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“Ibuprofen’s on the nightstand, and breakfast is ready in the kitchen. You missed your call with the renovations team, which I rescheduled for today. And your mother.”
“Shit. My mother.”
“Just call her back and reschedule. The spare phone’s in your office. Olivier will deliver the lobster rolls first thing tomorrow morning.”
Where was the irresponsible man who considered party planning as showing up with a bottle of booze?
“Thank you. Did you say ibuprofen?” I glanced over at the nightstand and picked up the pill.
“It should help with the headache.”
“How did you know I have a headache?”
“You always have one after you drink.”
I’d thought it was because Hunter needed sobering after a night out, but when I thought about it, he hadn’t been the only one with alcohol in his hand. He’d changed so much in five years. The boy who left had come back a man. A beefy man… whom I craved. Maybe it wasn’t too late for the dream.
“Thanks,” I said.
“I’ll wait for you downstairs.” His eyes crinkled with a smile.
I eyeballed the twisting muscles on his back as he walked away. My blood heated and my insides buzzed. I pulled myself together, and joined him at the dinette table where he was clicking away on a laptop.
“The smoothie’s for you.” He pointed to the green glass topped with a mint leaf. “It’s hydrating.”
I was parched, but not from a hangover. It was him. His presence, body, and alpha dominance over my life, had turned my mouth into a desert.
“I’m sorry I got drunk and stupid.”
“You got tipsy and cute. That’s all.”
I sat down across the table. “What are you working on?”
“Catching up with my team back south, and setting up security for the barbecue. Scar is coming to the party.”
“You invited him?”
“He’s coming on business.”
“You mean he’s coming to babysit me.”
“Since when are you two on bad terms?”
“We’re not, but you’re both hiding something. I’m not stupid.”
He released a drawn-out breath. “You’re not, Grace. You’re vulnerable, and we’re trying to protect you.”
“What about the scars you’ll leave after it’s all over?”
“Scars?” He rubbed his chin.
“The ones on my heart.” I looked him dead in the eye.
“I’m not trying to hurt you.”
“Exactly. You’re this perfect man strolling half-naked around my house, and I don’t know where he came from. I don’t understand why this couldn’t have happened five years ago. I mean, we were happy at one point, right?”
He held my stare. His thick brows twitched, and regret flashed in his eyes.
