A Masterpiece Of Our Love (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 1) (25 page)

"I'll do my best."

Hunter left the room. A few minutes later, she heard the shower water running. Becca turned off the light and held Sienna, walking around the room with a slight bounce. She sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star a few times. Sienna's breathing deepened and after ten minutes, Becca took a chance and laid her down on the bed.

She didn't stir. Becca tiptoed quietly out of the room after covering her up with a blanket. She closed the door behind her and heaved a sigh of relief, then hurried to the end of the hall to check on Hunter. When she entered the bedroom, he'd already finished showering and had put on a pair of boxers and a white tee shirt. "She's out again. All safe and sound," Becca said softly.

Hunter closed the distance between them, gathering her in his arms. "Thank you," he whispered, burying his face in her hair. "I need a little fresh air. I have a monitor to listen out for Sienna. We can take it and sit on the balcony, if you want to join me. I feel like I'm suffocating."

"I'd love to." Becca kissed his cheek. His skin was still so pale. If only she knew what to do for him.

He reached for the white monitor and pulled open the sliding door. They stepped out onto the balcony. What a view. She couldn't get over how calm and peaceful it was here. Hunter gestured at a glider nearby. They sat down together and Hunter pulled her close. "They're getting worse. The flashbacks, I mean. Vivid, more often ... I don't know what to do. I get these surges of fear even during the day, like I'm somewhere else. Kind of like the day I freaked out when we were parasailing. I'm too tense. I can't concentrate. Sleep, well, forget it. I get less and less of it."

"The flashbacks are always about the crash?"

"Yeah. I haven't had them in years. Now all of a sudden it's all coming back. From before, when I was on the plane, I relive the last moments I had with my parents alive, and then all of the days we spent alone, to the first few days when we were found. Tonight's was so emotionally intense. I kept begging you not to forget me, even though I didn't think you could hear me. I'd asked the doctor ... well actually I think she was a social worker, I just never realized it then. I begged her to find a way to keep us together. Then when they put you in that induced coma and told me about your brain injuries, I freaked. I thought there was something I could have done to save you, to keep that from happening."

"That's a terrible burden for a twelve year old to carry. I had no idea you felt like that." Becca stroked his cheek lovingly. He'd taken on the world, always wanting to protect her. They were all they had back then, and that never changed. "Maybe everything is finally catching up to you."

"I don't like it. I don't like not being in control of my thoughts. It's freaky as hell." Hunter exhaled deeply. "Not when I'm ready to move forward in my life and be with you. I'm not myself, Bec."

"I noticed that right away when you found me on the island. I knew something had changed with you. I just didn't know how intense it was or why."

Hunter tightened his hold on her. His soft lips were on her neck. "Despite all of this, I feel more whole with you here, like a family that's complete. I know this is all coming fast, but you're meant to be here, Bec. I feel it in my heart and you know I don't just say these things to say them."

Her breath hitched as she let his words soak in. He always had a way of catching her off-guard.

He laughed. "I've made you speechless. I can't see it, but I bet you're blushing too."

She swatted at him, the heat rushing to her face. "Will you stop it?" She couldn't help but laugh.

"Probably not," he teased, leaning over to kiss her lips. "I could stay out here all night and hold you in my arms like this. Right now, I don't have to share you with anyone and I'm going to be selfish and enjoy every little moment." His voice lowered. "You showed me your keepsake display. I should show you what I have saved, too."

She laughed. Once again, he changed the subject with little warning. She loved that about him. One of the many things she loved about Hunter.

"What? I'm sentimental." He feigned hurt.

"That's not why I laughed, silly. Your quick subject change was funny."

"You should be used to that by now. I can't help it when my mind decides to take a different path." His lips were close to her ear now. "And lately, when I'm around you, I can't think straight. I get lost in the newness of us. This is what I've been missing. Damn, why did it take so long to realize that it was you who completed me all along?"

"Hunter," Becca whispered, feeling a little breathless.

"Seriously, Bec. You've been the one all along. My heart is yours. It's always been. I don't have any doubt about that. All I ever wanted to do was keep you close and protect you. Everyone around here seemed to know it long before I did."

*****

He'd turned into a blubbering fool, but Hunter wanted Becca to know exactly how he felt. This did feel a little like a whirlwind ride, but he'd known her so long. It felt right. Perfect.

Showing this kind of emotion had never come easy to him. He'd bounced around from place to place after the crash. He never had time to get attached, so he stopped. He stopped looking for love. He'd learned to go with the flow.

"All the signs were there," Hunter said quietly. He repositioned himself to look at her. He gently cupped Becca's face, kissing along her jaw. "I'm that oblivious. I did love Eva, but I think even she knew that my heart wasn't fully hers. I guess subconsciously I ruled out the idea that there could ever be an us. We were brought together by a terrible accident that scarred us physically and emotionally. Look at the reactions we're getting already. But I used to look forward to our weekly calls when you were able to talk again. I loved your letters and your pictures. I swear I still have every last one. Even with my constant moving around, I kept everything safe because I needed that with me always. My life was a neverending change, but the one constant I had was you. Every thought went to you. Every milestone, I wished you were with me. Even with my wedding. Sienna's birth. It just never occurred to me why. If that makes me a terrible man, I don't know what to do about that." He paused to kiss her again. "I know, I'm babbling," he said, feeling a little nervous all of a sudden.

"No you're not. I love hearing this. I love when you open up to me." Becca reached for his hand.

"You're the only one I've ever been able to open up to like this. See, there you go. Another sign. And damn it, I don't believe in signs like this, but they all point to you. I wish I'd opened up a lot more to you in the past, but I never wanted to bombard you with my crazy life. That's why I always focused on you." He sank to his knees before her. "I want to give you everything. I want you to know me, all of me. So know that I'll try. It's weird to bare my deepest thoughts to anyone, but I'm ready to with you."

"You're going to make me cry!" Becca hugged him.

Hunter stroked her hair, holding her close. "I know you don't like attention drawn to you, so that's why I never mentioned this before, but I think you should know now."

She pulled back, her eyes wide.

"It's nothing bad, I promise. I just don't know how you'll react." His heartbeat sped up. He was ready to tell her.

"What is it?"

"Well, when that settlement came in, I didn't know what to do with that kind of money. I never wanted anything like that, and I could have just turned it away, but I decided to go ahead and make the best out of it. You already know I admire you and all you've overcome, so I wanted to do something in your honor. So I created a research fund in your name. And I've donated to it, helped with the cause. I'm pretty involved with it. In fact, we have an annual fundraiser coming up that I'm supposed to speak at and would love to introduce the inspiration behind the Rebecca Lange Fund."

She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "Hunter..."

He put a finger to her lips. "I've been involved with helping to fund brain trauma research. It's scary, but it's fascinating and I wanted to be a part of it."

"Now you've done it. Now I-" Tears fell from her eyes.

"Oh angel. Don't cry." He held her as she let out all of her emotions on his shoulder.

"I'm stunned right now." She sobbed. "Never in a million years did I think it was something like this."

"You're not upset, are you?"

She laughed through her tears. "Upset? No! I mean, you're right. I don't like attention drawn to me, but this ... this is amazing. I had no idea! I love it."

"Here's a bit of honesty. Part of me did it out of guilt." He'd never admitted this to anyone. Carrying a twenty year guilt ate at him though.

"Guilt?" Becca frowned. "What in the world did you have to feel guilty about?"

"Your injuries were so complex. I know it sounds silly now, but back then, I thought I could have done more. I'd promised that I would keep you safe. When you shut down, I thought it was my fault."

"You carried that pain with you this entire time?"

Hunter nodded, climbing to his feet. He held out his hands to help Becca up. "For the longest time. Obviously now that I'm older and I've learned more about brain trauma, I know I did the best I could. It's like survivor's guilt. You survived, but you went through more trauma than I did. I hated that I couldn't be there with you after you finally woke up. The first time you reacted to my voice, the doctors were stunned. I grew up fast during those few weeks. You and I experienced more heartache in our lives in those few weeks than some do in years or even a lifetime. I promised myself I'd live life to it's fullest. While I learned to deal with my fear of planes, I never gave my heart fully to anyone. Even though Sienna isn't biologically yours, you complete this family. I have everything I need and want, right here and right now." He tipped her back and kissed her. "Just so you know, I want to marry you one day. I'm still going to take this slow, but I want to spend my life with you by my side. No matter what, I'll find a way to make us work. Whatever it takes. I told you all those years ago I'd always find a way to get to you, and I stand by that. You are the center of my life, Becca. You and Sienna. I don't regret the things in my past because it led us here." Hunter wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling Becca close. "I love you."

"I love you too. Thank you for sharing more in-depth parts of you tonight. I feel like we're bonding even more, if that's possible. After twenty years, you still surprise me." Becca leaned into him.

"I hope for many more surprising things to come our way. Good ones, that is. I think we could do without the bad, even though I know they will happen. I want-" He stopped, startled as the sounds of Sienna's cries drifted through the monitor's speaker. He let go of Becca and frowned. "Well, poor kiddo is up again. Sorry, Bec-"

"Shh." Becca kissed his lips. "Let's go check on Sienna and make sure she's doing all right. Thank you again for a beautiful night." Taking his hand, she was the first to head inside.

Hunter was stunned. No matter what curve balls were thrown at them, Becca took it with ease and jumped right in. He had no intentions on letting her slip away from him ever again. Four years away from her gave him the realization that she was what he needed the entire time.

Becca woke up the next morning in a different place than where she'd fallen asleep. What on earth? She shot up in bed and surveyed her surroundings. Hadn't she fallen asleep with Hunter on the floor in Sienna's room? She was in the room she shared with Hunter. Their room. It still felt weird saying that, even though he insisted that this was their room.

She found a note taped to the headboard right above her pillow. Curious, she carefully pried it from the spot and read it.

Angel,

You're such a deep sleeper that I was able to pick you up and carry you to our bed. Sienna and I have taken off for a quick errand. I hope you slept well. Thank you for everything. I love you.

Always yours,

Hunter

With a smile, she folded the note and stuck it on the nightstand. She wondered what the two of them were up to.

She dressed quickly, eager to work more on the painting before Hunter returned. Just as she was about to pull open the door, someone knocked on it. Could Hunter be home already? Heart skipping a beat, Becca pulled it open and stopped short when she saw Shara at the other side.

"Morning," Shara said quietly.

"Hunter isn't here," Becca informed her.

"I know. I called him a little while ago and he told me. I actually came to talk to you."

"Me? What for?" She probably wanted to give her an earful about why she and Hunter wouldn't work. After Shara's reaction yesterday, Becca knew the woman didn't like the idea of her being here.

"I want to apologize." Shara shuffled her feet, staring down. "I was rude to you yesterday, and that's the wrong way to start off."

"I-" Wow. She hadn't expected that.

Shara sighed. "Want to head downstairs and have a cup of coffee with me? I promise, I won't act like a bitch again." Her eyes were warm and friendly, a far change from yesterday.

"Sure. I'd like that." Becca smiled. The tension eased just slightly. It didn't hurt. Shara was a friend of Hunter's and even though she wanted more from him, Becca wasn't about to hold that against her. It would be nice to clear the air.

Downstairs, Shara moved around the kitchen, pouring the hot, black liquid into two mugs. "Don't know how you take it, so help yourself." She handed a white mug to Becca.

"Thanks." Becca found a creamer she liked in the fridge and poured some in, watching the color change from a brown to light caramel.

"I won't lie. I've wanted a more than friendly relationship with Hunter for a long time. I'm one of the many people that knew his heart was with you, though. It's a little hard to accept, but I know when I need to move on. I should have realized it a long time ago, but I'm stubborn." Shara shrugged, slipping into a chair across from Becca. "I met Hunter when we were seventeen. We lived in the same foster home for a while. My sister and I were taken away from our father when I was fifteen." A dark shadow crossed her face. Shara took a sip of her coffee. "The fact that a young guy like Hunter knew exactly what he wanted to do in life intrigued me. I knew about his circumstances, but as I spent more time with him, I only respected him more. What teenager at seventeen did the kind of things Hunter did? He invested into a research fund that would go on to help others. We became friends, and then when he was old enough to finally be in control of everything, he hired me on as his assistant. I have been in awe at all he's accomplished."