Can't Help Falling in Love - Samantha Chase Page 0,88

she interrupted, fighting the urge to cry again. “I desperately wanted you to give me a reason that day, Hunter, but it seemed like you were warring with yourself and…” Pausing, she sighed. “You weren’t ready.”

“I’m ready now,” he stated, his voice stronger than it was a moment ago. “And I’m ashamed that it took me this long. My whole life, I thought I was brave and strong and I could get through anything, but then you came along and it suddenly felt like I was second-guessing everything about myself. I run into burning buildings and yet I couldn’t tell you that I loved you.” Hanging his head, he shook it.

Sliding across the sofa, Violet pressed up against him, taking his hands in hers. “Then we make a perfect pair because I’ve spent most of my life acting like nothing bothers me and that I don’t need anyone. But I need you, Hunter. And Eli. I need you both so much that it scares me.”

Hunter twisted so he was facing her, reversing the position of their hands so he was holding hers. “And we need you, Violet. I am so damn in love with you, and if you give me another chance, I promise to not be so uptight and structured, and I promise to even give traveling a try!”

“Hunter…”

“I mean, I flew here, and it wasn’t so bad,” he explained. “But…you’ll have to be patient with me. I’m not big on the idea of cruises or international trips, and I don’t like the idea of leaving Eli home without me too often…”

“Hunter?”

“Hmm?”

“How about we start with a simple tour of Nashville and take it from there?”

His shoulders sagged with relief. “I think I’d like that very much.” Then he tugged her back into his arms, resting his forehead against hers. “But later. Right now, the only tour I want is to see your bedroom.”

Every inch of her tingled with anticipation. “Straight up the stairs, last doorway on the left.” She squealed with excitement as he stood and hauled her over his shoulder in a typical fireman’s pose.

And it was a complete turn-on.

The first of many.

“I thought you were a mirage when I saw you standing on my doorstep,” Violet said sleepily. “Boy, am I glad you were real.” She was naked and warm and pressed up against him under the sheets, and it was the perfect way to end the day.

Except…it was still light out and he was starving.

“I’m happy I’m real too,” he replied, kissing her softly on her forehead.

“What made you decide to come here? I swore I wouldn’t ask, but…I’m just so surprised.”

“Like I said, I regretted the way I behaved since you left. I built the deck, I built Eli a jungle gym, I landscaped the backyard, and did everything I could to exhaust myself.” Pausing, he kissed her again. “But I was miserable. I missed you so damn much. Plus, everyone in my family was reminding me of what a jackass I was to let you get away.”

“Wow.”

Nodding, he said, “Yeah. But Dean came by this morning and…we’ve always told him how overly cautious he was. He’s slow to make a decision, and he overthinks everything. So when he’s the one telling me I’m being too cautious, then I knew I had to do something about it. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d even want to see me.”

“I’m sure you realized how much you were mistaken when I pulled a Dirty Dancing leap on you.”

“Dirty Dancing leap?”

Violet pushed herself up and looked up at him. “Please tell me you’ve seen the movie!”

“Um…I think so.”

“At the end? Their last dance when she runs up to him and he lifts her up in the air?”

Gently, Hunter guided her head back onto his shoulder. “I don’t think it was quite like that, but yeah, when you wrapped yourself around me, I knew you were happy to see me. And believe me, I was nervous as hell that you’d tell me to leave.”

“Well…you had cupcakes with you so I figured I could at least hear you out.”

Hugging her tight, he tickled her ribs a little. “So it’s not really me that you love, it’s just the cupcakes. Is that what you’re saying?”

“The fact that you’re up here with me and the cupcakes are downstairs all by themselves should tell you exactly where you stand.”

He fell silent and rolled Violet onto her back. “Where do I stand, Violet?” he asked quietly, realizing he’d said he loved her and…she hadn’t said