He watched in fascination as Olivia brushed the hair from out of her eyes and made eye contact with him for the first time in almost ten years. Her perfect, bow shaped lips opened in surprise, and her beautiful eyes widened in shock as the realization hit her that the black sheep of the Rawlings family had come home.
“Hunter!” Olivia let go of the lab’s collar and came barreling towards him at breakneck speed, surprising him by throwing herself at him like a rocket soaring into orbit. Rascal took that opportunity to scamper away and dash towards a side entrance to the house. Olivia wrapped her arms around his neck and he inhaled her sweet scents – lavender soap with a hint of vanilla and just the slightest touch of peppermint. Hunter inhaled deeply. There was no mistaking the fact that Olivia had blossomed over the last ten years. Her beauty had morphed into utter radiance.
If she only knew how many times he'd reminisced about kissing those ruby lips, he mused, it would make her blush all the way into next week. A rush of disappointment flooded through him as she released her stranglehold on his neck and moved backwards a few steps away from him. Hunter noticed the way her hands shook slightly as she once again smoothed her hair back away from her face. He wondered if Olivia was nervous or if she had pulled away from him for another reason altogether.
“Sorry! I don’t know what came over me,” Olivia said in an apologetic voice. “I didn’t mean to smother you.”
Hunter couldn’t help but grin as he remembered how nice it had felt to be treated to such a warm welcome. Olivia had absolutely nothing to apologize for. He’d enjoyed every moment. “And here I thought you were fixing to punch me in the stomach,” he teased.
“W-Why would I do a thing like that?” she asked with a nervous laugh.
“Maybe 'cause the last time we laid eyes on each other you were spitting mad that I was leaving. If I remember correctly, you called me every name in the book and then some.”
“We were just kids then. A lot has changed since then,” Olivia said calmly as she met his gaze. “I’ve matured.” Hunter reached out and pushed a stray lock of hair away from her face, his fingertips grazing her temple as the silky strands swirled through his fingers. For a moment their eyes locked and he fought against an overwhelming desire to bend his head down and taste her sweet ruby lips, to bask in her honeyed perfection. She tilted her head upwards and stared into his eyes, a flash of awareness sparkling in her eyes. Hunter leaned in towards her, pausing to inhale her perfumed scent as his nose grazed against the nape of her neck, his lips dangerously close to hers as he lifted his head and gazed intently into her eyes. Just one kiss, he told himself.
He shook his head to rid himself of these crazy thoughts. What in the world had come over him? Olivia was a gorgeous woman, one who'd always held a special place in his heart. For Hunter, she was his what if, his might have been. What if he hadn’t left home ten years ago? What if he'd stayed…for Olivia? But he hadn’t! It was important for him to keep that fact in perspective. He'd left Savannah and stayed gone for ten long years. Besides, he reminded himself rationally, if he hadn’t left he wouldn’t be the man he was today – respected, powerful, successful and wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.
He'd come back to this town for one reason and one reason only, he reminded himself. To show the people of Savannah that he'd made something of himself and to create a legacy for the Rawlings family in town. Jax and Callie’s wedding had provided the perfect opportunity for his return to town, and he intended to forge a trail through Savannah like a comet blazing to Earth.
He harbored no illusions about the fall out. It would be brutal. Earth shattering. And some might perceive him in a negative light.
Hunter frowned as his mother’s image popped into his mind. Mama would be furious when she discovered what he’d done. But there was no way he was going to let his mother guilt him into changing the course he'd set out on. It was far too late for that. Once he set his mind on acquiring a corporation, there was nothing in this world that could stop him from achieving his goal. Acquiring Renault Industries was part of his destiny, and he had no intention of messing with fate's plans. Who was he to mess with destiny’s grand design?
He took a step backward from Olivia, his eyes roaming with appreciation all over her face. As a man who surrounded himself with the most beautiful women in the world, he had a true appreciation for spectacular women. Olivia was in a class all of her own. Her beauty was luminous. At the same time there was something old fashioned about her appearance. She was a timeless beauty.
“The years have been very kind to you. You could give top models a run for their money,” he said with a cheeky grin.
Olivia shook her head and wagged her finger at him. “After all these years you’re still full of compliments. You always were the biggest flirt in town,” she said with a laugh. “You had all the girls wrapped around your little finger.”
Except you, he wanted to say. You made me work for it.
He stared at her intently, hesitant to darken the mood, but knowing certain things had to be said. “I was sorry to hear about your Mama. She was a good woman.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. “Not a day goes by that I don't miss her.”
Upon hearing his condolences, a look of sadness flitted across Olivia’s face, quickly replaced by a poised expression that reflected no emotion. Hunter had the feeling Olivia had used this placid expression countless times in order to hide her true feelings. It was a cover, he suspected. A mask she wore to hide what lay underneath. Hunter knew Olivia well enough to know she was sentimental. She’d been the girl who had cried over boys stomping on spiders and crushing ants. He imagined her mother’s death had rocked her world.
Although Hunter didn’t know the particulars of Gigi Renault’s death, the Savannah Gazette had indicated in the obituary that she had succumbed to “a long illness.” That had been roughly two years ago. A burst of sympathy flared within Hunter as he recalled the tangled emotions he'd felt after his father’s sudden passing, the strongest of which had been guilt. What raw emotions were roiling around beneath Olivia’s calm surface? He knew from his own personal experience with her that Olivia Renault was a spectacular woman; Her flame burned brighter than the sun when she allowed it to shine.
“Come to dinner tonight,” Olivia suggested. “Your mother will be here dining with us. Sadie too. Your brothers can't make it. I’m preparing the whole meal myself.”
“Can you cook any?” Hunter asked with a laugh. Images of Olivia burning down the kitchen danced in his head. He couldn’t remember a time when the Renaults hadn’t relied on their beloved cook, Fannie Mae, for all their culinary needs. Then again, Fannie Mae would be pushing eighty-five years old or so by now, a few years too old to be running a household. Clearly, a lot had changed since he’d left Savannah!
Olivia visibly bristled at his laughter. “Of course I can cook. I've been taking care of Daddy since Mama passed on. Before she died Mama taught me all her secret recipes.” Although she smiled there was a hint of sadness in her eyes as she said, “Some of my best memories are of Mama teaching me how to make her Southern fried catfish, cinnamon apple pie, corn fritters and a hundred other mouth-watering delights. Even though she was sick, she took it upon herself to make sure her recipes were passed on through the family. It was a wonderful gift.”
“I always liked your Mama. Even as a kid I remember thinking she didn't take herself too seriously.” He smirked at the memory of Gigi Renault dressing down some of the society ladies who were gossiping about one of the eligible widowers in town. “She was a spirited, God-fearing woman, that's for sure. One of a kind.”
“Yes, she was. And gone too soon,” she murmured as a look of sorrow flitted across her face, quickly replaced by a steady smile.
“What're you fixing to serve tonight?” Hunter asked as he licked his lips in anticipation. Just the thought of a home cooked southern meal was making his stomach grumble.
“Brisket, Southern fr
ied chicken, dumplings, collard greens, cornbread, mashed potatoes and a mango bean salad.” Olivia rattled off the menu with ease. at all. “And,” Olivia added with a grin, “I'm serving peach cobbler for dessert.”
Hunter was practically drooling. “Well then, I guess I’ll see you tonight. I need to go see Mama before she sends out a search party.”
Olivia smiled at him. “I imagine she’s excited to see you. It’s been a long time since you’ve been back home, Hunter.
Hunter nodded. “It’s nice to be back, Olivia.”
“See you tonight,” Olivia said with a little wave as he headed towards his motorcycle and hopped on. With one last lingering look at Olivia, he roared off towards home and a reunion with his family.
**
As Hunter roared away on his fancy Kawasaki, Olivia couldn’t help but relive the past. Ten years ago she'd stood in this very spot and raged against the young man she loved as he sped out of town and towards a new life that didn't include her. Tears pooled in her eyes as the memory of Hunter’s desertion came tumbling into the present; All the old insecurities rose up inside her, leaving her feeling cold, shaky and very alone. It almost felt as if she was reliving it all over again.
Back then it had felt like the end of the world, as if the very air she breathed was being cut off. She had loved him so fiercely, with all her heart and soul. Had Hunter stayed in Savannah, she would have fought tooth and nail to be his one and only. She would have strived hard to earn his love. He'd always had hers, ever since that moment in the moonlight when he'd imprinted himself on her soul.
And now, after coming face to face with him after so many years apart, she knew a part of her would always be drawn to this man. But, she couldn't afford to love him. The price of loving Hunter had been way too high, and she was never going down that dark road again. Loving him had brought her to her knees.
Olivia sucked in a deep breath. Time had done nothing to lessen his impact. Had he always been this tall, she wondered? He was over six feet she would guess. And his lean frame had filled out a bit, she noted, judging by the way he filled out his jeans and the broad swath of his shoulders. He was still as handsome as sin, with dark good looks that many a movie actor would envy. With skin the color of raw almonds, eyes as black as coal, chiseled facial features and a pair of dimples that would thaw any woman’s heart, he was a fine male specimen. He wore his hair low cut to his scalp in a tapered fade. The man was achingly handsome, she thought. Simply unforgettable.
And those lips! They'd once kissed her with such amazing tenderness. She had relived those kisses on many a lonely night. The memories had sustained her while she’d nursed a broken heart.
He'd changed though, she realized with a sinking heart. There was no more rough-around-the-edges in him. Despite his motorcycle and the casual clothing he was wearing, Hunter Rawlings exuded power and success. There was little trace of his southern accent in the way he clearly and perfectly enunciated his words. There was no sign of the vulnerable young man who had once sported the biggest chip in the world on his shoulders. Back then he'd vowed to rule the world one day. And now, for all intents and purposes, he did.
Clearly, Hunter had lived his life to the fullest, becoming polished and cultured along the way. Not to mention extremely wealthy. She'd heard all the gossip about him dating supermodels. She'd seen all the scandal rag pictures of Hunter basking on a pebbled beach in the South of France with an Academy Award winning actress. She could never compete with those women. It was clear he'd moved far beyond the youthful romance they'd shared back in the day.
But it didn't stop her from wondering what might have been. It didn't stop her from wanting him more than she'd ever wanted anything in this world. And even though she still had feelings for him, there was something far more pressing at the moment than her emotional needs. She needed to help her father save Renault Industries, and with the help of the Wonder Boy, aka Hunter Rawlings, she might be able to rescue her family legacy from the brink of bankruptcy.
“There will never be anything more important than family. Don’t ever forget that, sweetheart.” Gigi Renault
Chapter Three
As soon as Hunter drove past the Old Mill farmhouse his heart began to thump wildly within his chest. When he crossed over the gray covered bridge he glanced up and saw the heart he'd carved into the wood so many years ago. HR + OR. The letters were weathered and faded, but they were still there. He couldn't believe it. It was hard to imagine it had withstood a decade’s worth of storms. He smiled at the memory of being so in love with Olivia that he'd wanted to leave an indelible mark to record his feelings. He'd wanted it to last forever. It was probably the most romantic gesture he'd ever made in his life, he realized.
Where had that boy gone, he wondered? He couldn’t remember the last time he had made such a romantic gesture.
A half mile down the road he saw the sign for the Oak Lawn cemetery and he impulsively made a left hand turn to enter the hallowed ground. A few twists and turns of the road took him to his father's resting place, and he stopped the bike in front of the small, grey headstone engraved with his father's name. Tyler Rawlings. Husband. Father. Friend. Loved by all. Gone too soon. A fresh bouquet of sunflowers had been placed in front of the grave, no doubt by Mama, who made weekly visits to the cemetery.
A few years ago he'd suggested to his mother that they should replace the meager headstone for a fancier, more elaborate one. She'd summarily rejected the notion, telling him in no uncertain terms that his father's life was testament enough to the honorable life he'd led. Hunter would never forget her words. “A fancy headstone doesn't change a thing, son. He lived his life as a simple man. Don't you think it's fitting that he stays that way?”
Her words had shamed him, drawing attention to his habit of trying to overcompensate with his fortune. More than once Mama had taken it upon herself to remind him that money and happiness were two different things. No one would ever question his vast fortune, but contentment was an entirely different matter.
As he left the cemetery and headed past the Stallingsworth horse farm he could practically smell it in his nostrils. Home. He revved the engine and floored it the last half mile as pure adrenaline coursed through his veins. The grey clapboard house with white and blue trim welcomed him before the street sign even came into view. 101 Redding Way. At last. He was home.
Despite the fact that he'd deposited huge amounts of money in his Mama's savings account, she'd refused to move from the family home. Although he'd wanted her to live in the lap of luxury, the truth of the matter was he couldn't imagine her living anywhere else but here. Instead of moving lock, stock and barrel into the ritziest mansion in town, Mae had remodeled his childhood home by adding three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a massive kitchen, a mud-room and a stately living room. Although he'd seen photos of the renovations it was the first time he'd seen the remodeled home in person.
As he zoomed into the circular driveway he saw his Mama rush out of the house and onto the wraparound porch. She stood there for a moment, her eyes filled with tears as she drank in the sight of him. Hunter hopped off the bike and flipped the kickstand down with his foot before he rushed towards his mother and swept her up into his arms. Mae Rawlings was a raven haired, pleasingly plump stick of dynamite. Being in his mother's arms was the most comforting sensation in the world, Hunter realized, one he hadn't experienced in months. The last time he'd seen her had been six months ago when she'd flown to Tahiti to join him on vacation. That's the way it usually went down with their reunions. Hunter would ask his family to join him at various locations they'd always dreamed of seeing when they were kids. Hawaii. Bali. Africa. Canary Islands.
The Lord had blessed him with a very successful career and the assets to be able to make long-held dreams come true. He knew that he hadn’t done it on his own. God had been with him every step of the way.
Hunter pulled away from the embrace, for the first time noticing the streaks of white
in his mother's hair and the crow's feet settling in around her eyes. At fifty-seven years old she was still a looker, but she wasn't a spring chicken anymore, he realized with a pang. Where had the time gone? It seemed as if it was just yesterday she was chasing him and his three siblings around the three acres surrounding their property. It had always surprised them how fast their mother could run – she flew hard and fast, just like the wind.
“You're home,” his mother gushed, her round, pecan colored face lit up with joy as she gazed upon his features. “My handsome boy is home.”
Hunter looked down at his disheveled appearance and said, “I don't know how handsome I look at the moment, but I'm here. I told you I'd be back for Jax and Callie’s wedding and I wasn't about to break that promise.”
Mae tweaked her son's nose and planted a kiss on his cheek. “You'd be handsome if you were covered head to toe in mud. You're the spitting image of your father,” she said in a voice tinged with pride.
“There you go again, Mama, feeding his massive ego,” a female voice drawled. Hunter turned just in time to see his sister Sadie as she pushed open the screen door and joined them on the porch. He threw back his head in laughter, happy to return to the familiar rhythms of childhood. Since he and Sadie only had two years between them they'd always shared a close, jovial relationship. Sadie held out her arms and wrapped her brother in a welcoming hug.
His sister was the family caretaker, the one who made sure everyone was healthy, happy and connected to one another. She was a tall bean-pole of a woman, her lean body a source of personal irritation in a world where womanly curves were all the rage. To her dismay, Sadie had the body of an athlete. Her chocolate complexion was flawless, and her striking features had won her the attention of numerous boyfriends, none of whom she considered as keepers. Although Mama swore someone had broken Sadie's heart, his sister had always been mum on the subject.
A Moment in the Moonlight (Secrets of Savannah Book 2) Page 3
