Page 66 of Trail to Trouble
They entered the house at the lowest level, which sported a wooden bar flanked with tall chainsaw eagle carvings. The room held a pool table, a dart game, and a large television with a few theater seats in front of it.
Hunter pointed to a doorway to the right. “That’s just the basement full of stuff.”
He pointed to the left. “Utility room and stairs leading up to the garage.”
She nodded, then she followed him up the steps in the center of the room, which brought them into the grand living room. The floor-to-ceiling windows she’d seen from the outside were part of the open concept living room, kitchen, and dining room area.
Everything about his home was stunning.
“Would you like something to drink? Beer, wine, soda?” he asked.
“A glass of wine would be nice.”
She needed that to take the edge off. She was happy to be here, but scared and nervous.
“Merlot?”
“Perfect.”
He pulled a bottle from the freestanding canoe-shaped, metal wine rack next to the kitchen counter and poured them each a glass.
“Cheers,” he said, and they clinked glasses.
“I’d better go grab those steaks and potatoes before they’re extra crispy. I’ll be right back. Make yourself at home,” he said as he grabbed a tray from the kitchen island and disappeared back down the stairs they’d just come up.
She watched him out the window. He was a sight for sore eyes, for sure.
When he returned, he set the tray on the counter and then placed the steaks and potatoes onto plates and handed one to her. He led her to the dining room table, where he’d already placed the silverware and condiments.
The room was awkwardly quiet.
“The steak tastes wonderful.”
He grinned.
“Thank you.”
More silence and gaze avoidance.
Hunter’s chest rose with the deep breath he took.
“I’m going to cut to the chase. I don’t know why this seems so hard. I couldn’t wait for you to get here, and I had so many questions I planned to ask you about how you are doing and what you’ve been up to, but I’m hesitant to ask,” he blurted.
She stared into his caring eyes. He reached over and placed his large, warm hand over hers. The familiar comfort of his touch was overwhelming. She wanted to tell him everything. He was one of the few people who already knew some of the details, but the less he knew, the better. Other than her two brothers, she was close to no one. It was too hard. New friends wanted to know her past, like any friend would. The simplest of questions she couldn’t answer. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school? What are your parents like? Are you going home for Christmas? Her old life as Hannah was a past she couldn’t share, and she hated telling the story of her made-up life. Sometimes, especially in the beginning, she’d slip up on the details of her alter-life, and that made her look like a liar. It became easier not to make friends. It was a lonely life. Her brothers felt the same.
“Han...Katrina, you don’t need to tell me anything you don’t want to.”
He just slipped up, almost calling her Hannah. She shouldn’t be here. She should jerk her hand back, but she couldn’t. Didn’t want to.
She nodded.
He pulled his hand back, forked a piece of meat, and popped it into his mouth. His gaze stayed on her.
She cleared her throat. “I never thought my life would turn out this way. It got so derailed.”
He nodded.
“Every day, I think back to that hiking trip when I met you. Even before that, when I met Sebastián. If I had just made different decisions.”
