Page 23 of My Treasured Obsession

“We host this every year early on in the fall semester. It gives the student body a chance to meet our team and familiarize themselves with what we do and our upcoming events. It would be a nice way to meet your fellow peers at the university.” Hunter appeared to be considering it and I rushed out to add, “I know you don’t like crowded spaces, but if you come, I’ll hang with you. We don’t even have to talk to anyone else. I promise.”

“Okay,” he said with a charming smile. “Since you promised to be with me, I’ll look into buying a ticket.”

It felt like an accomplishment that I could convince this homebody into leaving his comfort zone and come to an event that my team was hosting. “Great. Can’t wait.” My phone buzzed with a text. It was my dad. He’d just arrived home. “I hate to cut this short but…”

“I know.” Was it my imagination or did Hunter sound a tad bit disappointed? He grabbed his keys. “Let’s get you home, sweetheart.”

Fuck, I was in trouble. I liked hearing him refer to me in all sorts of endearments in his voice. It was smooth, yet a hint rough. Like warm honey and whiskey.

After one kiss, I was already finding him irresistible and now I worried thatnot crossinganother line with Hunter would be harder than I thought. I was also woman enough to admit that if it weren’t for my own set of rules, I’d want to go all the way with him.

When I followed him out of the café with Luna back in her carrier, evening welcomed us, the sky faded in wondrous shades of blue, pink, and purple.

He opened the passenger door for me and we both jolted when a dragonfly flew between us, letting loose surprised chuckles.

I once heard that dragonflies signified courage, change, and new beginnings.

I dwelled over the good omen for the rest of the ride back home. It wasn’t a long drive, but it felt like an eternity when I was all too aware of Hunter. The scent of his cologne. The soft inhales and exhales making his muscular chest bow rhythmically. The wind whipping through his window, causing his inky black hair to float just above his shoulders. The smooth way he handled his powerful car. All these things had my heart fluttering.

And dammit, I’d just invited him to my association’s mixer, giving fate another opportunity to recreate last night’s moment.

Maybe I was just as hopeless as my mamma when it came to love and infatuation.

We arrived at my childhood home shortly and Hunter parked in the driveway.

Papà was already waiting for me by the porch steps in his three-piece suit, black windswept hair silvering at the temples, infamous deadpan, and his leather-gloved hands in his pockets in a resting stance meant to portray his casualness but was actually a farce to hide his offensive nature.

When he saw that I arrived with Hunter, his face instantly morphed from passive to thunderous.

Hunter, sensing the shift, cajoled, “Is your dad going to polish his shotgun and threaten me if I step out to open your car door?”

I undid my seatbelt. “He…might.”

“I’ll take my chances.” Hunter got out of the car and came to my side to open my door yet again. He grabbed Luna and I slid out, already anticipating Papà’s reaction to a boy bringing me home. Any other day, I’d have freaked out. Right now, I was too depleted from the day’s events to care.

“Will you text me your schedule when you have a moment?” he asked tentatively, low enough that Papà wouldn’t hear. “We can grab a coffee together if we have a mutual break.”

Coffee was friendly. Platonic. Very doable.

“Of course. I’d like that.” I smiled. “Here, give me your number.”

We swapped phones and added each other’s contact information.

“Although you told me not to say the T-word, I feel the need to repeat it once more,” I murmured. “Thank you for your kindness today. Talking with you helped take my mind off…the situation. I really appreciate it.”

He grinned and it was so soft and swoon-worthy, my chest clenched at the sight. “Anytime, Gabby.”

Then Hunter walked beside me as I headed towards Papà.

“Hi,” I said to him. “This is Hunter. He’s friends with Josh and lives in the apartment across from mine.”

Hunter stuck out his hand first. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

Papà sized him up with a scowl, wanting him to break a sweat. Hunter’s hand stayed outstretched, not balking under his intimidation tactic.

Eventually, Papà returned his handshake, but I saw how firmly he squeezed Hunter’s hand, sending a message across. “Thank you for bringing my daughter home.” He pinned his unrelenting stare on me. “Gabriela,entriamo.”

Papà addressed me in Italian in front of Hunter to alienate him. He was biding his time before he could pepper me with questions about my new neighbour. Papà wasn’t fond ofoutsiders and after the last asshole who broke my heart, he was even more vigilant when it came to the men surrounding me.