Chapter Seventeen
Lucy
Waiting, I’m not good at waiting. You would think being a military wife I would be used to it, but no. Waiting for Colton to come home from a tour was torture. This takes the cake. It’s been a couple of hours since Hunter left to tell Brooke about us. I thought serving coffee would help keep me distracted, but after scalding myself for the third time, Connie sent me upstairs to the main bookshop to restock the shelves. With the way my head is at the moment, she may have to redo everything I’ve done.
I’m hidden away in the back of the travel section when I hear Brooke’s voice. The books in my hand fall to the floor, and I’m wishing I could hide under my book cart.
“Lucy, darling, where are you?” Brooke calls out, and I freeze in the spot I’m standing. Her and Hunter walk past the travel aisle then Brooke’s head peeks around the corner. “There you are.” She has a smile on her face, and I don’t know if that’s a “I’m glad to see you smile” or a “I’m going to kill you” smile. Either way, it’s not easing my nerves. They both walk toward me and my heart leaps into my throat.
“Brooke, I’m so sorry. I know you didn’t want Hunter and me to get together. If you hate me I understand,” I nervously ramble.
Brooke pushes the cart out of the way and pulls me into a giant hug. “I’m the one who is sorry, Lucy. When I told Hunter to keep his distance, I was doing a little reverse psychology.”
“Manipulation.” Hunter coughs out from behind Brooke. Brooke shoots Hunter a scowl from over her shoulder.
“I needed to give Hunter a little extra push to come around to what I thought was best for him. Some call it manipulation, but I call it helping out,” she says, still scowling at Hunter. Hunter just rolls his eyes at her and shakes his head in disagreement.
“So, you told Hunter to stay away from me so then he would pursue me?” I asked confused. I grew up an only child, so I don’t understand the relationships between siblings. This seems slightly twisted.
“I know it’s crazy, but my brother has a slight issue with following rules, so if I gave him a rule about you, I knew, without a doubt, he would break it. The only thing I didn’t think about was how it would affect you. I am so very sorry Lucy. I love you, and I really do want you and Hunter to be together.”
I look over at Hunter and he smiles back at me. “I know the way Brooke went about getting us together last night was a bit bat shit crazy, but it was the push I needed to become the man you deserve.” He steps around Brooke and slides an arm around my waist, his other hand tilts my chin up to his lips. “You’re it for me, Lucy.” He softly kisses me. Brooke snickers next to us.
“I think I will leave you two love birds alone.” She starts to walk away and, as she turns the corner, we can hear her say, “My nieces and nephews are going to be so cute.”
Hunter chuckles into our kiss. “Do you feel better about us now?” he asks.
I slide my arms around his neck. “I am, and I’m sorry for freaking out and saying we were a mistake. We aren’t a mistake. Being with you feels right.” Knowing that Brooke does approve of Hunter and I only makes it even more apparent that we are a perfect match. Brooke was willing to pull this crazy move to make it happen.
“You don’t have to be sorry. I’m just happy to hear you don’t think we are a mistake.” Hunter wraps his other arm around me and pulls me to him.
“Can we forget about this morning and start over with how the morning was supposed to go?” I rise up to my tip toes and place a soft kiss on Hunter’s lips.
“Hell yes,” he whispers then returns my kiss with a deep, hungry kiss. “If we are going to start over, then I need you naked and in my bed with my face between your thighs.” My pussy clenches at his words.
“Connie, I’m taking the rest of the day off,” I call out. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”