Free Perfect Contradiction by Peggy Martinez Page A

she gets home,” Hunter said, surprising me. I searched his gaze for a moment and before I realized it, the Wrights were on their way to their vehicle, waving goodbye and telling me congrats for the last time as I was being pulled along by the hand toward Hunter’s truck.
    “Hunter…” I began.
    “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I won’t molest you between here and your house,” he promised with a small, tight smile and a Boy Scout salute.
    “It isn’t that,” I started to explain.
    “Oh, it isn’t?” he asked, a grin spreading across his face, promising mischief and a very, very good time. I swallowed and backed up until my back hit his truck door. One hand came up to the side of the truck near my head. The other came to rest on my waist. I was surrounded by him. His scent, the warmth of his body. I couldn’t think straight with him this close. I closed my eyes and turned my mouth away from his gaze, from the warmth of his breath as it whispered across my cheek.
    “Hunter, please,” I begged. Just a whisper.
    “Please yes or please no?” he murmured near my ear. He rubbed his lips along the edge of my earlobe and then down the side of my neck. A small kiss along my collarbone. Madness. I had to stop the madness.
    “Please… no,” I forced out. A breathless plea. Hunter immediately stopped. His finger caressed my jaw and then tucked a wayward strand of hair behind my ear.
    “Okay, sweetheart,” he answered softly before stepping away. My very wobbly legs barely supported me when Hunter opened the truck door for me and I had to climb in.
    We drove in silence most of the way to my house. The awkwardness in the small space was suffocating. I didn’t know what to say to make it better. Hey, let’s make out didn’t seem appropriate. How’s your gorgeous girlfriend? And you’re my baby’s daddy didn’t make the cut either. We pulled into the driveway, and Hunter came around to open my door for me.
    “The sign looks great,” he said, smiling as we passed it.
    I smiled back. “Thanks. I think it does too. Your dad and brothers did a great job,” I said as we walked up the steps to the porch.
    “Yes they did,” Hunter said, his voice serious.
    I unlocked the front door and waved for him to follow behind me. “C’mon in, Hunter. I’d like to send a few things with you. I have some mini loaves of pumpkin bread I’d like you to have. I know they’re your favorite,” I said as I walked through the swinging door and through the bakery on into the kitchen. Slipping off my pumps, I grabbed a large container out from under the counter. I was already putting two mini loaves in the container and about a dozen pieces of peanut butter fudge when Hunter finally strolled into the kitchen.
    I froze when Hunter stepped up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and burying his face into my hair. My heart began pounding. Surely, he’d notice….
    “Jen… I miss you,” he murmured against my neck.
    I breathed a little easier, but I was in the one place I couldn’t be. The place I wanted to be, but couldn’t allow. “I’ve missed you too, Hunter,” I confessed.
    Hunter groaned and swung me around to face him. I had nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide from him or from my feelings. He tipped my head back until I had no choice but to meet his eyes.
    “Tell me why, Jen,” he muttered as his lips touched my cheek. My eyes fluttered. “Tell me why this isn’t right.” He kissed my ear, just a tiny caress. My head dropped back. “Explain to me why you keep fighting what we have between us,” he said gruffly. His lips came down gently at first. Just testing, touching, and becoming familiar with mine again. But it didn’t last long. It never did. We didn’t need to become familiar with one another. My lips would always recognize his. My body would never forget his touch. My spirit recognized his spirit, and it was the missing piece that that made me whole.
    “Remind me of all the reasons why we won’t work