Chapter 8
The charges having been dropped doesn’t even make me happy, as I think there never should have been charges at all. On a scale of one to ten, one being jaywalking and ten murder, I think what I’ve done is a solid zero-point-five.
But as Matt Carter told me, it’s about the law, not about what I feel the law should be. And, I guess, he’s got a point there. He’s the sheriff, after all.
The charges having been dropped doesn’t mean I am out of the woods in terms of publicity. So I feel all broody and decide to keep out of people’s way. I leave the car by the main house and walk to my cabin. A bad mood can be infectious, and I do not want to pass it on. I’d hate it if it got the better of Hunter.
I have become fixated on her. And it’s not about her looks. She’s no hardship to look at—not at all. And that mole on her lip. I love that mole. But even more, I like her no-nonsense attitude. There’s nothing frilly or pretentious about her, like with so many other women I know. She is way smarter than I’ll ever be and that is sexy as hell. And the kindness in her eyes is killing me. Whenever she gives one of those looks to Lilly, I feel jealousy. I’m jealous of a dog—and that’s telling a lot.
The fact that she doesn’t know me as a rock star is such a relief. I know that when she smiles at me, she smiles at me , not at some idea she might have about a celebrity. I just don’t know whether she smiles at me because she likes me, or because I’m her paying client. But even if it was the latter, I’d prefer it to a groupie’s smile.
The thoughts swirl in my mind that much, that I miss the fork in the path and walk way past my cabin. Miffed, I kick a stone and walk on. I don’t want to sit in that cabin alone anyhow.
I take one of the long trails and after a while, I feel pleasantly worn out. I’m going to sleep well tonight. Nearing my cabin from the other side, I carefully walk down the steep slope. The forest opens to the green meadows around my parents’ home. Warm afternoon light casts an almost golden veil over the scene. I spot my mother and Lyle by the fire-pit. Ma wanted a gazebo nearby; I bet they are discussing that. Grace’s car slowly rolls down the driveway, and to my left, Hunter steps out of the trees. She’s got Lilly on a leash and is talking to her. Every few steps she stops and makes Lilly sit.
As much as I want to avoid meeting anyone, I’ll have to cross that meadow to get to my cabin. Of course, I could turn around and take the route through the forest, but that would add another twenty minutes to my hike. And, seriously, I’m wiped. I’m looking forward to a shower and a cold beer. I even consider using the sauna. In fact, that sounds very tempting right now.
Deciding I’d just wave hello and continue on towards my cabin, I step out on the meadow. Ma spots me right away and waves. I raise my hand, too, but march on. Determined to avoid any interaction, I cast a last glance at Hunter before I turn the other way. And that’s when my heart misses a beat or two. Behind her, still covered by the trees, is a black bear. It’s a male, and he’s a beast.
I race towards the bear and intend to get between him and Hunter. To distract him from her, I scream while I run as fast as I can. I jump up and down, waving my hands, bellowing insults at the animal. “You’re ugly! I wouldn’t even want your hide as a rug in front of my fireplace!”
The bear is startled and confused. Good, that’ll show him! I scream even louder and take some threatening steps towards him. There is nothing I could threaten a black bear with, but he doesn’t know that. He takes a few startled steps back and retreats. Ha! “Run, Forest, run!”
I raise my hands above my head in a victory dance, and slowly turn around to Hunter. I expect to see her impressed by me, because I chased off the big bad bear—that’s how taken I am with myself. But instead, she is frozen in a defensive stance, with her legs wide and slightly bent, like they teach you. She holds a can of pepper spray in both hands and points it in the direction the wild thing had vanished. And as I stand right in between, it means she is pointing it at me. I quickly take a couple of steps to the side, just to make sure. Clearly, Hunter is the more rational one of us. She wouldn’t make a stupid mistake, but I’m not taking any chances with pepper spray.
I put my hands on my thighs and take a couple of deep breaths. She would have been fine without me acting like the hulk. I seem to be pretty good at humiliating myself. There’s no way I’ll ever hear the end of trying to save a woman who doesn’t need saving. Thank God, Finn hasn’t seen it.
By the time I catch my breath, my family is by my side. Lyle yells at me, “Where’s your pepper spray, dumbo?”
I meekly point in the direction of my cabin.
Lyle groans and throws his hand in the air. Ma puts her hands on my shoulder and looks me in the eye. “Remember to carry it with you at all times.” Her voice is soft and soothing, just like the first thousand times she said the same words. But that was in my childhood. I’m twenty-eight now and should know better.
“You’ve got a poor sense of self-preservation, eh?” Finn looks at me, his face contorted in a pained grimace. Dang, so he’s seen after all.
Hunter looks at me. Although there is little admiration in that look for what I’ve done, at least she acknowledges it. And there’s sympathy, too. Maybe she knows what being the family fool feels like. And then there is something else. Understanding? Respect? Whatever it is—all of a sudden everything is cool. I’d be happy if I could spend my life being looked at by her in that way.
I suppress a sigh. How soon will I manage to muck that up?