Page 33 of Reforming Hunt
He scratched the side of his jaw, scruffy as though he’d run out in a hurry this morning and hadn’t taken the time to shave. “It’s nothing permanent. They’ll probably appreciate the extra security. Everyone wants their property protected.” He notched up his chin. “What’re you cooking over there? Looks like pancakes.”
“That’s because it is pancakes.” Speaking of—Abby spun to flip the food before it burned. Hunt was rubbing his stomach when she turned back around.
“I haven’t eaten breakfast myself.” He gave her the saddest puppy-dog eyes she’d ever seen. “I wanted to run this errand before I went into work.”
She shook her head. “That’s the most pathetic attempt at inviting yourself to breakfast.”
“Did it work?” He lowered his voice. “Besides, I’m doing myfiancéduties and taking care of my woman. Can’t have the doors unsecured. What kind of man would I be if I put my food intake ahead of your and Noah’s safety?”
Her belly dropped. Damn him, he was good.
But that wasn’t what this was about. It was all a show. Only now, Noah was an avid audience to the interplay between her and Hunt.
“What’s a fiancé?” Noah asked.
If Abby followed through with the fake marriage, Noah would need to see this. He’d need to know Abby and Hunt were more than just friends. She hated lying to her son, but she couldn’t tell him the truth until she’d made a firm decision. Noah was completely guileless at this age, and incapable of lying. Vivian would hear the truth from Noah, and the jig would be up.
“I’ll explain later,” she told Noah. She sent Hunt a look. “Would you like to join us for breakfast?”
He gave her a toothy grin. “Only if it’s not too much trouble.”
* * *
After a breakfastin which both boy and man consumed an inordinate amount of pancakes and bacon, Abby stood and put dishes in the dishwasher.
“I have a proposition for you,” Hunt said, and Abby looked up. “What do you think of me taking Noah to the store to buy those chain locks? You’d have an hour or so to yourself.”
An entire hour to herself? Yes, there was laundry to do, but still… Except this wasn’t Club Kids. This was Hunt taking her son in the car and driving off somewhere. “I don’t know,” she said, and looked at Noah.
“Yes!” Noah shouted, and ran to his bedroom.
Hunt laughed. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said it in front of him. You can still back out.”
If she was considering marrying this man, she needed to be able to trust him around her son. Technically, Hunt spent as much time with Noah as she did—or more so due to Club Tahoe—so it was silly to stand on ceremony now.
Noah returned and stripped off his pajamas before putting on pants and a T-shirt. The shirt went on backward, of course.
Abby closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Noah, we change in the bedroom.”
“Hunt’s leaving,” Noah said, “and I want to go with him.”
Hunt looked up, a question on his face.
There went her quality time with her son on her day off. Truthfully, she spent almost no time by herself, and she could use it. “Okay, but can you take my car? It has the car seat.”
Hunt looked out the window and winced. “No, no, I got this.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Is Sunflower not good enough for you?”
“Sunflower?”
“My car is delicate. The name fits her.”
Hunt chuckled. “Delicate is one way of putting it. I’m afraid I won’t actually make it to work today if I attempt to drive Sunflower to the store and back.”
She wanted to be insulted, but no joke, it could happen. “You can’t drive Noah without a car seat.”
“Which is why I’ll take yours from Sunflower and install it in my car.”
