A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2)

by Nikki Lynn Barrett

By the time evening rolled around, Hunter had taken her to a few art museums, which she'd absolutely loved! Ideas flowed in her mind about how to build up her own artistic ability. For the first time in a while, Becca had sparks of inspiration. She'd lost the spark for a while, even though creating art had always been her way of releasing emotions. Hunter's request for normal was much simpler to do than she'd imagined. She hoped it was helping him the way it started to for her.

  Most importantly, they reconnected. Slowly but surely, the tension they carried between them for weeks chipped away. Would it return when they went back to a 'non-normal' status?

  "Three miles from Whispering Willows." Hunter read the sign out loud at the very same time she'd spotted it. "Sounds like an intriguing little town. How would you feel about grabbing dinner and finding a place to stop for the night? We'll stop at a few shops, pick up the bare necessities and call it good."

  "Works for me," she signed quickly so Hunter could focus back on the road.

  "I think it's going to be a nice mountain tourist place. I don't think I've ever been here," Hunter mused. He drove slower through the curvy roads. Driving through the mountains was peaceful and scenic.

  Hunter pulled off at the next sign that mentioned food and rest. They'd made it for the evening. She couldn't wait to get some food in her belly.

  "So, how about checking in at the lodge here first, then grab dinner?" Hunter asked, turning on another little gravel road. "I'd hate to have to drive out too late if we can't find a place to stay for the night. I can't imagine them being full, but I guess you never know."

  Becca nodded.

  "And there we go. It's a whole little town! There's shops and food, and the lodge is stunning! Hey, I think I see a little body of water with a dock. Oh man, this place is cool!" Hunter's excitement reminded her of a child, full of wonder and intrigue at an undiscovered treasure. She loved it. Her heart warmed at the sense of peace he seemed to feel. He parked close to the lodge and jumped out of the car with renewed energy. Becca hurried to catch up with him. He shot her a grin and curled his fingers through hers.

  The front desk person was middle aged with sandy brown shoulder length hair. Her blue eyes were warm and friendly as she checked them in and gave them a room key. "Enjoy your stay."

  "We will," Hunter chuckled, pocketing the key.

  They ventured to the room just to check it out. Quaint, homey and colored with a feel of a cabin. A light caramel brown color on the walls, photos of mountains and valleys, and a beautiful view of the water with the dock. The sun would be going down in about an hour. Long shadows followed tourists below as they walked around.

  "What do you think about checking out the shops first? That way we can get simple stuff we need for the night. They might be closed by the time we finish eating." Hunter held her hands in his.

  Becca didn't want to end the contact of holding hands so she gave another nod, even though she was sick and tired of always doing so. This normal thing was working out semi-well, but she wished she could have normal conversations.

  They ventured out of the room and walked around, going into each shop to see what they had. The stuff was a little overpriced as most gift shops tended to be, but it was still neat to sift through the souvenirs. Many of them looked to be hand crafted and well thought out. Becca found a soft white dress that she fell in love with and picked it up off the rack. She had nothing to wear tomorrow unless she wanted the same clothes again, which she didn't, so the dress was perfect.

  "Getting it?" Hunter eyed the fabric in her hands. "It's pretty. I can't wait to see it on you." He planted a kiss on her lips before heading over to a rack full of men's shirts.

  They ended up buying fifty dollars worth of stuff, some of it silly, but a great reminder of the fun they had. It would be another addition to the collection of souvenirs they'd bought throughout the day. Hunter sent her a sly grin as they left the shop as he produced something from the bag she hadn't seen. "Another one for your collection." He held his hand out.

  He'd picked up another key-chain. On the back, it was bright and colorful with the name Rebecca scrawled on it. On the other side was a picture with a view of the water at sunset. She couldn't keep the smile off her face.

  "Like it?" he asked, sounding hopeful.

  Instead of nodding or signing, Becca wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the rhythm of his heartbeat. Hunter's arms closed around her and she didn't want to let this moment go.

  The feeling of being safe had come back slightly. Right then and there, for the first time in weeks, she felt safe again with her hero.

  His twenty four hour normal plan really was working.

  *****

  Hunter couldn't help himself. He found little things to get to surprise Becca with. Simple gestures, but she loved them. The beautiful smile he'd missed started to show up again. His angel finally started opening up once more. When she hugged him and held on tightly, he knew he'd gotten through. She wasn't afraid of him any more. Maybe the worst was over after all.

  The sunlight faded and Hunter noticed the first glimpse of a starlit sky. The Whispering Willows Cafe offered up a picturesque patio view and the weather was clear and cool, so they opted to sit outside for dinner. Much to his surprise and delight, there was a grand piano in the corner under the covered area. A man sat in front of it playing songs while a woman stood nearby with a microphone in hand singing. Her voice had the sound of an old soul. Between her singing and the beautiful music, Hunter got lost in the sound.

  Couples were dancing near the piano. Candles decorated each table, casting a low light and making the ambiance just right.

  "This place surprises me more and more," he said in awe to Becca as they were seated.

  "It's amazing!"

  "I hope you plan to put some of these images to memory, because I'd love a few paintings to remember." Not that he'd ever forget this. The drive and unknown destinations had been just what they needed. Did they really have to go back home?

  Well of course they did. The world and all of it's chaos awaited them. His daughter awaited them. Life didn't simply stop because he couldn't handle it, but a short break like this sure helped.

  Every so often, it paid to be spontaneous.

  Becca pointed out what she wanted. After their host stopped by their table, Hunter covered Becca's hands with his own. He cocked his head to the side. "Come on. Dance with me." He thought she might protest, but her eyes lit up and she nodded. They both stood and hand in hand, they moved a little closer to the piano.

  Hunter pulled her close, moving to the soft music. Now this was what new love should be about. It was never too late to start giving the woman of his dreams what she deserved and so much more. Becca rested her head against him. He pressed gentle kisses in her hair.

  One day, he wanted to dance with her close like this while she wore her dream wedding dress. Mrs. Rebecca Beckman. Yeah, he loved the sound of that. He smiled, even though she couldn't see it. When the song ended, Hunter let her go. "Give me a second." He winked, keeping up the mystery as he headed over to the singer and piano player. "Do you take requests?"

  They both glanced at him with a nod and a smile. "Sure! What do you have in mind?"

  He took a few seconds to think about it, then made a request. He'd heard an older song on the radio a few days ago and it fit the two of them. "Do you know Masterpiece by Atlantic Starr? If you would, please dedicate it to Becca from Hunter. Tell her I'll love her always." He peeked over at Becca, who watched him carefully.

  "Now that's one lucky woman," the singer said. "We'll do your request after the next song."

  "Thanks!" Hunter pulled out a $5 and slipped it in the tip jar before making his way back to Becca.

  "What did you do?" she inquired when he stood before her.

  "I had a quick question I wanted to ask," he replied with a casual tone. The way her gaze slid over him curiously, he knew he got her.

  As promised, after the next song finished, the singer spoke
into the microphone. "This next tune is dedicated to Becca from Hunter, who loves you always. Give it up for this sweet couple. Makes me want to be young again." She pointed at the two of them.

  Becca's cheeks were red and she couldn't hide that beautiful smile.

  "I think this is our cue to dance to one more song." Hunter held out his hands.

  They held the other close, moving slowly. This time Becca kept her eyes on him. A gentle breeze played with her hair and she blew a few strands away. Listening to the words again, he decided this was most definitely the perfect song for them.

  "I do and will love you always, Bec." Hunter kissed her lips lovingly. "You make everything worth it. Don't ever forget."

  Chapter Fourteen

  What an amazing evening. Hunter went out of his way to bring a smile to her face. The song dedication almost had her in tears. Happy ones, of course. As they headed back to the lodge after dinner, Hunter skipped around, danced and sang the song he'd dedicated to her. He picked her up, twirled her and gave her a kiss before setting her down.

  Becca had to admit, she loved this side of him, even if right now he was trying to put on a show to hide how he felt. This is what they'd been missing, so she'd take it. Let real life go away for just a little while.

  People laughed and pointed at them. Becca grinned back, glad to have a cheerful boyfriend who wanted to be giddy. They both missed out on those years when their normal childhood was cut short.

  Oops, there she went. Well, Hunter said not to talk about those things. He never said anything about thinking them. Not like she could really control where her thoughts went at times.

  Back in their room, Hunter opened the balcony doors to let the fresh air in. "Want to sit out here and enjoy the stars a little more?"

  She did. Tossing her purse on the large bed, she kicked off her shoes. The soft, plush carpeting felt wonderful on her aching feet.

  Outside, Becca settled on a chair. Hunter sat across from her and he gently raised her legs to rest them over his. He proceeded to rub her left foot. She leaned her head back and stared up at the stars. What a view! The sound of the crickets chirping in the background soothed her.

  "Do you have a bucket list?" Hunter blurted. "Things you'd love to do or places you want to see before you die?"

  That was out of the ordinary, or maybe not, considering Hunter had that way about him. Becca raised her head again and thought about his question before answering. "I suppose I do. I never considered it a bucket list, but I get the idea." She cringed when Hunter rubbed a sore spot.

  "Where would you want to go? One place for me is Germany. I've never been and I want to." Hunter moved to her other foot. The moonlight cast a silvery glow everywhere, making his face seem silver-gray.

  Considering she'd never really been places, it was easy to come up with a list. "Hawaii. I want to experience all there is. I want to swim with the dolphins."

  "I wonder if we could take a cruise and go one day," Hunter mused. "I bet your mind would be full of scenic views to paint."

  Was this his way of fishing for things to plan? Maybe, maybe not. Either way she enjoyed this conversation. It sure was nice to dream.

  "You know, I've never been to Disneyland, Six Flags, or any of those places." Hunter let go of her feet and leaned forward. "I bet Sienna would love a trip. We should go. The whole family. I bet Beverly and Todd would love it. Maybe in spring. Or go earlier, like the holidays. Wouldn't that be magical?"

  "I've never been there either." Those had been far fetched dreams as a child. Commercials she'd seen on TV and wondered about all the fun other kids had. Did her parents take her and Ellie when they were still alive?

  There she went again. It was so hard to not think about the past!

  "It's a plan then." Hunter's excitement was contagious. Becca all of a sudden wanted to go to these places more than ever. "We'll ride so many rides. We'll be the biggest kids at Disneyland."

  A sound escaped her lips resembling a laugh. "You make everything so easy sometimes!"

  Hunter made a face. "Yeah, I don't think so." He touched her leg. "Today was amazing with you, Bec. I haven't felt this good since we first met up and reconnected on the island. Makes me feel like I still have a shot with you after all."

  The last words made her heart lodge in her throat. Did he think she'd had enough and would walk away? Becca sat up straight, setting her feet back on the ground. "You never lost your shot. We're both in a bad place, but I love you more than anyone in the world."

  Hunter shot to his feet and held his hands out to her. Then he helped her up and pulled her in his arms where he wrapped them around her, cradling her to his body. His lips crashed over hers, begging for an intense, needy kiss. A fire lit up inside and she kissed him back, sliding her arms around him, one of them making it's way up to his hair to run her fingers through it.

  I'm not afraid of him any more.

  Her internal revelation startled her.

  Becca found a hero in Hunter again. Her safety net. The one man who'd always given his all for her. That man had come back out today. Whatever tomorrow brings, she didn't know or even care at this very moment. What mattered right now was for the first time in weeks, she was safe. Safe with Hunter where she belonged. Their tongues meshed, deepening the desire they were both feeling. She could tell by the way he kissed her that he felt the same.

  "I love you so much," he muttered against her lips, going for kisses between each word. "My angel."

  She opened her mouth to respond, for a split second forgetting she had no voice to work with.

  Hunter pulled back, as he brushed her cheeks with his fingertips, like he was tracing her facial features. "Want to continue this inside?" He sounded hopeful.

  Instead of nodding, Becca took his hand and led the way in the room. She pushed the balcony door shut.

  "You're my world, Becca." Hunter slid a hand down her arm, sending a wave of goose bumps all over. He cupped the back of her head with his other hand, bringing her closer to him. The intensity in his eyes electrified her. There was so much love there. Unconditional, deep love. She realized then and there how lucky she was to have found such a love. He leaned in for another sweet kiss again. With one quick move, Hunter released her hair from it's loose clipped bun, then ran his fingers through the locks. His lips were cool and moist when he moved to kiss her along her neck. Becca closed her eyes and let out a moan. Another sound she could make even without talking. Still so strange!

  She didn't remember moving or being moved but the next thing she knew, her back was against the wall. Becca opened her eyes and stared into Hunter's eyes.

  For a second, her mind went to a place it shouldn't have. The wall. Hunter so close. She mentally shook it off but her head jerked, too.

  Hunter noticed and stopped. "Oh, damn. I'm sorry, Bec." His eyes were wide and full of remorse. "I didn't mean-"

  She wasn't afraid, and she wished she could tell him that verbally. Since she couldn't, Becca touched his lips with her fingers. When she knew he wouldn't say anything else she removed her fingers and pressed her lips to his instead. After the kiss, Becca took a step back. "I'm not afraid. You don't need to apologize. I was a little startled for a second, that's all."

  A haunted expression darkened the green in his eyes. "Are you sure?"

  "I'm sure. We're going to be okay, Hunter. We're getting us back."

  "I want that more than anything right now," he whispered as he cupped the back of her head, drawing her close again. His breath was hot against her lips as he inched closer. "I want us back."

  She did too, and it seemed like they were on the path to getting there. Slowly, but the fact that they were progressing forward was a good sign.

  Hunter didn't kiss her again like she thought. Instead, he kicked off his shoes, his eyes still fixed on her, ablaze with love and need.

  Becca shivered, and Hunter's lips quirked up in a grin. He rested his hands on each side of her hip. His left one fingered the edge of her re
d shirt. Now he was just messing with her in an attempt to get another shiver. He finally stopped and lifted her shirt. Becca raised her hands over her head and let him finish the job. He dropped it on the ground. Hunter's shirt wasn't as simple, as he wore a button down. She worked slowly on each button, a grin on her face. Payback.

  Hunter growled at her before nibbling at her lip. She held back a laugh at his response and unbuttoned the bottom one. As he slid his arms out of the shirt, Becca traced along his chest in circles with the tips of her fingers before moving lower to unbutton his blue jeans. Desire throbbed in between her legs. By the bulge in Hunter's pants, she knew he felt it too. It had been a while since either of them felt like this. Tonight was perfect, a step higher for the both of them.

  "So beautiful," Hunter whispered as he brought his lips back against her skin. He unclasped her bra, tossing it with her shirt.

  Becca reached for his boxers and tugged them down. At least this time, staying at a hotel, they wouldn't be interrupted by room service like the last time. Her body trembled as she held in a laugh and Hunter ran his hand along her lower back.

  "What?" he asked gently.

  "Just a memory making me laugh."

  Hunter's brows raised in question. "Care to enlighten me?" A look of relief spread across his face. He must have thought she hesitated for something else again.

  No, what she wanted to do was continue what they'd been doing. But she started this. "I was thinking about how we wouldn't have to stop for room service this time."

  Hunter let out a hearty laugh. "I won't ever forget that night." He trailed a finger along her jaw. His voice was full of love.

  Neither would she. The night they finally gave in to years of hidden feelings. It was one she would carry in her heart forever.

  Hunter surprised her by sweeping her up in his arms. Even though the bed was just a few feet away, he carried her to it and gently laid her down. He hitched a thumb on each side of her panties and pulled them down before he climbed up beside her.