Perfect Contradiction
Page 6
“We’d love to have him here at the Countryside Inn,” I said politely.
“Alright, dear, well, I better be getting’ on. The old man will be wondering where I got off to if I don’t get home soon. Men are a helpless lot naturally, but one that’s been married to the same woman for over fifty years can’t do anything on his own, you know.”
I laughed lightly. “I wouldn’t know,” I admitted.
“Well, you will one day, dear. Don’t you doubt it, what with your pretty face and eye for business and bakin’… men’ll be lined up here at your door in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, just you take my word for it.”
I was grinning widely when I walked out the front door and to her car as she prattled on. Her daughter was there to drive her home. I was still smiling when I walked back into the house. The day was almost over, and I’d been going nonstop for hours. It seemed like the entire town and a few others had shown up to check out the inn, buy cookies, muffins and other goodies, tour the house, and sip on a free glass of sweet tea. I handed out more than twice as many brochures and business cards than I’d anticipated. I had two rooms booked for the next week, and my bakery case looked like a small tornado had blown through and cleaned it out. I was overwhelmed by the turnout.
When the final customer had bought what I had left in muffins and headed out of the house at exactly five minute past closing time, I was exhausted and giddy. Beth strolled up to me with a smile that said it all.
“What was that this morning about no one showing up?” she asked, scratching her head. “And something about no one liking your muffins…”
I rolled my eyes and sat down the empty muffin tray and basket. “Alright, I admit I was worrying over nothin’,” I said, taking the high road.
“Jennifer Collins, you were very near a freak out,” she said with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
I opened my mouth to object, but no one won an argument with Beth. She was a master; she should’ve been a criminal defense attorney.
“Well, I’d say the day was a smashing success,” I answered instead.
“You’re dang right it was!” Beth gushed. “Now, get your shoes on,” she commanded. “I’m taking you out to dinner.”
I was so tired and happy, I didn’t even argue. I just ran to pick up my pumps and slip them on. I was starving.
In hindsight, I should have seen what came next a mile away.
Even as we walked into the Italian restaurant, I had no clue. I was just happy to be out with my best friend and getting some pasta and breadsticks. I was still floating on a cloud of happiness from the successful opening day of the inn. I’d completely ignored all the warning signs until it was too late. And then there they were… shouting their congratulations and all that jazz while I stood in the doorway of the private dining room with my jaw hanging open. Not only had Beth managed to shock the crap out of me, but it looked like the entire Wright family had been in on it as well. Of course they had… Beth was a Wright now and they were her family.
“Congratulation, Jen,” Mrs. Wright said as she hugged me. “Everything looked perfect today, and the entire county is all abuzz about the Countryside Inn and the amazing bakery.”
“Thank you so much, Mrs. Wright. I’m sorry I didn’t get to chat with you while you were there, I was completely overwhelmed by the turnout.”
“Don’t you worry a second about that; I was just fine with Beth showing me around and hinting to the ladies from the church at how wonderful your muffins would be for tomorrow’s women’s meeting,” she said with a wink.
Ah-ha! “Well, I hope everyone enjoys them tomorrow,” I said with a grin.
“Oh, I have no doubt that we will… I’ve had your wonderful muffins before, you know.”
I laughed. “That you have. I hope Beth didn’t make y’all try all those trial muffins I baked the past few weeks,” I said. “I kinda went overboard in my quest for the perfect recipe,” I admitted.
Mrs. and Pastor Wright exchanged a glance.
“Jen, every single one of those muffins were delicious and they never lasted in Beth’s or our house for more than twenty-four hours.”
I smiled widely. I did love to hear that my muffins tasted good.
“You must be exhausted and hungry. Let’s order some food and drinks,” Pastor Wright said, moving our group further into the private room. A figure I hadn’t noticed over by Matt brought me up short. Hunter. With a hammering heart, I kept moving forward, hoping my face didn’t betray the emotions I was feeling. I glanced around the room to see if he brought a date. It seemed he didn’t though. At least there was that.
I walked around the table where everyone else had already begun to take their seats. I found the only empty one, and it happened to be right next to Hunter. I twisted around once I was seated to find Beth, scowling over in her direction. She was mouthing the words I didn’t know he’d be here at me. I sighed. It wasn’t her fault. I just wanted food. Hunter came over a few minutes later after talking to his oldest brother and his partner and sat down next to me. I was hyperaware of the small space between us.
“Congratulations, Jen. I heard the grand opening was a big success,” Hunter said softly from beside me.
I turned and smiled at him as naturally as I could. “Thank you, Hunter. That means a lot to me,” I answered. Hunter searched my gaze and opened his mouth to say something else just as the waiter entered, ready to take everyone’s order. I ordered a plate of garlic aioli pasta to go with my unlimited salad and breadsticks.
“And bring us two bottles of a good, red wine,” Pastor Wright said from the other side of the table. “We’re celebrating, after all,” he said. Everyone was looking at me. Beth’s eyes were wide and apologetic. She hadn’t thought this through, had she?
“Thank you, everyone,” I said. “I truly appreciate y’all coming out to congratulate and celebrate with me. The Countryside Inn and Bakery wouldn’t be what it is without your hard work the past few weeks. I’m grateful for each and every one of you,” I finished softly, fightin’ tears. Beth was smiling widely, and Mrs. Wright was dabbing her eyes.
“Should’ve saved that for the toast,” Matt interjected. Everyone laughed. That was exactly what I wanted to avoid.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there today,” Hunter said a few minutes later once all of our salads and drinks were served.
I was adding extra oil and vinegar to my salad. “It’s okay, Hunter,” I answered without looking at him. “I know you must be busy in St. Louis.”
“I am,” he acknowledged. “But I still should’ve made my way down earlier. It’s just that I wasn’t… I wasn’t sure you wanted me there after the last time we spoke.”
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that,” I said after finishing my bite of salad. “I wanted to apologize. I didn’t mean to be so harsh. I was… I am going through some things right now, and I took them out on you.” I met his gaze and wished immediately that there was a lot more room between us. There was something between Hunter and me that I couldn’t quite understand. Something that made the rest of the world fall away when he was near me and looking into my eyes like he was now. Something that made everything else seem absolutely insignificant in comparison to what I was feeling for him in that moment. I swallowed and pulled my gaze away from his.
“Jen… you know I’m here for you, right?” he said after a moment. “I mean, if you ever need someone to talk to.” I turned away from him to spear a poor, helpless cherry tomato with my fork. “Or if you need someone to come around and left that heavy ass sofa of yours,” he added with a shrug and a chuckle. I smiled. He had helped take that sofa up to my bedroom once they had finished knocking down the wall and expanding it.
“Hey, I like that couch,” I said, chagrined. He smiled a small, crooked smile. One of those panty-melting smiles he was so very good at.
“Oh, I like it too,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “We made some good memories on that couch,” he murmured huskily near my ear.
“Don’t like the wine?” Hunter asked several minutes later.
I took a sip of my water and shrugged. “I have a slight headache and wine tends to just make them worse,” I said, not really lying. I did have the beginning of a headache, but it was more from the strain of having to hold myself so rigid and watch everything I said and did next to Hunter, rather than anything else. Hunter was staring at me. I could feel it. I just didn’t understand why I was under his scrutiny. I mean, he had a girlfriend, I wasn’t showing enough for anyone to be suspicious, and I’d been nothing but polite to him all night. Oy vey, I did have a headache after all.
“Huh. Beth has a migraine too. I wonder if it’s from how late you guys stayed up working last night for the grand opening,” he said.
I glanced over at Beth, who was looking a little pale and in pain. I scrunched up my brow in concern.
“She’s fine. Matt gave her something when you guys got here,” he said, reading my mind in the annoying way he did sometimes.
“She didn’t tell me,” I said.
Hunter snorted. “She’s kind of stubborn.”
I smiled at him. Indeed she was. “Still, I hope she’s okay. Do you think she needs to go home? I don’t want her to stay just because she wants to be here for me,” I said.
“I can tell her you’re worried about her and you command her to go home if she’s hurting,” Hunter offered. His eyes were searching mine, ripping away the barriers I’d placed there one by one.
I cleared my throat. “If you don’t mind….” I said. My voice was husky. Damn these pregnancy hormones! Hunter’s grin should’ve been illegal.
“Not at all, sweetheart,” he said.
He was across the room and whispering into Beth’s ear before I could even remember that he shouldn’t be calling me sweetheart anymore. From where I sat, I saw Beth argue, then nod, then argue, then shoot daggers in my direction as I did a little finger wave back to her, and then nod in obvious defeat before Hunter came back to sit next to me once again.
“She loves you,” he said seriously.
I snorted. I very seriously doubted the earful he’d just gotten had anything about love included, but I appreciated the little white lie. A few minutes later, Beth and Matt excused themselves from the group and said they were headed home early because Beth needed to lie down. I hugged them both and told Beth to take it easy. She scowled, but she hugged me anyway. Since she didn’t even argue, I knew she must have really been hurting. It wasn’t until dessert was over that I realized I didn’t have a ride home.
“Oh, Jen, I forgot you rode here with Beth,” Mrs. Wright said as we left the restaurant.
“I’m sure we…” Pastor Wright began.
“I’ll make sure she gets home,” Hunter said, surprising me. I searched his gaze for a moment and before I realized it, the Wrights were on their way to their vehicle, waving goodbye and telling me congrats for the last time as I was being pulled along by the hand toward Hunter’s truck.
“Hunter…” I began.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I won’t molest you between here and your house,” he promised with a small, tight smile and a Boy Scout salute.
“It isn’t that,” I started to explain.
“Oh, it isn’t?” he asked, a grin spreading across his face, promising mischief and a very, very good time. I swallowed and backed up until my back hit his truck door. One hand came up to the side of the truck near my head. The other came to rest on my waist. I was surrounded by him. His scent, the warmth of his body. I couldn’t think straight with him this close. I closed my eyes and turned my mouth away from his gaze, from the warmth of his breath as it whispered across my cheek.
“Hunter, please,” I begged. Just a whisper.
“Please yes or please no?” he murmured near my ear. He rubbed his lips along the edge of my earlobe and then down the side of my neck. A small kiss along my collarbone. Madness. I had to stop the madness.
“Please… no,” I forced out. A breathless plea. Hunter immediately stopped. His finger caressed my jaw and then tucked a wayward strand of hair behind my ear.
“Okay, sweetheart,” he answered softly before stepping away. My very wobbly legs barely supported me when Hunter opened the truck door for me and I had to climb in.
We drove in silence most of the way to my house. The awkwardness in the small space was suffocating. I didn’t know what to say to make it better. Hey, let’s make out didn’t seem appropriate. How’s your gorgeous girlfriend? And you’re my baby’s daddy didn’t make the cut either. We pulled into the driveway, and Hunter came around to open my door for me.
“The sign looks great,” he said, smiling as we passed it.
I smiled back. “Thanks. I think it does too. Your dad and brothers did a great job,” I said as we walked up the steps to the porch.
“Yes they did,” Hunter said, his voice serious.
I unlocked the front door and waved for him to follow behind me. “C’mon in, Hunter. I’d like to send a few things with you. I have some mini loaves of pumpkin bread I’d like you to have. I know they’re your favorite,” I said as I walked through the swinging door and through the bakery on into the kitchen. Slipping off my pumps, I grabbed a large container out from under the counter. I was already putting two mini loaves in the container and about a dozen pieces of peanut butter fudge when Hunter finally strolled into the kitchen.
I froze when Hunter stepped up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and burying his face into my hair. My heart began pounding. Surely, he’d notice….
“Jen… I miss you,” he murmured against my neck.
I breathed a little easier, but I was in the one place I couldn’t be. The place I wanted to be, but couldn’t allow. “I’ve missed you too, Hunter,” I confessed.
Hunter groaned and swung me around to face him. I had nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide from him or from my feelings. He tipped my head back until I had no choice but to meet his eyes.
“Tell me why, Jen,” he muttered as his lips touched my cheek. My eyes fluttered. “Tell me why this isn’t right.” He kissed my ear, just a tiny caress. My head dropped back. “Explain to me why you keep fighting what we have between us,” he said gruffly. His lips came down gently at first. Just testing, touching, and becoming familiar with mine again. But it didn’t last long. It never did. We didn’t need to become familiar with one another. My lips would always recognize his. My body would never forget his touch. My spirit recognized his spirit, and it was the missing piece that that made me whole.
“Remind me of all the reasons why we won’t work out,” he said softly.
I couldn’t. The same reason that said we wouldn’t work out was the exact same one that told me we had a fighting chance. The baby could break us or the baby could bond us. It was all a confusing jumble of contradictions. His kisses scattered what wits I had left to the four corners of the earth, and I melted into him. Too many fevered kisses and several buttons of my top undone later, Hunter’s cell phone rang, effectively snapping me out of the madness I was quickly slipping into. I put a hand up and gently pushed Hunter back. He took a step back, his eyes hooded in desire, his lips still perfectly kissable. I shook my head and grasped ahold of the only thing I could think of at the moment.
“Was that your girlfriend?” I asked, trying to put more space between myself and the man I wanted desperately. Hunter’s head whipped back like I’d struck him.
“Girlfriend?” he asked in a low, calm voice.
I turned and put a lid on the container of goodies I had been preparing for Hunter. “Blonde, long legs… beautiful?” I reminded him harshly. Still he stared at me like I’d grown two heads. �
�The woman you were with at Hot Diggity Dogs a few weeks back,” I prompted, my head starting to pound.
“You were in St. Louis?” Hunter accused instead, effectively dodging my question.
Uh-huh. “Yeah. I had some things to pick up for the inn, so I swung by to see you,” I said, not looking at him as I began straightening up my already immaculate kitchen.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, oblivious. Just like a dude.
“Umm, hello? The blonde bombshell you were kissing wasn’t enough of a clue?” I asked.
Hunter blinked. He looked angry and hurt.
I felt confused. “Can you tell me you aren’t seeing her? That I made a mistake?” I asked. Dear God, my voice had sounded hopeful. I hated myself for that.
“No, I can’t say that,” Hunter answered evenly.
I nodded, unable to trust myself to speak. “That’s what I figured,” I muttered a few seconds later.
“You should have come up to me, Jen,” Hunter said again.
I rolled my eyes.
“Sometimes life has a way of making me think that God is just playing one big, cosmic joke on me,” he said. He sounded as tired and emotionally drained as I felt.
“Listen, Hunter, I’ve had a long day and I have to get up really early to bake,” I started. I held out the container of sweets I made for him. Reaching out, he took it from me. He turned and took a step toward the kitchen door. My heart felt even heavier if that was at all possible. I felt like we were on a precipice and whatever we said and did in this moment was going to change everything between us. Hunter spoke first.
“I’ve decided to take a more permanent position in the family business,” he said. Hunter’s family not only owned farmland, but they also owned a thriving movie theater business that spanned several cities in Missouri. “I’m almost finished with my business degree, and I guess I should just go ahead and put it to good use.”