Chapter 46
Ginger
It’s a beautiful day and I’m ready for a little retail therapy. Granted, Timber Forge isn’t exactly a fashion mecca, but they’ve got some cute shops downtown, and I’m hoping I can find something for my sister Lexie’s baby while I’m here.
When I step out onto the porch, I’m met by a very sexy, very sweaty, shirtless Hutch chucking three rustic two-by-fours into the enormous dumpster sitting in the driveway next door.
That dimpled grin I can’t seem to get enough of lights up his face, as he reaches into his back pocket, pulling out a faded navy bandana and dragging it over his face.
His words from early this morning before he snuck out of my bed, come floating back.
You think I’m gonna let you out of this bed with only a kiss? Nah, you’re gonna come on my cock first.
Did I mention he’s sexy?
“Morning, sunshine.”
“Hey,” I greet him, butterflies erupting in my belly as I cross the porch and head in his direction.
He drags his gaze down my body and those big dimples deepen. “You look nice,” he says.
I glance behind me to make sure the twins aren’t within seeing distance and lean up on my toes, intending to press a quick kiss to his lips.
But he’s got other ideas, and he drags me against him, flicking a glance behind me. Finding the coast clear, he swipes his tongue into my mouth, deepening the kiss and making me moan.
Once he’s finished, he grins down at me. “What are you up to today?”
“We’re heading to meet up with Wren at Finn and Hudson’s. He and Paige are gonna hang with the boys while us girls go shopping.”
“Yeah? That sounds like fun.”
“Getting a lot done in there?” I ask, tipping my head toward the house.
“Yep. You wanna check it out?” His expression is boyishly hopeful, and it makes telling him I don’t have time really freaking hard.
“Rain check?” I ask, shielding my eyes from the sun. It’s behind him, giving his already sun-tanned skin a warm glow. “I’m running late.”
He nods, dusting his hands together with a smile. “Of course.”
I lean up and press a chaste kiss to his lips and he groans against my lips.
He makes a grab for my ass, but I sidestep with a laugh as the boys and Hales come out the door, single file, chattering together.
Hutch’s calloused hand engulfs mine. He gives it a squeeze, and when I turn my head, I meet his quiet, steady gaze. Something warm and light fills my chest, something a lot like hope.
I’m not prepared for this sudden rush of emotion tightening in my chest. The way he helped with Jordan’s splinter at the lake still plays on a loop in my mind. I could’ve handled it myself, but he stepped in without hesitation—steady and calm, perfect with Jordan.
When that migraine knocked me flat, he just…showed up. With food for the boys, meds in hand for me, like it was nothing. Like it was normal to swoop in and take care of people who aren’t even his.
It was a mistake letting him get so close—because I’m probably, most definitely already in love with him.
And that’s going to make leaving so much harder.
Clearing my throat, I paste on a smile. “Well, I’ll see ya, Bigfoot.”
His grin stretches wide, and he winks, those dimples flashing. “See ya, California.”
Haley grins and looks at me over her shoulder. “This is Josie’s place. She opened it years ago after she finished school.”
“Jasper’s Josie?” I ask, stepping inside and holding the door open behind me for Finn and Wren.
Haley nods, already drifting toward a table of rings and delicate gold necklaces.
Finn leans in. “You should talk to her about taking over her social media. This place stays pretty busy, but you would bring it to the next level for her. Both the bar and the B whips shit up and is gone before sun up.”
“Shelby Raines, are you talking shit again?” Hayley drawls, sliding up next to me and dropping a hand on her hip.
Realizing this is one of the women from Timber’s Treats that first day, it’s all I can do to not punch her square in the throat.
I’ve never been the type to fight over a guy, and given the way she’s speaking about Hutch, she might have firsthand experience, but I’d be willing to bet her assessment is all based on gossip. Still, I kind of hate her.
At least Shelby has the foresight to look sheepish.
“Oh you know, making sure your friend here knows to steer clear of the local merry-go-round.” Shelby’s smile is venomous before she flicks her gaze to Hayley. It goads me that she’s talking about Hayley’s brother like this. The balls on this bitch.
Openly scowling now, Hayley turns to me. “Well, isn’t that sweet of her, Ginger? Taking time out of her busy gossip schedule to make sure you’re informed.”
She pins the woman with a steely glare, but her lips tip up in a sickly-sweet smile. “Speaking of things that get a lot of rides…how many baby daddies you got now, Shelbs?”
Shelby scoffs with a roll of her eyes and flips her hair over her shoulder before she bites out, “Still single, Hayley? Bold choice for someone our age. Must run in the family.” She smirks and turns away, striding from the shop as quickly as she came.
Hales shakes her head, watching the woman go before she looks over at me.
“Don’t mind Shelby, babes. She’s the epitome of a mean girl, and she’s been trying to get with my brother for years.
Let’s just say it’s a good thing Hutch doesn’t do relationships because that girl hooked her claws into no less than four men in this town. ”
I stare after Shelby, still trying to shake off the tension from her words.
That was a lot of bullshit packed into a few sentences, but it's her smug little smile that's lingering in my gut. Like she thinks she knows something I don't. I don’t need her shitty take on Hutch. The way she described him—wild, a storm, sweeping in and out without leaving a trace—doesn’t sit right. It doesn’t fit with the man I know.
He’s not a goddamn hurricane, and I’m not some fragile thing that gets swept up in his chaos.
Right?
I swipe another baby dress off the rack with a little more force than necessary, trying to redirect my brain. Hutch is nothing like she said. Yeah, maybe he’s complicated, but he’s real. Too real, sometimes.
"You okay?" Hayley asks, her voice softer now, as she reaches out to touch my arm, her eyes reading me. "Shelby’s a pain in the ass, but don’t let her get under your skin. You’re better than that.”
I force a smile and nod. "I’m fine. Thanks, Hales." But my mind’s still on Hutch. His dimples, his quiet gaze, the way he makes me feel like I’m the only one in the room when we’re together.
I shake my head, trying to push it all away. I’m not sure what to do with this mess in my chest.
I glance at my phone. “I should check in with the boys. Let’s grab Wren and Finn.”
"Yeah, let’s get going before the baby section ends up looking like a disaster zone," Hayley laughs, nudging me when I shove the dress I picked up back onto the rack.
I chuckle, though it feels a little hollow. I know I should be focusing on finding a gift for Lexie, not all the feelings I can’t untangle.
As we head toward the checkout, my phone buzzes in my pocket, and when I pull it out, it’s a text from Hutch.
Bigfoot: You wanna grab dinner later?
I stare at his text for a moment, my heart doing that crazy flutter thing again. He’s probably being nice. But the way he does it—like he really cares—throws me off.
Ginger: Raincheck? I should probably stay in with the boys
I hate saying no. I want to see him. Should I invite him over? God, this is confusing.
Bigfoot: Ok have a good night
At the beginning of our road trip, just being in his proximity grated on my nerves. My head was a buzz of energy, and not in a good way—even more than it normally is. But now, having spent time with him and really gotten to know him, it’s sort of startling to realize how much that has changed.
I’ve always been rigid in my routines, a list maker, type A through and through, but something about how his mind works, calms mine.
It’s like he’s burrowed himself into my mind.
It sounds completely insane, but I want more of it.
The man I couldn’t stand (outside of sex anyway) mere weeks ago is somehow becoming one of my favorite people.
The way nearly nothing affects him, the simple ease with which he lives his life is so damn appealing.
He gives zero shits about what people think of him, including me, and he lives his life on his terms, living every day exactly as he wants.
It’s appealing on so many levels, and I find myself craving that simplicity, that slow, unhurried pace that he keeps.
He’s wrapped up in a cocoon of his own making and he makes me want to climb right inside there with him and never leave.
And even though he travels the country in a van, keeps ridiculous hours and lives more of his summers in board shorts and not much else, he’s successful and driven, and that mixed with his carefree nonchalance about everything else?
It’s sexy as hell. He makes me feel like anything is possible.
An hour later, here I sit at a small table near the back of Roxy’s, ruminating on everything Shelby said in the dress shop while the girls chatter and laugh around me.
On one hand, I’d known before going into this that Hutch wasn’t a man that settled down.
And it’s not like we could be anything more than long distance.
Especially if Peter got his way. But on the other hand, we’ve been spending so much time together, in and out of bed, that what Shelby said doesn’t make any sense.
Hutch says he doesn’t do relationships, and knowing what I know about his past, I can’t say it doesn’t make sense.
But it doesn’t stop my confusion about the things we’ve shared.
What about his no-kissing rule? We’ve kissed.
A lot. Like, a lot, a lot. So much so that sometimes we don’t even have sex, we make out.
Sometimes with neither of us even getting off.
So what the fuck was I supposed to believe about what was going on between us? Was I just a fling? Or was this more of a friends with benefits situation?
I pick at the fries on my plate and nudge the uneaten half cheeseburger over, so it doesn’t get in the ketchup. Maybe I should get a box.
One for the food and one for these stupid thoughts.