Chapter Fifteen - Picture Perfect

I wake up the next morning to find myself pressed against Hunter's warm body. I barely remember Hunter carrying me out of the guest room last night. Blinking drowsily, I become aware of one of his arms resting loosely over my waist and the other supporting my head. I yawn before pulling away but his hand catches onto my hip and I turn my head to see his eyes open.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." I sigh as I cup his cheek and caress his skin.

"If I get to wake up to you then I don't mind at all." He mumbles huskily with a sleepy smile as he closes his eyes.

I melt into a puddle at his words and how cute he looks right now. Shuffling closer I pepper kisses to his face and feel him smile as his hands grip my waist. He moves to press his lips to mine but I move back and hop out of bed.

"Zoe!" He whines as I make my way to the bathroom.

"Morning breath doesn't belong in a kiss!" I state with a laugh.

I hear him chuckle before he eventually follows me into the bathroom. We brush our teeth together before he decides on taking a shower. Hunter had brought my bag in here too so I rummage in it to pick out an outfit for today and change into it while he's showering.

Eventually, he walks out of the bathroom fully dressed before he slips on his shoes and takes my hand. We make our way downstairs and into the dining room where everyone is settling down. My mouth waters as I see the array of breakfast food on the table. There's everything from a fry up to pancakes! I take a seat beside Ella who greets me with a cheerful smile and we both laugh when we go for the chocolate chip pancakes. Turns out she has a sweet tooth too.

"Do you want a tour of the ranch?" She asks as excitement lights up her emerald eyes.

"Sure, that would be amazing!" I exclaim as everyone chimes in on the areas they can show me.

The more everyone talks about the land and the history of how it came to be the more I grow excited to see everything. So right after breakfast I put on comfortable shoes before rushing downstairs with my camera in hand.

"Ready?" Hunter asks as he intertwines his hand with mine.

"Yes!" I grin up at him in excitement which elicits an amused chuckle out of him. "Do you mind if I take some photos?"

"Not at all."

I smile happily as we begin our walk through the land. The camera clicks away as we walk past the stables and the pen where the ponies are. There's many more animals in separate sections such as cows, chickens, sheep, etcetera. I laugh at the two dogs chasing each other around before hearing some chatter behind us. I take pictures of the rest of the family also following us on our walk.

"You guys give lessons?" I nod to the sign advertising riding lessons on the gate as we walk past.

"Yeah, normally it's either Theo or dad. It's very popular with the children." He winks cheekily when he notices me taking a picture of him.

I laugh at his actions before putting the camera down and admiring more of the ranch lands. We eventually start down a path through the woods and I find myself looking around in amazement when we break through the mass of trees to discover a lake with a forest surrounding the perimeter.

"Amazing, right?" Hunter chuckles at my expression.

"You have all this at the end of your house?! It's gorgeous!" I breathe but blush slightly when I hear everyone else chuckle over my reaction.

Hunter grins at me before telling me to take some photos. I happily take my camera as everyone else sets up a picnic on the grass near the water. It's a bit sunny right now and the wind isn't as cold to have us running back inside. I walk around to get the shots at different angles before focusing my lens on the family.

But I can't help myself when I find myself clicking numerous pictures of Hunter. He looks incredibly handsome and the mist hanging above the lake behind him makes the shot look even more breath-taking. At that exact moment he looks up and I'm taken back to the first day I met him at the courthouse. His ocean blue eyes shine just as bright and make me want to fall deep. They crinkle at the corners as he smiles boyishly at me and I can't stop the smile that blooms across my own lips at the sight of him.

I make my way over to him and put the camera by my feet as I take a seat on the blanket beside him. He drapes his arm over my shoulders and I lean into him. The scent of his cologne wraps around me like a comforting embrace as we eat and talk well into the evening.

Eventually, when it begins to get colder we pack up and walk back to the house. Ella heads up to her room so that she can rest with Ryder following her while Noah and Judah play with Isaiah so that he doesn't bother his mother. Theo disappears to check on all the animals before night falls while Evan and Michelle start on dinner. I offer to help but they just shoo me out of the kitchen and Hunter gladly drags me away to our room.

Sighing in defeat I decide to take a shower and wash my hair. I change into comfy lounge clothes afterwards before taking a seat on the bed with my hair wrapped up in a towel. Powering on my laptop I work on transferring over all the photos I took from today before a thought hits me.

"Could I post some of the pictures from today on my blog?" I ask Hunter hesitantly as I fiddle with the camera.

"You have a blog?" He questions and his eyes light up with interest. "Can I see?"

"Sure." I murmur as I twist the laptop to him and watch him scroll through the gallery of photos I've taken over the years.

"Red, these are amazing! You're so talented!" He breathes and I smile happily.

After my family made rude remarks about my work I've never been comfortable enough to show it to anyone other than my teachers and select classmates. So, to hear someone else like it is such a relief.

"Thank you."

"I don't mind if you post the pictures and I'm sure my family won't either. Just keep Isaiah out of them please." He grins and I nod in understanding before thanking him. "And don't forget about me when you blow up in the photography world."

"Shut up." I mutter with a smile and a playful roll of my eyes. "That's not going to happen."

"That will happen." He stresses with an amused look in his eyes. "You underestimate your ability to create magic, Red. But don't worry, now that I'm here I won't let anyone make you doubt yourself or your work anymore."

I stare at him in both surprise and appreciation. We've only known each other for a short time yet he understands me better than anyone else. How did I get so lucky? I think to myself.

"What?" He smiles funnily as he takes my hand.

"Nothing..." I murmur dazedly as I shake my head. "You're just...amazing."

"Of course, I am."

"And you've ruined it." I snort unladylike before turning to my laptop.

He bursts into laughter and the husky yet rich sound bounces off the walls of the room. I can't help but laugh along with him. He cups my face and presses his lips to mine in the sweetest of kisses that doesn't last long but it's enough to leave me breathless still. I open my eyes as he pulls away to take a seat beside me again.

With a smile I start to upload the pictures I had taken with him commenting on each one. He's certainly surprised to see so many of him and teases me until my cheeks resemble the color of a fire truck!

What's even worse is that his mom ends up walking into the room while my cheeks are on fire. She smirks cheekily at the both of us before telling us that dinner is ready and that it's games night. Hunter does nothing but snicker under his breath after she walks away which makes me swat his arm in exasperation.

We head downstairs for dinner which is amazing as always. I'm beside Ella again and we've clicked quite nicely. She's a total sweetheart and while the boys are setting up the board games she tells me about how she met Ryder while we help Michelle clean up, much to her dislike.

"I was kidnapped by a man my father owed money too." She chuckles when my eyes widen. "He used to abuse me. I escaped one night before he could make me sign away my inheritance and ended up in Theo's truck. The Jacksons took me in and I worked for Evan until I got a job as a music teacher at the local school."

"Did he leave you alone after you escaped or...?"

"No, he kept calling me and threatening me." She smiles sadly before passing me the stack of plates. "Thankfully I had Roman and Hunter who were helping me build a case against him. But he kidnapped me again. Luckily Ryder and Roman found me."

"Please tell me he got put behind bars?" I frown in disgust over all the pain that man put her through.

"Yes. He admitted to everything and won't be bothering me again." She grins happily but I also spot a flicker of relief in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that." I hug her which she returns tightly.

"I'm just glad he was finally punished." She replies before smirking mischievously. "How about you tell us how you met Hunter?"

"Oh yes! Now this is something I want to hear!" Michelle grins before taking a seat by us at the table.

"Well, we met at a courthouse. I stopped by to meet my dad who's a judge there. We hated each other from the start but the more we kept bumping into each other the more we started to warm up to each other." I chuckle just as Hunter comes in.

"Everything's ready, come on." He takes a sip of water before frowning in confusion when Ella grins widely.

"Who asked out who?"

"I did, of course!" He smiles at me when he realizes what we're talking about.

"Good! You better be treating her right too!" Michelle states with a warning look that makes me laugh.

"Obviously, ma." He drapes his arm across my shoulder while helping Ella stand with the other. "Now come on, we've been waiting for ages!"

I chuckle as we follow him to the sitting room where multiple board games, cards and puzzles are out. Noah and Judah have already started and I assume Judah is winning because of how wide his smile is. I take a seat on the carpet beside Hunter while Ella and Michelle sit on the couch behind us. We spend much of the evening playing different games and having dessert.

But sometimes I find myself staring at the family and remembering my own, wishing that we could be like this again. Sighing I chase away the thought before focusing on the game of scrabble before me. I can never get that bond back with my family so there's no point wishing for something that won't happen. But every time I see Michelle and Evan interact with their sons with love and care it makes my heart ache painfully a little more over what I could've still had with my own.

Vote if you are enjoying this story!

Chapter 16 is already up on Inkitt! Click the link in my bio or announcement post to read my book faster!

1. Download the app

2. Follow my profile

3. Put my book in your reading list!

- R.W. ♡