by Nina Lindsey
“It was a great start.” He put his hand on the door handle, barely stopping himself from saying that he’d show her the secrets of New York when she came to visit him in Manhattan.
This was totally out of hand. He needed to get a grip.
“Well, thank you.” She shifted, sliding her hand over the steering wheel. “We can do this again sometime, if you’d like to.”
Say no. You’re busy. Work to do. Thanks but no thanks.
“I’d like to,” he said.
“Good.” Her eyes creased with a smile. “So would I.”
He started to get out of the van. His heart began a low, heavy beat. Before he could think, before he could talk himself out of it, he grabbed her shoulders and hauled her against him.
Aria gasped, her eyes widening right before he brought his mouth crashing down on hers. Lust and light exploded through him. He kissed her with a complete lack of finesse, aching only to claim her in the rawest way possible.
She stiffened in shock for an instant before a moan emerged from her throat, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her breasts pressed against his chest.
Fuck, yeah.
He was already hard, and they hadn’t even done anything. Yet.
In one movement, he grabbed her waist and hauled her over the console so she was straddling his lap. Breaking her mouth from his, she lifted her head and stared at him, her eyes dazed in the dim light.
“God, Hunter.” She pulled in a breath and shifted against his groin, her thighs hugging his hips. “What are we…”
He didn’t know. He didn’t care. All he wanted was her.
Sliding his hand to the back of her neck, he brought her lips back to his. She tasted like berries and cream. Her skin was hot, as if she’d soaked up the ocean sun. The bright orange scent of her filled his head, sank into his blood. She’d warm even the coldest New York winter, bringing an endless summer into his life.
He drove his fingers into her hair, slanting her mouth more firmly against his. Her breath heated his lips. She rocked against him.
He groaned, his whole body tensing with a painful combination of lust and a useless attempt at self-control. She grasped his shoulders, twisting her fingers into his T-shirt as she swept her tongue into his mouth and set his blood aflame.
Keeping his mouth locked to hers, he ran his hand over her smooth bare leg and underneath her skirt. He curved his fingers against her inner thigh. She twitched in reaction, then lifted her body upward slightly to give him better access. Hunter clenched his jaw, not sure how much longer he could hold off with her so ripe and ready.
Aria pressed her forehead against his, her grip on him tightening. “This is insane.”
“That’s one word for it.” He could think of another one, too. Like incredible.
He slipped his fingers underneath the elastic of her underwear and found her hot core.
“Hunter.” Her whole body tensed. She arched her hips toward him, her breathing fast.
“Come on.” He pressed his lips to the curve of her throat and over her collarbone.
She responded to his touch with the effortlessness of a leaf curving into the wind. He rubbed and stroked her folds, and she rocked against his hand and panted. Right when he sensed her body begin to tighten with arousal, he latched his arm around her waist and kissed her. She cried out against his mouth, her body trembling with release.
Though Hunter had known many pleasures in life, the sensation of Aria coming in his arms left all the others far behind. She sank against him, her chest heaving and her body limp. He ran his hands down her back to her ass. He could have just sat there for the next hour or eight with her all warm and loose against him.
She lifted her head, pushing her hair away from her flushed face. Her eyes were dark with both satisfaction and a touch of uncertainty. She brushed her fingers over the bulge in his jeans. “Do you want…”
“No.” He cupped his hand against the side of her face. “You’re beautiful. That was for you. And that’s all this is. Neither one of us is going to overthink anything.”
“Agreed.” She studied him, her sooty lashes creating shadows on her cheekbones. She rubbed her thumb over his mouth and eased off him to climb back into the driver’s seat. “But I don’t think we qualify anymore as something resembling friends. I’m pretty sure we’re actual friends now.”
“No. We’re more than friends.” He winked at her, glad when she smiled in response, and turned to open the van door. “Thanks again for tonight. Get a good night’s sleep.”
“You too.”
He felt her watching him as he unlocked the inn’s gate and headed up the steps of the front porch. He let himself into the foyer, where the front desk had a Closed – Text For Service sign followed by Mrs. Higgins’ cell number.
Digging the key from his pocket, he started toward his room. Halfway there, he stopped. Female voices rose from nearby.
His spine tensed. He strode to the dining room.
Mrs. Higgins waved at him from where she stood speaking to another woman. “Oh, Mr. Armstrong, I thought I heard you come in. I believe you two know each other?”
“Of course.” Juliette Sinclair turned and smiled. “Hello, Hunter.”
Chapter 17
“Say Catnip.” Aria clicked a photo of a smiling Edith and Buster and lowered her phone. She uploaded the photo to the front page of the café website and added a congratulatory message: Hooray! Buster found his forever home with Edith!
“I’ll take exceptional care of him.” Edith hugged the cat before putting him into the crate.
“He’ll take good care of you, too.” Aria picked up the gift basket filled with toys, cat food, and treats that she gave to all the cats’ new adoptive parents. “If you don’t mind, I’d love to come and visit after he’s settled in.”
“Of course, my dear.” Edith picked up the crate and started out to her car. “He’ll be thrilled to see you. We both will. I’d love the company, too.”
Aria followed her outside and set the gift basket in the backseat. She helped Edith arrange the crate in the front. She bent to peek into the crate at Buster. Her heart constricted a little.
“Be good, okay?” She stuck her finger through the grate and touched his paw. “I’ll miss you.”
He twitched his whiskers. She backed away and closed the car door, turning to hug Edith.
“I’ll give you a call next week.” Edith embraced her and started around to the driver’s seat. “And I’ll email you tonight to let you know how he’s doing.”
Aria nodded, waving as Edith and Buster pulled away and headed home. She returned to the Cat Lounge, where the other cats were roaming more than usual—as they always did when one of their own moved out. She sat down to both soothe the cats and to take comfort of her own in petting their silky fur.
Truth be told, it was more than just Buster being gone that had her restless and anxious. As if she hadn’t been preoccupied enough with Hunter over the past couple of weeks, after their impromptu slumber party, then the town “date” and hot encounter two nights ago, she really couldn’t stop thinking of him.
The uplifting movie trailer in her head had changed to The Hunter Show, Starring Hunter Armstrong. All Hunter, all the time.
Hunter when she was eating breakfast, Hunter in the shower—most definitely Hunter in the shower—Hunter when she was picking up her bakery order, making coffee, feeding the cats. Hunter when she was cleaning the litter boxes, for lord’s sake.
She’d been so wrong about thinking he was cut from the same cloth as Steve had been. Hunter was rational and able to compartmentalize his life, but he didn’t shut down his emotions. Even when he’d visibly tried to distance himself from her, she’d sensed his feelings and restraint simmering just underneath the surface.
She scratched Porkchop’s ears and looked out the window at Mariposa Street. Afternoon sunlight glowed off the cobblestone street, and a couple sat at a table outside Nico’s. Two young women walked toward The Bloom Room.<
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Hunter had texted her several times, apologizing for not being able to stop by since the other night, which had been both more fun and hotter than she’d anticipated. Just thinking about his intimate touch elicited a warm, swirling sensation in her belly…and the secret longing to learn the full extent of his expertise.
It had been a long time since she’d fully enjoyed sex. Any kind of intimacy with Steve had been trying on an emotional level because she’d been forced to keep her wants and needs to herself. She’d been voiceless in all areas of their relationship.
She certainly hadn’t been that way with Hunter—from ordering him out of her café to refusing to sign the contract, to challenging him to a debate. She’d added another brick to her wall of self-confidence with every resolution. And even though they were on opposite sides, Hunter liked her fire. His appreciation shone in every quick smile and spark of admiration.
Setting the cat aside, she walked to the window and peered down the street at the Rags to Riches Thrift Shop. Hunter stood on the sidewalk, his tablet in his hand as he spoke to the owner, Annie.
Though he was no doubt trying to talk Annie into his plans, Aria would have normally experienced an intense burst of pleasure at the sight of him.
Except…another woman stood at his side. Elegantly dressed in a red suit and heels, she had sleek hair and a posture that commanded attention. Sunglasses covered her eyes, and she carried a slim leather briefcase. She appeared to have everything that Aria didn’t—big city sophistication, wealth, elegance, and an innate poise.
Given the way she slipped her arm through Hunter’s as they continued walking, she also had him. Or thought she did.
Jealousy snaked through Aria’s gut. She didn’t have a right to be jealous—it wasn’t as if she and Hunter were even dating, after all—but she suddenly wished she had the right to touch him with the same casual ease.
She wished she was sophisticated and knew how to dress elegantly with everything coordinated—including her shoes. Instead she wore ragtag dresses, jeans with holes in them, and old sandals that displayed her toe-ring. The other woman’s hair was styled to perfection with not a strand out of place.
Aria pushed a lock of her messy hair behind her ear and wondered when she’d last gotten it cut, much less styled.
Her heart crashed against her ribs. Hunter and the woman were walking toward the café. He shook his head, pointing toward the movie theater. Releasing his arm, the woman shrugged and started up the front porch steps.
Shit.
Aria hastily untied her stained apron and attempted to smooth out the wrinkles on her cotton tunic. She pulled a hairband off her wrist and managed to fasten a quick ponytail the instant before the woman strode inside.
Aria hurried to the front room, closing the Cat Lounge door behind her. She forced a smile as Hunter entered, his mouth tight.
“Welcome to Meow and Then.” Her voice sounded high and thin. “Can I get you something?”
“Aria, this is my colleague, Juliette.” Hunter stepped forward, locking his gaze to hers. “She arrived unexpectedly a couple of days ago.”
Juliette took off her sunglasses, revealing striking blue eyes enhanced with artfully applied cosmetics. Her red lipstick was the exact shade of her suit. She smiled and extended a hand to Aria.
“Juliette Sinclair,” she said. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Prescott.”
“You too.” She shook the other woman’s hand.
Sinclair. Not Bruce Sinclair’s wife. Aria had seen photos of the older, dark-haired Mrs. Sinclair, and since Juliette resembled her…
“Are you Bruce Sinclair’s daughter?”
“I am.” Juliette swept her cool gaze around the café. “This is a nice place. I can understand why you would hesitate to sell it.”
“We’re not here to discuss the contract.” Hunter put his briefcase on the counter and edged slightly between Juliette and Aria.
“Actually, I’m not hesitating.” Aria stiffened her spine and eyed the other woman. “I’ve already made my decision. I’m not selling my café.”
“That’s what Hunter said.” Juliette picked up a mouse-shaped catnip toy. Her mouth twisted. “Has he told you that we have verbal commitments from eight owners already?”
Aria swallowed her shock. “That’s not a majority.”
“Four more is all we need.” Juliette gave her an arch smile.
“Juliette.” Hunter’s voice held a distinct warning.
“You need votes, not verbal commitments.” Aria dug her fingernails into her palms. “And you may think you have this locked down, but no one knows what will happen until all the ballots are in.”
“I’m quite confident people appreciate the attractiveness of our offer.” Juliette peered through the window looking into the Cat Lounge. “I don’t mean this to be rude, but why in the love of god would you stay here? I’m not a cat person, but some people lose their shit when they get within ten feet of a feline. With enough foot traffic, you could get rid of all these cats in less than a week.”
Anger swept through Aria. “I don’t want to get rid of them. I want to find them good homes.”
“Of course.” Juliette’s voice was a verbal eye-roll.
“We’re leaving.” Hunter took hold of Juliette’s arm and turned her toward the door. “Aria, I apologize.”
“I didn’t offend you, did I?” Tugging her arm from Hunter’s grip, Juliette lifted her eyebrows at Aria. “I want women-owned businesses, including yours, to succeed. But the fact is that you need to be in a much better location or you’re going to be forced to shut down. Then what will happen to your cats?”
Tension shot down Aria’s spine. She couldn’t formulate a response because she had none.
“I know that’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth.” Juliette walked to the door, her heels clicking sharply. “Take it for what it’s worth. For the record, it’s worth quite a bit.”
As soon as she stepped outside, Hunter closed the door behind her and turned to Aria. Irritation and regret glittered in his eyes.
“I see now why you haven’t stopped by.” She tried to keep her voice from wavering.
“I’m sorry.” He approached, lifting one hand to touch her before dropping it back to his side. “I didn’t know she was coming, and I didn’t want to bring her here. But—”
Aria shook her head to stop his words. “It’s part of the job. I know. It’s okay.”
She glanced past him to where Juliette stood on the porch, a phone at her ear. She stood like a model, one hand on her hip and her back straight as a metal plate. Confidence radiated from every pore.
“You should go.” Aria went behind the counter to put a physical barrier between her and Hunter. “I’m sure you have work to do.”
His jaw clenched. “We need to talk.”
“I’m not interested in talking right now.” Outside, Juliette had ended the call and was swiping the screen of her phone. “Hunter, please go.”
For a moment, he stood there, immovable as a boulder. She walked to the door and opened it, pointing a finger to the sidewalk. His jaw clenched.
“I’ll be back tonight.” He grabbed his briefcase and stalked out the door, walking away so fast that Juliette had to hurry to catch up with him.
As Aria watched them continue down the street, she thought about Hunter’s longstanding plan for his future. Deep inside, she suspected that his plan included a woman exactly like Juliette Sinclair.
Chapter 18
“It’s all very cute and quaint.” Juliette slipped her sunglasses back into her purse as she and Hunter walked up the front steps of the Outside Inn. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t translate to revenue unless you’re doing the right marketing. My guess is that this town doesn’t even have a tourism department.”
“They rely on tourism during the summer.” Hunter pulled open the door and stepped aside to let her enter. “But it’s word of mouth, not because of marketing or advertising.”
> “That’s their problem, then. Things will change when Imperial moves in. Let’s go over the open space proposal again. Do you have the blueprints with you?”
“Yes, and they’re also on my laptop.”
“Good.” She strode into the foyer, her nostrils twitching. “What is that smell?”
“Tea. Earl Gray, from what I can tell.”
“Hello, Miss Sinclair, Mr. Armstrong.” Mrs. Higgins came flitting out of the dining room with a flowered teapot in her hand. “You’re just in time for tea and cookies.”
Juliette gave her a thin-lipped smile. “I’m afraid we have work to do.”
“Oh.” The older woman’s face fell.
Hunter stepped forward to take the teapot from her. “But we can spare fifteen minutes for a cup of tea and one of your delicious scones.”
“Wonderful.” Her eyes lit up, and she gestured for them to follow her into the dining room.
Juliette slanted him a disapproving look as they sat at the chintz-covered table while Mrs. Higgins bustled around pouring fragrant tea and loading up their plates with enough sugary treats for a party of elves. She chattered on about her garden and taking reservations for the summer, and wasn’t it lucky that she had a room available for Juliette?
“I do not know how you’ve been able to tolerate living here for almost three weeks,” Juliette muttered to Hunter after they’d each had two cups of tea and Hunter had eaten almost a dozen cookies to make up for Juliette’s outright refusal to eat even one.
“It’s not so bad.” He unlocked the door of the Rosebud Room. “If you can get past the sugar rush.”
“What have you done for fun?” Juliette dropped her purse on the bed and walked to the narrow desk covered with papers and plans. “Not that you’re here for fun.”
“No, but I went to the town Artichoke Festival.” Hunter’s blood warmed at the memory of the festival where he and Aria had established their truce. He picked up a roll of blueprints. “They have a local theater, and there are always events going on over at the college. The Vitaphone holds classic movie double features every Wednesday night. Not to mention, there’s plenty to do outdoors. Hiking, swimming, boating, whatever.”