Chapter Fifteen
Lucy
The sun is starting to creep up in the sky when I make it home. I sneak through the house feeling a mix of exhilaration and shame. In the moment, sleeping with Hunter was magical. I felt like the girl I was before Colton. The girl I thought was long gone. But then I woke up, the high was gone, and the realization that I had just broken the promise I made hit me like a ton of bricks. So, I bolted while Hunter still slept.
I slip off my shoes and slide under the covers next to Lucky, who is snoring away in my bed. My head hits the pillow and the guilt hits me. What the fuck was I thinking? I can’t even blame the wine, because I was barely feeling tipsy. It has been so long since anyone has made me feel the way Hunter did last night. For the first time in years I felt alive, but that is no excuse for what I did. I don’t know how I am ever going to be able to look Brooke in the eye again.
Just as my eyes close, I hear Lucky sniffing the air. Oh fuck, I was hoping I would be able to get a little sleep before I got the I told you so talk. “I smell sex.” She sniffs the air again and I roll my eyes. “Someone in this house had sex last night. It sure as hell wasn’t Bailey, and unless Ryder snuck by after his shift,” she pauses and lifts up the blanket, “my clothes are on, so it wasn’t me.” She rolls over to face me, and there is a huge shit-eating grin on her face and a twinkle of “I was right” glimmers in her eyes.
“It wasn’t me,” I lie. “I just fell asleep on Hunter’s couch.” Another lie.
“Bullshit,” she calls me out. “The sex glow coming off of you is giving me a tan. You fucked Hunter and don’t even try to lie because I can smell him all over you.” Damn bitch has a nose like a drug dog.
“Yes, we had sex,” I admit and grab the pillow from under my head and cover my face. “We had lots and lots of dirty nasty sex,” I say confessing my truth.
“That’s my favorite kind of sex. Hunter looks like the kind of guy that likes it dirty. I’m so glad nasty Lucy came out to play and finally got some.” She shakes me excitedly.
I pull the pillow away from my face and prop up on my elbow. “There is nothing about this situation that should be celebrated.” I huff and fall back down on the bed. “I promised Brooke that I wouldn’t get involved with her brother, and I blew up that promise, because I am a weak, sex crazed animal. Awwww, I freaking hate myself.”
“Slow your roll there crazy lady. Let’s take Brooke out of the equation. If you had met Hunter in a different scenario and he wasn’t Brooke’s brother and you slept with him, would you still be feeling this way?” she asks.
I don’t even have to think about it. “No, I wouldn’t. I would still be in his bed right now wrapped in his arms and feeling high on life. Last night I felt like my old self. I didn’t think that was even possible. He called me his and, God help me, that made me feel so good.”
“That doesn’t sound like the man that Brooke described. Sounds like to me he has done some changing. It’s been my experience that a womanizing man whore never calls any of his conquests his, and he sure as hell doesn’t take the time to get to know her kid. Believe me, I am an expert in this area. Something has made him want to change and obviously it’s you. I think if you both talk to Brooke and she sees how crazy you two are for each other, I think she will be happy for you.” A lot of what she is saying is true. From what Brooke has told me, Hunter’s one nighters have been just that, one night. He’s never made any effort in getting to know any of the women he has slept with in the past. I just don’t know if that would make any difference in Brooke’s eyes.
“What if she doesn’t care if her brother has changed and we are happy together?” I ask.
“That doesn’t sound like the Brooke I know. Brooke has a big heart, this is another area I am an expert in. She forgave me for all the shit I pulled when I left with Jackson. All Brooke wants for any of us is to be happy, and if Hunter makes you happy, and I already you make him happy, because he looks at you like a love sick puppy, Brooke is going to be grateful that you and Hunter found each other.” She snuggles up next to me and drapes her arm over me.
“I just don’t know.” I sigh.
“Don’t let this chance at happiness slip through your fingers because you are afraid of what Brooke will think. You will regret it, and eventually you will resent Brooke for it.”
“Why does this have to be so complicated?” I say with a heavy sigh.
“Maybe if you weren’t such a people pleaser, you wouldn’t be having this dilemma. You’d be in Hunter’s bed right now while he goes to town on you, instead you are in bed with me, all I can offer you are cuddles with some mild boob groping.” She shifts closer to my side and rests her chin on my shoulder and says. “Just talk to Brooke, she might surprise you.”
****
Just talk to Brooke, it sounds easy enough. “Hey Brooke, remember how you told me to keep my distance from your brother, so about that, I may have ignored that piece of advice and slept with him, repeatedly. He gave me so many orgasms I blacked out. And to top it all off, I let him take naked pictures of me.” Yeah, I’m sure she will be totally cool with that. Just talk to Brooke, thanks for the advice Lucky.
“Hey boss lady.” Connie’s voice pulls me out of my trance. “Are you okay, you seem out of it today,” she asks, plopping down on the stool next to me behind the coffee bar.
“I’m fine, I didn’t sleep very well last night.” Because I was up all night ruining my life. I keep that part to myself. Lucky offered to take Bailey to school for me, so I could get some sleep, but my head was too busy spinning like an out of control top for me to get any sleep. Plus, I knew my house would be the first place Hunter would go when he wakes up to find me missing. I can’t face him right now, at least not until I figure out what I’m going to say to Brooke.
“Why don’t you go home and get some sleep. I can take care of things around here,” she offers.
“No, it’s…” I pause when I see a familiar figure appear through the door out of the corner of my eye. I’m a fucking idiot, of course the coffee shop would be the next place he would go. Both Connie and I’s heads turn toward the door and there is Hunter looking delicious as hell in a muscle hugging white t-shirt and dark jeans. The scruff along his jaw makes my thighs pinch together. I want to feel the burn of that scruff over every inch of my body. Stop it Lucy, thinking like that is what got you in this mess.
“There’s my girl.” He smiles and strides over to the coffee bar.
Connie’s head slowly turns in my direction, her eyes wide as dinner plates, and her mouth gaping open in shock. “His what?” She mouths. I’m too focused on the man walking toward me to care.
“Good morning, Connie,” he says, keeping his eyes locked on me. Connie stumbles out a good morning back.
“Good morning, beautiful girl.” Hunter leans over the counter and captures my lips in a warm sweet kiss.
“I think I have some inventory to do.” Connie carefully gets down from her stool and slowly hobbles back to the storage room.
“I missed you this morning,” he says then kisses me again.
“Hunter, we have to talk,” I interrupt his kissing before he pulls me under his spell again.
“That doesn’t sound good.” He rises back up with a worried look on his face.
“Last night was a mistake.” My heart aches as the words come out of my mouth.
Hunter steps around the counter and turns me around on my stool so we are face to face. “Last night was not a mistake. The only mistake was me not tying you to the bed, so you couldn’t leave and overthink what happened.” He cups my cheek in his hand. “You can’t tell me that last night didn’t feel right.”
“It was perfect,” I admit. My eyes shift down to the floor. “But.”
“Don’t even say Brooke’s name,” he interrupts, already knowing what I am about to say. “My sister doesn’t have the right to tell either one of us who we can be with. The only opinion that matters to me is yours.” I start to open my mouth to protest, but he stops me with his lips.
I pull away. “Her opinion might not matter to you, but it matters to me. She’s my best friend and I don’t want to hurt her, and she is the only family you have. I won’t let you throw that away because of me. It would be better for all of us if we just pretend last night never happened.” My heart is shattering inside my chest.
Hunter takes my face in both his hands. “You don’t get to make me fall for you then leave me. You are my girl, Lucy Bishop, and I am not letting you push me away. If it’s Brooke’s blessing you want, then I’m going to go and get it.” He kisses me again, then turns and heads for the door.
“Hunter, please don’t do this,” I call after him, but he’s already out the door. Nothing good is going to come from this.