”

  “When I first met her earlier this week, I interrupted her boyfriend being physical with her. She didn’t want to go with him and I interrupted them, asking if she was okay.”

  Ainsley laughs. “How chivalrous. How stupid.”

  “I know, but I heard her saying no and couldn’t let him push himself on her. It wasn’t until she looked at me that I realised how beautiful she was, but she was happy to go off with him.”

  “She must have dumped him when she got home and then come and found you the next day,” Ainsley says.

  “I suppose.” I ring Scarlett’s number, but she doesn’t answer. “She’s not answering. She might be in work. Shit, where does she work?” I think for a minute. I’m feeling sleepy from the medication and my brain won’t work.“Lawyer,” I say, slurring.

  “We can’t go to the lawyer until we know who it is, Hunter,” Mum says.

  “No… Scarlett. Lawyer… Harte, Wilson & Cooke.”

  They look at me in confusion.

  “WORK!” I shout as I start to fall asleep.

  I can hear Keaton understanding as I drift off.

  It’s about two hours later when I wake up and there’s only Mum and Ainsley in the apartment with me.

  “Hey, where is everyone? Did they go to Mixology?” I ask, trying to sit up.

  Mum helps me. “Not quite.”

  I look between her and Ainsley. “What’s going on? Ains, tell me.”

  Ainsley sits down next to me. She clears her throat. “Keaton realised what you were saying about Scarlett and rang Harte, Wilson & Cooke looking for her. She hadn’t turned up for work which, apparently, is unlike her. They said she’s really conscientious and such a good worker.”

  I try to stand up. I have to go and see her, make sure she’s okay. She didn’t have that much to drink.

  “Sit down, Hunter!” Mum shouts at me as I’m half way suspended above the couch. I slowly lower myself down.

  “Skylar managed to get into your phone and find her number and did something to find where her phone was so they could go and make sure she was okay.”

  “And?” She’s taking too long over this story. I need to know and I need to know now.

  “They rang just before you woke up. They found her in some bedsit on the other side of town and she was beaten pretty badly. Skylar took her to the hospital and we’re waiting to hear from him.”

  “I need to ring her, Mum. I need to know she’s okay.” I look around for my phone, but it’s not there.

  “They have your phone so they could find her. Skylar will bring it back. They took her phone too to see who she had last spoken to, and before Skylar went in the ambulance, he managed to track the location of a guy she had texted earlier in the week.”

  “Who is it?” I ask tentatively.

  “We don’t know, but Keaton and Zac have gone to find him, to see if he is the guy that vandalised Mixology. They think it was him and his friend who attacked you and Scarlett.” Mum sits down and takes my hand.

  I just want to cry. “Mum, how could anyone hurt her? She so delicate, gorgeous, and such an amazing person. I can’t believe
someone would do that to her. The fuckers!” I want to do something. I need to do something. I can’t sit here waiting for someone to come back or ring me.

  “If it helps, when the boys found her, she was asking for you. She was barely conscious, but she was asking for you.”

  That breaks my heart even more that I’m not there for my girl. It doesn’t feel strange to call her that. She is my girl, and she will always be my girl.

  Ainsley’s phone rings and it’s Skylar. “Hey, Sky,” she says.

  I reach over and grab the phone from her. “Sky, it’s me. How’s Scarlett? Tell me she’s going to be okay.”

  “Hey, you woke up, you lazy sod. She’s here with me. She had a sleep too. She looks worse than she is, to be honest. She doesn’t have any broken bones or anything. They did slip her something so she can’t remember anything.”

  “Did they…? Did they rape her?” I ask, worried about the answer.

  “They’ve carried out tests and they don’t think so. Hopefully they realised they were in trouble and just wanted to frighten her. She’s asking for you. Are up to talking to her?”

  “She’s been awake this whole time and I’m wasting time talking to you? Put her on!”

  Skylar laughs. “Love you too, brother.”

  “Hunter?” Scarlett whispers.

  “Scarlett, baby. Are you okay?”

  “I am now I know you’re okay. I was so worried. They told me they were going to kill you.”

  “It takes a lot more than that to get rid of me. How are you doing?”

  “I’m okay. I slept most of the drugs out of my system, thank God. I want to see you,” she says tearfully.

  “Me too. I want you to come here as soon as you can get out. Please.”

  “I should go home.”

  “Scarlett, please. I need to see for myself that you’re okay. Mum won’t let me leave here. I’m in a lot of pain.”

  She chuckles. “Okay. I’ll stop in on my way home.”