Page 20 of Dare To Kiss You
“That’s because I still need to buy some decorations.”
“I could always use another gnome,” I quip. “Want to hit the stores together? I’ll leave Sawyer at home this time.”
Hunter’s entire face shutters for the briefest of seconds, then it clears. But the smile he gives me doesn’t quite reach his eyes, and he won’t meet my gaze.
“Sure, yeah, I’m not exactly certain when I’ll have time, but hey, that could be fun.”
If ever there was a brush-off, that was it. With one stupid suggestion to go shopping together, I’ve managed to make things awkward. And succeeded in having my confidence in the idea of Hunter being interested in me thoroughly shaken.
“No worries. It was just an idea.” I stand up from the couch and brush an invisible piece of lint from my leg. “I’m gonna go get dressed. No rush on getting out of here, though, stay as long as you want.”
I don’t even bother stopping in the kitchen to drop off my mug, instead beelining straight to my bedroom to hide out. Flopping down on my bed, I bury my face in my pillow and silently scream in frustration.
I honestly didn’t think I was reading things so wrong. I thought Hunter was maybe interested in starting something with me. But now, I don’t know what to think.
I’ve asked him to the gala, I’ve brought him cookies, and I just asked if he wanted to go shopping with me. Okay, none of those necessarily screamlet’s have sex, but wasn’t I at least clear in communicating I want to be more than just his friendly neighbour?
After a few more minutes wallowing in a stupid pool of self-pity, I drag myself up and get dressed. When I come back out of my bedroom, I find Hunter standing by the couch, holding his phone in his hand, and looking like he doesn’t know what to do next.
“I just talked to Ethan; he’s sending a repair guy out to look at my furnace now. Thanks again for letting me crash here.”
I give what I hope is an encouraging smile, even though a part of me wishes that weren’t the case, and I could have a reason to ask him to stay another night. “That’s great. Hopefully your pipes are all good, too.”
“I turned them on last night.”
The stilted small talk sucks. I hate it, and it’s not like us. I just wish I could go back in time and not say anything about going shopping together. But how was I to know an innocent suggestion would make him pull away? Although…was it the shopping or was it mentioning Sawyer? God, my freaking brother is managing to ruin my chances at a dating life even when he isn’t anywhere near me. Just as I’m resigning myself to saying goodbye to Hunter and leaving things all weird between us, he draws himself up straight and looks me directly in the eye.
“Kat, I want to take you out. On a date. A real date.”
My heart stutters a beat as my eyebrows lift so high they might as well fly off my face. “A date?”
He nods. “Yeah. A date. Where I pick you up, take you out, we have a nice time, and if I’m lucky, you let me kiss you at the end of it.”
Hunter wants to kiss me.My tongue darts out to moisten my lips, and his eyes zero in on the motion.
Oh. My. God.
“What d’you say, Kitty Kat? Will you go out on a date with me?”
Chapter ten
Hunter
“Dude, she’s not a dirty little secret, just take her anywhere.” Asher shoves a handful of chips in his mouth.
“It’s not that simple,” I grunt, my eyes slowly reading the reviews in front of me for some restaurant. I’ve been doing this for over an hour now, trying to figure out where to take Kat on our date. It can’t be anywhere local, that’s one thing. “She just got out of a relationship, her cousin is my boss, and her brothers basically run this town. And I’m not exactly ready for them to know I’m taking her out.”
“Dunno why not, like I’ve said before, you’re a catch,” he says, teasing. Nonetheless, I glare at him. He just shrugs. “Fine, fine. I’ll leave you to your delusions of not being worthy. Why don’t you just cook for her?”
“I thought about that, but is it good enough for a first date?”
Asher raises an eyebrow. “Hunter, you’re a fucking amazing cook. Yes, it would be good enough.”
Even though he’s complimenting me, I can’t focus on that right now. “Yeah, yeah, I can make decent food. But dinner at my house, isn’t that, I dunno, too personal? Or too cheap? What if she thinks I’m cooking because I can’t afford to take her out?”
Asher holds up his hand. “Holy hell, calm down. I know you’re nervous, but breathe, my brother, breathe. Listen. Instead of obsessing over restaurant reviews, why don’t you let me help. My buddy Nico’s family owns Grecian Steak House. He’ll set up a romantic night if you want; he hooked me up when I was dating Lucy. She went gaga over it all.”
Relief floods me. “Seriously? Dude, that’s fucking perfect. Why the hell didn’t you suggest that earlier?”
