Page 46 of New Year, New Guy
‘Thought it might be.’
‘I’m gonna finish fixin’ our food.’ He raised one thick brow. ‘Think you can babysit the toast while I see to the eggs?’
‘That might not be too big a strain on my culinary skills.’
Hunter’s phone buzzed and he frowned at the screen. ‘It’s from an unknown number in Newquay. Do you think it could possibly be Danny? He must have got my letter by now and I did include all my contact details. What do I do?’
‘Answer it? It might not be him. Could be a double glazing salesman.’
With a grim expression, he swiped right to accept the call and turned on the speaker so she could hear the conversation.
‘Hello, Hunter? This is Daniel. Daniel Pearce.’
Laura’s heart thundered in her ears so she could only imagine what his was doing.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The deep voice retained the slight hesitance of the shy teenager Hunter remembered.
‘Your letter took me by surprise.’
‘Yeah, I suppose it—’
‘?—My first thought was that you’ve got a bloody nerve after all these years.’ Danny steamrollered his attempt to explain. ‘My second was to come to Plymouth and beat the living daylights out of you.’ A mirthless laugh trickled down the phone. ‘That would only work if I’d spent every day of the last twenty years in the gym and you’d shrunk.’
‘Can’t help you out there. I’ve filled out more and grown a couple of inches.’
‘Right, I’ll abandon that plan then.’
‘Was there a third option?’
‘My wife suggested inviting you here for lunch today, if you’re free.’
The idea scared him shitless, but how could he refuse? Laura pointed to herself and mimicked driving the car. ‘That would be great.’Liar.‘Is it a problem if my. . .’Hell, what did he call her?‘. . . my, um, girlfriend brings me? She doesn’t have to stay.’
‘Of course she can stay. We’ll be delighted to meet her.’ Danny rattled off directions to his house. ‘It’s a straight run down to Newquay and this time of year should only take you an hour or so. Plan to arrive about one.’
A moment later he was left holding a dead phone and wondering what he’d stupidly agreed to.
‘Girlfriend?’
‘Sorry, didn’t mean to—’
‘—Don’t apologise! I like it.’ Her face could do double duty as a traffic light. ‘Anyone would think I was fifteen. Can peopleeven be boyfriend and girlfriend when they’re both well over thirty?’
‘We can be whatever we want.’ Hunter stroked a rogue curl back from her face. ‘You’re okay with the whole lunch thing? I really need you with me.’ He couldn’t remember the last time he admitted that he needed another person. Maybe that was one way he’d gone adrift with his parents?
‘I’m totally good with the whole thing.’ Laura snuggled into him. ‘Those sausages must be well and truly dead by now. I hope you’ll do better than this the next time you promise to feed me.’
‘Sit down and save your skills for navigating y’all’s weird roads and those circle things.’
‘I’ll teach you to cope with roundabouts yet.’
The promise of something longer term between them hung in the air.
* * *
Laura’s stomach rumbled as she merged onto the A30 at Bodmin. ‘I hope Mrs Pearce is a good cook.’ In the end neither of them had managed to do anything more than push breakfast around the plate.
