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And I fall
This time, I don’t let the shadows of doubt creep into my mind When Hunter calls me the next day toto show
"I wish I could see you sooner," he says, the sexy drawl on the other end of the line ot two dozen ketchup bottles to refill
"So why don’t you?" I hop up onto the table and swing s are crazy here at the ranch, I’ve got t horses arriving, and I’ to train Jake to pick up the slack"
"All work and no play…" I tease, sing-song
Hunter laughs "Oh, I’ to play You can bet on it, darlin’"
I feel a thrill of anticipation "So, Friday night then?"
"Actually, I was thinking I’d pick you up at noon"
I pause "Dayti the time off work," Hunter adds "Would that be OK?"
I already knoould turn around and quit if it lorious s undecided "Depends what for…"
"Well, that you don’t get to find out just yet" Hunter’s voice is playful "You’re just going to have to trusta lot of that these days," I reply, getting a sudden flash of hi towardshands
"And it’s been worth your while, wouldn’t you say?" Now Hunter is the one teasing, his voice a delicious low rasp down the line
"Maybe," I whisper back, but I’m already turned on, just from the memory of him The stables My front porch The Ferris wheel
Daood
"So I’ll pick you up at noon," Hunter says, and although I haven’t agreed yet, we both know it’s decided
"See you then"
I hang up and take a deep breath,with exciteot planned for us, but it doesn’tas I’m with him, I know, it’ll be the best day
"Aa keg He takes one look at et back to work, fueled by a new energy
"First your brother, and now you" Garrett givesall "
"I’ my head down so he can’t see the smile that won’t shift fro my denials "I can’t even look at you And Hunter’s probably just as bad He seeured we could hang out, watch a game sometimes Now he’s a lost cause"
"But this is your fault!" I cry "You’re the one who kept pushingas I live" Garrett is still playing dra over hirins "So this is what happy looks like on you? Dao to help hi hio
"Hey, Brit?"
I look up
"I’m happy for you," Garrett says quietly "You deserve a break"
I blush, self-conscious "Whatever," I brush off his co to happen"
"Yeah, but that’s the fun part" Garrett gets a wistful, distant s’s fresh and new"
"It is for you," I throw back, joking "You don’t even irls!"
Garrett’s faraway look drops, and his usual teasing smile snaps back into place "That’s plenty," he winks "Hell, I know everything I need to know about a girl in thirty seconds"
"That quick, huh? Guess staue out at hiht, baby, all night long" He puhing, watching hi a victory lap for his supposed prowess
I laugh until ood to let it all out The giddy skip in htness inaround with a heavy tight knot of bitterness and insecurity behind e, I never even realized I don’t have to feel that way That ht crushing down onof happy days, and not just the faces of all the people who’ve left hter fades away I pull it out ofthe hours I can’t wait to see you
My stoht, and I feel the smile take over hs "Another one bites the dust"
I have no idea what Hunter is planning for us, so I figure I’ll play it safe and dress for anything: my pale blue bikini under cut-off denim shorts and a funky ripped crop top; my ratty old lace-up boots just in case I’ les when I hear Hunter’s truck pull up outside
I fly downstairs "Hey," I greet hiives rey tee that looks so soft I want to touch it So I do Placing one hand on his solid chest, I reach up on my tip-toes to land a soft kiss on his lips
"Sothe kiss His body is warainst mine, and my pulse kicks with a delicious thrill, soft and sweet like a surab my shoes and a sweater," I tell hiht down"
"Take your tiet the rest of htly-printed fabric scraps When I get back downstairs, Hunter is already out in the truck, engine idling with the radio on I scrao?" Hunter raises an eyebrow at ain, reveling in the taste of his lips and the scrape of stubble against ently into the slow, unhurried bliss of hisot all day