Page 27 of Luna

“Hunter!” Caterina said in a voice near a shout, then muttered under her breath in Italian. Ilsa might not have understood the words, or at least not all of them, but Luna heard enough to know her cousin accused her of being daft and dense when it came to Hunter’s interest in her.

Luna was neither, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to believe Hunter had feelings for her beyond friendship. The interest, she was certain, came from her toward him.

A sigh escaped her, and she turned her gaze to study the fields they drove past, full of ripening wheat that rippled like ocean waves in the warm afternoon breeze.

The day had been a wonderful time of fellowship and friendship, providing an opportunity to spend time with women Luna greatly admired. There had been much laughter and joking and a few moments of seriousness and care. Every woman there had encouraged Dally to let her mother know about the baby, but for reasons only Dally knew, she hesitated to share the happy news.

Luna knew that if she were expecting a child, her mama would be the second person she wanted to tell. The first would be her husband.

The image of Hunter that jumped into her mind made her long to smack her palm to her forehead to dislodge all thoughts of the enticing man.

At noon, after spending a few hours looking through all the magazines, catalogs, and samples, Luna had offered to refill the water pitcher. She’d been in the kitchen, waiting for it to fill, when she’d heard movement behind her. She’d glanced back to see Hunter stride into the room in that confident bearing he had with his shirt unbuttoned, offering her a glimpse of golden taut skin stretched over hard muscles. Her mouth had gone so dry, she thought she might choke before she regained her senses.

When he’d leaned around her to shut off the faucet, she had fought the urge to place her hand on his chest and feel the angles and planes for herself.

Then he’d hastily buttoned his shirt and offered her his arm, clearly trying to fulfill the role of a gallant gentleman as he walked her to the dining room.

He smiled and teased, filled his plate, and left them all in peace. However, Luna didn’t feel the least bit peaceful. Not with Hunter’s bare chest emblazoned in her mind.

It wasn’t until he’d returned to the dining room, thanked them for the food, and left that Luna felt as though she could relax again.

She didn’t know why Hunter made her nervous, her stomach feel weightless, and her palms grow damp. He also made her laugh and think. It felt right and good when she shared things with him she hesitated to tell others, like the details of the devastating day she’d lost Matteo.

Hunter hadn’t seemed repulsed by her story or her scar. In fact, because of his encouragement, she’d even been wearing a few summery shirtwaists that didn’t hide the flesh the bullet had plowed through. Although a doctor had done his best to make careful stitches, the number of them needed to close the wound had ensured Luna would always have a visible reminder of how close she’d come to dying that terrifying afternoon.

While life was precious and not to be taken for granted, Luna felt like she’d wasted months cowering in her parents’ home, afraid to step foot outside. Yet, she eventually had. Not only had she begun living again, but she’d traveled alone across the country despite the end of her journey failing to go exactly as planned.

And it was Hunter who had been there at the depot to catch her that day when she’d needed help. Hunter, who had raced after her at the circus.

A voice whispered in her thoughts that as long as she welcomed him, Hunter would always be there for her.

Which was ludicrous.

Hunter’s family was rich, at least from what information she’d gathered by asking Aundy veiled questions. He’d received an exemplary education, and his family expected him to carry on a tradition of success as well as a legacy of generosity and kindness.

Even if Luna were interested romantically in Hunter, which she absolutely wasn’t, or so she emphatically told herself, he needed someone who wouldn’t embarrass him at a gathering of his peers. She could just picture the two of them at a fancy, formal dinner in a fancy, elaborate home with fancy, elegant people all around them. The pop of a champagne cork would likely send her diving under the table for cover, leaving both of them mortified.

A relationship with Hunter, beyond friendship, just wasn’t meant to be. It never would be. Not when he deserved so much more than Luna had to offer or give.

When Luna remained quiet, staring at the passing landscape, Caterina seemed to sense her desire to change the topic of conversation and began talking about the colors Dally had chosen for the baby’s nursery. Their talk then segued to other women in town who were expecting, a shipment of fabric Ilsa was hoping would soon arrive, and a new recipe Caterina intended to try.

By the time Caterina dropped them off at Ilsa’s shop, Luna felt like a caged jungle cat.

“Why don’t you walk over to Tony’s studio? Laila has probably chattered enough to make his ears ache. If you aren’t opposed to it, you could take her to the drugstore for a treat.”

Luna felt relief as Ilsa unlocked her door, and they stepped inside. “I would be more than happy to do that.”

“Thank you.” Ilsa started to open her handbag to hand Luna money for the drugstore.

“It would please me to take Laila as my treat.”

“If you’re sure,” Ilsa said, removing her hat and gloves as she stood next to the counter where she usually rang up purchases.

“I’m sure. Should we meet back here in an hour?”

“That would be perfect, but don’t rush. If you aren’t here when I’m ready to close, just walk Laila home.” Ilsa waved as Luna opened the door and rushed outside. She felt like lifting her skirts and running but instead allowed herself to stroll at a sedate pace to Tony’s photography studio. It was around the corner and up a few blocks from Caterina’s restaurant.

Luna didn’t immediately go inside the studio. She took a moment to stand in front, admiring the portraits hanging in the windows. One of her favorites was a family photograph of Tony, Ilsa, and Laila with Kade, Caterina, Ben, Brett, and Rachel. The children were all quite small in the image, and a huge dog sat just behind Kade, as though he guarded them all, but the outdoor setting beneath a tree with flowers blooming at the forefront of the image made it so beautiful.

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