Hunter

by Melody Anne

  “What is all of this?” she asked.

  “I don’t exactly know. There are some documents that might help us follow the map, and the poem has clues in it as well, though I have no idea what my dad was thinking,” he told her.

  “Did he treasure hunt?” she asked.

  “Not that I know of. He liked adventure, that’s for sure,” he said with a chuckle. “I always liked that about the old man.”

  “Sometimes a sense of adventure can be hard on a family,” she pointed out.

  “Look, I don’t have some sob story about my family. We grew up, parted ways and each of us went on with our lives, but we’re happy. We talk once in a while and we do our own thing,” he said, instantly defensive.

  “I wasn’t trying to imply there was anything wrong with your family,” she told him with a frown.

  “I just find this situation ridiculous. I have things to do,” he said.

  “Like what?” She looked up at him, curiosity in her eyes.

  “What do you mean?” he asked hesitantly.

  “What do you have to do that’s more important than your father’s last wishes?” she pushed.

  Hunter’s chair scraped back as he stood up from the table and moved to the fridge. He was restless, and it was showing. He didn’t like to be stuck in one place for too long and this quest made him feel trapped. There was no way the uptight professor could even begin to understand that.

  “I take pictures,” he said. She raised a brow. “I document events — war, natural disasters, poverty, things that most people don’t see unless they open a magazine.”

  “Your father’s wishes are certainly important, but I can see why you want to get back to your job. It’s actually pretty awesome,” she said. The awe in her tone made his chest puff out the slightest bit.

  “Yeah, I like what I do,” he admitted.

  “So just look at this like it’s one more adventure. You can document it with your camera. I don’t think the treasure hunt is going to be easy or the puzzle solved in a day, so you might as well quit fighting it and start looking at the good in the situation.”

  He drank a long swallow of his beer before he smiled at her. Hunter remembered how upbeat she’d been that summer ten years before, and though her unfortunate clothing was a lot different now, it seemed there was still a sense of adventure residing deep inside her. Maybe the treasure would be in bringing that out in her. But that would just be for him. His father didn’t know of his relationship with Becka. How the old man had gotten her name, he might never know.

  “I can’t seem to find any clues in the poem,” she told him, bringing him out of his thoughts.

  “Read it out loud and we’ll go from there,” he suggested.

  She grabbed the paper and the light of excitement in her eyes was enough to make his heart beat just a little bit faster. He might be complaining about the treasure hunt, but at the same time he wasn’t too upset over doing it with her. Becka began the poem and he was mesmerized.

  The thing you seek is neither near nor far,

  But to find it, you will have to search

  Places both new and old

  “What does that mean?” he asked.

  “Let me finish without interruption,” she scolded, which made him smile. He zipped his lips closed.

  There’s more to life than what money can buy,

  And wisdom comes from up high.

  Trust me to guide you in the right direction

  Then a treasure untold will be your blessing.

  This place I’ve found is not hidden,

  But trails and peaks are a given.

  Remember your roots so you might find

  A heart that is full of peace of mind.

  Ending where it all began is a must,

  But beginning where it ended might be your first stand.

  Go to where you felt the most peace

  And then you will find what the earth can’t keep.

  There might be fire,

  And there might be water,

  But trails to follow are surely shallow.

  But be careful of the perils along the way,

  For this journey isn’t for the weak of heart,

  Not for the faint of mind.

  Ask for help, don’t be afraid

  And in the end you will surely find

  A peaceful heart and a blessed mind.

  I am always with you,

  My love never ending,

  Come back home son

  To the beginning.

  Hunter was quiet as Becka finished the poem, then looked at him as if he had any answers at all as to what it meant. Go back to the beginning? The beginning of what?

  “I really don’t know,” he finally said.

  “Is there a special place around here that might trigger a memory?” she asked.

  Most of the special places Hunter could think of at the ranch were connected to Becka, but again, that wasn’t something his father would have known anything about. He was lost. Maybe it had to do with places he’d been with his brothers. It might not have anything at all to do with Becka. He was confused.

  “Let’s pull the rest of the items out and maybe then I will get a clue,” he told her.

  They did just that and over the next few hours, the pair studied the map, the poem, and some miscellaneous documents his father had thrown together. None of it made much sense. But one place was coming to mind as he searched through it all.

  “I think it’s this ghost town we once visited,” he suggested. “We can go tomorrow.”

  He didn’t want to go there — not with Becka — not without the surety of them going back in time and letting it all go. Hunter wasn’t sure of anything at the moment, especially her surrender to him.

  “Tomorrow won’t work for me. I have classes all day. We can go the day after.”

  He didn’t want to let her leave, and that made no sense to him. But he would do what had to be done. That was his father’s wish.

  “Okay, then we will get started then,” he finally said. There wasn’t much of a choice beyond that.

  “We’ll go the day after tomorrow then,” she said after a long pause. “But this might be nothing more than a wild goose chase.”

  He looked at her for a long moment, wondering if that’s exactly what it was. It didn’t matter because it wasn’t something he could turn away from.

  “I know.”

  Hunter found himself unable to do much more talking after that. Even after Becka left and he was alone with his thoughts, he wasn’t sure of what he was going to do. He did know he would try to finish this hunt though, even if there wasn’t a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

  Chapter Six

  Rebekah told herself that she just had to continue breathing in and out. If she took this project one day at a time instead of looking at it as one long adventure, then she was going to do much better.

  Even telling herself all of this didn’t truly help though. Being in the same room with Hunter Brannigan for long periods of time was messing with her head and heart in a way she hadn’t known was still possible. And she didn’t like it one little bit. She’d barely been able to concentrate during her classes and somehow she found herself wandering, missing Hunter already. It was ridiculous.

  Exhaustion filled her as she strolled into an old restaurant she’d once ate at with Hunter. Being with Hunter the day before hadn’t been easy on her emotions. But as she looked up and found an old friend standing at the hostess station, she found a smile lifting her lips.

  “Aimee, is that you?” Rebekah asked, making the woman look up.

  “Becka?” She looked confused for a moment, then she let out a squeal and ran toward Rebekah. “It’s been so long.”

  Aimee threw her arms around Rebekah and the two women h
ugged, ignoring the people waiting nearby with curious looks on their faces.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t been back to see me,” Aimee said with a pout as she pulled back.

  “I’m sorry. I sort of ran from here,” Rebekah admitted.

  “I know you did, but I’ve missed you,” Aimee told her. “And do you realize where you’re standing?”

  That confused Rebekah. “In the Surf and Sip restaurant?” she told her. “The name has changed, but we ate here often that summer ten years ago.”

  “That’s because it’s now my place,” Aimee told her.

  “You own it?”

  “Yep, for three years now. And it’s doing amazing. It’s fate that you’re back here,” Aimee said.

  “I feel like such a terrible person that I didn’t stay in contact,” Rebekah said, feeling shame.

  “I could hold it over your head, but as long as you promise not to disappear on me again, then I might think about forgiving you,” Aimee said.

  “Can you join me for dinner and we’ll catch up?” Rebekah asked.

  “Yes! I’ll get you a table and finish up what I’m doing. Give me about thirty minutes,” Aimee told her before leading her inside the main room.

  “It’s beautiful in here,” Rebekah told her.

  “Thank you. I’m a little proud.” She then turned toward the hovering waiter. “We have a special guest tonight. Give her anything she wants.”

  “Don’t be intimidated by her. I’m low maintenance,” Rebekah assured the man.

  “Wine?” Aimee asked, and the waiter handed over a menu.

  “If I remember correctly, the lady enjoys a nice glass of Dom Perignon,” a deep male voice said from behind them, making a shiver run down Rebekah’s spine. Slowly, she turned and found her gaze locked with a seemingly amused Hunter. “She likes to bathe in it too, if I remember correctly,” he added, making Rebekah want to climb beneath the table as images of Hunter pouring champagne over her breasts flashed before her eyes.

  Hunter had brought out the champagne and they’d sipped it and poured it on each other a lot that summer. It had been her first taste of alcohol and she had very much enjoyed the sparkly drink that had left her slightly light-headed.

  “Of course, Mr. Brannigan,” the waiter said, keeping a professional mask in place before he turned to go and get the expensive champagne.

  “I don’t need that,” Rebekah tried to call out, but it was too late.

  “Live a little,” Aimee said with a smile as she turned her head to look back and forth between her and Hunter. The restaurant might as well have been empty as alone as she suddenly felt with the man she’d been running from.

  “Are you making my help run for you?” Aimee said before she leaned in and gave Hunter a side hug. “You haven’t been here in so long I was beginning to get my feelings hurt.”

  “I was here three days ago,” Hunter told her.

  “Yeah, but you’ll disappear again soon,” she pointed out.

  Rebekah watched their easy banter and felt a slight stirring of jealousy. Not of Aimee, but of how easy it was for the two of them to speak together. Of course, they hadn’t been lovers, not that Rebekah was aware of.

  “But for now, I’m craving pasta,” he told her.

  “Mmm, go with the pasta primavera. The cook made a special sauce that’s amazing,” Aimee suggested.

  “As long as you hurry back to join me,” Rebekah said, a bit of desperation in her tone. She was now avoiding looking into Hunter’s eyes.

  “I will hurry back, but I’m sure Hunter will be more than happy to keep you company in the meantime,” Aimee said.

  Rebekah wanted to call the woman a traitor, but since she hadn’t bothered to come back and see the girl who had once been a great friend, she knew she had no right to talk. Aimee turned and left, leaving her standing there with Hunter. She didn’t even want to sit. She was trying to decide if she should turn and walk away. Feeling awkward, Rebekah finally did sit, and Hunter smiled before taking the seat across from her.

  “That summer so long ago, you and Aimee were pretty close,” Hunter pointed out.

  “Yes, we were. She was a great friend.” She sighed. “You don’t need to sit here and eat with me. I’m fine with being alone,” she added.

  “I want to sit here with you.” The smile he gave her was enough to make her fall to her butt, if she weren’t already on it. The waiter returned with the bottle of Dom and Hunter took it from him. “I’ll pour.” The man left and he filled both their glasses.

  “Thank you,” she murmured, picking up the glass and taking a big gulp.

  “I have a suggestion,” he told her with a wink. “Why don’t we play a little game?”

  The champagne flavor was perfection, but it took her back to that cabin in the woods on his property, to how he’d poured it over her stomach before he’d ran his tongue along the curve of her hip and up and over her breasts. Her breathing weakened as she tried pulling herself back into the present.

  “What are you talking about?” she asked, hating the slight huskiness in her voice.

  “If we’re going to solve this puzzle, we’re going to have to spend time together. Let’s see if we can get through a single meal,” he said.

  “That’s a game?” she asked.

  “Life is a game,” he told her with a smile before he sipped again while his eyes trailed down to the V of her neck. That made her breathing deepen a bit more.

  “I don’t believe that,” she said sadly.

  That summer so long ago had been about fun and games. But she’d left that summer and chosen to be responsible, to do what she had to do. Her life was no longer about playing. It was about being an adult.

  “So you aren’t willing to bend at all?” he asked, challenge in his eyes.

  That made her hackles rise. He was challenging her, and it wasn’t easy for her to walk away from a challenge.

  “I can sit here and behave,” she told him, lifting her glass only to realize it was empty. She’d polished that off way too quickly. Still, she didn’t complain when Hunter reached out and refilled the glass. Maybe it would take the edge off.

  “To mutual understanding,” Hunter said as he lifted his glass. She only hesitated a moment before she clinked hers against his, almost feeling as if she were making a deal with the devil.

  Hunter leaned a bit closer to her and Rebekah felt that urge to run again, but at the same time she wasn’t sure if she wanted to run to him or away from him. It was killing her not knowing what to do.

  “I forgot to mention right away how much I like that dress you’re wearing,” he said, his eyes caressing every inch of skin that showed above the table. “I wouldn’t mind peeling it away inch by beautiful inch.”

  Rebekah coughed as her drink went down wrong. Hunter wasn’t playing nice at all. That sultry edge to his voice made her feel like there was no one else in the room but the two of them, and it made her thighs quiver. He’d done that to her when she was young, but her innocence had been an excuse then.

  She wasn’t that innocent little girl anymore. She should be able to tell him to stop acting like a fool, then stand up and walk out of the room — preferably after throwing her champagne in his face. But her legs wouldn’t carry her anywhere at this particular moment, unless it was straight into his arms.

  Hunter was a skilled man in more ways than one. And he was melting her. She would be damned before she told him any of that. The waiter returned, saving Rebekah from having to respond to him.

  “Have you decided what you would like to eat?” the man asked as he held his tablet.

  Rebekah couldn’t open her mouth to speak. Hunter stepped in for both of them. For once she was a bit thankful.

  “We’re both going to have the pasta primavera and salads with house dressing. Stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer, an
d the house-made bread, please.”

  The waiter left quickly and Rebekah found her gaze captured by Hunter’s once more. She wasn’t this meek little woman and she hated that she felt that way.

  “So you obviously stayed in contact with Aimee over the years,” Rebekah finally said. If she could keep the conversation off the two of them then her life would be a lot easier.

  “I haven’t been to town much, but we’ve kept in contact with email. She’s a fan of my work and has a beautiful little girl.”

  “She has a daughter?” Now Rebekah felt terrible.

  “A picturesque girl. I met her the other day and she was all smiles.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Rebekah said, meaning it.

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind a few like her, but that would require me staying in one place for longer than a couple weeks,” he told her with a laugh.

  His words shocked her. Rebekah didn’t know how to respond. She decided it was nothing more than words.

  “You’ve always been too adventurous to settle down and have kids,” she said.

  Rebekah felt herself having a difficult time thinking when he gazed at her with that soulful look in his eyes. She knew he wasn’t thinking of having those children with her, but the seed had been planted and she desperately wanted to uproot it.

  “I do love adventure,” he admitted. “Which is why we’re going to have fun on this treasure hunt. I think you want some thrills of your own. You are trying to hide it, but the more I look into your eyes, the more I see how much you want it.”

  “Maybe I do want to do something I haven’t done before,” she said almost defiantly. “That doesn’t mean I don’t love what I do, or my day-to-day life.”

  “So you’ve come to me for adventure?”

  “You came to me,” she pointed out.

  “But you chose to stay,” he said with such intensity she felt glued to her seat.