“Of course. You look great.” Hunter sat up a bit and paused in rubbing Carrot’s eager cheek. “I’m so happy for you.” He gave me the same bright smile he’d be giving me all night.
He’d been wonderful since the moment I told him I got the job. He’d organized a quick celebratory glass of champagne and snack of my favorite appetizers then he insisted he walk me home and staywith me for safety, which I appreciated. The news this morning that vamps were out there dealing drug was just one more reminder that New Omaha wasn’t always safe, especially at night.
But I was very slowly starting to realize not all vamps were equally awful. Hunter had given Vance, who was becoming far more competent by the day, the job of acting manager for the night. And when Hunter reminded him about Conrad, he’d been super serious in his reply and said he would call Hunter and the police immediately if the bouncers spotted him and make sure they detained him.
Anyway, I was wearing the same skirt I’d worn for my initial interview, except I’d slipped on a green cowl neck sweater. The sweater was pretty loose around my throat—thank goodness—but my hope was it would cover my scars if I adjusted it just right. Trying to get an objective opinion, but suspecting Hunter would say anything to calm my nerves, I arched an eyebrow. “Why do I get the feeling you’d say the same thing if I was wearing my ratty jeans and T-shirt?”
Hunter smiled in feigned innocence as Carrot curled up on his lap and settled in for a snooze. “I think you look great. You want me to lie?”
I huffed, but returned his smile. He really was the sweetest friend and the best boss in the world. Though he might not be my employer much longer. We still hadn’t talked about how my new job might change things. “But, um… you think the sweater covers my—you know?”
His face turned serious for a moment. “It does. Don’t worry. And even if something showed, you shouldn’t worry what others at Midas might think. They’ll soon realize how lucky they are to have you. I mean that sincerely.”
“I hope you’re right. I just want to look nice. At least for my first day.”
“You do.” I could see his eyes roaming up and down my body, trying to be discreet about it. Maybe once I no longer worked for him, I could tell him that he didn’t need to hide it. I liked him lookingat me, especially when his eyes heated like they were starting to right now.
Over the recent days I’d stayed with him, I’d been checking him out more and more too. I still marveled that I’d felt so comfortable with him last night. So comfortedbyhim. I’d slept secure in the circle of his arms, knowing he’d never move things anywhere I didn’t want to go. I could sleep soundly and give myself over to the warm strength of his body.
Maybe I was ready to explore more with someone. Make new memories of a man touching me with tenderness instead of malice. Rewrite some of the scars on my psyche with the help of someone trustworthy. But… should I start anything with Hunter if it couldn’t go anywhere?
I had to get out of this town, get back to some semblance of a stable human life away from all the bad memories and the limiting opportunities for a girl like me here. If things got serious, it wasn’t like I could ask Hunter to leave his club. And I couldn’t stay. I needed a blank slate, a redo, so I could really start living.
“You look great,” he repeated, filling in my silence.
I sat near him, resisting the urge to pet Carrot, who was now happily asleep on his lap. “Thanks so much. And, about the club, I won’t bail on you. Maybe I just cut back a bit?”
Chuckling, being careful not to disturb Carrot as he moved his legs closer to me, he leaned forward and placed a warm palm on top of my hand. His touch was firm yet gentle, despite his hand dwarfing mine. It pulsed pleasure up my arm and tingles around my neck. I almost jerked back from the foreign sensations, as lovely as they were.
This sort of physical attention from a man I was interested in was so new. It would take some getting used to. But I liked it. A lot.
His words were soft as he said, “We both know I’ll be sad when you leave the club, but I want what’s best for you. So does Bryce. And I think once you’ve had a week to settle in at Midas, you should just stop at the club completely. The work at the news station, changingall that hidden pro-Temple bullshit from their logos and other stuff, is going to be challenging. You shouldn’t burn yourself out, okay?”
I placed my palm on top of his. “But I don’t want to leave you in the lurch. Perhaps I can do a few shifts here and there, just to, you know—” I wanted to say, spend as much time with him as possible, but awkwardness—and not knowing how he really felt about me—stopped me from admitting it.
He squeezed my hand, surging more delightful feelings across my body. Then he replied as if he’d read my mind. God, I wasn’t sure who was sharper at reading people, him or Bryce. They both seemed like experts. “That’s possible, and if you really want to, I won’t stop you. Remember though, we’ll still see each other plenty, regardless.”
“Oh? You mean until Conrad is caught?”
“Well, yes. But whatever happens with him, I was kind of hoping you’d stay here for… as long as you like? Rent-free, of course. No matter how many wads of cash Bryce wires into your bank account.” He winked, but it was a bit awkward, like he was having his own bit of insecurity tonight.
I cleared my throat unnecessarily, feeling my cheeks heat. “I’d have to pay something. It wouldn’t be right not to pay once my new salary starts coming in. And I don’t want to impose. I—”
His handsome face drew closer to mine. The square jaw peppered in stubble, the kind eyes, brought feelings up inside me I was having trouble concealing. His woodsy, almost earthy scent wasn’t exactly helping me keep my cool either. “You’re not imposing. I’m offering and doing it gladly. More than gladly, truth be told.” He nodded down at Carrot. “And anyway, I’m only asking because I can’t bear to be away from this cat.”
I laughed. Giving the top of his hand a playful smack, pretending to be annoyed. “You jerk.” I giggled.
Returning the laugh and moving his face even closer, until our noses were just an inch or two apart, I saw his Adam’s apple bob deeply as his cheeks flared pink. His manly scent pulsed evenstronger, and I fought the urge to press myself against him, torso to torso, like we’d been last night. Even though we were so close, I barely caught his next words. He spoke them almost under his breath. “And there’s something I need to confess…”
Despite his clear strength and calm, steady presence, he looked so vulnerable at that moment, like a child who needed a reassuring hug. I wanted to give it to him but felt myself holding back with that same awkwardness and worry of the unknown again. My tone teasing subtly, I replied, “Is this anything like when you confessed to following me back to where I lived?”
He pulled back slightly.
Oh, I shouldn’t have teased.
His gaze went down to Carrot who’d stirred. She accepted a soft pet from him with a heavy purr before closing her eyes again. He looked back up at me. “I’d kind of hoped you’d forgiven and forgotten about that.”
I squeezed his hand. “Of course I’ve forgiven. But I haven’t forgotten your one other secret confession since we’ve met. I’m good at remembering things, you know.”
