“As long as we do our jobs and aren’t making out in the supply closets they’re pretty good about letting couples have the same shifts together.”
“Hmmm. I don’t know. The supply closet thing might be a deal breaker. I like pushing you into dark corners and doing wicked things to you.” I shook my head and she laughed.
“You’re so bad.”
I chuckled. “I’ve tried to warn you. You don’t seem willing to listen.”
“Maybe I like bad,” she challenged.
I placed my hand on her thigh, gripping slightly. “Works for me.” She was gonna be the death of me.
She intertwined her fingers with mine—giving me one of her dazzling smiles, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Watch the road, Hunter.”
I sighed. “You distract me too much.”
“I like distracting you, but I also want to survive.” She laughed.
“Good point.”
“So what do you want to do for our next date? Or am I monopolizing all your time these days? I know you used to like the party scene.”
“I haven’t much cared for the party scene lately. I’m finding myself presented with a new drug of choice.”
She gave me a disparaging look. “So I’m a drug of choice now? How flattering.”
“If you don’t like it, I guess I could go back to my old lifestyle. I don’t want you to feel like I’m a burden.”
She squeezed my hand tighter. “Don’t you dare. I like that you’ve been trying to stay clean. Plus, I’m sure Gabrielle would be there, waiting to sink her clutches into you. She wants you bad.”
I groaned, feeling awful I hadn’t been totally honest with her on the partying account. True, I hadn’t been to many parties, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t using. Brushing aside my guilt, I focused on the subject of Gabrielle. “Don’t remind me. I always feel like I’m part of a petting zoo exhibit when she’s around. She’s always touching me.”
“It’s funny, but I would’ve imagined she’d be exactly your type.” She was frowning.
“And why would you think that?”
She lifted her shoulder slightly. “I don’t know. I guess because she’s been everyone’s type before you.”
“Which is exactly why she isn’t mine.” I didn’t want Cami thinking Gabrielle was competition.
“You don’t think she’s gorgeous?”
“She’s very good looking, and she knows it and uses it to get what she wants from guys. It’s not attractive at all.”
“You really don’t care for her, do you?”
“Not in the slightest, especially when there are much prettier girls to be noticed.” I winked and she blushed.
“How do you know I’m not using my looks to get what I want from you?” She grinned slightly as I turned into the parking lot of the grocery store.
I stopped the car and leaned over, pulling her face close to mine. “Cami, please use your looks to get whatever you want from me.” I pressed my lips to hers. “I like it.”
She grinned and kissed me back. “What do you want to make for our dinner?”
“Honestly, skipping dinner and doing this all night is sounding pretty good to me.”
Her stomach chose this minute to growl, and we both laughed.
“Okay, message received—food first, kissing later.”
“Sounds wonderful.” She sighed against my lips, and I had to kiss her one more time. Her stomach growled again.
“Okay, okay. Let’s go buy some food.” I reluctantly moved away and got out of the car, going around to open her door.
Chapter Twenty
Hunter-
Gosh, she’s gorgeous, I thought as I sat staring at her from my desk chair in my room. She was asleep, her beautiful red hair spread across my black pillowcase. Her face looked peaceful, flawless in her innocence. She was so trusting. She’s the only girl I ever want in my bed again. The thought hit me hard, and I closed my eyes. I had fallen for her, and I knew it. I’d never had these kinds of feelings before, but somehow I’d expected it to take longer. I wasn’t prepared for it to come racing in this way, capturing me.
I briefly turned my attention to the musical still playing on the television in the corner. We’d been cuddling on my bed while we watched it, but I kept getting distracted kissing her and not paying attention. She hadn’t seemed to mind much—fully reciprocating in fact.
She had no idea how many secrets I had hidden away from her in this room, most of them buried in the bottom drawer to my left. I wondered for the millionth time what she would do when she found out the truth, how badly she’d feel betrayed.
There was a soft knock at the door, and it opened slightly. “You here?” Chris called peeking in. His eyes landed on Cami, and a frown crossed his face. “Hunter . . . ,” he whispered emphatically, and I widened my eyes to shush him. “Out here, now,” he practically ordered.
I got up and followed him into his bedroom at the end of the hall. He shut the door behind me.
“What the heck is going on?” he asked and I heard the frustration in his voice.
I sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m crazy about her, Chris, that’s what’s happening. I need your help.”
“Hunter, she’s seventeen. She’s too young.”
“I know how old she is!” I snapped, feeling my carefully maintained threads of control unraveling. I sighed trying to calm down. “I don’t think you understand. I don’t care if she’s seventeen or forty. She’s the one, Chris. I know she’s young, and her life is just starting, but I also know she’s the one I want. I feel it burning inside. It’s killing me to keep lying to her. I’m gonna blow everything.”
“You can’t let your feelings for her get in the way, Hunter. If we don’t get these deals to go down right, we’re screwed. You’re putting her in danger too. What if she got caught up in the middle of a drug war? That’s bad news, and you know it.”
“I’m aware of that, and I’m desperately trying to separate her from that part of our life. I tell myself to walk away, but I can’t keep my hands off her.”
“So, I’m guessing the no-kissing policy didn’t go over so well?” he asked wryly.
“That’s the understatement of the year.”
“How close are you two?” he asked bluntly.
“Close enough we’ve talked about how things will work out for us after graduation when we move back to Tucson. I’m not kidding. She’s the one I want.”
He sank down next to me. “That’s not what I meant.”
I sighed. “I know.”
“Are you going to answer me?”
“No.” What Cami and I were doing—or not doing—was no one else’s business but ours as far as I was concerned.
He stared at me pointedly. “If you’ve slept with her, her parents could have you arrested since she’s a minor. We’d have cops swarming all over investigating us. Most police departments don’t take kindly to that sort of behavior, you realize. That’s the last thing we need.”
I didn’t reply to his implied question. “How would you feel if someone was asking you to lie over and over again to Sheridan?” I asked, moving the subject forward by making it personal. “And how would you feel knowing those lies were placing her in a dangerous situation?”
“It would kill me, man.”
“Well, I’m there. This is my life, and I hate every second of it.”
He sat there in silence, staring at his hands as if they’d somehow provide answers. “Are you sure this isn’t just some sort of infatuation? That can happen in high-pressure situations.”
I chuckled wryly. “I’m sure. She’s not even aware there is a high-pressure situation, and I’m not that desperate. If I didn’t think it was real I wouldn’t be so concerned. There’s been something between us from the very beginning.”
“Well, it seems we’re caught between a rock and a hard place here.”
I nodded. “I’m aware.” He looked so disappointed. “I’m sorry I botched this a
ll up. I guess we found out what I was made of and it wasn’t any good.”
“Don’t talk that way. And you’re sure this is legit, not just because some other guy is after your girl?”
“I wouldn’t do that, Chris. You should know me better than that.”
“I do know you well, but you’re acting out of character. You’ve never been one to rule from the heart before.”
“That’s because my heart never belonged to someone else.”
“Does she know how you feel?”
“No. I barely know how I feel. It’s too fast—too sudden—I don’t want to scare her off. I can’t tell her when she doesn’t really know who I am. If she says it back to me, who is she in love with? Me, or the person she thinks I am? It’s too screwed up right now.”
Chris patted me on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, bro. I really am. Please know that even though things are weird, you’re first and foremost my brother—you have been since the first day your sister introduced us. I want you to be happy, and I want things to work in your favor. All I can do is tell you to keep hanging in there. I’ll do the best I can to help you, and we’ll see if we can work our way through this mess.”
I sighed with relief knowing I wasn’t in this alone—someone was on my side and understood what I was going through. I was tired of this frantic, worried energy constantly running just under the surface.
“There’s a possibility I can get a job at the theater working with her. Should I do it?”
“I’d say go for it as long as your crush doesn’t interfere.”
I gave a sardonic laugh. “A crush. Thanks for taking me seriously.”
“I get it. Just do the best you can. And try not to do anything . . . stupid . . . relationship wise, I mean. That can only lead to more bad for both of us.” He glanced at his watch. “When do you need to have her home? It’s ten now.”
“She has a midnight curfew, but she wanted to meet you.”
“Well, go wake her up then, nephew, and let’s get this awkwardness over with.” He shooed me off the bed.
“Yes, uncle,” I replied with a grin and he groaned.
“I really hate that,” he complained.
“I know. That’s why I love saying it so much.” I left and made my way back to my room.
I hated waking her up. She looked so sweet lying there; I wanted to watch her for a while longer. I ran a hand through her curls, and she stirred slightly.
“Cami, honey,” I whispered, leaning closer and brushing my lips softly against hers.
She made a sweet whimpering sound, stretching a little before stilling again.
“Goody, it’s time to wake up. My uncle’s here and wants to meet you.” I kissed her cheek and down her neck, nuzzling my face there.
Her hand drifted up to rest against the back of my head. “Mmm, that feels so good,” she mumbled. “I wish you could wake me up this way every day.”
I smiled against her skin. “So do I.”
“It would be so nice.”
Maybe someday, I thought. If we all get through this unscathed and you decide you can ever trust me again.
“Did you hear me say my uncle is here? He’d like to meet you.”
She stiffened. “Oh no! He came? He must think something terrible is going on with me in your bed this way.”
I chuckled. “He was mildly alarmed.”
She blushed. “I’m so embarrassed. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I just got so relaxed I drifted off.”
“Yeah, I know. It was devastating to my ego. I was right in the middle of kissing you. It made me feel great.” I smiled and tweaked her nose.
She made a nervous giggle. “I’m really sorry, Hunter. Honestly, I didn’t mean to.”
“No worries. We did a lot today. You needed the rest. Besides, I enjoyed watching you sleep. You look very pretty in my bed.”
“You’re a smooth talker, you know that, right? I can’t ever tell when you’re being serious, or messing with me. I bet all the other girls eat right from your hand, don’t they?”
I shrugged. “I’m not trying to be a smooth talker, there are no other girls, and if I did want someone to eat from my hand I’d want it to be you. How’s that?”
She shook her head and grinned. “Yep. I need to watch out for you—definitely a smooth talker.” She ran her hand down the side of my face. “Do you have a hairbrush or something I can borrow? I’d like to straighten up to meet your uncle.”
“Right through the door there into the bathroom. Help yourself to anything.”
I offered her a hand, pulling her to her feet before settling back into my chair as I waited. I wish she didn’t have to go home. I liked having her here. It was nice to spend the evening at home with someone for a change.
Chapter Twenty-One
Hunter-
I tried to remember what day it was. Sunday? Maybe? I sunk deeper into the leather couch at Derek’s house. Man, I was messed up—stoned out of my mind, I just wanted to close my eyes and sleep for hours.
Chuckling, I stared at the haze floating in the room. Hell, a person could get mellow just from walking in here. I could barely make out the forms of other people lounging around the room. This was so bad.
My mind casually drifted to Cami, and I closed my eyes as a feeling of panic welled up inside me. If she ever saw me like this she’d probably run screaming in the other direction. That was a sobering thought.
I felt bad. She was working at the theater tonight, so I’d taken the opportunity to hit some people up. I knew she wouldn’t approve in the least, and I hadn’t intended to get this stoned, but things had gotten a little out of hand. One minute I’d been chillin’ with Derek talking about casual stuff, the next he was selling me on the idea of starting to deal with him and how much money we could make if we expanded our reach a bit. He definitely had a head for his business and before I knew it, I was agreeing to it. Afterward Derek and I had gotten a little celebratory, and the party had escalated from there.
Cami couldn’t find out. She’d never understand, and I’d never be able to explain why it was so enticing to me. I sighed. She was so beautiful—so good. I tried to keep hold of the picture of her swimming inside my mind, but it was difficult. I wished she was here—so much I could almost imagine her body pressed up against mine right now, the feel of her nuzzling my neck as her hands slid lower down my body, slipping into my waistband.
Whoa! My eyes popped open to find Gabrielle cuddled up against me, her hand traveling in a direction I had no desire for it to go.
“What the heck?” I said, pushing away. “Get off me!” I gave her what I hoped was a good glare, but I could tell she was pretty out of it.
“What’s a girl gotta do to get your attention, Hunter?” she whined and poked out her bottom lip in a pout before collapsing against my chest.
Great.
I sighed. “I’ve noticed you fine, Gabby. You’re just not my type.” I shoved at her but she didn’t budge.
“I’m everyone’s type,” she mumbled against my chest, and I felt her kiss me through my shirt. “You need to give me a chance to show you.”
“Some other time, then. I’m with Cami now.” I lifted my heavy arms in an attempt to push her away again, knowing there would never be a time I wanted this girl.
“I don’t see her here anywhere. Come on, Hunter. It’s not like you have to marry me. Let’s just have a little fun together.” She moved, straddling me, her hands grabbing the hem of my shirt and pushing it up.
I stared at her incredulously before I grabbed and shoved it back down. “Get off me. Now,” I said with what I hoped was deadly calm.
She giggled. “Quit being such a baby. It’ll be enjoyable.”
“What part of no don’t you understand?” I asked in exasperation.
She laughed some more. “The ‘no’ part.” She bent and kissed the side of my face.
I shoved her hard enough to send her sliding backward off my knees onto the floor.
“O
w! That hurt!” she screeched, rubbing one of her knees.
Several other people in the room started laughing.
“It’s not like he didn’t warn you, though.” Derek chuckled. “Come here, Gabby, baby. I’ll take care of you.”
She gave me a glare and moved in his direction.
“Dude, I’m out of here. Sorry.” I got up and stumbled across the room over several bodies on the floor. “I’ll text you tomorrow.”
“Later, man.” He was making out with her before I was even through the front door.
I dug my keys from my pocket and got into my car. I hesitated before putting them in the ignition. I was in a pretty bad state. I should definitely not be behind the wheel right now.
Starting it, I carefully drove a mile down the road to the theater. I pulled into the parking lot and sat there for a few minutes. I tried to decide if I was brave enough to go into the theater and face Cami, before making up my mind to sleep it off in the car for a little while. If I could take a nap I’d probably make it home safely.
I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
“Hunter? Hunter?” The voice sounded far away, as did the incessant tapping sound. “Hunter, are you okay?”
Cami. Just the sound of her voice made me smile. I slowly opened my eyes, trying to orient myself.
“Hey.” I smiled when I saw her standing outside my window. “What’re you doing here?”
She looked at me, puzzled. “I’ve been at work, remember?” She pointed, and I glanced toward the theater.
Oh, right. Crap.
“How long have you been here?” she asked with a worried frown.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. A few hours maybe?”
“Will you please roll down the window or open the door so I can hear you better? Aren’t you here to pick me up?”
I was in so much trouble. “Sure,” I replied, leaning across the car to open the door on the other side, hoping it would let out any smoke smell clinging to me while she walked around the vehicle. I quickly turned on the car, flipped on the fan and rolled my window down as well.
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