Free Lover's Muse (The Art Models Club) by Amanda Meadows Page A

Hunter needed to have real friends who supported him.”
    Amber swallowed hard at that. Hunter had said that he thought that she was a real friend. She had no idea just how much that meant to him. She realized with a pang that she had judged him just as much as some people had judged her in the past. While he had kindly ignored her past, she had shoved his face in his.
    Caleb took a drink and then played with the can. “His mom helped me see that even with all his money, Hunter has gaps in his life. He has always had to wonder if people he meets see him as anything but dollar signs.”
    “I've royally screwed up,” Amber moaned. “He must think I'm a total bitch.”
    “Hey, don't let him totally off the hook,” Caleb warned. “You have a right to be mad at him. I just don't want you to leave.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I think he really likes you. Even with all his ranting and raving, this is the first time in such a long time that I've seen him genuinely excited about a girl. He laughed suddenly. “Hell, I nearly had a heart attack when I saw him carrying you in here for the first time.”
    Suddenly Amber heard footsteps coming up the steps and Caleb bolted from the table. “I was never here!” he whispered dramatically and disappeared into his room.
    Amber tossed his empty soda can in the recycling bin and grabbed her backpack. She was lifting out her sketchbook when Hunter entered, breathing heavily and dripping sweat.
    “I'm sorry I lost my temper like that,” he said softly, standing still by the door.
    “Me too,” Amber said. “Maybe we should talk after you get a shower.” She smiled. “I can smell you from over here.”
    “What? You don't like a hot, steamy man?” he asked, smiling cautiously in return as he removed his sneakers and padded into his room in his sock feet.
    Amber placed her sketchbook on the table. With all the commotion, she needed to calm her nerves. She remembered that she was way behind with her homework sketches. Grabbing a charcoal pencil she started sketching her hand, remembering that was just one of the assigned sketches.
    A few minutes later she heard the water going through the pipes as Hunter took his shower.
    Caleb must have heard the pipes as well because he peeked out of his room. “Everything okay?”
    “I think so,” Amber said. “We're going to talk when he finishes showering.
    “Well, I'm getting hungry so I'm ordering dinner now.” He grinned. “Just in case you two start another war, I'll at least have food rations while I'm hiding out in my room.”
    Amber laughed. “I'm not planning on anymore yelling today. I think you'll survive.”
    “Safety first,” Caleb said with a chuckle, picking up his cell phone to place the order. He handed her the takeout menu. “Let me know what you want. Hunter gets the same dish every time.”
    When Hunter came out, freshly showered and dressed in simple jeans and tee shirt, Amber didn't know how to act. She sniffed the air theatrically. “Ah, now that's an improvement!”
    Hunter came over and put his head on her shoulder. “I was so scared that you would be gone when I got back,” he said, his voice trembling.
    Amber gently lifted his head. Those beautiful green eyes were teary. “Close your eyes,” she whispered. When he did, she gently kissed each eyelid. “I'm sorry I reacted like a lunatic.”
    Hunter smiled. “You might be a lunatic, but your my gorgeous lunatic,” he said.
    Suddenly, Hunter's cell phone beeped.
    “What now?” Amber asked, exasperated as Hunter quickly turned off the alarm.
    Hunter laughed. “Just a reminder to order dinner.”
    Amber smiled. “Caleb ordered a little while ago while you were showering. He said you always eat the same thing.”
    “One day I might surprise him,” Hunter said, nuzzling her shoulder.
    “Doubtful,” Caleb said, causing both Amber and Hunter to jump. “Also, per your rules, Hunter, there shall be no making out in common areas of the