Page 67 of Bargain with the Bachelor
I lifted a hand toward the starry night sky then swept it down to indicate the luxurious yacht deck and then toward his magnificent physique.
“I’ve never been on a date that’s come even close to this. I mean, ifthisis how you wine and dine all your dates, it’s a miracle you’ve stayed single this long.”
Hunter’s expression soured, as if he found the thought distasteful. “I’ve never done anything like this for anyone before.”
“Oh.” My heart contracted in a sharp, sweet pang. “Well,no onehas ever done anything like this for me. Honestly, no one I know would ever have planned an evening so special, so… perfect for me. Thank you.”
“I would have thought Harry spoiled you every chance he got.”
“Not really. I mean, yes, we went out to some nice places, but he was like my dad, busy all the time, working. Even when it was just the two of us, he was distracted.”
In contrast, Hunter seemed completely focused on me. It was flattering to have the full attention of a man like him—brilliant, successful, charming, and so handsome he took my breath away.
At the moment, that handsome face was wearing a frown I couldn’t account for. “I would have loved to take you on a date like this in high school,” he said. “I didn’t even have a car most of the time, much less the money to plan a sunset dinner cruise.”
Climbing back onto his lap, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed a soft kiss to the straight, sullen line of his mouth.
“I wouldn’t have needed anything like that. We could have gone to the movies, or on a picnic, or even for a beach walk. I would have just loved spending time with you. If you’d invited me to go bowling tonight, I’d have been just as excited to go.”
“Yeah, right.” He sounded cynical enough to give Reid, Mr. Grumpy himself, a run for his money. “You wouldn’t even be here if I didn’t live in a mansion and have access to a yacht.”
“Hunter… it’s true. I mean, this is nice…” I gestured at the incredible view. “But moneyisn’teverything.”
“Maybe not, but it does matter. I mean, there was a reason you chose to go out with Larson Overstreet, a reason you were dating Harry McAllen of the Oceanview Avenue McAllens instead of, say, the guy who caught the lobster we ate tonight… or grew the vegetables.”
“I’d have no problem dating a lobsterman or a farmer,” I insisted, feeling a little insulted.
“Money can come in handy, for sure. But it’s just a means to an end, a tool. If you let it rule you, then you wind up like Margot, who’s one of the unhappiest human beings I’ve ever known. Even Harry. I’m fairly sure the reason he dumped me right after my dad’s stroke is he knew of our precarious financial situation. He started dating the daughter of one of the firm’s other founding partners, whose parents own half the prime waterfront property in the state. Trust me, money doesn’t make someone a good person.”
At Hunter’s unconvinced expression andhmmphnoise, I went on.
“Once when we were in high school, I think we were seniors, I saw you buy lunch for that kid Elliott who used to eat just one sad little peanut butter and jelly sandwich every day for months. I didn’t realize it until later that day when I asked someone, but that’s what they gave the students who weren’t paid up on their lunch accounts.”
“Yeah. I knew what it meant.”
“Well, I was aware at the time that your family didn’t have much money…”
Hunter’s eyes darted away toward the pool deck. Clearly, I’d made him uncomfortable, but I persisted. What I had to say was important for him to hear.
“I watched you deliver a full hot lunch tray to that kid, and you told him you had to go and didn’t have time to eat it. You walked out without eating at all that day.”
I shook my head, reliving the admiration I’d felt for him in that moment.
“You mademewant to do something. I went home and talked to my dad about what could be done to stop the lunch-shaming situation, and he got involved. Hunter…that’sthe reason I liked you… because of your heart.”
Resting my hand on his pec, I rubbed a gentle circle over his heart. “You were always looking out for other people, doing kind things. I’m here tonight because you’re still that same guy. You may have more money now than you could ever spend, but you’re still the same person inside. You’re still that sweet, skinny, big-hearted kid. At our core, we never really change who we are.”
Instead of making Hunter happy, my words seemed to bother him. With a hand on each of my hips he lifted me and set me aside, then stood and moved toward the steps to get out of the water.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“Nothing. We should go ahead and get inside. It’s getting late, and the captain’s going to want to increase speed to get us back to harbor.”
When his feet were firmly planted on the deck, he turned back and offered me a stiff smile as well as a hand out of the pool. I took it and climbed the short set of steps to the deck.
Though Hunter immediately wrapped a large, fluffy towel around me, I shivered, feeling extra cold.
And it wasn’t just the chilly night air that was responsible.
