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“What did he do to you?” Hunter repeated firmer.
I hesitated. “He cheated on me, but that’s not the point.” Not the one I was trying to make at least.
Hunter’s jaw shifted. “He knew you had trust issues before he did that?”
I shrugged in affirmation.
Which made Hunter scrub his jaw so hard that skin cells were probably lost.
“He knew you had a hard time trusting people, and he still cheated on you.” His voice dripped with disdain, every word laced with a biting edge.
“If I hadn’t written off the red flags as my own issues, I might’ve seen it coming.”
To this, Hunter bit his lip so hard, that it lost its color.
“What’s his name?”
I blinked. “Why?”
“Exceedingly curious if the man has any warrants that could use prioritization.”
My mouth curled up. “Anyway”—I cleared my throat—“it was proof I can’t trust people.” Proof I was broken inside, incapable of giving someone else what’s required to make a relationship work.
Hunter’s gaze morphed from fury toward my ex to a pool of sorrow that seemed to reflect the painful understanding that we could never be more than friends. He was silent for a long time while I grappled with having divulged something so personal to him. I was surprised I had done it, but I was even more surprised that confiding in him felt right.
Hunter eventually stepped back and grabbed the back of his neck.
“You might not be able to trust me,” Hunter said. “But I hope you know I’m here for you. Even if it’s only as a friend.”
A pang sliced through my gut. I’d never had a man care about me like this before, but this expansive hope trying to break free had the power to destroy me. Hunter deserved better, too. Here he was, so generous and caring, willing to settle for whatever pieces I was able to give. When I was too broken to ever let him in.
“A friend sounds great,” I said.
He hesitated, then offered a slight, disappointed nod. “Meanwhile”—his voice deepened—“I’d like you to stay here at the house temporarily. Franco sent a guy after you today, and I can’t stomach the idea of you being down at that cottage without protection.”
The act of violence was a definite escalation, but I didn’t trust myself to live in Hunter’s mansion without something physical happening between the two of us.
It’s funny how a threat to your heart can seem more catastrophic than a threat to your safety.
“The security cameras were a good idea.” I nodded. “I’ll leave them up, and I’ll close my blinds and take precautions. I’ll call the detective daily to get an update on Franco’s whereabouts, and now that we know he’s hunting for a USB drive, I’ll ask them to turn over Dominic’s place to look for it. But for now, I’m going to stay at my place.”
He put his palms up in surrender. “I promise I’ll behave myself.”
But I couldn’t make the same promise. If I stayed here, something would happen between us, and there would be no going back. Everything in my life was so out of control. I needed to hold on to the stability that was at my core. I might not be able to protect myself against everything that was coming at me, but I could at least protect my heart.
I slipped off the center island where our relationship almost transcended into something different.
“I’ll be just down the hill,” I said.
A frown tugged at the corners of his mouth, his gaze distant for a moment before looking down at me with those sapphires. Judging by the way he was chewing the inside of his cheek, he seemed to want to debate me, but after a moment, he nodded grimly.
“I called the auto repair shop earlier,” Hunter said.
Crap. That was on my list, and I forgot.
“Your car needs a new timing belt.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.” So, what was with hisI’m sorry for your lossface?
