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“Nice for our little piece of heaven to get such positive attention,” Teddy Boone added, sipping his coffee.
Ryder was clearly unimpressed. He shot Josie a look, then rolled his eyes. Maybe the youngest Boone wasn’t as content with life as the rest of them appeared to be.
“You might be just a little bit biased, Daddy.” Renata kissed her father’s cheek.
“What time does everything start up tomorrow?” Josie asked, standing. “Do I need to do anything?”
“I’ll come get you around three. They start lining up for the parade pretty soon after that.” Hunter stood, moving to her side. “Thought maybe we could walk around the square afterward. Carolers. Hot chocolate. That sort of thing.”
It would be all too easy to get lost in his blue-green eyes, to forget Eli and Amy and how terrified she was of commitment. Especially when he was looking at her like that, as if she was the only woman in the world. Not caring that they had a room full of observers, his son included.
“I— You’ll be too busy, won’t you?” Her voice was a little unsteady. “Taking the float apart?”
“It can wait. Times like tomorrow don’t come very often.” He took her hand in his. “It’s important to make every minute count.”
“Damn right,” Teddy Boone said.
Hunter knew exactly what he was doing. No way he was going to let her leave without making it plain to everyone what his intentions were.
The look on her face almost broke his resolve to take things slow. Holding her hand was one thing—wrapping her up in a kiss that claimed her would be something else. But the surprise on her face and the pleasure that creased the corners of her eyes were tempting, very tempting.
“What do you say, Jo?” he asked, squeezing her hand.
Her nod was slow. “I’d love to.”
She looked so pretty he had to fist his hand to keep from reaching for her. “I’ll help you load things up.”
He ignored the expressions of everyone in the room. He knew Carl and his father were tickled pink. Fisher and Lola, too, undoubtedly. Ryder and Archer wouldn’t care. Renata...well, she was worried about him. She’d told him to take things slow, to keep a rein on his heart. As if that was ever a possibility when it came to Jo.
And Eli? He looked at his son and smiled. His boy needed to know that Jo made him happy, that holding her hand meant smiling. Eli was red-faced, angry tears in his accusing eyes.
Hunter walked by, refusing to cave. He helped Josie get everything loaded into Carl’s truck, waiting as everyone said their goodbyes before helping Lola into the cab and dropping a swift kiss on Jo’s cheek.
“Hunter—” The worry in her voice stopped him.
“I’ll talk to him, Jo.” His hand cupped her cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to cause problems, Hunter. I—”
“You’re not.” He smiled. “I’ll figure it out.”
She didn’t look convinced as he loaded her into her father’s truck. He watched the taillights until they’d faded into the black night. He stood a little longer, letting the crickets chirp and the wind calm him before heading back into the house.
He loaded Eli into his truck ten minutes later. His son didn’t say a word as they drove, but his hands were clenched in his lap, his head turned away.
Hunter let it go until they were home. He needed the time to think through what he needed to say. He went ’round and ’round, hoping for a way to avoid a fight... But that wasn’t going to happen.
When Eli headed toward his room, Hunter stopped him. “We’re going to talk.”
Eli’s face was rigid. “About?”
Hunter sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Why are you so angry with Jo?”
“Why?” Eli’s voice broke. “She’s the reason you and mom are divorced—”
“Eli.” Hunter shook his head. “That’s not true.”
“You’re only saying that so I’ll like her.”
