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“It’s true,” I protested. “We’re both realists. He lives hours away, and I’m completely incapable of relationships, so friends it is.”
“We’ll see about that,” his mom muttered, and I snickered. “It’s true, Daisy. You’re an absolute sweetheart with enough fire in you to keep Hunter in line.”
I laughed, absorbing all the compliments while shaking my head. “There is no keeping Hunter in line.”
“Very true,” Evie said, pointing her fork at me with a cheese curd on the tip. “Knowing that, you’ll fit right in with the family.”
“Guys, let’s not scare her off.” Hunter’s gaze locked on mine, and that’s when I knew he’d never be able to.
Until his phone buzzed and Brielle announced she’d be in town and would be stopping by the bar in four days.
It was like that bit of news ripped away all the good cheer I’d managed to bottle up, and now, I wanted nothing more than to go back home to Buttercup Lake and start my holidays over.
Chapter Fourteen
Hunter
This wasn’t the ending I’d expected for tonight. Brielle had a real knack, and I was at the point of wanting to block her, but there was something extremely persistent about her tactics that had me worried. After all of my family had left for their drive back to Buttercup Lake, I texted a quickFineto Brielle and hoped that whatever she wanted to talk about would just end on that day.
Daisy became quiet the moment she saw the text pop up on my phone, and I didn’t blame her.
What was starting between her and me was special. She knew it, and I knew it.
And I shouldn’t be having random messages from an ex continually popping up, but they were.
Daisy and I had come back to my place, and she immediately wandered to the Christmas tree, admiring the ornaments that my mom had helped me with.
She gasped when her fingers fell to the one I’d hoped she’d see.
“Hunter, how did you get this?” Her eyes flew back to the ornament that was the photo of her flipping a pancake.
I laughed. “Hallmark has just about everything, and I got the photo done at the one-hour photo next to it. I can be pretty ingenious when it’s important.”
Her eyes connected to mine, and she nodded. “I see that, and I’m flattered.”
I slowly walked toward Daisy, feeling the connection between us only getting stronger.
“I’m sorry about that text popping up.”
She shrugged and turned her gaze back to the tree. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s really not.”
I slowly traced my arms around her waist and turned her toward me. “I want you to know that I’m falling for you, Daisy. Hell, I’ve already fallen for you. I’m past that now. There isn’t a second that goes by when I’m not thinking about you.”
“Hunter,” she whispered, cupping her hands on my chest. “I’m scared of losing you.”
Daisy’s words dug deep into my soul. They weren’t just frivolous words. She meant it. She’d forever lost the two people she cared about most in this world.
She wasn’t worried that I’d just go away and not talk to her. She was worried about the greatest kind of pain.
Loss.
“All we can promise each other is our own forever,” I said softly. “But I don’t want you to be afraid with me, Daisy. We can learn, grow, and imagine our own futures. Together.”
A tiny smile curved onto her lips, and she let out a wistful sigh. “Then I want to spend as much time together as we can… learning.”
“I can do that.”
