Page 59 of New Year, New Guy
Chapter Thirty-Two
Laura did her best to be objective but instantly fell in love with Hunter’s gorgeous cabin and its beautiful setting about a mile outside of Brush Creek, a community that hardly warranted the title of village with its small cluster of houses and single all-purpose shop. They ignored the chill in the air to eat lunch out on the porch, bundled up in thick jumpers and with cosy plaid blankets tucked around their legs. He’d designed it to wrap completely around the house and make the most of the views in every direction. Right now the only noise came from the birds chattering in the trees and her lover’s soft snore as he dozed in one of the antique rocking chairs. She ran her fingers over the curved arms of her own rocker, the wood burnished by a combination of age and generations of stroking hands to a soft honeyed colour.
When they’d arrived Hunter had given her a quick tour of his home, and his passion for the place he’d created with his own hands was dazzling. He could recite the history behind every piece of wood, some salvaged from old barns and others saved from disused factories or shops. The comparisons with her cookie cutter house couldn’t be more glaring.
There wasn’t another home in sight, the gravel road would never have cars parallel parked 24/7 and the constant rumble of lorries along the main road wouldn’t be a problem here, because they would find it a challenge to make it up the winding hilltop roads. She’d always considered herself a town girl who enjoyed the countryside without wanting to live there but this made her rethink everything. She’d declared her intention to resign from the hospital and assumed that she’d get another nursing job because being a nurse was an integral part of who she was . . . but maybe that was negotiable too?
When she tossed out the idea of moving to Polly, did this place nestle in the back of her mind even then?
‘Winters can be a challenge.’ Hunter stirred and stretched. ‘Sometimes I sleep in my office in downtown Gatlinburg because the roads are too bad to make it back up here.’
‘I can’t imagine you living anywhere else.’
‘I’m adaptable.’ His eyes narrowed on her and she caught his hitched breath. ‘At the end of the day unless you’re around, I’ll be damn miserable.’
‘What are you saying?’ A nervous wobble betrayed her conflicting emotions.
‘The only obstacles are the ones we place there.’
‘Obstacles to what?’
‘Oh, Laura.’ Hunter pushed up from the chair and straightened his back out before beckoning her over. ‘Come here.’ As he’d done so many other times, he didn’t speak but simply held her. Before meeting him she’d never experienced the magical powers of a warm, all-encompassing hug and now was convinced its benefits should be available on the NHS. ‘I need you to be part of my life. In fact, I can’t imagine it without you these days.’
‘But we haven’t known each other long.’
‘—do you see me down on one knee waving a diamond ring around?’
‘Well, no.’
Hunter’s kiss, laced with hints of the sweet apple pie they’d eaten, centred her on what genuinely mattered. He rocked gently against her core and it took all her resolve not to suggest they take the conversation back to the bedroom. With a rueful chuckle he held her at arm’s length. ‘I’ve got the willpower of a gnat around you.’
‘I think that was a southern style compliment.’
‘Sure was.’
‘I said I had things to tell you, but you stole my line.’ Hunter gave her a quizzical smile. ‘Being unable to imagine my life without you was supposed to be my big declaration.’
‘I’ve no objection to sharin’ it.’ He looked bashful. ‘In fact, it’s damn good to hear we’re on the same page.’
For the first time she caught a glimpse of how the future might look if they had the courage to grab it.
* * *
Saying the right thing had never been his strong suit but thankfully Laura didn’t expect Shakespearean wordiness from him.
‘Forget about logistics.’ Her smile encouraged him to touch her again, restricting it to grasping her small, sturdy hands in the hope that he could still use his head to think instead of less cerebral parts of the body. ‘I reckon we can give the long distance thing a try while we explore our options.’ Hunter held his breath, unsure if it was a good or bad sign when Laura’s expression didn’t change.
‘That works for me.’
‘Uh, good.’ Shouldn’t it be more momentous when two people reached an important crossroads and chose to go in the same direction?
‘In case you weren’t certain, I’m really, really happy right now.’ Golden sparks set fire to her laughing eyes. ‘You did all that perfectly.’
‘I did?’
‘Oh yes, only one thing would make it better.’ Laura shook a warning finger in his face. ‘I’m not talking about rings and proposals, silly man. Not yet.’ Trailing a path down his chest she lingered on the zipper of his jeans. ‘The king-sized bed you showed me earlier looked very . . . spacious.’
‘Let’s christen it.’ A flare of surprise heated her pale skin. They hadn’t discussed his past love life beyond the bare bones, so she wasn’t to know he’d never brought another woman here. When he admitted the truth, she rewarded him with one of her glorious, verging-on-triumphant smiles.
