Chapter 15

Hunter pulled out Maggie's chair for her at Kerri's restaurant. Everyone was watching them. He could see looks of approval on women's faces who were judging how well he was trying to prove himself after being the biggest jackass in Shadows Landing.

He hoped he was doing a good job. Vulnerability didn't come naturally to him. In fact, he'd been trained to never be vulnerable. Maggie smiled up to him and he got a good look of cleavage when he looked down and smiled back. She was actively trying to kill him with her outfit tonight. If she wanted revenge, she was getting it in the form of a hard-on that wouldn't go away. He never thought he'd get blue balls over dinner, but there he was. The skirt swished when Maggie walked. He'd held the door open for her and a little breeze combined with the sexy sway of her hips gave the little skirt a flip and he almost died on the spot from the blood leaving his brain and rushing south. Maggie was wearing a thong and he knew because he got the perfect little peek of the roundest, sexiest butt cheek he'd ever seen. Now he was an addict. He wanted more. More of her butt cheek, more of her laugh, more of watching how crazy good she was at shooting . . . just more Maggie.

They placed their drink orders and Hunter leaned forward to hide his erection from the restaurant full of people watching them. "Tell me about how you got involved with shooting."

Maggie told him about growing up with her parents believing a woman could do anything a man could do and treating her like an equal when Gage started shooting. Then she asked about his life growing up with so many siblings and soon the food plates were cleared, the drinks were empty, and yet they still talked until Kerri cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but we closed thirty minutes ago," Kerri said with a smile. A smile that told Hunter she'd be running straight over to her best friend, Harper, at the bar next door and telling everyone Hunter and Maggie hadn't noticed they were the only ones left in the entire restaurant.

Maggie's eyes widened as she looked around the room and then at the two empty bottles of wine sitting on the table. "Oh gosh. I didn't notice. I'm so sorry, Kerri."

"Don't apologize. It was worth it to see this," Kerri motioned between them, "finally happen."

"Mags, I'm so sorry," Hunter said, glancing at the table. "I didn't realize we finished two bottles of wine. I know my four glasses have been spread out over our time here, but I better not drive. Can I call Damon to pick us up? What a horrible impression. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. I've never had a better date. Besides," Maggie said, reaching out to take his hand, "I'm not ready for the date to be over. Would you mind if we walked home? I know it's a couple of miles, but it's so nice out."

Hunter thought about holding her hand for their stroll. Maybe stopping in the moonlight and kissing her. It would be so romantic and a perfect way to end the evening. "I'd love that, but what about your shoes? I can carry you if you want."

Kerri about swooned at that. And he could carry her. He was trained for carrying wounded soldiers long distances if need be. "I have an extra pair of tennis shoes. I'm a size eight. What are you, Maggie?"

"I'm close to an eight," Maggie said, looking excited, and not letting go of Hunter's hand. "Thanks so much, Kerri."

Hunter paid the bill as Maggie unlaced her shoes and put on the tennis shoes. What Hunter would give to be the one running his hand down her legs as he unwound those ribbons that tied up her calf.

"Shall we?" Hunter held out his hand and felt like he'd won the lottery when Maggie slipped her hand into his and looked up at him as if he were her hero. Damn. It hit him right in the heart.

Hunter opened the door and walked right into his sister.

"Oh," Olivia said with faux surprise and a not so innocent smile. "How funny to run into you. What are you two up to?"

"Hunter's walking me home," Maggie said sweetly. Poor girl didn't know what had just happened, but Hunter did. It was payback time for his sister and her evil, twisted, far too sweet smile told him just that.

"Oh good. I was going for a walk too and it would be so nice to have company. Shall we?"

Maggie's smile faltered. She got it now. "Olivia," she said quietly, "is this what you put Natalie through?"

Olivia smiled big. "Yup. I'm here to jam your clam."

Hunter groaned. "Come on, Liv. This is our first date."

"Do you remember my first date with Calvin, sophomore year of high school?" Olivia challenged.

"Not really, but if his name was Calvin, he probably deserved it."

Olivia poked him in the chest. "You met me at the end of the driveway and wouldn't even let him drop me off at the doorstep because, quote, ‘I won't let a douche like you even think about dating my sister.'"

"Oh," Hunter said, grinning and turning to Maggie. "He was a douche. He wore two polos and popped both collars."

Olivia rolled her eyes as they turned to walk down Main Street. "Immaterial. What matters is it was my decision if he got a good night kiss, not yours." Olivia then squirmed her way between them, forcing Hunter to drop Maggie's hand as Olivia began walking between them. "Sorry, big shooter. You've been blocked. This penetration prevention is for her safety after all. I'd hate to see Maggie have regrets."

"I'm so getting you back," Hunter threatened, but his damn sister just laughed and held up her left hand, wiggling her fingers and showing off her wedding band.

"Good luck! Granger will shoot you. You can't muffin muzzle me anymore, bro."

Hunter made gagging noises. "I don't want to hear about your muffin."

Across from Olivia, Maggie snorted as she tried to hide her giggles. "I thought Gage was bad when he prevented his friends from asking me out. I am so sorry for all you went through, Olivia."

"Olivia?" Hunter said incredulously. "What about me? What about you? I was prepared for the most romantic and gentlemanly kiss goodnight. But now—"

"So not happening. You'll have to take a pass tonight." Olivia looked so freaking proud of herself as they turned left off Main Street and onto Palmetto. "So, how did my big bro do on his groveling tour? I think you should hold off on forgiving him a little longer. Really make him get creative."

"Olivia," Hunter warned, but his sister didn't care.

"Really make him crawl on his hands on knees, begging for your forgiveness while you make him confess all of his emotions and feelings," Olivia said, ignoring the death glares he was giving her.

"Oh, I'll crawl on my hands and knees and beg, but it won't be for forgiveness." Hunter leaned forward and let Maggie see all the pent-up heat he had for her.

Smack.

"Ow," Hunter grumbled at the swat to the back of his head.

"Not tonight, you aren't. That snatch is latched. The box is locked."

Olivia talked nonstop after that. To Maggie. About all the ways she should torture Hunter. It was a damn good thing he loved his sister, because he was strongly considering murdering her if she ruined this for him. To be fair, while she was talking about making him beg, it was always with the intention of forgiving him. She talked as if Maggie and Hunter were already a couple, or would be soon.

"Well, here we are. What a delightful evening," Olivia said as they approached the front door to Maggie's house.

The patio light flipped on and Gage walked out with his gun. He looked pissed, but when he saw Olivia standing between them, he grinned so broadly that Hunter wanted to groan. "Welcome back. I was just coming out here to clean my gun. Such a beautiful night, isn't it?"

"Exactly what I told Hunter and Maggie when I joined them for a walk home. Beautiful night," Olivia said, turning as a car drove down the lane. "And there's my ride. Now, Maggie, you better hurry inside. It's getting chilly out here. Don't want you catching a cold."

"I do feel a bit of a chill in the air," Gage agreed as he held open the front door. Wide.

"It's seventy-eight degrees outside," Hunter pointed out.

"Brrr. Downright chilly from the eighty-something that was the high today." Olivia rubbed her arms dramatically.

Maggie sighed and tried to walk around Olivia, but her brother hurried down the steps. "Here, sis. I'm sure you're tired. Let me help you up the steps."

Maggie rolled her eyes and, while it would be hard to kill Olivia, Hunter was pretty sure he could kill Gage in less than two seconds.

"Goodnight, Hunter," Maggie said, sounding resigned.

Gage smirked as he held his gun.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Magnum."

"It was perfect . . . almost." Maggie looked at Olivia and Gage who both smiled back triumphantly. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Gage walked Maggie inside. When the door closed, Hunter heard the lock slide into place. He and Olivia walked to the side of the circular drive to get out of the way of the approaching car before Hunter realized it was Granger.

"Nice try, breaking the beaver dam but no luck for you. For what it's worth, I'm glad you're finally seeing what was right in front of you. There's hope for you yet." Olivia smirked at him and Hunter wanted to be mad, but he couldn't be. He might have done a lot of cockblocking and probably deserved one night of it in return.

"Ready, sweetheart?" Granger asked from where he'd pulled up to pick up Olivia.

"I sure am," she said, walking to his car.

"Hey, thanks for the brotherly support," Hunter called out as he began to walk toward the car.

Granger just laughed. "Yeah, just returning the favor . . . bro."

Hunter watched them drive off without offering him a ride. That's fine. He didn't need a ride. He turned and looked at the house. The back side window on the second floor came on. Maggie walked across the window and disappeared from sight.

Hunter glanced down the drive to where the taillights were getting smaller and then back to the house. Olivia forgot how resourceful Hunter was . . . how foolish of her.

Maggie changed into a silk cami and boxer set for bed. She'd cussed her brother up one side and down the other as they climbed the stairs of the private wing of the house. She'd waited so long for a kiss and the evening had been perfect.

Maggie crawled into bed and stared at the ceiling. She'd gotten to know so much about Hunter. What had started out as a simple crush was turning into so much more. It would have turned into even more if Olivia and Gage hadn't interrupted.

Okay, she could understand Olivia's need for payback, but Gage? She wasn't a teenager anymore and Hunter wasn't one of his friends. It was ridiculous and she was going to get him back for this somehow.

Maggie reached over and turned off the main lights to her room then turned on the reading lamp beside her bed. It had been thirty minutes. Hunter was probably home by now. Would it be wrong to text him? Would she scare him off? She wasn't ready for the night to end. That connection had formed and all she wanted to do was keep on feeling it.

Tap, tap, tap.

Maggie didn't notice the noise at first as she stared at her phone, starting a text to Hunter at least three different ways.

Tap, tap, tap.

Maggie set down her phone and looked around. The house was haunted, as were all Charleston area historic houses were. But the ghost seemed much more corporeal when she saw a face hovering in her second story window. Only . . . "Hunter?" she scrambled out of bed. His face slid out of view as she unlocked the window and lifted it up. "What on earth?" Maggie looked out and saw Hunter hanging by his fingertips on the brick windowsill.

Hunter pulled himself up and adjusted his hands so his arms were locked straight and his face was now even with hers, even as his legs perched precariously on the brick below. "Thank you for tonight, Maggie. It was the best date of my life. I wanted to ask, in person, if you'd like to go out with me again?"

Maggie placed her hands around his biceps, which were bulging with use. "I'd love to. Now get in here before you fall."

"I won't fall, Mags. Well, I'll fall for you, but not out of the window. There is one more thing before I leave."

"What's that?" Maggie asked, still very worried about the fact that he was dangling off the side of her house.

Hunter pushed forward and kissed her. It wasn't a tongue down your throat, take command, make you submit type of kiss. It was confident as hell, inviting you to join, and making you wish he was kissing you while naked type of kiss.

When Hunter pulled away, she gave a little whimper of protest. "Goodnight, Magnum."

Then he dropped from view.

Maggie gasped and leaned out over the window to see Hunter using a drainage pipe to quickly rappel down the side of her house.

His feet hit the ground and he looked up at her, gave her a wink, and strode off whistling a happy tune. Maggie watched as he disappeared into the shadows before collapsing back onto her bed. That was so much better than Romeo and Juliet. No poison necessary. Only thoughts of an actual future with someone who scaled a brick wall for her.