?WINGLESS AND BEAUTIFUL?
?EPISODE 89?
He gave a serious smile and then slowly, he leanedforward and brushed his lips against mine.I closed my eyes, my heart pounding loudly inside my chest.
I kissed him back and wrapped my arms around hisneck. I felt his arms around my waist as he pulled me
against his body.When the kiss ended, we were both breathless.
He pulled me to him in a hug and I felt him inhale through myhair.
“You smell nice,” he whispered. “As always.”
“I thought I smell like burgers,”
He laughed. “No, you don’t. You smell like strawberries,honeysuckle and freesia. I will never forget your scent, no matter where I go.”
I pulled away from him. “It’s getting late.”
He pushed a lock of stray hair away from my face. “Give me your phone.”
“Why?” I asked, handing it to him.
He punched some numbers on the screen and thenclicked save.
“My number,” he said, handing me back my phone.
I smiled when I saw the name he saved on my screen.My boyfriend.
“Are you not going to get my number?”
He grinned at me. “What makes you think I don’t know it already?”
“You do?”
He nodded.
“How?”He smiled at me mischievously. “Don’t tell her. But Denise doesn’t exactly guard her phone like a hawk.
Half the time, she didn’t even know where she left it around the house.”
“She’s gonna kill you if she knew you’re prying aroundher phone.”
“I had to,” he said. “We don’t get along that well, but it’smy duty to look out for her too. I had to make sure shedoesn’t go overboard with her crush with Arthur Buckley.”
My eyes widened. “You knew?”
“Of course.”
“How?”
“I’m observant. And overly suspicious. I trust myinstincts and I investigate if I need to. When she was acting weird—I mean, weirder—I had to check out why.” He heaveda worried sigh. “If she doesn’t come to her senses soon, I would have to go up to Buckley, myself.
I don’t trust him.Denise can be naïve sometimes. But she’s trust-funded. Idon’t want a scumbag like Buckley to take advantage ofher.”
I nodded. “I’m sure she’ll come out of her infatuation soon.”
“Anyway, go inside now. I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
“For what?”
He shrugged. “Picnic in the garden?”
“I’d love that. But I have a shift tomorrow at the library in CRC.”
“Good. I’ll take you there and come back after your shift, so we can spend some time in our garden.”
“Can you still go there?”
He nodded. “The grounds are open to anyone. The facilities, though, can be used by anybody who used to gothere. CRC doesn’t close their doors for you just becauseyou got better or decided to leave.”
“Wow. That’s really nice.” I tiptoed to kiss him. “Goodnight, Hunter.”
“Good night, angel.”
I was pretty sure I was smiling like an idiot as I closed the door behind me. I couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off my face even after I took a shower and got dressed in my pajamas.
Before I went to bed, I took a peek at my window, justout of habit. I was shocked to see Hunter’s car still outside the house.I picked up my phone and called him. He answered inone ring.
“Hunter?”
“Yes, angel. Is something wrong?” he asked.
“What are you doing outside my house?”
“Ahhh… Meredith isn’t home,” he replied. “I didn’t wantto leave you alone.”
“Seriously?”
“I can never be too sure. This neighborhood isn’t reallywell-guarded.”
“And you’re just gonna sit there in your car untilmorning?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time. Don’t worry aboutme.”
“Hunter…”
“Angel, I’m okay. Go to bed. Good night.”
“I love you,” was all I could say.
“I love you, too.”
When I hung up the phone, I just didn’t feel right, knowing he was out there, guarding me.
It must be souncomfortable in the car.So, I wore a robe and got out of the house.Hunter stepped out of his car as soon as I opened the front door.
I felt the chill of the cold night as I stepped on the front porch. He started walking towards me.
“Do you realize that your car is probably moreexpensive than the contents of any house in thisneighborhood?” I asked.
“The car’s insured, don’t worry,” he replied. “What areyou doing out?”
“You’re not going to change your mind about leaving,are you?”
“No. What difference does it make? I’ve done this morethan a dozen times. You never complained before.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “That’s because I didn’tknow you were doing this before.”
He pulled me to him. “I went through an eye transplantso I could watch over you, remember?”
“I know. So, if you’re going to just stand guard, youbetter do it inside the house where it’s warm.”
He faked a shocked expression on his face. “Goodness,are you inviting me to your bed?”
I gave him a playful jab on the stomach. “No! The couchis perfectly warm and comfortable.”
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