Page 34 of The Convict Gets His Girl

They walked through the park to the bridge over the creek. When they reached their spot, she leaned her elbows on the bridge and sighed, staring down at the dark water flowing gently below.

"I wanted to explain why I moved home after all this time," she said, screwing up her courage.

"What do you mean?" His voice was like honey in the dark, comfortingly familiar.

She sighed. "I originally wasn't going to move home until after Destini graduated high school, if then. I was pretty comfortable down in Houston. Worked with a great practice, even if the guys were old school and didn't give me that much responsibility because I wasjust a woman."

Hunter snorted. "Won't get that treatment here with your dad."

She chuckled. "Got that right."

"So, why did you move? Why now?"

The warm night surrounded them like a sweater, and she looked up at the stars above, easily picking out constellations that he'd taught her when they were kids. In that, he and Destini shared a similar interest. They both loved the stars and the stories and myths behind them.

He nudged her shoulder, and she sighed. "I'm sick," she admitted softly. He didn't press, but she somehow found the words to explain.

"The doctor's finally settled on Lyme disease, but we didn't catch it quick enough. Probably a tick bite picked up from some farm somewhere."

"What's that look like for you? How bad is it?"

She shrugged. "It was pretty bad for about a year and a half. Pain that didn't let up, fatigue, mental fog that led to stupid mistakes at work. Now that we have a diagnosis, I've made some lifestyle changes that are helping. Things are getting better, but I needed to be around Gemma and Dad."

She paused, but he didn't push for details or dig at her. "It made me think more long-term about Destini. If something happened to me, Destini would move in with Dad and Gemma. But that might not be the best place for her. If something happened, I was the only one who knew that you might not be her dad. I—I needed to get that truth figured out before it was too late."

"Didn't want that secret to die with you?"

She winced at the morbid thought but nodded. "Yeah, something like that."

"If she's mine and something were to happen to you, I'd want her to come live with us."

"Us? Hunter, you don't even have a place of your own. What are you talking about? You live in the bunkhouse now. Are you saying you'd both move in with your parents?"

Hunter shifted on his feet, and Jewel continued. "Your parents might not be the best place for her either, but I don't know that for sure. Trust me when I say—if you move into the house with your parents after all this time—well, personally, I hate living with Dad and Gemma."

She laughed and shook her head. "Ten out of ten, do not recommend living with your parents again."

He chuckled and explained how he'd always wanted to build a house on the ranch. "Landry can be the general contractor, and we can do a lot of it ourselves."

A peaceful silence settled between them as she thought of the houses she'd seen this week with her realtor cousin. "You're lucky in that regard. I've been searching for houses, but none of them are really fitting right with my budget." She paused and frowned. "I'm not fishing for you to buy or build a house or anything. It's not like I want to live with youat all."

He barked a laugh. "I've always appreciated your bluntness."

"Thanks," she said with a grin, nudging his shoulder.

He nudged her shoulder right back. "Maybe a better question would be—do you want to live with Chase?"

Her cheeks heated as she gasped. "What? No, I can't do that. Why? Did he say something?" Her stomach twisted and her hands gripped the railing as she remembered their kiss from earlier. She'd be lying if she said she didn't want more.

Hunter laughed and leaned against the railing. "If it were light right now, I'd see you blushing, wouldn't I?"

She cupped her cheeks, feeling the heat. "No, absolutely not."

He chuckled. "Liar. What's going on with you two? I know you've been at the ranch practically every day this week, and we've had fun hanging out when Mom's thrown us together, but as soon as Chase shows up, BAM—you're all gaga eyes and secret, whispered conversations."

"I am not—I don't go gaga over anyone. Geez, grow up," she said, wrapping her arms around her waist.

"You grow up," he responded automatically.

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