Page 38 of Dare To Kiss You
“Thank God we won’t have to hide any longer,” I whisper to myself just as the doorbell rings. With one last check of my lip stain that claims to be transfer-proof —guess we’ll see about that— I pick up my clutch and my coat and turn to the door to let him in.
As soon as I open the door, Hunter’s mouth falls open. His hand comes up to cover it, rubbing his jaw in appreciation. “Goddamn, Kitty Kat. If you didn’t want to go to the fundraiser, you could’ve just told me so. No need to tempt me like this. I’m a sure thing, babe.”
I slap his chest, laughing. “Nice try, buddy. But I’m glad you like the dress.”
“The dress, the shoes, everything.” Hunter takes my hand and twirls me. “You’re gorgeous. Absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous.” He leans in and presses a sweet kiss to my cheek, then trails his lips over to my ear. “And those shoes are gonna be the only thing that stays on when we get home later. Got it?”
My entire body shivers in anticipation. “Got it,” I whisper back.
Hunter releases me and helps me into my coat. Once my door is locked, he tucks my arm in his elbow, leading me down the path to his car.
“Being a gentleman again tonight, I see,” I tease as he holds the door open for me.
“Only till we’re between the sheets, Kitty Kat,” he murmurs seductively, giving me a wink as he closes the car door.
I take off my coat once I’m in since the car is plenty warm. When Hunter slides into his seat, his eyes travel up and down my body as he gives his head a slow shake. “Damn. You just… Wow.”
His response is exactly what I wanted. And the heat of his hand on my leg, the entire drive to Westport where the gala is being held, is a promise of things to come.
When we get to the hotel where the party is taking place, Hunter pulls into a parking spot and turns the car off but makes no move to get out. Somehow, the energy in the air has changed over the last few minutes from heated and flirtatious to tense and somber.
“Hunter?” I ask, confused and just a little worried.
“I need a second to get ready to face the firing squad,” he mumbles.
I laugh nervously, because that makes it sound like I’m taking him to meet his doom in there, when in reality, it’s just our family and friends.
“I won’t lie, I’m a little nervous, too,” I start to say. “This feels like a big deal, but really, it isn’t.”
Hunter flashes me an indiscernible look. “Yeah, it is. Are you sure you want to tell everyone tonight that we’re dating? There’s no rush, is there? Things are good right now.”
Something in my gut flip-flops.
“Things are good, but they’ll be even better when we don’t have to hide. And we planned to do it tonight when everyone’s here, to get it over with,” I reason. Hunter nods. But something’s off. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him nervous before, but this is heavier than that, more intense. “Hey, where’s the calm, cool, collected cop who saved me from a snowy highway?” I say lightly, twisting in my seat so I can reach my hand over to rest it on his chest. Hunter covers it with his own, squeezing gently.
“Honestly? Work and the gym are pretty much the only two places I can shut this part of my stupid fucking brain off.”
My eyebrows draw together in confusion, even as understanding starts to dawn on me. Meanwhile, Hunter looks like he swallowed a lemon, or more likely, didn’t mean to admit that.
“What do you mean?” I ask quietly.Is this the moment he’ll finally let me in?
His head hits the headrest as his eyes stare up at the roof. I can sense the battle in his brain about how to handle his confession, and all I can do is hope he’ll be honest.
“I probably should have told you this before things started between us. So, I understand if you don’t want anything to do with me after I tell you this.” His eyes close. “I have generalized anxiety disorder. Diagnosed as a teenager. Makes me worry about stupid shit, overthink everything, and basically feel like I’ll never be good enough. Makes me a fucking mess most of the time, and barely functional the rest of the time.”
Oh.Oh. Suddenly, a lot of things that made me pause over the last few weeks are starting to make sense. His reaction to me at the café the day after our first date. The worry over telling my family we’re dating. Heck, maybe even him not going for that promotion Leo was talking about.
His anxiety is the cause of all of it. If I’m honest, I think a part of me knew something like this was going on. But I’d also been worried there was some other worse reason for Hunter being so concerned about people finding out about us.
What that could be, who knows, but I was starting to really freak out that it was something we couldn’t figure our way through. Whereas this, this I can handle. I can be beside him and help him. Or at least, I can try. He needs to know I’m not going anywhere just because he has anxiety.
“I think you’re good enough,” I say quietly. “More than good enough, in fact. You’re amazing, Hunter Callaghan. You’re hardworking, kind, friendly, good in bed,” I add that last one teasingly, and finally, he cracks a smile. “And sexy as hell. I don’t care that you have anxiety. I’m grateful you told me, and I want to help. But most importantly, I’m so happy you’re here with me tonight.”
I get no warning before Hunter’s upper body lunges across the car, pinning me against the door, interrupting my thought. His lips cover mine in a desperate, plundering kiss. I meet him stroke for stroke, trying to infuse it with all the reassurances and support I possibly can.
I’m in danger of falling in love with this man. No, it might be too late for that. I think Iamfalling in love with him. Which I never thought I would feel brave enough to do again after Tyson cheated on me. But Hunter makes me brave. And tonight, after the party is over, and our relationship is out in the open, I’m going to tell him. Maybe then he’ll understand exactly what I think of him and how I feel about us.
Eventually, our lips part, both of us breathing heavily. My thumb comes up to trace along his lip. “They really meant it when they said transfer-proof.”
