Page 5 of Dating the Grump

We step out into the cool night air, and the sounds of the town settle into the background as we stroll down the quiet street. The gorgeous orange full moon casts a soft glow, making the moment feel almost magical. As we walk side by side, our conversation flows seamlessly.

Finally, we reach my apartment building. He follows me past the doorman and into the elevator. By the time we make it to the fourth floor, I’m a nervous wreck. He follows me to my door and I turn to face him, feeling a mixture of anticipation and something deeper swirling within me. "Thank you for dinner, Hunt. I had a wonderful time."

"The pleasure was all mine, goddess,” he says, his voice low and sincere. He steps closer, and my breath catches in my throat.

Before I can say anything more, he leans in and captures my lips with his. The kiss is gentle at first, then deepens, filled with a sizzle that burns me from the inside out. My hand instinctively reaches up to rest on his chest, feeling the strong, steady beat of his heart.

His tongue lightly traces my lips before it slides into my mouth to tangle with mine. When he finally pulls back, I’m left breathless, my skin tingling and my heart racing. He smiles, his thumb gently brushing my cheek. "Would you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”

He wants to see me again. I barely resist the urge to do my happy dance as I smile up at him. “I’d love to.”

“Can I have your phone?” His question confuses me until he adds, “I’ll give you my number.”

“Oh.” I reach into my bag for my cell phone and hand it to him. “Good idea.” He has turned my mind to mush. I wasn’t even considering how I’d get in touch with him after tonight.

I hear his phone ding in his pocket. “I texted myself, so I now have your number and you have mine, too.”

“I can’t wait until tomorrow night.” I bite my bottom lip, tempted to say to heck with my early morning meeting.

“Goodnight, Molly." He places a soft kiss on my lips.

"Goodnight, Hunt," I manage to whisper, still lost in the sensation of his kiss.

As I watch him walk away, my emotions are a whirlwind. Tonight wasn’t just a date—it was the beginning of something new, something incredibly special.

After Hunt leaves, I step inside my apartment with the lingering warmth of his kiss still tingling on my lips. The quiet room is such a contrast to the whirlwind of emotions rushing through me. The sound of the lock clicking into place echoes louder than usual, as if the walls themselves are amplifying the feelings bottled up inside me.

I lean against the door for a moment, closing my eyes and replaying every detail of the night. From the conversation over dinner, to the walk home, to that electrifying kiss goodnight, my heart is still fluttering like hummingbird wings over the effect Hunt had on me.

Deciding I need to clear my head, I decide to take a long, relaxing shower before bed. The steam from the hot water swirls around me, a comforting cocoon that I hope will help me sleep.

As the warm water cascades over me, I try to relax, letting the evening’s events seep into my skin. I keep thinking about Hunt—his smile, his voice, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the room. And the way his deep voice called me goddess. The entire evening was intoxicating.

I reluctantly step out of the shower, wrapping myself in a fluffy, pink towel. The air conditioning cools off my overheated skin. It's late, and I should be exhausted, but memories from tonight linger, keeping my mind alert and my heart thrumming.

I settle into bed, and the sheets are cool against my skin as I snuggle under the covers. I turn off the light and stare up at the dark ceiling, trying to find some semblance of calm. But my thoughts keep circling back to him.

Hunt Sola. Just hours ago, he was a name on a piece of paper, a stranger. Now, he occupies every corner of my mind. The way he spoke about his past, with a mix of pride and humility. The way he listened to me, genuinely interested in my story. The way his eyes sparkled when he smiled. It’s all too much and not enough at the same time.

I roll onto my side, pulling the comforter tighter around me, and close my eyes, but sleep refuses to come.

Memories of our conversation play on a loop—his deep, soothing voice recounting tales from his days as a professional athlete, and the admiration in his eyes when he listened to my experiences at the bank. I can’t help but replay the way he said my name, the way it sounded impossibly perfect coming from his lips.

CHAPTER 3

HUNT

“I need a favor.”

“Hello to you, too,” Jason “Cash” Montoya says, smirking when I stride into his office bright and early the next morning with his assistant, Rulie, at my side. He leans back in his executive chair, lacing his fingers together behind his head.

“Cut the shit,” I growl. “It's important. And it's going to make you a lot of money.”

“Well, by all means, continue…” He tips his chair forward, his smile growing.

“You have too goddamn much money, Cash.” Rulie stomps across the office before lowering himself into a chair with a grunt. The man is about as assistant-like as I am. He's in his fifties, dressed in an MC cut, with an unruly beard and mischief in his eyes.

“I don't hear you complaining when you're cashing your checks, motherfucker,” Cash retorts, flicking a look at Rulie before motioning for me to continue. “How is your favor making me money, Sola?”

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