Surrender to Me (Boggy Creek Valley 4)

Hunter reached into his pocket and pulled out my keys, setting them on the counter. “I can’t believe you still have this.”

I followed his gaze and saw the beehive keychain he had bought for me after I’d saved up enough money to buy my first car. It was a used Honda Accord, and she had served me well over the years. A year ago, I broke down and upgraded to a Honda Pilot, which I loved.

“It’s special to me,” I said softly as I reached over and picked up my keys to look at the beehive. I placed the keys back down and focused on the eggs again. “Eggs are done. How’s the toast looking?” I could feel Hunter’s eyes on me, and the heat between us quickly filled the kitchen. When he didn’t answer, I turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

He slowly shook his head, smiled, then hit the button on the toaster. “They’re done. You still like honey and butter on your toast?”

“I do.”

Hunter walked to the refrigerator and took out the butter. The honey was in a honeypot on the kitchen table.

I divided up the eggs between me and Hunter and set our plates down on the small table in the middle of my kitchen. I reached for the plate of bacon, slipping a piece to Jack before setting it down.

“I saw that,” Hunter stated in a dry tone.

“Well, I had to, Hunter. I told the poor baby he was getting bacon for dinner.”

Hunter rolled his eyes, reached for a piece of bacon, and tossed it to Jack. I tried not to smile but failed as I said, “I had a feeling you spoil him.”

“That’s putting it lightly. This dog gets better taken care of than I do.”

“Well, look at that face. How can you not spoil such a precious boy?”

We both looked at Jack, who was sitting between the two of us like such a good boy.

Hunter laughed. “Fine, one more piece and that’s it.”

I reached for the largest piece of bacon and broke it in two. I handed one piece to Hunter, then fed mine to Jack. “That way he gets love from both of us.”

Hunter gave his piece to Jack before telling him to lie down. Jack walked off a bit, made three circles, and did as he was told.

While Hunter and I ate, I tried to figure out a way to talk to him. Not just talk, in general…but to tell him why I’d broken up with him. I honestly wasn’t sure it was something I could speak about—not that I had really ever tried. I had told Abby, but that was it. We never really talked about it after that. And a part of me loved this time Hunter and I were spending together. I knew the moment I told him, things would change. Or at least, I was fearful they would.

“Hunter, I need to ask you something.”

He chewed on a bite of toast and nodded.

“Will you…um…will you be patient with me? I know I’ve made you wait ten years, but I need to take this slow.”

Swallowing, he asked, “Patient?”

I nodded. “I don’t want to push you away anymore. It’s not fair to either of us, and honestly, I can’t stop thinking about that kiss.”

He smiled and his dimple came out in full force. Goodness, the man was even more handsome now that he was at twenty-three. I let my eyes do a quick sweep of him before I met his gaze.

“I can kiss you again, you know,” he said.

I felt my face heat. “I don’t think I’m ready for anything more than kissing, though.”

Hunter frowned slightly, but the expression was gone as quickly as it appeared. “I’m not going to pressure you into anything, Bella. I never have.”

“Oh, I know you wouldn’t. I just don’t want you to think I’m pushing you away or playing games with you. I’m trying, and I want to be honest with you, I just need…”

Hunter winked at me. “Patience.”

I dug my teeth into my lip and nodded. “I’ve missed you so much, and I’m so afraid I’m dreaming all of this.”

His face relaxed again, and he reached for my hand. “I know what you mean. When I woke up on your sofa, I had to hit myself to make sure I was really awake. And let me tell you, I have a pretty hard punch.”

Laughing, I laced my fingers with his. “I’ve missed you, Hunter. I’ve missed how you make me laugh and how you make me feel.”

“God, Bella. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

With a slight smile, I replied, “I bet I do.”

Hunter leaned over the table and gently kissed me on the lips. He barely drew back, looked me in the eyes, and whispered, “We’ll go as slow as you want, sweetheart. I’m just over the fucking moon to have you in my life again.”