15. Hunter
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
hunter
I paced back and forth, trying to keep myself from hopping in my truck and taking off after that stupid son of a bitch.
The things he’d said to Emma and the way he’d spoken to her enraged me. She’d handled it better than anyone could have, strong and calm. I respected the hell out of her for it.
Emma groaned, laying her head on the dining room table as she stabbed her fork into her rice. “Are you going to keep pacing? Or will you help me eat some of this?”
I put my hands on my hips. The truth was, I shouldn’t be anywhere near her. Not after kissing her on the front porch.
For a moment, I’d lost myself to her. Just a few blissful seconds, her lips had been locked with mine and I’d kissed her the way I’d been wanting to for years.
“I need to go,” I said.
“You can’t go yet,” she protested. “We have to talk about this. And that it’s not over yet.”
She was right.
I sat next to her at the table. I’d never met someone with velvet dining room chairs, but after hearing the way Josh spoke about her house, I’d mentally taken a step back from critiquing her. It was her home and when I wasn’t trying to think about how to avoid her, I had moments where I could appreciate her eye for color and design.
Her little pink house was absolutely beautiful. It was warm and inviting and unique and purely Emma .
I grabbed the plate of fried rice and chicken and dug in. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until now. Threatening that son of a bitch had worked up an appetite. Emma straightened in her chair and started to eat too, eyeing me with the same uneasiness.
“Want a drink?” she asked.
“I’ve got water.”
“And I’ve got whiskey.”
I snorted, thinking about it. “Yeah. I’ll take some.”
“Old fashioned?”
I nodded. “I think the situation calls for it.”
“Agreed.”
“I can make them,” I said, both of us getting up at the same time.
“Don’t be silly. I offered.”
“Yeah, but that asshole said some pretty shitty things. So just sit. I’ll find everything.”
Emma sat back down with a sigh and returned to picking at her food. I went to the kitchen and rummaged around the cabinets until I found everything I needed.
I raised a brow as I pulled out a tiny vial of edible glitter.
Of course she had glitter for her drinks.
I smiled and decided to stir some into hers. After adding a cherry and an orange peel garnish, I was sitting back down with two old fashioneds.
Her eyes lit up when she saw the glitter. “Oh god, you’re too sweet.”
My heart leapt. I liked hearing her praise a little too much. “Seemed like it would be nice,” I chuckled.
“Thank you. And thank you again for helping me.”
“Mmhmm.” I took a sip and relaxed a fraction. “So, what’s our plan, sparks? Can I run him out of town yet?”
“No,” she sighed. “That would make things worse.”
“I can’t see how things could get much worse,” I said. “I mean, we had to kiss.”
Her smile dropped and she shrugged. “I mean, kissing me can’t be that bad.”
Fuck. That wasn’t what I’d meant. But also, what the hell was I supposed to say to that? She had no fucking clue how much I wanted to kiss her again. Or how I wanted to kneel between her pretty thighs and make her see stars.
I shifted in my seat. “You know what I mean.”
“No, Harlow, I don’t,” she snapped.
I held up my hands. “I’m not saying it was a bad kiss.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“That we shouldn’t be kissing in the first place. You’re Emma. I’m Hunter. Remember?” I growled.
“Oh, how could I forget? You’re the dumbass who told him we were engaged to begin with.”
I glowered as I sipped my drink. “I’m finishing this and then leaving.”
“Good riddance,” she mumbled, snatching up her glass and plate. “Have fun, I’m going upstairs.”
My fingers tapped on the side of the glass as she stood and turned to leave. I hadn’t exactly been very smooth there. I sighed and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling.
The way she’d fit against me during that kiss. I’d be thinking about it for the rest of my life.
“Emma, I’m sorry,” I called, my voice echoing through the house.
“Good for you!” she shouted back.
I fought the urge to laugh. If only she knew how I really felt, then maybe she’d understand why I’d been so callous about our kiss. If she ever knew that I’d ruined her dates and watched her masturbate, she’d kill me.
And she’d have every right to do so.
I couldn’t leave her angry at me. But I also couldn’t tell her the truth.
I finished off my food and drink, cleaned everything up, and then slowly crept upstairs. Her room door was wide open and she was sprawled over the bed, her face buried in the blankets. Her ass faced me, her dress hiked up her smooth thighs.
Jesus Christ.
My cock hardened and I turned around, gripping the stair railing. I closed my eyes, trying to sort through the way all my thoughts went to sex. I wanted to bury my face against her pussy and make her forget everything else. Fuck me.
“Emma,” I grunted. “I just want to say I didn’t hate the kiss. That’s all.”
She didn’t respond.
“And also that Josh is an awful, pathetic man. You are so much better off without him and I’m glad the two of you weren’t married for long. I’m sorry your family is so shitty. Are you going to be okay?”
“One day,” she sighed. “One day, I’ll be okay. You don’t need to hang around.”
But I wanted to. God, I wanted to. But if I did, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from kissing her again.
“Call me if you need me,” I grunted.
“Sure thing, fiancé .”
I never looked back at her. Instead, I rushed down the stairs, threw the front door open, and bolted for my truck. My cock was hard in my pants, begging for her. For a touch, another kiss, something.
I took one last look at her house before driving away.
As if I could escape her. It wasn’t possible.
I drove well over the speed limit until I was finally pulling up to my cabin. “ Why ?” I sighed as I slowed, parking next to my dad’s truck.
Pops sat on the chair on my front porch, rocking slowly. I got out, thankful that the drive had given my body time to relax, and waved grimly.
“Hey, Pops.”
“Howdy,” he returned. “You got some explaining to do, son. Your mother is losing her mind over at the house.”
“I’m sure she is.”
I’d never intended for either one of them to find out about this. My hope had been that after tonight, we’d put everything to rest and move on like normal, but now…
My parents had clearly heard about Emma, Josh was still in town, and I was fucked.
Whiskey wasn’t enough. I needed a tranquilizer.
“I don’t really want to chat right now,” I said tightly.
“Well, that’s too bad,” he said, standing up from his chair. “What the hell is going on?”
Dammit. “Who told you?” I asked.
“Your mother.”
“Who heard it from…?”
“Her Facebook group.”
Oof. That was bad. I unlocked my front door and waved him in. “Might as well come inside.”
He followed me in and went straight for my favorite chair, taking a seat. “Emma?”
“Yeah,” I said. I kicked off my boots and beelined to the liquor cabinet. I got down two glasses, a bottle of whiskey, and poured one for myself first. “Emma.”
Pops blew out a long sigh. “What the hell are you thinking?”
“What do you mean?” I asked. I slammed the shot, and poured another. I took a moment, letting the burn center me. Talking to Pops was always hard, but right now was the worst time for him to show up. I poured him a shot and took our glasses to the living room. I handed him one and sat down on the edge of the couch. “Emma is smart, gorgeous, and?—”
“Yes, and why would she want to date you?”
I was speechless. It was jabs like this that had led to our last big fight. A low laugh left me and I leaned back. “Well, Pops. We’re not dating. We’re engaged. Maybe ask her why she wants that, but I’m not very inclined to explain anything to you.”
“I’ve seen the two of you at the holidays. You’re always at odds,” he said. “And supposedly the two of you have been secretly dating for months? Why wouldn’t you just tell us?”
“Because,” I said. “We wanted privacy. And because that’s what felt right for us.”
“But—”
“Pops, I don’t want to argue with you about this,” I said. “I’ve had enough from everyone the last couple days.”
He snorted. “Heard Cam decked you in the hardware store.”
“He did,” I said slowly. I threw back the second shot and leaned forward, studying him. “Why don’t you think I’m good enough for her?”
“This is Emma we’re talking about. Haley and Sarah’s best friend,” he said. “She’s part of the family. I’ve heard about how much you dislike each other for months and then suddenly you’re engaged? Do you really see someone like her being the wife of a farmer?”
My temper boiled hotter and hotter. “You know, Emma is tough. She’s smart and talented and able to do anything she sets her mind to. I can’t imagine a world where she’d choose someone who didn’t fit what she wants.”
“And you’re it?”
There he went again. I grit my teeth, biting my tongue. “Yep. I am. Have you ever thought about asking what I want?”
He looked at me in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Exactly that,” I snapped. “Have you ever thought about asking me what I want?”
“Is this about the farm?” he sighed. “Are we really doing this again?”
“You never talk to Cam or Sammy this way,” I said. “Ever. You’re always so fucking proud of them and everything they do and meanwhile I have been busting my ass to keep this farm running. You never thank me. You never say you’re proud of me.”
He threw his hands up. “Well, thanks for doing your job. How does that sound?”
“Not very good. I think you should leave.”
He scoffed but stood up. “You always do this. I don’t understand why you won’t just talk to me.”
“I just tried to talk to you, and you were an ass,” I said.
“But, I am proud of you Hunter. I just don’t understand why you need to hear it.”
“Because it’s nice to hear sometimes!” I yelled, startling him. “Because I’d like to think you love me as much as you love Cam and Sammy. Meanwhile, the reality is you’re always disappointed I don’t do everything the way you would.”
“That’s not true. You’re being unreasonable,” he said, shaking his head.
Everything bubbled over and I couldn’t take it anymore. I stood up, throwing my hand at the door. “Get out before I say something I can’t take back.”
“And what the hell would that be?!”
“Get. Out.”
He sighed in disappointment and headed for the door, but not before pausing to look back at me. “That girl deserves someone better.”
I bit my tongue so hard, the copper taste of blood filled my mouth. He slammed the door, leaving me alone.
“ Fuck , man,” I breathed, blinking back tears.
He would never listen to me. It didn’t matter what I said, he always went on the defense. I could never get through, could never tell him how I felt.
I’d tried. I’d tried so many times. And maybe I was saying things wrong, but I got some of my gruffness from him. Since our blow out, nothing had been the same, and I wasn't sure it ever would be.
All because I’d suggested he retire.
My entire life, I’d been told the farm would be mine. I’d worked my ass off for it and knew how to do everything, how to run everything.
The suggestion had come after he fucked up one of the vine trimmers by not paying attention. I’d told him I wanted him to retire, he’d told me I wasn’t good enough yet to run the farm alone, and we’d yelled until I’d taken off for a few weeks.
When I got home, Haley was back in town, and all of our lives changed. My relationship with Pops had only grown more tense. I could barely stand in the same room with him without hearing something that pissed me off.
But this? This was too much. I could almost understand him resisting retirement to the point of us fighting, but him telling me I wasn’t good enough for Emma hurt deep.
My throat burned with tears. I didn’t fight them, though. Instead, I let them come as I spread out on the couch and turned on the TV, flipping absentmindedly through movies as I tried to distract myself from everything that happened today.
I landed on Practical Magic , pulled a blanket around myself, and wished Emma was curled up next to me.