“Hey, darling,” he says as he walks into the living room.
Darling. I’ve missed the south. More than I’ve cared to admit. And I’ve really missed the people. One person in particular.
Flipping around to face him, I reach out and touch his bicep as he joins me on the couch.
“How are you?”
Hunter blows out a breath. “I’m good.”
I rub his arm. “How are you really?”
He shoots me a lopsided grin, the kind of grin that says he knows what I’m asking but he’s not really sure what to say. That’s Hunter speak for—I appreciate you pushing me, but I may not be ready to answer you yet.
But then, he does answer me, and his response is stripped of any cover.
“Honestly?” he says. “I want to know why it took so damn long to catch him.”
I feel the same way. “I often wondered why it wasn’t solved,” I say. “I thought about your dad endlessly, you know. About the four of you needing closure on his case.”
“I didn’t know that.” Hunter shifts so our legs are touching. “I shouldn’t be surprised, though. You’ve stood by me from the beginning on this. I would have completely lost it were it not for you.”
I lean closer to him. “You healed on your own.”
“Not true. I healed with you by my side.” He reaches for my hand. “And in my bed.”
I squeeze his hand. “I know you didn’t actually mean that to be flirty.”
He chuckles. “No.” He pauses before saying, “I told my brothers what you did for me that night. How you helped me clean up.”
“Hunt. It was nothing.”
He brings our joined hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles. “It. Was. Everything. And I’m sorry I didn’t thank you properly before now. I honest to God just wanted to forget that whole night.”
“Of course you did. And I certainly wasn’t waiting for a thank you.”
“Doesn’t mean you didn’t deserve one.”
His eyes fill with emotion.
“You’re going to get through this next step,” I say confidently. “Putting that horrible man behind bars…it’s long past due, but I’m happy for you all.”
“Thanks, Win.”
I lean my head back against the couch. “How was the rest of your roof time?” I ask him.
He shrugs, and I hide a smile. The Storm brothers are so close-knit, but they like to pretend otherwise. I think it stems from their fear of loss, and my heart aches for all of them.
“Liam’s a know-it-all, Jared tries to fuck with everyone about everything, and Max is still pissed off,” Hunter says as he tugs my feet onto his lap.
“That sounds about right.” I laugh. “But they all also have hearts of gold. Just like you.” I smile at him. “You know that you’re my favorite Storm.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “Oh yeah?”
“Most definitely.”
I sigh as he starts massaging my feet. “That feels amazing, Hunt.”
“Good.” He keeps going as he says, “I need to get you all limbered up for your big night.”
