Chapter 23
Hunter
I never truly knew how insane the Brits are when it comes to soccer until today. After spending the afternoon with Jade, my eyes are now wide open. Soccer isn’t just a sport to this country, no it’s a religion and they take it very seriously.
We joined in with other fans around the bar, jumping and screaming at the TV like the referee and the players could hear us, shaking our fists at bad tackles and bad decisions. I even managed to pick up a few of the crazy soccer chants which are nothing like the chants we do over in the US.
They’re definitely more colorful with their words.
As the afternoon went on, and the match was over, I fell a little bit more for Jade Wilde. “I think I’m going to make my way home, I’ve not eaten since this morning and these pints are making me a little tipsy.” She stands, swaying slightly as she does.
“Let me take you to get a bite to eat.”
“That’s a little forward, Mr. Stone.” She wiggles her eyebrows and stumbles. “Jesus, I need a glass of water.” She rubs her forehead as she squeezes her eyes shut.
“I think you do,” I chuckle, “and maybe some pasta to soak up the alcohol?”
Closing her eyes, she hums “Hmmm, pasta.” When she opens them again, her gaze pins me to the spot, her cheeks are slightly flush, her hair a little wild, and not a scrap of make up on, she couldn’t look more beautiful.
“Okay, you may feed me.”
Walking past me to the exit, she looks over her shoulder at me and shouts. “But I’m paying.” I trail behind her, laughing to myself, because if she thinks I’m letting her pay for a thing, she has another thing coming.
My phone rings with a Facetime from my brother as I walk through my front door. I answer as I throw my keys on the side table, “Hey, big bro, how's things going?” I walk down the hall to my studio and flip on the lights. The desire to get my brushes out has been bubbling just under the surface all afternoon. Being with Jade always gives me endless inspiration and I know I won’t settle until I put brush to canvas.
“Well, aren’t we all smiles today? Good day?” My brother’s a single dad of twin girls who are the light of his life. Four going on fourteen, the pair of them drive him insane, but they’re so loved. He doesn’t have the time for the kind of night time activities I have–what he calls them, not me—so he lives vicariously through me.
“The best. Just back from a lovely afternoon with Tinkerbell.” I sigh, placing my phone down, angling it so I can still see him. His dark brown hair drops in front of his deep blue eyes exactly the same way mine does—you can’t fight the Stone men genes—and he brushes it away. He looks tired but happy as he moves about his New York apartment.
“No way. Not the same Tinkerbell from Halloween?” He freezes at the kitchen island his mouth gaping.
“Sure is.” I pick up my brushes and pull up a fresh canvas onto my easel. “She’s my new associate. It’s like fate is bringing us back together in the best possible way.” I start to mix a few different colors together, trying to mimic the exact green I want in my pallet.
“Alright, Romeo, less of the poetic shit. So she’s your associate? How have I missed this nugget of information?”
“I haven’t exactly told anyone other than Leo. I’m surprised he hasn’t said anything. That man can’t keep a secret.” Biting the inside of my cheek, I sweep my brush over the canvas in light strokes. The motion soothing as I start to carve out the image in my head.
“I’m going to kick his ass for not telling me. So you’re dating her now? My brother? Finally settling down?” His mocking tone makes me pause.
“Not dating…“ I frown at the swirls of color in front of me adding more white to my pallet and swap out my brush. “But I’m working on it. She’s reluctant because I’m her boss.” But after today I can see her walls tumbling, brick by brick, and the thought of taking that last brick down sends a chill up my spine.
“Well fuck me, it's finally happened. You’ve met that one woman who’s going to bring you to your knees. Good luck.”
“Daddy said a swear,” I hear Rosie shout in the background.
“Urgh, I thought she was in her room coloring I’ll put a dollar in the swear jar, Ro.”
“Yes.” She squeals. “Ev, we nearly have enough for that giant unicorn.”
My brother’s face comes back onto the screen, “I swear these girls are giving me gray hairs daily.”
“But you look good with a little salt and pepper, old man.”
“Don’t start, Hunter. Hey what the—”
“Unki Hunter.” Ev steals the phone from Noah and her wild dark brown curls and cheeky face fills the screen.
“Hey, Ev, where’s Rosie?” I place my brushes down so I can give my niece my full attention.
“Rosie. Unki Hunter’s on the phone.” She screams for her sister. I forget she only has two volumes—loud or asleep. “When are you coming to see us again? You’ve been in London for ages.” She pouts and gives me puppy dog eyes. My nieces are gorgeous and have me wrapped around their little fingers.
“Soon I promise, miss you too, Ev. Hey...” I whisper “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Eek, a secret.”
“Wait for me!’ Rosie slides on the wooden floor in her socks before falling onto the couch next to her sister. “Go, Daddy’s in the kitchen.”
“Good, because you can’t tell him. This is our little secret.” They both nod, their eyes big and wide, waiting. “I’ve met Tinkerbell in real life.” They both gasp.
“What’s she like?” Rosie whispers.
“She’s funny, smart and so pretty. She even sprinkles fairy dust everywhere.”
“Did she sprinkle it on you, Unki Hunter? Because you look sparkly?” I look sparkly? God, these kids.
“She did, and she also said she was going to send you a little surprise.”
“She knows about us?”
“Of course she knows about you. You don’t think I wouldn’t meet Tinkerbell and not mention my own little fairies, did you?”
“I wonder what the surprise is, Ev.” The excitement on Rosie's face is beautiful. When do we lose that excitement for everything?
“She said it will come today.”
“Ro…” Ev turns to her sister. She can’t keep the phone still as she bounces next to her. “We need to get ready. We need our fairy wings and tiaras.”
“Do you think she’d want to meet us, Unki Hunter?” Rosie whispers looking around making sure Noah can’t hear.
“You know what, I’ll ask her,” I whisper back.
“You’re seeing her again?”
“Yep.”
“Who you seeing again?” Noah’s face appears.
“Erm… Bob.” Ev and Rosie say together. It’s cute when they do that, but could they have thought of a better name? I don’t even know a Bob.
“Bob?”
“Yep, Bob.” I wink at the girls, going along with their story.
“Jesus Christ, what’ve you been plotting?” He massages his brow with the tip of his fingers and lets out an exasperated breath.
“Absolutely nothing. Love you twinkles.” I blow them a kiss, which they catch, and throw me one back before rushing off, giggling about fairies and glitter.
“I swear, when you have your own kids, I’m getting you back for all the chaos you create with those two.”
“You love it.”
“No, Ro she would like the green one best. Tinkerbell wears green.” Ev shouts in the background. Subtle, girls.
“Tinkerbell?” His eyes narrow at me.
“Sounds like they’re dressing up.”
“Great looks like I’m going to be wearing a tiara and fairy wings to dinner tonight then.”
“Wouldn’t be your first time.”
“Jesus, how’s this my life?”
After I hang up, I order them both the giant unicorns they’re saving for, along with some other fairy stuff and glitter that my brother will hate. But as this is coming from ‘Tinkerbell’, he won’t be able to complain. I love fucking with him.
Monday morning, I’m in my office when a soft knock on my door draws my attention. “Come in.”
“Hi, Hunter.” Jade comes into view in a perfectly tailored black pant suit which shows off her amazing curves.
“Jade, how are you?” I throw my pen onto the desk, giving her my full attention.
“Really good, the weekend was just what I needed.” Taking a seat in front of my desk.
“Me too.”
“I just wanted to thank you, and also to warn you that the whole office seems to be talking about us. More specifically what type of dress I’ll be wearing at our wedding and who our children will look most like.”
Who would they look like?
I freeze as that thought doesn’t fill me with dread but hope. One step at a time, Stone, don’t get ahead of yourself.
“Leaving together on a night out will do that.”
“You okay with the gossip?” She chews on her thumbnail nervously.
“I’ve had worse, you?”
“Surprisingly, yes. They’re really invested.” She leans forward as she whispers the last part.
“Best give the public what they want.” I shrug.
“Meaning?”
“Go out with me, Jade?” I lean back in my chair giving her a cocky smile.
“Is that an order, Mr. Stone?” She crosses her arms and her brow rises in question.
“It’s a request. One that I know you will take.”
“What makes you so sure?”
Leaning forward, I pin her with an intense stare. “That spark in your eyes. You want to take a chance, but you’re scared. I didn’t take you for a coward, Tink?” I tease.
Resting her chin on her hand she gives me a coy smile. “A coward, no, but I’m not a fan of being told what to do Mr. Stone.”
“You seemed to thrive when I was telling you how to lay back and let me taste your addictive pussy.”
Fuck, engage your brain Stone.
She doesn’t say anything as she stands before moving towards me. I think she’s going to slap me, but she does what she does best and shocks me.
She spins my chair and moves between my thighs. Bending down, she brings her mouth to the shell of my ear, her breath warm on my skin and I shudder, my eyes closing at her proximity. “I look forward to you bossing me about again.” As she pulls back up, I’m certain my jaw is on the floor as she leaves me with a dazed expression and a raging hard on, her ass swaying as she makes her way to my office door. Looking over her shoulder at me she smiles before seductively saying. “I’ll wait for your instructions.” Her soft laughter follows her out of the office.
I’m totally fucked, when it comes to this woman.