And I Love You by Marie Force Read Free Book Online Page B

Elmer stood and headed for the door, a jaunty bounce in his step.
    As his grandfather went out, his brother Will came in after exchanging greetings with Elmer. “What’s he up to?” Will asked.
    “Your guess is as good as mine,” Hunter said. “But he’s definitely up to something.”
    Will laughed. “Watch out. When he meddles, people end up engaged and living together and married.”
    Will’s words set off a powerful sense of yearning in Hunter, for things he hadn’t known he wanted before spending time with Megan the night before. He wanted
more
. He wanted to get to know her—what she liked and didn’t like, what she enjoyed, what made her smile, what made her happy.
    “Hunter? Where’d you go?”
    He realized he’d zoned right out of the conversation. “Sorry. Did you need me for something?”
    “I need your help with a very personal project.”
    Intrigued, Hunter said, “What kind of project?”
    Will looked over his shoulder to make sure no one could hear him. “I want to buy an engagement ring for Cameron, but I have no idea where to begin.”
    “Oh wow, that’s big news. Congrats.”
    “Thanks.”
    “You could ask Colton. He’s probably better versed on diamonds and rings than I am.”
    “I can’t tell him out of fear of it getting back to Cameron through Lucy.”
    “Lucy would never say anything.”
    “Still, it’s kind of personal, and the fewer people who know the better. I want Cam to be completely surprised, and I want to get it right with the ring, which is where you come in. Will you help?”
    “Of course. When do you want to go?”
    “Maybe Saturday? I scouted out some jewelry stores in Rutland.”
    “I can do that.” Hunter glanced up at his brother. “So you’re really going to do this, huh?”
    “I really am, and I can’t wait to ask her. She’s … Well, she’s everything, and I want her to know that.”
    “I’m happy for you, Will. Truly. She’s fantastic. We all love her.”
    “Yeah,” Will said with a goofy smile that Hunter might’ve made fun of if he hadn’t been so incredibly envious of his brother’s obvious happiness. “She’s pretty great.”
    “So Saturday it is.”
    “Thanks, Hunter. I really appreciate your help.”
    “Anytime. Let me ask you something …”
    “Sure, what’s up?”
    “Did you really tell Megan she was focusing on the wrong Abbott brother?”
    Before his eyes, Will seemed to squirm. “Maybe …”
    “Did you do that to help me out or to get her off your back?”
    “Some of both—not that she was ever ‘on my back,’ as you put it. She was a little much with Cam a few times, and I wanted that to stop. She was acting like a jealous ex when there was never anything between us.”
    “There really wasn’t?”
    “We made out once at a party the summer after she graduated. One minute we were talking about what she’d been through losing her parents, and she was crying and then her tongue was down my throat. It lasted all of five minutes. For me anyway.”
    “Her crush on you lasted ten years.”
    “I never encouraged it.”
    “How come?”
    “I don’t know. I just … I wasn’t into her that way. She’s a nice girl and everything—well, most of the time she is. I cut her some slack because of what she’s been through, but the last time she got bitchy with Cam right in front of me. I’d had enough at that point.”
    Hunter thought about what Will had said and wondered why Megan had spent so much time yearning for a man who’d shown so little interest in her.
    “What’s going on, Hunter? Why all the questions about Megan?”
    “I wanted to better understand what went on between the two of you.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I’m going to ask her out.”
    “Oh. Really?”
    “Yes, really.”
    “What brought this on all of a sudden?”
    “It’s hardly all of a sudden. At least not for me.”
    “I had no idea you were into her until Cameron figured it out and told me. I hope I never did anything to, you know,