Tess gave me a sad smile. “Don’t tell anyone, but... I actually hoped my dad would come back. Hoped right until we found out he married that woman. Cole and Ryker were super sweet when they found out. They hugged me and said they’d never leave us. And then we took Mom for ice cream. But enough about that. Let’s focus on you. I just had an idea. How about some girly activities? Facials, painting our nails? Just messing around? Take your pick. And because your need is greater than mine, I’m also willing to donate my bathtub.”
I grinned at Tess. I just loved her.
Later that evening, I did something I’d never voluntarily done before: went for a run.
After twenty minutes, I stopped. Since I wasn’t a regular runner, I couldn’t go on for too long, but I was feeling reborn. This felt amazing. I couldn’t believe I’d been firmly in the I’m not a runner camp for so long.
In the months I’d lived with Hunter, I’d given his treadmill a few tries, and gave up because I was bored stiff. But I could get used to running outside. Tess lived near a park , and breathing in fresh air, being surrounded by greenery gave me a much-needed boost of energy. More than that, my mind was clearer during the
run.
I loved feeling productive again. It also felt good to finally have a plan, and it didn’t include begging anyone for a job. From now on, I was going to bust my ass for myself. I planned to open my own place. My experience practically spoke for itself, and I was confident that I could convince two other colleagues to join me.
My specialty was corporate law, and theirs were family and estate law, so we could cover a broad spectrum between us.
Why didn’t I feel good? I missed Hunter like crazy. I hadn’t seen him at all since he’d showed up on Tess’s doorstep two days ago, and I had Hunter withdrawals.
I grinned when a message from Hunter popped up on my phone. Was he thinking about me as often as I was thinking about him?
Hunter: I need a friend’s advice. Can I call you?
Josie: Sure.
He called the next second. I leaned against a lamppost, just smiling at the phone like a lunatic for a few seconds before answering.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“Hey. How can I help?”
“What?”
“You said you need a friend’s help.”
“That was a ruse. I just wanted to make sure you’d answer.”
I laughed, cradling my phone with both hands. “I wouldn’t ignore your calls.”
“Didn’t want to take any chances.”
“Forgot how devious you can be. So... you have me where you want me. What now?”
“If I had you where I wanted you, you’d be home right now, in our bed, underneath me. We’d be naked. You’d be calling out my name. But we’re not there. Yet.”
I was glad I was leaning against that lamppost, because my knees had weakened a little. My entire body reacted to his sinful voice, to that vivid image he’d painted.
“Hunter—”
“No, no, no. Don’t finish that sentence. Sounds like you want to reprimand me, and you haven’t even heard what I want to say.”
“Okay, let’s hear it.”
“I want us to talk every day for one hour.”
“One hour?”
“It’s not negotiable.”
“So what are you going to do if I say no?”