2. Hunter
Hunter
“Please tell me that you’re done with all this and you’re coming home soon, Hunter.”
Sighing, I shove my fingers through my shaggy hair. “I’m not coming back yet.”
“Is it because of the songs? Because I can rustle up some songwriters for you. It’s not necessary for you to do…well, whatever the hell this is, my man! Just come home. I guarantee I can fix this.”
“You don’t even know what this is! So how do you think you’re going to fix it!” I snap, my voice a low rumble, trying to keep it down. I glance around me at the diner, keeping my eyes open for any sign of recognition.
I’ve changed since I left but if somebody really looked at me I’m not sure that I will pass without notice.
A ragged sigh comes through my phone. I wish I could tell him that I was on my way home. That all this…that it’s over.
But what if it never is? What if I can’t…?
I shut that shit down fast. I just need a change. Something to take my mind off the mess my life has become.
Thanks to her. My phone buzzes in my hand and it’s another damn text message from her. Snapping, I grip the damn phone so tight it’s a wonder I don’t crack it in half. I can hear it creaking in my hand and apparently so does Ryan.
“Man, is she still texting you?”
A grim smile touches my lips. “Yeah. She wants to explain what happened.”
He snorts. “I’m sure she does.” He pauses and I can hear the pain in his voice when he says, “I’m sorry that I introduced you to her.”
I nod my head. “I’m sorry too.”
I’m not sure what for. I didn’t do a damn thing. But before I can say one more word, she comes strolling through the door. Five foot three inches of sass in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt in a vivid shade of teal that brings out the aqua of her eyes. My lips curl when I see what it says.
“I’ve got to go,” I mutter under my breath, keeping the beautiful brunette in my sights. Her eyes dance when she sits down at a table and a waitress walks over and hands her a menu. She doesn’t even look at it. Just orders.
I stand up and stalk over to the table, standing over her when the waitress walks away with a sharp glance at me. She doesn’t say a word but a frisson runs down my spine. Her eyes narrow and I duck my head, tugging my hat down over my eyes.
My damn eyes that have been all over every freaking magazine in the modern damn world.
But I push all those thoughts away when she looks up at me and flushes wild rose. My whole body goes taut and my dick stirs like a predator waking up and finding food right in front of it.
He fucking wants her. So do I. Like my next meal. But I shove all that shit down and grin at her. “Florists Do It In the Mud?”
She rolls her aqua eyes and they darken when they trace down my body. “Have you ever heard of a pun?”
“Have you ever heard of begging for it?”
She blows out a raspberry and grunts. “Do you know how many times I’ve heard some version of that particular line?”
I can’t help myself. I throw my head back, laughing so loud that people all around us look up and grin. I slide into the booth on the other side of her and she lifts a dark brow at me. “Did I ask you to join me?”
“Nope. I didn’t ask you to do whatever you’re doing to me so we’re even.” I pick up the discarded menu and peruse it, my eyes fighting the urge to look up at her pretty, young face.
I should be ashamed of myself for even looking at her. I’m probably at least fifteen years older than she is.
But there’s something about her that just…I can’t explain it. It’s like I’m attached to her with these invisible silk ropes to my soul. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her since I met her yesterday.
“Can I ask you something?” she says and then waits when the waitress comes back and I give her my order. She walks away but she’s back within a minute with my black coffee.
Aspen’s lips turn down in disgust and I sip it happily, enjoying the face she makes.
I wave my hand at her when we’re alone again.
She cocks her pretty head and her dark curls cascade over her shoulder like the richest silk. “Why do I feel like I know you from somewhere?”
My lips purse and I choke on my sip of coffee, sputtering and coughing. She just watches me intently while I brush my lips with a napkin.
I lean back and set my coffee down, crossing my arms over my chest. Her ocean blue eyes narrow on my chest and arms and a little tingle of pleasure runs up and down my spine.
That flush on her cheeks, that glance at my body. She’s not immune to me. My cock stirs again, pushing against the teeth of my jeans like a monster aching to get free and take her.
“Maybe it’s fate. I’m meant to be yours.”
She huffs and moves back slightly as the waitress brings her breakfast, grinning at both of us like she’s figured something out.
I sure as hell hope it’s not me.
Two golden-brown pieces of thick, cinnamon french toast sit on her plate and she groans, grabbing the heated syrup in the glass syrup dispenser. It flows out, rich and smooth and the tip of her tongue slides along her perfect pink lips.
I almost moan out loud. Instead I take a deep drink of my hot coffee, burning the hell out of my throat and not giving a good god damn.
I sit back when my food is brought out and she eyes my perfectly-cooked, over easy eggs and crispy bacon with one brow lifted. I can see the judgment in her stunning eyes and it hits me below the belt again.
I ignore all of it and shovel a forkful of eggs into my mouth, Perfectly cooked and creamy, I don’t regret my choice at all.
I wave the fork at her. “So tell me all about yourself, Aspen.”
She rolls her eyes and slips her lips over the bite of french toast on her fork. I shift in my seat. I don’t think I’ve ever come from watching a woman eat but something tells me if I don’t get my ass together, I may be walking out of here with a wet spot.
“Well, I just graduated from community college with my business degree.”
And just like that, it’s like a bucket of cold water on my cock. Because she’s even younger than I thought. Sixteen freaking years.
And I’m a dirty damn old man just for looking at all that youth and wanting to tarnish it with my body.
I’m not a good man. But for once, I might just have to let better angels keep me from making a mess out of both of our lives just to feel something that I haven’t felt in a long time.
Alive.