“Now the fun begins.” Cara, who had yet to get the hint that Hunter wasn’t interested, stood on her toes and circled her arms around his neck. “Remember the last time we were together? Right in this house, in your parents’ bedroom—”
“Stop.” He moved her arms from him as politely as he could. And although his focus was on Britt, the shame of that night came barreling at him. He’d been so drunk he barely remembered what he did with Cara. But he recalled enough, and it made his stomach turn.
“Hunter—”
He pulled his gaze away from Britt long enough to look at Cara. “Sorry. I’m not interested.”
Her perfectly shaped eyebrows flattened. “Were you ever?”
No more lies. “No.”
Hurt spread across her face. “So you just used me?”
His chest compressed. “Yes.”
A string of expletives that would embarrass a sailor flew out of her mouth. He didn’t try to stop her. He deserved every insult. When she was done, he saw that a few people were watching. Thankfully, his family was still far enough away basking in congratulations that they didn’t notice.
“You’re the worst, Hunter Pickett.” She spun on her heel and stalked off.
He adjusted his tie and glanced around at the small group of onlookers. Unable to defend the indefensible, he turned his gaze from them and back to Britt.
But she was gone.
***
“Brittany, wait.”
Britt ignored her father’s pleas as she tried to thread her way through the crowd, barely able to see through the tears in her eyes. She was also lost and had no idea where she was or how to escape. The house was so big, the guests so numerous, she could go around in circles all night and never find the front door.
“Brittany!”
She could hardly hear his voice above the din, and she wasn’t being fair to him by refusing to respond. It wasn’t his fault Hunter was a creep. No, worse than a creep. He was sadistic. There wasno other word to describe him. He’d reeled her in like she was a brainless fish and toyed with her, when all the while he lived a totally different life. Did he even work at a warehouse? And that woman clinging to him—was she his girlfriend? Hiswife? She didn’t know, and she didn’t care. Not anymore. All she wanted was to get out of there.
“Britt!”
She halted, almost crushed by the throng of people moving around. But she could hear the one voice she’d never expected. “Mom?”
“Excuse me. Coming through.” Her mother was shoving her way through the partygoers until she was in front of her, eyes blazing. “Brittany Danielle, what are you doing here?”
“Amy...” A sharp-looking middle-aged man came up beside her, bewildered eyes behind trendy dark-framed glasses. He circled his arm around her mother’s waist in a protective gesture. “Are you okay?”
“No,” she growled, not looking at him and keeping her ire on Britt. “Where is your father?”
“Right here.” He moved to stand beside Britt.
Mom pressed her lips into a line so tight they turned white.
“I can explain,” Dad said.
“I don’t want your explanations,” she shot back. “How could you do this to me? How could you...” She glared at Dad again, then took off.
“Amy, don’t.” Dad chased after her, both of them disappearing in the crowd.
Britt was pulling on her gloves so hard they were slipping off her arms. She wanted to run. She wanted to crawl in a hole. Most of all, she wanted to throw up. But all she could do was stand there and stare at the man who was with her mother.
“Ah... I’m Max,” he said, thrusting out his hand. “You must be Amy’s daughter.”
She stared at his hand in a daze. He knew about her? A person didn’t bring a stranger to a party like this. Max had to be Mom’s boyfriend.Why didn’t she tell me?
