“Remember when I told you that Hunter needs a break?” she asked me. “He’s not the only one.”
I laughed. “You clearly don’t know what my life is like if you think I can take a break.”
“You’re only proving my point.”
“But—”
“You’re the best thing out there, Superman. The world can survive without you for a week or two. Trust me; you’re worth the wait.”
I kissed her then. Not the way I wanted to because I wouldn’t be able to stop if I did, but in a way that hopefully told her how much this last week meant to me. “So are you.”
“Maybe a wine tour in Tuscany,” Hunter says, pulling me back to the moment. “But why are—”
“That’s a good idea.” I smile as I imagine my mountainous bodyguard sipping wine at the edge of a sunbathed vineyard. He would have the time of his life, especially after what he endured for me this last week. What he’s endured for years. “I think you could use a vacation.”
The color drains from his face. “A…a what?”
He looks so horrified that I burst into laughter, and my body relaxes for the first time since getting on the plane. It won’t last long, but I’ll take some peace wherever I can get it. “Would you calm down?” I say, wishing I had something to throw at him. “This isn’t some veiled punishment. You genuinely deserve a vacation after what I’ve put you through.” I look over at Janie and the furrow in her brow. “You both do.”
“But what about you?”
I’m not sure if he’s asking if I’ll take a vacation as well or if he’s worried about my safety if he leaves. Either way, that’s for me to worry about. Giving him a smile, I pull my phone from my pocket and brace myself for what’s coming. Now that I’m in the air, I don’t have any excuses to ignore the work waiting for me.
Donovan is the first person I text, even though she warned me that she was going to have to find her phone first and plug it in, since she rarely uses it, so it might take a while before I get a response.
Derek:
I’m warning you now that I haven’t been in a solid relationship before now, and I’m more than likely going to be a clingy boyfriend and overdo everything. I miss you already. I love you. If anyone gives you crap on the river, only you can decide if it’s worth intentionally flipping the boat they’re in to show them who’s in charge, but I like the idea of telling people my girlfriend has a perfect rowing record. Also, I told Mason and Thiago to inform the other guides that I will happily pay all of them to keep overconfident men away from you so you don’t have to deal with them yourself if you don’t want to. I love you, and I plan to keep you unless your feelings about me change.
Yeah, that was definitely too much, but I send it anyway. Donovan’s seen me at my worst, so I’m hoping nothing I do will scare her off at this point. That says nothing about what my mom might do withHot Scoopif she figures out that, despite her intervention, I’m still very much interested in Nova Tate. But Donovan is strong enough to handle anything that’s thrown at her.
Besides, the goal is to eliminate that problem before Donovan’s rafting season ends, which leads me to my next text.
Derek:
Any word from your PI friend?
Hank:
He’s retired, but he said he’ll do what he can. If anyone can find what you’re looking for, he can. I’ll send you his contact info.
Derek:
Thanks.
Hank:
Are you going to tell the rest of us what you’re looking for?
Derek:
Not until it’s fixed.
If I said something like that to Freya or Cole, they would push until they got answers, but Hank has the most level head of any of my friends. He also understands the value of discretion, though I’m sure he’s curious.
And since Bonnie is married to him and probably reading our conversation right now, I send a text to the group.
Derek:
