Chapter Thirteen

Dani

Chad’s right beside me as we make our way up the long, winding driveway of Thomas and Angela Clarkson’s gargantuan mansion. We make our way up the asphalt landing, and as the directions described in the E-invite, we make our way around a path that leads out back. Once we arrive there, it’s a bustling scene with about fifty or so guests. Somehow, it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

“I’m going to pass out,” Chad mutters.

I smirk. “Seriously? You need to act cool.”

“That’s a little difficult, you know.” He rubs his hands nervously together. “I think I just need a drink or two to calm my nerves.”

“You and me both.”

“Why are you nervous?”

I smile tightly, then lie through my teeth. “Just anxious about meeting a bunch of strangers.”

The truth is that after Hunter stayed the other night, with his arms wrapped around me and holding me tight, I’m feeling things for him that scare me more than ever. I’m afraid seeing him today will bring all those feelings to the surface.

“This place is amazing. Check out that pool,” Chad says. Just behind the exterior of the mansion is a huge pool, with a sectioned off hot tub on the far end. There are just a few people in the pool, splashing around in the water.

“There you are,” Hunter yells and heads toward us. I plaster a polite smile on my face, expecting him to act friendly but distant. Instead, he throws his arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. Behind him, Chad’s eyes widen. Finally, Hunter pulls away and shakes Chad’s hand. “You guys are welcome to help yourself to anything. Food, amenities, facilities, whatever. Don’t be shy. And remember, Chad, this could all be yours someday.”

I frown slightly, but don’t say anything. After all, I promised Chad signing with Hunter was his decision.

“Speaking of which, there’s someone here who’s really interested in meeting you,” Hunter says to Chad.

Chad smiles nervously and pats his hands across his jeans. “I’m afraid I’m going to look like an idiot.”

“Trust me, Thomas is a very personable guy and you’ll be over your nervousness in seconds.”

“Okay.”

Hunter puts his hand on my lower back as if to guide me along with them, but I shake my head. “I’ll see you around,” I say, waving my hand in the air. “I’ll just hang back and let you guys do your thing.”

This will give me a little while longer to collect my thoughts and to figure out my next move.

Hunter frowns, as if he’s going to object. Then with a very subtle caress to my back, he says, “I’ll be right back, Dani.”

* * *

Some time later, I’m dozing by the pool when a shadow passes over my closed eyes. When I open them, Hunter is standing above me.

“Are you just going to lie there all day and be a party pooper?”

I stretch. “I wasn’t planning on it, but now that you bring it up, it certainly sounds like a possibility.”

“Nope.” He shakes his head and grabs my hand in his. “Come on. You’re going to be social, even if it kills you.”

“Really?” I purse my lips. “You’d wish me dead?”

“Stop being dramatic.” He tugs me to my feet.

I let out a fake huff. “Fine.”

I follow him as he navigates around the pool. “The only difference between these people and you and your brother are they happen to have more money.”

“Oh?” I raise a brow. “Is that all?”

“For sure.” He eyes me. “You and Chad are good people. Thomas and his family and friends are good people. In the end, that’s all that matters.”

I come to an abrupt halt. “Am I missing something?” I say, narrowing my eyes at him.

He swivels to face me. “What do you mean?”

“You just seem different today.”

He leans in close and whispers, “There’s more to me than a steel chest and amazing sex.”

The thing is, I totally believe that’s true.

Just then, a kid, maybe about four or five years old, runs up to Hunter. “Uncle Hunter,” the little boy yells as Hunter bends down to scoop him up into his arms. The kid laughs as Hunter spins him in a complete circle.

“Hey, buddy, how are you?” He places the boy back on his own feet.

The kid points at me. “Is she your girlfriend?”

“Girlfriend?” Hunter ruffles his hand through the boy’s hair. “What do you know about girlfriends?”

“Well?” he questions shyly. “Is she?”

Hunter looks back at me, almost as if he’s asking the same question. My eyes widen. I’m at a complete loss for words, but Hunter looks back at the boy. “This is Dani, and she’s a friend of mine.”

“Danny’s a boy’s name!” the kid says with wide eyes.

I can’t help it; I giggle then I drop down into a squatting position in front of the boy. “What’s your name?”

He smiles widely before saying, “Hunter!”

I look up at the other Hunter, my Hunter.

“Hunter is Thomas’s brother’s kid,” he explains. “They decided to name him after me…for some reason.”

“For some reason, huh?” I rise back to my feet with a smile. “This family obviously loves you. It’s like you’re one of them.”

“Nah. I’m just a friend.”

“A friend who made Thomas the millionaire he is today. A friend who made his dreams come true. It’s what you do every day of your life, isn’t it? Help others fulfill their dreams.”

“What’s your dream?”

My plan isn’t all that grand. I want to open up my own shop one day. I’m about to tell him that when—

“Hunter!”

A woman begins to approach from the near distance, cradling a newborn baby in her arms. As she gets closer, she begins to rush.

“Hey,” she says to Hunter, “have you seen Andrew around?”

“Actually, I haven’t.” Hunter responds. “What’s up?”

“I really have to pee,” the woman says as she passes the newborn baby to Hunter. “Can you hold him and I’ll be right back?”

“Sure thing, Mary.” Hunter handles the newborn with ease as Mary smiles at us, then rushes toward the house to take care of business. There’s just something so damn sexy, so damn charming about a man holding a baby. Even if it always reminds me of what I will never have.

He looks up to me to find me gazing at them. “You like kids?”

“I don’t have a lot of experience with them.”

“Here,” he says, passing me the baby. I start to protest, but before I know what’s happening, I’m cradling the baby in my arms.

“Be gentle now,” he cautions.

“I know how to hold a baby,” I scoff at him, and then drop my eyes to gaze at the precious child. His eyes are open, full of wonder and intrigue. Dark eyes that are somehow soft. His lips are curled into an irresistible smile; just the cutest damn little guy in the world. I look back to Hunter. “I’m terrible with kids.”

“You look like a natural.”

“You’re a natural. I’m…” I don’t know what I am, but I’m not a natural.

“I can’t wait to have kids of my own,” he murmurs, and I almost wonder if it was meant to be a private thought. “I can’t wait for the day I come home to someone that is and will always be mine.”

“You want to be a father?” I question.

He shrugs. “To be honest, I’ve always had a hard time imagining myself with one woman for the rest of my life, but babies have always been on my mind.” He reaches across the short span of distance between us and brushes the baby’s cheek lightly with his finger. “I’m close to my brothers but my dad, even though we know he loves us, he was always a bit distant. We were rich growing up, he gave us everything we ever needed, but he wasn’t exactly the type of guy to play ball in the yard with us. He’s still not. When I have kids, I’ll do it differently.”

That’s it. The tears come, slow at first but I’m unable to wipe them away because my hands are tied holding the baby. “Take him,” I say softly, choking on emotion.

“What?”

“Take him, please.”

He takes the baby boy back into his hands and I swipe quickly at my eyes.

“Dani, what—”

“I have to go. Can you make sure Chad gets a ride home?”

“What the hell is going on? Dani!”

I rush away from him. From the party. From the knowledge that no matter how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know Hunter lately, he’s the type of man I can never have.

The type of man who deserves a whole woman, and that’s something I’m not.