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  “No, I didn’t,” he said gruffly.

  Tears be damned, I spun around. “Really? That’s not how it felt from my side. You didn’t even acknowledge you knew me. Just stood there all…all… scowly. You did the same damn thing yesterday at the restaurant. You even walked around me, leaving me standing there like a damn idiot and the entire time you knew who I was.”

  The tension in his shoulders eased as he walked over to me. He took my face between his hands and swiped a tear away with the pad of his thumb. “Okay, I see your point. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  I pulled away from him. “Well, you did. It makes me feel like you’re ashamed of me.”

  “Jesus,” Hunter whispered, rubbing his forehead. “I have my reasons to keep this just between us, Eliza.”

  “And those are?”

  I couldn’t see how anything he said would help me understand.

  He stood silent for a moment, the tension back in his jaw as he sucked on his teeth. I got the impression he didn’t want to share his whys.

  “Do you have any idea what it’s like to have everyone watching you? Every move. Every decision. Dissected. Not just by this town, but the fucking media too. How will the tortured hero settle back into life? I have to put on a goddamn smile, pretend while I’m out there. I don’t here.” He waved between us. “This is mine. No one else’s. Mine. I like it that way. I don’t want it ruined by people sticking their fucking noses in it.”

  I was wrong. He’d helped me understand, at least a little, because he was right, I had no idea what any of that felt like. The man was trying to put his life back together after a year of captivity. I’d probably want some privacy too.

  And what about Sophie?

  The thought of hurting her, lying to her, it made me feel nauseous. But then again, I knew that Hunter was right. Sophie had always treated me like a sidekick, the goofy supportive friend role in the movie of her life. In Sophie’s mind, my happiness and dreams and fears weren’t as important or meaningful as hers.

  And she didn’t even seem to care that Hunter had moved on years ago and promised her nothing.

  For Sophie it was still and always all about Sophie.

  Now Hunter closed the distance between us. “Did I make my point?” he asked.

  I thought for a long moment before nodding.

  “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  He yanked me to his chest, his mouth crushing down on mine, tongue thrusting past my lips, hungry, demanding. I met each stroke with a fierceness of my own. Just minutes before, I’d believed I would never feel his lips on mine again. Now I wanted them on my lips, my breasts, my pussy with an overwhelming need.

  Hunter hoisted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist, locking my ankles at the small of his back. Without breaking the kiss, he walked further into the living room, then sat on the couch with me straddling his lap. I rotated my hips, grinding down on his erection. A low groan rumbled from his chest.

  Hunter threaded his fingers in my hair, then tugged my head back, ripping my lips from his. He ran his tongue over my neck up to my ear as his other hand slipped over my mound and rubbed. “That’s my pussy,” he said, his voice a low rumble in my ear.

  I gasped sharply. The possessiveness made me wetter, throb harder for him.

  “Say it,” he demanded between nips to my earlobe and the sensitive skin around my ear.

  “My pussy is yours,” I breathed out.

  He growled his approval.

  “I can’t get enough of your taste. I think about. Crave it.”

  “Taste me, Hunter.”

  He had me flipped on my back and pressed into the couch cushions in seconds. After kissing me senseless again, he inched down my body, running his lips down my neck, my collarbone, then nuzzling a tight nipple with his nose. I gasped, threading my fingers into his hair. My pussy ached for his mouth, his fingers, for him.

  Just when he’d made it to my belly button, my phone rang, killing the moment.

  My entire body went rigid.

  “Ignore it,” Hunter muttered as he ran his tongue over the skin above the waistband of my jeans.

  But I couldn’t.

  Only one person called me this late. The person who was dreaming of her future with the man who was about to bury his head in my pussy.

  Suddenly it dawned on me that whether or not Sophie was self-absorbed, I still couldn’t bring myself to keep doing this behind her back.

  “I can’t.” I gently pushed at Hunter’s shoulders, and scooted out from beneath him, curling up in the corner of the couch. He looked so shocked it would’ve been comical if I didn’t want to burst into tears.

  “What the hell just happened?”

  I reached for my phone sitting face down on the coffee table. Without even looking at the screen, I held it up so he could see it. His lips pressed tight and he looked away.

  “So that’s it then?”

  “I can’t do this behind her back. So unless you’re willing to tell her about us, then yes…that’s it.”

  A sarcastic laugh shot past his lips as he scrubbed his face with his hand. “You really have no fucking idea what kind of person Sophie is. I don’t know what Mary Poppins version you’re getting, but you haven’t crossed her yet. That chick’s a piece of work.”

  I scooted over to his side and slid my hand onto his thigh. “Then that’s all the more reason to tell her,” I whispered, hoping he would agree, that he wouldn’t end this.

  “I have no interest inviting that drama in my life,” he replied. “I’ve been through enough shit this past year to last a lifetime. I just want a good job, a beautiful woman to warm my bed and no fucking drama. Why’s that too much to want?”

  He wasn’t going budge, wouldn’t even compromise with me. “She’s my friend, Hunter.”

  “And she’s my ex.” He shot to his feet and turned to scowl down at me. “For a reason, Eliza.”

  His gaze bore into mine, intense and furious. Mine pleading, begging him to meet me halfway.

  “Can you keep us private?” he demanded, gaze never wavering from mine.

  Biting my lower lip, I debated my decision. I wanted to say to hell with Sophie. But I couldn’t. The guilt of being with Hunter would eat at me. Why did he have to be so adamant about not telling her? All it would do was create unneeded hurt later down the road. I couldn’t knowingly be a part of that.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

  Hunter’s jaw tightened. “Fine.”

  Without another word, he stormed out the front door, slamming it behind him. I flinched, blinking back the burn in my eyes.

  Everything in me wanted to run after him, take back what I said, but I made myself stay where I was. We were at a crossroads. There wasn’t a simple fix to our problem.

  One of us would have to give in, and neither one of us was willing to.

  Chapter 4

  I listened to Sophie humming in the kitchen as she rooted around in one of my drawers.

  “Where’s the wine opener?” she called.

  “In the utensil drawer.” Where it always was for when she came over. I wasn’t a wine drinker, but Sophie loved her reds.

  “Ah, there it is, right in front of me.” A soft chuckle sailed in from the kitchen.

  I shook my head. She’d been super chipper since she’d called me earlier today, begging for a girl’s night.

  I, on the other hand, had been a terrible mood.

  Four days had passed since I had seen or heard from Hunter. Four very long, depressing days, especially now that we were working in the same building. He walked by the coffee shop every day. Not only had he not come in, he hadn’t even glanced in my direction. It hurt, horribly.

  Now Sophie walked into the living room, sipping on one glass of merlot while holding the other. Sighing, she sat down beside me on the couch and flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “I’m so glad its Friday. It’s been a hell of a week.”

  I wanted to ask about Hunter, b
ut there really was no point. Sophie would eventually bring him up without prodding.

  “Yeah, it’s been a long week.” Too damn long, I thought. Especially without him…

  Lips pursed, Sophie eyed me doubtfully. She didn’t have to say what was on her mind. Her expression said it all. I worked as a barista. I didn’t have a social life other than when she made me leave my apartment. How hard could my week have been?

  If she only knew. That was the crux of the entire problem. She didn’t.

  “Hunter and I went to lunch today,” she said abruptly.

  Just hearing his name, my breath caught tight in my lungs, then my gut twisted sharply as the rest of her sentence registered.

  “Oh? How did it go?” I forced myself to ask.

  “Amazing,” she gushed. “It felt like old times again. We just mesh so well together. Always have.”

  That didn’t make any sense. All Hunter had talked about was how bad a person he thought Sophie to be and how he had no interest in her at all. Was there more to his reasoning for wanting to keep Sophie in the dark than he was letting on?

  I’d found it odd how adamant he’d been on not telling Sophie about us. Was he secretly planning to get back together with her? Was his insistence that he didn’t want to have anything to do with her just words to diminish my suspicions?

  When it came down to it, I didn’t know Hunter. I didn’t know him in the past and I didn’t know him now. All I knew for sure was he was a master at making me come.

  Who he actually was as a person, what war and being captured had done to him, was a big black hole for me.

  “How’s he fitting in with job?” I asked.

  “He’s a natural.” Sophie grinned, pride shining from her eyes. “I went with him on a couple of sales meetings to report back to Daddy. He had all the CEO’s eating out of his hands. Daddy’s thrilled.”

  “That’s great. I’m glad that he’s settling in so well.”

  “He seems to be. He’s as charming as I remember. Maybe more so.”

  Charming wouldn’t be the way I’d describe him. Intense, moody and dominating were much better adjectives. It felt good to know that Sophie was still getting the fake Hunter.

  Or was I actually getting the fake one?

  I inwardly groaned. I was even more confused about Hunter now. His determination to keep us a secret was really weighing on me. So much didn’t feel right about it.

  I studied Sophie. Her blonde hair was straightened, flowing over her shoulders. Even for a low-key girl’s night at home, she was dressed to the nines in expensive designer jeans and pink halter top that really made her tan pop. The woman was breathtaking.

  Maybe keeping me a secret did make sense.

  Next to her, I really was a plain Jane. Why would he want to flaunt me around town when Sophie was the type of girl he’d always had on his arm. The thought made me sad.

  “What’d you guys talk about?” I asked.

  “Getting to know you again sort of stuff. I talked about what I’ve done since high school, my role at daddy’s company, my plans for the future. He asked me tons of questions about that.”

  “Like what?”

  I couldn’t help but keep asking questions. It made no sense why this was happening. Why Hunter would act so interested in her with the things he’d said—and more importantly, done—when we were together.

  A mischievous smile I knew very well stretched her lips. Whatever he had asked had been exactly what she’d hoped he’d ask. “He was very interested in who I was seeing.”

  “But you’re not seeing anyone.”

  “Exactly. He seemed pleased by my answer. Even mentioned being surprised some lucky guy hadn’t snatched me up yet.”

  Lucky guy? The more I listened to Sophie, the more convinced I was that Hunter had some plans of his own—ones that had never included me. I swallowed hard. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe, just maybe, he was trying to steer her interest off him. “D-did he mention if he was seeing anyone?”

  I held my breath, waiting for her answer.

  “Nope.” The excited gleam in her eyes turned my stomach. Well, I had my answer.

  I swallowed hard and nodded, unable to speak.

  “Right now he’s just taking it one day at a time and trying to get his life back together.” She clapped. “He was telling me that he was trying to get better. I just needed to give him time. Isn’t that awesome!”

  “Yeah, awesome,” I muttered in a flat tone. I really should’ve tried to put a little more effort into being happy for my friend. I just couldn’t.

  “So I’m doing exactly like he asked. Being patient and letting things happen slowly. But it’s so hard. I just want to be with him. The man was hot as hell in high school, but with a few years on him he’s simply to die for.”

  That he was.

  “Anyway,” she continued. “I tried to get him to go out with me tomorrow night, but he already had plans with a couple of guys from the high school football team. He made sure to tell me they were going to Cosmic Monkey. I think he wants me stop by. So what do you say? Want to go with me?”

  “Ah…” I hedged.

  “Come on, Eliza. You never have plans.”

  “I’m just not sure I’m feeling up to it, Soph.”

  She rolled her eyes. “That’s because you get used to sitting around in this stuffy apartment. If it wasn’t for me, girl, I swear you’d never leave this place.”

  Cosmic Monkey. The trendy bar the next town over where the offspring of the wealthy congregated with overly expensive drinks and clothes. For someone who said he wasn’t the same guy that’d left for the military, Hunter sure was immersing himself right back into his old life.

  “Maybe,” I shrugged lamely.

  Sophie pushed harder. “You’re single. Enjoy the opposite sex for a change. I think you’d love it.” She arched an eyebrow.

  She didn’t know the half of it. I had loved it, every touch, lick, and suck.

  God, the last thing I wanted to do was sit there and watch Sophie work her magic on Hunter. He’d asked her if she was single. From our conversation the other night, he already knew the answer to that question. I couldn’t think of a reason for him to broach that topic unless he wanted to encourage her.

  To hell with him. Sophie was right. I needed to go out and have fun.

  “Okay, I’m in.”

  “Fantastic! I’ll pick you up at seven.” She chewed on her lip while she eyed me. “I think I have an outfit that will fit you.”

  I glanced down at my simple jeans and t-shirt. No, I didn’t have a closest full of expensive clothes. And I was a lot curvier than her teeny tiny size 0. As much as Sophie thought I didn’t have any fashion sense, I did have a rocking dress or two hidden in the back of my closet.

  “Thanks but no thanks. I know exactly what I want to wear.”

  And Hunter Rhodes would eat his heart out.

  * * *

  I was going out tonight. I was going to have fun. And Hunter could kiss my ass.

  The entire time I showered, dressed and primped myself, I silently repeated those three words.

  KISS MY ASS.

  And I was still repeating them as I waited for Sophie to pick me up. After a full day of mulling over my conversation with Sophie last night, I was seriously pissed at Hunter. I felt like he’d played me for a fool, saying one thing to me then something else to Sophie.

  I had every intention of strutting into that club, looking hot as hell and dancing my ass off with as many men as I could. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with both me and Sophie in the same room, but I told myself I wouldn’t care.

  Or at least, I wouldn’t show that I cared. Maybe I’d give Hunter Rhodes a taste of his own medicine.

  A rap came from the door, and I jumped off the couch to open it.

  Sophie’s gaze traveled from my hair to my feet then she grinned. “Well, don’t you look super cute! I love that adorable dress, girl.”

  Cute. Adorable. Those hadn
’t been two words I would’ve used to describe how I felt not thirty seconds ago. I’d felt hot as hell, ready to take on the night and make a man eat his heart out.

  Not so much now. Not next to her. I could never be her level of sexy.

  The woman was simply stunning in a black, strapless romper with a lace maxi-length skirt overlay. Strappy black spiked heels finished off the look and showed off her viper red toenails.

  I looked like a baby doll compared to her.

  My turquoise, white and black floral print dress with beaded halter neck had seemed like a great idea.

  Before.

  Now I felt like I should be at a beach party instead of going to one of hottest nightspots in the area. I should’ve wore heels instead of flat, bejeweled sandals.

  Sophie stepped over to the narrow long mirror I had hanging beside the door for last minute looks. She fluffed her hair, then turned to the side. “Does this outfit scream ‘fuck me’ or what? There’s no way Hunter will be able to resist getting back in this.”

  The crude remark made me flinch, reminding me again that Sophie had been in serious relationship with Hunter in the past. She knew Hunter in ways I didn’t. And I didn’t like it at all.

  It was in that instant I realized that deep down, not matter how much I was trying to convince myself otherwise, I cared what Hunter would do tonight. I cared if he chose Sophie. I cared if he ignored me again. I wanted to turn his head. I wanted him to realize he missed me as much I missed him.

  And I had a horrible suspicion that my feelings were seriously going to get hurt tonight.

  “Let’s get this party started.” Sophie winked.

  Twenty minutes ago I had been ready to face this night head on. Now I wasn’t. I just wanted to stay home and save myself the humiliation of watching Hunter with Sophie.

  “Oh no you don’t,” Sophie said, apparently picking up on my hesitation. “You’re not backing out. You’re coming if I have to drag you kicking and screaming.”

  Maybe I needed to see this tonight. Hopefully watching Hunter fawn all over Sophie would be the antidote that’d finally cure me of my weakness for the man.