“Um, wow. I don’t really know what to say, Lori.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I work as a therapist now, mostly with women who’ve been abused or raped. I see it every day, and every day I wish I could do more.”
I sighed. “Thank you for making my job that much easier. I only want to—”
“Hunter, I didn’t keep track of that jerk all these years for you to go and talk to him. Now, if you love Arabella—which I’m guessing you do or we wouldn’t be having this conversation—then you pay Mr. Wilkins a visit and make him regret what he did to her. I’m also going to guess Arabella isn’t the only woman he’s raped. The guy is scum. His father has bought him out of a few problems. Drugs was one of them, and a few years back another woman came forward stating that Colby had tried to rape her. His father paid her off, and she silently went away. So, you see, I really don’t want you to simply talk to the guy. If you get my meaning.”
Kyle jerked his head back and mouthed, I like her.
“I can promise you,” I said, “he’s going to regret the day he ever laid a finger on the woman I love.”
I heard her let out a breath before she cleared her throat. “Good. I’m glad to hear that. And let me know if there’s anything else I can do for Arabella. We kept in touch for a little bit, but she stopped writing to me after about two years. I think she got tired of me begging her to tell you the truth.”
“Thank you for trying, Lori.”
“Well, I wish she’d listened to me, but sometimes, for certain women, they’re so engulfed in their own shame and guilt that they can’t seem to find their way out. You take care of her, Hunter.”
“I will.”
“Take care of yourself, too, and good luck.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I will. And, Lori, are you…are you okay?”
She sighed softly through the line. “Thank you for asking. I am.” It was clear she was telling the truth. I could hear the smile in her voice. “I’m married, and I’m expecting my first child in about three weeks. A little girl. We’re naming her Hope.”
Smiling, I replied, “Congratulations.” A part of me felt such an overwhelming sense of relief to hear Lori say she’d been able to move on. If Lori could, then it gave me hope that Bella could as well.
“Can I offer a piece of advice, Hunter?”
“Yes, please.”
I took the phone off speaker while Kyle pushed over to his desk with this laptop. I knew he was already getting busy finding out information on this Colby asshole.
“I’m guessing since she just told you, you haven’t been together this whole time.”
“No,” I said, rubbing at the back of my neck. “We haven’t.”
“Has she dated anyone? I know when I was talking to her, she seemed to have locked herself up with those bees she loves so much.”
“She hasn’t dated anyone, no. And she pretty much did just that—buried herself away until about two years ago.”
“Damn,” Lori whispered. The line remained silent a moment before she said, “When I first started dating my husband, intimacy was hard for me. Just know…it’s not you. It’s not really you she’s pushing away, it’s the memories of one moment in her life that changed her. My husband was so patient with me, loved me. Gave me the control I needed in order to take things as slow or as fast as I wanted.”
My conversation with Bella from lunch came back to me. Asking if she could touch me without me touching her. “I understand.”
“Good. I just don’t want you to be discouraged. And maybe she’s been to counseling, I don’t know. Like I said, I haven’t spoken to her in like seven or eight years now, I guess.”
“I appreciate all the help you’ve given me, Lori.”
“Of course. Don’t hesitate to call again if you need anything.”
I nodded and smiled, even though she couldn’t see me. “I will, and congratulations on your new baby. I bet Bella would like to know when you do have her.”
“I think so too. Thanks, Hunter. Bye.”
“Bye, Lori.”
Hanging up the receiver, I looked over at Kyle. All he had to do was nod once, and I knew he had the information I needed.
“Hang on to it for now,” I said. “Tonight is the first time I’m taking Arabella out, and I don’t want anything to ruin that. If you give me his information now, I’ll want to drive to Maine.”
He nodded.
“You coming out tonight?”
“Hell yes, I am. Aiden and Willa are too. Aiden said Willa’s going stir crazy, and when she found out Arabella was going, she jumped at the chance to join.”
Smiling, I said, “Good. My sister deserves it.”
“You ought to call Lacy and Connor…”
I laughed. “Are you kidding me? Those two would always rather have a quiet night in. They’re not into going out anymore.”
Kyle frowned. “I pray to God that never happens to me.”
I laughed. When I stood, Jack jumped up, which had Cat waking up from her nap. She took one look at Jack and sprang into action.
“You going to bring a date?” I asked.
Kyle dropped his head back and let out a roar of laughter. “Am I bringing a date? Hell no. Hopefully there’ll be some ski bunnies down from the slopes looking for some fresh meat.”
I rolled my eyes. “Right. I’m going home to change. Thanks, Kyle, for all you’ve done.”
He stood and reached his hand out for mine. “Dude, you’re like my brother. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
“Same goes for me, Kyle.”
We shook, and he pulled me in for a quick bro hug.
I hit him on the side of the arm. “I appreciate it, man. More than you know.”
The moment the front door to Greer’s house opened, I heard the ladies. Hudson smiled and said, “You’re just in time. I think something was going down with them earlier, but I could be wrong. I’ve yet to be able to read that group.”
Laughing, I walked into the foyer. “Yeah, good luck with that, man.” I went to say something else to Hudson, but then I stopped in my tracks.
Bella was walking toward us, her arm linked with Candace’s. I took a slow perusal of her from top to bottom and felt my heart rate pick up tenfold. When her eyes met mine, I couldn’t help but smile. The glow of happiness on her face left me breathless. Candace let go and Bella made her way over to me.
“You look beautiful.” Her cheeks flushed, and I felt my cock jerk in my pants. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at a white button-down shirt again without thinking about this moment.”
Bella giggled and shook her head. She glanced down at the floor and then back up to me. Her blue eyes were bright and full of life.
Fucking finally.
I cupped her face in my hands and leaned down to kiss her. She reached up and deepened the kiss, and I could have easily gotten lost in her, had it not been for Hudson clearing his throat.
Bella took a step back and let out a nervous chuckle.
“Now that’s what I call a greeting,” Candace stated. I glanced over at her and noticed Abby, Greer, and Brighton all smiling as they nodded their heads.