Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Maverick’s Bar and Grill was glowing like a lighthouse on the bluff, its patio strung with warm lights that bobbed in the ocean breeze. Emmalyn's steps slowed as she neared the bar Saturday night. It was so peaceful outside; she wasn't sure she was ready for a crazy night at Maverick's. But it was Liam's birthday, and everyone always showed up for birthdays, so she really needed to be there. But she'd had such an unsettling day.
Her phone suddenly buzzed, and her gut tightened as Ben's name flashed across the screen. "Hello? Ben?"
"I wanted to fill you in on what's happening with Jeremy."
"I have been wondering." She'd hoped to hear from Ben much earlier than now.
"I wanted to be able to give you as much definitive and helpful information as I could before I called."
"So there is helpful information?"
"Yes. It turns out the group your mother escaped from is heavily involved in smuggling guns and drugs. The commune is just a front for their criminal activities. While the members of the commune seem to live below the poverty line, the leaders have banked a great deal of wealth."
"That's ironic since they're so against materialism for everyone else who lives there."
"Well, this is just the start of a long investigation. The San Diego PD will be heavily involved, as the group resides in their jurisdiction. But the main takeaway for you is that Jeremy will not be released on bail. You and your mom are safe. If that changes, I will let you know immediately."
"Thank you so much, Ben. This is the best news."
"No problem. Are you at the bar?"
"Just about to walk in. Are you coming?"
"Working tonight. Have fun."
"Thanks."
She felt immense relief at the news that Jeremy was behind bars and the group was being investigated. It was ironic that Jeremy's attempt to get her mother back was what had finally gotten him arrested. Putting her phone back into her bag, she walked into the bar, feeling much more relaxed and ready to just enjoy herself.
As she walked past the weathered surfboard at the front door and into the bar, she was immediately enveloped in the warm, friendly, buzzing atmosphere. Old surfboards hung from the wooden-beamed ceiling, and black-and-white photos of legendary surfers covered the walls. The weathered wood floors had been worn smooth by years of sandy feet and dancing, and the salty sea air mingled with the scent of beer and the burgers being served from the kitchen. Maverick's wasn't fancy, but it had soul—a perfect reflection of their coastal community.
As she moved farther into the room, Brad waved to her from behind the bar, a towel slung over his shoulder like always. His brother, Tyler, was mixing drinks at the far end—his charm out in full force as he served drinks to a trio of attractive young women.
Kaia, Lexie, Ava, Madison, and Serena had snagged a table near the old classic jukebox that didn't actually play but was part of the vibe. They were nursing cocktails and catching up on gossip, while Liam and Gabe were at the bar, picking up drinks from Brad.
"We saved you a seat," Kaia said as she reached them.
"Thanks," she said, taking one of the three empty chairs at the end of the long table. "I thought you might be in the back room."
"It's more fun out here," Ava said. "Liam likes to be in the center of the action, and since it's his birthday…" She shrugged as she smiled. "Gotta keep him happy."
"Oh, please," Serena said, rolling her eyes at her sister. "Your fiancé couldn't be any happier. Liam is one of the most cheerful people I've ever met. It's a miracle that someone as sour as you could land someone like him."
"I sometimes think that, too," Ava admitted, accepting her sister's teasing comments with a smile. "We definitely didn't start out on the right foot when you accidentally forgot to tell me he'd be staying at your apartment while I was housesitting for you and taking care of Miss Daisy."
"I thought you needed someone to loosen you up, and it worked."
"I have to admit, you did me a favor," Ava conceded. "We are definitely opposites, but I think we're starting to rub off on each other, in a good way. Or maybe he's just rubbing off on me."
"Well, it would be nice if Liam would introduce us to some of his fellow hot Australian surfers," Kaia complained.
"That might happen next month," Ava said. "There's some big surfing competition happening, and Liam said some of his buddies are coming to town."
As the conversation flowed around the table, Liam returned with a tray of drinks, one of which he placed in front of her, a fruity concoction with an umbrella. He gave her a smile. "Brad saw you come in. He said you'd probably like this. It's a very light shot of tequila with a bunch of blended fruit."
Brad knew her too well. She was a wimp when it came to anything stronger than wine, but sometimes it was more fun to sip a cocktail.
The bar grew more crowded as the night progressed. Gabe and Liam sat down with them, as well as two other guys she didn't know but who were friends of Liam's. It was a fun group, and she was having a good time, but someone was missing, someone she really wanted to see.
As people changed seats, Lexie slid into the one next to hers. "I told Hunter to come. Have you talked to him?"
"We texted, and he said he would try, but he's helping Bree and Olivia get furniture. I guess they don't have anything, and they definitely need two beds."
"I talked to them when they signed the rental agreement. Bree said she had to sell some of her furniture when she moved in with her parents, so she needs to start completely over."
"We should help her. I bet some people in the building have an extra chair or desk they don't need."
Lexie smiled. "That's a good idea."
"I'll check in with everyone tomorrow, see if we can find some furniture to get her started."
"Well, check with Hunter first and see what they bought today."
"I will. I'm glad it's going to work out. Olivia really needs some stability, and I hated the idea of her having to move so soon and start over at a new school when she was just getting comfortable at Ravenswood."
"It works out for us, too. We can report full occupancy to the owner when he comes in tomorrow."
"You don't really think he'll sell, do you?"
"I hope not. We'll have a better idea after his visit." Lexie paused, her gaze moving past Emmalyn, a smile parting her lips. "Look who's here."
Emmalyn turned her head to see Hunter walking toward them. He looked devastatingly handsome in dark jeans and a navy button-down short-sleeve shirt that stretched perfectly across his broad shoulders. His dark hair was slightly damp, as if he'd just showered, and as he drew closer, he smelled faintly of soap and something woodsy that made her pulse quicken.
"You made it," Lexie said.
"Sorry I'm late."
"You're not late. Have a seat," Lexie added as she jumped to her feet. Emmalyn took another long sip of her drink as Hunter sat down.
"I heard Bree is taking the apartment," she said.
"Yes. She's relieved to have one less decision to make, and Olivia is over the moon."
"Lexie mentioned that Bree doesn't have much furniture. I don't know what you bought today, but I was thinking that I could ask around and see if anyone has anything extra that they don't want. Just to help her get started."
"That's very nice of you. You're always thinking about ways to make people comfortable."
"It's a lot to start over."
"We bought bedroom furniture today, but Bree doesn't want me to pay for everything, so she'd probably appreciate some hand-me-downs."
"I'll work on that tomorrow then." She paused as the music suddenly grew louder, and half their group moved to the dance floor.
"Shall we join them?" Hunter asked.
"I'm not much of a dancer."
"Neither am I, but we're not performing for anyone." He got up and held out his hand.
How could she resist? She followed him onto the crowded dance floor, a little disappointed when he let go of her hand. But the music was fast, and it was fun to move to the beat, to stop thinking for a while and just let loose.
She felt emboldened by the music, the alcohol, and all the events of the day. She didn't want to be defined by her past, by old habitual thinking that she was a little weird, that she wasn't like everyone else, that she didn't know what they knew, that she was somehow stunted because of her childhood. But she wasn't that awkward kid; she was a grown woman, a teacher, someone who encouraged bravery and individuality, and today she'd stood up to one of the biggest bullies in her life. That thought made her smile. And as Hunter grinned back at her, she thought they'd both changed a lot in the past week, and in a good way.
The music suddenly shifted to a slow song, something sultry, something yearning. Hunter grabbed her hands and pulled her close, putting his arms around her as they swayed to the music. They might not be good dancers, but they were good at this, their bodies moving together in a perfect rhythm, making her think about other ways they could move together.
Hunter's hand slid up her back, his fingers grazing the nape of her neck, and she suppressed a shiver as she looked into his darkened gaze.
"Emmalyn," he began, his voice rough with emotion.
She didn't know what he was going to say because the music suddenly stopped, and then Brad's booming voice rang through the bar. "Cake time!"
They broke apart to see Serena and Ava setting an enormous sheet cake on the table. As Ava lit the candles, she and Hunter joined the group encircling the table.
Liam put his arm around Ava and gave her a kiss. Then the group sang "Happy Birthday" before Liam blew out his candles. A round of applause followed along with questions about what he'd wished for.
"I don't need to wish," Liam responded, gazing at Ava with love in his eyes. "I already have everything and everyone that I need."
"That's so sweet," Serena said. "But you could still wish for a million dollars."
"Money isn't everything."
Serena rolled her eyes, then began cutting the cake.
"What would you wish for, Em?" Hunter asked curiously, "if those were your candles?"
"I don't think I should tell you," she murmured.
A sexy smile parted his lips. "Maybe I could help make your wish come true."
Heat ran through her. "That's a pretty confident statement, considering you don't know what my wish would be."
"I'm hoping it's the same as mine."
The intensity in his gaze nearly buckled her knees. Suddenly, the bar felt too crowded, too loud, too everything. And really the only person she wanted to talk to was him.
"Do you want to get out of here?" she asked impulsively.
"God, yes," he breathed, relief evident in his voice.
They said quick goodbyes, making excuses about being tired and needing to check on Olivia and Bree. If their friends saw through the transparent lies, they were kind enough not to comment.
The night air was cool against Emmalyn's flushed skin, but as Hunter took her hand, she felt another wave of heat. She had no idea what was coming next, but right now she was just going to enjoy the walk. Because everything felt right in the moonlight, the beach stretching out beside them, waves breaking gently against the shore. She was lucky to live here and lucky to have Hunter at her side, at least for tonight.
"Won't you miss this?" she found herself asking. "This night, this setting," she added hastily. "I wasn't talking about me."
His hand tightened around hers as he gave her a hot look that sent shivers down her spine. "I will miss everything, including you. But nothing is decided."
"I know. I'm just thinking ahead."
"I'm trying not to do that because life has a way of throwing all my plans out the window."
"Well, that's true," she said. "You seem very relaxed tonight and at peace with yourself, Hunter. Is it because Bree is back?"
"I'm happy she has returned to take care of her daughter, but the past week has also changed my perspective. I see things more clearly now."
"I like this version of you, Hunter. I never would have imagined that the angry, scowling man I met months ago would be laughing, making new friends, even dancing…"
"I was in such a dark hole; I couldn't see my way out. And part of me didn't want to get out. I didn't want to smile or be happy. It felt like a betrayal."
"Because Gary was gone," she said, understanding him so much better now. "You were punishing yourself."
"I was, but talking to Olivia about her dad helped me remember Gary in a way that didn't bring pain with it. Telling her about him made me realize how much he would have gotten on me for wallowing in my pain. He would have told me to shake it off, move on, that I was wasting my life."
"You weren't wasting your life; you were grieving. And probably not just for Gary but also for yourself, for the life you were worried you might have lost."
"There's no guarantee I haven't lost it. I've passed one test, but there are more to go."
"But you're feeling confident, right?"
"I am, but I've never been in this position before."
"Haven't you? I'm sure you had to prove yourself at the beginning."
"That was different. I was cocky as hell. I was always the best at everything I did because coming in second was unacceptable."
She smiled to herself, thinking she could have guessed that. "Did that drive come from your father? Were you trying to live up to him?"
"To him and to my older brother. But I didn't want to be as good, I wanted to be better," he said honestly.
"Were you?"
"I thought so, until I got shot out of the sky and realized I wasn't as invincible as I thought."
"I can't imagine what you went through."
"You don't want to imagine it," he said. "Let's talk about something else."
"Okay. It was fun dancing with you. You have some moves."
He gave her a disbelieving smile. "I'm not sure about that, but you were definitely feeling the beat."
She'd been feeling him as much as the beat, and as they neared Ocean Shores, she wondered just how far she wanted to take that feeling, because they were almost home.
When they entered the courtyard, it was empty, which wasn't surprising since many of the residents were still at the bar.
As they neared her apartment, Hunter said, "You're overthinking, Em."
"How do you know?" she asked.
"Because you are suddenly very quiet," he replied as they arrived at her door. "And you get this little crease between your eyebrows when you're worrying about something."
"I do?"
"Yes." He reached out to smooth the spot with his thumb. The casual touch sent electricity dancing across her skin. "That's better. You know that nothing will happen that you don't want to happen."
"I'm conflicted as to what I want to do and what I should do," she said.
"I get it," he said with a nod of understanding. "I can't make you any promises. I don't want to lead you on. But I do care about you, Em. And there's a fire between us that gets hotter every day."
"I feel the same way," she admitted. "And I'm not asking you for promises. It's not on you, Hunter. It's on me."
"Your decision," he agreed.
She studied his face in the soft light of the hallway—the strong line of his jaw, the intensity and desire in his dark eyes, the hint of uncertainty beneath his confident exterior. This man who'd been so closed off, so damaged when she'd first met him, now stood before her, offering something she hadn't known she wanted until now.
"It doesn't have to be complicated," he added.
He'd been open and honest, completely transparent. No promises, no platitudes—just the truth. And maybe that was enough.
She took her keys out of her purse and opened the door. Then she turned to face him. "I'd like you to come in."
He let out a breath. "Good, because I'd like to come in."
As she stepped back, he moved into her apartment, then kicked the door shut and pulled her into his arms. She met his kiss with the passion that had been building between them for days. She might not have him forever. But she had him tonight, and she was going to make it a night to remember.