Chapter 44
Hunter
I check the invite again as we step under the glowing arches of Chihuly Garden and Glass.
The Seattle Havoc Foundation cordially invites you to the Annual Winter Benefit Gala to support Youth Arts Programs in Washington.
I just hope we don’t have to be here too long.
Crowding in a building to rub elbows with other rich people doesn’t sound nearly as good as going home and peeling Juliet out of her fancy dress.
Her ass is tempting and I’m sure I don’t see any panty lines. Is she commando or does she have one of those lacy little thongs on? I growl as I follow her through the heavy glass door.
The building itself is a work of art, all glass walls and impossible curves, lit from within so every surface gleams. Inside, the sculptures immediately catch my eye; they are massive explosions of color that look as if they originated from the ocean floor or the core of a star.
Chandeliers made of twisting blown glass hang overhead, catching the light and scattering it across polished concrete floors.
Beyond the main gallery, the Glasshouse rises in a cathedral arc, a wall of glass opening onto the Space Needle framed above us.
The whole place hums with money and spectacle, every corner staged to impress.
Juliet turns to check that I’m still with her. I reach out and grab my girl, pulling her to me. She wrinkles her nose, entertained.
“We won’t be here forever.”
“Good. I’m more interested in having you naked and riding my face than being here.”
“I know, Hux.” She smiles as she smoothes a hand over my lapel. “But you look very handsome in this tuxedo.”
“I look better fully naked with my head between your legs.”
Her eyes heat. “I won’t argue with that. Now come on, let’s socialize for a few minutes. See, be seen. Then you can take me home and fuck me.”
God, this woman. I press my half-mast cock against her hip and she gives me a knowing look. Taking my hand, she tugs me into the crowd.
We do the meet-and-greet thing. I let her lead, the way I always do at these events. Pose for a few photos with donors and team executives. Listen as she explains who’s who in the crowd.
Juliet’s gaze flicks across the room. “That girl over there? The brunette in black by the Havoc execs. Is she the new trainer?”
I follow her line of sight. Scout Nash. And handily, Silas is standing twenty feet away, pretending not to stare holes through her. What the hell?
That’s twice I’ve caught my brother glaring at her. What did she ever do to him?
“Yeah,” I murmur. “She just started last week. She’s married to Enzo Morelli.”
“The agent, right?” She purses her lips. “As I remember, he was an all star on the Havoc roster a few years ago.”
“Yeah, that’s Enzo. Public cheating mess, splashed everywhere. Honestly, I feel bad for Scout.” I shake my head. “He’s a bad person and a brilliant agent. Can’t imagine he’s a decent husband. But he makes me a lot of deals.”
She blinks. “He’s your agent?”
“Yeah. I hate the guy, but he’s really aggressive about getting me the most money for every single deal. Rude, but lucrative.”
“Mm. I feel bad for Scout. She looks like she could use a friend.”
“You should go rescue her,” I suggest.
Juliet’s brows lift, but before she can say more, her posture shifts. She goes rigid in a way that makes my protective instincts flare.
I follow her gaze across the room. A polished woman in pearls and a steel-gray dress is moving toward us with predatory grace. On her arm is a tall man with thinning hair who looks like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Her parents.
Juliet goes completely quiet, which is never a good sign. I step closer, my hand finding the small of her back.
Her mother reaches us first, all fake smiles and calculated charm.
“Juliet.” She air-kisses her daughter’s cheek. “So lovely to see you, darling. And Hunter, right?”
The way she says it makes it sound like a disease.
I extend my hand. “Nice to see you again, Mrs. Monroe.”
She ignores my outstretched hand completely, looking me up and down like I’m a stain on an otherwise pristine carpet.
“You can call her Melissa.” Her dad steps in and shakes my hand. “Tom Monroe. Good game last week.”
“Thanks. The team worked really hard.”
Juliet’s mother examines the engagement ring on Juliet’s finger with clinical detachment.
“What a wild choice of ring.” She sighs, as if I’m not standing right here. “At least he plays the doting fiancé well.”
Juliet stiffens beside me. I can practically feel her retreating into herself.
I can’t help it. The words come out before I can stop them.
“I love your daughter,” I say evenly, looking directly at her mother.
Both parents blink in surprise. Her mother’s smile goes brittle at the edges.
“How sweet,” she says, like I just told her the weather forecast.
When her mother moves, I move with her, sidestepping. “No, I think we should talk. I’ve watched Juliet tiptoe around and try to pacify you for months now. God knows what a lifetime of being told that you’re not good enough has been like. Hellish, probably.”
“Hux.” Juliet tugs on my arm. She hisses, “This is not the time or the place.”
“I’m sorry, Juliet. But we need to hash this out here and now.”
Melissa’s gaze darts around. She’s very aware of the gala attendees swirling around us. “Can we go somewhere more private?”
“No. What I have to say to you won’t take long.” Juliet has stopped tugging at my hand. Now her gaze is just downcast, which makes my heart twist in my chest.
Her mother huffs. “Well? Go on, then.”
“You raised a daughter who is strong. Rigid, but I can see now that she got that from you. She’s principled, fast on her feet, and smart as a whip. She’s in PR, which I get that you don’t love. And she chose me as a partner. I agree with you. I’m not nearly good enough for her.”
Her mom, her dad, and Juliet all look at me with surprise. I guess that’s not what they expected a 6’6” hockey player with anger issues to say. I press on.
“But I’m devoted to her. I’ll do anything for her. Juliet’s living her life, maybe not exactly the way you had planned. But she’s found something that she’s good at. I mean, really fantastic. And she’s got me for whenever life throws her curveballs. I’ll always have her back.”
Melissa’s eyes soften. She looks at Tom, her lips pursing. He clears his throat.
“I’m glad that you two found each other. You seem well suited,” he acknowledges.
“We are,” Juliet agrees, finding her voice. She looks up at me. “We’re very much in love. We’re going to get married and have children and live a blessed life. I want you both to be a part of that. I want you to walk me down the aisle, Dad. Mom, I want you to be a grandmother.”
She gets emotional, clinging to my side. And I love that I get to be the one that stands up for her. All of my life, I’ve been a chainsaw, a battle axe, a grenade. But now I get to be her place of shelter. I’ve never been so fucking ready to go to battle for anyone.
“She won’t get to see either of those things happen unless you give her your blessing. I think you love your daughter in your own way. But you’re hurting her. I won’t stand around and watch her lie down and take it.”
“I never meant to hurt you, darling.” Her mom presses her knuckles against her lips, distressed. “You’re my only daughter. My pride and joy. I’m sorry if I made you feel… less.”
Her dad chimes in. “We love you, Juliet. I hope we’ve never made you doubt that.”
Juliet runs her hands down her dress, flushed. “I love you both so much.”
A waiter comes by, brandishing a silver tray. “Hors d’oeuvres?”
“No.” Tom clears his throat again. “I think it would be wise if we planned a time to talk this through when it was just the three of us, Juliet.” I scowl at him, making him raise his hands. “Or the four of us, if Hunter needs to be there.”
“Perhaps we could all go to dinner this week,” Melissa says. “I don’t want our private affairs aired out here. But… we are glad to see you thriving, sweetheart. Even if you are in some little PR job and not a name partner at your own law firm. That’s… okay.”
A growl escapes my chest, but Juliet’s hand lands on my lapel, stopping me from making my displeasure known.
“Thanks, Mom. I would love to go to dinner, just the four of us. I’ll text you and we’ll set something up.”
I expect a hug between them, but I’m disappointed. Melissa just steps forward and squeezes Juliet’s arm. “Okay, darling. I’ll look forward to that.”
“It was nice to see both of you.” Her dad clears his throat awkwardly. “Well, we should let you two circulate.”
Juliet exhales hard, like she’s been holding her breath for an hour. Her hand finds mine, squeezing tight, and when she looks up at me, her eyes are glossy. “Thank you,” she whispers.
“For what?” My voice comes out rougher than I mean it to.
“For saying what I couldn’t. For… seeing me.” She presses her lips together, like if she says more she’ll unravel right here in front of everyone.
My chest pulls tight. I don’t know how to take her gratitude without fumbling it, so I just nod once, thumb brushing over her knuckles. “Always, Firecracker.”
She leans in a fraction closer, like she wants to say something else, but before she can, Jett’s booming voice cuts through.
“I was looking for you. The new social media girl wants all three Huxley boys together in a photo. I say we take one where we all stand side by side and hold Juliet up like she’s a queen reclining on a bed. What do you say, Miss Monroe?”
“I think that sounds great.” I look down at Juliet. She nods.
“Let’s do it.” She seems ready to dismiss the heavy topics we’ve just been talking about for the time being and have a little fun.
Jett steers us toward the step and repeat they have set up in one corner, where Silas waits, brooding. Juliet stays close, still holding on to my arm. I pull her hand to my mouth and kiss the back. She can hover right by me whenever she wants.
Later, back at the apartment, Juliet walks in and heads straight for the bedroom without saying a word. I give her a minute before following her.
She takes off her shoes. She looks beautiful right now, distracted from her routine. Stripped bare.
My eyes burn into her. I’ve never loved someone. What if I do it wrong? Am I feeling it right? It’s overwhelming, like being swept away by the roaring sea.
Then she turns and smiles at me. Suddenly, like magic, my fear recedes. Her deep brown eyes are soft but steady.
“I turned down that job offer,” she says.
“I know.”
“Are you disappointed? That I’m not the woman who would take the bigger opportunity?”
“Are you kidding? I’m relieved. Selfishly completely relieved that you’re staying.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t imagine my life without you in it. What we have right here is worth more than any job title or salary increase.”
She rolls toward me, pressing her face against my chest.
“I love you,” she says. “Even when my mother makes me feel like I’m seventeen again and nothing I do is good enough.”
“You are good enough. You’re more than good enough.”
We lie there for a while, my fingers brushing through her dark hair, softer than silk. I think about how different tonight could have been. How six months ago, I might have let her parents’ dismissal get under my skin. I might have gotten defensive or angry or tried to prove something.
Instead, I just held steady. I let Juliet process what she needed to process. I reminded her of her worth without making it about my ego.
Growth, Dr. Chen would call it.
“Hunter?” Juliet says sleepily.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for not punching my mother.”
“Oh, Firecracker. The night’s still young.”
She laughs. I feel some of the tension drain from her body.
“I’m proud of you. How you handled tonight was impressive. You were exactly what I needed.”
“What did you need?”
“Someone in my corner who wasn’t trying to fix anything. Someone who just saw what was happening and stayed steady.”
I press a kiss to the top of her head. “Always.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”