My palms get all damp. “All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Awesome. You’re still going with us to that Lab place, right? FNG recommended it as a place to meet superhot guys who can throw mean punches.”
“Not too sure about that. I think I prefer a lover to a fighter…unless he was a Jedi or superhero. You have to fight then.”
Her face falls a little. “You are an odd, odd woman, but I’ll keep you.” She bites her lips, her eyes twinkling. “Go home, Eva!”
“Going, going,” I say as Jake and I leave.
In no time at all, I’m racing up the stairs of the Rose Haven shouting Hunter’s name. His door bangs open and he steps out bare-assed naked, holding a gun.
“What the hell?” With a thick sigh, he lowers his gun and eyes me. “Care to explain why you were—is that Jake?”
I try not to ogle him, but it’s hard. I giggle. Or rather he’s getting hard. “Yup.”
“I’m stoked as hell, but I need some clothes. Come inside.”
We follow him into his apartment, shutting the door behind me while he races away to his bedroom.
“Sorry, I’d just finished drying off,” he says as joins us a few minutes later, dressed for work.
“Really didn’t mind.” I smile dreamily, thinking of his hard abs and the tattoos of the skulls on his hips. “But I have to admit the uniform kind of does it for me.”
“I’ll wear it on our next date.” Winking at me, Hunter gets down on Jake’s level and starts petting him. “Hey there, buddy. What are you doing here?”
Jake’s tail begins to thump against the floor like crazy.
“He missed you.”
“Forever family brought him back?”
I nod. “Granny is allergic.”
Hope gleams in his green eyes, but then it dims. “I can’t take care of him like he needs.”
“You don’t have to because I adopted him. He’s my dog now…our dog, really.”
Hunter gets all serious as he looks up at me. “I love you.”
My head feels light. Surely he didn’t say what I just heard. “What?” I croak.
“I love you.” He stands, cupping my shoulders with his big hands. “You don’t have to say it back. My love comes without strings attached or conditions.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Why don’t you think about what I said? Maybe mull over my words and see if you like the sound of them because I plan on telling you that every chance I get.”
On the inside, I become a blubbering idiot, but on the outside my body is rigid.
“I have to head into work now. I’m running behind.” He brushes his lips over mine in the sweetest of kisses. “I won’t be back until tomorrow morning. Save a spot for me in that bed.”
“Depends on how bad of a bed hog Jake is,” I tease, trying to change the subject and keep things light.
—
The next day, after work, I get a text from Hunter.
Hunter: Have to pull a double. Sorry. But I will have the weekend off.
I stare at the phone, then sigh thickly. I’m not mad at him, but I know how much a double shift wears him down, mentally and physically. Plus, I’m going to miss him, really miss him. I already miss him.
My heart pinches.
Me: Don’t worry, I have Jake.
Hunter: I know Jake is in good hands. Just wanted you to know.
Me: Text me before you leave work so I’ll know when to expect you, k?
Hunter: Can I come home to you instead of just picking up Jake?
For no reason at all tears prick at the back of my eyes. Or maybe there is every reason I feel like crying. Hunter wants to come home to me…better yet, he’s asking if he can. He’s given me the power to kick him out of my life after he’s told me exactly how he feels.
Me: Yes.
Hunter: That means a lot, angel. See you soon.
“Please don’t be too good to be true,” I whisper.
Chapter 19
Hunter
It’s almost midnight by the time I pull into Rose Haven’s parking lot. Evangeline’s sedan is in her usual spot, too.
My heart kicks against my chest as I jog up the steps. I don’t bother to go to my apartment first. Instead I unlock Evangeline’s door and go right in because she said she would wait up for me. An unexpected double shift forced me to put off telling her, but I’m not waiting any longer. I want her to know about my fighting.
“I’m home, angel,” I call out, locking the door up tight behind me, then move to the living room. “You wouldn’t believe all the paperwork I had to file before I could get out of there. The only thing getting me through was the thought of your sweet…”
My words trail away.
I freeze in place.
Evangeline isn’t alone. She smiles at me, but it’s strained.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” an older version of Evangeline says.
Oh, holy shit. Her parents are here and I almost said some things that no man wants to hear about their daughter—even if the one doing the talking is in love with said daughter.