On the Rocks (Last Call #1)(53)
So in order to reinforce myself, I had Casey pick me up, purposefully leaving my truck so I would have to go home at the end of the evening.
Back to Sasha. I know Hunter reassured me that she would not be a problem, and that I could expect to have a carefree evening of good food, good beer, and good friends. I wasn’t so optimistic, and let me tell you why.
There is something us women have that’s called a ‘gut instinct’. I can’t explain it, I have no clue how it works, and I’m sure there are no scientific studies on it. However, I’ve had it appear in situations over my lifetime, and I’m guessing at least eight out of every ten times it was spot-on accurate.
My gut instinct told me that Sasha still has it bad for Hunter. I know Hunter says that yes, she may have been thinking that, but the kiss was before she knew he had a girlfriend. Fine… I’ll give her that. But when I marched up to Hunter and let myself glance at her, the look on her face was cunning, calculating, and challenging, and she was telling me that it was game on.
I’m also choosing not to give Sasha the benefit of the doubt, mainly because Casey isn’t. That trip out to California sealed the deal for Casey. She felt Sasha’s behavior was appalling, but even worse—Casey felt deep down that it was her inherent nature. In essence, based on their interaction, she had a ‘gut instinct’ about Sasha too, and I was therefore going to trust it as well.
I look at Casey in the eye, take a deep breath, and ask, “How do I look?”
She sweeps her gaze down me, taking in the long maxi-dress I had chosen—a butter-yellow color that set off my tan and made my eyes glow gold. I paired it with silver sandals and left my hair down loose. I was going for casual and carefree, just the way Hunter said tonight’s get-together would be.
“You look gorgeous, girl.”
“Thanks. Now, let’s get this initial awkward part of introductions with her over, so we can drink some beer.”
“Amen, sister.”
Casey opens the door, and we step into Hunter’s foyer. It’s quiet, so I assume everyone is out on the deck. We head into the kitchen to put the beer that we brought into the fridge. Before I can even turn around to walk toward the back deck, strong arms circle around me from behind, and I’m pulled back into warm, hard chest muscle.
“There’s my girl,” Hunter murmurs into my ear.
My eyes immediately go to Casey, who is watching our first display of affection in her presence, and I hold my breath for her reaction. She stares at us, and I can actually feel Hunter grin at her. Don’t ask me how I feel it… but I just do.
“Okay, this is wigging me out a little,” Casey finally says as she turns and pulls a beer out of the fridge. “I need to ease into these things, particularly with the help of one or seven beers.”
“You’re driving me home tonight,” I remind her, and I feel Hunter’s hold tense up a bit.
“No worries,” Casey reassures me with a playful smile. “I’ll refrain from getting lit up, but how about cool the cuddly shit around me?”
“Get used to it,” Hunter says, kissing my temple and releasing me. He goes to the fridge and pulls out a beer for both of us, then says, “Come on… got some people I want you to meet.”
Casey and I follow Hunter out on the back deck. I immediately see John, sitting at the outdoor table, his feet kicked up on another chair. Wyatt is standing next to Sasha, leaning against the rail, and laughing at something she said. His eyes go to us, and he tilts his chin up in acknowledgement.
Hunter turns to hand me my beer, saying, “John… Sasha… you know my sister, Casey.”
John stands up and gives Casey a hug, and I have to hide a smirk as Casey just looks at Sasha with cold eyes and says, “Hi, Sasha.”
Sasha gives her a small smile and quietly says, “Hey.”
Hunter brings his arm up around my shoulder and pulls me in close, so I’m tucked up against him. “And this is Gabby.”
John leans over and shakes my hand. “Great to meet you, Gabby.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” I tell him, and it is genuinely nice to meet him. But then a lead weight fills my stomach as I turn to Sasha. She steps forward and sticks her hand out to me. “Hi, Gabby. I’m really, really sorry about what happened at the bar last night. If I’d known Hunter’s girlfriend was there, I never would have done that.”
I take hers and give it a firm shake, and it doesn’t escape my notice that she said she wouldn’t have done that if she’d known Hunter’s girlfriend was there. Not, she wouldn’t have done that if she’d known Hunter had a girlfriend. Therefore, that implied to me that she would have definitely made a move on him if he had a girlfriend, just not in said girlfriend’s presence.
Yes, my gut instinct is preening right now.
“That’s okay,” I assure Sasha with a kind voice, although I’m feeling anything but. However, I don’t want to cause waves, and I’m secure enough with Hunter that it doesn’t really matter if she has designs on him or not. He’s not going back to that, I’m fairly positive.
“Hunter tells me you’re a general contractor,” John says in my direction.
I nod, taking a seat at the table. “Yup… for about three years now. I took over my dad’s business when he passed away.”