Afterward, as I am lying in Hunter’s arms, glowing from both pregnancy and the filled need of radiant ecstasy, I simply fall asleep in the warm embrace of his arms wrapped around me. And even in my sleep, I feel myself starting to believe that maybe this fantasy is really possible after all. He said he loves me, and Iknowthat I love him too. There isn’t anything getting in our way now. Finally, Hunter and I have a chance at being together. Granted, I still have no idea how this will all work, but at least neither of us is running out the door again.
Tomorrow is Monday again, and reality is going to be in full swing. I guess that will be the test on whether or not this is going to be able to last this time.
When morning arrives, there is no nanny for Teddie and we both have jobs to go to.
Teddie watches cartoons with Archie in his lap while Hunter and I talk over coffee.
“Do you like your teaching job?” he asks.
“If you’re just trying to get me to quit—”
“No, that’s not it,” Hunter interrupts. “I just want to know if you’re feeling fulfilled there.”
“I mean, it’s notexactlywhat I really want to do,” I answer with a sigh, honestly dreading having to go to the high school when I feel like things are still so unresolved.
“Then what is it that you really want to do?” he asks.
I don’t think anyone has actually ever asked me that question. Jax asks me all the time about what I’m doing and tells me that he’ll always be my biggest supporter, but even my brother hasn’t asked me what it is that I truly want to do with my life. I guess he’s just been waiting to see me figure it out. The only problem is that I haven’t been able to do that yet.
But now, when Hunter asks me with genuine interest in his voice, it seems almosteasyto answer the question.
“I’d really like to write myownbooks,” I answer, hoping that he doesn’t think that’s a ridiculous idea.
“Really? That’s incredible!”
“You think so?”
“Of course I do! You have a literature degree, and I remember how you used to write great stories and essays in school. Didn’t you even used to keep a journal?”
“Yeah,” I chuckle, surprised that he even remembered that.
“Then, what’s stopping you? Why don’t you start writing and publishing your own books instead of working for someone else?”
“You meant like working foryou?” I tease, reminding him that my being a part-time nanny is currently all the help with Teddie that he has.
Hunter laughs and shakes his head.
“Well, I was referring to teaching at the high school. But what if I made you a deal?”
“What kind of deal?” I ask. I’ve learned to be wary of his “deals” because they always seem to be more than I’ve bargained for. Kind of like moving in here to “just” be a nanny and then winding up pregnant.
“How about you agree to go back to taking care of Teddie during the day while I have to work with a salary that is five times what you are making teaching.”
“You want me to quit my job?”
“I’m offering you abetterpaying job with additional benefits,” he says.
“If those additional benefits are the same kind of thing that wound up getting me pregnant, then I—”
“No,” he laughs again. “You didn’t let me finish. I will set you up with everything that you need in order to try and start writing books and launching a career as an author for yourself.”
“I don’t think it’s all that easy,” I scoff. “You’re oversampling how much—”
“Moneyit would take?” he smirks.
Oh right—billionaire status. Hunter can practically buy his way into anything. Although I’m not sure it works quite like that with writing.
“I don’t think that’s possible. I can’t just give up a solid job on a whim. What if the writing thing doesn’t even work out?”