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She shrugged. “One and done has been your MO since Natalie died,” she pointed out softly. “This is the first time in years that I’ve seen you so affected by a woman.”
Hunter didn’t respond and jammed his hand through his hair. The more difficult truth was that he simply couldn’t wrap his head around never seeing Elle again. Did he want to sink his cock inside her soft, sweet, giv
ing body a few more times? Definitely. But he didn’t just want her physically . . . he was shocked to realize that he wanted to learn about all those other intriguing nuances he’d seen glimpses of the night before. The sadness when she’d talked about the situation with her stepmother and sisters and her own decency despite their selfish decision to exclude her from the ball. And most refreshing was the fact that she had no ulterior motives when it came to him and his wealth, when he was so used to women trying to pursue him as a rich commodity.
For the first time in a long time, he’d just been himself with Elle. There had been no pretenses and no expectations between them beyond pleasure. During the first few hours they’d spent together at the ball, that cynical, jaded part of his personality he’d worn like armor for years had gradually faded away because she’d been so genuine, guileless, and so incredibly easy to be with.
“Considering how she left, I’m thinking she wanted to keep it a one-night stand,” Tempest said, cutting into his thoughts with her assessment of the situation.
Hunter shrugged, undeterred. “Then I’m going to have to track her down and find her and convince her otherwise.”
“Track her down?” Tempest frowned at him. “She didn’t give you any information about herself?”
He shook his head and rubbed at the back of his neck, realizing how little he had to go on. “All I have is her first name. Elle. That’s it.”
And who knew if that was even her real name? He’d have to start his search with Michael, the security guy who’d originally denied Elle access to the ball. Hopefully the other man would remember something that would give Hunter some kind of lead, though considering she hadn’t been on the RSVP list, finding her might prove to be more challenging than he’d anticipated.
“And you have her shoe,” Tempest said, amusement in her voice. “Returning it gives you an excuse to see her again so you don’t look like a total stalker.”
Hunter grunted indignantly. “I’m not going to stalk her.” He was going to charm and persuade her to see him again. Big difference.
“Come on, let’s head up to Maddux’s place,” his sister said, turning around and heading toward the elevator. “I’m dying to know what happened with Theodore last night.”
At the mention of the man who’d so carelessly and purposely destroyed their family, Hunter grew more serious. “I’d like to think that he’s curled up in a ball somewhere like a demented old man now that he’s indebted to Maddux and his entire life has been fucked up.” The thought brought Hunter great joy after waiting fourteen years to exact revenge for their parents’ demise.
They rode the elevator two floors up, and when the lift arrived, they walked into the foyer of Maddux’s penthouse and strolled toward the main part of the apartment, which was open concept, with the living room dominating one long area on the right and the kitchen located on the left.
Hunter spotted Maddux standing beside a beautiful younger woman who was sitting on a stool at the kitchen counter, her hair a bit disheveled and wearing what looked to be one of his brother’s T-shirts, judging by how large it was on her small frame. The girl’s eyes were big and round, like a deer caught in headlights, as she stared at him and Tempest as they drew closer. His brother looked oddly tense. Clearly, he and Tempest should have called first instead of assuming Maddux would be alone.
“You didn’t tell us you had an overnight guest,” Hunter said, his tone neutral. His brother’s demeanor was composed, but he sensed something was off. “Maybe Tempest and I should come back later to hear the details on Theodore?”
Maddux shook his head. “She isn’t the kind of guest you’re insinuating.” He exhaled a deep breath before saying, “This is Arabella Cole.”
Tempest gasped at the unexpected and shocking announcement, and Hunter’s body stiffened as he glared at a very uncomfortable-looking Arabella, who was clearly, by name, Theodore’s daughter. What. The. Fuck? A full range of emotions took hold inside him, the most prominent of which was complete and total anger. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what she was doing in Maddux’s place, looking as though his brother had spent the night fucking her. The plan had been to fuck over Theodore, not his goddamn daughter.
Tempest glanced from Arabella, whose cheeks were flushed with what Hunter assumed was embarrassment, to Maddux, confusion etching her features. “Maddux . . . what’s going on?” she asked, voicing the question that Hunter had been about to ask, but not nearly as eloquently.
“Clearly, we need to talk,” Hunter snapped angrily before his brother could reply.
“Yes, we do.” Maddux’s voice was gruff as he jerked his head toward the opposite side of the apartment. “In my office.”
Maddux turned and headed in that direction. While Tempest walked past Arabella with a disapproving frown, Hunter wasn’t so kind. He glared at her in resentment, because she didn’t belong there, and he couldn’t imagine a scenario where Maddux would have even allowed her into his penthouse. She averted her gaze and shifted awkwardly on the barstool.
As soon as they were in Maddux’s office and the door shut behind the three of them, Hunter didn’t hesitate to confront his brother.
“What the fuck is going on, Maddux?” His voice was as furious as he felt. “We trusted you to stick to the plan and take down that bastard who killed our parents, and instead you decided to bring his daughter up to your penthouse so you could screw her?”
Maddux’s jaw clenched, though to his credit, he remained calm. “I didn’t screw her.”
“What happened?” Tempest asked more reasonably, her arms crossed over her chest. “Obviously, things didn’t go as planned.”
Maddux rubbed his fingers across his forehead. “Everything was proceeding as we’d discussed, until Theodore’s daughter, Arabella, made her presence known at the door, along with the fact that she’d eavesdropped on the conversation inside the room.”
Tempest frowned. “Was she aware of her father’s debt or gambling problem . . . or anything else Theodore is responsible for?”
Maddux shook his head. “No, she was, and is, innocent and oblivious to her father’s lifestyle and criminal activities.”
Hunter dropped into one of the leather wingback chairs in the room, his long legs splayed in front of him, feeling the fury radiating from his core. “Then maybe you should fucking tell her so she’ll hate her father as much as we do.”
