Behaving Badly in Vegas (Vegas Love #3)

43. Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Charli

Hunter poured us each a glass of wine. “Tonight, we’re celebrating!”

“What exactly are we celebrating?”

He handed a glass to me. “I found out where the money is going. We’re waiting on Tom to confirm it.”

“You got my brother involved?” I don’t know why this surprised me, but it did.

“You said he was the best and I need the best. Plus, Trent trusts him a thousand percent.”

I smiled. “Look at you, making amends with your brother.”

Hunter lifted his shoulder. “He’s still an arrogant asshole, but he’s alright.”

It made me happy to see him so happy. After everything he’d gone through in the past few months, he deserved this.

Hunter set his glass on the kitchen island. “I’m taking us out to dinner. Go put on something fancy, and I’ll get Carina ready. ”

I didn’t have many fancy clothes, but I did have one little black dress I wore to my cousin’s wedding that would be perfect. Once I touched up my makeup, put some curls in my hair, and zipped myself into the dress, I looked in the mirror. The woman staring back at me looked happy. Her cheeks were rosy, and her smile was vibrant.

I was in love with my boss, and I couldn’t deny it a moment longer. Gia and Penny were right; Hunter and I could totally make this work when I went back to Oasis. I was willing to try, and I hoped he was too.

Timing was everything though.

I wanted him to make the decision.

I wanted him to ask me to stay.

I wanted him to say the words.

Hunter and Carina were waiting for me in the kitchen. “Wow! Doesn’t Charli look beautiful, baby girl? How did we get so lucky, huh?” he asked as he bounced her on his hip.

I tickled Carina’s belly. “I’m starting to wonder that myself.”

“I called ahead and reserved us a table at Imperial Steakhouse. I hope you’re hungry.”

“I’m starving.”

Twenty minutes later, we were seated in the fanciest restaurant I’d ever been to. Waiters wearing black tie carried sizzling plates steaming hot from the kitchen that smelled so good my stomach growled.

Hunter handed me a menu. “Their steaks are delicious, but so is the seafood. You really can’t go wrong, no matter what you choose.”

I opened the menu and scanned my choices. Everything looked good, but there was one minor problem. “Ummm… there aren’t any prices,” I whispered.

He lifted his eyebrow. “You’re not paying the bill, so you don’t need to worry about that.”

“But…”

“But nothing. Get whatever you like. If I want to spoil you tonight, I will. Get used to it.”

I gave him a tight smile and tried to choose something I thought would be reasonably priced, although no prices usually meant everything was expensive as hell. I’d never been spoiled before, and it wasn’t something I thought I’d ever get used to. In my world, if you wanted something, you worked for it. Nothing was ever given for free.

It didn’t take long for our food to arrive—steak and lobster for Hunter, a filet for me, and a bowl of mashed potatoes for Carina. I loaded buttery potatoes on a spoon and popped them into Carina’s waiting mouth. She smacked her lips and clapped her hands. I thought it might disturb the other guests, but I was wrong.

The woman at the next table smiled at us. “What a cute baby. She’s totally adorable.”

“Thank you,” Hunter said, puffing out his chest.

“We’re due in three months. With twins,” her husband announced, taking his wife’s hand over the table.

“Congratulations!” Her husband was so proud, taking credit for his big accomplishment as if he’d won a gold medal for a triathlon.

“I’m sorry about that,” his wife said, rolling her eyes. “He’s been telling everyone we meet. It’s getting embarrassing.” Then she looked at Hunter. “You have a lovely family.”

“That I do.” Hunter smiled at me across the table. “I’m a very lucky man.”

Heat crept up my neck and into my cheeks. It was only natural that people would think I was Carina’s mother, but Hunter’s words made my heart swell with hope.

I cut a piece of steak and chewed it slowly as I thought about how to approach the topic that’d been running through my mind nonstop. “I wanted to thank you again for getting the equipment for me to train in the gym. It’s been really helpful.”

Hunter took a sip of his wine. “I’m glad. That was the whole point.”

I said the next part quickly, afraid of what it was going to mean for our relationship. “My routines are getting better every day. I think I’ll be ready to go back to Oasis soon.”

He froze. “Are you putting in your two weeks? ”

Two weeks? I hadn’t really considered how this would work. Of course, Hunter would want a two-week notice. This was a job. “Not exactly. I haven’t even talked to the producer.”

Hunter let out a breath of relief. “Good. I’m not ready yet.”

I grabbed his hand. “I am going back to work though and I’m wondering what that means for us.”

His lips twisted to the side. “Do you want to leave?”

I shook my head. “No. Do you want me to leave when I go back?”

He looked at his daughter. “I want what’s best for her and you’re what’s best. For both of us.”

It wasn’t exactly the answer I was looking for. I wanted him to tell me he loved me. I wanted him to tell me to stay. I wanted him to say he wanted a future with me. Not because he needed someone to take care of Carina but because of me. “Are we in a relationship? I know you don’t like labels, but I need one. I need to know…”

Hunter reached across the table and put his finger over my lips. “You’re my girlfriend, Charli. I’ve never felt for anyone what I feel for you. I want you to stay, but I also want you to live your dreams. I don’t want to hold you back. I’m not sure of all the logistics, but I want to try to make this work.”

Finally, he’d said the words I’d waited so long to hear. My eyes welled with tears. “I want to try too. I’ll still be able to help take care of Carina, but I wouldn’t want you to pay me. You’d have to find someone else to fill in, like maybe Rose, when I have to go to work. I don’t want to be your employee anymore. I want to truly be your girlfriend.”

“You already are.”

Carina was fast asleep in Hunter’s arms as the elevator made its way up to the apartment. Seeing him cuddle her made my ovaries kick into overdrive. I didn’t want a baby anytime soon, but I did want one or two or possibly three.

“I’ll put her to bed while you change,” he said, as we stepped in the door. Hunter had been doing the night routine more often and it was good for both of them. When he first hired me, he was more of a provider than a caregiver, relying on me to carry most of the load. With me going back to work soon, I was glad to see him stepping up his game.

“Alright. Don’t forget her stuffed rabbit. It’s her favorite.”

He kissed me on the head. “I won’t forget.”

I went off to my room to put on some comfy clothes. Although Hunter and I had been sleeping together for some time now, I still kept a separate bedroom with all my things. Hopefully, that would change soon, and I’d move my clothes into his room like a real couple.

Once I’d changed into a T-shirt and shorts, I went back to the kitchen and poured us each a glass of wine to finish off the bottle we started before dinner.

It didn’t take long for Hunter to join me. “She didn’t even wake up.”

“Did you remember to change her diaper?” Although Hunter was taking on more responsibility, I still felt the need to check.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a smirk. “Changed her diaper, put on her jammies, and made sure she had her rabbit.”

I handed him the glass of wine. “You’ve come so far,” I teased.

“Thanks to you. I don’t know how I would have ever done this without you.”

“It’s my job.”

“True, but you’ve gone above and beyond for both of us. I want you to know how much I appreciate it.”

“How about you show me how much?” I waggled my eyebrows at him.

He backed me up against the kitchen counter and pressed his lips against mine. His tongue ran along the seam, and I gladly opened to him, tasting the sweet wine on his tongue. The man knew how to kiss, and it sent tingles right down to the tips of my toes. His large hands skated up the side of my body and squeezed my breast. If we didn’t make it to the bedroom soon, I was going to explode.

And then a sharp knock came at the door. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he growled into my neck.

“Maybe they’ll go away.”

He continued kissing me while groping my breast in one hand and my ass in the other.

The knock came again, this time more insistent. He groaned and rested his head on top of mine. “I better get that.”

I followed Hunter to the door and got the shock of my life when he opened it. “What are you doing here?”

Hunter stared at the woman on the other side of the door and then turned to me. “Do you know her?”

Not only did I know her, but she was the last person I would have expected to show up on our doorstep. Gone were the expensive leggings and sports bra. Instead, she was dressed in tight jeans, sky-high heels, and an off-the-shoulder top. Her hair and makeup were impeccable.

“I met her at the park,” I said, wondering how the hell she found out where we lived, and more importantly, what she wanted.

“Long time, no see. I’m Carina’s mother.”