Page 7 of Tempting Hunter

“Don’t worry about my mouth. Just tell us what the da—. What the letter says.”

“I haven’t opened it.”

Melanie groaned. “Girl, you are killing me. Where is it?”

She pointed to the envelope still lying in the same spot on the table where she’d left it on Sunday.

Melanie picked it up. “I’ll read it for you.”

She plucked it out of her hand. “I don’t think so. I’ll do it.” Michaela placed her wine glass on the table, took a deep breath and removed the sheet of paper. She read silently.

“Girl, what does it say?” Lana leaned over, trying to see.

“It says that the place needs a facelift and he knows I’m the perfect person to provide it because the painting I’d done for his hospital room brought him such joy and peace. He trusts me to decide what would be best and I’ll have free reign to come up with an idea.” She decided not to share his reasoning for placing Hunter in charge—Hunter would ensure certain members of the board wouldn’t harass her—or the P.S. that said Hunter was the one for her.

“That is so wonderful. You have to do this, Michaela,” Lana said.

“I know.” Michaela sighed. “I can’t let him down.”

They shared a group hug and Melanie said, “I’m so proud of you and I have no doubt it will be beautiful.”

She nodded. The art she could do. The phone call to Hunter and him playing guardian angel…not so much.

“Well, we’d better get going so you can pack for your vacation.” Lana pouted. “I wish I was the one going to sunny California.”

“And the weather is going to be so nice for it being the first part of February…eighty degrees, the hotel is near the beach…heaven.”

“I so hate you right now.”

Laughing, she hugged Lana. “We’ll plan a girls trip next time.”

Melanie waved a dismissive hand. “Mmm hmm, whatever. You’re going to forget all about us when you become this world-renowned artist.”

“Girl, please. That won’t ever happen. Y’all are my ride-or-die sisters.” Michaela saw her friends to the door. “Thank you so much for dinner and the cookies.”

“We’ll be here on Sunday to drive you to the airport,” Lana said. “Don’t forget to text us the flight info.”

“I won’t.” After another round of hugs they said their goodbyes.

Michaela came back to the table and reread the letter. That Mr. Prescott trusted her with such a large project without ever seeing much of her work, spoke volumes. And if she had to work with Hunter to get it done, she would grit her teeth, put on her big girl panties and work it like she owned it. She reached for her cell phone and scrolled to the number she hadn’t been able to bring herself to delete and before she could lose her nerve, hit the call button. She closed her eyes.Please let me get his voicemail,she chanted over and over.

“Hey, Michaela.”

Her eyes popped open when she heard Hunter’s deep voice. The same voice that used to calm her whenever she became upset, the one that whispered sensuous words in her ear and could turn her on in an instant. The voice that used to say,I love you.On second thought, maybe she couldn’t do this.

“Michaela?”

“I’m here. Just calling to let you know I’ll paint the mural.”

“Thank you,” Hunter said softly. “Granddad would be happy.”

“So, what’s next?”

“You and I will meet to talk more in detail, then schedule a time for us to meet with the board and you can take a tour of the place to get a feel for what you might like to do.”

“Alright.” She hoped he would busy for the next couple of weeks because she needed a little more time before having to face him again.

“I’d like to get the ball rolling as soon as possible and meet next week.”