The Country Duet(12)

Chapter 5


Hunter


“Success is having to worry about every damn thing in the world, except money.”

-Johnny Cash



I saunter out into our tiny kitchenette to find a barely dressed blonde, slurping from a bowl. Then I spot the empty box of my Cinnamon Toast Crunch laying on the table next to her. My fucking cereal.

“Hey, man.” Burton slaps me on my back, waltzing by with only a towel wrapped low around his waist.

“You’re still wet.” The blonde giggles, leaping up into Burton’s arms and ditching her bowl of cereal.

My heart dies with each beat, knowing that my cereal is dying a slow, soggy death thanks to Burton and his new bimbo.

“I have two finals, then we can leave around five tonight?” I ask Burton.

“Berty boy, is going home with me today,” the blonde announces.

I raise my eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah, man, going home with Hailey to meet the parents.” He gropes her ass.

“Jesus, man, you only have a towel on. Tap that shit down.” I turn to the fridge hoping there’s a protein shake left. “And you have two finals today.”

“He’s dropping out.”

Those three words make me whirl around.

“What did you say?” I run my hands through my messy hair.

Hailey jumps up squealing, clapping her hands together. “Burton is dropping out with me. We are going back to live on his ranch, but we are meeting my parents first to share the news. I’ve always wanted to be just like Dolly Parton, and now Berty is making my dreams come true.”

A slow, victorious smile spreads across my face. “So, you’re not spending Christmas with your parents?”

“They’re going on their yearly cruise and would only be home a few days anyway.”

“Who’s heading up the ranch then?” I ask.

“Mitch. They have a head foreman for a reason.”

“Oh, look.” Enough oxygen must have made it to Hailey’s brain. “He proposed.”

“Are you fucking kidding me, man?” I roar.

I knew he had been tapping the same ass for nearly two weeks now, but a ring?

“Don’t,” Burton warns.

I throw my hands up in the air, knowing for certain I have waltzed into the twilight zone here. “I’ll check in on my new baby while I’m home.”

“You have a baby,” Hailey squeals, clapping again.

I’m starting to think that the art of clapping is her biggest accomplishment in life.

“I do now. Thanks to you.”

“Bullshit,” Burton protests. “I made it three semesters.”

“Failing your finals is the nail in your coffin, buddy.” I stride past Burton, paying him with his own signature back slap.

It’s worthless to talk any sense into him. He’s had his eyes set on going back for a long while now. Part of me is jealous of him. The ranch will always be my first love. I smile the whole time I’m showering, knowing I’m another horse richer.

Finals were a breeze like I knew they’d be. I surprised Dave by setting him up with the Meals on Wheels program so he’d have some home cooked food coming to his house, as well as researching other agencies that could help him. He’s absolutely against leaving his farm, and it’s a topic I’ve learned to never even breech.

The bell to the shop office dings loudly. Teale’s head springs up from a pile of paperwork. Her smile is welcoming, making me feel more than I should. Our schedules don’t seem to match up often. I’ve missed her like crazy even though I’ve never really had her. Somehow she weaseled her way into my life and thoughts from the moment I spotted her on the side of the road.

“Mr. Fix It, what’s up? Figured you’d be off after your last final.” Teale stands, walking toward me.

A pang of hunger deep down stirs up in me. Her damn signature skinny jeans, paired with a bulky sweater and knee-high boots turn me on. Don’t even get me started on that hair piled up high on her head, messy as hell. My fingers itch to pull her hair from the band holding it together and watch it tumble over her shoulders. Not one stitch of makeup and her face is striking. I’m over fighting the feelings and sending the friend zone straight out the fucking window.

I hold out the wrapped package. “Wanted to give this to you before I left.”

“Hunter.” Her eyes go wide in shock.

“Just something little I thought you’d like.”

She takes it with shaky fingers.

“You okay, Teale?” I step in closer, inhaling her sweet scent then cup her cheek.

My touch takes her by surprise. When our gazes connect, hers is sad, happy, dark, and light, confusing the fuck out of me. I don’t hesitate or think twice about my next move. I lean in, soaking in her scent and branding it to my memory before my lips skim across hers.

The sensation lights something inside of me. I lick my lips, wetting them before pressing all the way into hers. Teale doesn’t kiss me back, but I don’t need her to. I’ve been too damn curious about what her lips would feel like on mine. I’m taking something I want. I pull away quickly, getting exactly what I needed.

Teale squeezes her eyes shut, inhaling sharply. “Hunter.”