Chapter Thirty-Two

“That boy has no idea,” Birdy said, looking out the front window of Callie’s shop.

Callie briefly wondered who Birdy was talking about but kept her focus on her best friend. “It’s perfect,” she said to Nova, eyeing her in her shimmery silver bridesmaid dress. “You look beautiful.”

Nova did a little twirl on the round pedestal as she studied herself in the mirror. “You are giving bridesmaid dresses a new reputation, Cal.”

“Agreed,” Bethany said, stepping out of the second dressing room in her bridesmaid dress. “I feel prettier than I have in a long time and will definitely wear this again.”

“You’re gorgeous,” Nova told her sister-in-law.

“She’s right,” Callie agreed. “Being a mom of two looks amazing on you.” She stepped over to Bethany for a closer look at the sizing. With only three weeks to go until the wedding, this was the girls’ final fitting unless something drastic happened. “Do the straps feel too tight?” She slipped a finger underneath the shoulder strap to check for flexibility.

“No, I think they’re fine.”

“Okay, good.”

“He’s going to cause an accident,” Birdy voiced, her attention still out the paned window. “Someone is going to walk into the street because they’re not looking where they’re going and get hit by a car.”

That grabbed Callie’s undivided attention and had her, Nova, and Bethany hurrying over to the window. “What are you talking about?” Callie asked.

“See for yourself.” Birdy nodded toward the street.

Callie’s eyes immediately zeroed in on Hunter, walking up and down the sidewalk wearing a front baby carrier with Gia inside. Her little arms and legs were sticking out, and her angelic face was nestled against his chest. He was talking to her and pointing at things.

And he looked insanely hot doing it.

Do not fall any more for him. Do not do it.

“Cole and Jenna are having a special father-daughter day, so he said he’d watch Gia for me while I was here,” Bethany said.

He looked like a natural with her, enjoying himself completely. Look away! And don’t drool! She failed at the first, succeeded at the latter.

Callie hadn’t seen him since he’d dropped her off at home last Sunday. They’d made it to the tail end of the bachelor/bachelorette party, for which she was grateful. Seeing Hunter’s face light up when he finally got to toast Maverick added to the intimate memories between the two of them that she would never forget.

Tingles prickled her skin every time she thought about it. About him. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms now to rid them. She’d missed him this week. Then reminded herself not to go there. They’d shared forty-eight hours of bliss. End of story.

“Hunt’s going to make a great dad one day,” Nova said.

Birdy cleared her throat and shot Callie a look. “If those floozies have their way, it will be sooner rather than later,” Birdy said good-naturedly.

As the four of them stood there staring out the window, three different women approached him. It was like the women were hiding behind trees waiting for a turn to say hello. And flirt. She’d seen enough people flirt with him over the years to know the signs: Playing with their hair. Touching his arm. Laughing and waving a hand in the air like he’d said the funniest thing ever.

It didn’t bother her.

Much.

Hunter and flirting went hand in hand. Always had.

“I think Vivian’s got a tracking device on him or something,” Nova said. “She is always popping up wherever he is.”

“She’s definitely interested in him,” Callie said, proud of herself for sounding neutral.

“She stopped by the inn the other day,” Bethany said. “She’s very nice.”

“Got any popcorn?” Birdy asked. “This is better than Netflix.”

“I’m not sure if I should be upset that Gia is in the middle of this or find it funny,” Bethany said.

“Funny,” Callie and Nova said at the same time.

“Jinx! You owe me a margarita,” they mouthed off simultaneously.

“I’ll make us all margaritas if someone makes popcorn.” Birdy held up her phone in front of the window. She’d arrived a few minutes before Nova and Bethany to do a post for Instagram, then they’d convinced her to stay because having Birdy around was always a pleasure.

“Are you videoing this?” Nova leaned closer to Birdy to look through her phone.

“Nah. Just taking a few pictures.”

“One of those women could be the future Mrs. Hunter Owens,” Bethany said. “Did you hear there’s some kind of pool going on?”

Callie placed a chair behind Birdy so she could sit down.

“I’ve seen it,” Nova said. “It’s ridiculous.”

“What kind of pool is it?” Callie hadn’t heard anything about it.

“People are guessing when Hunter will get engaged.”

“And betting money on it?” Callie ignored the uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. The fact was the town loved Hunter and wanted to see him walk down the aisle. Thanks to her best man suit, the odds of it happening sooner rather than later had increased.

“The buy-in is a dollar a square, just for the fun of it. More important is going to be bragging rights,” Nova said.

“I’m in for two bucks,” Birdy said. “Halftime Show and Friday the thirteenth.”

Nova gave Birdy a high five. “Nice. Friday the thirteenth gives you at least two chances next year, right?”

Birdy nodded and cleared her throat again. “First one’s in February, so that’s probably a long shot.”

“Does Hunter know about this?” Callie asked.

“Probably, but you know him. He’s used to the attention and won’t let it affect him.”

Callie only half heard what Nova said because Hunter hooked his fingers inside Gia’s tiny hands and rocked side-to-side. His lips moved like he was singing a song, and the cuteness factor combined with his confident, masculine swagger made her lightheaded. And want to jump his bones.

Splat. I’ve fallen all the way now, damn him.

A car drove by and honked. Callie blinked herself back into focus. Nova was right. Hunter didn’t let things affect him, and she did. He didn’t play it safe, and she did. He wanted to get married and settle down. And she didn’t.

“Uh-oh,” Bethany said. “He’s singing.”

“It’s a good thing we’re inside and he’s outside,” Nova said.

And just like that, the street cleared and Hunter’s female fans vanished back to where they came from. Callie rubbed her eyes to make sure she hadn’t imagined the sudden retreat. “Is there something wrong with his singing?” she asked.

“It’s worse than fingernails on a chalkboard,” Nova said.

“Worse than a baby raccoon’s crying chatter,” Bethany said. At Callie’s puzzled expression, she added, “A family of raccoons lives near the house, and the sound drives us crazy at night when we’re trying to sleep.”

“He sounds that bad?” Callie tried to recall if she’d ever heard him sing and came up blank.

“Yes,” the three women said.

As if their affirmation pierced the air and gave away their location at the window, Hunter turned his head and looked right at them.

“Time to get changed!” Nova spun around and hurried toward the dressing rooms.

“Thank you again, Callie!” Bethany almost tripped darting back to her dressing room.

Callie raced away from the window right behind them. “Let me know if you need any help getting the dresses off.”

Birdy stayed put. Waved out the window. “He’s coming this way,” she called over her shoulder.

Half a minute later, Hunter entered the shop. It was normal business hours, so anyone could walk in. “Hi,” she said to him. “Bethany is getting changed.”

“Great, thanks.” Two words that felt like a lot more with his dreamy eyes locked on hers. Not to mention the second he’d walked inside, her chest fluttered. “Did you hear that, Gia? Your momma will be right out.” He broke eye contact to kiss the top of her head.

“While you’re here, do you want to try on your suit?” she asked. “It’s ready to go.”

“Great idea!” Nova shouted from behind the curtain of the dressing room.

“Oh, yes,” Birdy said, getting to her feet. “Let’s see this special best man suit.”

“Looks like I’m putting on a fashion show.” He flashed his dimples around the room, clueless to the power they yielded.

Bethany stepped out of the dressing room, the bridesmaid dress on a hanger in her hand.

“Let me get that,” Callie said, taking the gown. “I’ll slip it into a garment bag.” While she did that, Bethany retrieved Gia. Hunter took off the baby carrier.

“How is my babylicious?” Nova cooed, reaching with grabby hands for her niece. “I left the dress hanging up. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine.” Callie bagged Nova’s dress, too, then turned to find Hunter right there. Looking good. Smelling good.

“Hi,” he said for her ears only. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too.”

His entire face lit up. Happiness bombarded her. She did that to him. “Are you busy tomorrow night?” he asked.

“Are you asking me out on a date?” Her heart pounded yes. Her head, though, had reservations. Logically, a date didn’t mean anything more than that, but they were way past that, weren’t they?

“If I was, would you say yes?” When she didn’t answer right away, he said, “I’ll wait forever for you if that’s what it takes.”

Oh, God. This was really happening.

She didn’t know what to do. Panic clawed its way up the back of her throat. She’d thought about this moment countless times over the past week. When he’d texted a picture of them in the Love Nest. When he’d called to ask if there was anything he could do to help fix her leaky faucet. (He recommended the plumber they used at the inn to her and the problem was fixed.)

She was in deep with him.

But if she let go of her fear of rejection and vow to never marry, who was she? Would she know how to act? Because she was certain that with Hunter, her life would be irrevocably changed.

“Hey.” He hooked a finger around hers at her waist. “Let me back up. Come to my place tomorrow night. No stress. No ‘what happens after that’. Sound good?”

“Yes,” she whispered, relieved.

“Ahem.”

Hunter let go of her and took a step back. Sorry, he mouthed.

He didn’t look sorry.

Nova, Birdy, and Bethany were lined up like a receiving line, ready to be provided with a detailed account of her and Hunter’s conversation. Even Gia had an expectant look on her cute little face.

They could take their nosy noses home with them. “Hunt, your suit is right here.” She spun around to grab it from the hanging rack. His dress shirt was also included. Ideally, he’d have his dress shoes with him, but no biggie.

“She’s calling him Hunt now,” Birdy said.

“It’s been happening,” Nova said.

“Ladies,” Hunter said, addressing the line. “I realize three out of four of you are family, but prepare to be gobsmacked by my change of clothes.” He took the suit from Callie and disappeared inside a dressing room.

She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling at his indirect compliment.

Nova raised her eyebrows, hinting that she wanted the full scoop later. It wasn’t like her best friend didn’t know they’d had sex last weekend. Callie had told her it was a one-off, but the tension in the air this afternoon indicated something else entirely.

“Ready or not,” Hunter called out, sliding the curtain open and stepping out for his reveal.

She was not ready.

Not at all.

Birdy whistled. “You, young man, need to come with a warning label.”

Does a suit make a man? Or does the man make the suit? Whatever the saying, Hunter looked like a million dollars. She raked her eyes over him from top to bottom and back up, reminding herself to look at him like a client, not the best-looking human on the planet.

Hunter tucked his hands into the front jacket pockets and struck a pose. He turned in a circle to give them the full three-sixty. Then he undid the button on the jacket in that sexy way men do. One flick and the coat parted. He lifted the left side to show off the inside panel and the small butterfly applique.

“That the magic touch?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He let go so the jacket laid flat, and she couldn’t help herself. She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his arms. “It fits perfectly. How does it feel?”

“Great. You are an amazing designer.”

“She is.” Nova put her arm around Callie.

Gia fussed, drawing everyone’s attention. “She’s getting hungry,” Bethany said, “so we better get going. Nova, do you mind carrying my dress to the car?”

“Not at all.”

“See you later, cutie pie.” Hunter gave Gia a kiss on her chubby cheek. She kicked her legs and stopped fussing like she recognized his voice. Callie’s insides melted.

“Cal, you’re coming to the lantern lighting tonight, right?” Nova asked.

“Umm…” Mary Rose had started the family activity last year and decided to make it a yearly tradition on the first Saturday of December. With this new connection with Hunter, though, she didn’t know if—

“I know my mom invited you, so we’ll see you at seven.” Nova carefully carried the dresses over her arm, refusing to let Callie back out. “Love you!”

“Wave goodbye to Callie.” Bethany held Gia’s hand and waved.

“Love you guys,” Callie said.

“I love you, too,” Hunter chimed in, sticking by Callie’s side.

She turned to him once the front door shut. “Time to take off the suit.”

His gaze jumped to Birdy before returning all his attention to her. “I’m not really into having an audience, but if you—”

“Stop.” She put her hands on his shoulders (because reasons), spun him around, and gave him a little push toward the dressing room. “In there, mister. Alone.”

“Ah, gotcha.” His playful expression got to her all right. Her stomach flipped.

“I missed something between the last time I saw you two and today.” Birdy scanned Callie’s face with grandmotherly interest and warmth. “Whatever that something was, I approve.” She winked, then headed out.

“Bye,” Callie said. She’d share a PG-rated version with Birdy when and if there was a reason to.

“Alone at last,” Hunter said softly in her ear, his hands on her waist and his breath tickling the back of her neck.

Her head fell to the side. “Not for long. I have another appointment in a few minutes.”

He kissed the sensitive spot behind her ear like she hoped he would. “I could make you come in two.”

She appreciated that he kept his hands where they were, waiting for her to give him the go-ahead. He did know his way around her body. And being surrounded by him with his lips on her skin had her turned on. But…

“Sorry.” He put space between them, taking his warmth, and making her immediately miss him. “I said I wasn’t going to pressure you, and here I am doing it.”

“It’s okay.” She gathered her strength and walked to the dressing room to get his suit. “I like this effect I have on you.”

“I’m happy to hear that. So… ?” He waggled his eyebrows.

She chuckled. “So…I guess I wish we could be in a romantic bubble again. Just the two of us. Not caring about anything else.” She fit his suit inside a garment bag and handed it to him. “You really did look incredible in this.”

“Callie.”

“Yes?”

He struggled with what he wanted to say, which made her think it was probably best if he didn’t say it.

“I’ll see you tonight,” she said to save them both. “For the lantern lighting.”

“See you tonight,” he echoed.

She watched him go, then straightened the room up for her next client. Business had started to pick up, thank goodness. Not nearly enough to guarantee she could buy the cottage in five months, though. And so, with that sobering thought, she pushed a certain cowboy out of her head.