Page 56 of Just Home for the Holidays
Hunter winced. “But then I’d have to explain that I don’t actually have a place. There’d be tons of questions...”
“And people poking into your secrets.”
He looked up at that and was snared by her smile. “I don’t have secrets,” he protested, although he knew it wasn’t true.
She laughed. “You have more secrets than any three people I know.” To his relief and disappointment, she looked away, then pulled up her knees. She looped her arms around them and propped her chin on them. “Actually, I think you just have one great big secret.”
“Don’t pretend you’re going to fix me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she said lightly.
Hunter didn’t know what to say to that, so he kept silent. He was watching how the light played in her ponytail, how it found reddish lights in the dark silky length. He wished she wore it loose more often. It made her look carefree and playful.
Actually, it was probably better that she usually kept it wound up. Less tempting.
She turned them, impaling him with a glance, catching him by surprise. He was caught, but couldn’t look away. “Are you okay?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes,” she said with a conviction that made his heart skip. “It does to me.”
His throat was tight, although that made no sense at all. “Why?”
Chloe smiled, her face lighting with surprise and pleasure. “Because I like you, Hunter Tate.” She shook her head a little, her hair swinging, and a twinkle dawned in her eyes. “I really do.” She spoke as if that surprised her and Hunter couldn’t keep from grinning at her.
“Go figure.”
“Go figure,” she echoed softly, her gaze searching. “I don’t like that we parted badly.”
He swallowed. “Me neither.”
“And I’m guessing that you won’t be coming to Haley and Damon’s anytime today.”
“Work and Jacinda,” he reminded her.
“Then the Beekman.”
“Right.” The silence stretched between them, both comfortable and a little edgy. He could feel her expectations, and had to say something before she did. “So, how’s Josh?” he asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. What difference does it make?”
“I thought maybe the date had been chosen.”
Chloe scoffed and he was relieved. “Not a chance.” She sobered. “You know, when I came home, I halfway thought it might work out that way. There was a lot of pressure, from him and my mom, to make that happen.”
“You thought you might cave?”
“I thought they might be right. Sometimes you don’t know what’s good for you. Sometimes you don’t see the truth, even when it’s right in front of you.”
“I do not have that problem.”
She laughed. “Of course not.” She rolled her eyes and Hunter found himself smiling as she continued. “But it wasn’t crazy. We grew up together. We come from similar backgrounds and have similar expectations for life. We were taught that getting married and having babies was the way to go.” She paused for a second, studying the carpet before she turned suddenly to meet Hunter’s gaze. “And he was the first. That’s not nothing.”
“It’s also too much information,” Hunter said, keeping his tone light.
She looked at him, curiosity in her eyes. “You didn’t think you were first?”
“No, but I don’t need the list.” He watched her for a moment. “So, why aren’t you on board? Just because he’s bossy?”
