Can't Help Falling in Love - Samantha Chase Page 0,17

made her feel this good. A low hum of appreciation was out before she could stop it.

Mortified, she quickly stepped out of his embrace and forced herself to watch Eli, who was now trying to do a cartwheel. “It was nothing,” she said softly. “Really. He’s a great kid, and it was my pleasure to see him look so happy.”

And when she watched him struggling to do a cartwheel, she excused herself and jogged across the yard and coached him through it–all the while feeling utterly self-conscious because Hunter was watching them.

Then Katie and Kira came out, and she found herself dealing with two students.

“I can’t believe you can still do all that!” Katie called out to her.

“It’s just like riding a bike!”

“Somehow, I doubt it!”

Kira caught on a bit faster and was making her way around the yard, but Eli wasn’t far behind her, and the first time both his feet got up in the air, he landed and then threw himself into Violet’s arms and hugged her tight.

And that’s when she knew she was in trouble because both Jones men had hugged her today, and they both had her emotions all over the place.

But for very different reasons.

When the kids ran to play with the ball, Violet walked back over to the deck and groaned.

“Violet was so good she could have gone to the Olympics!” Katie gushed. “You can still see some of her college routines up on YouTube!”

“Kate…why?” she whined. “We swore never to bring those up again.”

Shrugging, her friend didn’t look the least bit chastised. “You were the one flipping all over the yard; I just figured the cat was already out of the bag.”

“A couple of cartwheels doesn’t equal being on YouTube!”

“Oops.” But again, no remorse.

Damn her.

“For what it’s worth,” Hunter chimed in, “I don’t ever go on YouTube, so your secret is safe with me.”

“Oh. Okay. Thanks.”

“But you really should,” Katie said with a grin. “Seriously, Vi was one of the most talented gymnasts I’ve ever seen. She would fly across the gym during her floor routine and everyone’s jaw would be on the floor because she made it look so easy.”

Hanging her head and covering her face, Violet wished the ground would open up and swallow her. “C’mon, Kate…”

“Fine. I’ll change the subject. Since Hunter’s early, how about I treat you to dinner at the Sand Bar? Their burgers are legendary.” She nudged Violet with her elbow. “And I know you happen to have a weakness for quality burgers.”

Slowly, she lifted her head. “And we’re done talking about…you know?”

Katie made a zipping motion across her lips.

“Fine. But only because I feel like I deserve a burger because I’ve been eating healthy all week.”

“Same,” Katie said with a wink. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go and call Rose and see if she’ll stay with Kira so we can have a girl’s night.”

Once she was out of sight, Violet and Hunter shared a look. “Somehow, I think this is more about Katie needing a burger.”

Laughing, Hunter agreed.

“This is just weird. Like…why would someone just leave all their stuff behind like this?”

Hunter had to wonder the same thing.

It was Sunday, and he and his brother Kyle were at Melissa’s place getting Eli’s things before heading over to Dean and Courtney’s for dinner. He had dropped Eli off with them earlier so he could come here and do what he had to do.

“I feel like we’re robbing the place,” Kyle said as he wandered from room to room. “Any minute, I’m expecting the cops to show up.”

“Dramatic much?”

“You know what I’m saying. Although…you have to admit…she was clearly prepared. There’s a stack of boxes with Eli’s name on them, so…”

Yeah. Hunter figured Melissa had been planning this for a while to be this organized. His son’s room had been cleared out–all his toys and clothes were in boxes. It was the same in the living room where there were two small boxes with random books and family photographs. It was like she didn’t take one thing to remind her of the life she was leaving behind.

“Do you want to take any of his furniture?” Kyle called out from Eli’s room.

Did he? He had an entire bedroom set at his place, and yet…he felt like he should take it just in case at some point Eli wanted it.

“Uh…yeah. We’ll take it and store it in the garage for me to deal with later.” Then he looked around the house and considered if there was anything