Once Hitched Twice Shy

by Kimberly Krey

  No thanks. In fact, now that she had the ranch hands, Mia wouldn’t need him anymore. That was probably for the best. He’d let the others handle the rest of the filming and the banter and the laughter that sounded like sunshine on a freshly watered field. Better that he get her off his mind now while he could. The last thing he needed was another broken heart.

  Chapter 8

  Mia watched as Hunter headed back to the house. Though he hadn’t said goodbye, she got the impression he wasn’t coming back.

  “Funny, huh?” Alex said with a laugh.

  She’d known what he was saying just a moment ago. Something about catching a fish with chewed-up gum … “Yeah,” she said. “That is funny.” She shot to her feet, her face flushed from the fire, and felt a tug on her arm.

  “Where are you going?” It was Bill. The one who’d been toying with her hand half the night.

  “Just to grab a few things. I’ll be right back.” Her heart pounded out an anxious beat. Whether from the fib or the idea of spending time with Hunter, she wasn’t sure. She leaned down as she got to Gramps’ bench. “You want anything, Gramps?”

  “Just this,” he said, taking her hand and planting a kiss on the back of it. “I sure like having you here.”

  “I like being here too,” she assured. She placed a kiss on his warm, wrinkled cheek, then made her way quickly up the porch steps.

  Mia had been disappointed when the guys showed up earlier with no sign of Hunter. The fact that he hadn’t come spoke volumes. It said that—despite the connection she’d felt they had—Hunter wasn’t feeling it in return. But he had made a point to come out here all by himself, as if he was seeking her out. Maybe he’d only left because she was so tied up with the other ranch hands.

  With those thoughts in mind, Mia sped along the side of the house, looking for any sign of the intriguing cowboy who had roped her interest on the first day. The sound of her footsteps carried along the wood-slatted porch. A small lamppost along the drive lit the front covered patio, revealing lifeless chairs and porch swings.

  Her shoulders slumped. She must have missed him. With a few slow strides, Mia made her way to the swinging bench. She’d just barely taken a seat when the front door pushed open. A man stepped out, handsome and tall. She watched silently as he closed the door behind him.

  “Dusty,” she hollered over his boot steps.

  He stopped in his tracks, spun around, and gave her a broad smile. “Hey there, Daisy.” The surprise on his face made her grin.

  She patted the yellow-checkered cushion beside her. “Come join me.”

  Hunter held her gaze in the low light. His brow furrowed, and she could nearly see some sort of internal battle playing out in his head. And in his posture, too, as he hedged. One foot stepping back, the other frozen in place.

  At last his shoulders dropped, and he took a step in her direction. And then more steps, until he lowered himself beside her on the swing.

  A surge of tingling heat, different from that of the fire, rushed through her veins at his closeness. During the few times they’d filmed together, she and Hunter had stood side by side. But now, with Karen and her camera nowhere in sight, the chemistry became a living, breathing thing. And it was intoxicating.

  Mia hadn’t dated a whole lot over the last year or so, focusing on her business like she had. And she couldn’t say she’d missed it all that much. But this … this felt good. This was something worth missing.

  “So, what made you leave the party?” he asked, voice low and husky. Sexy.

  She shrugged, not feeling like her snarky, quick-at-comebacks self. “I wanted to talk to you for a minute.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  She nodded. Gulped.

  “About what?” His gaze drifted to her mouth.

  Mia felt herself lean in, her gaze dropping to the full shape of his lips in return. Could a kiss be the answer to his question? Was this what she’d come for?

  She wasn’t exactly sure, but she liked being so close to him. Liked it enough to reach out, wrap her hand around his bicep, and revel in the feel of his large muscle tensing against her palm.

  Hunter tilted his head the slightest bit.

  Her heart gushed out a series of hot, quickened beats. It was the about-to-kiss head tilt. She knew it.

  Oh my gosh, this is happening. Mia, what are you doing? You can’t just kiss him. “How long have you worked here?” she blurted.

  Frogs croaked in the distance.

  A dragonfly flittered in the dusky air.

  Hunter leaned back slightly, his brow lifting as he scrutinized her. She read the question as well as if he’d spoken it aloud: Is it just me, or were we about to kiss?

  Mia shook her head and let her hand drop back to her lap. “We haven’t had a chance to talk yet, so … I’m curious.” She gulped back the disappointment of missing out on his kiss, wondering if he’d reply or stand up and leave because of her mixed signals.

  “I’ve been working here for about three years,” he said, settling into the corner of the chair. It put distance between them, but that wasn’t such a bad thing. She needed to clear her head.

  “And what did you do before this? Where does your family live?”

  “I grew up in Texas. My dad is a business tycoon. Wanted me to get my master’s in business and join him. I realized—while earning my bachelor’s degree—that I didn’t want that life. Actually,” he said, resting his elbows onto his knees, “I knew I wanted a different life before I even went to school. I was just trying to please my dad by going.”

  Mia could definitely relate to that. “Was he angry when you didn’t finish?”

  Hunter nodded. “Yep. Angry. Disappointed. Was like he lost all respect for me.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “That would be tough. Wasting all that time doing something you didn’t want to do, I mean.”

  He looked at her over his shoulder. “Yeah. Some of my courses have come in handy, though, since I’ve been here with Wayne—the business stuff, that is.”

  “Has it?”

  He nodded.

  For a moment she considered sharing the similar issue she had with her own father, but decided against it. She didn’t like saying negative things about her dad, even if they were true. Besides, she didn’t want to shift the focus; Mia liked hearing about the mysterious man who seemed to switch from hot to cold in a blink. She recalled something Gramps told her about Hunter. Something about him going through a difficult time.

  “You know,” she said, “my grandpa’s pretty fond of you.”

  “I’d like to think so,” Hunter said. “He’s like family to me. Most holidays I just stick around here and celebrate in one way or another with him and whoever else stays behind. We always have a good time.”

  A rush of gratitude filled her heart at his words. Thank heavens her granddad had someone who cared about him to watch out for him and help run the ranch—and smart with business, too.

  “So what about you?” Hunter asked, leaning back into the seat once more.

  Mia pulled her legs up and tucked them beneath her. “What about me?” she challenged with a laugh. She batted away the rush of nervous energy that swept in at the shift in attention.

  “What made you want to have your own online show? Be seen on screens and devices around the world?”

  That was a good question. She knew the answer easily enough, but she didn’t talk of it often. “One of my fondest memories as a kid was being in front of the camera, making people laugh. I, um …” She sighed. “I think what had the biggest impact on me was when my brother was going through chemo treatments. He was fourteen, I was sixteen. I’d been giving my parents a lot of teenage attitude. Making them miserable by pushing boundaries and trying to get my way all the time. But when Kyle was diagnosed, I don’t know … I changed. Back to how I was when I was younger.”

  A flashback of that time drifted through her mind. Kyle shaving what was left of a full head of thick, blond hair. His terribly
empty room. “I recorded videos for him every day when he was in the hospital. Then I’d bring them up over the weekend, and he’d watch them all at once. I remember watching for him to smile or laugh. I would have done anything to get him to just … forget he was sick for a while.” She chewed on her lip, reliving that feeling of dread. “I was so afraid of losing him, you know? So it was a good distraction for me, too.”

  Hunter nodded, a new sensitivity in his green eyes. Eyes she could get lost in. “That makes sense,” he said in a whisper.

  “Anyway,” she said, “he beat it. I was so worried that he wouldn’t, but he did.”

  “Whew,” Hunter breathed. “I’m glad to hear that.”

  She grinned. “And even though he’s just twenty-three and still going to college, he got married last year to this girl, Holly. She’s like the most darling girl ever. It’s pretty incredible.” It occurred to Mia just how long she’d been away from the group at the fire pit. Would they start looking for her soon? “Do you have siblings?” she asked.

  Hunter shook his head. “No. But I would have liked that.” He gave her a small smile. “So your younger brother’s married,” he said. “Do you want to get married someday?”

  She gave him a tsk. “Of course. I just … I mean, yes. I definitely want that.”

  “I only ask because I knew a lot of people at the university who didn’t want to get married at all.” He shrugged. “I don’t assume anymore.”

  Mia nodded. “I see. Well, call me old fashioned, then. I want a husband and a house and some kids, too.”

  “Huh.” Warmth tingled in her blood as he held her gaze.

  “Hunter’s truck is still here,” a distant voice called from behind. Sounded like Alex, the skinny one with the squeaky voice.

  Hunter’s eyes widened. “Come here.” Without a second to spare, he grabbed her by the hand.

  Mia scurried off the seat, moving silently as he whisked her across the porch. She had no idea where they were going, only understood that they were taking cover, and quick.

  In a few short moves, he took hold of her shoulders and urged her into a deep-set nook beside the front door.

  “Are you sure they’re not in the house?” Alex asked.

  “Well, not really,” someone replied. Bill, maybe?

  Hunter stepped into the space as well. Their fast-paced breath fused in the space between them. Mia remembered hiding in the nook as a child, waiting for Gramps’s dog, Whisky, to find her.

  The anticipation she felt now was different, but it would be no less memorable. And though they were on the verge of being discovered, she gave herself to the moment, tuning in to every sensation.

  When Hunter’s large hands slipped around her waist, she focused on the blessed warmth of his palms on her hips.

  When he leaned in, ran his lips along the lobe of her ear in a mind-blowing tease, she basked in the delicious tension.

  Hunter’s breaths were short, shallow, and warm. Hers were jagged too, halted by the sudden desire shooting through her. Please. Please kiss me, Hunter. She gulped as he trailed up the side of her neck, then along her jaw with his parted lips.

  Her lashes fluttered closed in time for the gentle touch of his mouth on hers. Soft. Warm. And testing. He wanted to know if she’d receive his kiss.

  Yes.

  She closed the gap next, allowing her mouth to graze over his before kissing him back.

  At last his full kiss was hers. A low groan sounded from Hunter’s throat.

  Passion. And longing. A force all its own. An inner voice reminded Mia that she barely knew him, but the mystery of who he was only added to the thrill. So did the fact that they had shared something just moments ago. Parts of their past, parts of what made them who they are. Moments that had quickly built a raw, compelling chemistry between them. And exploring it—as premature as it might be—was a guilty pleasure she’d never known.

  Suddenly a light flashed on, bright even through her closed lids.

  Hunter broke from the kiss and spun to look over his shoulder. The porch light had kicked on. The squeaky knob on the front door twisted. And before she could even think of what to do, Hunter took off.

  Mia stood stunned as he sped to the edge of the patio, hopped over the railing, and disappeared. She hurried out of the hidden nook, face flushed, pulse racing.

  “Where have you been?” Bill asked.

  Mia searched the darkness beyond the railing, unable to spot a trace of Hunter in the shadows. When she turned back to Bill, she felt like a child caught with Mom’s hidden stash of peanut M&Ms. “Just taking a stroll,” she said, glancing into the yard once more. “I was just thinking about a few things. The show. My apartment. Stuff.”

  “Is Hunter out here? Was he with you?”

  “Uhh …”

  The front door burst open again, and Hunter walked through. “Well, I’m going to head out. See you guys later.”

  “Hey, how the crud did you get in there?” Bill cried.

  Mia’s sentiments exactly.

  “I was looking all over,” he continued.

  Hunter scrunched his face. “What do you mean? I was fixing a pipe downstairs. Wayne’s been complaining about a slow leak for days now.”

  He looked over at Mia, and her heart screeched to a halt. He held her gaze—the two sharing a tasty secret—and gave her one hypnotizing wink.

  “Bye, then,” Bill said. “Mia, you ready to go back out to the fire?”

  She glanced over her shoulder as Hunter climbed down the stairs, then into his truck. At last she managed a nod. “Sure.” Yet, as she followed the group through the home and onto the back patio, Mia brought a shaky hand to her lips. She wasn’t sure what to make of the kiss. Did it mean anything, or would they go back to their regular ornery banter the next day?

  Mia might not have the answer to that question, but there was one thing regarding the kiss that was clear as a cloudless day: she wanted more.

  Chapter 9

  Hunter shook his head as he drove away, adrenaline pumping strong through his blood. First the kiss, then the intrusion. Talk about a whirlwind.

  But those lips. With kisses like that, who needed anything more? The feel of her mouth on his—it was enough to strip what’s-her-name from his memory for good.

  He chuckled under his breath as he recalled the way he’d hidden from the boys, taking Mia with him. Oh, but it had paid off. Even if he had decided to steer clear of her just moments before.

  By the time he pulled up to the ranch house, his thoughts were on Mia’s story. She’d almost lost her brother to cancer, when they were just kids, no less.

  He was glad she’d opened up to him, asked questions about his past. He enjoyed learning of her reason for wanting to make people smile; it was admirable. She was fascinating. Beautiful. But most importantly, she was kind.

  Boy, had he been wrong about the girl who ran the Try My Life vlog. Pegging her for a prima donna. What an idiot. He was certain she’d get the recording done, then hand over the shovel and have him do the rest. Or that she’d freak out about the messy appearance of her legs and demand to hold off until she cleaned them up. She hadn’t done either of those things, and Hunter had been impressed.

  It took longer than usual to get to sleep that night. He couldn’t stop himself from reliving the kiss again and again. He wasn’t sure what tomorrow held or the days following, for that matter—only that there was something special brewing between him and Mia, and he couldn’t wait to explore it further.

  In his dreams, Hunter started doing that very thing. Spending more time with Mia. Introducing her to his family. Celebrating Christmas with her. Getting down on one knee. And that’s when her face changed, morphed into a face from his past. Dark hair with dark features and a beauty that seemed cruel to him now. She spoke with Vanessa’s sharp, pointed tone as well. “Of course I’ll marry you. You’re okay if it doesn’t last, though, right? Because as soon as I find someone to boost my career, I’ll drop you faster than
an extra pound.”

  Hunter shot up in his bed, his face burning like a freshly lit match. The heat spread to his chest as he told himself it was just a dream. Still, a rash of emotions flooded in as he retraced the events in his dream. Dating Mia. Proposing marriage in his dream. He rolled his eyes and flung the blankets off his body.

  “What a joke,” he grumbled, shuffling his way to the kitchen sink. He filled a glass with water, tipped it back to drain the liquid, and slid it onto the counter. Just why in heaven’s name was he already proposing to Mia? Dream or not, they hadn’t even gone on one date. Talk about getting ahead of himself. Sure, they had chemistry. And sure, they’d shared a great kiss. An amazing kiss. But for all he knew, it wouldn’t go any further. The woman lived in a different state, for crying out loud. She probably had guys chasing her at every location. He was one among dozens who’d fallen under her spell.

  With a frustrated sigh, Hunter headed back to bed. It wasn’t until he was lying in the dark once more that he recognized the familiar upset stirring within him. The achy, pounding chest. The throbbing head. And the sick, growing knot in his stomach. He shrugged onto his side, gave his pillow a good punch, and let out an irritated breath. There was no way he was going back there—to that horrible, heartbroken place. He might have thought he was ready, when face-to-face with that temptress and all her charm. But he couldn’t have been more wrong.

  Better if he just cut things off now before getting in too deep. It was a good thing Mia had gotten to know the other ranch hands. From here on out, Hunter would step away and let them take over. In a few days she’d be gone, and things would go back to the way they were.

  “Hey, everyone,” Mia chimed, looking directly into her camera phone. “Today I’m sure some of you ladies are going to wish you were us. Isn’t that right, Karen?”

  Karen—pinned between Mia and Alex in the cab of the truck—gave her a nod. “That’s right.”

  “We’re lucky because we’ve got three hunky cowboys with us. Alex, want to say hi?”