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“Control comes with age,” he said, his voice more even. “Age and practice. I don’t have a lot of either, but I seem to be getting a crash course lately.” He took a breath and blew it out through his teeth. “I was eleven when my parents died, and they were the closest thing to a teacher that we had.”
“But Tyler and Seth—they’re like you,” she said.
He shook his head. “They’re not like us. They aren’t the risk. We are.”
“Like ... when I gave you water. When you were unconscious in the parking lot, and you came up fighting.”
At that, he did look over, meeting her gaze. “Yeah.” His voice was rough. “Or when we’re being shot at.”
faltered a bit. “Won’t your brothers be home?”
“Michael will. I have no idea if the twins have headed back yet.”
She’d be lying if she said curiosity wasn’t spurring her to agree—if for no other reason than to spend fifteen minutes alone with him, to let the questions in her mind spill off her tongue.
“You’re considering this?” said Hunter.
She looked at him, feeling a spot of warmth on her cheeks. She was glad for the shadows to hide it. “It doesn’t mean anything. I just—my mother—”
“Wow, thanks,” said Chris.
“That’s not what I meant.” She fingered the stones along her wrist, then glanced up at Hunter through her lashes. “Do you want these back?”
Now Chris went still. She felt his eyes on the bracelets on her wrist, the bracelets that obviously had come from Hunter. That blush flared a little hotter.
Hunter was looking down at her, and he offered a small smile—a private smile. “When you’re ready.”
She smiled back. She couldn’t help it.
Then he swung around to glare at Chris. “Look. If you drag her into danger again—”
“What? You’ll come after me with a loaded firearm?”
“Damn it, you are one pain in the ass—”
She didn’t stay to listen to the rest. She rolled her eyes, turned on her heel, and stomped across the grass, heading for her car.
CHAPTER 15
Chris watched Becca waver a bit while she slid her key into the lock. She’d been drunk at the party—right? And she’d practically drowned.
He reached out and took her keys.
“I’m okay,” she said.
Like he wanted to find out the hard way. “Humor me.”
That new kid was still standing nearby, watching their exchange. “I still think I should take you home,” he said. “Or at least follow you.”
The only way this guy was coming along was unconscious in the trunk. Chris gritted his teeth and focused on getting her door open.
Becca left him with the keys and headed for the passenger side. “I’m fine, Hunter.” She hesitated. “Chris is all right.”
Yeah. Bite me, dog-boy. Chris gave a firm yank to the door, and it swung open.
But Becca paused before getting in the car, pushing her hair behind one ear. “Thanks for inviting me,” she said to Hunter. “I had fun. I mean, before the whole gun thing.”
Chris dropped into the driver’s seat and pulled the door closed. He sure didn’t have to sit here and listen while they exchanged digits.
