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Hunter sang, “As they spoke the words at the beach, a late night and blond streaks in her hair, all those days long ago, my brother was next to me.”
Goose bumps rippled over her arms, and she thought of Trent. She could see the night he described. Well, sort of. It had been so many nights.
“It still gets to me, all the things I can’t see. No matter what people say, it still gets to me.”
Hunter closed his eyes, and the strumming on the guitar sped up.“Fire. Brother, we walked through fire here. Brother, reaching higher, ever higher. Always connected to you, and I never want that to change. Though physical reality might not see you and me, he ran up by my side, and when I looked into your eyes, all I’m filled with is desire.”
The steady beat kept building, and he opened his eyes and looked at her. “We belong inside the fire. With so much desire. We can reach even higher.”
His music was like a drug to her, and all she wanted to do was kiss him.
He sang another verse and then returned to the chorus. At the end of the song, he didn’t look away from her.
“Oh my gosh. Hunter. It was gorgeous.” She swallowed, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and moved to the couch next to him. “Seriously, that was so good. Have you laid it down on a track yet?”
He shook his head, then smacked his lips. “Just wrote it last night. It just came to me and …” He turned, bringing their faces inches apart. “It was about my brother, but you know it was also about you.”
Her heart raced, and she felt lost. So lost, and so found. She leaned in. “I probably shouldn’t kiss you.”
“I’m not moving. You decide.”
Before she knew what she was doing, she took his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his. He shifted, letting go of the guitar, and then his hands were in her hair and he was pulling her closer.
“Hunter.” Cheryse’s thoughts were consumed by this man she’d known her whole life. The man who had been through hell and back. The man who knew everything about her. The man who wanted to help her with her dreams. The man who had a dream that he would achieve.
He was the one who deepened the kiss, and she drew him closer.
She wasn’t sure how long they’d been lost in each other when the door opened. “Cheryse?” a voice asked.
She jerked back, stunned. “Roger?”
Chapter 28
Hunter showed up the next morning at Cheryse’s house and was politely asked to meet her at the salon. “I’m sorry, Hunter,” Cheryse said, sheepish. “I didn’t know Roger would be back.”
Hunter hated how jealous he was. “So he’s coming to help you get ready?”
Cheryse nodded. “He usually stays at Pastor Henry’s house when he’s in town. He said he would be here any minute to help me.”
“Well, I found a clue, and I want you to come treasure hunting tonight.”
“Really? What did you find?”
“Some new coordinates.”
Roger pushed past Hunter, holding a bag of groceries. “Hunter. Good morning, fine chap.” He was careful to sidestep Hunter as he moved into the house. “I do need to thank you for all you’ve done for Cheryse. I’m here to help now. I’m here for the next week, and I’ll take care of things.”
Hunter kept his gaze on Cheryse. “Listen, we need to talk.”
She looked at Roger. “Later.”
As it was gettingclose to lunch, Hunter turned to look at Cheryse, who was doing someone’s hair, and said, “I’m going to head to the sandwich shop. You want anything?”
She cast a glance his way, a mixture of apology and something else he didn’t recognize. “No thank you. Hunter, you don’t need to work through the rest of the day.”
Hunter lifted his eyebrows at her. “I don’t? Who’s going to cover the desk during appointments?”
Once again, Roger pushed open the door. “Lunch time.”
