Page 8 of His Curvy Woman

Chapter 4

Hunter

After I gotoff my shift at the firehouse, I rushed home to grab a shower and quickly clean up my place. My living room is still littered with moving boxes, and I barely have any furniture, besides my couch and the flat-screen TV that is mounted above the fireplace. My bedroom only has my king size bed with more boxes. I intend to end the night back at my place so we can talk about why I left and more importantly that I’m back for her. Hell, I won’t deny that if she slipped me a few more of those kisses she gave me last night I would be a happy man.

I stop by the only florist in town and grab her a bouquet of wildflowers. I have no idea what her favorite flowers are, but I’ll be sure to find out. There’s still so much that I need to know about her. On the ride over to her place, I run through the many things that I need to tell her, namely that I’m making her my woman if she’ll have me. When I pull up the drive to her parent’s home, I’m fifteen minutes early like I’ve planned. There is still one person I haven’t seen since I’ve been back that I need to.

I ring the doorbell to the Grant family home and wait nervously. When the door opens, I look at the woman who has a few more grays in her hair but never looked more beautiful. “Hey, Mrs. Grant,” I say nervously. Suddenly I’m that awkward seventeen-year-old boy again, seeking her approval. When she says nothing but looks at me warily, I worry that she doesn’t remember me, or worse she doesn’t approve of how I’ve turned out. “It’s Hunter, Hunter Stone. I used to come over a lot and hang out with Ramsey back in high school.”

“I know who you are.” She snips and crosses her arms against her chest and gives me a hard stare.

“Oh.” Fuck, she’s a hardass. “Well, I just wanted to stop by and-”

“I’m mad at you.”

All week I’ve been running into people I used to know, all of them shocked, but happy to see me. Now it’s my turn to be shocked. “I’m sorry ma’am. I don’t mean to be rude, but what have I done?”

Her hard stare begins to melt, and a small grin appears on her face. “You always did have the best manners, Hunter.”

“You made sure of that.”

“I sure did. Well get in here and give this old woman a hug.” She says and opens her screen door to let me in. Relieved, I step through her doorway and tower over her by at least a foot. She opens her arms, and I envelop the woman who reminds me so much of my own mom in a big hug. I probably hug her longer than I should, maybe squeeze a little too tight, but damn it’s good to see her. “I’m so glad you’re home, Hunter.” Her voice cracks and I can tell she’s trying to keep herself from crying.

I pull back and watch as she wipes a few tears from her cheeks. “I’m sorry we left, and I didn’t tell anyone where I was going.”

She waves me off. “Oh, I pulled it out of Ramsey a month after you left. I was surprised he was able to keep it to himself for that long. Usually, he’s a blabbermouth. I am a little hurt that it took you a week to come and see me, though.” She half teases.

I let out a sigh of relief and laugh. “Oh, sorry. It’s been a little crazy since getting back into town.”

She quirks her eyebrow at me. “I see you didn’t waste any time with Whitley.”

Mrs. Grant is probably the only person who can make me blush. “Nothing happened before now Mrs. Grant, I give you my word.”

“I know that. I also know that you cared for my Whitley before it was right to. I only prayed that you gave her time to grow before you told her about how you felt for her. Then you left. I wondered if you would ever come back. Once my John told me you had met with him for the open position at his firehouse, I knew it was only a matter of time before you’d be showing up for Whitley.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m taking her out for dinner tonight. I’ll have her back at a decent hour.”

“She’s an adult now Hunter. Whitley can do as she pleases. I know she’s safe in your hands, isn’t she?”

“I’ll never let any harm come to her Mrs. Grant, I give you my word.”

Mrs. Grant pats my cheek. “I know you won’t Hunter because if you did, you’d have a lot of angry men chomping at the bit to take you out for hurting her.” Oh, she seems sweet, but if anything, ever happened to her children or her husband, the devil would rise up out of her, and there would be hell to pay.

The clock on the oven beeps, signaling that it’s seven o’clock. “Shit, I mean shoot. Sorry Mrs. Grant. I got to go and pick up Whitley.”

She laughs at me. “Well, it’s a good thing she’s only a minute away.”

I give her a quick hug goodbye and head back to the front door. I look back at Mrs. Grant, and she gives me a warm smile. “Hunter, I’m glad you’re home, sweetheart.”

“Me too,” I say before stepping out the front door and closing it behind me.

Jesus that woman knows how to bust my balls. Smiling, I walk back to my truck, almost forgetting Whitley’s flowers, then make a beeline behind the main house and to Whitley’s front door. I knock, waiting impatiently for her to answer. When the door opens, I’m not prepared for the woman standing before me. Whitley is gorgeous but done up like this, she’s breathtaking. All of my innocent intentions for tonight are gone, and now I’m wondering how long it will take me to smear that pink gloss off her lips and get her out of that fucking top.

“Do I look okay?” Whitley asks, fidgeting with the clutch she holds in her hands.

“Absolutely perfect.” I rasp and grab the door frame for support. I would never admit to being weak, but this woman is about to bring me to my damn knees.

She smiles brightly, and the fidgeting stops. “Are those for me?” She asks, pointing at the bouquet in my hands.

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