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“I know. That’s what people usually think and it’s one of the reasons he gets hurt, I think. I wish people weren’t like that, but the least I can do is be there and try to pick up the pieces.”

My pie arrived and I found Hunter studying me.

“Do I have something on my face?” I asked after a while.

“No. Just thinking.”

I savored my first bite. “About me?” I flashed her a grin, but she didn’t blush this time. Her eyes remained steady on my face.

“A little bit. I just don’t think I’ve met very many people like you.” She rested her chin in her hand that she’d propped on the counter.

I decided to go for it. “Baby, you’ve never met anyone like me.” I licked my fork in a suggestive way.

Hunter’s face went red and she looked down at her plate, slowly shaking her head. She muttered something under her breath that was too quiet for me to hear.

She looked up and her face was back to normal.

“How was your day?” Oh, I guess we were just going to gloss right over what I’d just said and her reaction to it. Okay. I could do that.

I told her about my date with Carson.

“He’s such a fun kid. I can’t wait to see when he grows up into a man.”

Hunter nodded and finished her pie, setting her fork down carefully.

“I wish I’d had a sister like you,” she said. “Life might have been different.”

“You deserved someone to be on your side, Hunter. You deserve someone like that now.” It was so obvious that she craved having someone in her corner.

“I have my friends.” Her words were defensive.

She did, and I was glad for that.

“I don’t need anyone else,” she said, her tone stubborn.

I nodded but didn’t argue with her.

The server came over to check on us and I ordered another piece of lemon meringue to go.

“How is your week looking?” I asked, shooting my shot.

“That depends. Why are you asking?” Her eyes were wary.

“Thought we could do something fun. Together.”

Hunter snorted. “Define fun.”

The server dropped off my pie and gave us both our checks. I snatched Hunter’s, stacked it with mine, and handed over my card.

“You always do that,” she said.

I wiggled my fingers at her. “Good reflexes.”

“I can pay.”

We both knew she could. But I liked riling her up.

“So, fun. How about this? How about I plan something and tell you what to wear and then you can just show up and let me take care of it?” Hunter was someone who gripped control with an iron fist and one of my goals was to let her ease up a little bit. Just a little bit. Make her realize that sometimes surprises could be good. That she didn’t always have to have the first, and last, word. That she could trust someone to not screw her over.