Page 40 of Country Charm

“I have to pee. I’ll be right back.”

Once I finish peeing and washing my hands I climb back into the bed. I lie on my back and look at the slowly spinning ceiling fan for a moment. Hunter is fast asleep again, and I could easily just turn away from him and sleep. The thing is, I don’t want to. I can sense his inviting aura from two feet away pulling me closer.

I scoot up to his back and place my forehead betweenhis shoulder blades. Hunter reaches back, grabbing my wrist, pulling it over his waist. I sigh and try to not let too many thoughts busy my tired mind. After Hunter’s breaths even out, I place a small kiss in the middle of his broad back. In no time at all, I fall back into a peaceful sleep.

The next time I wake, I smell coffee—strong coffee. Damn, it smells really good. I roll over and see that the enormous bed I’m in is empty. There isn’t a clock in the room anywhere. I could bet that Hunter wakes up daily before the sun is even up.

I shuffle around in bed for a minute and will myself to go back to sleep. Today would have been my only day to sleep in. I have work tomorrow and got up early yesterday for Mary.

Mary!

I scramble out of bed and look around the floor for my jeans. Once I find them, I look in all my pockets and discover that my phone isn’t in any of them. It must have fallen out in the library when Hunter was trying to pull these off me. I find my underwear and turn them inside out before slipping them over my legs and on. Then I find my shirt and slip my arms into that, sans bra.

Opening the door, I take a peek around. I just need to find the staircase, then I can find the double doors.

The house looks plain but homey, it’s just missing a few pieces here and there. It’s almost like there had been more items around in the past but are now gone. I mentally play back the information Hunter has shared with me. His parents recently retired and left; if they left him this house,then they probably took some of their keepsakes, while deciding to leave others.

I walk on the balls of my feet and move as quietly as I can through the first floor. I smell food cooking in the kitchen and hear Hunter humming a tune while moving around. Once I find the staircase I try to silently climb. I achieve my goal, finding the library without detection. It wouldn’t be terrible running into Hunter, I just want to send a text to Mary telling her not to leave without me!

I open the double doors and become awestruck by the space all over again. It’s so much more beautiful during the day. I start to lose myself as I take in the detail on the built-ins.

Focus! Mary first, then books!

I walk over to the couch where Hunter tried to remove my pants and don’t see my phone anywhere. I get down on my hands and knees and start to crawl around looking for it.

Nothing. I sit back on my heels and run my fingers through my hair. Letting out a heavy exhale I try to think of where else it could be.

“Lookin’ for your phone, Beautiful?” Hunter’s voice comes from behind me. I peek over my shoulder and see him holding two steaming mugs.

“Yeah, did you already find it?” I push myself up and walk over to him.

He’s wearing relaxed and well-worn jeans, but that’s it. It doesn’t even look like he’s wearing underwear. His blonde hair is messy but still somehow so attractive.

“Yeah, it’s on the charger in the kitchen. Cream or black?”

I look into both mugs, taking the lighter-colored cup from his grasp.

“Cream, please.”

I breathe in the strong aroma and drink the first quarter of the cup.

“Damn, that’s good.” I look up through my lashes and see Hunter watching me closely. He has an easy smile on his face.

“Come on downstairs. Let me feed you before I bring you back.” He grabs my hand and starts guiding me back down the stairs to a grand kitchen.

The entire space is huge and homey. The cabinets are all off-white and, in the details, a darker color shows through. The countertops all along the wall are poured concrete, but the enormous island in the middle is made of wood. In the city people pitch fits over having stone countertops, and here is the most beautiful kitchen I’ve ever seen, without it. There are some trinkets here and there, but the same feeling of items missing is present.

Two plates of French toast, fresh fruit, and scrambled eggs sit on the island in front of two stools. I sit in one and Hunter sits in the other to my left. He reaches across the space and grabs my electric lifeline.

14 unread messages.

3 missed calls.

“Oh shit,” I groan. I open my phone and find all the messages from Mary and Lynn.

Lynn: Hmmm, not interested huh?

Lynn: Tell Hunter I say Hi.

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