Love on the Brain

This is a continuation of Hunter and Sable’s relationship, from Almost Perfect, after she moves to Hopevale, Georgia to be with him.

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The door burst open and Sable ran down the steps of the front porch. Her slicked back ponytail swung from side to side.

A wide grin spreading on his face, Hunter dropped his duffel bag as she leaped into his arms.

“You’re home,” she breathed, arms wrapped around his neck and legs wrapped around his waist.

He squeezed her just as tightly, a sense of relief flooding through him. He hadn’t slept in twenty-four hours, wrapping up his assignment and filling out the paperwork as quickly as he could so he could get back to her.

“Somebody missed me,” he teased with a chuckle.

“Me. I missed you.” She ran a hand over his brown curls and gazed into his eyes.

Then she kissed him, slowly, softly.

His grip on her bottom tightened, and he groaned.

She dropped to her feet. “Come on, I have so much to show you.”

Hunter picked up his duffel bag and took her hand. “What have you been up to?”

“Getting the house ready while you’ve been gone.”

They had barely moved in before he was called away to work as security for a high-ranking government official in Hawaii. The timing couldn’t have been worse. They hadn’t even gotten all of Sable’s belongings from out of state yet. Everything in the house had belonged to him except for her clothes and a few other personal effects.

They had only managed to paint the den when he received the call and had to leave within forty-eight hours. She had been a good sport about the interruption, but he had felt terrible.

Upon entering the house, Hunter’s mouth fell open at the transformation in the living room. Sable had painted the walls, covering the ugly green with heather gray, a brighter more inviting color that served as the perfect backdrop for the linen-hued furniture they picked out before he left. The sofa, loveseat, and armchair were anchored by a tufted top cocktail table on top of an area rug.

Other touches included a bouquet of flowers on the table and images of Paris—where they had met and fallen for each other—framed and displayed on the built-in bookcase behind the sofa.

“You did all this?” he asked in amazement.

A smile of satisfaction touched her face as she watched his reaction.

“I had help. Cruz hung the drapes and mirror for me,” Sable replied, referring to the mirror between the two windows looking onto the neighbor’s property. “He, Raheem, and Mouse helped me paint the kitchen, this room, and the hallways. The guys also rearranged the furniture after the store dropped off the pieces because once the movers left, of course I changed my mind about the arrangement.” She laughed to herself.

“And you bought the chandelier,” he remarked.

A plain light fixture had been in its place when he left.

“I know it was kind of expensive, but it’s unique and different. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind at all. It looks great in the room.”

“So… you like everything?”

He grinned. “You did an amazing job. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Yes. Kinda.” She grinned back, lighting up her hazel eyes.

Hunter sauntered over and nudged her into his arms by gently pulling on her wrists. “You did a fantastic job, Ms. Devereaux.”

“Why thank you. I wanted to complete a few projects while you were gone, so you’d come back to a nicer place.”

He glanced around. “What’s left to do?”

“Upstairs, and the half-bath down here. If we work hard, we can finish over the next few weekends, I guess.”

“Actually, I have good news. I convinced Cruz to give me a two-week break so I can finish getting settled without interruption. And, I’ll be able to help you open the shop.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, that’s perfect. The grand opening is coming up and I’ve been a nervous wreck.”

“And still you did all this?”

“I wanted you to have something nice to come home to,” she said softly.

“I already had something nice to come home to,” Hunter said, lowering his voice.

“Talking like that might get you laid, mister.” Sable rubbed her hands up and down his biceps.

His skin rippled and tingled under her touch.

“But,” she added, “I’m sure you’re hungry. Did you have anything to eat?”

“I ate on the plane, but you know me.”

“Yes, I do. That’s why I cooked a quick meal. Just pasta primavera and garlic twists.”

His stomach leaped and grumbled at the sound of the tempting food. “I’m ready.”

They went into the bright kitchen. While she prepared a heaping plate of pasta for him and a smaller serving for herself, Hunter poured glasses of freshly made lemonade.

“This looks good.” He drank half the glass and then poured himself another.

They sat in the dining alcove, and he tucked into the delicious food, eating chunks of fresh squash and peas, while his tongue danced with appreciation at the taste of lemon and the creamy, garlicky sauce made with Parmesan cheese.

He wolfed down half the meal before he finally slowed and grunted. “Delicious.”

“I see,” Sable said with amusement.

They ended dinner with a tasty tiramisu she purchased from Aunt Bessie’s Sweets N Things, a popular bakery in Hopevale.

While Sable cleaned up the kitchen, Hunter took his bag upstairs and hopped in the shower. They eventually wanted new bedroom furniture, but for now used what he’d brought from his old place—a king-size bed, a dresser, a nightstand, and a giant wardrobe filled with items he needed in his line of work, such as wigs and prosthetics.

He exited the bathroom in maroon boxer briefs. With the warm shower and a full belly, he felt completely relaxed. Sable was already under the covers in the middle of the bed, wearing a nightshirt and sexy as hell with her hair loose and hanging over one shoulder.

“Hey you. Missed you,” she said.

He climbed in the bed and pulled her into his arms. Her soft body nestled against his, and he let out a deep-chested sigh. “Missed you too.”

Now that Sable was in Hopevale, his long-term plans were finally formulating. He didn’t only want them to live together. He wanted their union to be more permanent. He was ready for marriage, something he hadn’t seriously considered before she came into his life.