A Masterpiece Of Our Love (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 1) (12 page)

Hadn't they?

Hunter did not like second guessing himself. Sure, he'd been young, but wouldn't he have remembered another survivor? It made him sick to think of the possibility that he could have saved another person and hadn't. "How much do you remember about that night, Bec?"

"I don't have many memories after the crash, other than you finding me and pulling me to land." Becca ran a hand through her hair, eyes narrowed.

"Do you recall everyone on the plane with us?" Could he be forgetting someone? It had been Becca, her sister who had been about Hunter's age, their parents, his parents, the pilot and the co-pilot. For some reason, he could picture someone else being there, but he had no idea if that was his imagination or if someone else had really been there. He didn't have full memories of the plane ride itself either. Why would he have? He'd been too busy playing a game and not paying attention to his surroundings. He'd been frustrated for having to take the trip with them when he'd wanted to attend some kind of camp. He'd been a bit on the grumpy side for the trip. Hell, he couldn't even remember why Becca and her family were on the same plane.

"Both of our families, the pilot..." Becca closed her eyes. "I don't know. Wasn't that it?"

"That's what I thought." So the person sending the letters had to be playing a sick game, but for what reason? Why now? This just didn't make sense. "Okay, who all knows you're here on the island?"

"Vince, my grandparents, my neighbor, and a few of the teachers I work with," Becca said.

"I know Shara knows, and a few other people," Hunter said out loud. He shot to his feet and paced the room. At the sound of another rumble of thunder, he rushed to the window to stare outside. The ocean waves were restless again, tossing and slamming against the shore. At least they were back on familiar ground this time. "And you've never had any letters before like this?" He faced Becca again, who still sat at the edge of the bed.

She shook her head, a worried frown spread across her face. "Never."

"I don't like this at all." He moved to sit next to Becca again. "I know it's just letters and there's been no threats, but something isn't right. I've had this odd feeling ever since finding out the boat came loose. I could probably chalk it up to me messing up and not tying it, but I think someone's watching us." Who the hell would have followed them to the little island? The only person that had seen them there was Shane. Well, after the fact anyway. But what would that man have to do with anything? Probably nothing, but now Hunter found himself questioning everyone around him.

He'd never told Eva many details about the crash. She'd known a little about who Becca was, but he'd never given her much information about it. She could have easily looked it up though. Was she the one behind it, trying to mess with him so that he'd drop trying to get custody of Sienna? He wouldn't put something like this past her, not with the way he'd seen her act lately. It would be more difficult, but still not impossible to find Becca's information.

The thought of someone messing with Becca pissed him off.

"How well do you know Vince?" It had to be asked. Hunter waited for a response.

"Well enough, You don't think-?" Becca's eyes went wide.

"I don't know what to think, Bec. I really don't. He showed up here with a letter and you said he's acting strange, so it has me wondering."

"I can't imagine Vince having anything to do with this. He's annoying and overbearing most times, but he's not a bad guy." She sounded a little less sure of herself, but Hunter let it be.

"I guess the best thing we can do is keep an eye out. Someone obviously knows we're here, because they put the letters in our rooms, but no threats have been made. If we were to actually talk to authorities about it, I bet they wouldn't do a thing. I'm going to keep on the hotel staff for that video." Hunter took one of Becca's hands in his. "I don't like the idea of leaving you at the end of this trip." For more reasons than one. He still surprised himself at how much he wanted Becca around more. Not that wanting her around surprised him, but the way he wanted her around did. When did his mind and heart decide they wanted to pursue something with her like that? Would it ever work? He had an effect on people that drove them away. The last thing he wanted was to do that to Becca.

Okay, right now he just needed to focus. Stop thinking about a different kind of future with Becca. She had a life of her own.

But he couldn't stop. Something about Becca intrigued him more and more. This new light he viewed her in scared him. Simple as that. It scared him a few years ago, and it sure as hell did now.

"Hunter?" Becca's voice was soft, unsure.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Stay with me tonight. I don't want to be alone. Not with all this going on, and not with Vince being here and acting strange," she pleaded. Her eyes searched his and the only thing Hunter could think about was leaning over and kissing her.

*****

The words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. She sounded so much like a child, begging for him not to leave. But when Hunter looked at her in surprise, she also noted another look. Longing. Desire. He moved closer to her, his lips just inches from her own. She wanted to close the gap even more. Her heart went crazy, beating erratically. The thought of being near Hunter, kissing him and holding him drove her wild.

"I won't leave you, Becca," he promised against her mouth as he cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. Her mind spiraled into all sorts of sensations. "I can't stop wanting to kiss you, either."

"I don't want you to," she admitted with a smile.

He reeled back, watching her with wide eyes. "You don't?"

She shook her head and touched his cheek. "I have no idea where these different thoughts about you are coming from, but I like the way they make me feel. I always feel safe with you."

"I'd do anything to protect you," Hunter replied, his voice low and husky. "I just don't want to take advantage of you."

Becca frowned and put a hand on her hip. "Do you think I'm naive or something? That I don't know what I want?"

Hunter bent forward and kissed her. Gentle, sweet, incredible, "You know that I think very highly of you. This might sound stupid, but it seems to me that everyone around me changes when I let myself get too close. You've been a good friend for so long that I fear ruining it. I don't want to lose what we have, because you are special to me."

Her heart went out to him. He had trust issues. His ex-wife had to have done a number on him. The man she'd known before the four year absence faded, a more vulnerable person taking his place. She brushed her fingers across his cheek, moving to his hair. "You won't lose me, no matter what." Her pulse quickened when Hunter scooted closer and slid an arm around her. He ran his hand along her side, slipping under her shirt to touch her bare skin. A ripple of chills made her giggle. She was a little nervous. Hunter's hand felt warm on her skin. The way he stared at her with a hunger in his eyes was something she'd only seen in movies and had never actually experienced herself. She stopped and sucked in a breath.

"You are stunning," Hunter whispered, raising his other hand to her face and brushing the corner of her lips with his thumb. "Absolutely breathtaking. I bet you hear it all the time, but know that I mean it." He grazed the corner of her mouth with his, a deep rumble escaping from his throat as he claimed her lips.

Actually, she didn't hear it all the time, but she didn't say that out loud. Hunter always found a way to make her feel on top of the world.

He gently laid her on her back. With his face right over hers, Becca studied every tiny aspect of his face. His strong jawline, the tiny freckle just to the left of his nose that only someone would notice if they were looking at him as intently as she had. His eyes were almond shaped. When he laughed hard, he would close them and little crease lines formed around them. She found that to be sexy.

Hunter brushed her hair back as he leaned over her. His lips parted as he moved lower again to kiss her. He had such a need. It was intoxicating and amazing at the same time. Becca wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer.

Thunder rumbled so loud, the balcony doors rattled. Mid-kiss, Becca and Hunter both jumped from the sudden distraction. They looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"I'm not sure what's up with you, me, storms and kissing. Especially the kissing part." Hunter rested his head on his hand and peered at her, his grin staying in place. "I didn't think you wanted to do that again after brushing it off when I talked about it in the elevator." He sounded a little hurt.

"I didn't mean to brush it off. Not at all. I knew it sounded bad when the words came out. I thought you were making a bigger deal of it because you didn't want to do it again, so I just let it go for your sake," Becca admitted. She leaned closer to him, taking in his warmth. He slid an arm around her, resting over her abdomen. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about that kiss ever since it happened. And four years ago, I- Well, I thought you stopped coming because you..."

"Because I what?"

Here went nothing. She may as well get it out and over with now. Hunter's curious gaze searched her face, waiting.

"I thought after that time we almost kissed, it scared you to the point of not wanting to come back!" She rushed the words. There. She'd said them. Whatever happened now, happened.

Hunter's skin turned a few shades paler. "You thought us almost kissing pushed me to stop talking to you?"

She couldn't tell how he felt about that. His voice gave no indication one way or the other. With a nod, Becca fought off nervous tears. "We were always friends. That last trip, I felt something different, but I always thought I was dealing with the breakup. You had your own worries."

"Oh, Becca. I hate that you went all those years thinking that. I wanted to say something to you before we parted, but I didn't for many reasons. I worried about rebound feelings, I worried that you wouldn't want anything more. I wanted to call you afterwards and talk to you, but then Eva surprised me with the news of being pregnant." Hunter leaned closer and kissed her forehead. "You mean so much to me. You always have. The way I feel about you ... well, it's strong and I don't quite know how to deal with this yet. It scares me and thrills me at the same time. I know I'm being cautious, but it's because I care so much about you. I know we only saw each other a few weeks out of the year and then I disappeared, but I consider you one of my best friends. I never have trusted easily. You're different, so it scares me to have these deeper feelings, but they're here. I don't know what to do about them. We live in different worlds."

"That might be true, but we have a deeper understanding of each other. It's probably what helps keep us close even though we're miles apart most of the time. You're the one that showers me with high praise. You've always stood up for me. You believe in my dreams and understand my fears. No one else has ever been able to see me that way, other than my parents." She trembled, missing her family more than ever. "It's getting harder to remember them. That hurts."

"I don't get your grandparents. They should have helped keep your mom and dad's memory alive. Instead, they refused to talk about them with you. I know they're family, but they drive me crazy with the way they act about you."

"Why do you think I pushed so hard to be on my own? I know I shocked you that year I became emancipated and met you here. I made a lot of sacrifices to do that, but I didn't care. I needed to breathe again. Even to this day they still hover, and they still want me to to things that suit them." Anger laced her voice and she tried to keep calm. Her grandparents had given up on her when the doctors said she'd never recover normally.

"Like Vince. Why would they push a marriage to a man so much older, who you obviously don't love?"

"He's the son of my grandfather's best friend. They don't think I'm very capable of making my own decisions. They think Vince is best suited to take care of me." She rolled her eyes again, which made Hunter laugh. He trailed a finger across her side in a lazy motion. "I don't think they ever liked or trusted Justin. They got this notion in their head after we broke up that maybe they should find someone for me."

"I don't like him much," Hunter huffed.

That made her laugh. His boldness always cracked her up. "I don't think he's very fond of you, either. He looked like he wanted to throw you at the wall."

"I could take him easily. Not that I ever would," he winked. "He acts very possessive, like you're some prize to be won."

"I know. I will never become his trophy wife," Becca stated with a firm voice. "Truthfully, I think he's after the money. I didn't mention this before, but when I pushed for emancipation, I made a deal with my grandparents that I wouldn't touch most of that settlement. I take just enough to live on. In fact, I give myself a monthly allowance. The rest is tied up for now. I think Vince feels that if he marries me, he'll be entitled to it."

"Please tell me they don't get to withdrawal and spend it at their leisure," Hunter growled.

"No, they don't get it. I know you probably think it was foolish. They set it up to where I'd get it all when I was twenty-one. I just couldn't take four more years of living under their thumb. I couldn't take being held back anymore. Everyone there looked at me and treated me as if I were fragile. If I limped for even a few minutes, they all hovered, thinking I should sit down. The very first time I brought up emancipation, my grandmother threatened me with a psychological evaluation." She laughed bitterly at the memory. "What, I'm not right in the mind because I want to succeed? I don't need all that money, so I felt it was a small price to pay to get my freedom. I pay my rent monthly, I went to college, and I found myself. I love my job and my students. I didn't settle when the doctors said I wouldn't fully recover. Everyone else around me gave up."
Except you.

"One of the many reasons I admire you. I am so glad we cleared the air." Hunter leaned over and kissed her cheek. "You are so full of determination. You let no one drag you down. It's ridiculous that they hold all that over your head, but you're right. You don't need the money, and you don't need them holding you back. Do you have any of that stay strong mojo you can pass my way?" He laughed.