Can't Help Falling in Love - Samantha Chase Page 0,35

right?”

“Add big fat baby to the list, and yeah. That’s you.”

The pacing was getting him nowhere, so Hunter sat back down. “Okay, let’s just…stop with the name calling because it’s not helping.”

Kyle shrugged.

“The thing is…I have a legit feeling of…I don’t know…I’m starting to feel things for Violet that I never felt before, and then there are feelings there that I know are going to come back and bite me in the ass.”

Thankfully, his brother refrained from making a joke and realized he was serious. He straightened in his chair and studied Hunter hard for a moment.

“I get what you’re saying, and I’m sure it sucks to feel the way you do.” He paused. “But can I make an observation?”

With a curt nod, Hunter felt himself hold his breath.

“You know I am all for going out and having a good time with a woman. Hell, that’s usually all I enjoy doing. This thing with Violet…you know it’s temporary. You can’t let your feelings get all involved in it because she’s going back to Nashville and then on to whatever trip is on her calendar next.”

“I know, but…”

“There are no buts here, Hunter. That’s what her life is. And do you really want to get in any deeper with a woman who you already know isn’t interested in sitting around and growing old in a small town? Didn’t you learn anything from Melissa?”

When Hunter went to argue, Kyle held up a hand to stop him.

“You knew all the way back in high school that she did not want to stay in Magnolia Sound forever and you thought you’d change her mind. Then you thought having a baby would change her mind.” Another pause. “I don’t want to see you get hurt like that again.”

Well, damn. Who knew his dufus of a brother would be the one to toss genuine logic his way?

“So what do I do, Kyle? How the hell do I stop myself from having feelings for her?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. Maybe just don’t…you know…see her.”

“She’s living with Katie. I see her every time I drop off and pick up Eli.”

And on top of that, he really wanted to see her.

Letting out a long, weary breath, he shook his head. “I’m so screwed.”

“You could just talk to her. Maybe if you do, you’ll get a little more clarity. You’re a very level-headed guy, Hunter. I think you can handle having a no-strings affair for the next month. Hell, you might even enjoy it!”

Somehow, he didn’t think it was going to work quite like that for him.

But if given the option of seeing Violet or not seeing Violet, he’d always opt to see her.

And if he had to choose between making the most of the next month or breaking things off? Well…only time would tell.

Eight

“That was…amazing.”

Hunter leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Thank you.”

“No, seriously. How do you do it?”

His laugh was so deep and masculine she was practically in a puddle at just the sound of it. “It’s really not a big deal.”

“Oh, believe me,” she countered. “It is.”

Straightening, he smiled down at her. “Okay, the key is to get the bacon extra crispy before you stuff it in the middle of the uncooked meatloaf. You put half the ground beef mixture in the bottom of the loaf pan, then add the bacon and cheese, then top with the rest of the meat and bake. It’s fairly simple.”

“I never even thought about stuffing a meatloaf!” Then she laughed. “Hell, I can’t even remember the last time I had meatloaf!”

“We happen to love it,” he replied, clearing away the dinner dishes. “Plus, it allows Eli to make a mashed potato volcano, so…everybody wins.”

Smiling, Violet got up to help him with the cleanup.

If anyone had told her she’d be happy having a date night that consisted of meatloaf and watching Toy Story 4, she would have said they were crazy. And yet…here she was.

And not hating it.

They worked side-by-side–talking about the school kids who had come to the firehouse for a field trip today, and the vacation to Greece Violet had booked for a senior’s group–and it was all so very domestic that it should have made her twitchy.

But it didn’t.

Once that was done, Hunter took Eli to bathe him and get him into bed while Violet checked her emails and looked over some new incentives the people at Visit California had sent her. All the trips sounded terrific, and there was a part of her that would