Hunt jerked to a stop, ignoring the “Watch it, dude” of a man who had to dodge him at the last minute.
Had he even told her that he loved her?
God, he couldn’t remember.
He’d asked her to have a baby with him, to stay in New York, all but demanded it in fact. But had he told her that he loved her, that she was his world? Had he really, completely, fluently explained what she meant to him?
Would it have made a difference? Might she have considered...morehad he uttered those three important words? Hunt preferred actions to words, but they’d had so little time together before they’d parted. Adie really didn’t have time to realize that, while he was slow to commit, when he did commit, he went all in.
He didn’t like to fail.
Even back in the day, as a young adult, when Joni had asked for a divorce, he’d wanted to stick it out. He’d worked his ass off, both as a player and in business, and success was always a certainty, not an option.
Did Adie realize that when he made a promise, when he set his mind on a task, he always, always gave it his all? Adie had no idea that his love wasn’t conditional, that his loyalty was unshakeable. That he would love her through all her insecurities, that he was the one place where she would always and forever be adored, accepted? She hadn’t had that as a child. Her parents had emotionally neglected her, but he wouldn’t. It simply wasn’t in his nature.
When he worked, he worked; when he loved he loved. And he did love her. With everything he had, he was, with everything he could be.
Did she even have the faintest idea?
But how could she? They’d known each other for three weeks and the time they’d spent together outside the bedroom was minimal. He was a good lover but not that good, unfortunately.
He needed to tell her, now,tonight. Well, as soon as possible. He needed to explain, to lay all his cards on the table, to completely expose himself. He had to give everything he had to get her back.
She was worth it. She was worth anything.
Hunt yanked out his phone and scrolled through his phone, looking for the number of his pilot. Had Duncan filed it underPilot, his name or the name of the airport where the plane was parked?
Forget it, he’d call Duncan. Hitting the one key on his keypad—idly noting that Duncan would soon be bumped to number two on his speed dial—he looked around and tried to get his bearings. Heading back in the direction of the old-fashioned window, he mentally urged Duncan to answer his damn phone.
“Hunter? It’s late. Is everything okay?”
Hunt released the air he’d been holding. “Sorry, I know. But can you get hold of my pilot, tell him to file a flight plan to London? I want to leave first thing in the morning.
“And can you get Pete to collect me as soon as possible?”
“I’m on it,” Duncan reassured him. He hesitated. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. Ask me that question in twenty-four to thirty-six hours,” Hunt replied. Obstructed by the crowd by the window, he stepped off the sidewalk and his foot landed in a puddle, soaking his shoe and the bottom six inches of his pants.
Hunt winced at the cold before shrugging it off. It was only then that he remembered why Duncan wasn’t in the city. “How’s your friend?”
Duncan hesitated and then Hunt heard his long sigh. “Unchanged. I’m going to have to make a decision about whether to take him off life support or not.”
“Jesus.” Hunt rubbed his hand over his jaw, ashamed that he hadn’t checked in on his assistant before now. “I’m so sorry, Duncan. Is there anything I can do?”
“No, but thank you,” Duncan replied. “I might need some more time, Hunt. I thought I was over him, but I’m not, not really.”
“You’ve got it,” Hunt told him, his voice thick.
“Saying goodbye is hard and I’m regretting the things I said and so many of the things I didn’t say.”
Hunt heard the tears in Duncan’s voice and tried to swallow the lump in his throat. He desperately looked for something to say that might offer comfort. “You were the person he trusted enough to make the big decisions for him, Duncan. He obviously loved you a great deal.”
Duncan was silent for a long time and Hunter was okay with that. Sometimes it was simply enough to be connected, to have someone listen. Hunter heard him sniff but when Duncan spoke again, Hunt could tell he was back to his efficient self. “Flight plan, pilot, London, pick up ASAP. Got it.”
“Merry Christmas, Duncan. I wish you...strength.”
Duncan cleared his throat. “Merry Christmas, Hunter. And I hope she says yes.”