by Elisa Leigh
I nod. “You’re right. What the hell is wrong with me?”
“You went to school with catty bitches that spread vicious rumors. Even high school ended three years ago, you still hear them in the back of your mind whispering those cruel words behind your back.”
“I hate that you know me so well.”
“It’s only because I dealt with my own demons when I was in school.” She says, getting that faraway look she often gets whenever she mentions her past. She never told me much about what happened to her before she came to Emerald Isle, but from the little I’ve gathered, coming here has been an escape for her.
“Thank you for always being there for me,” I say and hug her tight, before releasing her and checking my watch. “Shit, we really need to get back because we’re late and Hanson is going to have a shit fit if we’re more than five minutes late.”
We power walk back to the office and sit down within two minutes. Hanson gives Tina and I the side-eye but doesn’t say anything to us. He’s a decent manager and runs a good office, even though he can be stiff, at least he’s fair with everyone.
I work the rest of my shift, and my mind constantly goes back to Hunter in his uniform. He was literally a dream come to life. When our shift is over at five, Tina follows me home and helps me pick out an outfit for tonight. Hunter texted me an hour after we saw him and told me to dress casually. What the hell does that mean? He really has no idea the possibilities he’s opened that up to.
Tina follows me home and raids my closet, looking for the best “casual” but sexy outfit she can find. She decides on a pair of dark wash skinny jeans and a royal blue halter top. Tina suggested I wear heels, but I vetoed that and went with my signature cowboy boots. She helped me do my hair so it had pretty beach waves and did my makeup so I wouldn’t end up looking like some ridiculous rodeo clown. She left a half-hour ago and wished me many orgasms, to which I pushed her out of my house while she cackled like the witch she is.
Chapter 4
Hunter
After I got off my shift at the firehouse, I rushed home to grab a shower and quickly clean up my place. My living room is still littered with moving boxes, and I barely have any furniture, besides my couch and the flat-screen TV that is mounted above the fireplace. My bedroom only has my king size bed with more boxes. I intend to end the night back at my place so we can talk about why I left and more importantly that I’m back for her. Hell, I won’t deny that if she slipped me a few more of those kisses she gave me last night I would be a happy man.
I stop by the only florist in town and grab her a bouquet of wildflowers. I have no idea what her favorite flowers are, but I’ll be sure to find out. There’s still so much that I need to know about her. On the ride over to her place, I run through the many things that I need to tell her, namely that I’m making her my woman if she’ll have me. When I pull up the drive to her parent’s home, I’m fifteen minutes early like I’ve planned. There is still one person I haven’t seen since I’ve been back that I need to.
I ring the doorbell to the Grant family home and wait nervously. When the door opens, I look at the woman who has a few more grays in her hair but never looked more beautiful. “Hey, Mrs. Grant,” I say nervously. Suddenly I’m that awkward seventeen-year-old boy again, seeking her approval. When she says nothing but looks at me warily, I worry that she doesn’t remember me, or worse she doesn’t approve of how I’ve turned out. “It’s Hunter, Hunter Stone. I used to come over a lot and hang out with Ramsey back in high school.”
“I know who you are.” She snips and crosses her arms against her chest and gives me a hard stare.
“Oh.” Fuck, she’s a hardass. “Well, I just wanted to stop by and-”
“I’m mad at you.”
All week I’ve been running into people I used to know, all of them shocked, but happy to see me. Now it’s my turn to be shocked. “I’m sorry ma’am. I don’t mean to be rude, but what have I done?”
Her hard stare begins to melt, and a small grin appears on her face. “You always did have the best manners, Hunter.”
“You made sure of that.”
“I sure did. Well get in here and give this old woman a hug.” She says and opens her screen door to let me in. Relieved, I step through her doorway and tower over her by at least a foot. She opens her arms, and I envelop the woman who reminds me so much of my own mom in a big hug. I probably hug her longer than I should, maybe squeeze a little too tight, but damn it’s good to see her. “I’m so glad you’re home, Hunter.” Her voice cracks and I can tell she’s trying to keep herself from crying.
I pull back and watch as she wipes a few tears from her cheeks. “I’m sorry we left, and I didn’t tell anyone where I was going.”
She waves me off. “Oh, I pulled it out of Ramsey a month after you left. I was surprised he was able to keep it to himself for that long. Usually, he’s a blabbermouth. I am a little hurt that it took you a week to come and see me, though.” She half teases.
I let out a sigh of relief and laugh. “Oh, sorry. It’s been a little crazy since getting back into town.”
She quirks her eyebrow at me. “I see you didn’t waste any time with Whitley.”
Mrs. Grant is probably the only person who can make me blush. “Nothing happened before now Mrs. Grant, I give you my word.”
“I know that. I also know that you cared for my Whitley before it was right to. I only prayed that you gave her time to grow before you told her about how you felt for her. Then you left. I wondered if you would ever come back. Once my John told me you had met with him for the open position at his firehouse, I knew it was only a matter of time before you’d be showing up for Whitley.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m taking her out for dinner tonight. I’ll have her back at a decent hour.”
“She’s an adult now Hunter. Whitley can do as she pleases. I know she’s safe in your hands, isn’t she?”
“I’ll never let any harm come to her Mrs. Grant, I give you my word.”
Mrs. Grant pats my cheek. “I know you won’t Hunter because if you did, you’d have a lot of angry men chomping at the bit to take you out for hurting her.” Oh, she seems sweet, but if anything, ever happened to her children or her husband, the devil would rise up out of her, and there would be hell to pay.
The clock on the oven beeps, signaling that it’s seven o’clock. “Shit, I mean shoot. Sorry Mrs. Grant. I got to go and pick up Whitley.”
She laughs at me. “Well, it’s a good thing she’s only a minute away.”
I give her a quick hug goodbye and head back to the front door. I look back at Mrs. Grant, and she gives me a warm smile. “Hunter, I’m glad you’re home, sweetheart.”
“Me too,” I say before stepping out the front door and closing it behind me.
Jesus that woman knows how to bust my balls. Smiling, I walk back to my truck, almost forgetting Whitley’s flowers, then make a beeline behind the main house and to Whitley’s front door. I knock, waiting impatiently for her to answer. When the door opens, I’m not prepared for the woman standing before me. Whitley is gorgeous but done up like this, she’s breathtaking. All of my innocent intentions for tonight are gone, and now I’m wondering how long it will take me to smear that pink gloss off her lips and get her out of that fucking top.
“Do I look okay?” Whitley asks, fidgeting with the clutch she holds in her hands.
“Absolutely perfect.” I rasp and grab the door frame for support. I would never admit to being weak, but this woman is about to bring me to my damn knees.
She smiles brightly, and the fidgeting stops. “Are those for me?” She asks, pointing at the bouquet in my hands.
I nod then hand them to her and watch as she brings them up to her nose to smell them. Everything she does is sexy. Everything is turning me on.
“Thank you, Hunter, they’re beautiful. Here, give me a second while I put these in a vase with some water. Come in.”
I follow her into the tiny kitchen and watch
as she stands on her tiptoes, trying to grab a glass vase that is a pinch out of her reach. “Here, baby, let me get that.” I press my front to her back and reach up easily to grab the vase she was trying to get. I drop a kiss on the top of her head before setting the vase down on the counter in front of her and step back.
She works quietly, putting the flowers in the vase and then adding water. Her gaze never meets mine, and I pray that I didn’t push her too far. After a few minutes, she turns around with a deep blush reddening her cheeks, and she looks up at me. “I’m ready to go.”
I crowd her up against the counter, placing my hands on each side of her body, caging her in. “You okay, Lee?”
She sucks that damn bottom lip into her mouth, slowly releasing it. When it pops out of her mouth I’m done, I can’t hold back. I capture her lips in a soul-searing kiss, taking everything from her. She gives it to me right back and grabs onto the back of my shirt and pulls me closer. I lift her onto the edge of the counter and continue to kiss her, my hands digging into her hips, probably leaving marks. Just the thought of putting my mark on her has my dick harder than granite and ready to do damage.
I pull back and look into her blue eyes hoping to God she’ll fall for me and fast. I’m ready to give her my last name and put a baby in her belly, but I need to get her on board before that can happen. Using my thumb, I wipe the evidence of our kiss from below her lip and groan as her tongue peeks out and wets her bottom lip. “We have to stop.”
She smirks. “Isn’t that supposed to be my line?”
I laugh, a full-on belly laughs, one I haven’t had in a long time. “Not anymore, baby. Come on, let’s get to dinner.”
I lift her by her hips and set her back down on the ground, then pick up her clutch that she dropped on the floor when we were kissing and hand it to her.
“Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
I walk out of the front door and wait for her to follow me and lock up. When she turns around, I grab her hand, lacing our fingers together, and walk us back to my truck. I open her door and let her try to get in, but when she struggles slightly, I help settle her in her seat. She’s about to object, so I place a gentle, but firm kiss on her lips then back away and close her door.
It doesn’t take long before we arrive at one of the nicer waterfront restaurants in town. When I pull up and park in a parking spot, Whitley begins to fidget in her seat.
I push some hair behind her back, then lift her chin up, so she’s looking at me. “What’s wrong?”
“You said to dress casual, this isn’t a very casual place, Hunter. I’m underdressed.”
“You are beautiful. Trust me, Whitley, I’d never dream of making you feel out of place. If we walk in and have a look around and you still don’t feel comfortable, we’ll leave.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that. This night is about you. Neither of us will have a good time if you don’t feel at ease. If you want my opinion, though, you’re gorgeous.”
“You can’t keep saying things like that Hunter.”
“Oh yeah, why not?”
“You’re going to make me want things that I shouldn’t.”
“I guess I’m going to keep saying them since I want you to want everything from me, Whitley Grant.”
I’m tempted to kiss her but know that will only lead to more kissing and things that should only happen behind closed doors where no one else will be able to see her like that. I’ve been jealous of every man in her life for years, now that I’m with her, it’s ten times worse than before.
I get out of my truck and go around to her door to help her out. I sling my arm around her shoulders, and she slides her arm around my waist as we walk up the path and inside the restaurant.
Chapter 5
Whitley
As soon as we pull into the restaurant, I know this is a bad idea, but Hunter is so sweet about it, I can’t tell him no. Russel’s is one of our nicer restaurants in Emerald Isle, and I’ve never felt good enough to come here. I know Dad takes Mom here on date nights and they rave about the food, but I’ve never been brave enough to go. I know it seems silly, to be afraid to go into a restaurant, but I tend to shy away from places that make me feel uncomfortable. Being around people who look better, and dress better than me makes me very uncomfortable. I know I need to get over it, but insecurities are hard to get passed, especially ones that are so deeply ingrained in me. It’s like second nature for me to shy away from things I feel are better than me.
That’s part of my hesitation with moving forward with Hunter. Am I good enough for him? A man like him deserves to have someone beautiful and confident supporting him, not some short, curvy virgin who has no idea what she’s doing when it comes to a man, especially one as sexy as Hunter.
We walk into Russel’s, my arm wrapped tightly around Hunter, using him as my human force field against anyone who might look at me like I don’t belong. I quickly realize how foolish I’m acting. I look around and notice that Hunter is right, what I’m wearing is fine, and there are other women here dressed similar to me. When we arrive at the hostess stand, she asks if we would prefer inside seating or out on the deck. I stare out at the deck longingly and just beyond, at the waves that roll and then crash on the shore. The sun is just starting to go down, and even though we can’t see it, the sky is colored in beautiful shades of orange and pink.
I stand taller, finding my spine that I lost somewhere between last night and just now. “On the deck,” I tell the hostess.
“Right this way.” She says, smiling.
Hunter guides me forward with his hand at my lower back, then pulls out my chair for me when the hostess stops at our table. The amount of care he’s taking with me is something I’m not used to. A guy will rarely hold open my door or show kindness to me. Usually, I’m just another human, not worth treating like I’m more than something that’s in the way. Once we’re both seated, she hands us our menus and asks what we would like to drink. I order a glass of sweet tea, and Hunter orders a beer. Then she’s gone, and I breathe out a sigh of relief then laugh at myself for being so weird about this.
“What’s so funny?” Hunter asks, smiling.
“I’m just crazy sometimes, that’s all. You’re right, though, this place is great.”
His smile only widens and sends my butterflies into overdrive, and my pussy starts to throb. It’s going to be a long night. Clearing those thoughts from my head, I start a conversation with Hunter while looking at the menu. “How was your first day at the firehouse?”
“Good. I know most of the guys there so, it was like another reunion of sorts. I had to do some first-day stuff like paperwork and training videos from HR, but other than that, it was good. I’ll be training with James for the next couple of weeks, getting the hang of the way they do things here.”
“How long have you been a firefighter?” I ask, curious if this is his first job at a firehouse.
He studies my face before answering. “For over five years.”
“Really?”
Hunter laughs. “Why are you so surprised by that?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I guess it’s hard to picture since I thought of a million different scenarios of what could have happened to you since you up and disappeared.”
“So, you’ve been thinking about me?” He asks, giving me that devilish grin that must get him out of all sorts of trouble.
“Where did you go?” I ask instead of getting pulled into his sexy man charm.
His smile vanishes, and for a few seconds, I think he won’t answer until he leans in close. “Whitley, I promise to tell you everything after dinner. It’s kind of a lot to get into while we’re out. I don’t want you thinking I don’t want to share, but I had hoped we could do it after we were alone.” He tells me quietly.
“Okay,” I whisper back, not understanding what the big deal is. It’s his story to tell if he needs it to be a private conversation, so be it.
&
nbsp; Hunter quickly changes the subject. “What made you take a job at the Emergency Call Center?”
Ah, that’s an easy one. “I was looking for a solid job with good hours, something I could work during the day and take college courses at night. Dad told me about the position when it became available, and that was that. After working the job for a year, I decided to change my major to Emergency Management. I never realized how many people need help and the many different emergencies that come about. I love what I do, and one day, I hope to move up and have more responsibility.”
His grin is back. “You always did like helping people. That’s one of the things I admire about you. I’ll never forget the day I saw you walking down the road soaked to the bone and covered in mud. When I asked you what happened, you told me how you saw some little kid get his bike stuck in the mud. You helped him get it out and then walked him home.”
“That’s when Ramsey started calling me Swamp Thing. You know, every time it rains, he still calls me that.”
“You got so mad at him, it was cute.”
“I can’t believe you picked me up in your car and gave me a ride home though. I got your car so dirty.” I say laughing.
“I couldn’t let you walk home in the rain, baby.”
Every time he calls me baby, my stomach flips. I can’t help but smile like a silly girl. Before I can respond, our drinks arrive with our server.
“How are we doing tonight, you two? I’m Dave, and I’ll be your server this evening.” The guy says as he sets our drinks down in front of us.
I smile at Dave politely, but when I don’t hear Hunter respond, I look at him and see that he’s scowling. Weirdo.
“Let me tell you about our specials we have tonight…”
I only hear half of what he’s saying because I’m more concerned with Hunter sitting across from me and turning into the Hulk.
