Falling for the Hometown Girl

by Shelli Stevens

  Why did he make it sound like that was a flaw? Her words took an edge. “I like kids, so I don’t mind volunteering for this kind of thing.”

  The softening in his gaze made her realize she must’ve imagined it.

  “That’s great.” He straightened and scrubbed a hand through his beard. “You still have time to walk with me?”

  Pushing past the thick bundle of nerves in her throat, she murmured, “Sure. Let me just get Ginger back in her stall.”

  He nodded. “I’ll come with.”

  Of course he would. She grimaced as she led Ginger out of the arena and toward the stables. Every inch of her was aware of Hunter as he fell into step just behind her.

  Why had she ever agreed to talk to him? With the late morning fog surrounding them and nothing but the green grass sparkling with dew.

  Not usually the self-conscious type, she now swam in the sensation. Last night she’d been dressed and made up to play up her looks. Today she was back to normal, just plain old Katie. No makeup, no dresses, no fancy hair, just jeans and sweater.

  The outfit did more to hide, rather than accentuate what little curves she had. Knowing the kind of career success Hunter had, and the women he’d dated in the past—because, yes, she’d cyber-stalked him after coming home buzzed from the bar—she couldn’t help but compare herself. She was not his type. Maybe he’d come to his senses this morning and that was why he wanted to talk.

  “Morning, Katie.”

  Tim, one of the ranch hands stepped out of the stable as they approached.

  “Good morning.” She flashed a smile, grateful for the distraction of a third person.

  “You done riding for the moment? I can get Miss Ginger cleaned up and put away for you.”

  “That’d be great.” Hunter spoke from beside her now. “Katie was going to take me on one of the small hikes around here.”

  Hiking? Katie shot him a sharp look and narrowed her eyes. He just widened his grin and gave an innocent shrug.

  “Right, I was.” She nodded. “That’d be great, Tim. Thank you.” She turned back to Hunter. “I just need to change my shoes and grab some water for us. Meet me out front in five minutes?”

  “Will do.”

  She handed off Ginger to the ranch hand, and ran inside to change out her riding boots for hiking ones. When she returned, water bottles in hand, Hunter waited on the porch.

  “Hope there’s hiking around here. Sorry to put you on the spot.”

  “It’s fine. There’s a small one we can do. If we want to find a more challenging one, that’ll require a drive.”

  He hesitated, but then gave a small grunt. “We can start with small.”

  “Good.” The last thing she wanted was an extra car ride padded in for their time together. “Let’s head out then.”

  She led him to the road, which they walked down for a few minutes, before she spotted the small trail that weaved up into the hills. They didn’t talk much. Really at all. She kept waiting for him to say something, anything, as they walked up the dirt path incline that led up to the lookout. After all, he’d been the one to request this walk.

  It took just under an hour, and when they broke through the clearing of trees into the clearing she led him to the edge of the property.

  “We made it.”

  “This is it, huh?” He walked to the overlook and exhaled. “Wow. What an incredible view.”

  She moved to stand next to him and look down over the valley below. They could see how far they’d come up the hillside, which was several hundred feet.

  Off in the distance, the mountains stretched into the bright blue sky. Directly below, in the valley, was Marietta. The town was mostly buried in the morning fog, but still recognizable. If she glanced to the right, slightly down the hillside, she could see Marshall ranch which was also had fog, but not as thick.

  “How come I never knew about this place?” Hunter had his hands on his hips as he stared out over the valley.

  She shot him a look. “It’s not public property. It’s my uncle’s, actually.”

  Hunter’s brows lifted. “He never built on it?”

  “He had a house, but it burned down a while ago in a fluke electrical accident. He relocated to Idaho and hasn’t bothered to rebuild yet. Keeps talking about selling the property, but hasn’t done it.” Her lips twisted into a wistful smile. “I’d buy it in a heartbeat, but I can’t afford what something like this would be worth.”

  Hunter’s gaze was heavy on her, and she looked away, focusing on the view instead.

  “There’s actually a road we could’ve used, Wyatt takes it when he comes up here, but I love the little hike. I used to come visit my uncle when I was teenager and go this way. It’s not super strenuous, plus it gets you back into nature.”

  “Roads are overrated when you can do that hike,” Hunter agreed. “Not that I mind strenuous.”

  She snuck a glance at him. “You mentioned you hike in Seattle. Avidly?”

  “As much as can with my schedule. Whenever I get a free weekend, yeah. You can pretty much find me on a trail somewhere.”

  “With Lance? Dan? Other friends?”

  “Lance and Dan aren’t big on getting outdoors. I think they qualify a walk from the office to a Starbucks enough outside time.”

  “That’s sad,” she said bluntly. “What kind of existence is that?”

  “Not a great one.” He sighed. “Actually, one of the things I wanted to talk to you about was Lance.”

  She drew in a slow breath, trying to think what on earth he was going to say. It still was hard to fathom that someone like Lance was Hunter’s best friend. They were as opposite as night and day.

  “Go on.”

  “He’s a jerk, and I’m sorry.”

  “You’ve apologized for him more times than I can remember. At some point, you’re going to have to stop.” A small trickle of amusement slid through her. “He’s your friend.”

  “That’s just it.” He shook his head. “He’s not.”

  Hunter saw the surprise and doubt race across Katie’s face and his gut clenched.

  He glanced back out over the valley. He should’ve explained this right away to her. When they’d first arrived and Lance had been his usual jackass self. He should never have let her go on thinking that Lance was someone he considered a dear friend.

  “I told you we shared a dorm at the UW,” he began. “And at one point, yes, we were pretty good friends. Neither of us were local, so we didn’t know anyone. We ate cheap food and played video games anytime we weren’t in class.”

  The furrow between Katie’s brows deepened. “That makes sense. And maybe why he’s the CFO of your company, right?”

  “Right. He helped me out financially when I created that first game the summer after our senior year. That game launched Vendetta Interactive. With Lance and his degree, he was a good fit for CFO. I never thought we’d get as big as we did, and I felt like I owed it to him.”

  She moved to stand closer to him. “What changed?”

  “Lance did. He let it go to his head. The success, the taste of fame in our industry, and the money.” He sighed. “I mean, he’d always had money, but this time it was his own. Not his parents’.”

  The breathtaking view in front of him was a blur now, as his mind instead played the memories in his head.

  “Anyway, it got to the point where I couldn’t stand spending anytime with him outside of work. Always found excuses to avoid any social activities where we’d have to hang out.”

  “How on earth did you end up his best man?” Incredulity rung in Katie’s words. “Planning and paying for his bachelor party?”

  “Because he has no friends besides Dan and I.”

  “And Dan is his cousin?”

  “Yeah.”

  She was silent for a moment. “You are either very stupid, or a saint.”

  He laughed. “I’m pretty sure I’m neither.”

  “Well, I know you’re not stupid.” She to
uched his shoulder. “You’ve got a kind heart, Hunter.”

  He grimaced. The was twice now she’d used the term kind to describe him. It wasn’t usually the way he was described. He’d been labeled as intelligent. Brooding. Maybe even weird now and then. But never kindhearted.

  “I’m just hoping he’ll marry Denise and get a little more grounded.”

  “You think that’s likely?” She hesitated. “I’m not sure he’s taking it all that seriously as it is, going by what I saw last night.”

  Hunter’s jaw clenched. He knew what she’d seen. Lance making out with another woman on the dance floor. And it hadn’t ended there. The entire drive home, Lance had bragged about screwing the chick against the side of the building.

  “I mean, I know it’s his bachelor party getaway and all,” she said quickly. “But, you know, you just figure it’d stop at kissing. But they left the bar together and didn’t come back for a long time.” She paused. “I don’t know, maybe I’m just old-fashioned and—”

  “No.” The air whistled out from between his teeth and he gave a harsh laugh. “You’re right. A man who really loves his girl, who’s asked for her hand in marriage, isn’t going to go sleep with someone else just because it’s his bachelor party.”

  Her sigh was filled with relief. “That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say.”

  Why? Why did it matter was his viewpoints were? She kept saying she didn’t want to get involved with him, so why should she care?

  His blood pounded a bit quicker as he turned away from the edge of the outlook to face her. He caught her hand in his and her gaze jerked up in surprise.

  “Which leads me to the second thing I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “You’re going to bring up that kiss again, aren’t you?” Her chest rose beneath the cable knit sweater she wore. The shimmer of innocence and uncertainty in her eyes had his blood thundering in his veins.

  “Yeah. I am.”

  He wanted her. He wanted Katie Marshall in a way that he’d never wanted anyone. His interest had been a small ember when he was a teenager, and it’d turned into a full-blown flame now that he was back in Marietta as an adult.

  Stroking his thumb over her knuckles, he asked, “Why are you so determined to push me away?”

  Frustration flashed in her eyes, before her lashes fell to cover it. “You’re leaving by the end of next week.”

  “I am.” He couldn’t deny it. “But we’re both adults.”

  “Then there’s Jim...”

  There was a small stab of jealousy, but he knew better than to believe it was warranted.

  “I saw you with him that night he came by. You don’t look at him the way you look at me.” He rasped. “And I’d bet my company you don’t kiss him the way you kiss me.” He paused, lowered his voice and murmured, “You should break up with him.”

  Katie gasped softly, her eyes rounding. “You’re pretty arrogant.”

  “I prefer self-assured.” Using the hand that he held, he tugged her closer and slid an arm around her waist. “Tell me I’m wrong, Katie. Tell me your perfectly happy dating the deputy, and I’ll walk away.”

  “Hunter.” There was a plea in her words, and the naked conflict in her eyes had his stomach clenching.

  “If I’m wrong about all this, then tell me. Say the words, and I’ll walk away and never touch you again. I swear it, Katie.”

  Her lips parted and her chest rose as if she were going to say something. A soft sigh sounded instead and her shoulders crumpled. She lowered her gaze and shook her head.

  “It’s just not that simple,” she whispered. “It’s Marietta. We’re a small town. Everyone will know about us.”

  “They probably will.” He didn’t even try to deny it. “But you’re a grown woman, Katie. Not a teenage girl afraid of gossip.”

  She gave a harsh laugh. “It is so easy for you to say that when you’re leaving in a week.”

  His jaw flexed. “You know what’s not easy?”

  Her gaze lifted to his. Along with the wariness, there was a shimmer of need in the blue depths.

  “Wanting you.” His jaw flexed. “Wanting you since I was a screwed up seventeen-year-old, and wanting you even more over a decade later.”

  He reached to cradle the nape of her neck in his fingers, resting his thumbs on her cheeks. She didn’t back away.

  Soft. Her skin was so soft. Would the rest of her feel this amazing?

  Up here, in the wispy fog above the valley, he could almost forget he was in Marietta. It was a hazy, hidden realm of magic where just the two of them existed.

  “It’s unreal.” His words were thick now. “How much I want you. It’s always been like this with you. Even back in drama class. You were just so far out of my reach.”

  Her eyes were wide, shimmering with surprise and awareness. Her lips parted.

  “Until you asked me to dance. Until I kissed you and felt you melt into me. I feel like I finally have a chance.” He dipped a thumb over her lower lip. Felt it tremble. “You may not like it, sweetheart, but I think you want me too.”

  Her chin lifted. “Jim is a nice guy.”

  “I’m sure he is, but it’s not Jim I’m interested in sleeping with.”

  Her laugh was warm and unsteady, easing the bit of tension between them.

  “You don’t have to decide right now,” he said gently. “Just think about what I said. That’s all I’m asking. Think about if you want to end this week without ever knowing what it would be like between us.”

  There it was again. The flicker of hunger in her eyes. So bright that he couldn’t help but tilt her chin up again.

  “And think about this while you’re at it.”

  Chapter Eight

  He captured her mouth and any protest that might have escaped it. At first she went still, not moving away, but not moving closer. He angled his lips against hers and teased his tongue into her mouth.

  It capitulated her hesitation. With a soft sigh, she touched her tongue against his and lifted her palms to his chest.

  He moved his hands down to her waist and gathered her closer. Deepening the kiss. Tasting her. Letting the tornado of need swirl faster inside him.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into him with a moan. The softness of her breasts crushed against his chest.

  Fierce, potent desire surged through him, making him mindless. He tore his mouth from hers, breathing heavily.

  Her eyes were closed, her lips swollen and parted. He gently touched the bottom lip and smiled when it trembled against the pad of his thumb.

  “I will, umm, definitely take that into consideration.” Her words were unsteady. Her eyes a vibrant blue when her lashes lifted. “But we should get back to the ranch.”

  “Probably. Got big plans later?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded and stepped back. “I do. Late lunch with my brother Cal. Not sure if you remember him?”

  The exhilaration that had been gliding through his veins chilled and his smile became strained.

  “Cal. Yeah, I remember him. You guys pretty close?”

  “He has his moments but, yeah, we are.” She’d already turned away, moving back toward the trail down the hillside.

  Probably a good thing. That way she missed his clenching jaw and the glimmer of resentment in his eyes that he knew he wouldn’t be able to hide.

  The rest of the hike back, he couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. How she’d felt in his arms. Along with the obstinate desire for her raging in his blood, there was now a heavy cloud of doubt.

  Maybe getting involved with Katie Marshall was an epically bad decision. The question was, did it matter?

  Katie found a parking spot a couple blocks from Grey’s Saloon and shimmied her truck into it.

  She made her way up First street, waving to several familiar faces along the way.

  The sun was out, quickly warming up the streets and sidewalks around the brick buildings. Katie adjusted her sunglasses, relieved sh
e’d changed out of her sweater and into a t-shirt after the hike.

  That hike. That man.

  Just the thought of Hunter, of kissing him, sent a tremor of awareness through her. Made the blood in her veins a little thicker and warmer.

  She’d told him she’d think about it. Apparently, that meant literally every moment since they’d parted after the hike.

  While Katie had headed into town, she knew Hunter and his friends had scheduled a guided fishing trip on the river with Lyle, one of the ranch hands.

  Fishing on the river was one of her favorite things. She’d wanted to be the one to take them but, in truth, she’d hit her limit with Lance. The guy was a jerk and she didn’t want to spend another minute with him than she had to. So she’d begged Lyle to take them instead. He’d been more than happy to.

  Katie entered the saloon, her eyes adjusting to the dimness as she glanced around for her brother. Being a Sunday afternoon, meant it wasn’t as busy as usual.

  “Katie.”

  She swiveled her gaze to the back right of the bar and found Cal in a booth.

  Breaking into a smile, she strode back to him and then climbed into the seat across from him.

  “Hey there, kid.” Cal flashed a grin that showed white teeth and the dimple in his chin. “Thanks for carving time out of your busy life to have lunch with your brother.”

  She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Pretty sure you’re much busier than I am. Being the foreman of a ranch and all. Even if it’s not Marshall ranch.”

  He winced. “You’re still upset.”

  “Upset that you’d sell your shares of our ranch to Wyatt?” She widened her eyes in mock innocence. “Yeah, I figure I am. And have every right to be. But I still love you.”

  Cal sighed and ran a hand through his short, dark hair. “I never loved the ranch the way you guys do, Katie. It’s Wyatt’s whole world, and I felt like I was poaching on his territory trying to have any big part of it.”

  Katie’s heart broke a little at the slight discomfort on her brother’s face. Her voice dropped. Softened. “Oh, Cal, he would be so upset to know you’d felt that way.”

  “I know he would.” His jaw flexed. “That’s why you won’t say anything.”