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“I’m sorry you had to go through that with Keira. She can be quite bossy at times. She always was.”
Livia seems to shrink away from me, pulling her hand from mine.
“It’s fine. I’m grateful for your help.”
I don’t want her to be grateful. I want her to stay here with me, and let me hold her and comfort her and make it better. But she seems determined to leave, edging toward the door as she’s speaking, and I can’t stop her. I wish I could, but I have to let her go.
For now.
Chapter Seven
Livia
I’ve got so much work to do, but I can’t seem to settle to anything, and the more I try to concentrate, the worse it gets, the more I struggle not to burst into tears… again.
Obviously, I’m upset about the photographs, but it’s more than that.
It’s Hunter.
I’m grateful to him for offering to help. His response couldn’t have been more different from the one Lucian gave me, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget how wonderful it felt when Hunter put his arm around me and took me into his office. I’d been so scared, felt so vulnerable, and suddenly, with that one move, he made me feel safe again. Leaning in to him, craving more, felt like the most natural thing in the world, and I was so disappointed when he sat me on the couch, and then took a seat opposite. I wanted to have him close again… needed to feel the warmth of his touch, the strength of his arms. I could feel the panic rising inside me. Even when he came back and crouched in front of me, he wasn’t close enough. I needed more. But then he said he’d help. He said he wanted to help, and the relief was overwhelming… until I realized what that meant.
I didn’t mind that he was asking for assistance from a friend. It was the nature of their friendship that bothered me. When he’d said he knew a private detective, I had images of a slightly overweight man in a crumpled suit. I never envisioned that he’d call a woman, or that she’d be an ex-girlfriend of his. One of many, no doubt.
I could hear their conversation, and just like that one I overheard in the ladies’ room between Casey, Gina and Cole, I wished I could be anywhere but in his office, listening to things I didn’t want to know… like how they broke up, or that Keira didn’t consider it to be Hunter’s fault. I presume that meant it was hers. In that case, though, would he have been asking a favor of her? I wasn’t sure. I’m still not. Is that the kind of thing people do when they’ve broken up? Or does that mean it wasn’t anyone’s fault, and they just went their separate ways? And if that’s what happened, does he still love her?
God… I’m so confused.
I’m confused about everything, except the fact that, no matter how much I love Hunter, I know nothing can ever happen between us. Not now I’ve met Keira.
When she arrived, there wasn’t a crumpled suit in sight, and I couldn’t help staring at her. She oozed sex appeal and sophistication, her blue dress hugging her svelte figure, and her makeup flawless. Her perfume was spicy, with a hint of musk, and while it wasn’t overpowering, it stifled my more delicate scent and knocked it into submission.
I followed quickly behind.
As I walked into Hunter’s office, deciding to knock, for some reason, I realized that if Keira is the kind of woman he’s used to going out with, there’s no way he’d give me a second glance, outside of the confines of my job.
If that’s true, though, can I stay here? Can I work for Hunter, knowing how much I love him and want him, and that he’ll never feel the same way about me?
“Is Hunter available?” I look up at the man standing in front of me, his head tipped slightly to one side and a smile on his lips. He’s somewhere between thirty-five and forty, and is just under six feet tall, with mid-brown hair and attractive hazel eyes. He’s vaguely familiar and I wrack my brain. I remember him from the meeting of account executives, and suddenly I recall his voice from this morning’s telephone call.
“You’re Preston Tucker.”
His smile widens.
“Well done. I’m impressed you remembered.”
I smile back and get to my feet. “I’ll just check to see how Hunter’s fixed.”
He nods and I feel him watching me as I walk to Hunter’s door, knocking on the frame again. He looks up from behind his desk, frowning.
“Preston Tucker’s here to see you.”
He nods his head. “Okay. Just come in for a second, will you?”
I hesitate, but only for a moment, and then walk into his office, right up to his desk. “Is something wrong?” I ask, feeling more nervous than I have since my first day here.
“I don’t know. You tell me.” I frown, unsure of his meaning. “Why have you started knocking on my doorframe again?”
I look down at the surface of his desk, unwilling – unable – to gaze on his perfect face for a moment longer, knowing that what I want can never happen.
