Page 64 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
Hunter swooped down and cut me off, brushing his lips against mine for a chaste kiss. “Go. We’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
I sighed. “All right.”
Dashing to my room, I slipped on my light-blue tennis shoes and donned some silver hoop earrings. After clasping on my favorite necklace, a simple silver chain with Coby’s initials etched into a silver disk, I walked back toward the living room.
I stopped in the hallway at the sight on the couch.
Hunter was in the middle of the sectional, the TV remote in one hand as he scrolled through cartoon channels. His other arm was wrapped around Coby, keeping him tucked right into his side. My son was smiling and bouncing his bare feet as they rested on Hunter’s jean-covered thigh.
Where is my phone? That was a picture worth saving.
I smiled and pushed onward, rounding the couch to sit down next to Coby. “Hey, buddy.” I patted Coby’s leg so he’d take his eyes off the TV as Hunter hit mute. “We need to have a quick talk before I go. Do you remember a couple weeks ago when I told you Hunter was going to be my boyfriend?”
Coby nodded. “’Cause he gives you hugs and kisses and Eskimos.”
“That’s right.” I bent forward to rub our noses together. “I was thinking that it might be fun for Hunter to start having special sleepovers. That way he could eat breakfast with us. What do you think?”
My eyes darted up to Hunter’s surprised face as Coby started shouting.
“Yay! He can sleep in my room!” Coby bounced into Hunter’s lap. “You can sleep wif me!”
“Your bed is kind of small, bud,” Hunter said. “Maybe your mom would let me sleep in hers? It’s a lot bigger.”
Coby stared at him for a second, considering his suggestion, and then looked back to me. “Can he stay in your bed, Mommy?”
“My bed? Hmm. I guess that would be okay. Good idea.” I tickled Coby’s side, causing him to fall into Hunter’s chest as he laughed.
“Are you sure?” Hunter mouthed over his head.
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
We’d spent almost every night together these past two weeks but I was sick of shuffling him out the door at dawn. He’d been patient, understanding I wasn’t ready to introduce sleepovers to Coby yet, but the time had come.
We’d have a sleepover tonight after we made our relationship public.
Hunter and I had been enjoying the intimacy and privacy of our new relationship. We’d been getting to know one another in the comfort of my home, avoiding the café and other restaurants in favor of home-cooked meals at my small table. Rather than seek entertainment downtown, we had been content to spend evenings inside, playing games with Coby and watching kids’ shows. And after Coby was fast asleep, Hunter and I would spend our nighttime hours making each other come until we’d both pass out, utterly exhausted.
No one knew I was seeing Hunter except Mom—who I’d begged to keep quiet—and these past two weeks, she’d proven that miracles do happen. Marissa Holt had kept a tight-lipped secret for the first time ever. As far as I knew, the only other family member who knew about Hunter was Dad.
The secrecy had worked for us, but now it was time to move forward.
Hunter and I were making our first “official” public outing as a couple at the annual June county rodeo.
I was nervous. Really nervous.
Knowing we’d get to come back for a sleepover would give me something to look forward to if the evening went to crap.
“Should we have pancakes in the morning?” I asked Coby.
“With chocolate chips?”
“Duh. And Mickey Mouse ears.” He smiled and I leaned in to kiss his cheek. Then I stood from the couch and glanced at the wall clock by the dining room table. “I’ve still got a few minutes before I need to leave. I’m going to take Pickle out for a potty break.”
“We can do it,” Hunter said.
“It’s fine. It won’t take me more than a few minutes. You guys can go back to your cartoons.”
He smiled at me before settling Coby back into his side and unmuting the TV.
