“Girl, when Hunter sees you in that dress...” Lily makes a chef’s kiss motion with her hands. “He is gonna just die.”
I twist back and forth, looking down my body, trying to check all angles for any embarrassing lines. “You think so?” I smooth my hands down the front of my deep maroon coloured satin sheath. It does fit me really,reallywell, and the jewel tone of the fabric sets off my hair nicely. I’ve had this dress sitting in my closet for almost a year, just waiting for the right time to wear it.
And a fancy party where I’ll finally get to let the world know Hunter and I are together seems like the perfect time.
“You look like a Christmas present ready for him to unwrap.” Lily shakes her head slowly, but her expression is proud. “You claimed your coal, Kat, and I’m so dang happy for you. I’m going to get out of here so you and your man can have a moment alone when he picks you up. But…” Lily draws out that one word with a smirk. “If you aren’t at the gala in less than one hour from now, I’m telling your brothers about Hunter.”
“Don’t you dare, or I’ll tell everyone about the time you were laughing so hard at Mexican night you snorted queso out your nose.”
Lily shoots daggers at me. “Fine. Just don’t let Hunter keep you too long. If he messes up your makeup, I’ll be able to tell. Bye, babe.”
After she leaves, I walk downstairs and stand in front of my mirror for several more minutes. The memories of Hunter standing almost where I am now, and telling me to watch while he made me shatter with pleasure, have been on repeat ever since he left my house the other night. The only thing that would have made our first time together even more perfect would have been him staying over and us waking up together the next morning. But I understood when he said he didn’t want to risk someone seeing his car in my driveway overnight.
“Thank God we won’t have to worry about that much longer,” I whisper to myself just as the doorbell rings. With one last check of my lip stain that claims to be transfer proof —guess we’ll see about that— I pick up my clutch and my coat and turn to the door to let him in.
As soon as I open the door, Hunter’s mouth falls open. His hand comes up to cover it, rubbing his jaw in appreciation. “Goddamn, Kitty Kat. If you didn’t want to go to the fundraiser, you could’ve just told me so. No need to tempt me like this. I’m a sure thing, baby.”
I slap his chest, laughing. “Nice try, buddy. But I’m glad you like the dress.”
“The dress, the shoes, everything.” Hunter takes my hand and twirls me. “You’re gorgeous. Absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous.” He leans in and presses a sweet kiss to my cheek, then trails his lips over to my ear. “And those shoes are gonna be the only thing that stays on when we get home later. Got it?”
My entire body shivers in anticipation. “Got it,” I whisper back.
Hunter releases me and helps me into my coat. Once my door is locked, he tucks my arm in his elbow, leading me down the path to his car.
“Being a gentleman again tonight, I see,” I tease as he holds the door open for me.
“Only till we’re between the sheets, Kitty Kat,” he murmurs seductively, giving me a wink as he closes the car door.
I take off my coat once I’m in, since the car is plenty warm. When Hunter slides into his seat, his eyes travel up and down my body as he gives his head a slow shake. “Damn. You just… Wow.”
His response is exactly what I wanted. And the heat of his hand on my leg, the entire drive to Westport, is a promise of things to come.
When we get to the hotel where the party is taking place, Hunter pulls into a parking spot and turns the car off, but makes no move to get out. Somehow, the energy in the air has changed from heated and flirtatious to tense and somber.
“Hunter?” I ask, confused and just a little worried.
“I need a minute to get ready to face the firing squad,” he mumbles.
I laugh nervously, because that makes it sound like I’m taking him to meet his doom in there, when in reality, it’s just our family and friends.
“I won’t lie, I’m a little nervous, too,” I start to say. “This feels like a big deal, but really, it isn’t.”
Hunter flashes me an indiscernible look. “Yeah, it is. Are you sure you want to tell everyone we’re dating, tonight? There’s no rush, is there?”
Something in my gut flip-flops.
“We might as well do it tonight when everyone’s here,” I reason. Hunter nods. But something’s off. “Hey, where’s the calm, cool, collected cop who saved me from a snowy highway?” I say lightly, twisting in my seat so I can reach my hand over to rest it on his chest. Hunter covers it with his own, squeezing gently.
“Honestly? Work and the gym are pretty much the only two places I can shut this part of my stupid fucking brain off.”
My eyebrows draw together in confusion. Hunter looks like he swallowed a lemon, or more likely, didn’t mean to admit that.
“What do you mean?” I ask quietly.
His head hits the headrest as his eyes stare up at the roof. I can sense the battle in his head about how to handle his confession, and all I can do is hope he’ll explain.
“Generalized anxiety disorder. Diagnosed as a teenager. Makes me worry about stupid shit, overthink everything, and basically feel like I’ll never be good enough.”