by Deanna Chase
She hadn’t said another word to him as she cooked up a potion in the kitchen. When it was done, she downed it and disappeared into the bedroom with his uncle. They didn’t emerge for three days. There’d been no food. No comfort. No answers.
He’d been nine years old, orphaned, and his new guardians were drug addicts. For nine years he watched them try to get clean, relapse, and try to get clean again. There were moments of comfort along the way, when Gia was soft-spoken and loving. She’d taught him to cook, helped him with homework, and welcomed Craig as part of the family. Then they’d be back on the potion, claiming they needed it to get well again. During those phases, he’d spent most of his time at Craig’s house. When he was home, he was left to deal with creditors, dealers, and the underbelly of society while his uncle and Gia passed time in oblivion.
“I don’t know what to say to any of that, Gia. It’s not like I didn’t give you a chance,” he said.
“Right. A chance,” she said flatly.
He didn’t challenge her. He’d been the grieving kid who needed adults to make him feel safe, but he’d never felt that, not even when they were trying to get clean. “So that’s what you’re hoping to get out of Faith?”
Her sharp bright eyes met his. “I’m not evil, Hunter.”
“I never said you were.”
“Yes, you did. You just didn’t say it out loud.” She put the cigarette to her lips, still unlit, and simulated taking a drag. “I’m going to go see my daughters. It’s part of my recovery. I’d appreciate it if you’d just butt out.”
“I don’t think I can,” he said. “Faith and I are… involved.”
She narrowed her eyes and glared at him in the way only a fiercely protective mother could. “You have responsibilities to that woman, Hunter. You can’t just abandon her and that child for Faith.”
It galled him that Gia knew anything about his situation with Vivian and Zoey. If it were up to him, they’d have been left in the dark. But after’s Craig’s accident, Mason and Gia had jumped in the Bronco out front and driven all the way to Vegas to say their goodbyes. Mason had been friends with Craig’s dad before his death, and he’d felt it was his duty to pay his respects. While they were there, Vivian told them her plans of moving up to Keating Hollow with Hunter, and it was obvious they’d gotten the wrong impression.
He wanted to turn around and storm out. Every instinct told him it was time to leave. But he couldn’t. There were still things to say. “My relationship with Vivian is none of your concern. I’m here because Faith needs to know the truth, and I want to make sure it comes from you.”
“Does she know I raised you?” Gia asked.
He snorted his derision. Raised him? She was delusional. He’d all but raised himself. If anyone deserved the credit, it was Craig’s mother, though she’d passed on when he was just fifteen. “No. I just found out tonight you are her mother. We haven’t talked yet. Are you going to tell her, or am I?”
“I’ll tell her,” she said. “My daughters deserve to hear the truth from me.”
He was momentarily speechless. Gia had never been one to take responsibility, instead preferring to blame everything on her ‘migraines’ or Mason or Hunter. Or anyone else within spitting distance for that matter. “When are you going to see her?”
“Sunday afternoon.” Her voice trembled a little, and it was hard to not feel at least a small amount of pity for her.
He had his date with Faith on Saturday. He wasn’t sure how he was going to get through the night without telling her he knew her mother, knew her better than Faith did. But he was willing to let Gia do this on her own terms, just as long as she was honest. “If you don’t tell her everything on Sunday, I will. Like I said, we’re… friends, and I won’t keep anything from her.”
She closed her eyes and nodded.
“Good.” He started for the door, but before he strode out, he turned back around and said, “I don’t appreciate being used, Gia. Make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“What?” she asked as her head jerked up.
“Don’t think I don’t remember you asking me all those questions about Faith and her family. You should have told me then who you were. I’d have given you their numbers if you had.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” she said with utter confidence. “You care about her too much.”
“You have no idea how I feel about her.”
“No?” Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. “I think I do, otherwise you wouldn’t have driven all the way up here and landed on my doorstep at ten at night. You’re half in love with her already.”
He started to deny it but just clamped his mouth shut and left without saying a word. She was right. He was half in love with her and had been since before he’d left town that summer. He just hoped that whatever it was that was blooming between them would survive the storm that Gia was certain to bring when she blew into town.
Chapter 15
Faith changed her clothes five times before she settled on a red sweater, black wool skirt, and knee-high lace-up boots. She spent extra time fixing her makeup and curling her hair, and still she was ready thirty minutes before Hunter was supposed to arrive.
She pressed a hand to her stomach, trying to calm her nerves, and headed into her kitchen to pour a glass of wine. Her phone buzzed with a text message, and she frowned, hoping that wasn’t Hunter texting to cancel. She grabbed the phone and let out a sigh of relief. It was Brian.
Sorry it didn’t work out yesterday. Maybe we can reschedule for some time this week.
Guilt washed over her, and she felt terrible. She’d tried to call him twice to cancel but kept missing him, and on the third try she’d finally left a message letting him know she couldn’t make it. She just couldn’t lead him on knowing that she really wanted to be with Hunter. Now though, she felt she owed him an explanation.
She texted back, Coffee Tuesday after work?
Make it dinner. I’ll pick you up at 6.
She stared at the phone and shook her head. It looked like he was going to get that date after all. Not knowing how to get out of it without creating drama, she texted back, 6 it is. Besides, she liked Brian, and there was nothing wrong with having dinner with a friend. She just needed to make sure he knew that upfront.
Her wineglass was half empty when her doorbell rang. Her insides turned to mush as she practically skipped to the door. When she opened it, she found Hunter leaning against the railing of her porch, a single red rose in his hand. She stepped outside and smiled up at him.
“You look… incredible,” he said, slipping one arm around her waist and pulling her to him.
“So do you.” She leaned in and kissed him, his pure male scent engulfing her.
“That was one hell of a hello,” he said, his eyes glinting in the porch light.
“It’s not every day a handsome man brings me a rose.” She took the flower from him, grabbed him by the hand, and led him into her house. After placing the rose in a slim vase, she turned and tilted her head at him. “Wine? Or should we head for the restaurant?”
He glanced at the bottle on the counter and then back at her with a wistful expression on his face. “As much as I’d love to stay here and have you all to myself, I think we should probably head to the Cozy Cave.” He pressed his hand to her cheek, stared into her eyes, and in a low, gravelly voice said, “Otherwise you’re going to go to bed hungry.”
His tone of voice made her skin tingly, and she was tempted to say the hell with dinner. Instead she gave him a wicked little grin and said, “I doubt that, but it would be a shame to miss out on the crab-stuffed trout the chef added to the specials menu.”
“You already know the specials?” he asked with a chuckle.
She shrugged as she took him by the hand and led him to the door. “Katie, the chef, came into the spa for a massage this morning. I got the inside scoop.”
Hunter pressed his hand to the small of Faith’s back as they walked out to his truck. It was a sma
ll thing, but his touch and his attention as he opened her door for her made her feel special, as if she really mattered. And when he climbed into the truck after her, it was the most natural thing in the world when he grabbed her hand and held it all the way until they parked in front of the Cozy Cave.
Although it was obvious to Faith that their mutual attraction was off the charts, their dinner conversation turned out to be surprisingly easy too. Hunter amused her with stories about the client who had a pet blowup dinosaur and would move it around his house on a daily basis. He’d found it sitting on the toilet, lounging in the pool, once even poking out of the fireplace wearing a Santa hat. She spoke of her sisters and their new obsession with golf cart races, and she had him doubling over with laughter when she described how Xena, the eight-pound shih tzu had managed to destroy three power cords, half a dozen shoes, four dog beds, and Faith’s favorite sweater.
“I swear, she’s the devil dog. I’ve taken her to every puppy training class within fifty miles, and she’s failed every one of them,” Faith said, throwing her hands up in defeat.
“But you love her,” Hunter said knowingly.
She sighed. “Definitely. When she isn’t destroying everything in my house she is the cutest little thing ever. And a great snuggler.”
“You’re the cutest thing ever,” he said, grinning.
She leaned one elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. “Go on.”
He laughed, and when the waiter arrived he ordered coffee and the flourless chocolate cake.
“I’ll have the same,” Faith said.
He raised both eyebrows. “I’m impressed. You don’t share dessert.”
“Nope. After growing up with three sisters, a girl learns to get her own.” She winked and took another sip of wine. “Did you have any siblings?”
“No. Just me.”
When he didn’t offer any more information about his childhood, she turned serious. “You said before you lost both of your parents when you were young. Do you mind if I ask where you ended up? With your grandparents?”
Hunter picked up the bottle of wine they’d ordered and filled both of their glasses. After taking a couple of swigs, he said, “No. I went to live with my uncle and his girlfriend.” He paused and glanced away before he added, “They weren’t the best caregivers.”
Faith’s heart ached for the little boy who’d not only lost his parents, but then was thrust into a less-than-nurturing environment. “I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about this if you don’t want to.”
“I don’t,” he said, frowning. “But it’s probably better that you know my background and what you’re getting into before we get too far.”
“You want me to know what I’m in for?” she asked.
“Yeah, something like that. Are you up for it?”
She met his troubled gaze, nodded, and gave him an encouraging smile. “Yes. You already know mine, I should know yours.”
“Okay.” He reached out and curled his fingers around hers. “From what I remember, I had model parents. They were loving and signed me up for all kinds of things from soccer to guitar lessons. They were mad for each other and their only son.”
“You play the guitar?” she asked. “That’s really sexy, you know that, right?”
He chuckled. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I haven’t touched one since my ninth birthday.”
“Damn, and here I was already planning on being the president of your fan club,” she teased.
“There’s still an opening,” he said with a glint in his eye.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
He turned serious again and squeezed her fingers. “When I went to live with Mason and Gia everything changed. I’ll spare you the details, but they weren’t good guardians. Both of them were addicts.”
Faith sucked in a sharp breath, and her eyes widened. “You grew up with addicts?”
Nodding, he said, “It was pretty ugly, Faith, but at least I had Craig and his family.”
“Your friend that just passed away?” she asked, trying to make sure she was keeping up.
“Yeah. He was my best friend. We did everything together, and I spent a lot of time over at his house. His mom was an angel and without her… well, I probably wouldn’t have made it. But I did, and I moved out of my uncle’s house the day I turned eighteen.”
“Gods, Hunter. I’m so sorry. That just makes me want to wrap my arms around your younger self and keep him safe.”
“You can still wrap your arms around me,” he offered.
She laughed. “I bet.”
The waiter arrived with their coffees and flourless cakes. Faith took two bites, closed her eyes, and moaned in pleasure.
“Keep that up, and I’m going to drag you out of here in two seconds flat,” he warned.
“You wouldn’t dare.” She made a show of taking another bite of her cake while arranging her expression into one of pure ecstasy.
“Faith,” he breathed.
She giggled.
“You’re gorgeous, you know that?” he asked.
“So are you.” Faith forked another bite of chocolate and added, “So is Vivian.”
He put his fork down and leaned forward, his expression serious again. “I already told you there’s nothing going on there. Do you believe me?”
She nodded. “Sure. But I also think she wants there to be more, and that makes me a little nervous since she lives with you and all.”
“You’re right, she does,” he said, surprising her once again with his honesty about the situation. “I already told you Craig was my best friend since childhood. We were more like brothers. You have sisters, so I’m guessing you understand when I say I’d do anything for my brother, including taking care of his wife and daughter.”
“What does that mean exactly, ‘taking care of his wife and daughter?’”
Hunter drained the rest of his coffee and said, “You already know Zoey is my goddaughter.”
“You mentioned it.”
“I plan to do my best to fill Craig’s shoes for the rest of her life.”
“And Vivian?” Faith asked, already aware that she wanted more than Hunter was willing to give. “What happens when she doesn’t get what she wants?”
Hunter grimaced. “Vivian will do what she’s going to do. She thinks she wants me to step in for Craig where she’s concerned. Be her instant husband and father to Zoey. I’m more than willing when it comes to Zoey, but when it comes to me and her, I think it’s just her grief talking. She’ll get over that soon enough.”
“That must be awkward considering you’re sharing a house,” Faith said, uneasy with the situation on everyone’s behalf.
He stared her straight in the eye as he said, “I’m one hundred percent not interested in her. Is it going to be a problem between us if Vivian keeps hanging onto hope that I’ll come around eventually?”
Faith’s fingers tightened around her fork. It did bother her that another woman had her sights on him. But he’d done nothing to indicate she couldn’t trust him, and her gut was telling her he was speaking his truth. “I won’t lie, Hunter. It does bother me. She lives under your roof and now she’s working with me. It’s messy.”
“Too messy for us to move forward?” he asked.
She waited a beat and then slowly shook her head. Nothing was going to keep her from pursuing whatever was going on between them. “No. It’s not. Just don’t disappoint me.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” He lifted one of her hands and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. “Are you ready to get out of here?”
“Yes. But just one last thing.” Grinning, she reached for his plate and shoveled the last of his cake in her mouth.
Chapter 16
Faith couldn’t help the silly grin on her face as she walked into her father’s house the next morning. Her date with Hunter had been perfect. They’d spilled their secrets, laughed, and made out like rock stars. It had been a close call, but in the end, she hadn’t invit
ed him to stay the night. She’d wanted to. Damn, did the gods know she wanted to. But this relationship was intense, and she was afraid if they moved too fast they’d be destined to flame out in spectacular fashion.
Hunter had been just as reluctant to leave as she was to send him home. But he’d kissed her thoroughly, promised to call her the following night, and then left her with Xena at her feet, chewing on the laces of her boots.
“Dad!” Faith called, wandering through his house. “Where are you?”
She heard a faint sound coming from the master bedroom and assumed he was on his way out. The teapot on the stove started to whistle, and Faith moved into the kitchen to fix them both a cup of tea. Five minutes later, when her dad still hadn’t shown his face, Faith took both of the tea mugs and moved to stand next to her father’s partially open door.
“Dad? Your tea’s ready.”
“Faith?” His voice was faint and a little weak.
“Are you okay?”
“No,” he said with a moan.
Faith didn’t hesitate. She swept into the room and glanced around, her eyes frantically searching for him. “Dad, where are you?”
She thought she heard a grunt and checked the master bathroom. He was nowhere to be found. “Dad!”
“Faith.” This time she caught where the sound was coming from and ran over to the other side of the bed, finding her father sprawled on the floor, his foot at an odd angle. The same foot he’d injured just about a year ago.
“Dad! Oh no, what happened?” She set the mugs on the nightstand and crouched down beside him.
“I think I fainted,” he said, staring up at her, his face so white he almost looked gray.
“Holy broomsticks,” she muttered and reached down to grab his arms, trying to help him sit up. But the moment her hands touched his skin, she jerked them back as if she’d been burned. Tears flooded her eyes, and without saying anything to her father, she dialed 911.
The dispatcher answered on the first ring. “911, what’s your emergency?”