Page 37 of Baked

“I don’t understand?” Hunter was the one to nudge her nose with his this time.

“I’ve had relationships, but ... I don’t know, I guess we kind of skipped the dating part.” She shrugged. “No one has ever planned an actual date for me before or even taken me out for a dinner that didn’t come from a drive-through. That’s sad, right?” Wary eyes filled his vision again.

“Not just sad, baby, it’s a fucking tragedy,” he ground out. “Any asshole that doesn’t recognize you as the goddamn fairy princess you are and treats you accordingly doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as you ... let alone have the privilege of being in a relationship with you.”

“A fairy princess, huh?” Wariness had now been replaced with sparkle so bright it was enough to make him gulp.

Had he really just called her a fairy princess out loud?

Fucking A man. She’s gonna think you’ve got a screw loose.

There was nothing to say to that. She’d heard him, and he wasn’t about to repeat it. So he did what he did best, he didn’t say anything. But that didn’t seem to faze her. She carried on as if he hadn’t just shut down.

“Can I plan our next date?”

Again with the surprises. “The man is the one who plans the dates, honeybun.”

“No, that’s sexist. Plus, if I’m the one asking you out, then I should be the one to plan it. So ... Hunter Campbell, will you do me the honor of going on a date with me?”

God, she was cute. Back was his smile. Those stretch lines were going to leave a mark by the time the day was up. “On one condition.”

A matching smile tipped her lips. “Which is?”

“Kiss me.”

Sugar was teasing his tastebuds just a second later—plump, cherry-red lips giving his heart its very own stress test. Yeah. He did good. Well done, llamas.

***

“Hunter? What are youdoing here?” Luke’s guard was steel-enforced as he eyed him curiously.

Hunter may have been occupied the last couple of days, but he hadn’t forgotten about his friend. His friend who, if his now fully-fledged beard was anything to go by, was clearly going through something. Which was why Hunter had decided to stop by. Unannounced.

“Can I come in?”

It’d been a while since he’d stepped foot inside Luke’s house. He wasn’t an “invite people over” type of guy. But as his friend stepped aside and gestured him in, Hunter remembered just how nice the place was.

The hallway he stepped into was so grand that he was sure it would echo if he spoke. Those tall ceilings continued right on into the front room, as did the modern furnishings. Spotless white walls made it look more like a show home than a bachelor pad. And the fact that everything was meticulously neat was making Hunter a little scared to touch anything.

Thankfully the big leather couches looked inviting, and there was nothing too fragile nearby that he had to worry about breaking. Only an expensive-looking coffee table that had been made to resemble a travel trunk.

A pissed-off-looking Luke was hot on his tail, but he didn’t join him on the couch. He stood and stared, not bothering to hide his irritation at having his space invaded.

“So ... you gonna tell me what you’re doing here? Has something happened? Is Rachel okay?” his friend asked rather impatiently.

“Rachel’s good. Are you?”

No reply. Only narrowed eyes.

“Well? Are you good?” Hunter asked again.

Luke blew out a carefully measured breath, obviously trying his best to keep his composure. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why wouldn’t I be good?”

Ah. Denial.

To be fair, that was exactly what Hunter was expecting. After all, his friend wasn’t used to real conversations. Neither was he. But that ended today.

“Don’t play dumb, man. Your beard has officially reached Yeti status—shit is going on with you. Which is why I’m here. I’m not gonna leave until you tell me what.” He was staging a sit-in.

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