Page 70 of Merritt and Her Childhood Crush
He glances toward the door, then quickly back to me. “I live like a bachelor. So messy. Stuff just … everywhere.”
Lies. Hunter was never messy. I have trouble thinking that, as a grown man, he’s gotten more slovenly, not less. I tell myself not to take it personally. If he doesn’t want me to come inside, he’s got a reason. He’ll tell me when he’s ready.
“Tell you what,” he says. “Let me take the food inside and check on Isabelle, and then I’ll show you my woodshop.”
“Is that a pickup line? Do you show all the ladies your woodshop?”
He chuckles and nods his head toward the building on the other side of his truck. “No pickup lines here. I have an actual woodshop. Do I need a pickup line?”
“Not with me you don’t.” I smile.
There’s definitely something he isn’t telling me, some reason he doesn’t want me to come inside his house, but the warmth and sincerity in his eyes are compelling enough to ease my worries.
“Should I just wait here?”
He nods, hesitating only a moment before leaning forward and brushing a quick kiss against my lips. “I’ll be right back.”
I lower myself onto the top step next to Sunbeam, who immediately lifts his head and drops it into my lap, scooting closer and rolling over. “Aww, you like your belly scratched, huh? That’s a good boy.”
Soon, Lilith drops down on my other side, the look in her eyes saying she’d love some scratches if I’m giving them out.
“You’re going to be a lady about it though, aren’t you, Lilith?” I say, lifting my free hand to scratch behind her ears. “No begging from you.” She closes her eyes and nudges the palm of my hand with her nose, and I immediately love her. “What’s your daddy hiding inside that house of his? Does he live like a pig? I’m not buying it.”
Banjo climbs the steps but gives me a wide berth, like he’s taken personal offense because I didn’t want his nose in my ear. He climbs on top of Sunbeam and the two start gently wrestling.
“Okay, buddy, there you go,” Hunter says from behind me. “This is Vroom.”
I turn to see him coming through the door, a tiny dachshund at his feet, who is, quite literally, vrooming his way around the porch. His front paws touch the floor, but where his back legs should be, there is a two-wheeled cart.
“Oh my word. He isadorable.”
“Oh, hey, careful, buddy. Be chill.” Hunter sits beside me, positioning himself so his body is blocking the steps from Vroom. “He’s got a ramp but likes to forget he’s not like the others sometimes.”
I didn’t even notice the ramp, which is clearly a newer addition based on the lighter color of the wood. “You built that for him?”
Hunter looks slightly embarrassed. “I mean, it’s good to have the house be accessible. Just generally speaking.”
“Mm-hm. That is good. But you did it for the dog.”
“Yeah. I did it for the dog.”
Vroom leans in, wedging between me and Sunbeam, who’s still wrestling with Banjo. I scratch Vroom’s ears, which are velvety and soft. His tiny butt cart—because what else do I call it?—wiggles back and forth as he wags his tail.
“Hunter, this dog is perfect,” I say, leaning down so Vroom can lick my cheek. “He’s absolutely perfect.” Lilith snuffles and nudges my shoulder with her oversized head. “Sorry girl. I promise I won’t play favorites. You’re pretty perfect too.”
“They like you,” Hunter says in a way that makes me feel like this is important to him.
“I like them too.” I look around, my eyes drifting across the yard. “And this. Out here. This place is beautiful, Hunter.”
The tips of his ears turn pink. “It’s a work in progress. There’s still so much to do to make it … I don’t know. To make it everything I want.”
“It feels like you. Like what I would have imagined for you.”For us.
“It’s getting there,” he says slowly, holding my gaze with those dark eyes. “Still a few things missing.”
Could he mean me? I really,reallywant him to mean me.
“Come on,” he says. “Let me give you the tour.”
