Page 12 of Imperfect Saint
When Reed reached the bottom of the stairs, he turned his attention to Colin and Millie, embracing them and joining in their quiet, hurried conversation. Hunter watched them out of the corner of his eye but Millie seemed happily lost to their attention so he turned his own gaze back to the two men that were still standing at the top of the stairs.
The older man would have been recognizable from a much greater distance. Hunter had seen his name and photograph in newspapers and magazines for years. He may have only popped up a handful of times in the search Hunter had done about Millie, but despite his absence from her current life online, he made a big presence in person now.
Chuck Turner was a tall man with broad shoulders and a body like a refrigerator. His biography said he’d played college football for the University of Tennessee but had chosen the family company over a career in sports. Even now, he had the build of an athlete, if not one that had long since retired and turned his passion for the game to pursuits of food and drink. The end of his nose and his cheeks were slightly ruddy but his dark eyes were as sharp as a hawk when they narrowed on Hunter. He started down the stairs, slow and deliberate, and with none of the happiness Reed had seemed to exude when he’d noted Hunter’s presence.
Despite the fact the legendary Chuck Turner was bearing down on him, Hunter moved his attention to the other man on the stairs and this time, he didn’t bother even attempting a smile, not for Millie’s ex-fiancé.
Joshua Bell looked just as he did in his online profiles. Young, confident, and wealthy. His dark hair was cut short. His jaw was clean-shaven. The gray suit he was wearing looked custom cut to his stocky frame. He looked as all-American as they came on the surface, but underneath, in those narrowed, silvery blue eyes something dark glinted, and Hunter had known enough men in the service with anger issues to recognize it instantly. Hatred bubbled just beneath the shiny exterior, the kind that led to nasty vile words and sometimes, even violence.
Hunter knew with just one look that Millie’s ex had done more than just cheat on her. From the way the man looked at him with barely contained rage, his fists clenched at his sides, it was clear he wanted to do some physical damage. He seemed to barely be restraining himself, and when he flicked his gaze over to Millie it was Hunter that considered doing bodily harm to the asshole without so much as a proper greeting.
Whatever Joshua Bell may or may not have done to Millie in the past, that one look alone had Hunter on high alert. That bastard wasn’t getting anywhere near Millie. Not now. Not ever again. He didn’t even deserve to share the same air as her and if he tried, Hunter would knock it out of his lungs.
“Millie. Where are your manners? Introduce us to your guy, already.”
It was Reed that had spoken up and somehow that didn’t surprise Hunter at all. He forced himself to stop glaring at Millie’s ex and turn his attention to the group gathered just a few feet away now. Millie’s eyes had gone up the stairs to find her ex and she ducked her head before glancing at Hunter, as if only just remembering he was there.
“Oh, uh…” She stumbled for words as she met his gaze and he gave her a reassuring smile as he stepped closer, “I told you I was bringing a date and…”
“Now, baby, we talked about this.” Hunter cut her off, suddenly unhappy with the idea of her explaining him away as a last-minute date, “There’s no need to downplay it. This is your family after all.” He slid his arm around Millie’s waist, tucking her into his side as he extended his free hand, “I’m Hunter St. James, Millie’s boyfriend.”
He felt Millie stiffen at his side but he didn’t let her go. He’d told her that he was going to touch her this weekend and she needed to get used to it in a hurry. Especially considering the looks of shock that were being passed around by the other men in her life.
“Boyfriend?” A growl came from behind Chuck Turner and Hunter glanced up to see that Millie’s ex had come down the stairs to hear the introductions and now he was leveling his glare on Millie, the question of their relationship all but a dare.
“You…” Colin looked from his best friend to his sister and his lips pursed before he shook his head slightly, “You never mentioned that you had a boyfriend, or even that you were dating anyone.”
Millie opened her mouth but Hunter cut her off before she could say something that might contradict what they needed these people to believe. Whatheneeded them to believe. His protective instincts had gone into overdrive the moment Lemon called him, but seeing Millie in the middle of this mass of strong, powerful men that clearly wanted her to bend to their will, he could think only of keeping her as close to him as possible.
That meant he needed them to know that she was his, fully and completely his. If they thought he was her boyfriend they might take it easier on her this weekend. It might keep her ex from coming after her and it might keep her family from pushing her to get back together with the asshole.
“Well, that’s our Mills, isn’t it?” He shot Colin a knowing look, “She didn’t want to upset…” He trailed his eyes to her father and then to her ex before returning them to her brother, “… anyone, before your big day.”
Colin was still frowning but his expression instantly softened when Reed took his hand. Millie had been right about them. They balanced each other. The shorter man smiled at Hunter again, no leering this time, just understanding, and gave a quick nod.
“That sounds about right.” Colin finally sighed and gave his sister a long look, “Mills, you should have told me. You know you can always tell me anything.”
Millie gave a small smile, “I know.”
Only, Hunter didn’t think that was true. He thought there was a lot that Millie didn’t tell her brother. Not just that she had a fake boyfriend because she didn’t want to show up to her brother’s wedding alone. She hadn’t told Colin the whole story about what had happened between her and his best friend either. Hunter didn’t know the whole story, not even close, but he knew enough to draw some conclusions and he found it strange that the brother she was clearly so close to hadn’t put it together.
Either she was a better liar than he’d ever given her credit for, or the men in her life were being willfully blind to it.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Hunter.” Colin gave his sister a final glance before turning his attention to Hunter and offering his hand, “I’m glad you could get time away from work to make it.”
“I didn’t want Millie to be alone this weekend, so thank you for making room for me.” He shook hands with Colin and then accepted the introductions her brother made for his fiancé and his father.
Colin turned to introduce the ex as well, “Oh, and this is Joshua. He’s the Best Man for the wedding.”
Joshua didn’t extend his hand or say anything. Hunter didn’t move to force him into a greeting. They stared at each other for a long moment and then Millie tucked herself closer into Hunter’s chest. He smiled; happy she had finally taken the initiative to use him the way he’d intended to be used. He rubbed his hand up and down her back, resting his fingers on her hip and giving her a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
“We should take our things up to our room and get settled before dinner.” Millie glanced up at him, speaking to him instead of the others and his stomach clenched.
He’d never had the chance to be this close to her. She was right there. Her soft body, against his. The smell of her lavender shampoo tickling his nose. If he leaned down even just an inch or two, he could brush his lips over hers but he didn’t think she was ready for that, and he didn’t want the first time he kissed her to only be for show, and it would be if he did it right now.
“Let me grab our bags.” He kissed the top of her head instead, “And you can lead the way.”
Hunter pulled away from her and went to the back of the Range Rover to retrieve their things. He heard Chuck say something to his daughter in a low tone and watched through the back window as she shook her head and hissed something back too low for Hunter to hear. Her ex had already turned and headed back up the stairs when a blonde woman came out onto the top step. She said something to him but he responded only by grabbing her wrist and dragging her back inside with him. Hunter frowned but pulled the bags out and hefted them over his shoulder just as Millie appeared at his side to take her dress.
