Passionate Night Read online

  “Yes. Can’t wait to beat you in Black Jack.”

  “Care to make a wager on that?”

  “Uh … didn’t you lose to your brother tonight?”

  “True, but I won with you,” he said, squeezing her in his arms. “Everything will work out. I promise.”

  After a hot shower together, Harper snuggled in his secure, comforting embrace and watched the rerun of Sports Fanatic that they’d missed from earlier. She found herself drifting in and out of consciousness for it had been a long, exhausting yet fulfilling day. However, somewhere in her subconscious she heard Hunter whisper, “I love you, beautiful one,” in her ear. Harper was too exhausted to spring her body up or jerk her head toward him especially considering the next thing she heard was a light snore. Perhaps, she’d misheard or was dreaming. She was dead tired and sated from their night of lovemaking yet she pressed her back harder against his chest and before her eyelids dropped for good she replied, “I love you, too.”

  Chapter Ten

  Harper stood on the second floor overlooking the elite and wealthiest in Atlanta and other cities around the country mingling at the Doctors Unlimited fundraiser gala. She was quite impressed with the outcome of people on a Monday night, and even more elated that some of the ones who didn’t show had sent checks to the organization. Though the club was closed to the public, it was packed as business as usual, and she hoped that the goal that was set would be surpassed.

  She watched as Hunter moved around the room speaking to everyone and answering questions about the new medical facility in Atlanta. Every now and then she’d catch his gaze on her for a moment before going back to the business at hand. She was indeed proud of his accomplishments and all he’d done to help those in need. Even though he was leaving in less than a week, she’d tried not to focus on that and instead had enjoyed spending as much time as possible with him since their return from Memphis a month ago.

  Waving at him when his eyes landed on her once again, she smiled wide as he excused himself from Cannon. They’d been in a deep conversation for the past five minutes and whatever they’d discussed had the cousins in a great mood as they departed. Perhaps they’d reached their goal or exceeded it.

  Hunter made his way up the escalator to her. Harper loved that he had a habit of taking two steps at a time, his stare never leaving hers. It reminded her of when he’d spotted her at Wind Down Wednesday. She remembered being completely flustered that evening because she’d wanted Hunter more than any other man she’d ever been with. It scared her then and it scared it her now because the truth was Harper didn’t know how she was going to cope once he left for Ghana and left her life. Even though she’d wrestled with the idea of the long distance relationship, she felt the best thing to do was to let him go. They could still communicate and be friends, but she didn’t want the title of a relationship. She figured it would be less painful that way … yet every time she went over it in her head, an ache filled her heart and numbness swept over her.

  “Hey, beautiful one. Why are you up here?”

  “Watching to make sure everything is going smoothly. I was coming down to join you in a bit.”

  He drew her by the waist to him and placed a tempting kiss on her lips. “I need you near me. I’m leaving soon.”

  “I know,” she whispered as her chest constricted and a wave of nausea hit her. “How’s the fundraiser going?” She needed to change the subject to avoid turning on the waterworks in the middle of the club.

  “We doubled the goal.”

  “Oh, baby, that’s awesome.”

  “Yes, it is. Can we go to your office for a moment? I need to discuss something important with you.”

  “Of course.”

  Once there, she leaned against her desk as he stood in front of her. An eerie feeling washed over her and Harper had an inkling they were about to have the conversation she’d been avoiding. For the past month whenever he’d mention staying a couple despite him leaving, she would brush it off or change the subject. That wasn’t going to be possible this time as his serious facial expression relayed.

  “Great news. I spoke to Cannon a moment ago and there’s a possibility that I won’t be in Ghana for more than four months, plus—”

  She glanced away momentarily before resting her eyes back on him. “Then off to another place for another four or more or less months. You don’t know, and I can’t live like that wondering when I’m going to see you again.”

  Closing his eyes, he ran his hands over his freshly shaven head and down his face before settling them on her shoulders with a comforting, sincere smile. “Babe, I keep telling you we’ll be fine. I’m in this for the long run. What we have isn’t a fly-by-night affair or meaningless fling. If that was the case, you would have never met my family, and I wouldn’t be wrestling with the notion of being without you or making life changing decisions.”

  “I know, but I think that what we had was fun, and we should leave it at that. We can still keep in contact and hang out if you’re ever in Atlanta again, but anything passed that …”

  “Be quiet for a moment and let me finish.” His forehead scrunched and he sighed deep. “Harp, Cannon has offered me the opportunity to be the director of the headquarters here in Atlanta. He’s offered it to me several times in the past year and I’ve always said no. However, now I’m saying yes. I don’t want to be without you. No more assignments. After Ghana, I’m back here. For good. Forever with you.”

  Harper exhaled while she soaked in his words as a pleased smile crossed her face. Was he really saying he would stay in Atlanta for her? Goodness, she wanted that more than anything but at the same time it was a huge sacrifice. What if they didn’t work out after all? Would he regret his decision and blame her?

  “Hunter, I don’t want you to give up your life for me.”

  “Harp, I’m not giving up anything. I’ll still work for Doctors Unlimited, but in a different capacity.”

  “When I first met you and I asked about your work with the organization, you went on and on about all your wonderful experiences helping people in need. I have to admit I Googled you after our first meeting, and read article after article about how you love making a difference. You did an interview with the Atlanta Newspaper about how you couldn’t wait to jet off to your next destination. You’ve done so much for the organization and honestly it’s one of the reasons why I fell so hard for you so fast because of your compassionate and unwavering spirit. Doctors Unlimited needs you in the capacity that you’re in.”

  “Harper, will you listen to me for a moment …” He closed the gap between them and pulled her toward him, but she slid out of his embrace and scooted to the other side of the desk.

  She held her hand up. “Wait. Let me finish. As much as I would love for you to be here with me, I can’t ask you to give up your true calling. You’ll be nothing but a suit working a nine-to-five at a desk. That’s not you. You have this amazing spark in your eye when you discuss opening new clinics in third world countries that need medical care.”

  He met her behind the desk and cupped her chin. “Now I have a spark in my heart because of you,” he said sincerely. “I love you, beautiful one, very much, and I know you feel the same way. I heard you that first night in Memphis before we both passed out.”

  She let out a deep sigh and the silent tears she wanted to keep locked away rolled down her face. The more he wiped and kissed them, the more they cascaded down. But she needed to be strong.

  “Hunter, think about what you’re giving up before making any rash decisions over me. Go to Ghana, finish your assignment, and we’ll see what happens afterwards. However, I think we both know you’re not going to give up your position and honestly, I don’t want you to. Yes, I’ve fallen in love with you, but I’m willing to let you go.”

  He chuckled sarcastically. “I’m not changing my mind, woman. I’ll see you in four months … maybe less.”

  “You should go back downstairs to your guests. I’m going to redo m
y make-up and then check on the bar.”

  Once he left, she slammed into her desk chair and continued to let the tears fall except this time they weren’t so quiet. Harper was afraid of this from the moment they met, and she should’ve listened to her gut but her heart wanted him. Her time with him had been superb. Passionate. Unforgettable. He was everything she’d ever needed and wanted in a man and more. Now she’d fallen in love with him, but she couldn’t let him sacrifice everything for her. Could she?

  *****

  Sighing, Hunter squeezed Harper’s hand when he spotted the international sign along the road at the Atlanta airport. Squeezing his hand back, she placed it on the steering wheel to take a sharp right to veer in the direction to the drop-off area for curbside check-in. She’d been in good spirits for the past few days, helping him pack and cooking home-cooked meals for him. He’d decided not to mention the elephant in the room anymore to ward off any more discussions. He’d meant what he said, and he would be back in four months tops to take the position as director of the US headquarters for Doctors Unlimited.

  Harper paralleled parked her two-door Lexus and turned toward him. “This is your stop, sir,” she joked, trying to display a smile that turned strained as she leaned her forehead against his. “I’m going to miss the hell out of you, Hunter Arrington.”

  Cupping her face, he kissed her softy. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

  His chest tightened when he spoke the words. For the first time ever, he wasn’t looking forward to his next assignment. For the first time during his career, he finally had a place to call home besides Memphis. It was with Harper and his heart belonged to her.

  “Hunter, I mean it when I say, do what’s best for you. If you decide to not come back, I’ll understand. I’ve had a wonderful time with you. You’re a good man, and I’m glad for the time we’ve spent together.”

  “Again, I’ll see you soon, beautiful one.” He kissed her deeply once more before opening the car door. He scooted around to the trunk that popped when he reached it and began to pull out his two huge rolling suitcases while she grabbed his belongings from the backseat.

  “You got it?” she asked, placing his laptop and carry-on bags unto his shoulder and avoiding eye contact as she slid her shades from her hair over her eyes.

  “The sun has set, Harp.”

  Her lips quivered and he let go of the suitcases to yank her to him. “I love you, and I’m going to miss you very much. This will go by fast. I promise. Soon you’ll be back here picking me up from the airport.”

  She laughed. “Go before you miss your flight.”

  “It doesn’t leave for another two almost three hours. I’ll be fine.”

  “Well, the TSA lines in Atlanta are long.”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

  “No, I don’t want to prolong our good-bye.”

  He noted the crack in her tone and said reassuringly, “This isn’t good-bye. This is I’ll see you soon.”

  Harper captured his lips in hers and reached deep into his mouth as a frustrated moan released from her. Winding his tongue erratically with hers, the emotions that swept through him tortured his soul and he honestly didn’t know how he was going to spend the next four months away from her without going insane.

  Reluctantly, Hunter pulled back but didn’t let her go. “I love you, beautiful one. I’ll call you once I’m settled at the gate.”

  “Okay, or text me. I have three big celebrity parties tonight simultaneously so I’ll be going back and forth checking on them.”

  “All right.”

  “Have a safe flight.” She slid from his embrace and strolled to her car door. “Call me when you land.”

  “I will.” He gathered his two suitcases and rolled them to the curve. Turning, he watched her zoom away.

  Once settled at the gate, he sent Harper a text to let her know he’d made it through the TSA. His phone rang in his hand immediately afterward. He saw Cannon’s name, but he’d hoped it was Harper.

  “Hey, Cannon. You caught me in time. The ticket agent just announced they’re going to begin boarding soon.”

  “Whew, good. I wanted to inform you that I’m sending Dan and Charles to Ghana as well. They’re leaving in the morning.”

  “Oh, Dan will be there?” Hunter asked somewhat surprised. Their frat brother, Dan, pretty much performed the same job as he did but never together.

  “Yeah. Make your job a little easier.”

  “Well, I appreciate it.” His heartbeat raced as a crazy idea popped into his head.

  “Maybe you won’t have to be there as long and you can go back to Atlanta sooner … unless you’ve change your mind about taking the position.”

  “Nah, Cannon. I’m taking it. Truly, for the first time in my career I don’t want to go. I thought I’d never say that but meeting Harper has changed my entire life.”

  “Really? So the two of you decided to call it quits or work it out?”

  “We agreed I’d go to Ghana and then if I still felt the same way about her afterward, I’d move back to Atlanta and not continue travelling for Doctors Unlimited. However, I’m not going to change my mind. I love her. I will always love her. Harper is the one, but she keeps saying she doesn’t want me to sacrifice my career for her yet she loves me.”

  “So she’s willing to let you go despite that?”

  “Something like that. She says it’s my true calling and while I’ve had wonderful experiences, that part is fulfilled. I’m ready to settle in one place … with her.”

  “Then why are you going?”

  Hunter frowned. “Beg your pardon?”

  “You heard me. Why are you still in the airport?”

  Hunter slowly rose from his seat as a wide smile crossed his face. “Well, it’s my job …”

  “Dan and Charles can handle it. Are you still going?”

  He grabbed his laptop bag and carry-on bag from the chair next to his empty one. “Hell no!”

  *****

  “How’s the bottle service in Unique’s area?” Harper asked Shannon as the ladies walked from each VIP section checking on their special guests.

  “Perfect. Dawn has it under control.”

  “Great. Also, check on the party on the rooftop. Josh was having an issue with the ice machine up there, and we may need some back up ice from the machine in the kitchen.”

  “No problem, Ms. Bennett. Anything else?”

  “Yes, make sure to comp out a bottle of Ace of Spades for Briana when she arrives.” Harper paused as she opened her Twitter app on her cell phone to check Briana’s account. “Make it five for her and her entourage. She always draws a crowd when she tweets where she is, and about five hundred people have shared it in under five minutes and are stating they’re coming.”

  “That’s great considering her assistant called an hour ago. I’m going to retweet from the club account and let the security team know.”

  Harper nodded absentmindedly. While she’d heard the answer, she was numb all over. Everything in front of her was a blur. The loud music seemed to be off in a muted distance as her racing, pounding pulse drowned out Briana’s latest number one hit. Since she’d dropped Hunter off, her heart had cracked with each passing second and she had to continue to hold her head high so the tears that needed to spill wouldn’t. She couldn’t fathom why she hadn’t begged him to stay. Why did I let the only man I’ve ever been in love with go?

  After Shannon excused herself, Harper trekked over to her favorite spot to watch the crowded dance floor below. Everything was fuzzy and the flashing rainbow lights didn’t help matters much either. Spotting a bald head weaving in and out of the dancers, floated her thoughts back to chastising herself over Hunter even more. Drawing her cell phone from the pocket in her flared black skirt, she re-read his text from earlier that she never had a chance to answer.

  Made it through TSA. Can’t wait to come home to you, beautiful one.

  She was truly going to miss him calling
her that, but in her heart she knew asking him to sacrifice his career and his love for being hands on with Doctors Unlimited would’ve been selfish on her part. She was positive that at the end of his assignment in Ghana, he would realize working a nine-to-five wasn’t him and he’d go to another country followed by another. That was his life, and she was a detour in the way.

  Focusing her stare once more on the scene below, she spotted the bald head again and this time a wave of hysteria and disbelief prickled along her skin. Her next breath wedged deep in her throat as her gaze met his and a cocky grin inched up his face. Shutting her eyes tight, she knew when she opened them he wouldn’t be there because it was a mirage. She’d had a shot of whiskey in her office to calm her nerves before heading out to the floor and now it made her imagine Hunter in the club. But he wasn’t there. He was flying the friendly skies to Ghana and there was a possibility she’d never see him again.

  Taking a deep breath, Harper reopened her eyes and stepped back with a shocked gasp as the hallucination stood directly in front of her.

  “Hello, beautiful one.”

  Her hand flew to her chest to still her rapidly beating heart that had stopped upon dropping him off. “Wa-wait. What are you doing here? You missed your plane?” So many other questions ran rampant through her mind but she couldn’t jar them out.

  “I didn’t miss my plane. I’m not going to Ghana.”

  “Change of plans?” she whispered, as tremors soared through her body. She reached out to touch his face to make sure he was real. The warmth of his skin under her palm reassured her that he indeed was there.

  Taking her hand in his, he slid it to his mouth and kissed it before placing it over his heart. “Yes.”

  “But … what about the project?”

  “It’s being handled. I have a new project.”

  Her lips quivered as excitement and nervousness crept through her body. She didn’t want to get her hopes up but then again she loved him. “Oh, and where’s that?” Please say me!