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When she saw him striding towards her, she flashed him a radiant smile, making his knees buckle a bit as her beauty hit him like a thunderbolt. She'd been distracting him all day since he couldn't seem to stop thinking about her. He needed to come clean with Olivia before it all blew up in his face. He had a little bit of a reprieve since his name hadn’t yet been attached to the stock purchase. But he knew he was living on borrowed time.
At some point in the evening when things settled down and it was just the two of them, he would tell her everything. He would lay himself bare for her, if need be, and beg her forgiveness. Somehow, he would make things right. Please Lord. Help me set things to right. I care way too much about Olivia to risk losing her.
As he walked across the ballroom, heads swiveled in his direction and people began to whisper and point. “There goes Hunter Rawlings,” one woman gushed while an elderly man with a grizzled beard said, “I remember when he used to come into the Seven Eleven for a slurpie with his siblings.” He paused along the way to greet old friends and acquaintances with hugs and handshakes. By the time he reached Olivia's side he felt as if he'd walked the gauntlet. He leaned down to plant a kiss on her cheek, then slid his mouth to her ear and whispered, “I've had you on my mind all day. For some reason I can't stop thinking about you.”
Olivia raised an eyebrow, then shushed him by raising a finger to her mouth. “You're not being discreet,” she admonished. “People will hear you. And see you kissing me.”
He looked around, noticing for the first time that his entire family had already arrived at the party. Sadie, who was standing a mere five feet away, was eyeballing him with suspicion and seemed to be watching closely his interaction with Olivia.
“I don't care who hears me,” he said. “I'll shout it from the rooftops if you want me to.”
She laughed and playfully swatted him with her hands. “Hunter Rawlings, you wouldn't dare make a scene at this fancy event.”
“Are you actually daring me to do something? 'Cause in case you've forgotten, there's nothing more challenging to me than a dare.”
He knew full well it wasn't the time nor the place for a public display of affection, since tonight was all about celebrating Callie and Jax, who were standing a few feet away being photographed for the local newspaper. They were doing a feature on them and how two childhood friends had found love as adults.
Hunter intended to have fun playing with Olivia and making her sweat a little bit.
Olivia quickly backtracked. “No! No! I'm not daring you! Please, please, don't take me up on that dare!”
He threw his head back and let loose with a deep-throated chuckled. He loved watching this woman, loved the way her stunning features lit up and became animated when she got excited. She was adorable. Unforgettable. And he was having trouble focusing on the festive celebration, because thoughts of Olivia consumed him like a wildfire in the brush. All he wanted to do was get her alone, far away from prying eyes and curious glances. He wanted to take her into his arms and forget that anything else existed other than the two of them. And the scary part was that he couldn’t imagine this feeling ever going away.
“Meet me outside on the terrace.” He was fighting a losing battle against his need to take her in his arms, to smell the light scent of her perfume and to brush his lips against her velvety soft skin. For a man who'd built an empire out of sheer will, he suddenly felt weak. Unsure of himself.
“We're supposed to be mingling,” she said in a prim voice.
He locked gazes with her, letting her know in no uncertain terms that he meant business. “You're the only one I want to mingle with. Fifteen minutes. Terrace.”
As Hunter walked away from Olivia, he made a beeline towards Callie and Jax, who were now standing amidst a group of well-wishers. He’d met Jax for lunch the other day at one of the local spots downtown. So far he hadn’t seen Callie until this very moment.
Callie spotted him and let out a cry of delight. “Hunter!” she cried out. “I can’t believe it’s you after all this time.” She crashed into his arms and gave him the world’s biggest bear hug. Jax looked on adoringly with the biggest grin gracing his face.
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Hunter said as Callie released him from the hug.
“You look the same,” Callie said, narrowing her gaze as she studied him. “Give or take fifty million dollars.”
Hunter threw his head back and laughed enthusiastically. Only good friends could say something that brash and get away with it.
“And you, my friend, are lovelier than ever.” He lowered his voice. “Are you sure you want to marry this guy?”
“Hey!” Jax protested. “You’re supposed to be on my side as one of my groomsmen.”
“Wild horses couldn’t keep me from marrying him,” Callie said, her eyes filled with adoration as she looked at Jax.
“Aww, baby. That’s really sweet,” Jax said as he lowered his head and placed a tender kiss on his bride-to-be’s lips.
The love between Jax and Callie hummed and buzzed in the air around them. He felt blessed to be part of something so spectacular. A mighty love.
The next thing he knew Hunter was being rushed by a group of old friends. Luke. Fancy. Charlotte. Morgan. And Hope. It felt like old times as they chatted and hugged and caught up on each other’s lives.
After what felt like an eternity, he looked impatiently at his watch, willing the minutes to tick by swiftly so he could take himself far away from the ballroom and straight into Olivia's heavenly embrace.
**
Olivia waited exactly sixteen minutes before she made her way outside to the terrace. As soon as she pushed the door open the cold night air greeted her. When she rounded the corner Hunter was standing there in the dark like a panther, with nothing more than the soft light of the moon to illuminate him. Before she could make her way toward him in the darkness he rushed over, pulling her into his arms in a kiss that left her breathless. His lips slanted over hers powerfully, causing her pulse to quicken and her legs to turn to jelly. A low hum thrummed in her belly. Everything else faded away.
She loved the way she fit into his arms, like two pieces of an interlocking puzzle.
