AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But before she could muster it, his phone started ringing in his jeans pocket.
“Shit,” he swore. “I’m on call. I have to get that.”
She nodded and climbed off his lap. To be honest, she was glad for the interruption. She was so confused. Being in Hunter’s arms felt amazing. Like always, it felt right.
It was selfish to want him, though, when she was a ticking time bomb. She crossed her arms over her chest while Hunter stood up and answered the phone.
He nodded several times. “How long has the cow been down?” More nodding. Hunter sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay Alex, I’ll be out there in thirty minutes.”
He hung up the phone and looked over at Isobel. She tried for a wan smile. “So we’re off to look at a sick cow?”
Hunter breathed out. He clicked his phone back on and checked the time. “About that. I’m supposed to be getting you down to Bubba’s for a nightcap.”
“What?” Isobel asked in confusion.
“God, Mel’s gonna kill me.” He ran a hand through his hair. “But it’d be shitty to just send you in there like this. It’s a surprise party.”
Isobel’s face must have shown just how horrified she felt by the idea because Hunter crossed the short space between them and took her hands.
“Look, it’s shit timing. I’m sorry. I’m sorry about all of this. I was supposed to make you feel special on your birthday and instead I brought up all this heavy shit. And now I’ve got to leave and take care of this call.” He winced. “Why don’t I just call Mel and tell her you’re tired and not up for it tonight?”
Isobel thought about Mel and all the guys waiting for her in the bar. They’d be disappointed if she didn’t show. And they’d have questions.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had that—people who wanted to celebrate the good times with her and noticed and cared about her enough to press when things were bad. If she’d ever had it at all, apart from the summer with Rick’s family at the stables. In the short months they’d all had together, the people at the ranch had started to feel like family.
“No, it’s all right,” Isobel finally said. She could grin and bear it for a few hours. Who knew, maybe being around everyone would help her forget her troubles for a while? Or at least help her put off making a decision. She was, after all, the queen of running away from things she didn’t want to face.
Her shoulders slumped at the thought but she stood and walked down the stairs and headed toward the sidewalk. Bubba’s was at the end of the block on the other side of the road. There weren’t any more cars parked out front than normal. They must have all either parked in the back or on side streets to keep up the illusion that it was just a regular night.
Hunter was quickly by her side, his hand sliding into hers. It was such a simple gesture, childish almost—holding hands. But Hunter’s grip was so firm and solid that again, she was tempted to believe that anything was possible. That what if maybe, just maybe, her future didn’t have to be as bleak as she always assumed?
How could a simple touch do that? But no, it wasn’t just any touch. It was Hunter.
Ugh, she was tired of her rollercoaster thoughts and emotions. Didn’t that just prove she wasn’t stable enough to trust herself?
Before she could think on that too long, though, they were in front of Bubba’s.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” Hunter asked, eyebrows furrowed in concern as he looked between her and the door.
“No.” She shook her head and then went up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Go see to the cow and then hurry back.” She looked up at him through her lashes, trying to end the evening on a lighter note. “After all, I still need my birthday spankings tonight.”
His eyes flared. “I’ll hold you to that.”
“You better.” When he pulled her into him to kiss her, she couldn’t help nipping at his lips. Lust flared through her body. At least this part was easy. There was zero confusion when it came to her body’s response to Hunter.
Was it cowardly to ignore everything else and just revel in their connection for a little longer? She winced.
Gorging now and ignoring future consequences was an addict’s logic.
Hunter’s arms were around her again—how did she keep letting herself get caught in this position?
“I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours,” Hunter said, dropping his forehead to hers, “but I want you to think about one thing.”
“What?”
“Look at me.”
She’d had her eyes cast down but she leaned back just far enough so she could meet his gaze. He didn’t say anything. She started to ask him what he was thinking but he just covered her lips with a finger. And stared into her eyes.
