Page 17 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)

Me: Hey. How was your day? As gossip filled as mine?

Peach: Well, I started at Emerald Roasters so…

Me: Oof. I started with a client who saw us leaving. Just a tourist though.

Peach: Lucky. Esther asked me how big your cock is, FYI. So you can think about that every time you get coffee now.

Me: Are you being serious? If you are, what did you tell her?

Peach: Guess you’ll have to wonder every time you see her now. winking emoji

Me: That’s cruel.

Peach: Consider it part of your punishment.

Me: Speaking of, can I see you tonight? Take you to dinner?

Peach: I don’t know, Hunt. Last night was… fantastic. But I don’t know if I’m ready for a full blown Hunter Keaton attack.

Me: I promised you I wouldn’t be something to survive again. And I mean it.

Peach: Well, I trusted you before too, and you promised before.

Me: I know. I’m sorry. But I was young and dumb and scared. I’ve lived without you for a long fucking time, and it was goddamn miserable.

Peach: We’ll see. Just give me some more time?

Me: Sure. I can do that. Is an hour enough time? thinking emoji

Peach: eye roll emoji How about three days?

Me: Three days. I can do that. I’m here if you need more before that though. Just saying.

Me: Two more days. Just reminding you that I’m here, thinking about you.

Peach: Not going to lie, I’m thinking about you too. Particularly your mouth.

Me: My mouth can deliver again today if you’re in need.

Peach: Your mouth can wait.

Me: Can your pussy?

Peach: Jury is out on that one. What are you doing texting me? Shouldn’t you be working? Swinging hammers and all?

Me: Yes. But I am technically. My client needs insurance on their vacation home to get their mortgage. Can I send them your way?

Peach: Of course. I’ll never turn down new business.

Me: I might have to escort them down to your office. We’re at Emerald Roasters. Want anything?

Peach: We said two more days.

Peach: But since you’re bringing new clients I’ll take an iced pumpkin spice latte, please.

Me: On it. We’ll be there in five and I’m not staying because I have another site to get to. So technically this doesn’t count for our three days.

Peach: We’ll see. Might have to push you out an extra day.

Me: No. That’s not fair.

Peach: Thanks for the latte. And they’re the sweetest couple ever. They’re all set so they should be closing on time for you to break ground before it gets too cold.

Me: Thank you. I know they appreciated the help. Are you going to Rebels tonight with everyone?

Peach: No. I have to unpack everything that came on the truck from Portland. And maybe find a storage unit.

Me: I have an empty basement. So does Wy. I’m sure you could use either one.

Peach: I’ll have to call Wyatt.

Me: Well that backfired. laughing emoji

Peach: Have fun tonight. kissing emoji

Me: Tomorrow.

Peach: What are we doing?

Me: It’s a surprise.

Peach: I need to know what to wear, how to dress.

Me: I’ve got it. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Peach: When?

Peach: Hunter?

Peach: Hellooo. I’m stressing out over here!

Peach: Seriously?!

Peach: This is not groveling. eye roll emoji

Me: It’s a surprise, woman. I’m a real man, unlike what you’re used to, and I’ve got it covered. Now go to sleep. sleeping emoji

Peach: I hate you. angry emoji

Me: You won’t. This is a lesson that you can trust me. Let go and trust me.

I know that Evelyn is losing her mind right now. She has become very uptight and I plan to get her to loosen up tomorrow. Get her back to being the girl I knew before I broke her heart. It’s time to put it back together piece by piece.

Stepping into the store a few towns over I’m greeted excitedly.

“Hunter Keaton!” Hazel runs over to me.

“Hey!” Despite her size, she gives the best hugs.

“What do I owe the pleasure of seeing your finnnneee self?”

This woman . Her husband sure as hell has his hands full.

“Well, I need some help. Woman help.”

“Oh, honey. I’m here for it. Hold on, let me grab Dan. He’ll be mad if he misses you.” She turns to go out back where her husband has an office to work from.

When I renovated the space for her boutique that was his one request. He doesn’t like being away from her and the feeling is reciprocated by Hazel. If there was ever a goal for love and marriage, it’s these two.

“He’s on a call right now, but he’ll be out soon. Now tell me about this girl you need help with and how it involves me.” Hazel sits behind her register taking out a notepad.

“Well. I’m trying to win her back. I messed up pretty big and—”

She holds her hand up to stop me for more information. “How big are we talking?”

“Uh. Well. It’s bad.” I grimace. “When I was twenty-one I sent her a Dear John letter and left her on our wedding day at the courthouse.”

“Okay. So really big. Continue.”

“Tonight is the first night she’s agreed to a date. Other than the other night when we fell into a date accidentally.”

“What happened the other night?”

I raise a brow and wink. She gets the point.

“That’s a good start there, honey.”

“So tonight I’m taking her down to the beach at my cottage. Do a little reminiscing about the days we used to sneak around. Some wine. Pastries. Polaroids. It’s all a surprise. So I need something for her to wear. I’m going to deliver it at lunchtime for her to have for tonight.”

“Hmm. You have a photo?” I hand over my phone with a photo of Eve. “Oh, hot damn, you let this stunner go?”

“I didn’t say I was a smart twenty-one year old.”

She laughs at my expense. “That is pretty evident, my boy. How tall is she?” I point to the spot on my chest where she comes to. “Okay and her size?” I hold out my hands in a way they perfectly glide over her hips. “You got that girl’s body memorized, huh?”

“Since I was a teenager,” I admit honestly.

“Okay. Wait right here.” She rushes off grabbing things off shelves and throwing them in a basket.

I wait as I’m told and check my emails for work.

“I’m back.” She lays out what looks like a good outfit to me on the counter.

“These look like leather, but they’re the most comfortable pair of leggings in my store.

So she’ll be comfy on the beach but adorable in the Polaroids.

A mustard long sleeve because her complexion is just perfect for this color, and a flannel jacket to match that will keep her warm. ”

“Looks good to me.” I feel like I’m already drooling at the idea of seeing her ass in those leather leggings.

She eyes me, waiting for what I don’t know. “She needs some jewelry too.”

“Whatever you think she needs, charge it.”

She runs off again, appearing back with some gold jewelry accentuated by emerald colored jewels for her eyes, and a pair of white canvas sneakers.

“Okay. Now she’s perfect.” Grabbing a brown butcher paper bag she begins wrapping the outfit.

“Thanks, Hazel. You’re the best. What’s the damage?”

“Not a thing.” She pushes the bag toward me.

“Absolutely not. Here’s my card.”

“Your money is no good here. You can pay me by bringing her by when she takes you back.”

“No way.” I hold my card out further. “Please charge me something.”

She narrows her eyes at me and crosses her arms over her chest. “I said ‘no.’”

“You better listen, son.” Dan booms as he walks out to join us. “She doesn’t take kindly to being argued with.”

“Don’t I know it.” I roll my eyes. I learned quick but this is too much to not argue. I know her prices. “How’s it going, Dan?”

“Pretty good. Heard you got some woman troubles? Looks like you’re making up for some of it at least.” He nods at the pile that Hazel is placing in a bag.

“Hopefully.”

“And he’s going to pay me by bringing her back for us to meet.” She hands me the bag with a finality in her tone.

“Yes ma’am. Just cross your fingers that she forgives me.”

She holds up her two hands with all of her fingers crossed. “I’ll even cross my toes. Now go win that girl back.”

One more squeeze from Hazel and a hand shake from Dan later, I’m on my way to Evelyn.

The drive over to Balsam Cliffs doesn’t take long and before I know it, I’m parked near Evelyn’s office. Grabbing the bag I head into her office.

I pause at the door when I see that she has a client. But part of winning her back is not to hide her anymore, not to love her in the dark, so I push open the door and take my seat in her waiting area.

I scroll my phone and watch her out of the corner of my eye. She can’t help but watch me watching her.

“Thank you for coming in, I look forward to working with you.” She shakes hands with the client and walks him out to the front door. She waits until he’s in his car before turning to talk to me. “Hey. You didn’t have to wait here. You could have just texted me.”

Standing, I grab the bag and follow her back to her desk. “If I text you, I couldn’t bring you this.”

Taking the bag she asks, “What is this, Hunter Keaton?”

“It’s for you, for tonight. So you know what to wear and I don’t have to spill my secrets.” I wink at her.

Ruffling through the bag she begins pulling out each individually wrapped item and placing it on her desk. Once everything is out she painfully and slowly unwraps each item. I’m more of a wrapping paper ripper. She’s so damn careful we could reuse it.

I’m about to jump out of my skin if she doesn’t hurry up.

“It’s killing you isn’t it?” She smiles as she continues to unwrap. At least she’s on the bigger items now.

“How slow you’re moving? Yes.”

She finishes opening everything and stands back to survey all the items.

“So I’m guessing we’re doing something outside? Hence the jacket. And comfortable clothing. But we’re not hiking because these are not going to hold up on a hike.” She holds up the canvas sneakers.

“We are not hiking. No. But even if we were, I wouldn’t tell you because this is a surprise.

Clearly something you aren’t used to.” Her cheeks redden at my words.

“Don’t worry we’ll get you used to both surprises and orgasms.” I walk back to the door, looking over my shoulder. “See you soon, Peach.”

I make it to my truck before she texts me.

Peach: What time should I be ready? And where am I going?

Me: You’re not going anywhere. Be ready by six. I’ll pick you up.

Peach: Do I need to eat dinner beforehand?

Me: No. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re fed and happy.

Peach: I don’t like this.

Me: Let go of the control and trust me to take care of you, at least for the night.

Peach: Fine. cringing emoji

I feel like I’m not only undoing the mistakes of my past, but also Neil’s fuck ups as her boyfriend. She has no idea how she deserves to be treated. At least I knew how to treat her when I was with her, I just fucked it up.

Me: I need help.

Violet: Well, well, well. This wouldn’t have to do with a certain woman who just moved home would it?

Me: You know it does.

Violet: I’ll only help you if you give me all the details.

Me: I’ll give you whatever you want.

Violet: Whatever I want?

Me: Name it, I’ll do it. Please just help me?

Violet: Tell me what you need. I’m holding this favor in my back pocket for an emergency.

Me: I need picnic food and desserts for our date tonight.

Violet: Picnic food? In October?

Me: Yes. I’m building a fire on the beach at my cottage, creating a romantic picnic with a bluetooth speaker for dancing and a polaroid camera like we used to do when I started dating her in secret. Only this time I’m not hiding a damn thing.

Violet: Ooooh yes, come by around four. I’ve got you covered.

Me: You’re the best. heart emoji

Violet: flipping hair emoji queen emoji

Now I just need to stop for firewood and get the fire set up. I’ll grab the food, then Evelyn and tonight will be perfect.