Just Home for the Holidays - Deborah Cooke Page 0,21

bell rang and he strode after the girls to lift them onto the horses they’d chosen. In so doing, he lost his chance at the bay, but he rode the big rabbit with a certain dignity.

Chloe took a picture and he pointed a finger at her triumphantly. “That’s rule ten, gone! We’re almost halfway!”

Despite herself, Chloe laughed.

She realized by the time they finished the carousel ride, had some hot chocolate and Hunter left for his shift at F5F that she was having a good time.

She gave Hunter a kiss, to celebrate that, which made the girls giggle and her sister nod wisely.

But it was just a kiss and a fake date. Rules number three and thirteen might as well have been written in stone.

Four

The idea of sexting Chloe Richardson was irresistible.

Hunter would never have even considered it, but she’d put it on her list. Why? Did she like it? Was she good at it? He’d already seen that she wasn’t as predictable as he’d expected—or as conservative. Those two kisses had both been revelations.

Number two and three were tormenting him with the possibilities. Did she scream when she came? Did she moan? Did she writhe? Did she like it on top? Hunter wanted to know all the details—and then he wanted to trash those two rules so completely that Chloe forgot they’d ever existed.

She had to be the one to suggest they break number three, though.

Maybe sexting would open that door.

Hunter finished his shifts at F5F and headed back to Yvonne and Nick’s place again, this time with a pizza. He was restless, even though he should have been tired. That second yoga class tonight had been brutal—Sonia had pushed the couples’ class harder than usual and he could already feel it.

He reviewed Chloe’s schedule, thinking. Movies tonight, probably popcorn and a crackling fire. It sounded like she was living in a Christmas movie for a week. Hunter stifled a shudder. Other than a quick thank-you from her that afternoon—with a surprising number of emojis—he hadn’t heard from her since leaving Bryant Park at noon. At least they’d made it to the theater on time.

The sexting couldn’t be crude or pushy. He had to make her laugh first. Hunter took another piece of pizza, looked out the big windows at the street below, and considered the possibilities.

It was almost midnight but Chloe was wide awake. It had to be the time change. Funny, though, that she was in bed thinking about Hunter and the way he’d dipped her for that kiss. She smiled in recollection. Maybe all surprises weren’t bad ones. The restaurant they’d ended up trying on Columbus had been really good and they would never have discovered it otherwise.

She stared at the ceiling, her thoughts spinning. She should be exhausted after running with the girls all day and their packed schedule, but instead, she was reliving Hunter’s kiss.

Her phone chimed.

She looked over at it, charging on the dresser, blinking like a beacon. It had to be Hunter, just messing with her rules, and she should ignore it. But Chloe didn’t. She got up and picked up the phone.

Whatcha doing?

That was easy.

Sleeping.

It didn’t take him long to reply.

It must be handy to be able to text in your sleep.

Chloe smiled. She was going to give him a hard time about breaking her rules again, then wondered if he was reaching out. Did his being awake have anything to do with him hating Christmas?

It’s a superpower that helps me get more done faster.

She typed quickly, then added a question.

What are you doing?

Hunter’s reply was immediate.

You don’t want to know.

Chloe shook her head.

I asked because I do.

There was a long pause, a long enough pause that she thought he wouldn’t reply. When he did, she blinked in surprise.

Thinking about you.

That’s why I texted you, just in case you were thinking about me.

We could think about each other together.

Chloe shook her head and dropped into the puffy chair in the corner. She sensed that he was going somewhere with this, because she didn’t think Hunter was nearly as impulsive as he wanted everyone to believe. He’d warned her about the traffic, after all. No, he had a plan and even though she knew she shouldn’t be curious, Chloe was.

You shouldn’t think about me.

He was quick, that was for sure. His reply came immediately.

Why not? That rule’s not on the list.

Chloe went for an essay answer.

Because people think about each other when they’re having a thing.

We’re not having a thing—or even a fling.

Remember