Exposed - Part Three (The Exposed Series, #3)

by Deborah Bladon

  "Why didn't you mention this before?"

  She pushes the soup away from her. "Maybe because you freak out whenever we talk about Hunter and them."

  "Do you think Cory is a man or woman?" My curiosity is peaked and if this person's illness is hitting both Hunter and Clive that hard it has to be someone incredibly important.

  "It's like Jordan or Billy." She taps her finger on the table. "You just never know."

  "I guess," I respond.

  "I bet it's another sibling. Coral's mom does like her names that start with the letter C."

  I smile at the statement. I've thought the same thing too. "I asked Hunter about her siblings. He only mentioned Christina and Clive."

  "Weird." She reaches across the table to pull my half eaten salad towards her. "If you're done with this, I'm going to finish it."

  I nod as my mind races around the mystery of who Cory is.

  ***

  "What does Google say?" Alexa is thumbing through a photo album of my brother's she found in the shelf by the television.

  I glance up from my laptop briefly. "Nothing about Cory Parker."

  "Odd." She pulls one of the pictures from its place and tucks it into her purse.

  "My mother's going to notice that's missing." I raise an eyebrow.

  "She won't." She laughs as she slams the book shut. "Google Clive and see what that shows."

  I nod before I punch his name into the search engine. "Let's see. It says that he owns a company that does some techy stuff, he's single and wow."

  "Wow?" Alexa bolts across the room so she's sitting right next to me. "What's wow?"

  "Look at all these images of him with women." I scroll through at least two dozen images of Clive at different events, each with a different striking woman on his arm.

  "Wow is right," she whispers as she leans in closer to the screen.

  "Just think," I tease. "That could be you."

  Her eyes dart up to meet mine and I see a flash of disappointment. "He's too old for me."

  I laugh at her response. "What happened to his thirty-year-old dick being irresistible?"

  "Look at them." She points to the screen. "I'm not anywhere near their league."

  "They're dates." I try to offer some reassurance. "Obviously none of them were serious or he wouldn't be chasing after you right now."

  "He did say I was different." She sighs. "I don't even know what he means by that."

  I push the laptop to the couch beside me. "He means that you're special and unlike any woman he's ever known."

  "You're great at this." She laughs before standing. "It's probably the same thing he says to every woman."

  "Don't think like that." I push back. "You're always the one telling me not to sell myself short."

  "You shouldn't." She bends to kiss me on the forehead. "Don't worry about who Cory is. Hunter is part of your past. You're moving on and into that great new place."

  I nod silently.

  Chapter 16

  "That fellow that is always lurking around here was in looking for you last night." Josephine says as she hands me the schedule for next week. My manager rarely talks to me. I'm actually shocked that she paid close enough attention to Hunter to recognize him.

  "Hunter?" I ask even though I already know the answer.

  "That's him." She smiles. "I hear Alexa talking about him to you sometimes."

  I blush at the mention of our conversations about Hunter. They typically involve Alexa talking about him intimately. I really need to speak to her about reining that in.

  "Sadie." She grabs my hand just as I'm ready to walk to the front. "He specifically asked me not to mention he was here."

  "What?" I raise a brow. "He didn't want you to tell me he was in looking for me?" That made no sense.

  "He did but I don't feel right about that." She drops my hand and throws her gaze back to her desk.

  Why would Hunter be looking for me and not want me to know? As soon as my shift was done, I was going to find out.

  ***

  I glance down at the white sundress I'm wearing. It's so humid out and in my rush to get here, I'd thrown on the first dress I could find in my closet. I hadn't realized that the top of my scar was visible until I looked down. Seeing as how I'm already standing in the lobby of Hunter's building, now doesn't seem to be the right time to worry over it. I'll just find out what he wanted last night and be on my way.

  "Can I help you?" The doorman rushes over. I thought I was coy when I snuck past him as he helped a young woman move a baby into her car.

  "I'm just going up to see a friend," I say casually as I press the call button for the elevator. My mind jolts back to when Hunter and I stood here together. It was right before the last time we'd made love. Right before he'd taken me so hastily and with such raw desire.

  "Miss?" The doorman is shaking my arm. "I asked who your friend is."

  "It's Hunter." I stop myself. "Zander Reynolds," I say his name with as much calm certainty as I can muster.

  "Do you want me to announce your arrival?" He pulls a phone from the pocket of his jacket just as the elevator arrives.

  "No." I call back as I step into the lift. "I want to surprise him."

  I pull in a heavy breath as I stare at myself in the mirror that adorns the elevator wall. I had taken the time to apply just a bit of makeup before catching a taxi to come here. Even though I know in my heart that Hunter and I are over, my body still craves him. I still want to know that he finds me as attractive as he did during those magical weeks we spent together.

  I smooth my hands over the skirt of my dress as the elevator doors slide open. I march with determined steps towards Hunter's door.

  I run my tongue over my lips, push back the hair that has fallen over my forehead and I knock softly on the door.

  I turn around wanting to have a brief moment of solace to gather myself once he opens the door and greets me.

  I listen as the door slowly opens. The silence is endless before a very small, and soft voice says, "Hi."

  Chapter 17

  I turn slowly and my eyes move downward in what feels like slow motion. Standing at my feet is a small boy. His hair a wild mess of red, his eyes the same brilliant blue as Christina's.

  "Hello," I whisper back.

  "I'm Cory," he announces proudly.

  I smile at the softness of his voice. "I'm Sadie."

  He pulls his hand to his mouth and lets out a gleeful squeal. "Are you Princess Sadie? Princess Sadie?" He jumps up and down, his hair bouncing with each movement.

  "I'm..."my voice trails. I stare at him in wonder. He's beautiful. So perfect.

  "Daddy," he screams loudly. "Daddy. Princess Sadie is here."

  I pull my hand to my chest. My eyes gloss over with tears. This is the Cory who was ill. This is the reason. He's the reason for it all.

  "Sadie." Hunter is at the door now, the small boy scooped up into his arms. "Come in."

  I take a step over the threshold and the apartment looks completely different than I remember it. Toys are strewn everywhere. A child's movie blares over the speakers on the television.

  "Cory, Daddy needs to talk to Sadie." He places the boy down on his feet. "I need you to go into your room to play with your train."

  "She's Princess Sadie," he corrects. "Call her that."

  Hunter taps him on the top of his head. "Princess Sadie and Daddy are going to talk in here. I'll come get you right away."

  "In ten?" He holds up both his hands proudly displaying his fingers.

  "In ten." Hunter kisses the top of his head. "Go now."

  The little boy races down the hallway and disappears into the guest room. His room. He's the reason Hunter wanted me to get my own place.

  "I should have called," I whisper. I have no idea what to say.

  "No." Hunter reaches for my hand. "Princess Sadie is always welcome here." He manages a small smile. He motions towards the couch and I sit down waiting for him to take a seat beside me.
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  "You must have more than a million questions." He sits on the coffee table so he's facing me directly. "I can't imagine what you're thinking."

  I pull my eyes over his face. He looks different to me now. He's no longer the man who lied endlessly so he could carry on a sordid affair with me all while being engaged to someone else. He's someone's father. He's a dad. "He's so beautiful."

  His face brightens. "He's amazing, isn't it?"

  "How old is he?"

  "Three." He holds up three fingers, mimicking Cory's movements.

  "He's been sick?" I twist my hands together. Everything I knew has shifted so suddenly. Ten minutes ago I was coming up here to push Hunter into telling me why he was creeping around the bistro at night. All I want to know now is why he didn't tell me about Cory.

  "Very." He pulls in a heavy breath as if he's tempering his nerves. "I was so scared."

  "He's alright now?" I want to know more. I want to know everything he can tell me about his son but it's not my place. He shares this child with her. It's obvious he's Christina's son.

  "Yes. He had a high fever. It was an infection with a complicated name." He doesn’t offer more and I don't push.

  "Can Princess Sadie come play trains with me?" Cory pops up next to the couch and I jump at the sound of his voice.

  "Maybe in a bit," Hunter pats him on the shoulder. "We just need five more." He holds up one large hand and Cory slaps it playfully.

  He scoots back down the hallway before Hunter speaks again. "I tell him bedtime stories about Princess Sadie."

  I pull my bottom lip between my teeth to stave off the rushing emotions. "That's really sweet," I whisper.

  "He's my life." He reaches to clasp my hand in his. "I can't be away from him."

  I smile realizing that the statement makes me care for him even more deeply. "You shouldn't be away from him. He's your child."

  He casts his gaze downward as he nods his head.

  "I understand now," I say softly. "I get why you're marrying her now. You want to be a real family." I squeeze his hand as tears well in my eyes.

  "If I don't marry her, she'll take him." His voice cracks.

  "She can't." I rest my head on his cheek. "You have rights."

  "Sadie," he pulls me into a tight embrace. "I can't be away from you either."

  I pull back. I raise my hands to cradle his face. "That little boy needs you so much but you don’t have to marry her. You're his father. You have rights. Any lawyer will tell you that."

  "No." He bows his head. "I don't have any rights."

  "Did she tell you that?" I pull back, my anger rising to the surface. I'm tired of Christina using Hunter's guilt to goad him into doing things for her.

  "It's the truth." He reaches to cradle my cheek.

  "No. That's wrong." I search his eyes willing him to listen to me. I want to break the spell she has over him. I want him to be my Hunter again.

  "Sadie," he whispers as his lips brush over mine. "Listen. Please."

  "Yes," I murmur, lost in the brief taste of his lips.

  "Cory is not my son. I don't have any rights." He stares into my eyes. "She got pregnant during a one night stand. She doesn't know who his dad is."

  "How long have you two been together?" I can't connect any of this. "Did she cheat on you?"

  "I've never slept with her," he says tightly. "I'm repulsed by her."

  "You're marrying her." I spit back at him. "How can that be?"

  "She'll steal him away from me if I don't marry her." His eyes darken. "She wanted me since we were teenagers. Once Cory was born and I reached out to help, she knew she had me right where she wanted me."

  "Where's that?" I ask.

  "In the palm of his tiny, perfect little hand."

  Chapter 18

  "Daddy, it's been five now." Cory is back, as if on cue. He bounces onto Hunter's lap as I stare at his face, wishing we had just a few more minutes to talk in private.

  "Princess Sadie was just talking to me." He pushes the unruly strands of hair back from Cory's face. I stare at the genuine tenderness that runs between them. How can he not be this little boy's father? He calls him daddy. He loves Hunter so much. I can see that.

  "We can play trains together." He jumps back to his feet as he reaches for my hand.

  "I'll play." I smile before standing.

  "This way." He pulls me down the hallway in a rush. I gasp as we enter his room. His name is spelled out in large letters on the wall. A small bed covered with blue linens and an assortment of stuffed animals is across the room. A massive toy train set sits in the middle of all the chaos.

  He falls to his knees and I follow suit. I stare at his small hands and feet. He's giddy with excitement. He's everything that Hunter needs. He loves this little person so much even though he's not his father. He would trade his own happiness away to care for him. How could I not love a man who would do that?

  "Do you want the red train, Princess Sadie?" He touches his hand to my cheek pulling me from my thoughts.

  "What's that?" I reach to cradle my hand over his.

  "You're crying. I like the blue train but if it makes you sad, you can have it." He proudly holds a small train engine in his hand.

  "No. I like red." I smile through my tears. "I'll use the red one."

  He throws both arms around my neck in a quick embrace. "Thank you for coming to play."

  I suck in a deep breath as I place the little red engine on the track.

  ***

  "I told Clive it wasn't going to work."

  My eyes dart up. "Did you even go out with him?"

  "No." She sighs as she sinks down into the couch in my new apartment. "It was destined to be over before it began."

  "How do you figure that?" I laugh. I reach to fan out the magazines on my coffee table.

  "I was too young for him," she smirks.

  "As opposed to him being too old for you?" I raise a brow with the question. "He never called you back, did he?"

  "No," she pouts. "I texted him twelve times and not one response."

  "Twelve is eleven too many," I counter. "That's almost as much as a stalker."

  "No, it's not." She sounds unconvinced by her own words. "I guess he didn't want any of this." She gestures to her body, which is hidden beneath a sweater and jeans.

  "I guess." I shrug my shoulders. "Dylan is coming home next week so you can try and tap that again."

  "You're kidding, right?" She asks expectantly. I can't remember a time when she didn't chase my brother.

  "Yes." I laugh. "He's engaged,"

  "To what?" she spits the question out along with her chewing gum.

  "A woman I think," I tease. "He's been away a long time though so it could be a guy, I don't know. He didn't tell me the details. He just said he'd be back in Boston at the end of next week."

  "Well, fuck that." She pulls her knees up to her chest. "Now, who am I going to fuck?"

  "One of the thousands of boys at school?" I offer. "I can think of at least five who would probably do you tonight.

  "I've done those." She purses her lips. "Maybe I need to go to Europe to find a fiancée." She says the last word with the playful lilt of a French accent.

  "That's a great idea. You should do it."

  "I was kidding." She pulls herself lazily to her feet. "I'll be stuck here forever."

  "No. You won't." I stand up to pull her into a tight embrace. "There are always teaching jobs in Europe. Think about it. After graduation you could go there and start a brand new adventure."

  "I could." A smile pulls at the corner of her lips. "I totally could."

  "Start saving." I hold her hand tightly in mine as we walk towards the door.

  "Enjoy your first night in your brand new place, Sadie." She kisses me on the cheek. "You deserve this and you're going to find your happiness too."

  Chapter 19

  "You're not enrolled in classes here, are you?" I tap the top of Hunter's head as I take a seat next to hi
m on the concrete steps outside the library.

  "Hardly." He reaches to pull my hand to his lips.

  I smile when I realize there's no wedding ring on his left hand. It's been over a month since we said goodbye at his apartment door. Getting a text from him this morning asking me to meet him pushed my mind into all sorts of random places. Most of which involved him proclaiming his undying love and devotion to me.

  "I'm moving." His intense blue eyes catch mine. "The day after tomorrow."

  "Permanently?" It sounds more like a muted whimper than a word.

  "Christina wants us to go to Los Angeles. She says the best pre-school is there. She already enrolled Cory."

  "He's three-years-old," I mutter. "It's just pre-school."

  "It's not about school." He turns his gaze forward. "I told her I was in love with you."

  The wind catches my hair and I reach to pull it back from my face. "Now she's taking you away."

  "She's scared." He looks back at me. His index finger pushes a hair away from my cheek. "She'll take him with or without me. She agreed to put the engagement on hold if I moved. At least I don't have to marry her."

  I nod. Any joy I should have felt at the news of his broken engagement is muted by the news of him leaving. He has to go. Cory comes first. I've known that now for a month. I felt as though my heart had stalled the past four weeks while I waited to hear anything from him. Although the silence was deafening I secretly hoped it meant that they had worked out an agreement.

  "You've taken care of him his entire life, doesn't that count for something?"

  "I took care of him because no one else would." He reaches for my hand again. "I'm the only stable person in his life. Christina is constantly running off from this place to that place. If she cuts me off, he'll be left with nannies. I can't do that to him."

  "I know." I push closer to him, pulling his arm around my shoulder. "You need to go with him. You have to take care of him. He's your boy."

  "You're my angel." His voice cracks. "I don't know how to function without seeing your face."

  "You'll remember me." I pull his hand to my cheek.

  He pushes a tear across my skin. "Forever."