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“Yeah, I am. And judgmental too,” Olivia said with a fierce nod of her head. “Back in the day you were many things—proud, defiant, impulsive. But the one thing you most definitely were not was a snob! Success has changed you, Hunter Rawlings. And not for the better!”

“Opening up your heart to someone can be scary, but it can also be the most rewarding experience of your life.” Gigi Renault

Chapter Five

Olivia muttered under her breath as she felt moisture welling up in her eyes. She felt a burst of anger at Hunter for bringing her to tears! Her work with the less fortunate children of Savannah meant so much to her; It hurt to have Hunter talk about her volunteer work in such a disdainful manner. It stung to have him judging her and the way she lived her life.

At one point she had been tempted to tell him about the inheritance of Savannah House, but she’d held back that information. She didn’t need to justify her existence to him. Or prove her worth. Her volunteer work was just as valid as owning Savannah House!

Hunter shook his head in disbelief, then said, “I’m not the one who was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I’m not the one who had a houseful of servants and led a life of privilege.”

“Well, you’re certainly making up for it now, aren’t you? Mae tells us all about your fancy vacation homes and that penthouse apartment in Manhattan, not to mention the top-of-the-line cars you ride around in or the luxury hotels you stay in when you je

t around the world. Speaking of jetting around the world,” she continued, “don't you own a private jet?”

“Enough!” Hunter said as Olivia began to rattle off a litany of his properties and holdings. “I refuse to feel badly about those things. Every single one of those things I earned through hard work, sweat and tears. And I’m not some spoiled brat. Every penny I’ve ever earned was a result of sacrifice, sheer will and self-determination. If you or anyone else in Savannah has a problem with it – too bad! No one has a clue what I went through in order to become the man I am today.”

Olivia felt a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach as she watched his jaw tremble. Without even meaning to, she had hit a nerve with him. And even though she was furious with him for being snotty at the dinner table, she had no right to challenge his accomplishments. “I’m sorry, Hunter. I-I shouldn’t have said those things. I know you’ve worked very hard.”

He bristled with anger. His brown eyes flashed like firelight. “Bet you never thought ole Hunter would be living large like that, huh? You probably thought I was going to fall on my face the minute I left the city limits.”

Hunter spit his words out like a challenge, almost daring her to say anything different. Within seconds she felt an explosion building up inside her. How dare he suggest such a thing. With her hands firmly perched on her hips she took a few steps toward him, quickly filling up the distance between them. “I did believe in you! I defended you against all the haters. You have no idea how many people were predicting your downfall after you left town. Because let me tell you, there were too many to count. They said that you weren’t going to amount to anything. But I never let them get away with saying it if I was around. Never!”

She inhaled a deep, shaky breath. It felt as a heavy weight was lodged against her chest, right on top of her heart.

**

Joy surged through him as the truth came tumbling out of her mouth. She'd believed in him! Hearing her words felt like a knockout blow. Pride sliced through him as he imagined feisty Olivia defending him against all the naysayers. He couldn't believe she'd done it, particularly after she'd vowed to never forgive him for leaving town.

Olivia always had been loyal to a fault. He should have known she’d defend him for all she was worth.

Hunter reached out his hand to comfort her, his desire to connect with her overwhelming him as tensions flared between them. She reached out and angrily swatted him with her hand. “Don’t you dare put words in my mouth! I always knew that you’d make a success of yourself, from the very moment you told me you were leaving. Don’t you ever say any differently either!”

Hunter felt a burst of emotion rising up within him at Olivia’s words. She had believed in him! Sweet, loyal Olivia!

“I see you’ve still got that feisty temper,” Hunter said with a chuckle as he watched Olivia's chest rise and fall with her heated words. He was surprised he didn’t see steam coming out of her ears.

“I don’t have a temper!” Olivia said, her eyes flashing with outrage.

Hunter threw back his head and howled at Olivia’s words. “No temper? Are you kidding me? You practically skewered me on the spot! If you had any more of a temper you’d be sprouting devil horns!”

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and he knew in that moment that she'd forgiven him. “Well, you bring the devil out in me, that's for sure.”

“I guess you bring out the devil in me too, Miss Olivia Renault,” Hunter said in a husky whisper as he leaned down and captured her lips in a soaring, romantic kiss.

**

The very moment Hunter’s lips brushed against hers, Olivia felt her insides melt like butter on hot popcorn. She had been dreaming of this moment for ten long years. She felt his mouth moving tenderly over hers, and without a moment’s hesitation she began to kiss him back. Hunter ran his fingers through her hair and pulled her closer toward him. For Olivia, it felt as if time stood still. She was soaring, flying, with this wonderful, soulful kiss.

When Hunter ended the kiss she wanted to cry with frustration at the loss of his touch, at the emptiness he left in his wake. He'd stirred up all these feelings within her, ones that had lain dormant since the last time he'd taken her in his arms. She'd been all of seventeen years old at the time with no clue as to how relationships worked. All she'd known then was that he always made her feel special and that her heart ached with love for him. And she'd needed him in her life, had felt enriched by all the things he brought into her orbit. Excitement. Laughter. Emotion.

His kisses had always made her feel so grown-up and so alive. When he left town she'd felt more alone than she'd ever known possible. It hadn't been easy dealing with all those feelings of loss at such a tender age. But she'd done the only thing she could under the circumstances – she'd let him go and gotten on with her life. Thankfully, she’d had her best friend, Callie, to lean on during that sad time, as well as the other girls. And her sweet, compassionate Mama.

Hunter stared into her eyes, his own gorgeous, ink-colored eyes looking a bit dazed as he scanned her face. She wondered what he was searching for? Joy? Reassurance? Regret? What was he so confused about? After all, he was the one who had initiated the kiss.

“Tell Mama I walked home. A little fresh air will do me some good,” he said as he began backing away from her. His eyes were wide, his movements slightly robotic.

Once again, he was walking away from her, leaving her craving his nearness and the very air he breathed. Why did it always seem as if he was leaving her?

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