Hunter
Chapter Six
Hunter
I couldn’t focus on Derek’s voice coming through my phone, not with Amelia visible through my office window. She moved through the lobby with practiced grace, stopping to chat with guests, her smile brightening every corner of the room. Last night’s almost-kiss replayed in my mind like a torturous loop—how she’d felt under my hands, how her eyes had darkened, the slight catch in her breath...
“Hunter? You hear any of this?”
I forced my attention back to Derek’s report, turning away from the window. “Yeah, sorry. You were saying about Wheeler?”
“It’s worse than we thought. The county official, James Wheeler? He’s not just taking bribes from Crystal Ridge. He’s actively manipulating property values in the area.”
I moved further from the window, needing distance from the distraction of Amelia’s presence. “How?”
“Selective enforcement of code violations, delayed permit approvals for improvements, fast-tracking competing developments. Classic corruption playbook.” Derek paused, his tone sharpening. “But here’s the kicker: his wife bought significant shares in Crystal Ridge’s holding company.”
“They’re not even trying to hide it,” I muttered, pacing my office. The carpet muffled my steps, worn thin from years of resort managers doing the same anxious walk.
“Gets better. I found emails between Wheeler and Crystal Ridge’s CEO. They’ve been planning this for months. The negative review? That blogger is Wheeler’s niece.”
My free hand clenched into a fist. “Send me everything.”
“Already did. But Hunter?” Derek’s voice turned serious—the same tone he’d used to warn me about hostile takeovers years ago. “Be careful. These people play dirty. The last resort owner who tried to fight them had a mysterious accident on the ski slopes.”
The implications turned my blood cold. Through the window, I watched Amelia laugh at something a guest said, unaware of the danger circling her beloved resort. Her genuine warmth with guests was exactly what Crystal Ridge would destroy.
“Thanks, Derek. I’ll handle it from here.”
After hanging up, I stood at my window, mind racing. The town meeting was this afternoon, a perfect opportunity for Wheeler to stir up more trouble. But it could also be our chance to expose him if we played it right.
A knock at my door made me turn. Amelia stood there, looking professional and put-together, though I noticed the slight shadows under her eyes. Had she slept at all after our encounter in the lounge?
“Ready for the town meeting?” she asked, her voice carefully neutral.
“Almost.” I gestured to the papers on my desk, hoping they covered the damning evidence about Wheeler. “Just reviewing some numbers.”
She stepped into my office, and suddenly the room felt too small. The memory of last night surged between us—the firelight, her soft confession of exhaustion, the way she’d swayed toward me just before my phone rang...
“About last night,” she started.
“Amelia—”
“No, let me finish.” She squared her shoulders, every inch the capable businesswoman, though her fingers fidgeted with her bracelet—a tell I was learning meant she was nervous. “What almost happened... it can’t happen again. We need to focus on saving Pine Haven.”
The words felt rehearsed like she’d practiced them. But I caught the slight tremor in her voice and saw how her eyes couldn’t quite meet mine. She was protecting herself, just like she protected everyone at Pine Haven.
“Is that what you want?” I asked gently, moving closer. “Or what you think you should want?”
Her breath hitched. “Hunter...”
Another knock saved her from answering. Sophie appeared, looking apologetic. “Sorry to interrupt, but the mayor’s office called. They want to move the town meeting up by an hour.”
“We’ll be there,” Amelia said quickly, backing toward the door. “I should go prepare...”
I watched her leave, frustration warring with the need to protect her. I should tell her about Wheeler and the genuine threat to Pine Haven. But Derek’s warning echoed: “A mysterious accident on the ski slopes.”
No. Better to handle this myself than put her at risk.
***
When we arrived, we found the town hall already packed. I spotted Wheeler near the front, looking smug in an expensive suit that probably cost more than his annual salary. Beside him sat Alexis Smith, the travel blogger whose hit piece had started this mess. They looked like predators waiting to strike.
Amelia tensed beside me as she noticed them. Without thinking, I placed my hand on the small of her back, guiding her to our seats. She didn’t pull away. That small trust sent a wave of emotion coursing through me, making it hard to steady my breath.
“Don’t let them rattle you,” I murmured close to her ear. “We’ve got this.”
She glanced up at me, trust warring with something else in her green eyes. “Do we?”
Before I could answer, the mayor called the meeting to order. What followed was a carefully orchestrated attack on Pine Haven’s reputation. Wheeler led the charge, citing ‘community concerns’ about the resort’s decline. Alexis Smith spoke about her “disappointing experience.” Other speakers—likely plants—questioned the property values and tourist revenue.
Amelia sat straight-backed and proud through it all, though I felt her trembling slightly under my hand, still resting on her back. Each attack hit her like a physical blow, but she never flinched.
When it was her turn to speak, she rose with quiet dignity. Her presentation was perfect. She acknowledged concerns while outlining improvement plans and emphasized Pine Haven’s community roots while promising innovation.
I barely heard her words, too focused on Wheeler’s expression as he typed something on his phone. A moment later, my phone buzzed.
The text was from an unknown number: Back off, Miller. This isn’t your fight. Remember what happened to your father’s company?
Ice flooded my veins. Only a handful of people knew the truth about my father’s death and the company’s collapse.
I must have made some sound, because Amelia paused in her presentation, looking at me with concern. I forced a reassuring smile, but my mind was racing. They weren’t just threatening Pine Haven anymore—they were digging into my past, using my father’s death as a weapon.
They were threatening her and threatening me. And I still didn’t know how deep this conspiracy went.
As the meeting wrapped up, I stepped out to make a call, moving to a quiet corner of the hallway. My hands shook slightly as I dialed.
“Derek? I need you to look into something else. My father’s company—dig into who and what caused its collapse. And Derek? Be careful. These people know things they shouldn’t.”
A small gasp made me turn. Amelia stood frozen in the doorway, a stack of papers clutched to her chest, her face pale. The trust we’d built over these past days seemed to waver in her eyes.
How much had she heard?
“Amelia,” I started, ending the call. “How long have you been standing there?”
She stepped back; the papers clutched like a shield against her chest. “Long enough to know you’re keeping things from me. Important things.”
I moved toward her, but she retreated further. The hurt in her eyes felt like a physical blow. Every instinct screamed to tell her everything, but Derek’s warning about ski slope accidents held me back.
“It’s not what you think—”
“Really?” Her voice cracked. “Because what I think is that after everything—after last night, after I said I trusted you—you’re still keeping secrets.”
The mention of last night sent heat through my body despite the tension. The memory of how she’d felt under my hands, how close we’d come to crossing that line... “I’m trying to protect you.”
“Protect me?” Now anger flashed in her eyes, replacing hurt. “I’m not some damsel in distress, Hunter. This is my resort, my family’s legacy. I deserve to know what’s happening.”
She was right. Of course, she was right. But the image of that other resort owner’s “accident” haunted me. The thought of anything happening to Amelia...
Before I could respond, Wheeler appeared behind her.
“Ms. Horton,” he said smoothly. “Excellent presentation. Though I have some concerns about your renovation timeline.”
I watched Amelia straighten her spine, her professional mask sliding into place. But I saw the slight tremor in her hands as she turned to face him.
“Mr. Wheeler. I’d be happy to review the timeline with you.”
“Perhaps over dinner?” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. Something predatory lurked beneath his polished surface. “I know a lovely place in town—”
“She’s busy,” I cut in, moving to stand beside her. My hand again found the small of her back, an automatic gesture of protection and possession that surprised us both.
Wheeler’s eyes narrowed, tracking the movement. “Another time, then.” He looked at Amelia, his smile turning cold. “Though I’d act quickly if I were you. Never know when the next safety inspection might turn up... problems.”
The threat hung in the air. Amelia tensed under my hand, but her voice remained steady. “Is that an official warning, Mr. Wheeler?”
“Just friendly advice.” He adjusted his expensive cufflinks—probably purchased with Crystal Ridge bribes. “Have a lovely day.”
As he walked away, Amelia sagged slightly, letting me take some of her weight. The trust in that small gesture weighed heavily on me, knowing the truth I was still hiding from her.
“My office,” she said. “Now.”
The walk back to Pine Haven was silent, tension crackling between us. I watched her stride ahead, head high despite everything, and felt something shift in my chest. This woman, with her fierce dedication and quiet strength, had somehow become more than just Arthur’s daughter, more than just another client to protect.
She’d become everything.
In her office, she closed the door and faced me. The afternoon light through the window caught her hair, turning it gold. Even angry, she was beautiful.
“Tell me everything,” she demanded. “No more protection, no more secrets. I need to know what we’re up against.”
I stepped closer, drawn to her like gravity. “Amelia...”
“Please.” Her voice softened. “I can handle it. What I can’t handle is you keeping things from me. Not after...”
She didn’t finish, but she didn’t have to. The memory of last night hung between us—the firelight, the almost-kiss, the trust we’d shared.
“Okay,” I said finally. “But you should sit down.”
She did, and I took the chair across from her desk, fighting the urge to reach for her hand.
“It starts with James Wheeler,” I began. “And it’s worse than just local corruption. These people—they’re dangerous. And they’re not just after Pine Haven. They’re after—”
My phone buzzed again. Another anonymous text: Final warning, Miller. Walk away, or the next accident won’t be on the ski slopes.
Attached was a photo that made my blood freeze—Amelia getting into her car this morning, clearly taken without her knowledge.
They were watching us.
My hand tightened around the phone, the surveillance photo of Amelia burning into my brain. She must have noticed something in my expression because she stood, moving around her desk.
“Hunter? What is it?”
I quickly locked the phone screen. “Nothing—”
“Don’t.” She snatched the phone from my hand before I could stop her, her fingers brushing mine. Even in this tense moment, the contact sent electricity through me. “No more protection, remember?”
She unlocked my phone—of course, she’d noticed when I’d put in my passcode earlier—and her face went pale as she saw the photo. “When was this taken?”
“This morning.” I stood, needing to do anything to erase that look of fear from her face. “Amelia, these people have a history of making problems disappear. The last resort owner who stood up to them had an accident on the ski slopes.”
“The McKinley Resort accident?” Her eyes widened with understanding. “That was them?”
“There’s more.” Now that I’d started, I couldn’t stop. The words rushed out like a dam breaking. “Wheeler’s been manipulating property values, taking bribes. His wife bought shares in Crystal Ridge through a shell company. The negative review, permit delays, and sudden safety concerns—it’s all orchestrated.”
She sank back against her desk, processing. “And my father? Does he know?”
“He suspects. That’s partly why he reached out to me. I have... experience dealing with this kind of corporate manipulation.”
“Your father’s company.” It wasn’t a question. “That’s what you were asking Derek to investigate?”
I moved closer, unable to help myself. The need to protect her warred with the need to be honest. “Yes. The timing’s too perfect. They knew details about my father’s death that weren’t public knowledge.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Because...” I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. “Because every time I look at you, I think about what they might do if you fought back. The thought of anything happening to you—” I cut myself off, but it was too late.
Her eyes met mine, something soft and dangerous flickering in their depths. “Hunter...”
“I can’t lose you,” I admitted roughly. “Not to them, not to anyone.”
The air between us crackled with tension. She was close enough that I could see the gold flecks in her eyes and smell her light floral perfume. My hands itched to pull her closer.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “But you have to let me fight my own battles.”
“These aren’t just your battles anymore.” I reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. This time, I let my fingers linger against her cheek. “We’re in this together, remember?”
She leaned into my touch, ever so slightly. “Together,” she whispered.
The moment stretched, charged with possibility. I leaned down, drawn to her like a magnet. Her lips parted slightly, and—
A crash from the lobby shattered the moment. We jumped apart as Sophie burst in.
“Ms. Horton! Someone’s broken into the maintenance shed—all the ski equipment...”
Amelia was already moving. “Call the police.”
“Wait.” I grabbed her arm. “This is them. They’re sending a message.”
“Then let’s send one back.” Her eyes blazed with determination. “I’m done being afraid.”
She headed for the door, but I pulled her back. “Amelia, wait. There’s something else you need to know—”
My phone rang—the same unknown number. This time, Amelia answered it before I could stop her.
“Who is this?” she demanded, her voice steady despite everything.
I watched her face change as she listened, color draining from her cheeks. When she lowered the phone, her hands were shaking.
“They say they have proof,” she whispered. “Proof that you—” She stopped, looking at me with something like horror. “That you’re working with them. This whole thing, helping Pine Haven, getting close to me... was all part of their plan.”
“Amelia, no—”
But she was already backing away, the trust in her eyes shattering like glass.
Our phones buzzed simultaneously, another text with a photo. The image showed us in the lounge last night, moments before our almost-kiss.
The message read: Well played, Miller. She never saw it coming.
“Amelia, please,” I stepped toward her, but she held up a hand to stop me.
“Don’t.” Her voice cracked on the word. She gathered her things with trembling hands, refusing to meet my eyes. “I need... I can’t...”
“Let me explain—”
“Explain what?” She finally looked at me, and the betrayal in her eyes felt like a knife to my chest. “How you played me? How everything—every moment, every almost kiss, every time you made me feel like I could trust you—was just part of a plan?”
“None of that was fake,” I insisted, desperate to make her understand. Every touch, every shared moment, every time my heart had skipped when she smiled—it had all been real. “Amelia—”
But she was already moving toward the door, each step taking her further away. She paused in the doorway, her back to me, shoulders rigid with hurt.
“I trusted you,” she whispered. “That’s what hurts the most.”
Then she was gone, leaving me alone with the damning evidence on my phone and the knowledge that Crystal Ridge had just succeeded in their cruelest move yet.
They hadn’t just threatened Pine Haven.
They’d broken Amelia’s heart.
And in doing so, they might have just broken mine, too.