20 Questions

Chapter 30

As I stare at the finished product, I couldn't be prouder of myself. I place it in the glittery Christmas gift bag that I purchased, fill it with silver tissue paper and write out what I have been wanting to say in the card. I look at the clock and it is two o'clock. I hide the gift in the closet and get in the shower.

Once I am showered, glitter lotion applied, hair dried and curled, I add some small braids and twists and pin it back with bobby pins. A few locks fall around my face and neck and my hair is full and perfectly curled in the back. I love the way it looks and I'm proud of myself for how it turned out. Occasionally, I surprise myself with a decent finished product. I dust some gold shadow on my eyelids and apply brown eyeliner to the top, thickening the line since it is a formal occasion. I add more blush to my cheeks and put on a second coat of mascara, finishing the look with red lipstick. Dangly silver triangle earrings lined with rhinestones sparkle against the light with my hair pulled back. I have fifteen minutes before I have to be in the lobby for happy hour so I take my new red dress out of the closet and remove the long plastic dress bag over it. I zip it up and look in the mirror and I almost don't recognize the girl reflecting in the mirror before me. She looks like me, but better.... sexier. I slip on my silver shoes and put my stuff in my clutch purse. I spray my hair once more with hairspray, apply a light layer of gloss to my lips and take one last look in the mirror.

Tonight is going to be an amazing night.

I order a glass of champagne from the bar while I wait for the guys to arrive. Several people have trickled in for the happy hour, women in beautiful dresses and men with suits and Christmas-themed ties. Justin is the first to arrive and when he spots me, he holds out his hand and twirls me around, getting a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of my new dress.

"Damn, girl, you look absolutely stunning. Hunter is going to freak when he sees you."

"Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself, handsome."

He is dressed in charcoal dress pants and a red collared shirt, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows - revealing thick, muscular forearms - and his jet-black hair pushed up in the front. Justin is an absolute doll with his slate gray eyes and dimpled cheeks. His sleeves are snug against his muscled biceps and the unfastened top button of his shirt reveals a black ink that extends to his collar bone. He thanks me and sits by my side at the bar, ordering a glass of champagne for himself. I've only ever seen him drink beer, but like me, he has chosen the bubbly liquid for this celebratory occasion.

"Jenna, can I tell you something?"

"Yeah, of course. Anything."

"It's something that I've been wanting to say, but I wanted to wait until we were alone. It's nothing bad. I just wanted to thank you."

"For?" I ask. I can't imagine what I've said or done to elicit any form of appreciation, but I'm all ears.

"I've known Hunter almost my whole life. When we first met, he was broken, beaten down and sad and had lived through things that no child should ever have to. He definitely came from the worst situation out of all of us. He never thought that he was deserving of love and happiness. Things got a little better as we grew up, but I would never claim that he was happy. He was...satisfied when we left the orphanage, graduated from high school, graduated from college and when he got his first job. But satisfied isn't happy. He's tough on the outside, but only the guys and I know how sad he is on the inside. I've worried about him the most. He said that he told you about Josh."

I nod, remembering my devastation as Hunter confided in me about his late brother.

"I have been so afraid that Hunter would have the same fate. Loneliness can lead you to very dark places. Believe me, I know. He almost didn't come this year. I don't know if he told you that or not. He was depressed, more depressed than I have seen him in a while. We finally convinced him at the very last minute to come along. That's why he flew separate from us. But when he stepped off that plane, something had changed in him. There was something in his eyes that I have never seen before. Hope, I figure. It vanished on the drive to the lodge, but nobody knew why. Then when you appeared by that fireplace, that light returned, brighter than ever. See, Jenna, it's been you all along. You have been the difference. I've never seen him this happy and I truly mean that. He's not the same person that reluctantly loaded that plane. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for bringing him back to us. You have no idea what you have done for him and for all of us."

I'm not crying, you are.

I dab my eyes with a napkin on the bar, stunned by his words, a flood of emotions coursing through me. On one hand, I am devastated and heartbroken for this sad man and the pain he has carried for far too many years. On the other hand, I am elated and honored that I was the person that changed him for the better. My heart speaks before my mind catches up.

"I love him," I confess.

I await bewilderment or skepticism on Justin's face, but understanding beams through. He smiles at me, his eyes dancing with the twinkling lights. I do, I do love him and that grows stronger with each passing minute.

"I know he feels the same way," he proclaims.

Is it possible to love someone this soon?

It can't just be lust or infatuation. It's deeper than that. It's this unspoken connection that we have. It's a connection that I've never had with anyone else.

Does he really love me, too?

I want to ask Justin if Hunter told him that specifically, but I bite my tongue. If he really does love me, I want to hear it from him and see how his eyes sparkle as he professes that devotion to me. My thoughts are wild and chaotic as I glance around the room. He's here, I feel his presence. Our eyes connect and I hear him despite his lack of words. I love him and everything about the way he looks at me tells me that he shares the sentiment. He grabs a glass of champagne, conversing with his brothers, his eyes locked on me. I want to run into his arms, but I remain in my seat and watch him a while longer.

I love this Hunter, relaxed and carefree. I love how he looks at me and drinks me in like a smooth, well-aged whiskey. He speaks to his brothers and other guests of the lodge that have sauntered over, but he never removes his gaze from me. I feel worshipped and admired...and his.

"You look perfect," he mouths.

"So do you," I reciprocate.

This imperfect man who is perfectly mine.

"I think you've tortured the poor bastard long enough. Let's go over there and put him out of his misery," Justin chuckles before placing his hand on the small of my back and leading me to the man who makes my heart scream.

When the distance has closed between us, Hunter takes my hand and places it to his lips. I walk over to stand next to him, his strong arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me to him while whispering in my ear, "I have no words to describe how gorgeous you look tonight." My stomach flutters when I lean in to kiss his cheek. The guys share stories of Christmases at the orphanage and all the trouble they used to get into. I can't remember ever laughing this hard, so much that it is making my fluttery stomach hurt.

A lodge employee enters the room and invites all the guests to come to the conference room for dinner. Hunter places his hand in mine, our fingers intertwined, and we take our place in line to enter. The room is exquisitely decorated with multicolored lights and garlands, the tables are covered with scarlet tablecloths, centerpieces of glass bowls with floating candles, surrounded by gold-plated ornaments on each table. The place mats are ivory, woven with gold threading, sequins lining the edges and the dishes are striking white china. Christmas music plays softly in the background and the smell of the food cooking in the kitchen makes me salivate. We take our seats at our designated table and I am grateful that our group remains together. I have a sneaking suspension that Hunter probably had something to do with that.

The employees come out with trays of salads and baskets of rolls. Champagne is chilling in buckets on the table, the bubbly poured in each of our crystal glasses as we start on our salads. The main course consists of oven-baked chicken with apple, onion and cider gravy, garlic and rosemary mashed potatoes, and grilled asparagus. I finish everything on my plate just as the employees round with a cart of different types of desserts. I choose a slice of cheesecake with raspberry topping and Hunter goes with some apple dumpling concoction.

The employees begin clearing our plates as the band sets up their equipment. Hunter puts his hand on my thigh under the table and gives it a gentle squeeze. I look over and smile at the man who stole my heart.

"You have made this the best Christmas ever," he whispers in my ear before placing a kiss to my temple.

"The best is yet to come," I assure him.

He goes back his conversation with Bryson about some upcoming game and I look across the table at Justin who gives me a warm smile.

I'm so lucky to be here, in this minute, with this incredible man and his brothers.