ry, I might not get to stop by today.” I slapped my forehead, realizing that I needed to be there. She might get angry over my absence, but driving back home sounded like hell.
“What is it?” Hunter walked toward me.
I signed with my hand that it was Bailey, reminding me of a catering gig we needed to attend to.
“Come on, I’ll talk to her,” Hunter said and reached for the phone.
I handed over the phone, letting him speak to my best friend and business partner. It had been two years since we decided to establish a catering and baking service in town. The business had grown successful due to our hard work and determination. Hunter was always praising us for how great our food was. I could not be more than grateful for his support.
I watched as Hunter walked further, enough to keep distance as he spoke to my best friend. He looked calm as he spoke and even laughed several times over the course of their conversation. I wished I could listen to what he had to say, but he was not willing to share that, signaling for me to stay put at where I stood.
Hunter finally strolled back to the dock, approaching me as he continued speaking to Bailey. He handed over the phone to me, giving me thumbs up as I placed my phone over my ear.
“Hello, Bailey? I’m really sorry for leaving you to meet up with a customer today.” I hoped for her to calm down and forgive me, but that was a greedy wish. I closed my eyes as I prepared for the worst rants to come, but instead, I heard her laughing over the phone.
“It’s okay, Kylie. I can handle things from here. You should thank your guy for being supportive and loving. Anyway, Garren is coming to pick me up and help me out during his break.”
I looked at Hunter, baffled by the sudden change of events. I just managed to nod; my head still messed up with things. “Okay, then. Sorry, Bailey. I’ll never do this again.”
“It happens. Enjoy your day off.” I could tell that she was smiling on the other end. As the line clicked, I looked at Hunter with a puzzled expression. He shrugged his shoulders, keeping a smirk on his face as we walked toward Vince’s direction.
Thankfully, Garren was a trustworthy guy. Not only did he manage the gun shop, but he had stolen Bailey’s heart along the way.
It had been a year since we introduced our best friends to one another.
Garren seemed to be challenged by Bailey’s tough exterior and unwillingness to give in, no matter how hard he tried. It was cute, and Hunter and I loved watching every second of it.
“Thanks to Garren, Bailey’s in a great mood,” I told Hunter as we walked side by side, my hand clasped in his. He looked at me with a skeptical look, but then a smile spread all over his handsome face.
“Yeah, it’s the only time we’re thanking him though, lest he gets a big head over it,” he responded playfully. I could see his eyes twinkling. I melted under his gaze, the stare of the man I had loved with all of my heart. I squeezed his hand, blissful that I got to spend every day of my life beside him.
He held my hands and stood before me. His green, beautiful eyes stared at me, melting me under the warmth of his gaze.
“You know, I needed to thank someone else important in my life. It’s the woman who gives me chills every time I come close to her.”
I looked at him with passionate eyes. Vince stopped fishing to watch us, smiling at his father as he waited for his further words.
“Oh, yeah? Someone, I know?” I gave him a cheeky grin.
“You know her too well. She’s the reason I get out of bed in the morning, the reason I work so hard every day. She leaves my heart racing and my body so hard it hurts most nights,” he whispered the last part just for me.
“You’re too cheesy today, Mr. Romantic.” I kidded, trying to hide the blush on my cheeks. That he felt that way about me was enough to leave me panting for air. I loved him with a fire that would never die.
“No, Kylie, I’m serious. Thank you for coming into our lives. Without you, we wouldn’t know how to be this happy. I am forever grateful to you for teaching me how to love again.”
Tears blurred my gaze. “I feel the exactly same about both of you, baby.”
He took my hand and pressed it to his chest where his heart was. The beating under my fingers frightened me. His heart was racing.
“Feel that, Kylie?” He was smiling at me as I gazed on his chest.
“Yes, it’s beating fast. Why?” I wanted him to tell me everything he felt. What the hell was going on?
“You’ve changed me into a better man, a better father. You’ve given Vince another chance to feel how it was to have a mother. You gave us a new perspective on life.”
“Okay, but tell me what’s going on with your heart. You’re scaring me.”
“Nothing to be scared of. I’m just lost to you right now. It’s all good.” He touched the side of my face. “I want you to know that I’ll be right here to protect you, to take care of you, to love you forever, baby.”