“What about you?” I ask, trying to sidestep all the feelings that just bubbled up inside me.
“Oh, my priorities are where they need to be now too.” He smirks, making the prickling sensation spread inside me once more.
“No, I mean, do you even want the job?” I furrow my brow. I can’t imagine Hunter dressing up in a suit every day, telling his secretary to bring him coffee.
“Do you think I would let North push me around and make such big decisions for our lives without having a say in it?” Hunter tilts his head curiously.
Definitely not.
North can push anyone aroundexcept him.
“No,” I whisper.
“I always admired my dad when he was CEO. I watched him lead so many people with kindness and by example. I love the company. It’s our legacy. I don’t think I can or want to ever step foot back on a boat that’s watered, but what I can do is be a good captain for the company.”
I nod, gazing down at him. He’s not a hard boss like North, but he is a leader.
Maybe that’s just as suitable for a CEO.
There is another lightning flash and a clap of thunder seconds later. I press my eyes shut, and Hunter puts his arms around me, pulling me closer and squeezing me to his chest. The fast but steady beat of his heart calms me, and I let myself relax on him while he starts to stroke my back.
“What do you want to do?” he asks me softly, not stopping his comforting movements.
“What do you mean?” I ask back, tone soft, enjoying the fuck out of being in his arms again, him soothing me like only he can.
“Like, when you grow up?” He chuckles softly. “Do you want to work as a waitress? Or a boat mechanic? I know the new CEO of your old workplace. I think he would give you your job back in a second if you wanted it.”
I laugh softly. “I thought you had your mechanic back?”
“You heard that, hmm? Well, we do, but it’s always good to have two.” He shrugs. “Just say the words.”
Hope bubbles up inside me, but at the same time, hesitation.
“Can I think about it?” I ask in a whisper.
“Of course, but know if you want to come back, the answer is always yes,” Hunter tells me, kissing my forehead.
I guess he’s not only talking about the job.
“When I grow up, I want to work as a car mechanic,” I say softly, leaning back again so I can draw circles with my fingers on his chest over the shirt. “I’d want to have my shop and employees, and decide which jobs I want to do. Something like that.”
“So, a CEO yourself,” he notes, smirking at me, but I shake my head.
“I don’t want to do the paperwork and stuff. I just want to work on cars. The feeling I got from fixing up Van-essa…” this makes him chuckle slightly, “… that’s what I want to do. Bring life back to cars that are lost causes, fix what’s broken.”
Hunter’s hand rubs up and down my back until the seam of my shirt gets caught in his fingers, and his palm touches bare skin. He freezes, and our eyes lock. His palm burns into my back, but I love the feeling.
“Sorry,” he whispers.
“Don’t be,” I whisper back. “Your hand is warm.” Encouraged by my words, he lets his hand wander under my shirt and strokes my bare back, making me shudder. “That’s so nice.”
He pulls me on top of him, his right hand resuming its strokes on my back while his left hand glides into my hair, slightly massaging my scalp.
“Oh my God,” I groan out, my hands on his shoulders gripping him.
I feel his chest vibrating with a chuckle underneath me. “You’re like a cat. I guess if you could, you’d be purring.”
“Sure thing, I could stay like this forever,” I share thoughtlessly.
