Can't Help Falling in Love - Samantha Chase Page 0,57
the hotel in town–Magnolia on the Beach?–yeah, they didn’t have any rooms available. Like I said, I wanted to give Katie and Brian their privacy.” She let out a soft sigh and a small smile. “So…I just thought I’d stop in for a few minutes and say hey. So…hey.”
So many thoughts were swirling around in his head and yet he couldn’t get his mouth to utter any of them. When he saw Violet’s smile start to fade and her expression turn to one of uncertainty and then regret, he knew he needed to snap out of it.
“You’re not going to Wilmington,” he finally said.
“Um…why? I already told Katie I wouldn’t be home tonight. I thought about calling the B&B here in town, but I figured it was too late to do that.”
“It’s only eight o’clock, Vi. I’m pretty sure they’re still open.”
“You know what I mean. I don’t think of them as being like a regular hotel.” She shrugged. “I could be wrong, but…I don’t know. I just figured a hotel was the safer option.”
Moving in close, Hunter looked down at her. “The safest option is to stay here tonight. With me.”
Her dark eyes went wide. “Here?”
He nodded.
She looked beyond him–toward the hallway that led to his and Eli’s bedrooms. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Hunter. Eli could wake up and…”
“And he’d be thrilled to see you,” he assured her. Reaching up, he caressed her cheek. “Just like I’d be if I woke up and you were beside me.”
Her expression softened. “Hunter…”
“I’m asking you to stay, Violet.” Pausing, he shook his head. “I wanted to ask you when we were texting.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“Because I was being overly cautious.”
“So what changed in the last fifteen minutes?”
“Honestly?” Bending slightly, he rested his forehead against hers. “I’m tired of being cautious. I just want to be with you.”
It felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders at his admission and he held his breath as he waited for her response.
One delicate hand raked up through his hair. “And I really want to be with you. With Brian coming home, I don’t know when…”
But he never let her finish. Slowly, he closed the minute distance between them and gently claimed her lips with his. As much as he wanted to plunder and devour, he held himself in check. Hunter knew she was going to need to be coaxed into staying the night.
He could be wild with her.
Later.
He could unleash the beast she brought out in him.
Later.
For now, he wanted her to know that he was sure she should be here. And besides showing her like this, the kiss served to end their conversation. The last thing he wanted was to talk about her leaving. If Hunter had his way, she wouldn’t be going back to Nashville except to pack up all her things so she could move here to Magnolia to be with him.
But for right now, he’d work on convincing her to stay for one night.
They could figure out the rest later.
Lifting his head, he smiled at the dazed woman staring back at him. “Stay, Violet. Please.”
He watched as she swallowed hard before nodding.
It was all the encouragement he needed.
Taking one of her hands in his, he first walked over and locked the front door. Next, he turned off the living room light. It wasn’t until they were in his bedroom with the door closed that he let go of her hand and faced her.
“You’re so beautiful.”
There was that blush again as she shook her head. “You’re crazy.”
“No. Not crazy. I know exactly what I’m saying and what I’m seeing.”
“Hunter…”
He guided her over to the bed and sat beside her. “I’m being presumptuous that you would want to come directly to bed. If you want to sit back and watch some TV or have something for dessert, then we can totally do that.”
She seemed to consider his words for a moment before she spoke. “Do you want to know one of the most attractive things about you?”
And for some reason, that made him nervous. “Um…I don’t know. Do I?”
With a soft chuckle, she took one of his hands in hers. “I’ve never met a man who always puts my needs and my comfort first.” Smiling, she continued. “You always ask if it’s what I want even when you know I’m ready to climb you like a tree. And the fact that you refuse to put your own needs and wants before my own is seriously the sexiest thing