Charming Co-Worker - Jeannine Colette Page 0,35
to believe,” I say, almost in disbelief.
He grabs my hand and holds it, and I look at our conjoined fingers. This other side of him bewilders me. Nervous as I am, I’m excited to meet the people who helped mold this affectionate part of Hunter that he hides from the world.
We cross the border from New York to Connecticut and exit off the highway in Old Greenwich. I knew Connecticut was known for parts with wealth, but when he said we were heading here, I never imagined Hunter came from a town like this.
As we drive down the tree-lined roads, I notice each property is set back from the road with long driveways and ornate fixtures showing the way. Holiday lights decorate the peaked roofs of the stone mansions. Every shrub and tree is illuminated with twinkle lights. Some homes have giant nativities, wooden hay mangers included. Others have winter-wonderland themes of snowmen and reindeer that sway their heads gently from side to side.
Of course, houses are decorated in my hometown as well, but these are more. Where my parents’ block can borderline on cheesy, these homes look like they were professionally decorated. Come to think of it, they probably were.
Hunter pulls up the driveway of a large brick home. Every window has an electric candle on the sill, simulating the days of yore. The eaves are lined with white lights, and a lamppost in the center of the circular drive is decorated with more lights, garland, and an elaborate display of poinsettia plants.
He stops the car in front of a four-car garage and puts it in park. I glance his way and don’t miss how he’s fidgeting with the gearshift.
When his eyes meet mine, he inhales. “Well, here goes nothing.”
This entire time, I was thinking about me not being jittery, but I never considered the thought of him being off.
“Hey, what happened to having nothing to be nervous about?”
He drops his head back against the headrest. “Like I said, you’re the first girl I’ve brought home in years.”
“Okay,” I draw out. “So, they’re probably going to be a little curious.”
He laughs to himself. His eyes find mine, and he grins. “Look over my shoulder at the window to the left of the front door. Tell me if you see anyone there.”
I glance around his shoulder to the window in question. The drapes are moved on both sides, and what looks like four faces are gawking out the window. “They’re spying on us.”
Hunter shakes his head with a laugh. As he turns around to see for himself, the curtains suddenly close, swaying with how abruptly they were dropped.
“Come on. I’m sure they’re dying to meet you,” he says.
Sure. No reason to be nervous. Liar!
I unbuckle my seat belt and meet Hunter at the trunk. Before we left the city, we stopped by my house, so I could pack a weekend bag. After seeing the opulence of this place, I’m wondering if I packed a fancy enough outfit for tomorrow.
Hunter grabs both bags with his left hand, closes the lid, and then entangles his fingers with mine.
Before we make our way to the front door, a little girl comes barreling outside. She runs down the front steps and straight to Hunter’s arms.
“Uncle Hunty!” she yells as he drops my hand and the bags on the ground so he can pick her up to swing her around.
“Ella Bear! Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” Hunter envelops her.
She giggles in his arms.
He puts his overcoat around her shoulders to keep her warm. “This little tyke, who ran outside without a coat,” he scolds her in a loving tone, “is my niece, Ella. Or as I call her, Ella Bear.”
“Can you guess why?” the tiny girl asks me as she fights away a tickle from her uncle.
I place a finger on my mouth and take a guess. “Because you’re cuddly like a teddy bear?”
“Nope! Because I love honey and can sleep the day away!” she says in a shout because Hunter is really tickling her, to the point that she falls to the side.
He rights her in his arms and then tells her in a mock serious voice, “Ella, I’d like you to meet my friend Katie.”
I reach out my hand to her, and she shakes it.
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
She smiles sweetly at me and then turns to Hunter. “I heard Grandma and Mom talking about you bringing someone home. Grandma said she’s your girlfriend, but Mom said there’s no way and that she’ll be