Unexpected Love

by J. O Mantel

  She threw him a wicked grin and winked as she walked back over to Kevin, who was looking through the images on his camera. Placing the strap around his neck, Kevin lifted the camera to his eye and focused his attention on Hunter as he snapped some more images.

  Andy, Alex, Carter, and the rest of the crew stood and watched, while Hunter posed for Kevin. A chill filled the night air, and Hunter shivered but tried to remain focused as the cold breeze brushed against his chest and abs. One of the crew that was working with Kevin walked over to Hunter, reached behind him and grabbed the hose from the reel it was resting on. He pulled it over Hunter’s right shoulder, and Hunter stretched his arms over his head to grab it, causing the material of his briefs to slide further below his waistline.

  Andy’s eyes widened and gave Hunter an immediate once over as his entire body, every single muscle, flexed with each move.

  It’s as if the guy has totally been photoshopped to perfection, Andy thought.

  Andy wasn’t the only one eyeing Hunter, the entire crew was totally fixated on what was going on in front of them, that nobody seemed to realize it had started to rain.

  “Perfect timing,” Kevin yelled. He ordered everyone to head to the front of the truck, for the final group photo. One of the crew held an umbrella over Kevin. Hunter, Andy, Carter, and Alex stood front and center, then Vanessa walked over toward them. She handed Hunter the cute little pup he’d held earlier, and he cupped it in his palms. The rain became heavier, but it was exactly what Kevin wanted to capture a wet moment, and the timing was ideal for the shoot. Once they were all in their positions, Vanessa reapplied some of the make-up and scooted back over to Kevin, who had his face buried behind the camera again. She grabbed an umbrella from their car and opened it, protecting herself from the rain as she trotted over toward Kevin.

  After several clicks, he leaned in and whispered something in Vanessa’s right ear. With a joyful smile, she ran off to her left and said something to one of the crew off set. As Hunter and the rest of the team waited for further instructions, Andy turned around to face Hunter. When Hunter returned his beaming smile, Andy inched closer until their shoulders were touching. The scenery was nice, and it was obvious from the expression on Kevin’s face, that he’d captured the shots he was hoping for. Just as they thought it was all over and they could go inside, out of the pouring rain, their faces turned to Vanessa who was struggling toward them with a leash. But it was what was on the end of the leash that had the entire crew in awe and gawking with their mouths open. She walked over to Carter and handed him the leash. With a smile, he took a step toward his crew.

  “Everyone, this is Daisy … our newest recruit, and her son, Thunder,” he beamed, cocking his head toward Hunter who was still holding the tiny little pup in his hands.

  There were gasps from every direction, and as everyone took turns to pet the new additions to the family, Kevin cleared his throat and yelled above the pouring rain.

  “In your positions please, let’s make this the prize-winning shot.”

  Everyone frantically moved back into position. Kevin instructed Hunter to place Daisy on the ground in front of him. Hunter obliged with the request, and as he placed Thunder over his left shoulder, he felt Andy’s hand brush against the back of his neck as he held the pup in place. Andy saw Hunter’s blue eyes practically smile back, and as they waited for Kevin to take the final shot, the rain continued to pour over them as several of the crew frantically battled the rain to protect the lighting and props. Vanessa reached into her back pocket and pulled out a towel, she handed it to Kevin who wiped the water off the lens of his camera.

  “Okay, and here we go … three … two … one,” he yelled as he click, click, clicked his camera. “And that’s a wrap everyone!” He was barely heard over the driving rain, and everyone quickly turned and headed indoors.

  It took several hours for the entire staff and crew to wash and clean the make-up off themselves, not to mention removing the ton of thick hairspray Vanessa had molded into their hair. Soon, it was just Andy and Hunter alone in the locker room as the rest of the crew headed out for drinks at Delta’s. It had Hunter thinking about Stephanie. He hadn’t spoken to, or seen her in weeks. He wanted to make sure Andy would be okay with them going to the club, so he walked toward Andy and smiled.

  “Guess everyone’s gone to the club,” Hunter said.

  “Except for the poor suckers who have to work overnight,” Andy corrected.

  “Fancy a drink? Maybe we could catch up with Stephanie, it’s been some time since we last saw her.”

  Andy looked at Hunter. He looked good. Fuck, he looked better than good, he looked fucking hot and totally fuckable in his black sweatpants, which were resting below his hips, and blue hoodie.

  “Andy?”

  Andy was pulled from the indecent vision and replied, “Sorry, what did you say?”

  “Want to head over to Delta’s for a drink?”

  “Ahh, not really. To be totally honest, I’m actually pretty tired. Who’d have thought that standing around for hours, posing for photos could be so tiring?”

  Hunter let out a chuckle and opened his locker.

  “You go on ahead though, I can catch an Uber home.”

  “You will not,” Hunter demanded, grabbing his backpack and flinging it over his shoulders. “I’m actually feeling pretty tired myself. Mom has Lili tonight, so it’s just the two of us. Beer and pizza?” he asked.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Andy replied and turned to exit the locker room.

  Hunter took a deep breath and sighed, pressing his head against his locker. As he stood there, he recalled what Andy had just said only a few seconds earlier: “home.” Andy had referred to Hunter’s place as if it were theirs. While the thought of having someone other than Bree refer to his place as their home made him slightly nervous, it didn’t freak him out as much as he thought it might. Instead, he smiled as Andy’s head peeped around the corner. “Coming?” Andy asked.

  With a nod and a beaming smile on his face, Hunter pulled the keys from his pocket and followed Andy out the door as they headed home.

  FRIDAY 6:15 P.M.

  HUNTER HAD JUST clocked out from his thirteen-hour shift and was headed for his locker. It was the night before his daughter’s birthday, the eve of the anniversary of yet another year of mourning his wife, and of course, the evening before the most romantic day of the year, St. Valentine’s Day. A day he was most certainly not looking forward to.

  It didn’t help that he’d missed several phone calls from his mom, and he knew it would only be a matter of time. He felt his phone buzz in his pocket, as his mother called again. Deciding not to ignore her this time, he tapped the screen and brought the phone to his ear.

  “Mother. Well, you certainly are impatient, aren’t you?”

  His mother’s gentle laugh made its way through the phone and although she was a persistent pain in the ass at times, hearing her voice had a way of making him feel better.

  “Well, I haven’t heard from you all day, sweetheart, and I wanted to hear your voice and make sure everything was okay. Besides, you do realize what day it is tomorrow, right?”

  How the hell could I forget?

  “Yes, of course I know what day it is tomorrow, Mom. What kind of father would it make me if I forgot my daughter’s birthday? And more importantly, what kind of husband would I be if I forgot to mourn the passing of my late wife?”

  He said the last part a little louder than he would have liked. He knew it wasn’t his mother’s fault that this time of year always made him emotional, but all he wanted was to be left alone and not worry about Valentine’s Day and the pain it made him feel.

  “I’m sorry, Mom, I didn’t mean to snap,” he said with an apologetic tone.

  “It’s okay, darling, you don’t need to apologize to me. Where are you?” she asked.

  “I’m just leaving work. Are you at my place?”

  “Actually
, I’m still at the mall. Lili wanted ice cream.”

  “Ice cream? In the middle of winter? Seriously, Mom,” Hunter said.

  “Would you relax, Hunter. What kind of a grandmother do you take me for?”

  Hunter rolled his eyes and looked at the clock on the wall before opening the door. “Do you want me to meet you at the mall?” he asked.

  “No. You head on home, we’ll be leaving shortly,” he heard her say through the phone.

  Ending the call, he placed his cell back in his pocket and headed toward his car.

  When he arrived home, he noticed Andy in the kitchen, leaning over the stove with a cloth over one shoulder, a pan in one hand, and wine in the other.

  “Hey,” Hunter called as he closed the door and placed his bag on the couch.

  “You’re home.” Andy smiled.

  Hunter walked over to where Andy was standing and looked into the pot that was simmering on the stovetop.

  “What’s this?” Hunter asked.

  “Dinner. Pasta. Your Mom called and said she’d be home with Lili soon, so I figured I’d make a start on dinner.”

  “Oh, she did, did she?”

  Hunter could only imagine the context of that conversation, but when Andy didn’t elaborate and went back to cooking the pasta sauce instead, Hunter smiled.

  “Well, I might take a shower before dinner.” He crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his tee over his head, revealing his toned torso as he turned and headed toward the bathroom. Hunter had become so accustomed to walking around the house with his shirt off that he didn’t notice the ogling stare coming from Andy.

  “Oh, by the way, this came for you,” Andy called from the kitchen.

  Hunter turned and walked back to the kitchen, and as he looked in the direction Andy was pointing, he noticed a familiar red envelope on the countertop. He reached for it and took it in his hand.

  Seriously, this is getting ridiculous, he thought, reading his name in the usual tiny print he now recognized immediately.

  He peeled open the seal and using his thumb and forefinger, he slid the card from the envelope.

  I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair …

  He flipped open the card and continued reading the inscription on the inside …

  But tonight, all I want … is to have you bare.

  A Valentine

  He felt Andy behind him, and he quickly spun around, locking eyes with Andy.

  “Ooh, seems like someone still has an admirer.” Andy winked.

  “Will you stop it! Seriously, this is getting kind of old.”

  “Still no idea who it might be, huh?”

  “Fucking clueless, and to be honest, I’m getting kind of bored.”

  He looked down and noticed a second card inside the envelope beneath the one he’d just removed. He pulled the card from the red paper casing and turned it over …

  Hunter,

  You are the one I love with all my might,

  The one I think of, every single night.

  You’re the one who helps make things right,

  The one I dream of, when I sleep at night.

  Hunter’s the one I think of when I hold my pillow tight,

  Hunter’s the one I’m not giving up, without putting up a fight.

  Love,

  A Valentine ❤

  “Wow,” Andy said, leaning against the counter. “If that’s not an open invitation, then I don’t know what is.”

  “Open invitation or not, I still don’t have a clue who it is.”

  “Come on, Hunter, you must have some idea,” Andy told him, leaning back over the stove to stir the pasta sauce that had now started bubbling.

  “Andy, I haven’t dated anyone since… well, you know, and I’m pretty sure I made it clear at work that I wasn’t looking for another relationship.”

  “What makes you think this has anything to do with a relationship? Maybe it’s just a nice gesture. Maybe someone genuinely likes you, and just wants to be your valentine, no strings attached.”

  “Yeah, right. Since when is Valentine’s Day ever no strings attached?”

  Frustrated, he picked up the cards and threw them in his room. Closing the door, he headed for the bathroom.

  Judith and Lili strolled through the door some fifteen minutes later. Hunter had just finished showering when he heard his daughter’s voice call him from the kitchen. With a beaming smile, he walked over to her and scooped her into his arms, giving her a big, sloppy kiss on the cheek.

  “How was the mall?” he asked.

  “It was good, Daddy. Grandma gave me ice cream.”

  “Yes, I know. I hope you didn’t have too much because Andy cooked your favorite for dinner.”

  “Andy!” Lili’s excited squeal had Andy turning around to be greeted by her cheeriness.

  “Come here, you.” Andy stepped toward Hunter, with open palms. As Lili leaned forward, Hunter transferred his daughter into his friend’s arms. It was then that their bodies were conscious of how close they were, and sparks triggered the memory of their proximity at the photoshoot.

  “Anything I can do to help?” Judith asked with a wide smile. The moment was broken as Hunter and Andy stepped apart. Lili was content in Andy’s arms as Andy showed her inside the pan.

  “No, thank you, Judith, I’ve got it all covered. Why don’t you pour yourself some wine and take a seat on the couch. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”

  “That sounds like the best news I’ve heard all day,” she replied.

  She grabbed a wine glass from one of the cupboards above the stove and poured herself a glass of red. With a smile still spread across her face, she turned and headed toward the living room before resting in the armchair. Hunter took Lili from Andy’s arms so that dinner could get finished.

  When Andy called from the kitchen that dinner was ready, Judith lifted herself from the armchair and walked over to the dinner table. She sat in her regular chair between Hunter and Lili, and Andy was positioned next to Hunter.

  “This looks delicious,” Judith said.

  “Thank you. Bon appetite.” Andy smiled as they began eating their meals.

  Judith brought the glass of wine she’d been drinking to her lips, and after taking a sip, she focused her eyes in Andy and Hunter’s direction. She was tempted to wink or say something cheeky, but she felt it would be completely inappropriate with a five-year-old present at the table, so she refrained. Judith had always wanted what was best for her son and Lili. Most of the time she had no boundaries, and while it drove Hunter insane at times, it was one of the very few things he actually had his father to thank for. If he hadn’t walked out on them when he had, Judith wouldn’t be the confident and powerful woman she was today. Judith had spent most of Hunter’s post-college years apologizing for the worthless piece-of-shit father her ex-husband, Bradley, was. It was because of that, that she and Hunter were able to do pretty much whatever they wanted. As for Hunter and Andy, Judith could think of nothing else that would make her, and especially Hunter, happy.

  Around fifteen minutes later, they finished their meals. With much amusement, Judith took Lili by the hand and headed to the bathroom to clean her face, leaving Hunter alone with Andy. The two of them gathered up all the dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. When Judith returned several moments later, she found the two of them sitting on the couch.

  “Where’s Lili?” Hunter asked.

  “Getting ready for bed. I told her to come out when she’s done so you can kiss her goodnight.”

  Hunter smiled and went back to watching whatever was on the television. Judith took the opportunity to grab three wine glasses and a bottle of wine from the fridge. She placed them on the small coffee table in front of Hunter and Andy, and filled their glasses. She took a seat on the vacant armchair next to them as Hunter closed his fingers around his wine glass and brought it to his lips. Andy followed suit, and as the glass pressed a
gainst Andy’s lips, Judith couldn’t help but smile smugly at the sexual tension she noticed between the two of them. With a blissful tilt to her lips, she took a sip of her wine and turned her attention to the television, just as Lili appeared from the bathroom.

  She walked over to them and jumped into her father’s lap. Hunter pressed his lips to her cheek and gave her a big kiss.

  “Goodnight, Daddy,” she whispered.

  “Goodnight, angel.”

  She then crawled on top of Andy and placed a soft kiss on Andy’s cheek, who wrapped arms around her and pulled her in for a big hug.

  “Goodnight, Andy.”

  “Goodnight, princess,” Andy replied as she slid off Andy’s knee and walked over to her grandmother.

  Judith took her hand, and the two of them headed to Lili’s bedroom. Hunter grabbed the remote and flicked through the channels on the TV. He lifted his hips and untucked the T-shirt from his waistband as he stared at the television. Andy’s eyes turned in Hunter’s direction and noticed the T-shirt ride up above Hunter’s waistline, revealing the naked flesh beneath. Andy’s focus suddenly shifted from the television to Hunter’s mouth. Hunter could feel Andy’s eyes all over him, and as his rigid muscles flexed, he wasn’t sure how he felt about this sudden and unexplained attraction. It wasn’t the first time he’d had such thoughts, but it was, however, the first time the two of them had sat only inches away from each other, in his house, on his couch, and that freaked him out.

  “She’s sound asleep, just like a baby,” Judith said as she returned from the bedroom.

  “Thanks, Mom.” Hunter smiled.

  Judith stared at the two of them before replying, “Well, everything is in order for tomorrow. I’ll collect the cake first thing in the morning on my way over here. Hunter, I’ve left the balloons and party hats—”

  “In the bottom drawer. I know, Mom, you told me,” Hunter cut in.