His lips capture mine, and I sink into them. They are so soft and sensual but, at the same time, firm and in control. A hand fists my hair, and he deepens the kiss. I allow him that dominance over my mouth, crave it even...

"What in the world?"

Is that my mama's voice in the background? Now really?

"Kinsey!"

Seriously!?

The last thing I want to do is pull away from this...

"Kinsey, wake up!"

"What?" I croak as I open my eyes and see my Mama hovering over me with a worried look.

"Why are you asleep on the porch couch?" she asks. "You must be cold. Get up and come inside!'

"I'm not cold..." I say lamely as I stumble up. I shake my head in confusion as the fogginess of sleep and the memory of the very real kiss that did happen last night weigh heavily on my brain. I follow her into the kitchen, where I smell coffee brewing.

"If you're cold, put on Dad's flannel. It'll warm you right up," she says as she hands it to me.

"I'm not," I mumble as I take it from her visions of Hunter and me under the moonlight still swimming in my head as we step inside.

"Why are you cold?" Dad asks as he walks into the kitchen.

"I'm not cold," I say again, but I slip it on, which instantly warms me up. I look outside and see it's drizzling with rain. Maybe I was cold.

Are Hunter and Harley warm enough in that trailer? I envision them snuggled up in Hunter's bed, Harley being all giggly while Hunter basks in his little boy's enjoyment. I bet they're watching cartoons or something.

I sigh softly. I can't help but imagine myself in there with them like... a little family.

"Earth to Kinsey Girl, you there?" Dad asks with a chuckle.

"Uh yeah."

I look up gratefully as Mama comes over with a pot of coffee. I grab a mug from the coffee tray in the center of the table and hold it out as she fills it.

"She was sleeping on the back porch," Mama tells Dad as she pours his mug next.

"Mama don't tell him that," I groan.

"Why in the world were you sleeping out there?" Dad asks.

"Were you drinking?" Mama asks.

"No, I only had a glass of wine," I argue." I think... Actually, no, I don't think I did."

"You don't remember if you had a glass of wine?" Mama asks with a tilt of the head. "Are you sure you're okay, Honey?"

"Must've been a big glass," Dad comments.

"It was a long pour," I comment with a secret flicker in my eyes that Mama sees as she shoots me a curious glance.

"So, you did have a glass of wine?" Mama asks as she heads back into the kitchen.

"Let's say... I was going to have a glass of wine with Hunter but didn't."

"Well why didn't ya?" Dad asks.

"We got sidetracked." I say with a small smirk playing at my lips.

Mama looks up from at the stove where she's checking on something she has simmering. She shoots me a questioning look as she puckers her lips.

I roll my eyes but shake my head, yes.

"Finally!" she cries out.

"What?" Dad asks obliviously not having seen her face.

"How'd you end up on the porch though?" Mama ignores him and looks at me.

"I was a little warm from the glass of wine I didn't have," I say, shooting Mama a look that widens her smirk. "So, I was sitting out on the porch to cool off. I got to thinking, and I must've fallen asleep."

"Thinking about the wine you didn't drink?" Mama comes back over and sits as I nod with a secret glimmer in my eyes.

"Exactly."

"I see," Mama says as she sips her coffee. "And just how many glasses did you pour?"

"Hopefully, only one if she didn't even drink it," Dad mumbles as he sips his coffee.

"Just one, Mama." I shoot her a look. "One unexpected glass."

"What is Oliver going to think about this?" She asks, and I nearly spit my coffee out.

"I'm not going to run it by him!"

"Why would she, Betsy?" Dad agrees with a chuckle, then looks at me. "Unless...Did little Olly buy the wine?"

"Don't call him that, Dad," I groan. "It's Oliver."

"Sorry," Dad says sheepishly. "I was just asking 'cause if Olly did buy the wine, it was probably pretty spendy, but still, it's just wine."

"Franky, stop," Mama stifles a laugh, then turns her attention back to me. "It was a fair question considering."

"No, Mama, it's not. I am a single woman. I'm allowed to... not to finish a glass of wine without needing to run it by my ex."

"When you put it that way," she says with a miffed look.

"Well, it's true, am I supposed to call Julian and let him know as well?" I ask.

"Now you're just being a smart butt," she quips.

"I thought Olly bought the wine?" Dad asks. "If Julian bought it, let's dump it all down the drain."

"Julian didn't buy the wine, Dad," I groan as I rest my head in my hands.

"You know who wouldn't care if you didn't finish your wine?" Dad asks as he sets his coffee mug down firmly.

"Dad..." I shake my head as I hear Mama start to giggle.

"Hunter," My Dad declares. "He'd be as flabbergasted as me about this whole conversation!"

As if on cue, the kitchen door opens, and Harley comes bursting in with Hunter right behind him.

"Did I hear my name?" Hunter asks as he closes his umbrella and hangs it.

Harley is launching himself past Mama and towards.... Me? I'm shocked, but I beam as I fold the little guy into my arms.

"Good morning, Kinsey!"

"Good morning, Harley! Did you sleep well?"

"I did! I slept with my daddy!"

"Wow, that's lucky," I say and then feel Hunter's and my mama's eyes on me. Jesus.

I focus on the little guy instead who is cutely curled in my lap.

"You're all warm for such a cold morning!" I comment as I pepper his toasty little cheeks with kisses. "Were you all snuggled in bed with your daddy?"

"Yup!" he chirps with a big smile. "We were watching Rocky and Bullwinkle!"

"The best show ever!" Dad says, and Harley bobs his head as he grins.

"Sure is."

"Well, hello there, Harley!" Mama comes over, and he looks up and smiles happily at her.

"Nana!" he bounces off my lap to hug her next, and she scoops him up in her arms, swinging him around. Then, as soon as she sets him down, he races over to my dad. We all laugh as we watch Harley jump up on his lap.

"I heard you kept the farm running the whole time I was gone, Harley!" Dad declares.

"I did?" Harley looks confused, then he laughs and nods. "I did!"

"Nana, can I please have some apple butter and muffins," Harley asks as he climbs down from my dad's lap.

"No. We are about to meet your mom for breakfast," Hunter says. "Why don't you go check the living room and make sure you didn't forget anything here?"

"Okay" Harley grumbles as he stomps off.

"Question for ya, Hunter..." Dad starts to ask.

"Dad do not ask him about the wine, please," I stop him, and Mama starts to laugh.

"But I want to know!"

"Know what?" Hunter asks.

"Don't ask him, please..." I beg to no avail.

"If you'd be upset if Kinsey didn't drink wine, you bought her."

Oh lord, he asked him. Mama is now laughing so hard tears are rolling down her face, and I just glare at her, making her laugh harder.

"Why in the world would I get mad about that?" Hunter asks with a bewildered look.

"See," Dad shoots me a smug look, and damn it, now I'm laughing too.

"Dad ... this isn't... It was Mama's wine, okay?" I say between laughter.

"Oh," all the confusion lifts from his face. "Well, of course, your Mama'd be mad about you wasting wine. Why didn't you just say so?"

"Franky!" Mama scolds.

"Huh?" Hunter asks. "What is going on?"

"Never mind," I say as I stand up. "I'll walk you out, come on."

"But..."

"My dad is talking about a conversation he had with himself this morning. You won't make sense of it."

"Sounds about right," Hunter says as we head into the living room.

"Got everything!" Harley is holding up his bag as we walk in.

"Awesome," Hunter says.

"I sure am going to miss you, Harley," I kneel down and hold out my arms. He runs into them, and I smile as I embrace him.

"I'm going to miss you, Kinsey! Can I come over again and watch movies?"

"You sure can, and you can help me cook, too. How does that sound?"

"Tomorrow?" he asks excitably.

"Not tomorrow, but very soon," I say, kissing his cheek as I release him.

"Why don't you go meet me in the truck, Bud? I'll be right there, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy!" He says before ducking off.

Hunter helps me to my feet, pulling me impossibly close to him as he does, memories of last night flash through my head as our eyes lock, and then suddenly, tiny little questions start to circle me like sharks. What does this mean? Where is it going? What does he want from me now?

Our friendship... which, if I'm being honest, has come to mean more to me than anything I have in my life, hangs in the balance of all this. I know that he's assured me time and again that it doesn't, but... I've been promised that before, and I just–

"Darlin, stop," his voice washes over me like a wave, and suddenly I'm sober, his eyes rooting me in place. "I can hear your brain."

"I can't help it," I confess.

"I know," he runs a rough palm softly over my cheek. "You were clear as can be about not knowing where you stand, and that's just fine. I have no expectations right now. It's a lot to figure out, and you're my best damn friend first, so I'm here for you no matter what."

"You say that–"

"And I mean it," he cuts me off. "I been here all this time, right? I never didn't love you, and I never went away. I'm never going to go away, little Darlin."

That renders me speechless as my mouth opens and then shuts.

"But Kinz, I'm not the guy that's gonna love you from a distance anymore. I can't keep letting you slip through my fingers, not when I see what we could be and what we could build together. It would be something real special and I think you see that too."

"I can't deny that I do," I whisper. "It's just-"

"I know." His thumb is now tracing my bottom lip, and I find my body yearning for more, my lips burning for his as I lean closer. "I'll be here," the intensity in his voice is sharp in contrast to the softness in his gaze. "While you work this out, but I will be fighting for this, you and me, the whole time."

"Good," I blurt out. "I want you to...fight, I mean."

His other arm is secured to the small of my back. When did he do that? He pulls me closer as the pools of blue in his gaze wash over my lips.

I intentionally brush my upper lip over the top of his thumb with a suggestive flicker in my eyes, and soft moan escapes his lips as our faces draw closer. His lips find mine with a soft but needy urgency that I instantly respond to. I wind my arms around his neck, playing with the hairs on the napes of his neck as I melt into the kiss.

Last night everything happened so fast it left us both breathless and dizzy, afterwards we stood there in a stupor, until he walked me wordlessly to my house, where I found the porch couch and sank it into it.

Drunk off a single kiss.

This time, we take it slower and savor each other as our lips dance together for the second time.  When he deepens the kiss, I part my lips for him allowing that magical tongue of his deeper access as he takes control in a way that makes me forgot my own name.

A loud clanking noise from the kitchen sobers us both up, and we part, quickly. I glance towards the archway and am relieved to see neither of my parents have left the kitchen.

"Shit woman," he mutters as he runs a hand through his inky locks. "The things you do to me."

"Me? I'm not the one spouting off panty-dropping words while looking like a walking daydream and... " I grimace as a big cocky grin settles over Hunter's face. "I just said that out loud."

"Sure did," Hunter says. "I'd love to stay and uh say more, but I better go before Harley starts the truck without me."

The image that makes me giggle alleviates a little of the tension in the room.

"Don't laugh. It could happen," he chuckles and then leans in, pressing his lips against my forehead in a soft and sweet kiss, letting them linger for a moment before he pulls back.

"After I drop Harley off, I was going to head over to the duplexes and get started on the demo. You want to come?" Hunter asks as we walk to the door.

"Sure," I agree.

"Great, I'll be back in an hour," he turns, and our eyes meet again, and a slow smile spreads over his face.

"Go," I giggle, pushing at his chest.

I'm still grinning as I duck back into the house.

***

It's still cold and drizzling when Hunter picks me back up; a great day to be inside tearing shit up. I changed into my old overalls with a long-sleeved shirt under it and a flannel over it.

As I race over to Hunter's truck, he's grinning when I get inside. We're driving to the duplexes to get a head start on things. We won't get much done, just the two of us, but any little bit helps.

"Look at you in your bibs," he says. "Cute as a button."

"Stop," I brush it off with a grin.

"So, how was breakfast?" I ask.

It's nice he and Amber still do that and show Harley they can get along. I can't imagine myself sitting down to breakfast with Julian, it would be torture.

"It was great. Harley could not stop talking about the chicken you and he made, and the muffins, with apple butter, which is now his favorite. He was going and on and on about his Kinsey," Hunter informs me, and a proud grin settles on my face.

Awe!! His Kinsey!!

"So, I won him over?" I am so pleased. Kids are honest. If they don't like you, they let you know.

"Of course, you did!" Hunter says. "He's always adored you, Kinz."

"Really?" I gush, holding a hand over my heart.

"Like father like son," Hunter says with a wink.

"You are such a flirt," I giggle.

"You love it," he counters.

The easy grin on his face fades as we pull into the driveway of Hunter's old duplex, right alongside an S&S Van that's shutting off the engine just as Hunter parks.

"James, maybe," I guess as I climb out, and Hunter does the same. "Or..."

"You got to be kidding me," Hunter mutters as the door slams and Oliver steps out.

"Oliver."

Oliver is dressed down in a pair of faded jeans, even those he wears well; they seem to fit him like a glove, and the brown work boots they are tucked into give him a slight rugged look that's unexpected and really hot. With them he's wearing a simple white tee shirt, that shows off his tanned arms, and a tool belt is slung around his waist.

"What are you two doing here?" Oliver asks as he glances from me to Hunter and then back to me.

"If I'm going to help you do this. I wanted to get a head start," Hunter says.

"I'm going to pay you. It's not like its charity," Oliver snaps back.

"What are you doing here? I thought you said you don't do any of the construction stuff?" I question with a tilt of my head.

"Anyone can do demolition," Oliver says with a shrug.

"True," Hunter says.

"It doesn't matter if you break stuff when you're breaking everything," Oliver adds.

"Good point," Hunter agrees with a chuckle.

I grin smugly at the short, but friendly exchange to which Hunter gives me a look.

"Why did you bring Kinsey?" Oliver asks as he glances doubtfully at me.

"She wants to help," Hunter says. "Don't worry about it. I got her."

"Excuse me," I huff as I shoot Hunter a look. "I am right here, and you," I point at Oliver next, "literally just said anyone can do demo."

"I meant those of us that can walk without tripping over our own feet." Oliver teases. "You're going to get hurt." He then looks at Hunter. "She will."

"I'm not that big of a klutz," I argue.

"Yes, you are, Lo- Kinsey," Oliver trips over his words and goes pale as my mouth goes dry.

The air stills as we all stand there for what feels like an hour, but I'm guessing is just a few seconds.

"Kinz will be fine," Hunter breaks the silence. "I'll keep an eye out."

"I hope so," Oliver mutters. "It's a total wreck in there."

"I'll be right there if anything happens," Hunter replies.

"You really think high of yourself, don't you?" Oliver asks with a head shake.

"Can we just get on with this already?" Hunter asks with an annoyed sigh.

"Be my guest," Oliver gestures to the door, and Hunter gives him a look as he walks past him.

This ought to be a fun day, I think to myself, as I follow them inside.