Can't Help Falling in Love - Samantha Chase Page 0,60
with us. That’s it. That’s all I’m asking. For now,” he added. “After we eat, we’ll see how you feel, and if at any time you feel overwhelmed or…awkward, you just say the word, and we’ll wish you a good day.”
“A good day?” she asked, unable to hide her smile. “That’s a little formal, don’t you think?”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t sure how to word it, but…you know what I mean. If you want to go, I won’t stop you. Not now, not later. What do you say?”
It scared her how much she wanted to stay–to be a part of their little morning breakfast routine and just be with them.
Granted, she’d been living with Katie for a month and had experienced her family routine, but…this was different. She was comfortable with Katie; she was family, and Violet never had to pretend anything with her. But this? Being with Hunter and Eli felt like a much bigger deal.
Stop being a weirdo; it’s just breakfast for crying out loud! Surely you can handle sitting through some cereal without freaking out!
Off in the distance, she heard some movement in the other room and figured Eli was up.
“Vi?” Hunter asked. “I need to get up and throw on some clothes. You probably should do the same.”
“Oh…yeah. Right. Sorry.” She went to scramble from the bed, but he stopped her and kissed her with an intensity that surprised her. They had been lying there talking about some deep stuff and yet he kissed like they had been making love. When he lifted his head, he was smiling. “What’s that smile about?”
“You. It’s just about you.” Then he jumped up and pulled on his shorts from last night and was dressed before she even sat up. “I know I said I had only one more question, and I already asked it but…I lied. There’s one more thing.”
“O-kay…”
“How do you like your eggs?”
Kicking the blankets off, she stood and pressed up against him. It felt a little decadent to be completely naked while he was dressed. “However you want to make them.” Then with a quick kiss, she started pulling on her clothes.
Hunter had seen a lot in his life–both in his personal life and professional one. He’d survived losing his mother at a young age, he’d witnessed life coming into the world and watched as death claimed one. But listening to Violet talk this morning hit him hard.
To the world, she presented a picture of a very confident woman. The type who could conquer the world. And yet, his invitation to have breakfast with him and his son had exposed a vulnerable side–a softer side–and he wanted nothing more than to make everything better for her. Of course, he couldn’t take away the pain of her childhood, but he desperately wanted to show her how good life could be.
With him.
He was so far in over his head and it was both terrifying and exciting all at the same time. Violet made him believe he could have all the things he wanted–that part of him wasn’t dead or even just going through the motions because he had to.
The terrifying part was going to be convincing her things weren’t happening too quickly, and she didn’t need to travel the world to be happy.
And what better way to start than with a great family breakfast with him and Eli.
“Breakfast is served!” he called out. Violet and Eli had been doing yoga in the living room and it was one of the most adorable things he’d ever seen. The serious look on his son’s face as he tried to hold the poses Violet was doing had been priceless. It was obvious Eli was a little infatuated with Violet, and Hunter couldn’t blame him. Even now, Eli wouldn’t come to the table until he held Violet’s hand and could lead her there.
Fortunately, she didn’t look the least bit put out by it either.
Thank God…
Pouring himself a cup of coffee, Hunter had to wonder how he went from sort of being okay with this being a casual relationship to needing Violet to move her life here to Magnolia Sound with him.
His family would say this was typical of him–how they all knew he wasn’t capable of having a fling. And they would be right. Then they’d point out how he only has two speeds when it came to relationships–full-speed ahead or dead in the water. And again, they would be right. But that didn’t mean this was wrong, did it?