Country Secrets

by Caz May

  I’m angry at myself for pushing him away when he confessed how much he wants to be with me.

  I need him too, more than I care to admit and so much more than I could possibly show him.

  Words are the only way I’m going to be able to communicate with him properly, but every damn time I open my mouth the words get caught on my tongue.

  When he'd not come rushing to the bedroom, I sneak down the hallway to hear him talking on the phone about me.

  The conversation is muted, only parts of it drifting to my hiding spot in the hallway but what I hear makes me uneasy.

  Whoever he’s talking to clearly doesn't like me and it doesn't seem like Hunter even defends me.

  Does he even want me like he says?

  He'd ends the call, saying that, 'he'll be there.'

  It leaves me wondering even more about who he was talking to.

  I hope it wasn't her, the obstetrician, as she clearly has a thing for him.

  Not that I can blame her.I feel something for Hunter Mackenney too but I just can't figure out what.It’s lust, need, hunger and want.

  It’s all of that and more and sneaking back down the hall to the bedroom I curse myself for pushing him away and not opening my mouth to speak to him.

  ~ ~

  Engrossed in my book I hadn't heard Hunter walking down the hallway, so I’m shocked when he clears his throat, announcing his presence.

  Looking up from my book, I find him standing in the doorway with only a towel around his waist. His skin is still dewy from showering and his dark hair wet.

  Oh fuck, he's gorgeous! Oh, I can't look at him!

  I swallow the lump in my throat, from taking in his naked torso again, wishing I could lick the droplets of water from his bare chest.

  Him, naked, well almost, right there in front of me, oh my god, but… Savannah thats just plain dirty

  I can't help the blush that rises up my cheeks, can't stop my mouth from gaping and my mind from wandering to stripping him of the towel, but he shakes me back to reality when he speaks, a little too sexily for my overheating body. “Savannah, you can't wear that tonight."

  I look down at my outfit, wondering what he means.

  Am I supposed to wear nothing like he is? Come on Savannah, say something.

  All I manage to let out is, "Huh?"

  "We are going out and you need to get dressed."

  Again all I can manage is a ‘huh.’

  Hunter shrugs, sauntering into the room. A grin crosses my face when the thought of the towel dropping to the floor pops into my head.

  Of course it doesn’t and he grins back at me when he catches me staring.

  He has to know how much I want him.

  Crawling onto my knees, I edge up the bed to where he’s standing by the wardrobe in the corner of the room.

  I stretch up to kiss him, but he presses a finger to my lips to stop me.

  “Uh-uh, you need to get dressed. Wear something you like from here,” he says, opening the wardrobe to show its contents.

  I’m taken aback, shocked at why he'd made me sift through the old granny clothes at the hospital, when in this wardrobe there’s an array of dresses, blouses and pants.

  He steps aside as I eagerly jump off the bed, running my hand along the clothes, giddy, like a kid in a candy shop.

  I let out an excited “Eeek." It makes Hunter laugh and press a soft kiss to my lips.

  "I'd love to see you wear a dress,” he suggests, a hint of that annoying teasing sexiness in his tone.

  He leaves the room so I can find an outfit and kicking the door shut behind him I start to look through the dresses. There has to be about ten, in an array of colours and styles, some more elegant and others casual.

  I have no idea where we’re actually going so the choice of what to wear is a challenge but if Hunter wants me to wear a dress I will.

  It needs to be a dress to capture his attention, more so than before, as it appears he'd want me even if I was wearing a potato sack.

  The first dress that catches my eye is beige, with an array of colourful butterflies collected at the bottom and scattered over the bodice. The neckline is low, curved and it dipped low in the back. Luckily it also has a bra sewn into the front, as the back is so low it’s sure to almost be at my butt.

  Stripping from my shorts and t-shirt I step into the dress, tugging it over my hips, before I unclasp my bra, hastily throwing it on the bed to lift the dress over my breasts.

  Hunter knocks on the door. “Savannah, are you dressed?"

  I open the door, holding the dress at the front with my other hand.

  He takes one look at me, words caught in his throat no doubt as he bites his lip and gulps hard, looking down at how low the dress is, grazing my butt.

  Seeing I’m having trouble with the zip, his hand is swiftly against the top of my butt, hitching the small zip up. His hand lingers there, causing heat to rise up my spine. He also helps me clasp the hook and eye at the top, before urging me to turn and face him.

  "You look absolutely stunning Savannah."

  He doesn't look to bad himself.

  Ok, that’s an absolute understatement.

  He looks absolutely devilishly handsome, as usual dressed in his signature look of dark jeans hung low on his hips, although this time they aren't worn at the knees, but crisp and they hug his legs tightly.

  They’re held up by a tan belt with a ginormous buckle bearing a horse on it. His blue and green check shirt is tucked in and his sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and a few buttons are left undone at the top, exposing some of his chest.

  I really want to tell him how hot he looks but there aren't words. He’d be frustrated with me that I can't speak to him as I’m frustrated with myself but I know the time will come soon.

  He’s already broken down my defences in getting me to kiss him, so speaking to him eventually is inevitable.

  Ready to go wherever he wants to take me I take his hand in mine, lacing our fingers together and squeezing his hand tightly as he leads me out the room.

  The way he looks at me, not taking his eyes from mine, makes me feel weak at the knees. I’m falling in love with Hunter Mackenney.

  Hunter is the perfect gentlemen with a little bit of cheekiness thrown in.

  Opening the ute door for me, helping me get in he shamelessly smacks my butt. He doesn't see that I noticed him also licking his lips in delight.

  It makes the butterflies flit even more in my stomach.

  Trepidation is definitely rising in my body though as I can't shake the feeling that I’m getting myself in too deep. The feeling that I shouldn't be feeling so happy and that it’s all going to come crashing down on me before I know it.

  Hunter can clearly sense my unease as he drives into town smiling at me, and comfortingly placing a hand on my thigh.

  "Relax, Savannah. It'll be fine."

  He’s right. I’m just panicking. Everything is going to be fine.

  I manage to say softly, "Yeah."

  And the smile on his face turns to a wide grin, highlighting his adorable dimples. One simple word is one step closer to actually talking to Hunter about my past.

  We stop suddenly outside a large football oval that’s abuzz with people everywhere, as though every person from the town and beyond is there.

  The uneasy feeling surfaces again and I gasp at the prospect of getting out of the ute to be surrounded by a crowd of people.

  I can't do this, this is too deep.

  Hunter is already out of the ute, and opening my door, holding his hand out for me to take.

  His smile turns to a frown when he sees how uneasy I’m feeling. Comfortingly he presses a kiss against my forehead.

  “It will be fine Savannah. Just relax."

  Taking a deep breath, I nod, taking his hand and stepping out onto the soft dirt.

  My heels slip under me causing me to stumble, falling right into Hunter's arms.

  He laughs. “Careful, baby, people will
think your drunk already."

  Getting drunk right now seems like a great idea. It would at the very least make me let my guard down and take away the feeling of the world possibly crashing down on me.

  But also getting drunk right now, out in the small town of Ridgehope with Hunter Mackenney would be a very bad idea.

  With alcohol in my system there would be no way I'd ever able to resist his charm, especially when he calls me ‘baby'.

  (27) Hunter

  Driving to the football field I'd found it incredibly difficult to focus on the road ahead, with Savannah sitting in the passenger seat.

  It really struck my heart that the dress she chose to wear was my mother's favourite.

  Guilt had been plaguing me about visiting my mother more. She needed her son's in her life after Dad's death and I'd not been the best son, not visiting her anywhere near as much as I should have, and not even picking up the phone to call her.

  I hadn't planned on introducing her to Savannah just yet, but seeing Savannah in that dress, I know I have to. Selfishly I also hope it might get her to open up, to see how much I want her in my life.

  She seems apprehensive as we head into town, like the world is going to swallow her whole.

  To comfort her I leave my hand lingering on her thigh as I drive. Part of me wants to pull the car over, and touch her all over, but there isn't time and she isn’t ready for that either.

  The fundraiser is starting at eight pm when the sun will be setting over the horizon and before then we need to head to the dinner I'd booked, but also pop into see Mum.

  I’m a little tentative about introducing Savannah to her when she’s hardly speaking to me, but I know it’s the right thing to do. Mum had never really loved Addison and she'd never really told me why, but I got the sense it was to do with our family’s past connection to the Yorke family.

  Arriving at the football oval, helping Savannah out of the car, she trips on her heels in the dirt, falling into my arms.

  I'd wanted to kiss her, but could feel the eyes of the town on me so it wasn't the time for PDA's. When she takes my hand I can't help but smile though.

  "Follow me gorgeous,” I whisper in her ear, leading her towards the main street.

  The rest home is just down from the football oval and I love the fact that Ridgehope really is a one street town, that you can walk the whole main street in ten minutes and it’s another ten to get to hospital.

  Walking with Savannah's hand in mine is making me feel like a teenager again, the feeling of falling hard and fast.

  Her guard is breaking down too and she has a sparkle in her blue-green eyes, that gives me the sense that she’s starting to trust me.

  Stopping in front of the rest home, she looks at me quizzically, wondering why on earth we would be here.

  Squeezing her hand I say, "There's someone I want you to meet."

  Just as she followed me down the street, she follows me inside the nursing home, not once letting her grip on my hand loose.

  When I step up to the desk, she’s right beside me, leaning against my side.

  "Hunter, my dear, it's been too long. Here to see your Mum?"

  "Yeah, it's been too long,” I muse, hanging my head in shame.

  Savannah encouragingly rubs her other hand up and down my arm.

  It sends tingles all through my body.

  Pressing a light kiss to her forehead, I say to the receptionist, "I wanted to introduce her to the woman I'm falling in love with."

  Both Savannah and the receptionist let out excited giggles, that give me a rush.

  "Grace will love that Hunter. Go on through. She's in the same room."

  Savannah's smile has not left her face since my bold statement at the desk.

  I feel utterly nervous about introducing her to Mum, especially as I haven't been in to see Mum for months and here I am showing up unannounced with a woman wearing her favourite dress.

  Hesitantly I knock on her door. Her reply comes immediately, "Its open. Come in."

  As soon as I enter, with Savannah behind me, still clutching my hand, Mum's face lights up with the widest grin I've ever seen her exhibit.

  “Oh, Hunter, my darling. What are you doing here?"

  "I missed you Mum," I tell her pressing a kiss to her cheek, "and I wanted to introduce you to someone."

  Touching the small of her back and dropping her hand from mine, I urge Savannah forward.

  "Mum I want you to meet Savannah,” I pause, not sure if calling her my girlfriend is going to make her run for the hills, but I know it isn't going to when she bends down to kiss my Mum on the cheek.

  I continue softly as my Mum's eyes lock onto mine, "My girlfriend, Mum."

  "Oh Hunter,” she coos, standing up from her wheelchair awkwardly to envelope me in a hug.

  "Does this mean you got rid of that awful Addison?"

  I laugh, not sure if Mum knew that Addison was even back in town.

  “You know that was like a year ago."

  She scoffs. “Yes dear, but I heard she's back and after you again."

  I grab Savannah's hand, and look across at her. She hasn't run for the hills, she’s still here and she looks happy.

  “Yes, that's true Mum, but I don't want her back."

  “Well, how could you when you are with this beautiful girl,” she coos again, looking Savannah up and down.

  "Hunter is this my dress?" she asks, touching a hand over Savannah's heart.

  "Yes, Mum it is."

  "Oh sweetheart,” she says a little shocked.

  "I felt bad for not coming to see you Mum, so I thought what better time to see you than to introduce you the woman I’m falling in love with, who happened to choose your favourite dress to wear.”

  Again, she hugs me.

  "Don't feel bad darling. It's lovely to meet her and I'm glad to see you happy. It's about time my dresses had a night on the town."

  "I'm sure they will now. We have to get to dinner before the fundraiser but it won't be so long next time Mum, ok?"

  "No problems, sweetie."

  Savannah has started walking towards the door. Mum pulls me back for a moment and whispers in my ear, "She's sweet Hunter but take your time with her. I can tell she's been hurt."

  "Thanks Mum. I will."

  She presses a kiss to my cheek. “And Hunter dear, you've already fallen for her."

  I smile at her, blushing.

  How do Mothers always know exactly how you are feeling?

  Because she’s right, I have already fallen for Savannah.

  I’m absolutely head over boots in love with her.

  (28) Savannah

  After leaving from meeting his Mum, Hunter takes me to the only restaurant in town. It to is packed with people. Normally crowds make me anxious, but I feel safe with Hunter by my side.

  His Mum is just as amazing as him and I truly understand where he gets his caring nature from.

  My heart had swelled, pounding in my chest when he'd called me his 'girlfriend'.

  It’s all such a whirlwind and from Hunter's words completely unplanned.

  He wants me to be a part of his life, that’s a certainty and more than I care to admit I want it as well.

  I truly want to be his girlfriend more than anything but I’m technically still married. Hunter may or may not know this as I’m not really sure how much he’s been told about my past and I'd left my wedding rings in my jewellery box when I ran.

  Sitting down across from him in a corner booth I shake my head, needing to stop thinking about the past to focus on him and the thoughtful night he's planned.

  Sensing my rising anxiety, he takes my hands with his across the table. "I'm sorry if I scared you back there, but I want you to be my girlfriend Savannah, more than anything."

  I beam at him, "I wwwa..." I start to say the words, but as usual they get caught in my throat.

  "Its ok, you don't have to tell me Savannah. I know already."

  He leans across the table
, kissing me softly.

  God, I really am falling in love with him.

  Quite suspiciously, an older woman wearing a name badge that says, 'Squeak' has appeared at our table, like she has been watching us from the moment we'd walked in the door and was waiting for the most inappropriate moment to come over to our table. As soon as her mouth opens I find her rude.

  “Well, Hunter Mackenney, it is true."

  "Sorry?" he questions her, with a hint of rudeness.

  "What everyone's been saying? That your with the likes of the town mystery woman here."

  "Yes, I am with Savannah,” Hunter says winking at me.

  "So thats your name,” she squeaks, giving reference to her name badge.

  Hunter is clearly annoyed at her insolence. He’s defensive when he replies, "How about you just take our order and mind your own god damn business."

  She goes to open her mouth to reply but only a squeak comes out. Clearly her name badge is right.

  "We'll take two of my usual and two coffees,” Hunter almost demands.

  She scribbles on her notepad, squeaks a 'yes, ok' and turns to head to the kitchen.

  I look across at Hunter and we both burst into a fit of laughter. He starts imitating her squeaks causing me to laugh so hard I damn near wet my pants.

  It takes me back to the days in the hospital when he was telling me jokes, or funny stories about growing up on the farm.

  I'd started to fall for him then, and now I’m falling even harder for him.

  It’s impossible not to.

  When our food comes, we eat in silence, trying to not glance at each other so as to not burst into laughter and spit food everywhere.

  It isn't an uncomfortable silence though. It’s just like the nights at the farmhouse when we'd eaten dinner together.

  It didn't matter where I was I felt comfortable in Hunters presence.

  Putting down my knife and fork I lick my lips.