Page 79 of Reticent

“I never meant to hurt her.”

So maybe I feel bad for Jessica. Just a tad. I can certainly relate to her. No one wants to fall in love with someone unobtainable like Hunter. “I think she knows that. She said you were there for her during her divorce. That you helped heal her. Falling in love with you was never part of her plan.”

“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath, and I can sense his remorse.

“She wished me good luck. Said that I was going to need it with a man like you.” Jessica’s warning hit a little too close to home.

Hunter white-knuckles the steering wheel. “She had no fucking right talking to you like that.”

“She’s upset, and she’s hurting. I felt some type of way, but I get it.” I didn’t like it, but I understand.

He shakes his head. “I guess I fucked up that friendship.”

“I guess so.” Hunter has the potential to hurt me like he did Jessica, even if he doesn’t mean to. “I’m tired.” Both physically and emotionally.

“Get some sleep. It’ll take us a while to get home.”

“Okay.” I yawn, reclining my seat. Hunter adjusts the air conditioning to blow directly on our faces. I close my eyes. “That feels amazing.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Sometime later, I feel Hunter’s knuckles grazing my cheek. I open my eyes. I’m disoriented with a sore neck from sleeping with my head in a weird position. My gaze takes in my surroundings. The dim light. The Porsche and the other Bentley parked to my right. We’re in the garage.

“We’re home,” Hunter says, dipping his head to level with me through the open car door.

“How long was I out for?” It feels like I only blinked.

“A while. I've already unloaded the car.”

I blink in surprise. “Why didn't you wake me? I would've helped.”

“You would've tried.”

An easy smile curves my lips. “And you wouldn't have let me.”

“Nope.” He pulls my seat forward and helps me out of the car. I’m bone tired, and my feet are swollen. “Why don't you go upstairs and lie down?”

“Maybe soon." We enter the house through the side door. “I want to go through as many gifts as possible for the thank-you cards.”

“Can't that wait?”

“The sooner we track who gave what, the sooner we can start putting things away.”

“Is this what they call nesting?” He sets his keys on the counter and leans back against it.

I give him a look. “You know about nesting?”

“My mom sent me a book for expecting dads.” He half rolls his eyes.

A grin overtakes my features. “I love Priscilla.”

“She loves you too.”

“That’s because I’m awesome.” I do a little dance.

He laughs. “That you are.”

Hunter goes off to wherever in this big house while I fix myself a plate of leftovers from the baby shower. I eat at the dining room table while scrolling through my phone. After a few bites, I cover my plate with foil and put it in the refrigerator. I’m not as hungry as I thought I was.