Page 2 of Ruined By the Hunk

“I’m going to see Harper at book club in a few days, so I’ll ask her to find out for me. Thank you for the suggestion.”

Alice has gotten more uptight as our conversation has continued. She seems uncomfortable and since we touched, she won’t even look at me for more than a few seconds.

“Um, I need to get Splat inside,” she murmurs.

“Okay, if you need help looking for him again let me know,” I tell her with a smile. “I’m also the veterinarian here in Star Mountain, so if he needs anything or to be checked out I’m here to help.”

I turn to leave but decide to push my luck. “Hey, Alice?”

“Yeah?” She’s standing in front of her door, and the light from inside her house streams through her nightshirt. I’m hardas a rock and only wearing gym shorts. I hope she can’t see me since I’ve moved into a dark corner of her backyard.

“Can I take you to dinner?”

“Thank you, Mr. St. James, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She doesn’t let me ask why. She walks into her house, shuts the door, and turns off her porch light.

Chapter 2

Alice

I’ve been avoidingHunter since the night he asked me to dinner. If I see him driving down the street, I run inside my house and hide. I always check to make sure he’s not outside when I leave the house. Why am I like this?

There was no reason to turn him down when he asked me for dinner. Hunter seems like an amazing, nice man. He’s sexy and loves animals. It’s crazy not to give him a chance. But that’s just it. He’s all those things and I’m just… me.

I know I’m pretty, but not gorgeous. I don’t dress sexy or in any way to catch a man’s eye. I dress like an elementary librarian. My wardrobe is made up of cardigans, funny T-shirts about reading and books, bright skirts, and nice jeans.

My idea of an exciting night is an expensive bottle of wine and a good book. If I could be curled up next to a man like Hunter while reading I would be in heaven.

He is always on the go. I’ve seen him come and go many times in the short time I’ve lived here. Not that I’m stalking him or anything.

I’ve always been awkward with the opposite sex. It started in high school and continued through college. The one time I tried to date it ended in disaster. I was not only emotionally hurt, butthanks to my own reckless actions when upset I was physically hurt. The car accident that happened when I got behind the wheel while crying and drove recklessly was completely my fault.

Luckily, I was the only one injured and I learned a very important lesson —it's just better to be alone.

A quick peek out the window shows that he’s not home. My shoulders relax as I grab my tote bag and purse. It’s book club day and I’m very excited to see my new friends.

“Splat!” I yell for my mischievous cat. “I’m leaving for a little while. Please stay in the house. If you get out, there will be no one to let you back in.”

I hear a faint meow from my bedroom and hope that Splat is promising to stay put while I’m gone. He hasn’t snuck out since the night I met Hunter, but I’ve also been keeping a very close eye on him.

I leave the house and head toward Cosmic Books happy and excited to start becoming part of my new community.

Hunter

“Hey, Harper,” I greet my sister-in-law as she walks into the bookstore.

“Hi, Hunter.” She hugs me and then takes the stack of books out of my hands. “What’re you buying?”

“A few that Clara recommended and a new book about the Civil War I’ve been waiting on.”

She looks at the romances my sister recommended. “I’ve read a few of these. They’re good,” she wiggles her eyebrows. “I think Scarlett even got Knox to read one. I didn’t know that you were taking spicy romance recommendations.”

“I’m not,” I admit. I prefer non-fiction and fictional war books. “Clara told me it was a good idea.”

“Why?” Harper asks slyly.

My family is great —amazing, in fact— but it’s impossible to have a secret. It was hard when it was just us original five, with the addition of three sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law it’s hopeless.

“Just trying something new,” I tell my nosy sister-in-law. The last thing I need is for the whole family to know I have a major crush on my next-door neighbor. Especially since that neighbor hides every time she sees me.

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