Page 13 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)

How. The. Fuck. Dare. He.

That earns him another letter deleted in his contact. I pull out my phone while I’m sitting in the parking lot of Rebels waiting for the girls.

Opening his contact, I edit the name. Deleting the U. He’s down to one letter left.

A knock on my window has me jumping in my seat. “What are you doing with my brother’s number? Are you talking to him?” Emma’s wide eyes and smile tell me she is ready for the story of what happened today.

I push open my door when she steps back. “No, I am not talking to him.” I scowl.

“Are you sure? You have his number. And you were adding it to your phone.”

“How the hell long were you watching me? And I was deleting his name. Every time he’s an asshole I delete a letter from his name. He’s down to just an H.”

“Okay, that is amazing. But from what I saw, he was anything but an asshole today and it looked like you were enjoying it.” She waggles her eyebrows.

“Oh God! What did you see?”

“Nope. You answer my questions first.” We push open the doors letting the noises of the brewery wash over us. “Don’t worry, Rome set up the patio for us with the heaters and fireplaces. No one else will hear your love confession except Willow and Violet.”

Great. I follow her through the dining room, waving to my brother behind the bar.

Taking in the brewery, and the gorgeous area he set up out here on the patio, I’m really proud of him.

He never took Mom and Daddy’s shit. He only worked for them long enough to save money and pursue his dream.

I was so happy for him the day he left the business.

I only hope that I will be as successful as he is.

And I don’t just mean in the way of money.

He’s found the love of his life and has a happy family.

I take a seat by the firepit, Emma taking the seat next to me. Willow, Violet and Roman all come out onto the patio within seconds of us sitting down.

Willow and Violet push past my brother and take the two remaining seats, completely out of breath. “Did she talk yet? Did you tell her?” Their eyes bounce between us.

“No, she’s being pretty reluctant.” Emma narrows her eyes at me.

“Ladies, what can I bring you?” Roman asks.

“Ciders. Chocolate.” Emma demands. “And a kiss.”

He scoops her up, deepening their kiss enough that we all look away, and Willow clears her throat. “Excuse me, we have something important to do here.”

Emma giggles when Rome returns her to her seat. “Sorry. Not really though.” She bites her lip watching him walk back inside. “Okay. Tell us everything. Right now.”

“Well, let’s start with the fact that your brother has some fucking nerve. He cornered me on the ferris wheel, completely uninvited, all to tell me that he loves me. And if there is the tiniest hope that I feel the same, that he had to let me know what a mistake everything was.”

“Wow, what a jerk, loving you.” Willow laughs, but I shoot daggers at her. “Oook, I’m missing a few chapters here.”

“Oh yeah girl, you are.” Emma nods emphatically.

“Okay, can we go back a bit for me?” Willow asks me.

I sigh, hating this part of having a supportive group of girls around me.

Reliving the pain isn’t something I want to do anymore.

Ever since I’ve been back, though, it feels like that’s all I’ve been doing.

“Hunter and I were engaged. Instead of showing up on our wedding day, I came home alone and found his Dear John letter on my bed. It broke me.”

“Shut up! You were engaged to Hunter and no one in this nosey ass family knew?” Willow practically shrieks.

“No one knew besides us and the justice of the peace who was going to marry us in Portland. But he left me standing at the bus station waiting for him. Alone.”

“What an asshole!” She takes a minute, presumably letting the information sink in. “Okay. Well yeah, he has no right to do that to you!”

“Right! He doesn’t get to just make a confession of love and everything just what? Goes back to how it was? What am I supposed to do now?”

Violet chimes in next, “What happened after you lit him up one side and down the other in the booths?”

“He of course hid me so we didn’t cause a scene. Can’t ruin his reputation of being the hero, can we?” I shake my head. “He pinned me against his truck. Way too close for my brain to work functionally, and told me that he is going to make the new me fall in love with him.”

“That’s so sweet!” Violet gushes.

“Whose side are we on here, babes? Because I have to say, I’m on team you and Hunter working your shit out.” Violet and Willow nod their agreement with Emma.

I hang my head in my hands. “I don’t know. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been waiting for this moment since the day he left. But also, he fucking left! Do I just forgive him?”

“One hundred percent no. He needs to grovel. And grovel good! That man fucked up and this is only step one in fixing it. Make him jump through hoops. You say jump, he asks how high. That’s it.”

My cheeks heat at Emma’s suggestion remembering the earlier conversation about only needing to jump high enough to land on his dick.

He was always so good at using his dick to make magic happen between my thighs and that was with clothes on. I bet he’s only gotten better the older he gets, and the more experience he has. Experience I wish I got too. Instead, I got missionary Neil, who didn’t care about my clit at all.

Maybe the first hoop should be giving me an orgasm worth fighting for.

“Our girl went dark there.” Emma laughs. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but put that man through hell. I support whatever it is that has the blush spreading up your neck.”

“Who is making my sister blush?” Rome comes out with our drinks and chocolate.

One look at me has him holding his hands up.

“You know what, I don’t want to know. I already punched Hunt once, I don’t need to do it again.

Speaking of, the guys just got here. They’re coming out here once they have their drinks.

I figured I’d buy you some time to prepare.

” He turns and walks back inside with that warning.

An idea forms in my head, and I’m ready to make Hunter grovel.

“Okay ladies, this is my first ever harvest festival. What comes next?” Willow claps her hands, ready for the full list of fall activities.

“Is she in for the full experience?” I ask Emma and Violet. I’ve really just gotten to spend time with Willow at the wedding but I already love her.

“I don’t know if she’s ready for the full experience.”

“I am too!” She looks between the three of us. “I mean, what is the full experience?”

“Tomorrow morning we apple pick at the Peterson’s, followed by the pumpkin patch at the church where we all carve our pumpkins and add them to the shelving along Main Street.

At night someone will go around and light all the pumpkins.

The street will be filled with pumpkins, food trucks, and live music.

” Emma gives a run down for the day tomorrow.

“Okay, that sounds totally fun!” Looking around she sees our smirks. “What am I missing?”

“Well. Next weekend is the Haunted Harvest at the Peterson’s farm. And it’s scary as hell.”

“Wait. I didn’t know this either!” Violet suddenly seems concerned with the festivities. “Liam definitely left this part out.”

“What did I leave out?” The guys all come out to join us around the firepit.

“There’s a haunted harvest!”

“Don’t worry beautiful, I’ll protect you.” Liam scoops her up and places her on his lap when he takes her seat.

“It’s so fun. Scariest one I’ve ever been to. Portland’s haunted houses don’t even touch what the Peterson’s have out there. I have nightmares for weeks.” I tell Willow and Vi.

Wyatt places his hands on my shoulders. “My bed is always open if you get scared, neighbor.” He adds a wink and immediately looks in Hunter’s direction.

I swear he growls at Wy.

“I think I’ll be okay, but maybe you could walk through with me?” I offer just to piss Hunter off. The tic in his jaw is in full effect letting me know that I hit my target.

“I’d love to be your date, gorgeous.” Wyatt leans down to whisper in my ear, “He’s about to blow a gasket, giggle like I’m fucking hysterical.”

Following directions, I giggle and grip his forearm. Flirting so hard.

“The fuck you will. I’ll be taking her.” Hunter is up out of his seat flexing his hands into fists.

“Boys. We’re not fighting over the girl. She’ll choose who she wants,” Emma declares.

“Which is me. I’m even taking her home tonight.” Wyatt pulls a chair over next to me separating me and Hunter even further.

“Wait. I want in on this game! I’m single too.” Cooper waggles his eyebrows in my direction.

“Oh lord. Three Keaton men vying for my affections? However, will I choose?” I press my hand into my chest, laughing along with the girls.

“I know you all are just trying to piss me off,” Hunter scowls.

“You don’t get to drop the bomb that you were engaged to my sister and not expect some shit from us.”

As if on cue every man chokes on the beer they were sipping.

“You were fucking engaged? ” A chorus of questioning is aimed at Hunter who looks like he’s about to punch Rome. Clearly, he hasn’t told his brothers the story.

“Thanks a lot asshole.” He scowls at Rome.

“How was I supposed to know they didn’t know? I thought it was just me in the dark!”

“I’m sorry. Back up… You all knew?” Coop asks.

“I knew.” Emma smiles wide. “But Rome told me.”

“Okay, Eve, can we talk?” Hunter stands holding a hand out to me.

“I think you talked enough today, don’t you?” Crossing my arms over my chest, I refuse to take his hand.

“Please, Eve?” He doesn’t leave, keeping his hand outstretched to me.

“Make him grovel, Eve. Don’t give in!” Someone shouts from our crowd.

“Oh, I’m going to. Just not in front of you all.” I smirk at him, taking his hand and letting him lead me out.

I can hear Rome working out my innuendo as we walk away. “You better not fuck in my bar!” He’s not impressed and now I’m tempted to just to spite him.

Leaning on the rock wall I keep my distance. “What do you need? Again? This is a lot of stealing me away for conversations today.”

“Please don’t date my brothers. Better yet please don’t let them touch you how I used to.”

“You seriously think you’re in a position to ask me for favors?”

He steps closer, arms ready to pull me toward him. But at the last minute he thinks better of it and shoves them in his pocket.

“I know I’m not. But, shit. It was hard enough with Neil. I can’t do my brothers.” He runs a hand over his face. Distraught by just the thought.

“Hunter. I could never date another Keaton man. I had one. And that was enough for a lifetime.” I roll my eyes at this absolute insanity.

“Have. You have a Keaton man. And it is for a lifetime.” This time he does step forward, and I don’t back away. “I know you still love me too. You all but admitted it the other night.”

Fucking drunk me spilling all my secrets.

“Two things can be true at the same time, Hunt. I can love you and hate you.”

“I'll take it. Even the hate. Get it out of your system. Use me as a punching bag. Whatever you want as long as I get you and your love in the end.” He wraps his arms around my middle pulling me closer.

I don’t move. Don’t make any effort to return the affection. “Why now?”

“Because I’m so fucking tired of fighting you. I just want to love you.”

I raise my brows at him. I don’t buy it. “And because my brother found out. And punched you. So the hard part is over?”

“That does help. But only because he gave me the push I needed.”

“Then you better get ready. I’m not going to make this easy on you.” I spin out of his embrace.

I need to get myself under control. One minute in his arms and I was squeezing my thighs together. How the hell am I supposed to make it through whatever he has planned?