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“Don’t worry about it,” I say with a shrug, trying not to betray my disappointment. “At least it worked. Thank you for getting him to leave.”
“Yeah, I got him to leave, but not before he called you names.” Hunter’s jaw clenches. “It makes me sick that he spoke to you like that. I’d love to know who gave him that black eye. I want to shake their hand.”
“It was your brother,” I say with a smile. “Grayson. He punched Edmund after everything he did to Willow.”
Hunter raises an eyebrow, intrigued. “What did Edmund do to Willow?”
I recount the story of the diamond necklace. How Edmund stole it and planted it in my sister’s bag before accusing her in front of all the guests at my bridal shower. How Willow ran away and ended up in Grayson’s barn where he found her hiding that evening. How they fell hard and fast before confronting Edmund and clearing Willow’s name using security footage. Hunter listens with rapt attention.
“Shit,” he mutters. “I knew they were together, but I had no idea Edmund was involved. Sounds like I owe Grayson a drink.”
He finishes up the sandwiches, plating them up and setting mine down in front of me.
“Thank you,” I say with a smile. “It looks delicious.”
We eat in silence for a few moments before Hunter’s eyes meet mine, those forest-green irises drawing me in.
“Mind if I ask you a personal question?” he says.
My pulse quickens. “Go ahead.”
“What’s the story with you and Edmund?”
It’s the question I was expecting, but it still makes my stomach drop.
“You don’t have to answer,” Hunter adds quickly. “Like I said yesterday, feel free to tell me to mind my own damn business.”
I shake my head, setting down my sandwich. “It’s okay. After everything that’s happened, I’m not surprised that you’re curious.” I fiddle nervously with my fingers, unsure of where to begin. “I met Edmund about six months ago. I was working in a bar, up to my neck in student loans, barely able to pay rent, and spending my days wishing I could be anywhere else.” I feel my eyes prick with emotion as I think back to that time. The loneliness. The desperation. “Then one day, in walks Edmund Fontaine. And for some reason, I caught his eye. He asked me out, and from there, everything just went crazy. He showered me with gifts and told me he could make all my dreams come true, for myself and my family.” I feel a warm tear roll down my cheek, but I don’t stop talking. “He seemed so kind. Then a few months later, he asked me to marry him.”
Hunter is watching me intently, his sandwich forgotten on the plate. I take a deep shuddering breath and continue talking. “I said no. I said I was sorry but that I couldn’t go through with it. I told him I wasn’t in love with him. But he said it didn’t matter. He said I’d grow to love him. He said if I wanted to get out of my miserable situation, marrying him was the only choice. He said I’d be able to provide for my sister so she could finally pursue her dreams. He said I could send money to my parents. He said…he said a lot of things. And he was so convincing, so manipulative. He was so good at making me doubt myself that eventually, I accepted his proposal.”
The biggest mistake of my life.
“After I accepted, he slowly started to show his true colors. He started getting under my skin, controlling me, dictating what I wore, isolating me in Fontaine House, and trying to convince me I didn’t need anybody but him. And if I ever did manage to get out of there and meet up with Willow, he’d insist on coming with me. He was so rude to her. So mean. He was always looking down his nose at people.”
I feel Hunter’s warm hand settle over mine as I talk, and I relax slightly at his touch, letting the words flow.
“I could see he was controlling and manipulative, but I felt like it was too late. I thought if I called off the wedding, I would be letting everybody down. My sister and her dreams of running her Etsy shop full time. My parents and their constant demands for money. I was such a coward, Hunter. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
“You’re not a coward,” he says firmly, squeezing my hand. “He trapped you. He controlled and manipulated you. He sounds like an abusive piece of shit.”
I nod, wiping my eyes. “I can see that now. But he went too far when he messed with my sister. As soon as I saw that security footage, it was over.” I sigh, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders now that I’ve said it all out loud. “I’ve spent so long going along with what other people want. I’m ready to make a change. I want to go after what I want. And what I want right now is never to see Edmund Fontaine again.”
“I’ll make sure you never have to,” Hunter says firmly, absent-mindedly rubbing his thumb in circles against the skin of my hand. “I won’t let him near you, Avery.”
His words make me feel so safe. So protected. For a moment, it’s easy to forget that he’s not actually my boyfriend. It’s easy to forget that this is all temporary and that I’ll be leaving the ranch in a few days. Somehow, one day with Hunter has made me happier than six months with Edmund ever did.
But he’s not actually your boyfriend, I remind myself. That kiss wasn’t real. It didn’t mean anything to Hunter.
It’s a bitter thought to swallow, even if I know it’s the truth. Hunter already told me that he’s a loner by nature, and one day with a girl who attracts chaos is hardly going to change that.
“What are you thinking about?” Hunter asks, eyeing me.
I force a smile. “Just thinking about how I’m glad I ended up on your doorstep. You’ve been so good to me, even though all I’ve done is bring you trouble. I promise I’ll be out of your hair soon.”
His brow furrows. “There’s no hurry, Avery. You can stay as long as you want.”
But what if I want to stay forever? What if I never want to leave this beautiful place? What if I never want to leave this perfect cowboy?
