By the time Liam and Cathy return, Hunter and I have put Lulu to bed, cleaned up from dinner, and are nearly asleep on the couch.
“You two look like an old married couple,” Liam comments as Cathy goes to check on Lulu.
I stand up and grab my coat. “Your teasing hasn’t eased up since you got older,” I say to him.
“Hey, it’s called being the oldest.” He grins, his smile so similar to Hunter’s and his green eyes flashing with mischief.
All the Storm boys are hot as hell, but I’ve always only had eyes for one.
I pat Liam goodbye on the arm. “Thanks for introducing me to your daughter.”
“Thanks for coming over.” He shoots a look at Hunter over my head. “Maybe you’ll stay in town permanently, huh?”
I fidget with the zipper on my coat. “Last I checked, Broadway’s zip code wasn’t in New Orleans. You know Broadway—where my career is?”
“Last I checked, you didn’t need Broadway to be a success.”
When I gawk at him, Liam just winks at me and then walks us out.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Hunter and I drive home in a comfortable silence broken when I ask if he’s exhausted from his game yesterday.
“I slept well last night, that’s for sure,” he says.
I flush, remembering his arms around me when I woke up this morning.
Like he’s reading my mind, he adds, “I liked having my arms around you, Winter.”
“Me, too.”
“It sure beats living with Murph in a hotel room.”
I laugh. “Are you two always roommates?”
“Not always. We don’t get a choice in the matter, but Coach often puts me with Murph. He tries to pair guys who won’t kill each other by morning. Speaking of, I’ve got a ten-day road trip starting tomorrow.”
“That’s right.” I’d completely forgotten it was coming up so soon. “I saw your schedule on the fridge.”
“Will you miss me?” he asks.
I know he’s half-kidding, but I decide to answer him anyway. “Yes, I’ll miss you.”
We’re pulling into his driveway, and as we exit the truck, he says to me, “My house is yours, Win. Be sure to make yourself at home while I’m away.”
We walk through the porch and into the living room. As Hunter switches off the alarm, Theo comes down off his cat tower to greet us with a stretch and a meow.
Hunter goes to scoop his litter box while I put out a can of cat food for him.
Theo’s happily eating when Hunter returns to the living room with a sealed bag in his hand from the litter box.
“I’m going to dispose of this,” he says as he steps outside.
I follow him with the filled recycling box, and I dump it into the recycling bin while he tosses the poop bag into the garbage.
He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Bet you don’t hear quiet like this in Manhattan.”
I smile. “You sound like your brother. Trying to get me to stay here.”
