I shot up and smiled. “He did? That’s fantastic news.”
Finally, we were adding to our numbers instead of reducing them.
Hunter winked. “It is. You got yourself a coach, Ms. Wales. A good coach. I think Mac will be able to take this team far.”
There was so much to do. I whipped back the covers, and this time, Hunter let me go. I missed the connection more than I wanted to admit, but I pressed forward pushing away the thought. “Let me get my laptop so I can get the contract over to HR. We don’t have any time to lose.”
“Ain’t that the truth. I’ll go get you a coffee and some breakfast for us. Then we can see about the car.”
That squishy feeling came into my stomach. Hunter hated coffee but he was going to get me some anyway. I softly responded, “Thanks.”
He gave me a chaste kiss before he threw on his clothes and left. Nothing more had been said about last night, and I wasn’t sure what to make of that. Is his head just as messed up as mine? Or is this the way adults handle a one-night stand?
I put on his T-shirt before turning on my laptop. Mac’s acceptance was right there in my email, so I forwarded it to HR with a high-priority flag. I wanted it finalized before I got back to the office. I also emailed the good news to my dad. He texted me back.
Dad: Never doubt your ability to lead this team. With your focus and sheer determination, anything is possible when you keep the end goal in sight.
End goal.
Getting mixed up with Hunter wasn’t possible right now. A relationship wasn’t part of the plan. I needed this to work. I needed the board to realize I had the ability to run Wales Enterprises so the transition was smooth. The team had so many issues to fix. And if I let myself fall any harder for Hunter... I wasn’t sure what would happen.
I quickly dressed in my clothes from the night before and put my hair up. There was no time for a shower. Then I paced the room, unsure how to proceed.
Distance. I need distance.
Hunter probably wanted that as well. Getting involved would be messy. Too messy. And he wanted out of this gig as soon as possible.
The door opened, and I froze in the middle of what was probably my hundredth rotation around the room.
Hunter’s brow furrowed. “Everything okay?”
Set the tone. Take control of the situation.
I began to ramble. “I don’t want things to be weird between us.”
“Okay.”
I put my computer in its bag. I couldn’t look at him. “Last night we gave into our desires, scratched the itch. I don’t want things to be weird between us when we get back to the office. I don’t want it to cause problems with the team. We’re finally on the right track.”
When I looked up, Hunter’s head cocked to the side as he watched me. He put the coffee on the dresser. His face was once again unreadable, and I wasn’t sure what he was thinking.
Finally, he nodded. “Sure thing. Itch is scratched. I ran into Roy. Vehicle is fixed. His mama ended up making a roast for lunch instead of the biscuits and gravy.”
The way I acted toward Roy last night had been terrible. I’d been a crazy person driven to the brink. I knew I had to apologize.
Hunter shoved his things in his bag and walked out the door, saying, “I’ll check out with Ms. Pratt and meet you downstairs.”
“Okay.”
The door closed behind him, and I collapsed on the bed, knowing I had just made the biggest mistake of my life. Did Hunter want more? He seemed too mad at me, or maybe I was imagining the whole thing.
I had to stay the course.
I had to keep focused.
At least that was what my head kept telling my heart.
When I went downstairs, Hunter was waiting at the door with his aviators on. He had that bad-boy vibe going on with his jeans and short-sleeve T-shirt. Last night those arms had been wrapped around me, that body giving me pleasure. I closed my eyes for the briefest of seconds. This was for the best. I turned toward the front desk area and straightened my shoulders. “Thank you, Ms. Pratt.”
“Have a goodun’.”
“Thank you. You, too.”
Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
Hunter held the door for me, but his face was closed, his expression blank. His mouth opened and closed like he was going to say something. I waited, unsure what I wanted to come out of his mouth.
“Thank you.”
“Of course, Boardroom Kendall.”
I gritted my teeth. “I’m not a Barbie doll, Hunter. Stop being a dick.”
Abruptly, he turned to face me, and I stood my ground. He leaned forward to say something when my cell phone rang. He stepped away from me, and whatever moment we’d been about to have was gone. “Conquer the world, sweetheart. I’ll get the car. We’re headed back to the stadium.”
This time the endearment wasn’t said so sweetly.
Yeah, it’s over.
I sent the call to voice mail, but pretended to connect it as I turned away. Tears threatened to spill over, but I blinked them away. Why does this hurt so much? It had been two people giving into lust. That was it. Nothing more.
I dialed Wales Aviation to arrange a plane and a car. I would let Hunter take my car back to the stadium. My resolve would not last if I was stuck in the car with him for any amount of time. I had to get away from Hunter before I gave into the one thing I knew my heart wanted... love.
I sat on the ridge that overlooked a larger pasture at my parents’ place. In the distance, I could see some horses grazing. I had been home for nearly two weeks. When I’d arrived, it had felt like I was a target at a firing range. The team’s stunts were now blowing back on Wales Enterprises negatively, and the board had chewed me up and spit me out. It was bad. Really bad.
My dad ran a tight ship, which meant the board ran a tight ship.
When the interrogation had begun, Dad had offered to intervene, but I’d refused to let him; I’d needed to handle it on my own. Due to the size of Wales Enterprises, it wasn’t a one-man ship. I needed the board to believe in me. I’d managed to negotiate one season for the team. If they messed up again, there would be hell to pay.
And then there was Hunter.
Since I left him in Franklin, I hadn’t been able to get him out of my thoughts. Those dark eyes haunted my dreams. The security of being in his arms was like a distant memory.
I stared at the last text I had received from him that morning.
Hunter: I’m headed home for an early weekend. Mac has everything under control.
Me: I’ll be back on Monday and will set up a meeting to go over the progress with you and Mac.
Hunter: Safe travels.
Me: Have a good weekend.
The situation was strained, and I wanted things to go back to the way they had been. What I really wanted to say was I was sorry and ask if we could talk, but I wasn’t able to bring myself to write those words. The look on his face when I told him I wouldn’t be riding home with him our last day together still haunted me. I knew I had hurt him, but what he didn’t know was that it had killed me to do it. I was terrified. And a coward.
I let out a breath. Since Hunter was headed out of town early for the weekend, I planned to go home in order to get in the right mindset for Monday. If I had the pilot bring me home that evening, I could get in the office the next day. Then I could power through Saturday and Sunday and get caught up on everything.
Hunter and Mac had signed five new players in the two weeks I’d been gone. All were under budget, and I had signed off on them without comment. But I wanted to review the tapes to understand the new players’ strengths. They had signed another quarterback, as well, which hadn’t made a lot of sense. But I was going to let the coaches do their thing.
From behind me, I heard a horse whinny, and I turned to see my mom riding up to me. It struck me how beautiful and graceful she was. There had been times over the last two weeks when it had been hard seeing her and Dad together. They had one of t
hose love stories that was made for romance novels. I hoped to be like her someday, but then I was scared what that meant for my career.
“Hey, Mom.”
“I thought I might find you out here. This seems to be the place you go every evening after work.”
I turned my focus back out to the field. “This has always been one of my favorite places.”
Mom dismounted, leaving her horse to graze near mine before coming to sit beside me. A few minutes passed without either of us saying a word. I watched the grass roll and sway with the wind. Inside, I felt numb. I missed that spark I used to feel, but something had happened to me over the last two weeks. It was like the real me had disappeared and I was stuck in some sort of emotionless purgatory.
“Kendall, what’s really on your mind?”
I blinked a few times. “Work. There’s a lot going on there.”
Mom arched her eyebrow, shifting as the wind blew her blond hair away from her face. “Is it Hunter?”
“What?” I jerked back as if I had been caught sneaking candy. “Mom, no.”
I focused back onto the horses in the pasture, afraid if I kept looking at her, I might cry.
Yes, it’s Hunter. I miss him.
“My sweet Kendall. I can tell something is wrong. But if you don’t want to talk about it, I understand.”
Mom had always been so considerate. She was the rock of our family, keeping Dad in check when his crazy protectiveness reared its head. I so was tired of keeping all this inside while inside, a bit of me died each day.
I threw my arms around her neck and sobbed, “I don’t know what to do! I think I like him.”
She hugged me to her. “Did something happen?”
“I ... it was different with him, and then I lied to him—and myself—about how I felt. I am so confused and don’t know what to do. I like him.”
Mom said nothing, just held me and rubbed my back while I let it out. My entire life, she had been supportive, never pushing for more until I was ready. When I’d calmed a little, she asked, “How does he feel?”
I sniffled. “I don’t know. I never gave him a chance to tell me. I just ran.”
Mom pulled back and wiped my tears away. “My sweet Kendall. You remind me so much of your father. So much. When I met him, work consumed him. But he let me in and found a way to have both.”
“I don’t know how that’s possible, Mom. There’s so much pressure and running a company that size takes a lot of dedication. If I split my focus, I won’t be able to run the company. There isn’t enough time to have both.”
Mom paused. “It’s different for me because I don’t have that corporate drive you and your dad do. But he managed to run the company as well as be an amazing father and husband. You can do it, too, Kendall. The question you have to ask yourself is: what do you want?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Mom beat me to the punch. “Think about it. Figure out what you actually want. Then talk to your father. You don’t have to have your whole life mapped out today. And your Dad doesn’t expect you to take over tomorrow. Nothing’s been defined.”
For a second, I processed her words. She was right. No formal decision had been announced to the board. It was safe to assume his intentions, but only Dad and I had really discussed it.
“I’m scared, Mom. I mean... I’m terrified of trying and failing. I’ve never really been in a relationship.”
If I shifted my focus and lost Hunter and my ability to run the company, it would all be for naught.
Mom put her arms around me. “That comes with any risk we take. You have always taken life by storm and conquered anything in your path. But allowing yourself to be vulnerable is hard. Love means giving someone the chance to hurt you while trusting them not to.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know if it’s love.”
“But you don’t know if it’s not. You’re not really living if you’re giving up something that might make you happy just because you’re afraid.”
Mom had always had the best quotes. When she’d been a college student, her parents had been killed in a car accident. But I’d heard stories of my grandparents often. The quotes came from my grandma. Even though I’d never met her, I felt close to her. Her quotes created a roadmap on how to live your life.
My mind circled back around to Hunter and our interactions. Was it just for fun? Or is there something there?
I shook my head. “Mom, I don’t know if Hunter makes me happy. We’ve only known each other for a month or so.”
“Well, you’ll never know if you don’t give it a shot. You can have it all, Kendall. You just have to figure out what having it all means to you. I don’t want you to wake up one day and regret not exploring what you really want in this life.”
That was the question. I really had no idea. None. “Thanks, Mom. I think I need to go back to Kentucky.”
“The plane is yours to use. Do you want me to arrange it?”
I took a deep breath. “Yes. If I can fly back tonight, that would be great.”
“Consider it done. We’ll be ready to drive you to the airport when you get back.”
“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Always will.”
Mom rode off, heading back toward the house, and I stared off into the distance. Hunter deserved an apology. I thought about texting him, but this needed to be face-to-face. I was going to have to grovel.
Hopefully I wasn’t too late.
It was early in the morning on Friday—not much past seven. I’d left my apartment at the crack of dawn to drive to Hunter’s place. My left leg bounced ninety miles a minute from all the caffeine I had consumed so far that morning. My nerves were on edge.
What if I’ve read this entire situation wrong?
I gripped the steering wheel tighter. I fought the urge to turn around and hide out underneath the mountain of paperwork in my office.
No. Stop it.
If Hunter had moved on, or I was out of line, I’d force myself to go back to business as usual. It would be fine. I would be fine.
I turned down the long drive, my heart rate speeding up the closer I got to the house.
This is it.
I put my SUV in park, immediately noticing that his truck wasn’t there. What if he’s gone? Or worse yet, has a woman in the house with him?
Shit.
I hadn’t thought this through at all. It would be hard to explain to some random woman why I’d showed up at the butt crack of dawn. I pulled my phone out of my bag and sent Hunter a text. If I found out he wasn’t alone, I could just leave and no one would be the wiser.
Me: You up?
The dots appeared and then disappeared. Then they came back. I took another sip of my coffee as I watched those dots reappear. Finally, he responded.
Hunter: It’s my day off.
Jerk. He was going to make this tough on me. I smiled in response to the familiar tingles that hit me when he replied.
Me: So the answer to my question is yes. Thanks!
Hunter: Was there something you needed?
Me: Where are you?
Please don’t be in bed with someone. Please. Please. Please.
Hunter: At my ranch. Why?
Me: No reason.
Hunter: Kendall, what is going on?
Me: Can I not just be curious where you’re at and what you’re doing?
Hunter: I’m eating a bagel.
Me: Anything else? You alone?
Way to be subtle.
Hunter: Are you drunk?
I scoffed at the text.
Me: It’s seven in the morning! No, I’m not drunk. Maybe a little overcaffeinated. But certainly not drunk.
Hunter: Are you high?
Me: NO! I have never done recreational drugs nor do I ever plan to do them. Are you avoiding my questions?
Maybe he was with someone.
Hunter: You want to know if I’m with someone?
Me: Yes. Why are you being difficult?
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Hunter: I’m not being difficult.
Me: You are being very difficult.
Hunter: Welcome to my life.
Me: What does that mean?
Hunter: You’re in my driveway, texting me, and being weird. Look up difficult in the dictionary. It’ll have your picture beside it.
I gasped and looked up at the house. Hunter was standing on the front porch, looking at me. Unsure what to do, I ducked down to hide. Good grief. I’d lost my mind.
Me: Maybe you’re delusional.
The dots appeared and then disappeared. They didn’t return. Where are the damn dots? Has Hunter had enough and gone back inside? I peeked up over the steering wheel to find Hunter staring at me from two feet away.
I yelped in surprised, and he jumped.
Through the window, I yelled. “You scared me. That’s not nice.”
He tilted his head without responding and just stared at me. I saw that familiar glint in his eyes.
I asked, “So what are you doing?”
“The better question is: what are you doing at my ranch at seven in the morning?”
His voice was muffled since we were still speaking through the window. “Umm... well... I figured I would let you know I was back in town?”
Why did that come out like a question? This had gone so wrong. Terribly wrong. I sighed and got out of the car.
Hunter stared at me with those dark, stormy eyes. I wanted to run into his arms, but I stayed put. The silence was killing me.
“I—”
“Why—”
We both started at the same time. I motioned to him. “You first.”
“Why are you here? No games, Kendall.”
That was fair. I wasn’t one to play games, but this was hard. It was time to put my big-girl panties on. “I wanted to apologize for what I did.”
“And what was that?”
“I left.” When Hunter raised an eyebrow, I added, “Actually, I ran.”
Hunter dragged a hand down his face. “We were just scratching an itch, Kendall.”
The words hurt more than they should have, and I dropped my head and took a step back. I started to pace, beyond nervous at that point. “Yes... yes... that was what I said. I... uh... it was an itch. And the uh... it’s been scratched. Totally scratched.”
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