by Tori Scott
"Yep," she replied with a wide smile.
Sandy pulled Hunter out into the hall, then led him to a sitting area at the end. "Sit," she ordered.
"Yes, ma'am. What's on your mind?"
"What was that little charade all about in there?"
Hunter tried to look innocent. "You mean the three bears thing? Just trying to make Melanie laugh. You did great keeping up your end, too."
Sandy put her hands on her hips and her sternest teacher's look on her face. "You know very well that's not what I'm talking about. Why the big show about Jason buying the bear? We both know he didn't. Although I wouldn't tell Melanie that, because he went up ten notches on her hero list. What I don't understand is why you went to so much trouble to cover up the fact that you bought it."
"What makes you think Jason didn't buy it?"
"Get real, Hunter. He didn't have the bear with him when he came upstairs the first time. No place here in the hospital sells one that big. He came back with it a few minutes after he went downstairs, right before you showed up. I'm not stupid. I'm also not mad. I just want you to tell me the truth."
Hunter slumped in his chair. "Ok, fine. I did buy the bear. I didn't want you to be mad because I didn't ask you first. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I saw it in the store and couldn't resist."
Sandy sighed and shook her head. "Look, I don't mind you getting things for Melanie as long as you don't go overboard, or go against my wishes. I would like to be consulted before you buy something big, but there was no harm done. She loves it."
Hunter smiled. "Yeah, she seems to. So, where do you want to go for dinner tonight?"
Sandy blinked at the quick change of subject. "I didn't know we were going to dinner tonight."
"Sure we were. Don't you remember? We talked about it at lunch."
"Hunter," Sandy sighed, "we did not talk about it. You said 'Let's talk over dinner.' I never gave you an answer. Maybe if you asked, instead of assuming."
"Okay, okay. I'm starting to catch on here. Sandy, would you do me the honor of having dinner with me tonight?"
"Very nicely done. Yes, I will, as long as we stay near the hospital and as long as Melanie is still doing okay. That's the best answer I can give right now."
"Then that will have to do. Around seven? That will give me time to go home and change," he said, rubbing his jaw, "and shave."
"That's fine. Debbie Sweeney is bringing Jenny by to see Melanie around five-thirty. I'll call her and ask her to pick up a change of clothes for me. Could you let her into my house?"
"Sure. Anything else?"
"No, and thanks."
Hunter took her hand and pulled her close. "No, thank you," he said, just before he kissed her.
Oh, man. He sure knew his way around a kiss. His were nothing like the obligatory pecks she'd gotten from Todd. She'd endured those. She reveled in Hunter's. He used his tongue like a secret weapon, invading all the hidden places of her mouth. Hot and deep, strong and forceful, just like Hunter himself.
When his hands slid down the sides of her hips and around to cup her bottom she stiffened slightly, but he soothed her with soft murmurings and the gentle caress of big, hard hands molding her flesh. He urged her closer and she went without argument. She couldn't seem to get enough of his strength, the one thing she should be frightened of. But she wasn't. He wasn't using his strength to force her, but rather to seduce her.
Her arms crept up around his neck, seemingly of their own volition, and her hands slid into the soft hair above his collar. She gave herself over to the moment and forgot about Melanie and Jason back in the room. She forgot about the other patients and their families who could walk in at any moment. All she could think of was this man, who made her feel things she'd never felt before.
Voices outside the door jerked them apart and Hunter turned her away from the door. He led her to the window, farther from prying eyes. When he reached down and fastened the top two buttons of her blouse, she blushed. She hadn't even realized they were undone.
"I'm not going to say I'm sorry," he told her, "because I'm not. I'm just sorry we weren't somewhere private, so we could finish what we started."
"Don't," Sandy said quietly. "I shouldn't have let things go as far as they did. I have a daughter to think of, to set an example for. You need to do the same for your son."
Hunter chuckled. "My son is planning to teach me all about women when we get home. He thinks I'm out of practice. I think he'd definitely approve."
Good Lord. If Hunter gets any better, I'll melt right into the floor. Aloud, she said, "Speaking of going home, you'd better get moving if you're going to get back here in time to take me to dinner. And I need to go call Debbie."
"Okay. Just promise me one thing," Hunter said as they headed toward the door. "Once Melanie is home and on the mend, I want to take you out on a real date--dinner, dancing, the whole shebang. Will you go?"
Sandy hesitated for a moment. "Yes," she finally answered with a decisive nod. "By the time she's feeling better, I'll need a night out."
Hunter released the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. It had been more than seventeen years since he'd asked a woman for a date. He couldn't believe how good her acceptance made him feel.
***
By the time Hunter and Jason returned to the hospital three hours later, Sandy's nerves were jumping under her skin. During the entire visit with Jenny and her mother, Sandy found her mind wandering to Hunter and the approaching dinner. It was silly to be so nervous about a simple dinner date.
"Sandy, yoohoo!" She looked up to find Debbie Sweeney waving a hand in front of her face. "Anybody in there?"
"Sorry. I was thinking about something else."
"That something wouldn't happen to be tall, dark, and handsome, would he? I'll have to admit, that man makes me stop and take a second look, and I'm an old married lady."
Sandy laughed. "You're definitely not old, Debbie. And yeah, I was thinking about Hunter. He scares me a little. You know what my life's been like. I don't want to be attracted to him, but I can't seem to help myself. What am I going to do?"
"Honey, there's nothing you can do but let nature take its course. I don't know Hunter very well yet, but I don't think he's anything like Todd," Debbie said, shaking her auburn curls. "When you and Todd first moved to the neighborhood, I knew there was something a little off about him. Don't take offense, but he acted like he was better than us. Like he was the only one who mattered."
Sandy felt the same way, but she didn't want to get into a discussion about Todd right then. It would just spoil her appetite. "Speaking of Hunter, I need to get dressed. Watch Mel for me, okay?"
"Sure," Debbie agreed, reaching over to ruffle Melanie's hair. "Jenny and Melanie are going to try to beat me at Go Fish, right girls?"
"Right!" both girls shouted with glee. Melanie pulled the stack of playing cards from her bag. She held her tongue between her teeth as she concentrated on trying to shuffle the cards, only to have them fly across the bed.
"Shoot!" she said, then immediately clapped her hand over her mouth. "Sorry, Mommy."
"That's okay, Melanie. Just remember what I told you about using words like that. It's not nice."
"But Jason says it all the time. And he's nice. How come he can say it and I can't?"
"Because Jason isn't mine. If he were, I'd tell him not to say that, too. Just because someone else says it doesn't make it all right for you. Now, pick up the cards and let Jenny's mom shuffle them for you. I'm going to get dressed."
"Oh, all right," Melanie grudgingly agreed.
Sandy stepped into the tiny bathroom to get ready for dinner. She brushed her teeth and freshened her makeup before stepping into the gray pantsuit Debbie had brought her.
After brushing her hair until it shone, she pulled it back into a French braid. Delicate gold hoops went into her earlobes, and she complemented those with a twisted-gold necklace and matching bracelet.
Her only ring was a small mother's ring she
had purchased just after Melanie's birth, which she now wore on her left hand. Her wedding ring had been put away in her jewelry box the day after her husband's funeral. She would save it for Melanie, but she didn't want the constant reminder of her marriage.
She studied her reflection in the mirror and decided her appearance was adequate, if not pretty. She wasn't the type of woman who turned men's heads, which made it difficult for her to believe that someone like Hunter could really be interested in her. He probably just needed companionship, and she was handy. As soon as someone better came along, he'd forget about her.
She wished she could turn off her thoughts as easily as she turned off the light. But it didn't happen. She often lay awake at night, when the house was dark and silent, and relived that last awful day of her husband's life. When she grieved, it wasn't for what she'd lost, but for what she'd never had. Shaking off her gloomy introspection, she pasted a smile on her face and opened the bathroom door.
She was unprepared for the sight of Hunter, scrubbed and clean-shaven, dressed in a navy-blue, pin striped suit, white shirt, and red tie. She'd never seen him dressed up, and the sight took her breath away. Good Lord, the man should wear a warning label. Caution: keep away from lonely widows and foolish women. She knew she was staring, but couldn't stop.
"You look beautiful," Hunter told her, handing her a single yellow rose.
"Ah-h-h," Sandy stammered, trying to gain control of her runaway senses. "So do you. I mean, you look very nice."
His mouth tilted up and her heart did another flip-flop. "Thanks. Are you ready to go?"
"S-sure. Let me tell Jenny and her mom good-bye." Stepping around Hunter, she was careful not to let herself brush against him, afraid she might spontaneously combust. She went to Melanie's bedside, where the girls were picking up cards and putting them back in the bag.
She gave Jenny a hug, then Debbie. "Thank you for coming to visit. Melanie's missed her best friend, and so have I."
As the girls said good-bye, Sandy picked up her purse, then leaned over and kissed her daughter. "You be good and mind Jason. Lights out at eight, and no begging to stay up later, understand?" Melanie stuck out her bottom lip, but nodded.
Sandy turned to Jason, who sat on the end of the bed. "If you have any problems, call your dad's cell phone."
She glanced at Hunter to make sure he had it with him. He nodded and pulled the phone out of his pocket so she could see it for herself. She leaned closer to Jason and whispered in his ear. "The medicine makes her sleepy. If you read to her, she'll probably drift off in a few minutes."
"Okay," he whispered back. A little louder, he said, "We'll be fine. Y'all have fun."
***
Hunter ushered her into the waiting elevator with his hand at her back. The light touch burned through her jacket, sending a shiver up her spine.
"Are you cold?" Hunter asked.
"No. I'm fine. Just a little nervous, maybe."
"Why? This isn't the first time we've had a meal together."
Sandy twisted her gold necklace into a knot, then realized what she was doing and let it go. "I don't know," she replied. "It just feels different this time."
"I know what you mean. I have to admit that I'm a bit edgy, too. I feel like I did at seventeen, afraid I'll trip over my own feet and make a fool of myself." He flashed the devastating grin that had captured her attention the first time they met. "It's hell starting over, isn't it?"
Some of Sandy's nervousness drained away at Hunter's admission. "You've got that right."
The elevator opened at the first floor and he held the door as she stepped out. His hand stayed at the small of her back as he guided her through the lobby and out the main doors. “Is Italian food okay with you?” Hunter asked. “There’s a place within walking distance that’s pretty good.”
Sandy’s mouth watered at the thought of real food not purchased in the hospital. “It sounds wonderful.” They turned right at the sidewalk and walked two blocks to the small, cosy restaurant. When they entered, they found it somewhat crowded though there were a couple of empty tables.
Plush maroon carpet covered the floor and light pink tablecloths covered each round table, a flickering candle floating in a small glass bowl at its center. The voices of the other diners were muted, a welcome break from the hospital cafeteria with its clanging dishes and voices echoing off of hard surfaces. Sandy felt some of the knots in her stomach beginning to ease and signs of the first real appetite she’d had in days.
Once they were seated and had placed their orders, Sandy sipped from her glass of wine. “This feels like Heaven, getting out of that hospital and feeling real carpet under my feet instead of that hard linoleum.”
Hunter had to agree. He’d never spent much time in hospitals, and didn’t particularly want to do it ever again. “It’s pretty nice as far as hospitals go, but it’s not my idea of a vacation spot.”
"I guess a hospital in this part of town has to keep up with the neighborhood," Sandy replied. "They certainly charge enough to maintain the image." She didn't want to think about what this hospital visit was going to cost her, even with her insurance coverage. She still had that deductible that would come out of her own pocket.
"You aren't worried about the bill for Melanie's treatment, are you? Because it's all taken care of. You won't owe a dime."
When she opened her mouth to protest, he covered her hand with his. "It's covered by my car insurance, Sandy. I'm not paying it myself. Although, I will be paying through the nose for insurance for the next few years, thanks to Jason. But that's one of the risks of having a teenage driver."
Sandy sagged in relief. She'd been so worried, she'd forgotten about his insurance. A tremendous weight lifted from her shoulders. Tears sprang to her eyes and she turned her head away so he wouldn't see them. She blinked rapidly in an effort to keep them from falling.
Hunter reached out and placed a finger on her jaw, turning her head back toward him. "You really were worried, weren't you? Are you having financial trouble?"
She shook her head. "No. We do all right. I just don't have much put back for emergencies."
"What about you husband's life insurance? Surely he had enough to take care of you and Melanie?"
"He had a small policy that his job provided. It was enough to pay for his burial and hospital bill. There wasn't much left over."
"What kind of man wouldn't make sure his family was taken care of?" he growled. At the stricken look on her face, he quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."
"No, you're right. You don't know the story about my husband's death, do you? The whole town knows, but you haven't been here long enough for the grapevine to pass the news along."
"I haven't heard it, but I'd like to know if you'll tell me. What happened? Did he have a heart attack?"
She laughed, a harsh sound that held no humor. "I guess you could call it that. You remember the freak ice storm we had two years ago?"
He nodded, his gaze steady on hers.
"Todd took a curve too fast and crashed his car into a tree. That would have been bad enough, but he had another woman with him."
Hunter looked stunned. Sandy couldn't blame him. She'd been pretty shocked herself when the police had told her about his passenger.
"I hated him that night. Then I spent the next year feeling guilty."
"You shouldn't be ashamed you felt that way. That's the worst thing a man can do to a woman. Or a woman to a man. Marriage vows should be sacred. Why get married at all if you're not going to commit yourself to one person for the rest of your life?"
She looked at Hunter in a whole new light, and she liked what she saw. After her talk with Jason, she knew a little about Hunter's marriage. But she hadn't known him. She felt she understood more about Hunter now than she had about her husband after six years of marriage.
They were silent for a while, each absorbed in their thoughts as they ate. Sandy glanced up from time to time to admire his chiseled featur
es. He looked so handsome, so strong. She watched his long fingers as they lifted a fork to his firm lips. It was incredibly sexy to watch him eat, with him unaware of her gaze. He was a man of strong appetites. As she watched him devour his food with intense concentration, she wondered what he was thinking. His expression was pensive, his eyes fixed on his plate.
Hunter seemed to realize he'd been lost in thought. He looked up and caught her staring. He smiled gently, then asked, "What was your husband like, other than unfaithful? What made you choose to marry him?"
"He asked me. That's all there was to it. I wanted out of the house, away from my father. I thought I could be a good wife, that I'd learn to love him. I guess I did, a little, in the beginning." She took a sip of tea to soothe her suddenly dry throat. "He was attentive and affectionate when we were dating. It wasn't until after we were married that I realized he was so much like my father. He started pulling away, emotionally, almost as soon as the rings were on our fingers."
She'd been so naive at seventeen. She'd actually thought Todd was different. That he could love her for who she was, without wanting to make her change. What a fool she'd been.
"I can't believe your parents gave you permission to get married at seventeen. You were only a year older than Jason is now."
"They didn't. We eloped and went to Oklahoma. Found a Justice of the Peace who agreed to marry us. I told him I was eighteen, and he never asked for any identification. I think it was legal to get married there at seventeen, but I didn't want to take the chance."
"Why did you stay with him? You didn't have Melanie for a while after you married."
"Because my father is a preacher and divorce was an unpardonable sin. The stigma would have destroyed him."
"So what did your father say after your husband was killed?"
She really didn't want to discuss this. She had scars that would never heal, and talking about it was like pouring salt in the open wounds. She stalled by taking another sip of wine, then patting her lips with her napkin. Then she smoothed the napkin across her lap, drying her moist palms at the same time.
She didn't know of a polite way to change the subject, however, so she answered his question. "My father was embarrassed that I’d drug the family name through the dirt. We don’t talk much these days. It’s sad that his reputation is more important than his own family, but that’s his problem."
