My Best Friend's Bride (24 page)

Hunter questioned whether he and Jill had already started falling for each other then, or whether that had transpired later, after they’d started living together as pretend husband and wife. The way it had snuck up on him had been so subtle, he hadn’t noticed the transition as it happened. It was like one day he and Jill were engaged in this elaborate charade, and the next day he couldn’t imagine living without her. Hunter considered how different things were with Jill than they’d been with any other woman. His experience with her had caused Hunter to take stock of himself and learn things, like what it meant to have a relationship with a woman that went beyond the physical. With each of his previous girlfriends, the physical aspect had come first. In some strange way, it had dominated. Perhaps that was because he didn’t understand how to give more of himself than that, and that was what his exes ultimately found infuriating. They wanted a deeper relationship and a commitment, but how could Hunter commit to something he couldn’t recognize or understand?

Hunter felt a raw tear in his chest as he realized what was happening. It was the feeling of his heart opening up. For his entire life, Hunter had believed himself incapable of profound emotion, perhaps because he’d never been able to receive it. Now, with Jill, things were different. He cared for Jill, more deeply than he had for any other woman. And he liked living with her—a lot. The contract trembled in his fingers as Hunter imagined there could be more. That he and Jill might actually get together and be able to love each other completely, as husband and wife. A yearning overtook him that was painful and primitive. Hunter had a burning desire to make Jill his wife in every sense of the word. Yet he knew in his heart that he couldn’t push her. The best course of action was to support her as he’d promised, and then hopefully let destiny take its course. And, if it didn’t? Well, then, Hunter would have learned something still: that he wasn’t the empty shell of a man he’d always believed himself to be. Hunter was finally beginning to believe he possessed a human heart, one fully capable of loving someone else.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Three weeks later, Hunter met Brad on the golf course. Brad selected a five iron from his bag and addressed Hunter. “I’ve got to say, you’re looking better rested. Married life must be agreeing with you.”

“Married life is keeping me busy,” Hunter laughed. He firmly gripped his club and swung his arms forward in perfect alignment. The ball arched through the air, bounced twice, then glided along the green, stopping a few inches shy of the pin.

“Nice,” Brad remarked, lining up his shot. He took his turn, his ball landing about a foot behind Hunter’s. “So what about it is keeping you so busy?”

They strode toward the flag, carrying their clubs. “This and that,” Hunter said. “I’m working, she’s working… I’m burning a lot of pizza.”

Brad stared at him in shock. “You’re cooking?”

“I promised to help out. Jill’s got a big deadline coming up.”

“For that book?”

Hunter nodded. “In October. Then the whole thing is due by Christmas.”

“That’s right,” Brad said, as if remembering. “I’d forgotten the particulars.”

“Anyhow,” Hunter said. “At least I’m sleeping better now that I moved into the master.”

Brad grabbed his shoulder. “No way.”

“Not like that,” Hunter chided, brushing him off. “We switched rooms. Mimi and Sport were used to staying in the other bedroom.”

“Wait a minute, who’s Sport?”

“The dog.”

“I thought her name was Fifi?”

Hunter adjusted his cap to keep the sun out of his eyes as he tapped the ball in. “Long story.”

“Well, at least you’re all on a first-name basis,” Brad teased. “Sounds like you’ve set up a regular household there. Almost like a real marriage, but without the…”

Hunter cut Brad a steely look that silenced him. “Lots of marriages don’t have that. Maybe it’s overrated.”

Brad made a mock effort to clean out his ears. “I know I didn’t hear that coming from you.”

“Speaking of marriage,” Hunter said in an effort to change the subject. “When are you planning to make an honest woman of Susan?”

“Don’t you think one engagement per year is enough?”

“For you? I don’t know.”

Brad sank his putt, then they both retrieved their balls. “To tell you the truth, Hunter, that close call with Jill called me up short. Really got me thinking—and wondering what I’m ready for.”

Hunter met his buddy’s eyes. “How does Susan feel about this?”

“Oh, she’s ready all right. That’s what scares me half to death.”

“Then don’t rush into anything. Take your time.”

“Susan says twelve years is plenty of time. Plus…and this part is a little scary…she thinks her biological clock is ticking.”

“That would scare the devil out of me too,” Hunter said. “Why don’t you just try doing one thing at a time?”

“That’s what I’m thinking, nice and easy.” They returned to the golf cart and climbed aboard. “But Susan is all rush, rush, rush. She can’t understand why I’d fake marry Jill, but not
real
marry her. I tried to explain the meaning of ‘fake,’ but that only made her steamed.”

Hunter chuckled sympathetically. “I’m sorry, man. It sounds like you’re between a rock and a hard place.”

“Yeah?” Brad said. “And how about you?”

“The truth?” Hunter replied with a grin. “I like the place where I’m at. I think I’ll stay there awhile.”

When Jill wheeled her grandpa into the courtyard a few days later, autumn leaves were already turning and there was a light nip in the air. “I’m sorry I’ve missed seeing you these past few weeks,” she said. “I’ve been working really hard on a special project.”

“I know,” her grandfather said, catching her off guard. “Hunter told me.”

“Hunter?”

“He comes by Tuesdays and Thursdays. Plays canasta with me and the boys.”

“He
what
?” Jill asked, thinking she couldn’t have heard her grandfather correctly.

“Of course he can only stay for one hand, given that he has to get back to the office. Takes him twenty minutes to drive here.”

Jill stared at her grandpa in shock. “We’re talking about Hunter Delaney?”

“Your husband, yes.” Her grandpa shot her a questioning look. “Sweetheart, why won’t you take the man’s name?”

Jill felt the whole world spinning around her and the ground shifting beneath her feet. She quickly sat on a bench beside her grandpa’s parked wheelchair. “You mean why didn’t I change mine to Jill Delaney?”

“Yes, granddaughter.”

“I… Well, I… I’m a professional woman, Grandpa. I’ve built a reputation and a readership as Jill Jamison.”

“Poppycock! Haven’t you ever heard of a pen name?”

Jill blinked. Not only was his mind sharp today, his tongue was too!

“You could still write and present as whoever you want to, but in your private life, you should be a proper wife.”

“Grandpa—”

“Now, don’t ‘Grandpa’ me because I’ve got more mileage on me than you do, which means I happen to know a little more, particularly in the marriage department.”

Jill heaved a breath, understanding there was no point in arguing with him.

“You’ve got a career and that’s fine. We’re all very proud of you. But sometimes in a marriage you’ve got to let a man know he’s the man by showing him you’re a woman. That’s including in the bedroom.”

Jill sucked in a gasp. She’d never heard her grandfather speak this directly, and certainly not about her personal life. She softened her tone and broached the topic lightly. “Did Hunter say something to you? Something to make you concerned?”

He met her eyes square on. “Like what?”

“Like…maybe I’m not being a good wife?”

“Heavens! All the opposite. The boy does nothing but sing your praises, to everyone and anyone who’ll pay attention.
Jill’s so kind and so smart. Have you heard she’s working on a new book? Her first one was a bestseller!
Hunter loves you, Jill. It’s as plain as day. I just want to make sure you’re giving him all the good loving he needs back.”

Jill gulped and her mouth felt dry. For someone as verbose as she normally was, Jill couldn’t think of a word to say. So instead, she just sat there and listened.

Her grandpa fondly patted her hand. “I know you’re a good girl with a big heart, but I also understand how absorbed in your work you can get. Don’t let that stand in the way, sweetheart. Not of the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

After Jill returned home, she’d attempted to write, but the words were a jumble. All she could think of was her grandfather’s rumbling voice and his stern admonishments concerning her taking care of her marriage. Jill wondered if Hunter had somehow let something slip, or whether her grandfather simply had uncanny insight. In any case, Jill’s eyes had been opened to a brand new fact: Hunter was regularly visiting her grandfather! Not only that, it appeared they were now bosom buddies. Gracious. Jill didn’t know whether she should be grateful to Hunter for taking an interest in her grandpa or furious at him for not letting her know what he was doing. If it was a genuine gesture on Hunter’s part, which she suspected it was, then why the big secret?

Jill gave up on her office and walked to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. But just as she did, she heard Hunter’s SUV in the drive. She checked the kitchen clock and saw that it was only a little past four. It was unusual for Hunter to come home early. In fact, she couldn’t recall a single other time when he had. Hunter barreled in the door and made straight for Jill’s office, calling her name. Not finding her, he headed back toward the kitchen, encountering her in the living room. Hunter’s face was flushed and it appeared he was about to burst with news. Fifi must have sensed this too, because she was hurriedly scampering around him and Mimi was meowing frantically at the front door. “Hunter, what is it?” Jill asked worriedly. “What’s wrong?”

He proudly raised a bottle of champagne in his hand that Jill had neglected to notice earlier. “I have news!” he cried, wearing a proud mug. “I made partner!” Jill instinctively rushed into his arms and he pulled her up against him with a happy laugh, lifting her feet off the floor. Jill kicked them freely in the air behind her as she squealed. “You did it? Oh, baby!”

He set her down slowly, the front of her body sliding seductively down his. “Did you just call me baby?” he asked with a pleased grin.

Jill couldn’t contain her enthusiasm, nor her affection. It was oozing out of her, seeping through her pores. She was so proud of him, and he’d worked so hard. Nobody deserved this promotion more than he did. Jill’s face burned hot as she stared into his eyes. “Yeah, I guess that I did. Oh, Hunter, I’m so proud of you.” Fifi barked loudly and Jill laughed. “I think Fifi is saying she’s proud of you too.”

Hunter glanced at the dog, who’d nabbed a tennis ball off the carpet and now held it between her teeth. “I think she’s saying she wants to play ball.”

Jill laughed again, hugging Hunter to her. She didn’t know when her heart had felt this light. “Is that why you came home early? To tell me?”

His gaze poured down and into her. “You’re the first person I thought of to tell.”

“What about Brad?”

“I’ll let him know tomorrow. But for now…” He tightened his arms around her. “I wanted to share the news with my very best friend.”

“But I thought—”

“You’re special, Jill,” he replied huskily. “A very special kind of best friend. Maybe the best friend I’ve ever had…in a wifely way.”

Jill felt herself swoon. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“What do you say?” he asked, displaying the bottle between them. “Shall we open this?”

“Yes!”

A little while later, Jill sat on the porch sipping bubbly and watching Hunter play fetch with Fifi. She’d noticed some time ago he’d started calling her Sport, but had decided to leave that between Hunter and the dog. Fifi obviously loved him, and amazingly, Mimi had taken to Hunter as well. The moment Hunter arrived home each evening, Mimi eagerly followed him out the door. Jill knew Hunter was sneaking the cat tuna fish, but she didn’t mind. She’d adjusted the portions of his cat food to compensate so he wouldn’t grow a big round tummy.

When Fifi started to wind down, Hunter led her back to the porch and poured himself a glass of champagne from the bucket on the table. “You’re really great with them,” Jill said, indicating the pets.

“They’re good kids.” He smiled over the rim of his glass. “Most of the time.”

“So when does it become official?” she asked.

“Max gave me a bigger office when I landed the Kaleidoscope account. Now, it’s just a question of changing the company name on our logo and marketing materials.”

“Oh, how exciting,” she said, meaning it absolutely.

“Abrams and Delaney,” Hunter said happily. “The day I’ve worked for, the one I’ve waited on, is finally here.”
 

“I know.”

Hunter reached out and took Jill’s hand and she held his firmly. How could she not at a moment like this?

“This will mean a lot more money for us, you know.”

“For us?”

“Why, sure…” He stopped talking and a silence burned between them. “I mean I could cover more of our expenses, help you pay your mortgage.”

Jill released his hand and turned to look at him. “I’ve never asked you to pay my mortgage. I’m handling that just fine; besides, you’ve still got your own on the condo. And the utilities here are shared—at your insistence. As it stands you’re buying more than half of all the groceries—”

“That’s because I eat more than half of them.”

She studied him kindly. “My point is, you’re already doing enough. Maybe even too much.”

“But that’s silly when I could do more.”

“Hunter, I don’t want you to do more. That might only make things more complicated.”

“For establishing a clean break, you mean?” Hunter looked away.

“Look,” Jill said calmly. “I don’t want this conversation to get out of hand between us. Not tonight, okay? I’m so proud of you, Hunter. I truly am. I think it’s good for us to celebrate without worrying too much about the future.”