Page 89 of Making New Plans

I hunched over the now-infamous desk that I planned to toss out and burn the second Hunter left. My planner was splayed out, full of sticky notes, his and mine.

I’d taken planning Dom’s sleepover to a whole new level. It’d proved to be a fantastic distraction. Frankly, it seemed like he was the one who regretted asking me to do this. I planned a dinner for him and his friends with pizzas from Baciami and some dessert pie from Sarah. I’d even begged Carter to give up his video game console for the evening so the boys could play if they wanted.

My pen floated over my other to-do’s. George had called in sick, so Mable’s grandson was filling in. Should work out fine. Four rooms were checking in tomorrow, but I didn’t see any red flags on their needs. My pen halted. Only one checkout this weekend. Today. Hunter. My pen shook the tiniest bit. In a few hours, I’d be able to check that off.

With a harsh sigh, I flung my pen down to rub my aching temples. My head jerked up when someone knocked on the door.

Harold the lawyer stood in the doorway with his briefcase. I had a sudden flashback to a month ago. My heart ached when I realized how much had changed since then.

“Come in, Harold,” I said, waving him in.

Nodding, he obeyed. “Thank you.”

As soon as he sat down, Sal appeared, cane in hand, frown in place. She sat as well, without invitation. She probably knew she didn’t need one.

That left…

Hunter. When he entered, the air rushed out of the room. Or maybe it was my lungs. He was still deliciously sexy. Even more so since I’d put my lips on every glorious inch of his body. But he looked as exhausted as I felt. The shadows under his eyes pricked at my heart. He didn’t glance my way, yet I couldn’t pry my gaze away from him. It was as though my eyes knew they wouldn’t see him again, at least for a long time, and wanted their fill.

I wished I could have more. One last touch. One last kiss.

Harold cleared his throat. My cheeks burned, and I stared down at my planner. Seeing Hunter’s notes sticking out of it, I hastily tucked them back in.

“Let’s get on with this, shall we?” Harold said.

Then he proceeded to read a bunch of legalese that I barely listened to. We all knew what was happening here.

Then he started asking Hunter questions. “Have you been here thirty days?”

“Yes,” Hunter responded in a hoarse voice.

My heart thrilled at his voice, but I tried to keep my face from showing it.

“Have you been on the premises the entirety of that time?”

“Yes.”

“Have you shadowed Chloe Higgins to learn the job of running Pine Grove as a manager would?”

Hunter hesitated long enough for me to look at him. When I did, he was staring back at me. His gaze seared through to my soul. I couldn’t breathe.

“Yes,” he answered softly. “Although she is still far and away better at it than I am.”

My mouth refused to smile at him even though my heart wanted to. I merely looked at him.

“Well, then,” Harold continued. “Everything seems to be in order. Just read through the ownership agreement and sign.” He handed Hunter a pen.

Tearing his eyes away from mine, Hunter read through the document quickly and silently then signed his name at the bottom.

Sal thumped her cane, her frown finally relaxing. “It’s done then,” she announced.

“Done,” he echoed, throwing down the pen as his gaze found me again.

While Harold collected his documents and pen, Sal glanced between the two of us. “Hunter, are you sure you have to leave immediately?” she asked.

“I have a flight in two hours.”

I was still struggling to breathe. How long before I passed out? Maybe my body could survive without oxygen. That could be why I was still alive. Like losing Hunter and turning the lodge ownership over to him had made me impervious to such annoyances like oxygen.

---