“But I fear you’re falling for a broken person…how can I ask you to be here when I’m not evenwholeyet?”
He kisses me furiously before looking at me again with a baited breath, “Easy. You don’t ask, because I am here regardless.” He winks at me and all my senses are lost at how much I believe him. “Now you had me work up an appetite earlier and it smells like whatever they are cooking might be done now. Let’s enjoy dinner together before I have to go.” He lifts me off the bed, kissing the top of my head before grabbing my hand in his and opening the bedroom door.
“You have to leave already?” I know I sound whiny but I don’t care. I just got him back and I’m reluctant to let go, even thoughI know he can’t stay. Samuel will grow suspicious and I don’t want Kameron’s cover to be blown because of my selfishness in wanting to keep him here all to myself.
He stops in the doorway, pulling me to him as he turns to face me. His hand cups my cheek and he lets go of my hand to grip my waist as he leans down, “If I could stay longer I would, but I will be back as soon as I can.”
When we enter the kitchen it’s spotless but the smell of food still lingers in the air.
“Maybe they had dinner without us?” I shrug.
“Not possible. They wouldn’t eat without us. When we’re all together, we eat as a family no matter what.” He says, pulling me back to the hallway and making his way to a part of the house I haven’t been before.
Us?
I know he means them, but thinking about how he might include me in that family has my heart pounding in my chest.
We round an entryway and I see we are now in a proper dining room.
They had a dining room this whole time?
All the meals I’ve had in this house with Hunter and Marcus have been in the kitchen or the living room. I mean, I haven’t been anywhere in this house other than Kameron’s room, living room, kitchen, and Hunter’s study, so I bet there was a lot in this house I didn’t know about.
The food invades my nostrils and my stomach grumbles at how delicious it smells. Hunter is walking around the table, placing plates in front of two empty chairs to the right of the table. Marcus is on the left, facing away so I can only see his profile but he doesn’t even bother to acknowledge us. I might not know these men fully but it doesn’t surprise me to get the cold shoulder from Marcus. It’s veryhimto ignore us, or maybe that’s just me.
I feel the tension grow as the silence continues for what feels like forever, even though we just entered the room.
Hunter walks to the head of the table, taking a seat and not looking our way, “Glad you two could join us.” I’m relieved at his nonchalance compared to the rigid tension rolling off of Marcus. I’m sure Hunter is used to all this by now. Hunter eyes Kameron and I as he takes a sip of wine after scooting in his chair. “And just in time, we just finished cooking. I thought I was gonna have to drag you out of that room.”
Each plate has a buttery steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans that smell like they have bacon bits mixed in. A basket of bread sits in the middle of the table along with the extra side dishes.
“Can’t miss a family meal now, can I?” Marcus huffs to himself at Kameron’s response and Kameron glares at Marcus, looking like he has something to say but bites his tongue instead, guiding me to the plates Hunter placed for us. He pulls out my chair for me to sit and helps me push it in.
“I have some water here, but would you like some wine?” Hunter gestures to the bottle on the table as his other hand lands on mine. I shoot my gaze to Kameron, who’s walking to a small table by one of the walls of the dining room. I wiggle in my seat, trying to make myself less anxious.
“I would love some,” I smile quickly, the hairs on the back of my neck rising and I look over to see Marcus staring where Hunter’s hand is placed on mine. Hunter must not notice or maybe he doesn’t care enough, but he removes his hand to pour me a glass. Then Marcus brings his glare to me, locking my eyes with his, the umber hues burning holes in my retinas. I give him my most dramatic eye roll, to convince him and myself that I am unphased by him.
Fucking hell, I hope he doesn’t see how uneasy I am right now.
I don’t really drink wine but with the tension in the room, I feel like I’ll need it to get through this dinner. Maybe even my own bottle.
Kameron returns to the table with a glass of scotch in hand, taking his seat next to me and I silently wish I was drinking that instead. I might need something stronger than wine. My face must show my thoughts because he extends his glass to me, offering me a taste I gladly accept. The amber liquid burns my nose in a delightful way. I let the liquor pour into my mouth and savor the sweet, woody spice of it. I go to hand him back the glass, looking at it and seeing I took way more of his drink than I thought.
“That’s my girl.” Kameron winks at me, “Keep it. I’ll get another.” His gaze moves to my lips, then to Hunter. “I told you man, she’s a woman after my own heart.”
I look over to Hunter, his hand holding up a full glass of wine, “I can see that.” There’s a spark in his eyes as he takes me in. “Don’t worry, Marcus will drink this.” He hands the glass to Marcus who ignores the gesture and keeps his lethal gaze on me. Hunter places it by his plate, unfazed.
I glare back, squinting my eyes at him in a way that screams‘what, fucker?’He just tilts his head in response.
“Now let's dig in.” Kameron claps his hands together as he returns to the table with a new glass of scotch.
I look away from Marcus, “Thank you for cooking. It looks and smells delicious.” I eyed Hunter and then move my gaze back to Marcus, who’s still scowling, “Thanks.”
“It was our pleasure.” I hear a thud under the table and Marcus’s face flinches, “Wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, arealpleasure.” Marcus mumbles, picking up his fork and finally looking away from me.
I take a breath, my shoulders ease their tension now that he’s not looking at me like I’m an ant under his microscope. One he intended to light on fire.
