“Hey, it’s what I do.”
“It can’t be much fun babysitting me, especially when you’re used to glamorous celebrities.”
Mitch pulls us into Hunter’s road and I tense. “Whatever you believe, Jess, Hunter’s a good guy. I’d do anything for him and he’d do the same for me. He took on a lot when his mother was sick and her death hit him hard. He’d always hoped to take care of her one properly one day. Nice retirement home and everything.” He pulls the Jeep up outside of the house and sighs. “But you know all this, right?”
“Some of it,” I mumble. I’m still not sure I’m ready to admit he’s a good guy. Good guys don’t try to get someone to fall for them to get information. They don’t lie and then tell them they love you when things aren’t going right. It smacks of emotional blackmail. Do I know Hunter? I mean, really know him?
“Wait in the car,” Mitch orders before climbing out.
I watch him scanning the area. I’d be amused at being treated like a VIP except apprehension thrums though me. Lucas was pushy, demanding with a penchant for the younger ones, including me. Many of the girls slept with him to save their jobs. He sickened me but not just that, his reaction to my refusal was with such a quiet calm that it freaked me out. He quietly threatened my job. Then I saw the other side of him when he tried to force himself on me. It was too close to what my stepfather had done to me. I freaked. His last words before I left were to tell me I’d regret not giving into him.
Is this what he meant?
Mitch opens the door and ushers me quickly into the house. I suck in a breath as I realize Hunter is in the kitchen..
“Thanks, Mitch. I didn’t know if I’d be back in time,” Hunter says.
“No worries. Just let me know if you need anything. I’m still in between jobs at the moment so I’m at a loose end.”
“Thanks, Mitch,” I mumble as he leaves.
He offers me a grin. “Anytime. Be nice to our boy,” he says in a low voice before shutting the door.
I turn back to Hunter and he stuffs his hands into his jeans pockets. “Good day?” he asks.
“Fine.” I sweep past him and dump my handbag on the kitchen side. This cold politeness makes my stomach churn. I almost wish he was back to brashly declaring his love for me and telling me he won’t let me go. “So… Mitch said you were following up on the production company. Any luck?”
He studies me for a moment, his jaw ticking. Tension riddles his body, I can see it in the stark sinew of his body. “No, not yet.”
“That’s it?”
“I went to an address that his business is registered to. It’s unoccupied. Not a sign of it being used. Either he’s not set up yet or it’s a false address.”
“You went there? It could have been dangerous.”
“I’m a big boy, Jess.”
“Why a false address?”
“Not sure. It doesn’t make much sense if he’s genuinely trying to set up a new company. Perhaps he’s expecting his stalking activities to catch up with him and doesn’t want to be easily tracked down.”
I sigh and rub my forehead.
“Headache?” He comes up behind me, a hand curling around the back of my neck. I stiffen even as the heat of his palm seeps into my skin and soothes the tension bubbling inside me. He sweeps aside some the loose strands from my updo and uses his thumb to rub the back of my neck. Need and despair mingle in my belly. I’m so weak when it comes to him it’s ridiculous. I still haven’t forgiven him or decided how to move forward, yet when he touches me I just want to fling myself into his arms and lose myself to him.
“I’ve got to get changed for work,” I mutter.
“You’ve got two hours.”
The hand on my neck wraps further around and Hunter eases himself against me. I become aware of strong thighs, a wide chest, and powerful hips pressing into me. I become aware of his arousal.
His scent surrounds me—cologne and a little sweat. I can’t help but draw it in. My body softens of its own accord.
“Two hours is plenty,” he murmurs in my ear.
Blood races through my veins, pumps hard and begs me to give into him. That hand sweeps my neck and jawline and lips follow it. They’re firm and demanding, barely hinting at the love behind the kiss, but I feel that in the way he holds my waist with the other hand. That touch is tender. I feel fragile and precious in that embrace.
Bolts of sensation arrow down between my legs. A sound too close to a whimper for my liking escapes. My resolve has melted into a puddle which is what I’ll be doing if I’m not careful.
“I’ve thought of nothing but you all day.” Hunter skims his teeth across my neck. “Let me make it up to you. Let me show you how much I love you.”