Chapter 26 #2
“Chris is amazing. I think I’m totally falling for him. I want to invite him tomorrow but don’t want to make you upset since you want it to be small, and you haven’t met him yet, so not sure what to do about that. He told me he loves me yesterday. Okay, now tell me about Hunter!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa—he told you he loves you?” I gape at Lou.
She shrugs, a blush creeping up her cheeks, but she can’t hold back the giddy smile. “Yeah. We were laughing about something totally ridiculous, and he suddenly said he loved me. He was so embarrassed, like it just slipped out.”
“Did you say it back?”
“No, not yet.” Lou cringes. “Is that awful? I didn’t want to say it when I’m not 100 percent sure.”
“If you’re not sure, then it’s good you didn’t say it.
But . . . wow . . . he’s in love with you.
That’s . . . that’s amazing! And I can’t believe I haven’t even met him yet.
” I get a bag for her office treats and slide her receipt across the counter to her with her card.
She gave us an even bigger tip than usual; she knows we’re struggling.
I can’t let myself think about it too much, or I might cry.
“Well, if you’re okay with it, I’ll go ahead and invite him tomorrow. Then you can meet him. I really do want you to. I know I haven’t said I love him back yet, but I am falling for him. Hard.” The grin is back. If she were a cartoon, she’d have hearts in her eyes.
“Of course you can invite him. Nothing like meeting your future husband at my fake birthday party.” But I smile to let her know I’m teasing.
“It’ll be great, I promise. And remember—you’re choosing to be positive and assume you have a long time to live and stuff now, so that means happily celebrating the day you got your new heart and your new lease on life. Who wouldn’t love having two birthdays a year?”
“Now you sound like Talia.”
Lou smirks. “Where do you think I got all my info on your New Life Day?”
I groan as she grabs the bag of treats.
“Well, great job dodging my questions about Hunter—for now. But you can’t avoid me forever. I know where you live.” She points at me as she backs away. “I’ll pin you down.”
“I believe you.” I laugh as she waves and heads out the door.
But once she’s gone, I sag forward onto the counter.
It’s not only having Farmor in the ICU, struggling to come out of a coma that makes me uncomfortable with the New Life Day party.
Every year, I wish they wouldn’t do it. How can I celebrate my miracle with balloons and a cake and some huge party when I know that somewhere else, another family is mourning tomorrow as the day they lost someone they love forever?
And now, with Hunter in my life, I’m afraid a party to celebrate my miracle will only remind him of his tragedy. I’ll never understand why God gives miracles to one person and not another.
The bell jingles again, and I plaster a smile on my face to help our customers. A few minutes later, Rebecca shows up, allowing me to go back and bake more of the goods we need on our shelves. It seems we’re always low on everything right now, constantly running to catch up.
Once I’m in the kitchen, I tie on an apron and get to work. Soon, I’ve lost myself in the soothing routine of baking. So much so that when the door to the kitchen opens, I don’t even glance up to see what Rebecca needs.
It’s a complete shock when firm, muscled arms come around me from behind. “I missed seeing you this morning,” Hunter says softly, his lips brushing the shell of my ear.
A thrill races down my throat to my stomach, every nerve in my body immediately on alert.
“I hope it’s okay that I came back here.”
“Of course,” I say, tremulous. “But you might get flour all over your very fancy outfit.”
“I don’t care about the flour.” He nuzzles his nose through my hair to the corner of my jaw, where he exhales softly, making the fine hairs of my neck stand on end, sending a current through my body. I lean back, into him.
His hands curve around my waist. “Have I mentioned I can’t stop thinking about you?”
“Mmm,” I hum, entirely preoccupied by his fingers toying with my shirt.
“Richard told me I need to get my head on straight because I’m distracted today.”
His mouth is so close to my skin I can feel his words.
“That’s . . . unfortunate,” I manage. I’m boneless, barely able to stay standing when he presses a light kiss against my jaw. He pauses, his breath warm and tantalizing on my skin. A tiny sigh escapes when his fingertips skim my bare arms; my heart gallops in my chest.
Suddenly, he straightens, releases me, and steps back. I grip the edge of the counter to regain my equilibrium and will my heart rate to slow back down. “What . . . why . . . ?” I can barely form words, let alone a coherent thought.
“I’m trying to keep my promise to take it slow,” Hunter rasps.
I inhale and exhale twice to calm down before turning to face him. He stands only a few feet away, gripping the back of a folding chair, his hazel eyes darkened with the same desire still rushing through my blood.
“Liv—I’m sorry,” he says. “I promise I was only planning on giving you a hug.”
“It’s okay,” I say, still short of breath. “You don’t need to apologize.”
“I want you to know you can trust me,” he insists. “That I respect you and your wishes. And honestly, I should take it slow for my sake too. We’ve both been through a lot.”
I nod, even though a part of me—the part still throbbing with need—wishes I’d never asked him to go slow. But I know it’s the right thing to do, for both of us. “I do trust you,” I assure him.
We stare at each other, both fighting the urge to close the gap once more.
“I should go,” Hunter says. “You’ve got work to do, and we can’t both be slacking today.”
I sigh. “You’re probably right.”
But he doesn’t leave yet. “I want to take you out again tonight, but we have a client dinner I can’t get out of . . . since they’re my clients.”
I lift one brow. “That would be a problem if you didn’t show up. Congrats on getting clients!”
“Thanks.” He shrugs nonchalantly, but excitement dances in his eyes. “Maybe Wednesday?”
“Wednesday? Not tomorrow?” I sound needy, and I know it, and I can’t even bring myself to care.
“Well, I would offer tomorrow, but first of all, it’s April Fool’s Day—and I hate April Fool’s Day. And second, Lou said there’s some kind of party at the duplex that I can’t miss.”
“Right.” I groan. “So, Wednesday it is, then.”
“At least we live next to each other, so it’s not like we won’t see each other until then,” Hunter points out with a smirk. “In fact, if I recall, I got a nice glimpse of you in some cute pajama shorts and a tank top this morning.”
A blush burns up my neck to my cheeks. “Awesome. That means you also saw my bed head.”
“Your bed head is one of my favorite parts of having to use your condo for almost everything.” Hunter grins.
The timer on the oven goes off, and I startle, reminded that I really do have to get back to work.
“Okay, I’m going—for real this time. But first .
. .” Hunter strides back over and wraps his arms around me, pulling me in tight.
He holds me for a few seconds, long enough for me to melt into his embrace.
Then he gently lets go. “Thanks for the hug,” he says, his gaze on mine, making my breath catch.
“Anytime,” I murmur, lost in the green flecks of his eyes. When he turns to go, I manage to tear my gaze from his and groan. “Oh, crap, your clothes. There really is flour all over you now.”
Hunter glances down and shrugs. “Worth it,” is all he says and starts brushing it off as he heads out of the kitchen. “Have a good afternoon, Liv.”
“Good luck focusing!”
His laughter is still one of the most amazing sounds I’ve ever heard. But I don’t have time to dwell on it—or on the heat that still courses over my skin from his touch. I grab my oven mitts and resolve to get back to work. I have to finish the day’s order so we can stay in business.