by Unknown
Hunter sat in his chair and let out a deep breath. “True. Nothing about this is typical.”
A satisfied smile stretched across his mother’s face.
“What?”
“It’s just nice to see, that’s all.”
“What’s nice to see?”
She pushed off the door and came around his desk to lean against it. “You, taking a chance on something you can’t fully analyze and dissect ahead of time.”
“I hate that I can’t do that.”
Molly tossed her head back and laughed. “I bet you do.”
“Glad you find it so funny.”
“It’s not funny so much as it is amusing and endearing.” She rearranged his hair the way she had nearly every day of his life growing up. Despite her best efforts, his hair continued to do its own thing. It had been years, decades perhaps, since she’d tried to tame it. “I love seeing you all in knots over a woman.”
“She’s … She’s special. I don’t want to screw it up.”
“She’s very special.”
“You really think so?” Hunter couldn’t believe how desperate he was for his mother’s approval, even though he certainly didn’t need it at his age.
“I really do. I’ll never forget how gracefully she and Nina handled their crushing loss. When they had to be dying inside, they made sure the funeral portrayed the wonderful people Rick and Lori were.”
Needing something to do with all the energy coursing through him, Hunter rubbed at the late-day stubble on his jaw. “I don’t think she’s ever gotten over it.”
“Who would? I’m almost sixty years old and my father is still at the center of my life. The day he isn’t there anymore … Well, I don’t have to tell you.”
“No, you don’t.” The thought of life without Elmer Stillman was like trying to imagine a day without sunshine. “He’s considering buying the diner, you know.”
“He’s what?”
“He’s in discussions to buy the diner.”
“Why?”
“The truth?”
She raised the formidable eyebrow that had kept ten children straight all their lives.
“I think he’s doing it because he knows I’m interested in Megan and wants to keep her in town.”
“Are you shitting me?”
Hunter had a formidable eyebrow of his own that served as his reply.
“That old schemer,” Molly said with a bark of laughter. “He sure has been busy lately.”
“With some help from your husband.”
“What do you know?”
“Just that the two of them seem to have taken it upon themselves to ‘help us along’ in the romance department. They think they’re so clever, but they’re not really fooling anyone.”
“You can’t argue with their results though. A wedding, an engagement and a shack-up all in one year. Not bad.”
“Not bad at all, and I get the feeling they’re looking to add me to their list of successes.”
“Are you bothered by that?”
“Not as much as I would be if I hadn’t been waiting forever for this chance with Megan. I spent a sleepless night trying to figure out how we could buy the diner to keep her in town, and then along came Gramps with a solution to my problem. I can’t say that bothered me much at all.”
Molly smiled at him. “What did Megan have to say about it?”
“That it would give her some time to figure out her next move.” As he said those words, a sinking feeling came over him. The thought of her moving on to something—or someone—else made him feel ill. “She’s been right across the street all this time, and I couldn’t work up the nerve to ask her out.”
“Because you knew she was interested in Will.”
“Partially. But also because it’s always seemed more significant with her. I don’t know why. I don’t even know her all that well when it comes right down to it. I just know how I feel when she’s around.”
“You need to trust that feeling, Hunter.”
“I’m trying to, but she’s already warning me off her.”
“How so?”
“She said she’s not interested in being serious with anyone.”
“She’s scared, honey. She’s already lost so much in her life that she’s put up brick walls all around her heart to keep the hurt out.”
“What if I can’t get past those walls?”
“You’ve always been an excellent climber,” she said, grinning. “From the time you were nine months old and already escaping from your crib. If you want her badly enough, and I think you do, you’ll find a way over the walls.”
“You don’t think I’m a fool for getting involved with someone who’s already told me she doesn’t want what I want?”
“I think you’d be a fool not to try, but you need to do so fully aware that she might not change her mind about what she wants—and what she doesn’t.”
Lost in thought, he once again tapped his mechanical pencil against his lip. “I like your idea of getting in the car and taking off somewhere with her.”
“You don’t always have to have a plan. Remember that.”
“I might need a reminder from time to time.”
“There’s no place in matters of the heart for spreadsheets or pie charts.”
“What?” he asked, horrified.
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I have to say it does my heart good to see you taking a chance with yours. It’s about time.”
“What if … What if I take this huge gamble on her, and she decides to leave town or that I’m not the one for her or something equally unfortunate.”
“That’s always a risk, but if she decides to leave town you could always go with her.”
“How do I do that when my job and my entire life are here?”
“I know I speak for your father when I tell you neither of us would ever want you to feel like you were stuck here out of some sense of obligation to the family. Even if the whole operation would fall apart without you.”
He grunted out a laugh, because that was true.
“You’re fantastic at what you do, and Dad and I are extremely grateful for and proud of your contributions here. But that doesn’t mean the family business is a life sentence. As much as it would pain us to see you go, we’d figure it out. You’re a grown man, Hunter, as well as a wonderful son and brother and an outstanding asset to the business. All that said, you have a right to your own life, too, and we’d never stand in the way of that.”
Touched by what she’d said, he looked up at her. “I love this job. You know that. I’d never want to leave it.”
“Hopefully it won’t come to that, but keep your options open. If you feel for this woman what I think you do, you’ll want her to be happy, too. In fact, her happiness could very well become the most important thing to you.”
“If I feel the way you think I do. What does that mean?”
“L-o-v-e.”
Hunter blanched at that. “I like her, Mom. Did you hear me say I barely know her? Did you hear me say she’s already told me she doesn’t want to get serious?”
Molly shrugged and gave him the trademark grin that let him know she could see right through his bullshit. She’d always been scarily perceptive when it came to her children. “Keep telling yourself that. I’ve got to run and get ready for a date of my own.” She winked at him. “Your dad is taking me out tonight.”
“I want that.” The words were out before he could stop them.
“Want what?”
“What you guys have.”
Her face softened as she gazed at him with unabashed love. “I want that for you, too, honey. Clearly your father and grandfather want it, too. If you want it, go get it. Stop hiding out in this office behind your computer and your spreadsheets. Go out there and live, Hunter.”
Unable to deny the truth behind her words, he said, “I’m trying.”
“Good. Keep me posted on how it’s going.”
“That’s not
happening. I’ve already told you all too much.”
“Too late to turn back now.” She kissed his cheek and headed for the door. “Cat’s out of the bag, my friend.”
“Mom?”
Molly turned back to face him. “Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure, sweetheart. Good luck tonight. I’ll be hoping to hear you had a wonderful time.”
“Thanks again.”
Hoping to avoid any further involvement from his nosy siblings, Hunter left the office and headed home to wait for Megan’s call.
CHAPTER 9
Megan stared at the phone. She was under no obligation to call him. In fact, with the diner closing soon, she could slip out of town and avoid the emotional farewell with Nina and Brett as well as the diner’s many loyal patrons. Who would miss her if she left without saying good-bye?
Hunter would. The two words echoed through her mind loud and clear. He’d been so nice to her, and it pained her to think of hurting him by blowing him off when they had plans. Wouldn’t it be better to walk away now before anything happened between them?
As much as Megan yearned to make some changes in her life, she wasn’t at all prepared to risk the sort of things she’d be endangering by entering into a real relationship with a man, especially someone like Hunter, who knew what he wanted and went after it with single-minded purpose.
Being at the center of that single-minded purpose had been flattering. She couldn’t deny that, but she’d hidden behind her fictional boyfriend for all those years for good reason. She’d rather be alone than ever again hurt like she had after losing her parents.
“It’s not fair to him,” she whispered, smoothing a hand over the skirt of the subtly sexy black dress Nina had talked her into buying. She’d been excited earlier, wondering what Hunter would think of the dress as well as the three-inch heels she’d bought to wear with it. Megan couldn’t remember the last time she’d had an occasion that called for heels. Nina had been excited, too, pushing Megan up the stairs to her apartment to get ready for her big date that wasn’t going to happen now.
Taking a deep breath and trying to suppress the disappointment that threatened to overwhelm her, she called the number he’d written on the back of his business card.
He answered on the second ring, sounding out of breath. “Hello?”
That one breathless word conveyed a world of anticipation, which made her feel terrible all over again for what she was about to say to him.
“Megan? Are you there?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I, um … I wanted to tell you …”
“Are you home?”
“Yes, but …”
“I’ll be right there.”
The line went dead before she could reply. For a brief moment, she thought about leaving before he got there but dismissed that idea almost as quickly as she’d had it. He was a nice guy. At the very least, he deserved the truth. Or some version of it that would convince him she was a lousy bet in the romance department.
She sat on the edge of her sofa, acutely aware of how fast her heart was beating as she waited for him. He didn’t live that far from her, so she wasn’t surprised to hear heavy footsteps on the stairs that led to her apartment ten minutes later.
He rapped on the door. “Megan?”
Summoning a calm exterior even as her interior swirled around like a washing machine on the spin cycle, Megan crossed the small room and pulled open the door.
Whatever Hunter had been about to say died on his lips as he took in her outfit. “Wow,” he said on a long exhale. “You’re stunning.”
“Thank you,” she said, unnerved by the compliment and the heat she saw in his gaze as he stared at her. “Come in.”
He followed her inside, closing the door behind him. “I had things I was going to say, but I can’t seem to remember any of them.”
Megan knew a moment of pure feminine power when she realized she’d rendered him all but speechless with the outfit as well as the time she’d spent on her hair and makeup.
Hunter took a look around at her tiny but cozy living space. “I love your place.”
“Thanks. It’s small, but it’s home.”
He gestured to the crowded bookshelves that occupied one wall of her living room. “You like to read.”
“My favorite thing to do.” Escaping into imaginary worlds took her far away from her own life. “I have thousands more on my e-reader.”
“I like to read, too.” He pushed off the door and came closer to her, his nearness and that incredible scent that came with him making her heart go crazy again. Tonight he wore a black sweater with dark jeans, managing to look sexy and well put together at the same time. “One of my favorite things to do.”
Being alone with him, even knowing she was totally safe with him, made her feel nervous and jumpy. It had been years, a decade in fact, since she’d been completely alone with a man—if you could call the boys she’d dated then “men.” They were boys compared to the man who stood before her now, eating her up with his hungry gaze.
“Hunter, I wanted to tell you …”
He closed the small distance between them, took her hand and led her to the sofa, where he sat beside her. Having him right next to her, looking at her the way he always did, it was almost impossible to form the words she needed.
“What do you want to tell me?”
She couldn’t continue to look at him and say what needed to be said, too. “You’ve been really nice to me, and I appreciate that. But I …”
“Please don’t tell me you don’t want to go out tonight. You’ll crush me.”
Startled by the passion she heard in his voice, she forced herself to look at him. “You have no idea what you’re getting into with me.”
“I want to know. Tell me what I’m getting into.”
She shook her head. “I wish things were different, but it would be better for you—”
“No, it wouldn’t. Never having the chance to know you would not be better for me.”
“How can you say that? You don’t know—”
“Then tell me. Tell me all the awful things I don’t know, and I’ll decide for myself if any of them are deal-breakers for me. Give me a chance, Megan. That’s all I’m asking for.” As he spoke, he brushed dampness from her face, which was how she knew she was crying. “Sweetheart, please … Talk to me. Let me in. I want so badly to know you—the real you, not the cool, collected woman you show the rest of the world. I want to know Megan.”
Hearing him call her sweetheart made her melt on the inside. Her father had called her that, and she liked the sound of it coming from Hunter. Megan wiped her face, determined to put her emotions on ice and convince him he could do better than a woman who was broken on the inside.
Hunter put his arm around her and drew her in close to him.
Though being so close to him didn’t do a damned thing for her intention to end this before it went any further, she couldn’t seem to resist the comfort he offered so willingly. With her face resting against his chest, Megan was grateful for the opportunity to gather her thoughts without having to look at the incredibly insightful brown eyes that seemed to see right through her.
“After my parents died,” she began in a small voice, “I was a bit of a mess.”
“Of course you were. Anyone would be.”
“I did a lot of stupid things. With guys. A lot of guys.”
His hand was big and warm on her arm, and he didn’t seem to breathe while he waited to hear what she would say next.
“Things I’m ashamed of now.”
“That was a long time ago, Megan. You were young and grief-stricken and running from the pain. I don’t judge you for what you did then. I don’t know how anyone could.”
“This went on for a while, until the night I kissed Will at a party.”
Only the slight tightening of his grip on her arm indicated his reaction to hearing abo
ut her kissing his brother. He remained silent.
“After that I sort of fixated on him. Nina and I talked about it earlier, and she said if I were supposedly ‘in love’ with Will, that kept me from messing around with other guys. I poured everything into my fixation on him. Nina made me see …”
“What did she make you see?”
“That as long as I had myself convinced Will was the one for me, I could justify keeping other men at a distance.”
“So there hasn’t been anyone else in all that time?”
“No.”
“How long ago did you kiss Will?”
“The summer I graduated from high school. Ten years ago.”
“Oh, Megan,” he said with a sigh. “I’m so sorry for your terrible loss and all the pain it’s caused you, but you don’t need to be afraid of me. I promise you don’t need to put up walls to keep me out.”
“That’s very nice of you to say, but I think it might be easier if I just continue on the way I’ve been. I can’t hide behind Will anymore, and I know that. I’m really happy for him. He’s a great guy, and he deserves to be happy.”
“Yes, he does, but so do you. You may deserve it more than anyone I know.”
“You deserve it, too, Hunter. You deserve better—”
“No.” He moved slightly to his left, his finger under her chin compelling her to look at him. “Don’t say I deserve better than you.”
“You do.”
“No,” he said, more forcefully this time.
Before she could begin to gauge his intentions, he was leaning in closer, his lips brushing against hers, softly, slowly, sweetly.
Megan whimpered. “Hunter …”
“Kiss me.”
She raised her hand to his smooth face and pressed her lips to his. So much for her good intentions to cut him loose. How had she ended up kissing him on her sofa?
“God, you’re so sweet,” he whispered against her neck, the heat of his breath sending goose bumps down her back. “I knew you would taste so sweet.” Then he was back for more, this time adding subtle touches of his tongue to her bottom lip that had her leaning in, desperate to be closer to him.
She curled her arms around his neck and made him gasp when she brushed her tongue against his.
