4. Hunter
Hunter
Imanaged to stay away from her for two days. Two long, incredibly painful days where I lay on my bed and wondered why the hell I was putting myself through all this.
I should have just gone out to find her. And then I should have spanked her ass before I claimed her sweet curves like I should have as soon as I saw her that first time and that sassy mouth of hers opened wide to cut me to the quick.
Now I come here because I can’t stay away and she’s wrapped around another man? Oh fuck no! I hate to think she’s just like every other woman I’ve ever met.
I glare at the guy in front of me but it’s like he could care less. Maybe because she’s his.
I rub my chest, the pain like a damn dagger to my heart.
The other man watches me intently, a strange smile on his lips. He holds out his hand and I grasp it tightly, fighting to keep from digging in like a caveman to prove a damn point.
He grunts but the smile on his face grows even wider. My brows lift and my head turns between the two of them.
She looks pissed.
Her arms are crossed over her mouthwatering chest. My whole body goes hot and hungry. My cock is ramrod hard.
I shift angrily and glare back at the other guy, still confused. Why the hell is the guy smiling?
“Aspen? Why don’t you introduce me to your friend here?”
“Do I have to?” she mutters.
My brows lift but I nod my head. “My name’s Hunter…Devon.” I see his eyes narrow when I pause and I mentally kick myself. I’ve really got to stop doing that. It’s my damn name. It’s just not what I go by every day.
He eyes me suspiciously, his cold eyes narrowing on me like he’s about to grill me like a prisoner of war.
“Don’t do it, Monroe.”
The woman’s voice shocks me and I whip around to see her standing off to the side. She might be talking to the man but her eyes are locked on Aspen. She nibbles her lower lip and there’s something fearful in her shimmering gray eyes.
But she looks at me and nods her head heavily. She walks closer and holds out an elegant hand. “I’m Fiona. Fee to my friends.” She glances over at Aspen and grins. “Or my cousins.”
Ah. The older cousin that owns the flower shop. I’ve looked into Aspen and her family.
I’m fucked up and I know it. I don’t know what’s going on here. But I know that I’m a little too fascinated with the curvy little goddess with the ocean eyes.
Eyes that are wide and locked on her cousin. Fiona smiles at her and pats her arm. “Why don’t you take the day off and spend some time with your new friend?”
I stiffen. I don’t like the friend comment. But I’m going to let it slide if she manages to do what I haven’t been able to…which is get Aspen to go somewhere with me.
Aspen sighs. “Don’t we have that big order coming in for the wedding this next weekend?”
“Harper and I can handle it. She’s feeling a little better since she went to the doctor.”
I cock my head. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She hasn’t announced it yet but I think she’s pregnant. Not too surprising since she and Darius go at it like bunnies all the damn time. It’s embarrassing. I’ve walked in on them having sex in the shop several times this month.”
Aspen laughs out loud. “I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what she would say about you and Monroe here.”
My eyes dart back to the other man who’s watching me with a smirk that makes me want to punch him. He knew what I thought and he just let me think it.
Even though it looks like he’s with Fi0na and not Aspen. Huffing angrily, I settle back, leaning against the counter.
He just chuckles lightly and Fiona shoots him a dark look. Yeah, she knows what he was doing. Hopefully she makes him pay for it later. Not that he looks bothered by it in the slightest.
“Aspen? You wanna go for a hike with me?” I don’t know what else to do around here but I want more than anything to be alone with her. I’ll probably have a damn heart attack because I can’t remember the last time I went for a hike willingly.
I use the treadmill to run because you need to be in good shape for what I do.
But it’s not like I like it.
“A hike? I’m not sure that’s such a good idea…”
But Aspen grins at her. “I don’t want to hike. But I know something we can do if you want to go hit some trails.”
I grin. “I absolutely want to go somewhere alone with you, sparkles.”
Fiona chokes and then busts out laughing. “Sparkles? Really?”
Aspen moves closer to me and her pointer finger pokes me right in the chest. “I don’t like that name, Hunt. Not at all.”
Smirking at her, I lean down and whisper in her ear, enjoying the shiver that she can’t hide. “I can’t help it. Your eyes sparkle like the sun on the Aegean Sea.”
She gasps, “you’ve seen it in person?”
Fiona shoots Monroe a worried look but he pats her arm lightly and whispers something in her ear.
“I have. I-I was traveling for work.” True. But not completely honest.
“Do you have pictures on your phone?”
I do but my hair is longer and I’ve got my work clothes on. There’s no way she won’t recognize me unless she’s been hiding under a rock for the last ten years.
So I shake my head sadly. “No. I never had time to get pictures.”
Her narrow shoulders slump. “Oh. That’s a shame. I bet it’s something to see.”
“You could go see it.”
Fiona glares at me and Monroe hugs her tightly. But Aspen’s response shuts down the feelings rippling along my skin. Like maybe there’s more between us than I hoped. Like maybe she’s just like me. Still searching.
“Maybe someday,” she sighs. Then she turns to the door and her head whips back to me. “Let’s go, Hunt. You’re the one that wanted to go somewhere alone with me. Here’s your shot.”
I jog along behind her, my boots loud on the hardwood floors. I don’t know why but I can’t stop myself from following along behind my tempting little treat.
She never looks back just hits the door and strides through like a valkyrie laying waste in a war that she’s going to win.
And I follow her like a soldier willing to follow my angel to Valhalla to my ultimate reward.