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“Talking to the owner.”
“No.” He grabbed the clipboard and flipped a few pages. “I’m looking for an…oh, shit. You’reAriadnePrescott.”
“Yes.”
And you’re Glowering Stranger who ended up being nice enough to rescue my mutinous cat, then insisted on making sure I was warm and dry while you made coffee. You’re the tall, strong man with muscles that look carved from stone who kissed me so gently it felt like a leaf brushing across my lips.
He cursed again, his mouth compressing. He tossed the clipboard back onto the counter. An invisible shield slammed in front of him, dissolving their encounter last night and making him suddenly remote.
Unease twisted in Aria’s gut. Why was he so shocked?
Abruptly, he turned away and narrowed his eyes on the glass door leading to the Cat Lounge, which was still covered by a window blind. His laser-sharp gaze took in the surroundings with one glance—the cat-themed mugs and greeting cards, the framed cat paintings, the cat-shaped cookies.
Was he judging her for owning a cat café? Obviously, he—
Her heart stuttered.
He rubbed the back of his neck. The movement caused his sleeve to ride up, revealing a silver cufflink attached to his crisp French cuff. A gold Rolex was wrapped around his wrist.
—was a successful corporate businessman.
Darkness encroached on her, like a thick layer of marine fog blocking out the sunlight. She grasped the edge of the counter.
“Why do you need to talk to me?” she asked. “The owner me, I mean. Ariadne Prescott.”
He didn’t respond. His back was to her, his spine stiff.
“Why do you need to talk to her?” Aria raised her voice, her unease deepening. “Tome.”
Hunter turned, his expression implacable, but his jaw tight. “I’m here on business.”
The cloud darkened. “What kind of business?”
“You received a letter and contract from our company recently.” He pinned her to the spot with the intensity of his gaze. “I’m Hunter Armstrong, Vice-President of Imperial Properties.”
Shitwasn’t a strong enough word.
Aria’s breath escaped in one hard rush. Disappointment stabbed her. She lowered her head and concentrated on wiping down the pristine counter so she wouldn’t have to look at him.
Last night had been a roller-coaster unlike any she’d experienced before—from her huffiness withGlowering Strangerto her kisses withHunter, who’d captured her against his chest so tightly that she’d felt his heart beating against hers. She’d experienced all the lovely, intense flutterings and shivers of physical attraction that she hadn’t felt in longer than she could remember.
No, she hadn’t expected to see him again. But she had expected to enjoy the memory of that crazy wonderful night for the rest of her life, like a chapter in a favorite book that she would re-read again and again.
And not in a million years would she have expected her hot cat-rescuer to be…
The enemy.
