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“Mmm. I've been thinking about doing this all day,” Hunter whispered as he ran his hands down along her back.

“Y-You're not the only o-one.” She could hear her teeth chattering as she spoke.

“You're freezing, Liv,” he said, his brows wrinkled in concern. He reached out and rubbed her bare arms in an attempt to bring warmth to her.

She'd been so eager to meet him on the terrace that she'd left her cashmere wrap in the ballroom. “Actually, your kisses are warming me up quite a bit,” she said in a teasing voice.

Hunter took off his dark suit jacket, wrapping it around her shoulders so that it enveloped her like a warm cocoon. The jacket was infused with his very essence—it smelled woodsy with a hint of exotic spices. She pressed her nose to the fabric, deeply inhaling his masculine scent.

“Better?” he asked in a low voice.

“Much better,” she said as she snuggled into the jacket.

“See what happens when you run around trying to look cute,” Hunter said with a wicked grin. “You end up freezing your butt off.”

“I was trying to look elegant, not cute!”

“If you say so,” he said doubtfully. A mischievous look twinkled in his eyes, transporting Olivia all the way back to childhood when, more times than not, he'd been up to his elbows in mischief. But wasn't that one of the things she'd always lov

ed about him? He’d been a sweet, spirited rebel.

“What?” she asked, intrigued by the glint in his eyes.

“You look incredible tonight,” he gushed. “And you know it. Every man in the place couldn't keep their eyes off you, including my brothers.”

“You're exaggerating,” she said. Heat rose in her cheeks at Hunter's over-the-top compliment. Lord! Everything he said went straight to her head. He made her feel ten feet tall. One word from him was enough to send her rocketing into orbit.

“I don't exaggerate,” he said, his face drawn in serious lines. He reached out and placed his hands on either side of her face, his thumbs gently stroking her jaw as he gazed intensely into her eyes. “You're the most beautiful woman in the place, perhaps even in the world. You always have been.”

“I don't know about that,” she said, self-consciously smoothing the fabric hugging her waist. “I could stand to lose a few pounds.”

Hunter's eyes narrowed to slits, then flashed like fiery embers. “Olivia, you cannot be serious.” He reached out and placed both hands on either side of her face. “You're lovely. God made you as you are…sheer perfection.” He let out a groan. “Don't ever let me hear you say that mess about losing weight or needing to change yourself to look good. It makes no kind of sense.”

“Hunter,” she whispered, her throat clogging with emotion as his words washed over her. His words of praise reminded her so much of her mother's steadfast devotion. It felt like forever since she'd had this type of unconditional support. Tears gathered in her eyes and she felt a hot splash of moisture on her face.

“Baby, please don't cry,” he said as he reached out to wipe tears from her cheeks. “This night is all about celebration. Joy. Love.”

Hunter was right. Tonight was a celebration of a wonderful love forged in the aftermath of Miss Hattie’s death and Callie discovering that her biological brother, Mac, hadn’t died in childhood as she had been told by her adoptive parents. Callie and Jax had found love after knowing each other for most of their loves. Friendship had blossomed into love, although if you listened to Jax he would say that he’d loved Callie ever since they were kids on the playground. They were an inspiration for anyone who dared to dream that love was out there waiting for them. She wanted to be brave like the two of them, to reach out for the brass ring and hold on for all she was worth. She wanted to take risks instead of hiding her heart away behind a brick wall.

She wanted the fairytale!

“You've always had this way of cutting straight through to my heart,” she said, her voice little more than a whisper.

Hunter intently searched her eyes for a moment, his eyes glimmering with an awareness and a fierceness that make her shiver. It was as if he could see straight through her, right to the core of her soul. She could've sworn he saw the truth she'd been hiding all these years. She loved him! Madly. Deeply. Passionately.

His features softened and a hint of a smile tugged at his full lips. “That's because I know you. Inside and out. The last ten years has done nothing to change that. Matter of fact, ten more years could go by and I'd still know you like the back of my hand.” He reached for her hand and turned it over so that her palm was facing upwards. Gently, he raised her palm to his lips and began kissing it with a tenderness that made her ache inside. When he stopped she had to force herself not to beg him to continue searing her skin with his kisses.

“We better get back in there before they start wondering where we are,” Hunter suggested, his voice sounding regretful. “After all, we’re part of the wedding party.”

As he held out his arm, Olivia looped hers through his and began walking with him towards the French doors leading to the ballroom. She stole a sideways glance at him, marveling at his rugged looks and his natural-born swagger. He looked jaw droppingly handsome in his crisp white shirt, dark tie and tailored slacks. Just looking at him sent a jolt straight through her heart.

No other man had ever had this effect on her.

No other man had ever made her want things that were so outside of her reach.

No other man would ever do—now that she'd been on the receiving end of Hunter's tender kisses and his zest for life.

She seriously doubted as to whether any man could measure up to the fascinating Hunter Rawlings.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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