"Because I what?"
Here went nothing. She may as well get it out and over with now. Hunter's curious gaze searched her face, waiting.
"I thought after that time we almost kissed, it scared you to the point of not wanting to come back!" She rushed the words. There. She'd said them. Whatever happened now, happened.
Hunter's skin turned a few shades paler. "You thought us almost kissing pushed me to stop talking to you?"
She couldn't tell how he felt about that. His voice gave no indication one way or the other. With a nod, Becca fought off nervous tears. "We were always friends. That last trip, I felt something different, but I always thought I was dealing with the breakup. You had your own worries."
"Oh, Becca. I hate that you went all those years thinking that. I wanted to say something to you before we parted, but I didn't for many reasons. I worried about rebound feelings, I worried that you wouldn't want anything more. I wanted to call you afterwards and talk to you, but then Eva surprised me with the news of being pregnant." Hunter leaned closer and kissed her forehead. "You mean so much to me. You always have. The way I feel about you ... well, it's strong and I don't quite know how to deal with this yet. It scares me and thrills me at the same time. I know I'm being cautious, but it's because I care so much about you. I know we only saw each other a few weeks out of the year and then I disappeared, but I consider you one of my best friends. I never have trusted easily. You're different, so it scares me to have these deeper feelings, but they're here. I don't know what to do about them. We live in different worlds."
"That might be true, but we have a deeper understanding of each other. It's probably what helps keep us close even though we're miles apart most of the time. You're the one that showers me with high praise. You've always stood up for me. You believe in my dreams and understand my fears. No one else has ever been able to see me that way, other than my parents." She trembled, missing her family more than ever. "It's getting harder to remember them. That hurts."
"I don't get your grandparents. They should have helped keep your mom and dad's memory alive. Instead, they refused to talk about them with you. I know they're family, but they drive me crazy with the way they act about you."
"Why do you think I pushed so hard to be on my own? I know I shocked you that year I became emancipated and met you here. I made a lot of sacrifices to do that, but I didn't care. I needed to breathe again. Even to this day they still hover, and they still want me to to things that suit them." Anger laced her voice and she tried to keep calm. Her grandparents had given up on her when the doctors said she'd never recover normally.
"Like Vince. Why would they push a marriage to a man so much older, who you obviously don't love?"
"He's the son of my grandfather's best friend. They don't think I'm very capable of making my own decisions. They think Vince is best suited to take care of me." She rolled her eyes again, which made Hunter laugh. He trailed a finger across her side in a lazy motion. "I don't think they ever liked or trusted Justin. They got this notion in their head after we broke up that maybe they should find someone for me."
"I don't like him much," Hunter huffed.
That made her laugh. His boldness always cracked her up. "I don't think he's very fond of you, either. He looked like he wanted to throw you at the wall."
"I could take him easily. Not that I ever would," he winked. "He acts very possessive, like you're some prize to be won."
"I know. I will never become his trophy wife," Becca stated with a firm voice. "Truthfully, I think he's after the money. I didn't mention this before, but when I pushed for emancipation, I made a deal with my grandparents that I wouldn't touch most of that settlement. I take just enough to live on. In fact, I give myself a monthly allowance. The rest is tied up for now. I think Vince feels that if he marries me, he'll be entitled to it."
"Please tell me they don't get to withdrawal and spend it at their leisure," Hunter growled.
"No, they don't get it. I know you probably think it was foolish. They set it up to where I'd get it all when I was twenty-one. I just couldn't take four more years of living under their thumb. I couldn't take being held back anymore. Everyone there looked at me and treated me as if I were fragile. If I limped for even a few minutes, they all hovered, thinking I should sit down. The very first time I brought up emancipation, my grandmother threatened me with a psychological evaluation." She laughed bitterly at the memory. "What, I'm not right in the mind because I want to succeed? I don't need all that money, so I felt it was a small price to pay to get my freedom. I pay my rent monthly, I went to college, and I found myself. I love my job and my students. I didn't settle when the doctors said I wouldn't fully recover. Everyone else around me gave up." Except you.
"One of the many reasons I admire you. I am so glad we cleared the air." Hunter leaned over and kissed her cheek. "You are so full of determination. You let no one drag you down. It's ridiculous that they hold all that over your head, but you're right. You don't need the money, and you don't need them holding you back. Do you have any of that stay strong mojo you can pass my way?" He laughed.
She knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but she also knew he lacked strength and support right now. Hunter's jokes were his way of brushing off how he really felt inside. She'd bet not many people knew that about him.
"If I could hand it all over to you, I would," she said softly, brushing her fingertips along his jaw. She loved being this close to him. Her heart seemed to flip flop most of the time now, but she loved the feeling.
"Think if I went for another kiss, maybe it would just transfer over?" Hunter cracked a smile.
Becca laughed. "Oh, you!" She kissed him. "Did it work? Do you feel the strength and the good mojo yet?"
Hunter sucked on his lower lip, pretending to be lost in thought. "No, not yet. Maybe we should keep practicing."
Chapter Nine
Hunter had no idea how long they spent in Becca's room kissing, laughing and talking. It felt incredible to hold her and kiss her. They had a few days left of this trip. Then what? How did they go forward with this? Try the long distance thing? He wasn't in any position to move right now, not with trying to get custody of Sienna. It wasn't fair to ask Becca to uproot her life to move to his town, either.
He wasn't ready to let her go just yet. He wanted more than a few days.
The idea of her staying with him for the summer popped into his head. She wouldn't be going back to teaching until September. They could spend more time together. She could stay at the house and they could get to know each other on this new level. Two and a half more months of this might help them figure out where they stand.
He loved that they would kiss, hold each other and then go back to talking. It felt natural. He was comfortable with Becca. The four year absence didn't have an affect on their friendship at all. If anything, their bond grew stronger. He figured that it had to be attributed to the boat and the storm, but it didn't matter what brought them closer together. That awkwardness he'd worried about eased away pretty quickly.
Now, they sat under the canopy of Range's outside cafe and watched the sunset. The waitress took their empty plates and asked if they needed anything else. Hunter asked for another drink, as did Becca. The storm had passed for now, but the threat for more existed. The summer storm season was in full swing right now. The orange, red and pink highlights from the sky reflected in the water.
Neither of them were ready to leave the peaceful scene yet.
Surprisingly, Vince had left them alone. Hunter had no idea where he stormed off to, nor did he care. He was glad the man wasn't in their faces right now. He debated on when to ask Becca if she'd be willing to come out and stay a few months with him until she had to head back home and get ready for the new school season.
"I'm surprised I didn't end up taking a nap today." Becca laughed when she yawned. Now that they finished eating, he moved his chair closer so he could wrap an arm around her. She looked up at him with a smile
and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I think we had too much excitement," Hunter said softly. This heat between them brewed stronger than the storms on the horizon. He gently caressed her shoulder, fidgeting with the strap of her short sleeved shirt. He loved having her so close.
"I would say so."
"I had an idea," Hunter began. Now or never.
Becca raised her head from his shoulder. Her eyes were filled with wonder. "Oh?"
"It's nothing as crazy as parasailing. Well, maybe. Depends on who you ask." He laughed at how he knew he had her more curious. He was teasing her and he knew it.
"Now I'm worried," she teased, but a smile broke out on her face.
"I don't think a few days are going to satisfy my curiosity of wanting to explore these feelings with you. I don't understand how we simply go from friends to wanting more in such a short period of time as it is." Now he was just dragging on. Why did he feel the need to have to explain every little thing? He shook his head. "Okay I guess I'm more nervous about asking than I thought I was, because I'm rambling."
"Not that I mind your rambling, but you have me so curious. It's driving me crazy!" Becca touched his cheek. "Just tell me, or ask me, or whatever you plan on doing."
Her gentle touch relaxed him. "I was wondering if you'd consider coming home with me for the rest of the summer. We can spend more time together, catch up and see where things go."
Becca gasped and her lips parted. He'd surprised her. Now he just anxiously awaited her answer.
"Oh Hunter. I have no idea what to say!"
"You could say yes," he said in hope. "Of course, you could also say no. I have to tell you, I've never lacked such confidence when it comes to asking a woman to spend more time with me. In normal circumstances, I wouldn't feel so odd about it with you. This is a new direction for us and it's very strange. All of a sudden, I don't know how to act. You have me all out of sorts," he teased.
"Want to know a secret?" Becca whispered, leaning closer to his ear. "It's really sexy." Her voice went low.
Hunter pulled her closer. "What's really sexy is the way you have the ability to melt me with just a touch and your sweet voice. You have a hold on me. I don't know what to do with it."
"It came as a surprise to me, too. Maybe we're both at a place in our lives that helped us realize how much we've come to depend on each other's support. I don't know. Can these things just happen like that? It almost feels like a story we've been told countless times. I can't explain my feelings right now, but I know they're changing and I want just as much as you to explore them. I'd love to spend more time with you, Hunter. My answer is yes."
His smile grew as he kissed her. "You don't know how happy I am to hear that. I have to warn you though, things are going to be crazy when we get back. I'm in the middle of this whole thing with trying to get custody of Sienna, and with these new letters coming to light, there's going to be a lot going on."
"I'll be there to support you with Sienna," Becca promised. "I can't wait to meet her. Maybe we can figure this thing out with the letters. It might be better if we were together."
She had a point. "Just remember that I want to always keep our friendship alive. This scares me more than you could imagine. I'm not the best with serious relationships. They crumble all around me." He'd never been one to be so blunt about his own deep feelings, not like this, but with Becca, he knew he could be and she wouldn't judge him.
"Know what I think?" she said softly. "You've been so hurt. You feel it's all your doing. I don't believe that. Relationships come and go. You're vulnerable and you don't want to be. Been there, done that. I understand. I just want you to know that I'm not going anywhere. I can't imagine you doing anything that would drive me away. We'll figure this out. Figure us out. We'll do our best to stay friends if things don't work. I think you know that I'm not big on taking risks, but taking a chance with you is one I'm more than willing to do."
She stole his breath with her sweet, promising words. "Becca-"
"In fact, I'll even take another risk with you. I'll let you take me parasailing." She grinned.
"You don't need to do that for me."
She took his hands and held them in hers. "I'm doing it for me. It's high time I do something a little crazy. Parasailing might not be crazy for most, but for a girl who's always grounded, that's a biggie for me. I want to really experience life. I want to sit next to you on your plane and see the world, take my camera and photograph the wonders, then paint my own versions of them. I don't want to be known as the meek woman who lived under someone else's thumb." Her voice turned to steel.
"Is this because of Vince and the way he acted?" Once again, he admired her determination. But this was a strange turn of events, even for her.
She closed her eyes for a second before looking back up. "A little, but mostly it's for me, although we could make amends and invite him along, just to watch him squirm a little."
Hunter burst into laughter, then kissed her forehead. "Oh my, you're brutal! Remind me not to make you mad!"
Becca winked as her eyes lit up. "You didn't hear that from me." She giggled, pretending to zip her lips.
"Oh, but I did. I love that side of you. What else do you have hidden underneath that halo of yours?" Hunter ran his fingers through her hair, pretending to look for the halo.
"There is no halo!" Becca laughed.
"From where I'm sitting, there sure is," he replied softly.
"I am not as innocent as you think!" she protested.
"Prove it," he taunted. He was having fun. Becca's cheeks flared red. He'd caught her off-guard.
"Just how do you expect me to do that?" The corners of her lips twitched.
He could think of many ways. Oh, he could have so much fun with this. Hunter tapped his chin in thought. "Okay, for starters, you pretty much never curse. Say ass. Or fuck."
"What? How does that prove my non-innocence?" Becca laughed, then shook her head.
"Come on. You can do it," he prodded, chuckling.
"If I do that, will you leave this alone?"
"Probably not, but it would be fun. Come on Becca, say something!"
"Hunter Beckman, you are being a pain in the ass!" she nearly shouted. Her hand went over her mouth fast and she stifled a giggle. Hunter noticed a few other people looking over their way with disapproving looks.
"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" He didn't care others were watching. It's not like they were doing anything wrong.
"All eyes are on us," she whispered. Becca looked so cute when she blushed.
"So? Let them see two people that are young, full of life and having a little bit of fun." Hunter gave her hand a squeeze. "Don't be embarrassed. I have to admit, I love the blushing look on your face."
"You're so ... I don't even know what to say!" She laughed, though she kept looking around.
"Come on, I think this calls for a sunset stroll on the beach. You passed the first part of your 'Not so innocent' test."
"I'm not fond of tests!" Becca grumbled, scraping back her chair to stand. She brushed off her jeans, then reached for her purse.
"Ahh, my tests are always easy," he teased, taking her hand in his.
*****
Becca walked hand in hand with Hunter down the beach. The sunset's last colors faded and the night sky blanketed them. The tide would be coming up soon. They'd have to make their walk short, but with light rain drops falling and the moon peering from thinner clouds in the distance, the night was beautiful. It was much calmer than last night, with the raging storm and staying in the unknown of that smaller island.
They walked along the water. Cold waves slapped against her feet. She held Hunter's hand still. He edged closer to her. "Whatcha thinking?" he asked.
"At the very moment you asked, I was thinking about how calm the night is compared to last night."
He laughed. "Yeah, so true. It's going to be nice to spend tonight on our familiar island."
"How is your head?
Does it hurt?"
"A little, but it looks fine. Not going to need stitches and I haven't bled out, so apparently something is keeping it all in there."
She gasped. "You and your words, Hunter!" But she let out a laugh. "I never have an idea of what you're going to say."
He stopped, took both of her hands in his and leaned closer. "I like that. I love throwing people off. Keeps them on their toes."
"Are you this bold around complete strangers?" she asked. She couldn't imagine being so outright bold like he was.
"If the situation calls for it, I can be. I'm not one to hold back, unless it's deep feelings. I don't really let most people in. I'm learning to let some people in though, like you."
"That's good to know," she said softly. Hunter raised his hand and brushed her hair back. Light, misty raindrops fell and the moon fully disappeared behind the clouds. There wasn't much light left to be found. She could only see the shadow of Hunter now.
"I suppose we should get back. It's dark, raining and the tide's coming," he whispered. "But I think I want to give you one sweet kiss in the rain first."
"I won't complain about that." She slid her arms around his neck and tilted her head. His soft lips crashed over hers. He moved his hand to her chin and held her there. She loved the way he kissed. Tender, kind, needy, yet he gave back just as much as he needed. He was about to deepen the kiss when a rush of water slammed into them, higher than their knees.
"That's our cue to get out of here." Hunter's voice was low. "Come on, let's get back, my not-so-innocent Becca. I still see that halo, though." He teased her as they left the beach.
"I'll show you that I'm not innocent," she declared, laughing. "I'm just not sure how yet."
"You'll have a lot of work ahead of you to convince me."
"I've conquered so many challenges throughout my life, what's one more?" she taunted. They'd arrived on the dining patio and entered Range's. Hunter squeezed her hand.
"You definitely have," he said in all seriousness.
A Masterpiece Of Our Love (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 1) Page 10
