Andy smiled and nodded. “I can’t thank you enough for taking care of some of the fundraisers over the last year when I couldn’t.” She laid her hand over Jeanine’s. “You have no idea how much that meant to me.”
Jeanine squeezed her hand. “Nonsense, sweetie. That’s what family is for.”
“That’s right, girlie,” Tony cut in. “We’re all family here. We’d do anything for you. And our boy here.”
Hunter sent a smile his way. His heart clenched a bit, thinking about the two missing, cherished members who were rarely far from his thoughts.
Looking at Andy, his heart calmed and his mind pushed back the saddened thoughts. She was his saving grace. While she thought he’d saved her, she’d done exactly that for him too.
“Can we count on you to donate a nice lump sum to JDRF, Hunter?” Jeanine asked, unabashed as she took another bite of her pie.
Hunter laughed. His mom—that was how he thought of Jeanine—was nothing if not subtle, no matter how innocent she might look.
“Of course. I’ll make sure it’s the highest amount of the night.” He winked.
She chuckled. “Good boy. I knew we’d be able to count on you.”
“Always. I couldn’t let Andy’s first night back to hosting go without celebration. The amount will just be a bit larger than normal.”
Andy slapped his arm. “Don’t be silly. Any amount is appreciated. But thank you for the thought.”
He’d do anything for her. Donate large sums of money, rub her feet, take out the trash—whatever it took to make her happy.
Tony cleared his throat and pulled Hunter’s attention to him.
“You know, Hunter, Andy shouldn’t go without a date for the evening. Maybe you should take our girl in order to keep all other men away from her. What do you think?”
“Tony!” Jeanine gasped.
“What? I’m just tossing the idea out there.” Tony looked down at his plate, trying to appear innocent.
“Dad, you might be on to something,” Andy commented.
They all focused on her.
Hunter’s heart rate picked up speed when she sent an impish smile his way.
****
Andy looked at the three pairs of eyes staring at her.
Heat rose in her cheeks, and nerves settled into the pit of her stomach.
In preparing Thanksgiving this year, she’d also had an ulterior motive.
She wanted to tell her in-laws about her relationship with Hunter. While she’d needed the time to heal, she didn’t like keeping such a thing from those she loved.
The last few months had proved to be challenging but complex to her future. She missed Patrick and Peter every day and she still worked through the pain of the loss and tragedy. Thanks to the weekly conversations with Mrs. Morrow—her new therapist—she understood that everything she once felt and her desire to move on were all natural and healthy. It was the next step in the healing process.
To honor the ones she loved was to remember the wonderful memories. Once her house was finished, she planned to put her favorite photos back up and not hide from the past.
There were a couple of her and Patrick she planned to hang in her office. While Hunter would understand and accept the love she’d had with her husband, she didn’t want every picture in the main rooms to show it too much. Her living and sitting areas would still have pictures with Patrick, but only those with other family in them too.
And considering the question she wanted to pose to Hunter tonight, if he said yes, she wanted parts of the past to be resolved so they could begin a life together.
The future was always uncertain, but she couldn’t imagine not being with him. He’d shown her that life could be wonderful after experiencing such tragedy. She fought hard against the grief and agony, and he’d shown her the way. Even after she’d given him every reason to walk away from her.
She looked at the faces around her and realized they waited for her to speak. She smiled and looked at Hunter. “It’s a great idea. You should accompany me to the JDRF event.”
Hunter blinked. Andy wanted to giggle at the priceless perplexed look on his face.
He constantly surprised her since they started dating, with flowers, weekend trips away, sexy lingerie and home cooked meals. She was thrilled to have finally caught him off guard for once.
Hunter cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. “Of course I’ll take you. Not a problem.”
“Good. Thank you.” Andy winked. “Then there’s the Breast Cancer Charity Auction at the end of the month. You should take me to that one too.”
“Of course, that’ll be fine.”
Andy caught Tony’s gaze across the table. He nodded encouragingly at her.
Her breath hitched. He knew what she was doing and had just given her his approval. She smiled back at him and tears filled her eyes. She took a deep breath and held herself together.
Perhaps she’d just been fooling herself, thinking they’d hidden their feelings for one another better.
“And isn’t there an event in November?” Tony asked, feigned innocence all over his face. “The AIDS awareness one?”
Hunter’s head moved back and forth from Tony to Andy, trying to keep up with the conversation.
She chuckled and looked at Tony. “Yes, you’re right. Mom and I are both handling the whole thing this year. I definitely couldn’t go without a date.”
“There you go, sweetheart. You can’t be going alone,” Tony said.
Hunter stared at her. She hoped he understood that she knew exactly what she was doing, and ready to reveal the truth to the two people who loved them as much as they did one another. Weeks ago they’d discussed telling them everything but hadn’t solidified it either. She hoped he understood her need to do it her way.
The light in his eyes sparkled as understanding dawned and he reached for her hand. She squeezed his tight and looked at Jeanine. The other woman, knowledge and happiness in her eyes, grabbed Andy’s other hand. Jeanine’s smile was huge and her watery eyes shone.
Yes, Andy realized she had been a fool all these months. She and Jeanine would have to sit down for a girl talk very soon.
“Well, I think it’s time we headed home.” Tony pushed his chair back and stood.
Surprised, Andy looked up at him. “Already?”
“Yep, give you two lovebirds time alone,” he said.
Andy gasped as she watched him walk into the house. She stood and followed quickly. She needed to be sure he was okay with everything.
“Dad,” Andy began as she walked into the kitchen. “Dad, are you okay?”
Tony stood in front of the counter, his palms flat and head bent. Andy laid a hand on his back when she stood beside him. He lifted his head and looked at her.
Andy’s heart sank as tears shone in his eyes. But he smiled and chuckled. “I’m just fine, child. Don’t worry about me.”
He wiped his cheeks and took a deep breath. Andy leaned a hip against the counter, uncertain what to say. “Dad...”
He turned to face her and put both hands on her shoulders. “Now, don’t worry. I’m happy for you and my boy out there.”
“Then why the sadness?” Andy asked, hesitant.
“Sadness?” Tony scoffed. “No, sweetheart, I’m happy for you. You deserve another wonderful man in your life. I love Hunter as my own.”
“I know you do.”
“I do miss my other boys. But I’m thrilled for you.” Tony swallowed hard. “Some days are difficult, but I look forward to seeing how you and Hunter grow together. You’ll have been loved by two great men.”
Andy smiled, teary-eyed. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder. His arms enfolded her tight. “Nah, by three wonderful men, Dad. You’ll always be my favorite.”
Tony laughed loudly as she hoped he would. The sadness in the air lifted as she joined him and he squeezed her tight.
“Tony, is everything all right?” Jeanine asked softly w
hen she walked into the kitchen.
Andy raised her head and caught Hunter’s concerned gaze from where he stood in the doorway. She smiled wide to show him that all was okay.
“Of course, wife.” Tony kissed the top of Andy’s head, then walked toward Jeanine. “Let’s head home. You gals can talk tomorrow.”
Andy followed everyone out into the foyer. Hunter helped Jeanine with her light jacket, and kissed her cheek. By blood or not, he was such a dutiful and respectful son to them. And he knew just how to treat a lady. Andy’s heart swelled with love and pride.
Tony bussed Andy’s cheek again, and Andy hugged Jeanine. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Mom.”
Jeanine smiled wide and nodded. “You better, missy.”
“Drive careful, Dad,” Hunter ordered.
“Take care, son.” Tony clutched Hunter’s shoulder.
Andy looked away, tears returning when the two gave one another a tight hug.
Once she heard the door close, she turned. Hunter stood with his back to the door and his arms crossed over his chest.
Andy’s body shivered at the bold and seductive look in his gorgeous eyes. She could have tears in hers one moment, and with just a look from him, she was ready to lie down and let him have his way with her—any way he wanted.
She smiled and walked into the living room. She sat on the floor, on the lush carpet in front of the fireplace.
“You know you surprised the hell out of me tonight, don’t you?” Hunter asked as he came over to the where she sat and lowered himself behind her, his legs on both sides of her.
He kissed her neck and moaned low when her body shivered. He knew the exact effect he had on her. Andy could hide nothing of her body’s response from him.
She leaned her head against the side of his arm to give him greater access to her. “Mmm, why do you say that?”
Hunter nibbled her earlobe, then said, “I wasn’t expecting you to tell them about us. We hadn’t really decided on it to be tonight.”
Andy shifted and looked at him. She frowned. “Are you upset? I’m sorry—”
“No, no.” Hunter lightly kissed her lips. “Not at all. I’m relieved.”
She snuggled into his arms and looked at the fireplace. “Me too. We should have done it sooner.”
“Was Dad really okay?”
Andy smiled, her heart full at the memory of her father-in-law giving her his blessing, and his love. “Yes, more than okay. He really loves you.”
His arms tightened around her. “I know.”
They sat in silence, both looking into the fire.
Andy had definitely been blessed. She had found love twice in her lifetime and would hold on to it with everything she had. There were always unexpected moments in life, tragedies of loss and pain, but she would make every moment seem like the last.
She no longer wanted the tortured pain of rough sex that she once thought she needed. Nor did she believe she deserved whatever horrible thing might happen to her. To honor those she loved, she needed to live. Really live. With love, laughter and everything that was important to her.
Peter and Patrick were forever in her heart and soul. Nothing would ever replace either of them, but she had found new love, a life that held so many possibilities.
Hunter saved her. From herself and the agony.
Her love for him went so deep; she never wanted to face life without him.
Andy tipped her head back and met his gaze. Love shone bright in his eyes and warmed her entire body. She would treasure his love every day.
She laid a hand on his cheek. Drawing his face down to hers, she captured his lips. Soft and lazy, their lips moved against one another. Love and desire circled through her.
Andy pulled back and smiled. “I love you,” she admitted for the first time.
Hunter drew in a deep breath then grinned. “I love you, too.”
Heart full, Andy couldn’t believe how happy she was. She looked at the fire, then back at Hunter again. “When the house is finished, I think you should move in with me.”
Hunter’s eyes widened, then a huge smile spread across his face. “I think that’s a fantastic idea.”
“Good.” Andy smiled. “I’m glad you agreed since I’m having an additional office added.”
Hunter chuckled. “Sure of yourself, weren’t you?”
Andy shook her head and ran a finger over his lips. “No. Just sure of us.”
He lowered his head and captured her mouth once more.
Andy poured every ounce of love and hunger into the kiss. She savored the taste of the man in her arms, and the future that awaited them.
The End
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Other Books by Kacey Hammell:
www.evernightpublishing.com/kacey-hammell
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Sweetest Salvation Page 10