Page 84 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
When she was out of earshot, Michael looked over his shoulder from his seat below me. “Beau will give you the full lecture, but I’ll just say this: if you hurt my sister, I’ll help him hide your body.”
Gigi hadn’t been far off on her warning today.
“I won’t hurt your sister.” I didn’t care that her brother was threatening me. I was glad Maisy had such a loyal family. I looked to my right at Brock, expecting the same type of warning, but he just shook his head.
“You won’t get a warning from me. My boys will take care of their sister, but I will say this.” He leaned closer to speak softly. “My girl, she needs to know it’s safe to fall in love. She needs to see that she can trust a man. Be that man for her, Hunter. Protect her from the shit in this world. God knows, she’s seen enough. It’s time for her to get some peace.”
I nodded and turned back to the T-ball game, where Coby and his team were practicing on the field while the opposing team was huddled by their dugout.
When he looked over, Coby waved the ball and shouted, “Watch this, Hunter!” He wound up and threw from second plate to first with all his might. It made it about three-quarters of the way there before hitting the dirt and rolling to a stop.
I clapped and cheered, “Good job, buddy! Nice toss!”
He beamed and I waved again.
That kid. He was amazing.
When my eyes met Brock’s, his thoughts were transparent.
He didn’t just want a man for his daughter. He wanted a father for his grandson.
I nodded.
That man would be me.
Maisy
Two days after the T-ball game, Coby and I were standing in the middle of Hunter’s empty living room.
“What do you think?” Hunter’s voice echoed in the open space.
I spun around and took it all in. Dark har
dwood floors. Exposed beams in the vaulted ceiling. Rough-cut stone surrounding the fireplace.
“It’s beautiful.” The crew at Jamison Valley Construction had outdone themselves. “I know it took longer than you’d hoped, but I’d say if this is the end product, it was well worth the wait.”
Hunter smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Hunter, watch this!” Coby shouted before whizzing one of his Hot Wheels across the bare floor. Because there was no furniture to block its path, the car zoomed all the way from the kitchen, through the space where a dining room table belonged and over to us in the living room.
“Nice!” Hunter knelt on the floor and caught the car, revved it up and sent it speeding back.
“Are you sure you want me to decorate?” I asked. “Furniture would ruin your racetrack.”
Hunter grinned and stood. “Nah. We’ll just race around it. Huh, bud?”
Coby nodded as he backed up to the farthest wall in the kitchen and sent the car flying again.
While Hunter raced the car a few more times, I explored the rest of the main room. I loved the open floor plan. I loved the enormous island that separated the kitchen space from the dining area and the light-gray cabinets. I loved how much natural light flooded in from the abundance of windows.
I loved this house.
Except for the plain white walls—something I’d happily fix—this was a dream house.
“Should we finish the walk-through?” Hunter asked.
“Yes, please.” I ran my fingers across the cool granite countertops before following Hunter toward the stairs.
