Surrender to Me (Boggy Creek Valley 4)

“I do miss Boggy Creek, for your information,” Brighton said.

I lifted one brow and gave her a look that said she was full of shit.

“Fine, I have another reason, but not one I wish to talk about.”

“Does it involve a man?”

She huffed. “When a woman is miserable, unhappy, angry, and ready to eat a tub of ice cream every day, it’s almost always because of a damn man.”

Laughing, I replied, “What’s his name?”

Lifting her index finger, she moved it back and forth. “Oh no, Mr. Turner. No information for you. Knowing you, you’ll do a background check on him, and then all hell will break loose when you find out who it is.”

That had me sitting up straighter. “Now I’m curious. Tell me, Brighton.”

“Fuck off, Turner. I’m not telling you shit.”

“You’re no fun,” I replied.

“Am I interrupting?”

Bella’s voice had my heart dropping straight to the bottom of my stomach, while Brighton closed her eyes and mouthed the word “shit.”

I quickly slid out of the booth. “Bella, no, not at all. I was trying to get Brighton to tell me who the guy is that she’s leaving Boston to avoid.”

Bella’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “Guy?”

Brighton shot me the finger, then turned to Bella. She gave her a warm smile before pulling her in for a hug. “Hunter said he was meeting you for lunch. Sorry, I wanted to ask him to help me move some things from Boston.”

Bella smiled that caring smile she had, instantly going from cold to warm. “I heard you were moving back to Boggy Creek. It’ll be nice to see you more often.” Her eyes darted to me and then back to Brighton.

Shit, why hadn’t Brighton just left when I said I was meeting Bella?

“I’m happy, and my folks are over the moon. They really need the help at the bed and breakfast. But listen,” Brighton said as she clapped her hands, “I need to get going. Hunter I’ll call Kyle and work out all the details. Thanks again, and see you Tuesday.”

Before she turned and headed off, she stopped and pointed down at the table. “You do know what happened here, don’t you?”

I shivered and held up my hand. “Yes. Yes, but it was the only option.”

Brighton gave a half shrug before she blew a kiss to Bella. “Toodles, guys. Enjoy your lunch.”

Arabella watched as Brighton made her way through the restaurant and out the front door.

“Here, let me get your coat,” I said.

She jerked away from me when I went to reach for it. I instantly took a step back.

“I’m sorry,” she said with a fake laugh. She turned to let me help her out of the coat. I hung it up on the hook at the end of the booth and motioned for her to sit first.

“Sorry I’m early.”

“I’m not,” I said with a wink.

This time when she smiled, it didn’t reach her eyes in the least bit.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This is not starting out how I wanted it to.

“Bella, I need you to know that Brighton and I are only friends. That’s it.”

She sat up straighter. “It’s really known of my business, Hunter.”

Confusion hit me like a brick wall. “Well, I just…I mean…we have a past, and I didn’t want you to…” My voice trailed off.

“You didn’t want me to what?”

Clearing my throat, I said, “I didn’t want you to think there was anything between us but friendship. That’s all.”

She stared at me for the longest time before the corners of her mouth turned up. She didn’t say anything, but I felt the vise that had been around my chest loosen some.

Tess arrived back at the table and placed waters down for me and Arabella. She took our order and then promptly slipped away.

“I’m glad you agreed to have lunch with me, Bella.”

A soft smile appeared on her face once more. “Me too.”

She fiddled with the napkin, looking everywhere but at me. I was so goddamn tired of beating around the bush, pretending that there wasn’t a conversation between us that needed to be had.

“Why now?” I asked.

Her head jerked back up, and our eyes met. “I’m sorry?”

“Why now? After all these years, why are you finally talking to me again and not ignoring me?”

“I never ignored you.”

A bitter laugh slipped free. “Okay, avoiding me. You’ve done a hell of a good job avoiding me.”

She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry about that. It’s just…I didn’t know what to say.”

“How about you start with the real reason why you broke up with me.”

Bella looked over her shoulder and surveyed the people in the restaurant. When she focused back on me, she lowered her voice. “This isn’t really the place to have that conversation.”

I sat back in the booth, realizing I had been holding my breath. I nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

She looked down at the table and then back up at me. “How’s Jack?”