him dried up, and Hunter let out a long sigh. “I’ve really missed you.” He ran his hands through her hair, his desire sparking like static electricity. He wanted to kiss her, but he needed her to say something first.
How much she missed him would be nice.
“How was the first week of school?” he asked, glad she hadn’t stepped away yet.
Molly tipped her head back, and Hunter gazed down at her. He stroked his fingers down the side of her face, a smile filling his soul. “You’re beautiful.”
She finally smiled then. “I missed you, too.” She reached up and brushed her fingertips along his forehead where his hair was. “You’re not wearing your cowboy hat.”
“I do take a break from it every now and then,” he teased. “Give my scalp a chance to see the light.”
Molly grinned up at him. Her eyes drifted closed, and Hunter read all the female signals fairly well, thanks to his kissing spree over the past ten years. He wanted to claim her mouth, but instead, he pressed his lips to hers gently, holding back his desire and pressing against his hormones.
This sweet kiss would communicate more than his hunger for her, and that was what he wanted her to feel in his touch.
His love for her.
He was right on the cusp of it, but he knew it bubbled and boiled and that soon he’d be swimming fully in love with Molly Benson.
She kissed him back with a slow, simple strokes, and Hunter pulled away after only a few seconds. He’d slid his hands up her throat to her face, and he held her there as he whispered, “I don’t like it when we disagree.”
“I don’t either,” she said.
He released her and stepped back. “I apologize for my mood on Monday evening. I was frustrated with my father for telling you, and I’m extremely frustrated at the situation in front of me.”
She nodded and faced the food. “You texted all week, and you ordered from my favorite restaurant.” She reached for the first container and opened it to reveal the garlic lemon green beans Hunter loved. “I think you’re forgiven.”
Hunter murmured, “Thank you, Molly.”
“I’m sorry I’ve said anything about your job.” She opened another container and got pork potstickers with soy ginger sauce. “You’ve always been driven in your work, and you’re one of the most hardworking men I know. It’s not up to me what you do with your life, and I apologize for butting in where I shouldn’t have.”
Hunter appreciated the apology, and he opened a couple of boxes to get to the main courses—honey-orange duck and the chicken pesto pasta. “This one is for you, sweetheart.” He pushed the pasta toward her.
She sucked in a breath while Hunter reached for the aluminum bag that would have the garlic bread he adored. In his memory, Molly liked it too. He glanced at her to find her wiping at her face.
She twisted slightly away from him as she dished herself some pasta, and Hunter let her hide her emotion from him. Sometimes he needed a moment to compose himself, and he’d like it if she gave him that moment, so he gave it to her.
He opened another container to find the steak chimichurri and spiced potatoes, and one more to reveal the last main dish he’d ordered: turkey pot pie with roasted onions.
“You really did order a lot of food,” she said.
Hunter loved to eat, and he hadn’t been able to decide what to get. “We can order dessert later.” He got out a bowl and put half the turkey pot pie in it, then started dishing some of everything else onto his plate. “Or we can walk down the street to The Corner. They have delicious bread pudding.”
“I have a good raspberry bread pudding recipe,” she said. “I should make it for you sometime.”
“Yes, please.” He smiled at her and took his food to the table where he’d been doing his puzzles. “Something to drink? I think I have water and soda in the fridge. Maybe some lemonade.” He hurried back into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “Nope. Just water and soda.”
Molly crowded in beside him. “What kind of soda?”
He backed up a little so she could see. Her hand curled around his forearm, and Hunter’s blood heated. He looked at her as she said, “I’ll take that Dr. Pepper.”
He reached for it and handed it to her, watching her for another sign that she wanted to be close to him. She