Page 30 of The Spider Queen
I glanced up. “Yeah?”
His smile was lopsided and genuine. “I don’t know what brought you here last night, but I really like sleeping next to you.”
“Oh,” I breathed, my cheeks heating, my insides defrosting.
Looking nervous, he licked his lips. “Did you like it—”
“Yes.”
Relief fluttered across his face. He leaned in, but I shielded my mouth behind the cup of coffee, nearly spilling the contents all over the front of his hoodie.
“What are you doing?” I squeaked.
“Kissing you good morning?”
I shook my head. “I have to brush my teeth first.” And shower. And drink more coffee. And start feeling human.
“Poppy?”
“Yeah?” I asked, trying to keep him at a distance.
“Would you like to go out to dinner with me? Tonight?”
I blinked. “You mean, like a date?”
He grinned. “Exactly like a date.”
Despite my morning breath, I leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his clean-shaven cheek. “I’d like that.”
“It got colder,” I said, hunching lower into Hunter’s hoodie. It smelled like his cologne, and I tried to inhale the scent without him noticing.
He looked up at the gray, cloudy sky. “Yeah, I think we’re due for some rain.”
“More rain,” I grumbled. “Can’t wait for spring.” We arrived at my porch steps and stopped. “Thanks for walking me home.”
“You’re welcome.” His warm hand dropped mine and then reached up to brush hair behind my ears. “See you tonight.”
“Yeah,” I said with a nod.
Hunter’s hands didn’t leave my face. Instead, he leaned down, hesitated a moment, and then placed a kiss on my lips. It was quick, minty.
“Does this mean you’ll no longer ignore my calls?”
“Maybe,” I said with a teasing grin.
His answering smile was light and playful. Dropping his hands, he shoved them into his pockets. Hunter looked ready for a day at the country club. Khakis, button-down, pea coat.
Based only on looks, he wasn’t someone I would’ve considered being with. But appearances were deceiving, and he’d proven multiple times that he wasn’t just some frat boy, athlete stereotype.
“Why are you looking at me that way?” he wondered aloud.
I shrugged. “You surprise me. And most people don’t.”
“You think I’m special.” He swept me into his arms, lifted me off the ground, and twirled me around for a moment. Setting me down, he stepped back.
“I do,” I replied. “Thank you.”
“For what? Surprising you?”
