Chapter 17 #2
“The back is where it’s at, though,” he said as he stepped onto a stamped concrete pathway leading downward as it wrapped around the home.
She hesitated for a moment before she fell into step with him.
The black T-shirt he wore fit snugly around his shoulders and biceps.
His muscles were thicker than what she’d remembered.
Maybe years of working out had done that.
He was slim at the waist. The jeans he wore snugged his thighs.
He was a mouthwatering sight, no matter the angle she saw him from.
Once in the backyard, she understood his earlier comment about the back being where it was at.
“Oh my, this is beautiful,” she said as she stared out over the small lake.
It was a sunny April evening, and the lake sparkled from the sunrays. Several docks and boats were already in the water for the season. A large dock jutted out from Hunter’s property, but there was no boat tied up to it.
“Yeah, she’s a great little lake. Good for a lot of activities. Swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, even waterskiing.”
“I bet you just love that,” she replied.
His wide smile reached his eyes.
“I do. You know me.”
That she did, or felt like she did, though they’d only spent a small amount of time together many years ago.
She spun to look at his house. The walkout basement led to a good-sized patio that housed an enormous stone fireplace, some outdoor furniture still covered up, and a grill emitting a mouthwatering scent.
Lifting her gaze upward, she eyed the wall of windows on the first and second floors of the home.
Windows stretched from the ground to the rooftop in the center of the home but tapered off toward the sides.
The logs used for the home were large and a light brown color with red undertones, a perfect color for a home of this type.
“It’s beautiful. I can’t wait to see the inside,” she said.
She walked alongside Hunter toward the patio, where he stopped to check on their meal.
“How do you like your steak?”
“Medium well to well.”
“Great, me too,” he said as he flipped the steaks.
They entered the house at the lowest level, which sported a wooden bar flanked with tall chainsaw eagle carvings. The room held a pool table, a dart game, and a large television with a few theater seats in front of it.
Hunter pointed to a doorway to the right. “That’s just the basement full of stuff.”
He pointed to the left. “Utility room and stairs leading up to the garage.”
She nodded, then she followed him up the steps in the center of the room, which brought them into the grand living room. The floor-to-ceiling windows she’d seen from the outside were part of the open concept living room, kitchen, and dining room area.
Everything about his home was stunning.
“Would you like something to drink? Beer, wine, soda?” he asked.
“A glass of wine would be nice.”
She needed that to take the edge off. She was happy to be here, but scared and nervous.
“Merlot?”
“Perfect.”
He pulled a bottle from the freestanding canoe-shaped, metal wine rack next to the kitchen counter and poured them each a glass.
“Cheers,” he said, and they clinked glasses.
“I’d better go grab those steaks and potatoes before they’re extra crispy. I’ll be right back. Make yourself at home,” he said as he grabbed a tray from the kitchen island and disappeared back down the stairs they’d just come up.
She watched him out the window. He was a sight for sore eyes, for sure.
When he returned, he set the tray on the counter and then placed the steaks and potatoes onto plates and handed one to her. He led her to the dining room table, where he’d already placed the silverware and condiments.
The room was awkwardly quiet.
“The steak tastes wonderful.”
He grinned.
“Thank you.”
More silence and gaze avoidance.
Hunter’s chest rose with the deep breath he took.
“I’m going to cut to the chase. I don’t know why this seems so hard. I couldn’t wait for you to get here, and I had so many questions I planned to ask you about how you are doing and what you’ve been up to, but I’m hesitant to ask,” he blurted.
She stared into his caring eyes. He reached over and placed his large, warm hand over hers.
The familiar comfort of his touch was overwhelming.
She wanted to tell him everything. He was one of the few people who already knew some of the details, but the less he knew, the better.
Other than her two brothers, she was close to no one.
It was too hard. New friends wanted to know her past, like any friend would.
The simplest of questions she couldn’t answer.
Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school?
What are your parents like? Are you going home for Christmas?
Her old life as Hannah was a past she couldn’t share, and she hated telling the story of her made-up life.
Sometimes, especially in the beginning, she’d slip up on the details of her alter-life, and that made her look like a liar.
It became easier not to make friends. It was a lonely life. Her brothers felt the same.
“Han...Katrina, you don’t need to tell me anything you don’t want to.”
He just slipped up, almost calling her Hannah. She shouldn’t be here. She should jerk her hand back, but she couldn’t. Didn’t want to.
She nodded.
He pulled his hand back, forked a piece of meat, and popped it into his mouth. His gaze stayed on her.
She cleared her throat. “I never thought my life would turn out this way. It got so derailed.”
He nodded.
“Every day, I think back to that hiking trip when I met you. Even before that, when I met Sebastián. If I had just made different decisions.”
“Whoa,” Hunter said as he held up his hand in the stop position. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She hung her head.
“Katrina, look at me.”
Slowly, she lifted her head to meet his gaze.
“Obviously, I don’t know everything that transpired leading up to what Sebastián did to you, but the version of Katrina Holmes that I know is a smart, kind, intelligent woman. He caused this. Not you. You can play the coulda, woulda, shoulda game all day long, but he did this, not you.”
“I keep trying to tell myself that, but it’s hard.”
He covered her hand with his again.
“The guilty verdict and his prison sentence are proof that it was all him,” Hunter said with conviction and a hint of anger in his tone.
“Yeah, but he got away with killing Alyssa and my parents. I know he did it. Or at least had something to do with their deaths, but nobody could prove it. And...we believe his family is in a cartel. I can’t prove it, but I know it. I just do, which was the main reason for the change in identity.”
It was still difficult for her to say that out loud, even though nearly ten years had passed.
He gripped her hand more firmly.
“And he’s due to get out soon. On the one hand, I can’t believe so much time has passed already. The memory of it all is still raw. I live it every day with my new identity.”
“Makes sense. Well, with your new identity, he shouldn’t be able to find you. I mean, the witness protection program should keep you safe, right?”
“Sadly, I didn’t qualify for witness protection.”
His brows knit.
“But your name.”
“My brothers and I did this on our own. We had little family left, so we just made ourselves disappear. We took on new names, moved, and cut off all ties with family and friends. It was best for everyone. My brothers wouldn’t let me do it alone, so they made the sacrifice as well.”
The expression on Hunter’s face was one of compassion.
“I’m so sorry for all of this. That must have been so hard.”
“It was...is. But in any case, I hope our hiding pays off when Sebastián is released. I fear he’ll look for me.
I already feel like I’m always looking over my shoulder for his family or a hired hand.
It will be worse when he’s on the loose, too.
And what if he tries to find me through old friends. ..you?”
She choked down the obstruction that clogged her throat.
“Which is why I shouldn’t be here.”
Her eyes watered. She’d thought about Hunter so many times and missed him. Though she hardly knew him—hadn’t spent but a few days with him, the connection they shared was strong.
Hunter’s shoulders rose and fell with his quick breaths. His hand perspired. Or was that hers? He flew off his chair and pulled her into a protective embrace.
She melted to him.
“I’m so sorry, Han...Katrina. So sorry you’ve had to live like this.”
The sincerity in his voice brought more tears.
“You’ve been so brave. I wish I could have helped you.”
If she hadn’t cut him off, maybe he could have.
The warm body she pressed herself to, reminded her of all she’d lost by making that decision.
Inhaling, she took in that earthy scent of his.
The cedar notes further reminded her of their time spent together, making her regret the decision to go into hiding.
He loosened his grip a smidge and ran one of his hands up and down her back comfortingly. Why did he have to do that? It was making her feel worse, yet better at the same time.
She should have never come here. She needed to cut this off now. If she didn’t, she may never be able to.
Her body stiffened. His did the same.
“Please don’t,” he said.
Pushing away, she put two steps between them.
“I have to.”
She spun and snagged her purse off the counter.
“One kiss then and I’ll leave you alone,” he said.
More than anything right now, she wanted that, and she risked a glance at him.
The amber hues in his irises pleaded for her to agree.
She had to stop looking into his eyes or she’d cave, so she lowered her gaze.
It landed on his mouth. That mouth that had delivered kisses she’d thought about every day.
Would one simple kiss hurt? Her betraying heart tried to rationalize with her brain.
Her lack of verbal response answered his question. He stepped forward and cupped her cheeks with his palms, and then, about as slowly as anyone could, he leaned forward and lightly pressed his mouth to hers.
Though it wasn’t but a wisp of a feathery touch, her heart beat wildly. When he edged back, her lips protested, and she leaned toward him. The amber flecks in his eyes sparkled, and he pressed his lips to hers again.
Slow, soft kisses ensued. Unleashing the full force of the feelings she’d suppressed for him. She reached up and gripped his muscular shoulders, pulling him tightly to her. His hands slid down from her cheeks and hooked at the small of her back, holding her firmly to his body.
When she parted her lips, his warm tongue dipped into her mouth.
The pleasant hint of merlot on his tongue seeped into hers.
The kiss turned deeper and hotter. She welcomed the intensity of it, encouraged it even.
The feel of him in her mouth and against her body was even more fulfilling than she’d remembered from years ago.
She’d longed for him more times than she could count.
Now, here he was. She’d never imagined she’d get to kiss him again, but fate brought them together, and she loved every second.
Perhaps she should pinch herself to make sure it was truly happening.
They kissed and kissed and kissed. It was sensational. She wanted to do this forever. Stay lost in the moment, but that wasn’t realistic. None of this was realistic.
Hunter pulled back, but kept his arms loosely around her. The desperation in his dark gaze tugged at her heart.
“Are you sure we can’t figure out a way to be with each other?”
“I wish we could, but the risk...”
“Shouldn’t I get a say in that decision?” he asked.
She sighed.
“We don’t even know for sure what or if Sebastián will do anything when he gets out. Hell, we don’t even know if he had anything to do with...” he stopped mid-sentence.
“The murders,” she finished for him.
He was right. She’d often wondered if she was too hasty in her decision to go into hiding. Who knew for sure? When doubt overshadowed her, she convinced herself she only questioned her decision out of selfishness and her desire to be with the man standing before her. She had to stay strong.
“Trust me when I say I’d love to give up hiding and live my life without always looking over my shoulder, but the dread that is coiled deep in my gut tells me to stay on full alert.”
He dropped his arms to his sides and stepped back.
“I understand.”
Her chest squeezed. This was it. She swallowed hard. He was just going to accept this? Why did that upset her and make her sad? He only agreed to do what she’d asked.
She spun to leave.
“Just know one thing before you go.”
She stilled in her tracks but didn’t look back at him.
“I love you.”
Her heart hitched, and tears flooded her eyes. That was the last thing she wanted to hear from him, yet the thing she needed to hear most. He wasn’t playing fair.
Without so much as a glance back, she exited his home. Regret in every footstep.