The Distraction

Untitled Part 4

Sitting on the back patio, I'm seated between Rosie and Sara for a Saturdaynight barbecue dinner. The gorgeous nanny is missing, which is kind of arelief. Just hearing her laugh from my room last night while she sat out herewith Autumn made me yearn to drop everything, ignore the unending firesthat need putting out, and sit outside with them. Get to know her. Adangerous distraction at its best.The thing is, I do not get distracted. Not since I was 23 and a distractionalmost made me lose everything. That was when I vowed to focus, prove myworth, and show everyone what I could be.And now, just three days at my sister's place and I've gotten less done inthat time than I normally can in a single day. It's unacceptable for me.Something's gotta give. Fuck, I ran out yesterday to blow $120 on a bottle ofwine because I hurt her feelings yesterday. Me, the man who once made atop-tier executive at Beaten Path cry in his first five minutes of working inthe office with zero remorse. But here I am, wondering still if the fuckingbabysitter forgives me for an offhanded remark I didn't even mean."So how does it feel to smell fresh air and see the sunshine, brother?"Autumn asks from across the table with a smirk. "You've been hiding awayin that office working day and night. Shouldn't you go meet up with friendsfor a drink or something? Take a hike, grab a coffee out? You know, have alife?""I haven't spent more than a day in Springbrook Hills in nearly eightyears, there's no one here wants to meet up with me for a drink." And that'sprobably the truth. I had friends I was close to in high school, but as soon asBeaten Path got off the ground, I've barely spent any time here, or put anyeffort into those friendships. Eventually, people stop trying when you're abrick wall."Well, Gina says you don't go out when you're in the city, either."Fucking Gina and her big mouth. The girl can work harder than any CEOI've ever met and keeps my schedule impeccable, but she's always gossipingwith anyone who will listen. Especially my fucking sister. "You work toomuch. You need to enjoy your life.""You're one to speak. You work similar hours as I do.""Except I don't and you know it. I also work from home most days andhave people in my life to handle the day-to-day so I can balance work andlife.""Ahh, yes, the nanny. Tell me about Hannah." I try to sound cool but it'sclear I just sound... interested. Something I am doing everything in my powerto not be and failing miserably at. Autumn looks at me with a skepticalglance, the same one she used when I would tell Dad I was going to hang outwith some friends in high school but was really going to a party."What about her? She's been working with us for almost six years, since Ijoined Beaten Path. She grew up in town, never left. Graduated four yearsafter you, so you wouldn't have crossed paths before you fled town."I ignore her subtle dig. "How d'you find her?""She was teaching Mommy and Me swim classes down at the Center. Shevolunteered there and works part-time now. I took Sara when she was a baby,and we hit it off. I asked her to be our Nanny once you told me you wantedme to take over the department." Immediately, my mind goes to Hannah in abathing suit. Jesus, what is wrong with me.The next question is out of my mouth without my brain even approving it."Does she have a man?" Fuck. Real smooth. Autumn looks at me with asmall tilt to her lips, eyes wide with humor, like she knows what's goingthrough my mind."She finally dumped that douche bag last month, didn't she, Aut?" Steveasks, before taking a bite of his burger."Steven! Mouth!" My sister, who has a worse mouth than an NYC cabdriver, chides, making me laugh."Jesus, they've heard worse, baby," Steve says."And, I mean, he was a douche bag, mom," Sara says and I lose it onceagain while Autumn glares at Steve who is trying not to laugh. It's clear he'sgoing to hear it tonight."What's a douche bag?" precious, innocent Rosie asks, making me leanback and howl, a hand on my stomach, my face to the sky.Autumn puts her face in her hands and mumbles, "Jesus fucking Christ.""Nothing, baby girl. It's a grown-up word your sister knows better than touse," Steve says, glaring at Sara, who shrugs and goes back to eating her hotdog. The conversation moves on thankfully, and the pressure I typically feelseems to melt off. It's been a long time since I've felt this weightless andhappy feeling that's slowly overtaking me, laughing freely and spending timewith my people. We take family vacations together, but it's embarrassing toadmit I'm usually on my Mac in the hotel room, taking calls, wheeling anddealing instead of spending quality time with them. It feels nice to just... be.After dinner, Steve and I sit in front of the fire pit and drink another beer.I'm pretty sure he's avoiding my sister, but for me, it's nice to enjoy thewarm summer air, feeling good, and spending time with my brother-in-law.We bullshit back and forth, a camaraderie built on knowing each other forsome time and both having had to deal with my sister's moods.By the time he's ready to brave Autumn's wrath and heads inside, I'vehad three beers. While not quite tipsy, I'm feeling a good light buzz. Insteadof heading up after Steve, my feet guide me on a walk around my sister'sproperty. It's well-manicured and large enough to lend itself to a stroll, butnot so large you can't find your neighbors. Before long, I find myself in frontof a bright blue door on a white cottage I know from talking to Autumn isHannah's.Fuck. What am I doing here? This is the last thing I need. But instead ofturning around, my hand is knocking on the front door without my consent.And... nothing. Knocking again and listening, it's clear she is home, asthe sounds of music and singing are softly drifting through the walls to me.Knowing she probably won't hear me no matter how many times I knock,I turn the knob to find... it turns. Jesus, someone needs to teach this woman tolock a damn door. Briefly fighting with what to do next, I decide to go for itand open her door. Inside is tiny and feminine, kind of like her. It smells likevanilla and honey, probably from the candle burning on the dark wood coffeetable which seems to double as her kitchen table.Hannah stands at the sink, listening to a country song and singing alongas she washes dishes. Her voice is gorgeous, a soft lullaby flowing throughmy soul, soothing rough edges and coaxing something I've hidden away longago out.Wearing a loose tank top and a pair of tight yoga shorts, I can see everytempting, soft curve of her body, and it's a masterpiece to behold. Herchestnut hair is piled high on her head and she's barefoot with white paintedtoenails, humming along to the song.As it ends, it becomes clear this is my cue to let her know I'm being acreepy as fuck peeping Tom and knock on the door frame my shoulder isleaning on. It's like a private repeat of the first time I saw her. Not expectinganyone in here with her, she shrieks and jumps; the bubble coated plate in herhands slipping and falling into the air. We both watch it crash to the floor andbreak into four pieces, splattering soapy water along with it."Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Hannah, I didn't mean to scare you." My eyesare glued to her hands clutching her chest in terror. Why am I fucking this upwith her so much?Bending at the same time she does to clear up the broken ceramic andsoap, we're face to face. I freeze, shocked to see up close her blue eyes haverivers of green and hazel hidden in the depths. Another soft country song hasstarted, this one about detours and how they can bring you to a person. "SorryI scared you," I say softly, noticing bubbles from the dish soap slowlypopping on her cheek. Brushing it away gently, I push a dark strand of hairthat fell out of her top knot over her shoulder, marveling at how soft it is andwondering what it would feel like tangled in my hand.That simple touch seems to knock her out of her daze. She pops up,grabbing a roll of paper towels. I lean forward to grab the shattered pieces,picking them up carefully before placing them into the garbage can in thecorner. Avoiding my eye, she cleans up the water and soap, tossing the papertowels before leaning on the counter as far as humanly possible from me."How can I help you, Mr. Hutchins?" she asks, crossing her arms on herchest. Her sky-blue eyes look stormy, glaring slightly at me and, once again,guilt washed over me for surprising her. "Or are you just here to give me aheart attack? Seems to be your style.""We talked about this. Hunter, please call me Hunter." My voice comesout more stern and gruff than intended, a result which can only be blamed onseeing her in those shorts and realizing her top is thin enough to see she is notwearing a bra. At all. The vague outline of rosy nipples is barely visible, butmy imagination has always been well-honed. And, fuck, my body is lovingthe mental vision it's coming up with."Fine. What are you doing here, Hunter?" She's frustrated. I seem to havethat effect on her, scaring her, angering her, making a total fucking asshole ofmyself."I was just taking a walk and wound up here. To be completely honest,I'm not sure why. Autumn told me you lived in the cottage and I've been...intrigued ever since. I saw the door and figured I'd stop by." Running myhand down my face, scraping over my beard, I sigh. "I'm not used to beingback here. When I'm bored at home, I either work until I pass out or I call anacquaintance and go out. Here... it's been so long since I've been here forlonger than a day and I don't know what to do with myself."In the city, there is a list of people I can call upon to grab a drink. If I'mnot looking for company, there are endless options, from museums to showsto parks. Here... here I'm stuck with my thoughts, and that's not a place Iwant to be these days."That sounds... sad," Hannah says, crossing her arms over her chest.Should I feel offended, disappointed, or relieved? At least she's notscreaming and kicking me out. "You don't have any friends?""Of course I have friends.""You called them acquaintances. And you don't have anyone here besidesAutumn.""I have friends, Hannah. I'm not a loser." I've officially settled on beingoffended."Yeah? Name one," she challenges me, a slow smile playing on her lipsas she uncrosses her arms and uses them to lean back onto the counter. Fuck,her nipples are back and more beautiful than before. Concentrate, Hutchins."What? No, I'm not naming my friends.""Why not, you scared?""I'm not scared, I'm just not falling for your ridiculous stunt.""Because you don't have any." She's standing there with her eyebrowquirked and a devilish tilt to her lips makes me think about kissing it rightoff."Babe, I have friends, but I'm not naming them to you just to prove Ihave friends." She seems to sit on that before deciding it makes sense. But...my stomach churns a bit when I realize I'm not sure who I would havenamed. "But if you want, we can be friends," I say, taking a step closer tolean a hip against the table, cutting the distance between us in the smallkitchen in half."Are you a huge dick to your friends, too?" Her adorable eyebrow risesagain, her full, pink lips pursing in a serious pout."You want to talk about a huge dick?" I ask, a smile on my lips, and Ihave no idea where that came from. I wouldn't blame her if she slapped me.Instead, she shocks me by throwing her head back and laughing. It'sbeautiful, the sound like magic twinkling and filling my entire chest withbubbles. "Did Autumn give you my note?""Yes. Thank you for the wine.""Look, apologizing is not something I do well. But calling you out likethat was completely out of line, especially for a near stranger. Autumn tellsme you have been nothing but a Godsend to her, so I should really thank youfor making my nieces a priority." She pauses, taking in my words and breathcatches in my chest, waiting and hoping she sees how sincere I'm being."Thank you for that. I appreciate it a lot." She accepts my apology with asigh and my body melts, relaxing with relief. "Okay, this is way too awkwardfor me. You're bored. I don't have to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow.Do you want a drink out back?"Smiling, I hold my hand out, gesturing for her to lead the way. She opensher fridge, bending low and showing off her perfect ass before coming backup with two bottles in her hands. Hannah heads to the back door and, assubtly as possible, I adjust myself in my jeans. How the fuck I'm going tomake it through this without looking like the creepiest man alive? Even so,this is an opportunity I won't miss out on.When we get out onto her back patio, it's clear she spends a good deal oftime out here. Four comfy but functional chairs sit around a raised fire pit.Surrounding the patio is a mix of fairy lights and more sprays of vibrantblooms, this time wildflowers, making it look like an ethereal space out of aDisney movie. "Wow," I say, turning in a circle to appreciate her handiwork."Yeah, this is my happy place." She shrugs, sitting in a chair and poppingher feet up on the brick wall surrounding her fireplace before setting thesecond beer on the bricks for me. Twisting off her cap, she puts it to her lips,gently sipping. Her full lips wrapped around that bottle do terrible things tomy self-restraint.Down, boy, I think, sitting next to her and grabbing my beer. "I can seewhy. Rosie must be in seventh heaven back here.""This makes me a terrible person, but she doesn't know about this spot. Ilove the girl to hell and back, but I know the second she finds out about myfairy garden, she'll beg to come back every day. This is my space." She looksashamed or embarrassed, but there's no need."My office is like that. I keep it the way I like it and only let my assistantin. Autumn has bullied her way in a few times when she was working fromthe office, but that's kind of her big sister duty, I think. It helps to have a spotuntouched from work drama."Though looking around and thinking of my neatly organized office, Ican't help but think about how cold and lifeless it feels in contrast. Cleanwhite walls, dark, boring desk, windows overlooking Broadway; these were asign of success needed to prove to the world, to my dad, I know what I'mdoing. But now that I have them, they feel... empty. Shaking the thought off, Iask, "So what do you do for fun, since you seem to think my life is boring andsad."In the faint glow of the lights, her blush is still visible - she seems to dothat a lot. I wonder if it's a Hannah thing or something she does because ofme."I don't think your life is sad and lonely. You're the one who doesn'thave friends." Her eyes twinkle and it's clear she's trying to bait me, but I'mdying to know more about her, so I don't bite. Hannah sighs, giving in. "Mybest friend Sadie says I make the kids too much of my whole life. But I lovekids and making them feel loved, safe, and valued more than anything. I goout with Sadie and sometimes Autumn to Full Moon, the bar in town. Afriend owns it. I garden, obviously. I also work over at the Springbrook HillsCenter for Kids and Families. Right now we're working on our summerprogram, which will start in a week, so my days are pretty packed with thegirls and then the Center. I guess I'm not much better in the workaholiccategory.""What does that look like? The summer camp.""Right now it's just a normal day camp. We have theme weeks andthemed days to keep a schedule, but we offer tiered income pricing so it'saffordable to parents. It means we don't have much extra after payingcounselors for the fun stuff. But we make it work and make sure the kidshave a great summer and are safe and loved when some kids don't have thestability school typically offers. We do all the old-school camp stuff, like biggames of red rover and friendship bracelets and chalk drawings. Last year,the kids helped me paint a mural on the building to brighten it up. Things likethat.""I saw the mural when I was driving through town. It's great - kids didthat?""Yeah, Maggie, the director, she takes time to get to know each and everykid, their strengths and interests. She tapped the big kids who were mostinterested in art and invested some love and attention into it. It came outgorgeous.""That's amazing. So, what's missing? What else could the camp bedoing?" When I ask, she lights up. It's easy to see where her heart lies.Thinking about the Center, her sky-blue eyes glitter, her face glows. Herhands fiddle, excitement overflowing into nervous energy."In my perfect world, with the camp we have right now, we'd take thekids on weekly field trips - zoos, the beach, amusement parks, the boardwalk- all the fun summer stuff. But when I daydream about taking over, Ienvision... more. I assume you like the outdoors? Like hiking and stuff?" Ihave to laugh."Yes, Hannah, the man who runs an outdoor recreation equipmentcompany enjoys hiking and stuff." Her hand goes out to playfully slap myarm and laugh. God, this feels good. Too damn good."Okay, so most of these kids have never been much further thandowntown, never got in the woods or hiking or camping. They've never hadthat movie-worthy, dirt and bugs summer camp, and they just never will. It'snot in the cards. These days, camps can cost as much as a semester at college.When a family has more than one kid, which most attending the Center do,it's literally impossible for them to afford it. I'm going to create a campwhere we can take the kids and give them the 'Bug Juice' classic, carefreesummer. These kids... so many of them have seen more than they should haveat such young ages, or they've grown up already at a disadvantage and aredisillusioned. I want to show them... potential. Potential for a beautiful life,"she says, with a dazed, far-off look on her face."It's important to you, isn't it? The Center, changing these kids' lives?" Iask, wanting to learn more, know what makes her tick. She sips her beer,contemplating how much to tell me before she sighs."I didn't have the best childhood. My parents were... neglectful, leavingme to take care of my little sister most of the time. When I was about Sara'sage, I came to the Center for the summer. I knew with school out we'd bemissing the stability and normalcy, and I needed that. I needed to keep Abbiesafe and to keep me sane. I met Maggie there, and she showed me there was agroup of people in our community who wanted to help us however theycould, that a community could lift others and keep them afloat."When I was 12, I came to Maggie - she's the director of the Center - andI was crying about something or other my mom had said. Honestly, I couldn'teven tell you what it was now, but I was heartbroken. She set up Abbie at ourneighbor's house for the night, so I wouldn't worry about her and took mecamping. Just for a night. I know it sounds weird and today, if it were my kid,I'd be worried a stranger was taking her to the woods but somehow... Maggieknew what I needed." Hannah places her beer onto the ground before lookingup into the night sky, bright with constellations like she's looking for answerswritten there."Maggie is a huge hippie. She took me into the woods, we camped, shetaught me how to give my pain and disappointment to the universe. Showedme how healing nature can be when you let it." She laughs, dropping herhead into her hands, slim, elegant fingers tipped now with light blue polish."God, I probably sound insane."She doesn't sound crazy. She sounds excited and motivated, but most ofall, she sounds genuine. I get it - the healing effect of being out in fresh air,trees all around, not a soul in sight. There's something so humbling aboutbeing surrounded by nature and marveling at what God or whatever youbelieve in has created, this landscape that is so much larger than you can everhope to be. To wash away the cuts and scrapes, the bruises anddisappointments life hands you.And I know the feeling of wanting to give that to others.I reach out and grab her hand, so tiny compared to mine, cradling it in myown. Her head lifts, in shock, I think, but she doesn't pull her hand away. Shemeets my eyes, those blue depths flickering emotions so quickly I can't catchany of them."You don't sound insane."-hannahHUNTER IS HOLDING my hand and looking into my eyes. Holy crap, holycrap, holy crap. His hand is huge compared to mine, engulfing it in his.Surprise hits me with how rough they are, callused and worn as if he usesthem often. It's unexpected, knowing how much he works in his office job."Oh." It's all that comes to my lips, to my mind which has frozen inplace.Still holding my hand, Hunter stands, moving so he's right in front of mein my wrought iron patio chair where I'm staring up at him. My mouth hangsopen a bit, be it from shock or nerves or confusion, I'll never know. His eyesare twin pools of warm chocolate, playful yet serious, with the longest,darkest lashes framing them. The fairy lights around us let me read his intentbefore he tugs on my hand, pulling me up and to him.He's so close now, our hands get pressed between us. The position allowsme to feel how, like my own, his heart is racing. I'm not sure why thispleases me so much, the knowledge that we're standing on equal footing.Looking up at him, I feel tiny, petite, and feminine. Never in my life havemy average five foot six inches felt tiny, but his towering frame does justthat."This is a terrible idea, Hunter." The words fall from my lips even as hisarm wraps around my lower back, pressing me into him."Trust me, babe, I've made a lot of poor decisions in my life, and this isnot one of them." Before I can protest, he lowers his head, brushing his lipsgently to mine, the scratch of his beard sending chills down my spine. Thekiss is gentle and sweet and everything any girl who has read love stories andwatched movies which make your heart flutter dreams of.And then something snaps, like a dam of tension that's been between ussince we met. As if this whole time, our subconscious was waiting for themoment we let our guard down to take over. His teeth nip and my mouthopens, letting his demanding tongue come into stroke my own, making mewhimper. The hand holding mine between us lets go to trail my side beforegrabbing my ass and he groans. If I weren't preoccupied trying to get mybody as close to his, I'd smile. But I'm winding my arms around his neck,reaching up onto my tiptoes, needing to be closer.We're an explosion of heavy breathing, a clashing of teeth and tongues, awhite fervent desire expressed so blatantly, I'm immediately damp betweenmy legs. Hunter's arm around my back trails up, tangling in my loosely tiedhair. He tugs it back, a slight sting causing an uncontrollable moan to slippast my lips as he trails his lips down my neck, nipping as he goes."This fucking ass has been taunting me for days. Jackin' myself everynight, thinking about how fucking gorgeous this ass is." His words rumbleagainst my neck, adding fuel to my fire. We're crazed, going from sweet andheart-warming to hot and heavy in moments, but it all feels so exquisitelyright. Rough hands slip under my thin shorts, finding I don't wear undieswith my bedtime shorts. He groans, palming my ass hard enough that I hopeit will leave a mark tomorrow, a reminder this was real. "Jesus, fuck, sofucking hot, babe.""Oh, God, Hunter." A hand slips into his thick hair, so much softer thanexpected. My other hand, still pressed between us, trails against the ridges ofhis abs, dying to feel what I could uncover in my bed, not 20 feet awayinside."So fucking sexy, dying to do this since I saw you, Han." His wanderingtongue makes its way back up to my lips. The salt of my skin, the beer he wasdrinking earlier, and something that is so uniquely Hunter are all on histongue, the combination so overwhelming, all I can do is groan. He's earthyand warm, reminding me of a sunny day in my garden, warm and safe andconnected. Hitching my leg onto his hip to get closer still, to melt with him,his hardness brushes my center through thin cotton and I gasp, loving this,needing this, needing so much more."Hunt!" The sound hitting my ears has the same effect as ice dumpedover my body; it slams me back into reality in a millisecond. My leg drops,trying to pull back in horror at what happened. I made out and dry humpedmy boss' brother. Oh, my God. Instead of letting me go, Hunter holds metighter to him."Fuck. Autumn," he says, staying frozen and locking eyes with me. Heatstill simmers in them. My insides are battling, wanting to ignore our intruderand see where it could take us, but also completely horrified over whattranspired."Hunter, let me go." A suffocating panic wins the battle, rising in mychest as I try to pull away."Hunt, where'd you run off to?" Autumn says, but the quieter soundsignals she's getting further from my cottage, heading a different way to findher brother. The last thing I need is a complication like this. A complicationlike the brother of my boss and me tangled up behind my cottage, his handsstill under my shorts on the skin of my ass."You have to go," I say firmly and quietly, pushing on his chest, trying toescape."Hannah, we need to talk-""Nothing to talk about, a lapse of judgment. In fact, let's pretend it didn'thappen. At all. Please.""If you can forget what happened, I wasn't doing it right." He's smirkingand still refusing to let me go. And he's right, of course - he sure as hell wasdoing it right. Just thinking of it sends a thrill down my spine, making himsmile wider. Goddammit, he felt it."Seriously, Hunter, you need to go.""Go out with me. Dinner, drinks, I don't care." He drops the request inmy lap, giving me both butterflies and a sinking feeling. I can't. I can't gettangled up in someone like Hunter. I made a vow years ago I would neversettle, never let myself get involved with someone who couldn't be mineforever. I've seen what that kind of disappointment can do to a woman. Andif there's one thing I know about Hunter Hutchins, it's he is not the forevertype."No. I can't. This was a huge mistake." He looks into my eyes as I breakthe news to him. He's assessing, deciding, calculating, his true businesssavant shining through. He must see something I've hidden in there becausemoments later his eyes fill with cunning determination."Okay, fine, I won't convince you. Tonight," he says with a spark ofdetermination. And something tells me there is nothing that will stop HunterHutchins from whatever it is he wants. With one last slow but chaste press ofhis lips to mine, he lets me go and walks towards the big house, leaving mestanding there.I WORK HARD to avoid Hunter after our kiss. The task has been a difficultone, considering he lives where I work. Each day is carefully planned,intending to be as far from him as possible. Sometimes it means taking thekids out and others it's simply leaving the room whenever it looks like hemight come in.Yes, I'm a coward. No, I do not care. Self-preservation is the name of thisgame, and I hate to lose.I make it a full seven days until that comes crashing down