Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
H unter
Women.
I’d muttered the single word several times since seeing Esme inside the bistro. I’d seen the look on her face, as if she was ready to slink into the closest hole she could find. I strolled off the elevator, still grousing. I didn’t bother knocking before entering Jagger’s office, dumping the sandwiches I’d picked up on his desk.
He raised his eyebrows after lifting his face from his computer screen. “Did the baby brother have a bad night?”
“Cut the crap,” I told him and slumped down into one of his chairs.
“Fine. Have it your way. You’re late this morning.”
“Do you remember our brother was married last night? Stupid asshole.”
“Why a stupid asshole?”
“Because women are the bane of any man’s existence.”
Snickering, he grabbed the bag of food, peeling it open and pulling out one of the sandwiches. There were times I loathed that we preferred the same kind. Salami with extra cheese, pickles, and black olives. Heated, not cold. A strange combination to have in common. “Nice and hot. Just the way I like it. What crawled up your ass since last night?” He unfolded the paper surrounding the sandwich, taking a huge bite.
I watched him chew for a few seconds before responding. “Nothing important.”
“You’ve been in a piss-poor mood for weeks. What the fuck is going on with you? I thought I was the grumpy one.”
“Not any longer.” We’d done a role reversal, his sudden upbeat mood all about his love for Bella. And the psychological help he’d started receiving. I couldn’t bring myself to see a shrink. I wasn’t that fucked up.
“Seriously, Hunt. What’s going on? The nightmares?”
I blew out hot air and leaned back in the chair, raking both hands through my hair. I hadn’t even bothered to take my coat off. After dropping off Esme earlier that day, I’d driven around the town for over an hour before heading back to my cabin, taking a nice long ride.
I’d hoped being out in the brisk air would relieve some stress and drive away the images of Esme that clouded my brain. It hadn’t worked.
“Yeah, they’re getting worse.”
“Any idea why?” Now he was talking with his mouth full. I had no clue what Bella saw in the man. He was a pig at times.
“No. None.”
“I think you need some time off. After Shephard comes back in a couple days, do yourself a favor and spend another night or three with our snarky yet hot as sin chef.”
His smile was the one I loathed, like he’d caught me in a big, fat lie. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Don’t kid a kidder, dude. You were hot to trot last night. I could see smoke coming off the two of you from across the room.”
Well, shit. I glared at him.
“Plus, I happened to catch you dropping Esme off this morning when I rolled into the parking lot. She looks mighty fine in your Ravens sweatshirt.”
“Fuck me. If you say a goddamn word to anyone, I’ll kick your ass.”
“You mean you’ll try,” Jagger huffed. He chomped down again, wolfing the last two bites. He took his time chewing and swallowing. “That was the best sandwich I’ve had. But don’t tell your lover the chef or my sweet Bella.”
He had to rub it in. That was why our relationship had always been so close. I hunkered over, dropping my head into my hands.
“Is this about the nightmare or the woman you haven’t taken your eyes off since she arrived?”
I rubbed my face, my beard longer than usual. Why did I still smell like her after the long ride and a hot shower? “Both. I guess.”
“What’s wrong with finally dating someone?”
“We’re not dating!” I hadn’t intended on using so much volume.
Once again, my brother lifted his eyebrows. “O-kay then. You’re not dating.”
“She made certain I knew that loud and clear.”
“Then you can be boss-employer with fringe benefits.”
“Against the rules. Remember?”
Jagger laughed. “Oh, that. Guess what, bro? We make the rules. We can change them. What’s really going on?”
“I don’t know. It’s like I have a bad feeling, the creepy crawlies and there’s no reason why.”
“Well, it must be because of your nightmares. I’m telling you, go see my guy. He’s damn good at what he does and he doesn’t make you feel like you’re crazy. You know? You deserve happiness and sleep, for fuck’s sake.”
“I’ll think about it.” I wanted peace. I wanted joy in my life, but I was beginning to think that wasn’t in the cards for me. There were good reasons why I didn’t deserve shit. “By the way, do you have any clue why Mom and Pops didn’t make the wedding? I know it was a huge disappointment for Shephard.”
He wadded up the sandwich paper, tossing it into the trash. “No. I tried calling them yesterday and this morning. I will admit I’m a little concerned.”
“Yeah, me too.” I glanced out the window of our office. “Pops worked so hard to put this place back together. All the time spent in renovations. All the months trying to make the resort and winery special for his boys. Did you know both Shephard and Denise wanted to push up their original June wedding date just so…”
“So Pops could still be alive?”
I nodded. “As much anger as we’ve had for each other and for Dad, being here reminds me of a few good times.” Our dad was harsh, unforgiving, but we’d been a real family. I hadn’t been born yet during the time he’d served in the Marines, but he’d gotten his rough demeanor from his service and the action he’d seen overseas. I could tell he’d done things that had haunted him just like his three sons had. I’d always found it interesting he rarely said a word about those years.
All I’d known was a man who’d acted like he wanted to become a cowboy. Purchasing a working ranch in Montana had been far removed from his service years. I’d hated the fact he’d been forced to sell the place. It had been a sanctuary to me when I was growing up.
“Yeah, I hear you.” He snorted. “You do remember this is Valentine’s Day. Right?”
“How the fuck could I miss that with the number of freaking decorations covering every room in the resort?”
“Now you sound like me. Don’t knock the holidays. Maybe use that as an excuse to say something nice to Esme. You know, break the ice.”
“I think we already did that.”
“You go, brother of mine.” Jagger’s grin was huge and damn if I didn’t want to wipe it off his face.
“Let it go. You’re the one who needs to remember Valentine’s Day. Bella will never allow you to hear the end of it if you don’t.”
“I already have it covered.” He winked and I groaned.
“You’re asking her to marry you. Aren’t you?”
His shrug was an indication of the answer.
“I knew you’d cave the moment I saw the two of you together.”
He leaned forward in his seat, pointing his finger at me. “That’s funny. That’s what I said about you last night.”
“Oh, no,” I said, throwing up my hands. “I’m not walking that walk. Ever.”
“Don’t knock it until you try it.”
His phone rang and I think we both had an idea of who was calling. The moment he pulled it up from his desk, he whistled. “Maybe we’re about to find out why the parents were a no-show.”
As soon as he started talking with Mother, I gathered a sense that things had taken a turn for the worse.
“Yeah, Mama. It was a beautiful wedding. Don’t worry. Plenty of pictures were taken. I’ll send you a couple.” Jagger lifted his gaze, worry lines forming around his eyes. “Of course it’ll be great to see you. Your cabin was opened up a couple days ago.”
I got up and moved to the window, staring out at the mountains. One of the few things my father had said to me alone prior to leaving with Mother on a whirlwind world vacation was that the mountains could provide me with answers. So far, I hadn’t found that to be true.
Maybe there weren’t any answers to the questions I’d been asking for three years.
“Yeah, Mom. Tell Dad hello for us. Okay. Call as soon as you’re in town.”
I could see his reflection in the window, the sun at the perfect angle.
Jagger threw back his head as soon as he ended the call.
“They’re coming back for a visit?” I asked, although I knew the answer. My sixth sense was working overtime.
“They’re coming back to stay permanently. It was Dad’s wish. Mother said he has maybe weeks to live.”
Three hours. I’d wasted three hours.
Thinking.
Frustrating.
Memories were kicking my ass.
Death had never really bothered me.
When you watched so many of your brothers in arms die at the hands of ruthless insurgents, you learned not to dwell on the horrors. That doesn’t mean visions of various missions hadn’t come back to haunt me. After a few years, I’d simply forced myself to go numb instead of feeling every injury and death I’d witnessed.
When accepting the job offer to become an operative for a division of the Navy that ‘didn’t exist,’ I’d been primed and ready to handle the assignments. They’d taken me to dozens of countries, both large and small, tracking and hunting down men considered enemies of humanity, not just democracy. Some missions had been worse than others, a few far too bloody for those in command.
I couldn’t begin to count the number of kills I’d accumulated. But even after all the blood and gore I’d partaken in, the knowledge that my father was going to die from a horrible disease was painful. There was no way around it. Even after all the nasty things he’d said to me when I hadn’t been allowed to tell him who I’d gone to work for, I still cared about him.
Maybe I didn’t understand the true meaning of the word love, but I did understand loyalty within a family. I tried to bury myself in work to avoid the ugliness or acceptance he was coming home to die, but I couldn’t concentrate.
I’d missed signing two orders over the last few days, my absentmindedness likely causing a delay in shipping out wines to the two largest grocery stores we supplied. With the news about my father, I couldn’t think clearly at all.
Shit. Maybe I did need a couple of days off.
I tossed my pen and sat back in the seat, folding my arms over my head. As soon as I closed my eyes, images of Esme floated into my brain. At least I could chuckle about our constant bickering. She was tough, but I’d seen such softness in her eyes just that morning. Why did I have a feeling the girl was nearly as broken as I was?
Maybe there wasn’t a soul alive who wasn’t hiding something about themselves from everyone.
I rubbed my index finger across my lip, still remembering our heated kisses. They were the best I’d ever experienced. It might have been a long time, but the intimate act truly was like riding a bike. How chauvinistic of me. She deserved better.
Maybe I should have jumped the gun and asked her on a real date. Why did I have the feeling she would have turned me down cold? Oh, shit. We’d had a single night. She was right, there shouldn’t be another.
That didn’t mean my cock wasn’t aching just thinking about her.
The exhale ached for some reason. Maybe I’d pulled a muscle from all the hot, wild sex. After opening my eyes, I noticed the stack of mail. Normally my assistant opened and sorted everything that came in, but even though she worked odd hours like the rest of us, she’d opted to take the day off to be with her sweetie.
It was contagious.
I grabbed the stack, finding an invoice that should have hit Jagger’s desk since he was handling the accounting. There was a request from another big chain grocery store for a possible alliance. That was good news.
The last in the stack was a simple printed envelope with no return address. There was no thickness to it, no indication it was a solicitation flyer. I continued to think about how to handle Esme from here. The methods of remaining professional with her seemed tried and true. I wasn’t meant to be a corporate guy. It had never been in my blood.
Here I was, chucking my illustrious career out the window for an opportunity to own a resort. At least I could laugh about it at this point. Hunting and eliminating some seriously bad people, or working long hours beside a testy chef that might cut my balls off if the wrong thing was said.
They were equally dangerous.
I unfolded the single piece of paper and took a deep breath.
The single word brought back one too many memories.
Murderer.
What the hell? I checked the envelope to see if there was anything else inside. Nothing. Just a word typed out in a typical font printed in black and white on a laser printer.
Were there crazies everywhere? You bet. Had I pissed off a few people in town with my brash arrogance?
Absolutely.
But this had nothing to do with my current job. This was all about before. Sadly, the list of who could have sent it was longer than my arm. But how had I been found?
Thoughts about the two texts roared back into my mind. Were they meant to try to scare me? I didn’t scare easily. I’d been in far too many difficult positions in my life to fear some unknown jerk. I yanked out my phone, curious what they would do after my response. Maybe egging the creep on wasn’t in my best interest. It could be some madman who’d explode, taking out his aggression with an ax.
Somehow, I doubted it. This was very personal and extremely calculated.
Nice try, bud. Why don’t you head on over so you can see if you’re right?
I didn’t expect a response.
A full minute passed. I was falling into his tidy trap by sitting here trying to process a list of possible names.
I kept the note in the middle of the desk, tracing the letters with my finger.
Whoever had sent it had hoped to rile me. Well, it wasn’t working. The Fox brothers had a solid reputation in town, but there wasn’t a soul any longer who didn’t know we’d once been considered brutal men. Since there were still those who’d wished they’d purchased the resort, it was entirely possible the threat was one of them trying to get under my skin.
I wasn’t buying it. After wadding it up, I shifted my chair so I could toss it into the trashcan.
“Goal!” I said and smirked.
Fuck me. This day was worthless. Maybe I’d take a drive to the winery. It had been a few days since I’d been there. We had a big event in the facility tonight and while Esme was preparing one delicious-sounding meal, it was my job to ensure the location was decorated, the champagne was on ice, and the musicians the couple had hired were set to play.
For an engagement party.
Was there anyone in this freaking town who wasn’t getting married?
I shut down my computer, grabbing my coat from the chair where I’d tossed it. As I headed out, I thought about stopping by and seeing Esme. What was the point in doing so? I was still half laughing as I walked into the elevator. After pressing the button, I leaned against the steel wall, contemplating what issues would come up if I did take Esme out.
The three of us owned the damn place. Anyone with issues could take a hike. No. I wasn’t going down that road. I couldn’t handle adding any additional complications to my life. Maybe that was a point I needed to make to her.
Yeah, dumbass. She beat you to it.
Well, I wasn’t the kind of man who liked to lose.
As soon as the doors opened, I stepped out, fumbling to jerk my keys from my jeans. I’d foregone a suit today. I couldn’t care less that it was a holiday. Maybe I was more anti-holiday than Jagger after all. Still, a couple of nice words said to Esme didn’t mean shit, but might put her in a better mood. The bickering had to end.
I rounded the corner and boom.
“What the hell?” I barked before looking.
“That’s what I was going to say. You should watch where you’re going.” The bag she was carrying dropped on the floor as soon as we collided.
We both bent down together, but she snatched it from my hand.
“I’ve got this,” she insisted. “I’m sorry I ran into you.”
I couldn’t have been more shocked.
Instantly, my cock stirred hearing her voice. It was deep and sultry, sexy as all get out. When I lifted my head, the fire and brimstone in her eyes was what I’d grown to adore. And hate. Depended on the day.
Goddamn, I could pull her into the elevator and fuck her all over again.
We glared at each other as if last night hadn’t occurred.
“You know, I don’t care what you say to me when we’re alone. You can dislike me, toss plates at me, but why don’t we cut the arguments in front of other employees?” I was shocked I hadn’t retorted like I had with her dozens of times before.
“I agree. I’m sorry for my part in hating you.” She still had a snarky expression on her face, but a twinkle in her eyes.
“You’re right. What happened last night can’t happen again.”
Esme half laughed. “Isn’t that what I said this morning?”
“Fine.”
“Fine.
“Good.”
“You’re right. Good.” She shook her head and looked away. Tense seconds passed. “Look, I, um, brought something for you.” As soon as she started to hand the bag to me, I reached for it and our fingers touched.
Well, shit. There was the same electricity as I’d experienced the night before. Maybe even with a heightened level of current.
I could tell she felt it too by the way her eyes opened wide.
“You did?” I asked, noticing we were lingering on the touch.
She swallowed visibly before pulling her hand away. “Well, for Sadie. If this is okay.” She made certain our fingers didn’t collide again when she released her hold on the bag.
They were some of the freshest and juiciest looking apples I’d ever seen in three different colors.
“I didn’t know if she liked Granny Smith or Macintosh, so I bought a few of different kinds.”
I’ll be damned if the feisty woman wasn’t blushing.
“That’s really nice of you. Sadie will love them.”
“I was bringing them to your office. I was about to head over to the winery to check on things and just… Oh, hell, I guess I just wanted to tell you thank you for last night. We’ll call a truce. As friends.”
She was holding out her hand for a handshake. Was she kidding me right now? I found myself rubbing my palm because it was sweaty. What the hell was going on with me? I shook her hand, nodding authoritatively.
And realized I wanted her more now than I had before.
I’d kill my brother if he was right about the two of us.
“Friends,” I said.
“Friends,” she repeated.
As soon as she backed away, she tucked a long strand of hair behind her ear and my balls tightened.
I couldn’t help but to watch her walk away.
She was a definite pain in my ass, but dear God, nothing was going to stop me from tasting her again.