I roll my eyes. “You sound like someone I know.”
“Your boyfriend?” She lifts her brows.
“Hunter isn’t a jealous guy, but he certainly is protective.”
It’s been a year since we started dating, and in that time, I’ve grown more in love with him by the day. I’ve learned that being his girlfriend is akin to being family. Once you’re part of his definition of family, he protects you for life.
With a laugh, she points to the door. “I can tell. He definitely keeps an eye on you. He seems pretty smitten too.”
I look over to where she’s pointing. Hunter is standing by the door with his peacoat on and a roguish grin on his face.
I rush over to him. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d still be working on that Christmas Eve special?”
His hair is glistening from the snow that must be falling outside.
“I was able to get away early.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and leans back on his feet. “I thought I’d swing by and see if I could coax you into joining me somewhere before we get on the road.”
I narrow my eyes. “You always have something up your sleeve.”
“That I do, kid,” he responds with his shit-eating grin that I’ve come to love.
This year has been a whirlwind for sure. No matter what occurred on New Year’s Eve between Branson and me, we didn’t let it get in the way of our work relationship. He stood by his word, and by February, I started my new position as a media market strategist. I finally have my dream job, but even better, I have my dream man.
Working for the same company as Hunter definitely has its benefits too. I still get my daily visits that I always loved so much from him, only this time, he leaves me with a kiss and a promise for something later. Even though I know he didn’t look into it that first day, like he said he did, he was correct, and since we don’t report to each other, there are no issues with us dating.
The rumor mill was on full tilt when we got back to work after that New Year’s Eve party. People had heard that I was going with Branson, and no one believed for a minute that it was fully work-related. No matter how much I’d tried to tell myself that his intentions were pure, I should have known better.
Someone from our work just happened to be outside when Hunter met me on the steps. I’m sure, before midnight, texts were sent and messages left, and co-workers just waited for the next meeting at the water cooler, starting with, “Guess what I saw.”
Branson was probably happy he was able to fall back on the act of it truly not being a date and that I was only there to further my career. And honestly, so was I.
I never wanted to be the office gossip or—dare I even say—the office slut who two head guys were fighting over. It all played out for the best, and no one can try to say I slept my way into my new position. They all know I worked very hard for that spot, and me leaving the event to be with Hunter at the stroke of midnight only proved that point more.
Two weeks of dating Hunter turned into months that flew by. By September, he was asking me to move in with him. I thought he was crazy at first, and I said it was too soon, but when he kept pointing out exactly how little time I was physically spending in my apartment, I knew he was right.
Most guys might freak out about their girlfriends taking over their space, but Hunter had offered it right away. When he bought me my own toothbrush and hair dryer to keep at his house, I knew there were no more questions about where our relationship was going. By May, I’d already had a spot in his closet and my own drawers in his room.
Moving in the rest of my things wasn’t that big of a deal. I always felt very at home at his place, so I wasn’t upset that I didn’t get to keep my couch or bring over my dresser. Thankfully, Sofia had known the move was coming, and she had already started talking to someone else about taking my place when I was ready to make that leap. The other girl was leaving a bad relationship, so I felt even better, being able to give her my furniture and help her get back on her feet.
There was only one thing that was truly personal to me, and I was excited when Hunter removed a painting from his wall, so I could put up my castle pictures without even asking. It’s those special items that make a place a home, and the collection was even better with the addition of the picture of when Hunter took me to the castle here in New York.
Living with him has been both an experience and a fantasy, and I’m sure whatever he has planned for tonight will be no different. I search around the room to see what else needs to be done before I leave for the night.
When I take in the way his eyes are sparkling with mischief, I have to try not to laugh. “I’d love to join you, but I have to finish up here first, so whatever is going on inside of that head will have to wait for just a bit longer,” I tell him.
He takes off his coat and places it on a nearby chair. “Then, let’s get to work.”
Hunter helps fold all of the chairs and tables, stacking them on a cart, while Sheryl and I clean the rest of the room. I love how he enjoys the fact that he’s working. It seems to be a trait of his. Hunter is very easygoing, rolling with the punches, and he doesn’t seem to ever complain.
It makes being with him very easy as well.
With both of us working, we’re able to finish up quickly, and before we know it, we’re saying good-bye to Sheryl and everyone else.
As we step outside, the snow falls all around us. After I set my hat on my head, I reach over to pull Hunter’s collar up.
“You sure do take good care of me,” Hunter says while placing a small kiss to my lips.
“I love that you allow me to. Okay, so where are we going?”
He takes my hand in his, and we head toward his car.
As we both slide in, I glance to Hunter in question, and the smile that graces his face only tells me he’s up to something. If I’ve learned anything about this man, it’s that no matter how hard I try, he won’t tell me what surprise he has planned.
When we first started dating, I read in a magazine that Sagittariuses are very spontaneous, and it’s amazing, just how true that is for Hunter. Him showing up here to whisk me away is very typical of him and something I’ve come to love. His little surprises are always an adventure, and I’ve done more things this year than when I was single.
It’s become my favorite part of our relationship—well, besides the amazing sex and pure happiness I feel when he’s around. His surprise of tickets to Florida for last New Year’s was just the beginning. He was able to switch the dates, and we went at the end of January. Since then, he’s taken me to Niagara Falls and even the Grand Canyon. He loves to roam and see the world, and I love that I get to go with him.
Once he gets on the road, I turn fully in my seat. I grab his hand and give him a cheesy grin, leaning in and hoping he gets my drift.
He raises his eyebrows and shakes his head. “You know you shouldn’t even ask. I’m not going to tell you where we’re going.”
I huff, and he wraps his arm around me, bringing me into him and kissing my forehead when we get to a stoplight. “Have I told you how much I love your little pout?”
I try to pretend to be mad, but all I can do is smile.
We’ve only driven for a few miles when he pulls the car over. As we exit, I see all the people wistfully skating around the lit-up ice rink. The tree sits tall and proud behind the center of the rink. Seeing it this close puts a huge smile on my face with its beauty and glamour and holiday spirit, all wrapped in one gorgeous tree.