Page 158 of Pumpkin Spice Promises

“I knew you would eventually admit it.” Clover kept scrolling through pictures while Hunter took our plates to the sink. He moved with the same familiar efficiency I’d noticed at the bakery. A few minutes later, he returned and lowered himself into the chair beside her.

Then he reached down and adjusted something near his right knee.

The movement was subtle, but my attention caught anyway.

He frowned and mumbled something I couldn’t hear. Clover looked over immediately.

“Socket?”

“Yeah.”

“You want the other liner?” She started to stand. “It’s in the bedroom.”

Hunter touched her wrist. “I’ve got it.”

Clover sat back down as Hunter rose and walked toward the hallway. I watched him go. Not because of the prosthetic. Because of what didn’t happen. Clover didn’t hover. Didn’t ask whether he needed help. Didn’t tell him to sit. Didn’t look worried.

My chest tightened at witnessing something so personal. I looked down at the wine.

Clover noticed, concern filling her eyes. “You okay?”

“Can I ask you something?”

Her expression changed. “Yeah, of course.”

I glanced toward the hallway. “Does Beau ever act weird around Hunter?”

Clover frowned. “Weird how?”

I immediately regretted asking. “I don’t know.” I tried to find words that didn’t expose too much…

Clover found them for me.

“Because of his prosthetics?” Her brows pulled together.

I nodded. Clover looked genuinely confused.

“No, of course not, he’s not that type of person.”

The answer came so quickly I almost thought she hadn’t considered it.

“Never?”

“Why would he?”

I looked down. That question hurt more than reassurance would have.

Why would he?

Because people did.

Because men had.

Because bodies changed how people behaved even when they swore they wouldn’t.

Clover leaned closer.

“Carson?”