Page 122 of Coach's Temptation

Hunter swarms around me with a single step forward.

“Because I thought you already knew that's not what I wanted.”

He reaches out, his fingers skimming along mine, the touch so light it sends a shiver through me.

“You know me better than anyone ever has, Natalie.” His breath fans over my cheek, his forehead almost touching mine. “Yougetme.”

And just like that, I break.

A sob slips out, my body collapsing into him before I can stop myself. His arms are around me in an instant, holding me so tight it feels like he’s piecing me back together.

His lips brush my hair, his voice nothing but a whisper.

“I love you, Natalie. I loved you from the second I let myself have you.”

The silence transforms, now warm like morning coffee or fresh bedsheets after a long day.

Hunter presses one last kiss to my temple before pulling back just enough to look at me. His hands stay on my waist, thumbs stroking softly like he’s reassuring himself I’m really here.

“You good?” he asks, voice still heavy with everything we just unraveled.

“Yeah.” My hands slide over his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. “I think I am.”

His lips twitch. “Think?”

“Well,” I sniff dramatically, “Iwasuntil I remembered you stress eat pastries like a gremlin and probably left me nothing but crumbs.”

He huffs a laugh and finally—finally—the tension between us breaks completely.

He smirks, stepping back to grab his coffee. “Did you really think I’d sit here waiting for you on an empty stomach?”

I roll my eyes and grab what’s left of my cinnamon bun, finally tasting it—and this time, it doesn’t feel hollow. This time, it’s exactly what I need.

And maybe it’s not just the pastries, or the coffee, or the sun rising over Iron Ridge outside my window. Maybe it’s him.

No, it’s definitely him.

"So, another win and we head to Vegas, huh?" I say, throwing the last piece of bun in my mouth. “You better not be one of those guys who packs five minutes before leaving for a flight.”

Hunter gives me a slow, lazy smirk. “Baby, I could leave right now with just this tee-shirt and still look better than half the guys on this team.”

I groan, tipping my head back. “Unbelievable.”

“You love that it's true.”

I peek up at him, still fighting my smile. “I really do.”

Hunter’s gaze softens, his fingers brushing the back of my neck. “You know I’m with you, right? No matter what happens next?”

I nod, and for the first time, I truly,fullybelieve it.

Because the truth is, he still hasn’t said it outright. He hasn’t said,I don’t want Team USA.

But would I be willing to leave this town for him—if that’s what it took?

“Yeah. I know. Whatever happens next, happens.”

He winks at me and I can't help but think… if this man was willing to rip up his rulebook for me, risk his everything just to be at my side, then maybe I need to do the same for him.

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