‘Oops. Sorry. Shouldn’t have opened my big mouth.’ Emily brandished an empty glass. ‘Put that down to too much ouzo while I was hanging around the kitchen waiting for my big moment.’
‘Don’t worry. It’s okay.’ It really wasn’t, but what could she say that wouldn’t reinforce the view of her as a joyless prig? ‘You go and enjoy the party. I’ll see you at the wedding.’ She pushed through the crowd and found Polly. ‘I’m exhausted. Do you mind if I go home? No one will miss me.’
‘I will—’
‘—Please, Polly.’ She cut her sister off. ‘The weather is getting worse and I don’t want to be stuck here for the night. You might think about cutting things short for everyone’s safety.’
‘Don’t be boring. A bit of wind and rain isn’t stoppingthisparty.’
For the second time in five minutes she had the same label slapped on her. ‘Have a good time.’ She decided to treat herself to a taxi instead of waiting twenty minutes for the next bus. By the time she reached her house Laura’s head throbbed and she longed to crawl into bed.
‘What the devil are you doin’ back?’ Hunter stood at the top of the stairs with his bag over his shoulder and guilt smeared all over his face.
‘More to the point is where do you think you’re going?’ she responded.
Chapter Fourteen
‘Out of your hair?’ If he hadn’t overslept Hunter would have been well on his way by now.
‘Did I complain about you staying?’ Colour blossomed in her cheeks. ‘I mean . . . recently?’
‘Nope, but Polly did. Your walls are thin.’ He watched the penny drop.
‘Oh, she didn’t mean—’
‘—Yeah, she sure did.’ He made his way down to join her. ‘I don’t blame her. I’ve always been a troublemaker. Ask my parents. Especially my long-suffering father. I’ve never been his golden boy.’ Hunter’s attempt to drag out a smile ended as more of a grimace than a grin.
‘I’m tired of all the innuendos and half-truths flying around. You promised to tell me your whole story.’
‘I was sick and vulnerable.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t pull that trick.’
‘You’re exhausted.’
‘Exhaustion comes with the job. I don’t fancy coffee now but after a decent cup of tea I’ll be good to go for a while. You can start talking while I make it.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ A faint twinkle brightened her obvious exhaustion and it took all his strength not to give in to an impulse to hug her. Laura’s unflattering plain black dress did nothing for her and the addition of a bright red scarf and matching glossy lipstick only emphasised her pallor. ‘How about you change into something comfortable before we chat?’ Hunter grabbed her cold hands. ‘I’m not trying to flannel you, honest but you look beat and you’re freezing. I’m sure I can pour hot water on a tea bag.’
‘Prove it.’ The husky rasp in her voice scraped at the last dregs of his self-restraint.
‘You’re on.’ Mike Russell had already screwed her over and she didn’t need Hunter’s self-preservation brand of love ’em and leave ’em romancing to rub salt in the wounds. ‘Meet you in the kitchen.’
‘That’s a . . . fine.’ She blushed and disappeared up the stairs.
A date. She almost called it a date. Probably a slip of the tongue but he liked the sound of it far too much.
* * *
As Hunter began to speak she regretted pressuring him.
‘My folks used to tell people they didn’t know where they went wrong with me. They brought me up the same as Brett, my older brother and he never once stepped out of line. He followed in my father’s footsteps by studying law at Vanderbilt University, married his high school sweetheart and produced the expected grandchildren.’ He frowned. ‘Don’t get me wrong I love little Caleb and Ava to death. Brett and I do okay these days when we see each other, which isn’t often.’
‘And your parents?’
‘Mom and I are sort of all right but my dad’s another story . . . I guess you could say we’re civil to each other. We butted heads continually when I was growing up because he insisted on things bein’ done his way and came down on me like a ton of bricks every time I answered back. And I did. Continually.’
Laura felt for him. Her mum and dad never compared their two daughters and always encouraged them to follow their own paths. ‘When did your troubles start?’
