Page 53 of Shades of You

Chapter Twenty-Five

Brenna

DoveKey’s warm evening breeze ruffled through my hair, carrying the muffled voices spilling from the open doors of bars and shops lining Main Street. Hunter and I strolled hand in hand, and our steps were unhurried as we enjoyed the evening after dinner at a local hideout.

“Did you see Mrs. Henderson’s face when you kissed me?” Hunter’s voice was a low rumble next to me, his thumb caressing the back of my hand.

“Let her look,” I said, arching a brow. “I don’t care tonight.”

Hunter smiled and pulled me in for a quick peck on the lips—while strolling down Main Street! That kiss at Rousseau’s wasn’t just a kiss. It was a declaration, one I’d made beneath the soft glow of candlelight and curious onlookers. I was still surprised that I’d stood and leaned across the table to plant a long, fat smooch on his lips, but I’d been unable to resist the urge. Though a corner of my mind was still worried about my family’s reaction to the twoof us, Hunter’s catharsis on No Name Key had solidified that he was working through his trauma. And I couldn’t have been happier or prouder.

“Ah, Brenna, what am I going to do with you?” he teased, but his gaze held something warmer. Something very, very sexy.

“Mmm. I can think of a few things.”

He slung his arm over my shoulders, and I reached up to lace our hands once more. As we ambled, I caught sight of the antique store nestled between a boutique dress shop and an ice cream parlor. My steps slowed, drawn to the window display like a moth to a flame. The books behind the glass beckoned, their spines rich with history and secrets. Rare tomes, luxurious leather-bound editions, and hand-tooled covers taunted me. And as we stood before these precious, important books, solemnity replaced my mirth. From the corner of my eye, I studied the man beside me.

Again and again this past week, I’d mulled over the story Hunter had told. His confession had shaken me—not because of what he’d said but because of how much it had hurt him to say it. He’d bared his soul, shared a wound so deep I could almost feel its sting myself. But even through all his guilt and pain, there was something beautiful about Hunter’s vulnerability. It was raw and real and undeniably human.

A pang hit me hard as I glanced at him from the corner of my eye—his profile etched against the windowpane, eyes focused on the display. His strength and need to protect deeply impressed me. Not just physical strength but emotional resilience too—the kind you only gain from surviving life’s harshest battles. I wished I could take away his pain, which had been clear on his face several times inthe week since, even when he looked at me. But all I could do was be there for him—a steady presence in his tumultuous world.

And I was coming to realize something else. If I’d learned one thing from our day searching for Key deer, it was that Hunter Markham wasn’t just another chapter in my life.

He was turning out to be the whole damn book.

And I knew something else too—love wasn’t about perfection. It was about accepting someone with all their flaws and scars. And I was ready to love Hunter, for everything he was and everything he believed he wasn’t. Yet, how could I make him see his own worth when he was so hell-bent on believing otherwise?

For now, all I could do was offer him my support and hope it would be enough to help mend his fractured soul. And surely he had to be on the way to healing, for why else would he share such vulnerability with me?

And for us, it always returned to books. No matter how massive and menacing Hunter had become, he was still the boy who loved to read. And that brought the smile back to my face as I studied the window display. A soft sigh escaped my lips when I visualized a particular treasure hidden within the store. It was tucked away from prying eyes and safely ensconced in a locked cabinet.

I turned to Hunter with a wistful smile. “There’s a rare first edition ofThe Sun Also Risesinside.” I pointed vaguely into the depths of the shop. “I’ve been trying to persuade the shop owner to part with it for years, but he holds onto it like it’s his own personal treasure. He simply won’t let it go.” I shrugged, a laugh escaping me as I brushed off the minor disappointment.

He bumped my shoulder with his. “Iremember you talking about that book. I imagine there are plenty of other priceless tomes you can covet.”

“More than I could count in a lifetime. Which makes me very lucky.”

Hunter gave me a wink. “Just as well. Hemingway is my turf. So back off, missy.”

“Touché.” I let my eyes roam back to the window, where they were drawn to a stunning leather-bound version ofRomeo and Juliet. Gold lettering shined in the soft light from the streetlamp, making it hard to look away. I couldn’t help but wonder about Hunter’s past love, if that romance he’d mentioned had been as tragic and all-consuming as Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers. Since he wasn’t with her, I doubted their story had a happy ending. The woman in Afghanistan would certainly fit the situation.

Curiosity clawed at my insides, but I clamped down on the questions wanting to spill from my lips. This night was ours, and I wanted nothing more than to revel in the beauty of the present and the chemistry that sizzled between us.

“Am I going to have to toss you over my shoulder to haul you away from this window?” Hunter’s voice was soft, his thumb tracing circles over the back of my neck.

That brought me back with a laugh. “You’d probably do it.”

He grinned at me and pointed with his head. “Let’s keep going. I feel like taking my girl back to my place.”

“Oh? That sounds promising. Lead on, good sir.”

Our fingers intertwined once again as we continued down Main Street, wrapped up in our own world. One where the ending was yet to be written and every chapter held the promise of passion and redemption. As we approached the stoic façade of KeyMark Security, Hunter’sstride slowed, and he turned to me with a glint in his eyes. “How about we head up to my rooftop?”

I tipped my head back, intrigued by his spontaneity. “Sure, but why?”

“You’ll see.” He flashed me a grin that set off a fluttering sensation deep in my belly. “We haven’t gone up there yet, and it’s a nice night.”

“Very nice night. Now I’m intrigued.”

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