Page 96 of Love Walks In


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Chapter 27

Rain splashed against the windows of Aria’s room above the café. Metal-gray storm clouds billowed across the evening sky, and water streamed in rivulets over the cobblestone street. Jumbo lolled on the bed, tail twitching.

Almost two weeks had passed since Hunter had left Bliss Cove. They’d exchanged emails about general day-to-day things, but she’d sensed his need to keep his distance. For how long, she had no idea.

She sat at the narrow desk, giving her grant application one final review. She’d asked Callie to proofread it, and she’d gotten input from both Mayor Bowers and the town council. If approved, they’d get federal funds to invest in Mariposa Street renovation.

She hit the Submit button and waited for her old laptop to churn through the process. She printed out the receipt and opened the top desk drawer to fish out a pen.

Right beside the pen tray rested the envelope Rory had given her—the results of the “deep search” she’d done on Hunter.

The envelope Aria hadn’t opened.

Her heart thumped. Would it matter what Hunter had or hadn’t done in his past? He’d already made a huge sacrifice for her. Was there anything she wouldn’t forgive?

She ripped open the envelope and took out a few sheets of paper. Across the top, scribbled in Rory’s messy handwriting, was“Anonymous is H.A.”The other papers held copies of news articles about the anonymous funding of a veterans’ center and charity fund in a struggling, low-income area of Chicago.

Aria sank back in her chair and read all the articles about how the center provided resources and help to any veteran who needed assistance. In addition, there were a number of “anonymous” donations to national veterans’ charities and hospitals.

For years, Hunter had been giving a place to people who didn’t have one. He’d been helping those who needed it.

No wonder her soul had fallen in love with him before her brain caught up. She’d known in that deep, mystical part of herself that despite all their surface differences, she and Hunter were, at heart, the same.

Clicking her fingers at Jumbo, she headed downstairs to feed the cats. The animals purred and twined around her legs as she prepared their dinner. Fang crouched under a chair, eyeing her warily. He hadn’t eaten much for the past week.

“Here you go, old boy.” Aria set a bowl in front of him and reached out to scratch his ears. He jerked away, tail swishing.

“Sorry.” She held up her hands and backed away. Of all the orphaned cats, Fang had now been with her the longest. If she didn’t find him the right home soon, he might end up becoming a lifelong member of the Lonely Hearts Club.

“We’ll find you a forever home,” Aria promised the old cat. “Everyone needs someone to love, and everyone deserves to be loved.”

She started to prepare the other dishes. The cats swarmed around her feet.

As she took cans from the cupboard, a knock came at the window. She turned. Her breath caught in her throat. Hunter stood outside, rain drenching his hair and coat, his eyes fixed on her with a combination of wariness and hope.

Dropping a can of cat food, she hurried to the front door. Her hands shook as she unlocked the door and pulled it open. “What—”

He ran up the porch steps and hauled her against him. Words, questions, thoughts…everything dissolved into a burst of pure happiness and love. Aria threw her arms around his shoulders as he brought his mouth down on hers.

In that instant, caught in the strong circle of his arms, she knew he was really here, that her Hunter had come back. His coat was soaking wet, and the rainwater seeped through her thin cotton dress, but his body heat burned away the cold.

She drove her hands into his hair and parted her lips under his. He kissed her hungrily, as if he couldn’t get enough of her, as if he wanted to devour her. Finally he lifted his head, his expression filled with warmth.

“I’m getting you all wet.” He shed his raincoat, tossing it on to the coat-rack.

She drank in the sight of him. Lines of fatigue creased his face, but he looked as heartbreakingly beautiful as ever in worn jeans that hugged his long legs and a faded T-shirt stretching over his broad chest.

He pulled a piece of paper from the pocket of his coat and handed it to her. “First, I need to give you this.”

Aria unfolded the paper. It was a hand-drawn map of Mariposa Street. Each building had one little star somewhere—on the roof, under an awning, beneath a window.

“What is this?” She lifted her eyes to his.

“I found all the butterflies.”

A smile started from deep inside her. “You went on a butterfly search?”

“Before I left, yes. I wanted to know all of Mariposa Street’s secrets.” He shut the door with his foot, his gaze never leaving hers. “So that we can keep them together.”

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