Page 39 of One Night Years Ago

Hunter stared at his phone in amazement. It was almost seven a.m. His internal alarm clock wasn’t working anymore. It felt like a sign.

Beside him, Natalie snored softly. Asleep, she looked at ease, younger somehow, more like the girl he remembered from his youth. It made him sad that she was never this relaxed when awake.

Natalie wasn’t for him. His plan when he’d parked outside her house had been to protect her. He shouldn’t have accepted her invitation to come upstairs, and he certainly shouldn’t have made love to her.

And yet he couldn’t feel guilty for what had happened between them the night before. Last night had been the best night of his life, and if he never had another night like it, he was going to hold on to it with everything he had.

“What are you thinking?”

He started. He hadn’t even realized she’d opened her eyes. They were blue like the proverbial cornfield. He brushed a strand of soft brown hair away from her face so he could see her better.

“Just looking at you,” he said. “You’re so beautiful it hurts to look at you.”

She smiled.

“I wish we had time for a second round, but I need to get to work.”

The mention of work sobered her up, and her smile slowly dimmed.

“I need to get to the farm. Jesse and my mom were spending the night at a church retreat, but they’ll be worried if I’m not there when they get back.” He pulled up his jeans.

Ten minutes later, they were both dressed and in the living room.

“Will you come back tonight?” she asked, her voice soft.

He froze, his hand on the door. Before he could answer, the door was pushed open. A large man pushed his way inside. Hunter positioned his body in front of hers instinctively, before he even recognized the man.

Fuck. Her dad.

He felt like a teenager, caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Aaron Bowmann said, enunciating the words very slowly.

Natalie came out from behind Hunter, her eyes blazing with fury. Hunter was glad it wasn’t directed at him.

“Dad! You’re in my house. Speak to me, please.”

The older man sighed, taking a small step back.

“Fine, Natalie. What the fuck is he doing here?”

“He spent the night with me,” she said almost gleefully.

“He what? Are you insane, Natalie? Sleeping with a suspect? Do you realize what this could do to your career?”

“He’s not a suspect in Lanie’s case, Dad. You know that.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it, Natalie.” Aaron Bowmann looked away towards the fireplace for a moment. When he looked back at Hunter, it was as if he wanted to drive the fire poker through his heart.

Hunter stood very still. He didn’t want to ruffle the old man, and he was rather enjoying listening to Natalie. She didn’t mince any words.

“Get away from my daughter, you good for nothing—”

“Dad. Dad!” Natalie interrupted. She flew to her father’s side and placed her hand gently on the older man’s hand. “Please don’t do this. Hunter didn’t hurt me. He didn’t hurt Lanie.”

“He confessed,” the old sheriff sputtered. “He went to prison. I won’t have it, Natalie. I wasn’t able to protect you last time, but I will this time. He’ll eat my gun before I let him hurt you,” Aaron Bowmann said, shrugging her hand off. He sidestepped his daughter and moved towards Hunter, his fists closed.

Hunter straightened to his full height, forcing the older man to look up at him. He raised his palms in what he hoped was a placating gesture.