Page 8 of Wildest Dreams

Oh no, no, no.

I almost stumble back a step as the large black G-wagon pulls into view, parking directly in front of one of the cosy lakeside cabins.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I say, as I watch two more trucks pull up to the shore on the opposite side of the lake.

“Oh my God!” Fallon screams, squealing with delight as she realises what’s happening right now. “Is that–?”

A small whimper leaves my throat. “Yes,” I whisper, horrified.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe they did this! Hunter!” she calls out as her soon-to-be-pro hockey player boyfriend heavily dismounts from the passenger side of his best friend’s car.

He’s immediately grinning our way, radiating his heady natural confidence, but it’s the guy in the drivers’ seat who sends my pulse into overtime.

My palms grow slick as my cheeks burn red.

I hear the quiet thud of his boots hitting the dirt as he trudges around the front of the car, drawling about something to Hunter in his deep country accent. But Hunter says something back to him and he immediately stops talking.

He lifts his head in our direction, and his eyes burn straight into mine.

After graduating a couple of weeks ago I never thought that I would see him again.

And of all the places to spend his summer break, he’s here, with nothing but the lake between us.

Tanner.

He’s here.

My jaw practically hits the floor.

He holds my gaze for what feels like an eternity, his large shoulders rising and falling as we stare at each other over the lake in silence.

But then he breaks the daydream, just like he always has.

He shoves a hand through his hair and jerks his chin at me.

“Howdy neighbour.”

Chapter 2

Tanner

Present day

I keep my eyes locked in with Aisling’s until she defiantly lifts her chin and swishes away, and then I’m turning around to face Hunter, jerking my thumb across the lake.

“Explain.”

Hunter blinks. “Explain what?”

“Aisling O’Malley,” I say roughly. “What the hell is she doing here?”

“She’s on summer break,” he says, likeisn’t it fucking obvious?“I told you, I’m staying near Fallon while she’s doing her thing here. I mean, look at that place.” He tips his chin and I glance reluctantly across the lake. “How secure does that look to you?”

Aisling and Fallon are having a frantic conversation in front of a large wood and stone lake house, with large lower and upper story windows and an expansive wrap-around porch.

The forest stretches behind it, dark and dense.

I shove my tongue in my cheek, understanding Hunter’s point.

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