“Good idea.” I follow him through the front door and smile when I take it all in. The furniture is modern but comfortable in earthy colors that match wonderfully with the trees and earth outside the wide windows. “Oh, I love this furniture.”
“I was relieved that what I already had looked so good in here,” he admits. “I was prepared to buy all new stuff, but when the movers set everything in place, it just clicked.”
“It’s great,” I agree.
He leads me through the house, and I’m utterly charmed by the beautiful décor. It’s not outrageous or in-your-face. The colors are earthy, the fabrics cozy.
It’s a home that I’d feel comfortable curling up in.
“This is Rachel’s room,” he says and knocks on the closed door. When he hears the muffled, “Come in,” he turns the knob, and we poke our heads in. “I brought Maeve to see how we’re doing over here.”
“Oh, hi.” Rachel smiles shyly.
“This bedroom is beautiful,” I say, meaning every word. “Your bed is gorgeous and totally suits a beach house.”
“Yeah.” She grins at the cream headboard that looks like half of a clamshell. “I just need help finding new curtains and stuff.”
“Thank God you didn’t bring all that black crap from the other house,” Hunter says.
“I was going through a goth phase,” she informs him and rolls her eyes.
“Well, I’m grateful that phase is over,” Hunter replies with a wink.
“I could probably help you,” I offer casually. “I have a good eye for that stuff.”
“I don’t want it to look like an old lady’s room,” Rachel warns me, making me laugh in surprise.
“I guess I won’t show you any of my geriatric ideas, then.” I laugh once more and glance around. “We can totally do this.”
“Okay, I guess we can try. I don’t even want to think about what Dad would pick.” Rachel smiles. “Dad said you were pretty cool.”
“Did he?” I glance at Hunter and then back at Rachel. “Well, I try. Do you like chicken wings and fries?”
“Sure, who doesn’t?”
“Well, if you come into my family pub with your dad for dinner, the wings are on me. But no beer this time.”
She winces. “I think I’m off of the beer for a long time.”
“As it should be. You have time for those kinds of shenanigans. Don’t try to grow up too fast. It happens fast enough as it is.”
“I wish it would go faster.” She sighs but then shrugs. “The pub sounds cool. Dad said the food is good.”
I smile at Hunter. “It’s the best on the island.”
“Did you ask her?” Rachel asks Hunter, who shakes his head, but his eyes are still full of humor.
“Ask me what?”
“Ask her, Dad,” Rachel insists.
“Did I raise you to be bossy?”
Rachel just grins at him. She’s a lovely young woman, with dark, straight hair and big brown eyes. She’s slim and tall like her father.
“Is someone going to ask me something?”
Hunter nods. “I need to be in Los Angeles in two weekends, and I’d like for you to come with me.”
“Well, I usually work at the pub on the weekends, but I can probably get someone to cover for me. What’s in LA?”
“He’s—”
“Hey, this is my story,” he says, interrupting his daughter. She folds her lips in but is clearly bursting with anticipation.
“I’m a presenter at the ESPYs,” he says. “And I’m nominated in a couple of categories.”
I blink at him, look at Rachel, who’s grinning widely, and then focus back on Hunter.
“What categories are you nominated in?”
“Fighter of the year, and athlete of the year.”
I blink again in surprise. “Holy mackerel, Hunter, that’s fantastic! Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I don’t usually take a date to these things—”
“More like has never taken a date,” Rachel mutters, earning a pointed look from her father.
“But I’d really like it if you would join me.”
“Is Rachel going, too?” I ask.
“Nah, I’m staying at Gram and Gramps’. And, yes, I promise to be a perfect child while you’re gone so you don’t have to worry about anything.”
“So, what do you think? Wanna go hang out in LA for a day or two?”
“Well, sure.” I press my lips together, suddenly panicking.
“What’s wrong?”
“I have to find something to wear, and I only have two weeks to do it.”
Hunter and Rachel both laugh.
“You’ll find something awesome,” Rachel says.
Is this the same child I saw just last week? Sure, she still rolls her eyes at her dad, but she’s calmed down considerably.
“I’ll make some calls,” I reply. “Wow, thanks for inviting me.”
“Thanks for saying yes.”
Chapter 6
~Hunter~
I want to drag her down the hall to my new bedroom, toss her onto the bed, and devour every fucking inch of her.
The way she’s blushing just because I invited her to LA with me, and the kind way she interacts with my kid are both turn-ons.
Hell, I’ve been a walking hard-on since the night I saw her in her pub several weeks ago.