by Nicki Night
Hunter shook his head, wondering what had come over him. He had a stream of women to choose from—many of whom were just as beautiful...maybe. At the very least they were certainly more accessible.
Hunter looked at his watch and decided to take an early lunch and shake off the feeling that he couldn’t quite label. He was still somewhere between annoyed and disappointed but now also added rejected to the mix.
After putting his laptop to sleep, he straightened out the brief he’d been reviewing and placed the documents in a neat pile. As he stood, Rona appeared in his doorway.
“Mr. Barrington.” He looked at her curiously. She always called him Hunter unless there were clients present. “There’s someone here to see you.”
She stepped aside and Tricia stepped into view. Her lips were twisted in a playfully chiding smile. “Well, hello, Mr. Barrington.”
Hunter narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. Rona’s back straightened. She’d gotten the message. “Hello, Tricia.” He remained professional.
“She insisted on surprising you, Mr. Barrington. I advised her that I was required to announce all guests.” Rona briefly cut her eyes at Tricia and directed her attention back to Hunter. “But she followed me anyway.”
Hunter sniffed out a small chuckle. “Thanks, Rona. It’s fine.”
“See, I told you!” Tricia victoriously stepped around Rona with her nose practically scraping the ceiling and sauntered toward Hunter. Walking around the desk to his side, Tricia placed her hand on the lapel of his suit jacket. “I was so worried about you.” She looked back at Rona, sporting a cunning smile. Rona rolled her eyes and walked off.
Hunter hadn’t missed her feline-like territorial claim. Moving her hand from his lapel, he responded, “Sorry to worry you. The past few days have been...trying.” He patted his pocket to make sure he had his wallet. “I’m glad you’re here. Do you have time for lunch?” She grinned and he could have sworn he heard purring. From the way she stood, he knew that she was expecting a kiss. “We need to talk.”
Tricia stiffened, her body settling into a more rigid stance, a vast contrast from the flirty position she held seconds before. Hunter headed for the door and, like the gentleman that he was, stepped aside, gesturing for her to go through first. Tricia appeared to be fastened to the spot where she stood. It took a moment for her to start toward the door. Clearly, she understood the message in his cool tone, which didn’t match her sultry one. Lifting her head, she stepped out with Hunter following closely behind.
Lunch was as unpleasant as he’d expected but necessary. Tricia couldn’t understand why Hunter wasn’t interested in seeing her anymore and no explanation seemed to suffice. Hunter tried to express himself in the most honest and cordial manner possible. Still, she left in a huff, demanding that he lose her number.
An hour later she called him, apologizing for her behavior and requesting they get together at her house for dinner and to “just talk.” When Hunter told her that he didn’t think that was a good idea, she tossed him a few choice words and sealed her irritation by hanging up before he could respond.
Now with Chey in the distance and Tricia out of his life, he turned to focus on the big case in front of him and the email with the details of an opportunity that he’d been pining after. Thanks to his frat brother Eric and his connections, Hunter was being offered a chance to work as a visiting professor of business law at Dunford University.
Hunter had been born into a family whose DNA was laced with an innate desire to give back, and teaching was his preferred way of serving his community. The ability to instruct students at his alma mater made this opportunity all the more incredible.
In the email, Kenya Davis, a professor on the tenure track and Eric’s childhood friend, advised him that the opportunity had just become available, the university was impressed with his credentials, and if all went well this semester, there was a good chance that they would offer him a position starting in the fall, replacing a professor who had just made an abrupt departure. For Hunter, pressure was exhilarating since he was confident that he was up for the task.
Maybe the excitement of this big break would keep the random thoughts of Chey that taunted him and brought warmth to several parts of his body at bay.
Chapter 14
After taking more lessons with Casper and finally getting all the right gear, Chey found herself falling in love with winter activities. By the time she left Utah, she had snowboarded and even ventured off the bunny slopes. Without the distraction of Hunter’s sensual presence, she’d written a few more chapters in her book and made a few acquaintances at the lodge and in town.
Now she was back home and had given Deanna her complete account of the entire trip. Chey was ready to shift her focus to starting school and finding an additional part-time job to help with her expenses. She couldn’t help but sing the encouraging lyrics of “Fly” along with Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. Just like them, she’d come to New York to win. Chey danced and mouthed the words as she got dressed. She was heading to a building in Midtown that housed one of New York’s largest cosmetic giants to apply for the position of customer service representative. This position offered flexible hours and weekend work and would fit perfectly into her schedule with school and her current part-time job as a receptionist.
When she had tweaked the last few strands of her short mane into place and was satisfied with her look, she grabbed the handbag her mother had given her as a gift before she left. It was large enough to fit a laptop and sleek enough to pull off the polished professional look she wanted to achieve.
Stepping out of her tiny abode and onto the snow-covered city streets, Chey still pinched herself at the notion of living in New York. She was glad to finish things she’d started so long ago and applauded herself for being brave enough to go for what she wanted without looking back. She was proud of the hard work that she’d put in to help her parents get their store back on track and save enough money to make the move and go back to school.
It was her time, she thought as she strutted to the subway, effortlessly dodging the throngs of people on the street and feeling like a real New Yorker. When she’d first arrived, Chey couldn’t believe how many people were out at all times of the day and night. In all her years, she hadn’t seen that many people in one place at one time unless there was a fair in town. She’d awkwardly navigated the crowded sidewalks like an amateur, clumsily bumping people and apologizing. A time or two, she’d been turned completely around by folks whizzing by in rush-hour haste.
Now she strolled as though she’d been living there all her life, blending in like a native. Chey made it downtown to her interview with a half hour to spare. Settling in at the coffee shop across the street, she ordered a chai, sat and read her book for a while. When it was time, she boldly crossed the wide street along with a multitude of other unfazed pedestrians as the noses of turning cars drew perilously close. She’d grown accustomed to the precarious dance between vehicles and pedestrians as the swift rhythm of the city pulsed in her gait.
As she walked inside the building, a male frame in a gray suit caught her attention in her peripheral vision. Chey turned her head and saw a man with an uncanny resemblance to Hunter walk into a building a few doors down. She stopped walking and someone bumped into the back of her.
“Oh! I’m sorry,” she said. The person, undeterred, circled around her and kept walking without missing a beat.
Chey looked back at the door she thought she’d seen Hunter walk through, dismissed the notion and continued into the building. She found her way to the reception desk and announced her purpose. Moments later a young woman with a smart bun, black dress and ballet flats escorted her to a conference room, where she awaited the arrival of the hiring manager.
The interview went swiftly, leaving Chey with a sinking feeling that she might not have aced it as she’d planned. The aloof woman st
ood and cracked a hint of a smile as she shook Chey’s hand and let her know that she’d be in touch. The bubble she’d sailed in on had been burst, and that left her questioning how well she’d come across to the hiring manager.
Still reeling from her interview, Chey fell into step with the barrage of city folk and turned into a small sushi restaurant a few doors away. By the time her food arrived, Deanna was calling. Chey told her about her interview but not about the possibility of seeing Hunter. Deanna bid her good luck and ended the call. Chey sat for a while eating and reading until she looked up and saw that same masculine frame covered in a well-fitting gray suit standing near the hostess. She craned her neck to get a better look but could see only the back of him. Just like Hunter, he was tall, brown and handsome even from behind.
Chey’s heart rate quickened from the possibility of being in such close proximity to Hunter once again. She couldn’t move from her seat. Would he remember her? Would he acknowledge her? Why hadn’t she considered the possibility that he could be from New York? He certainly had a Northern accent, absent of the lilt of Southern tongues.
Chey watched intently from behind her menu as the hostess approached him again. He began to turn and stopped. Chey’s heart paused. Now she could almost see the side of his face. What would she do? He turned a little more, but not enough for her to see his full profile. Her heart started back up to a full thumping that she could feel on the outside of her chest. Should she get up? Should she stay? If she left now, she’d have to walk right past him.
Why was she so wound up? The hostess gestured for him to follow her and he did, turning around. Chey set her eyes on the menu, refusing to look up. She couldn’t stand the anticipation, so she looked up in time to stare right into his face. He smiled at her, a handsome, inviting smile. It wasn’t Hunter. Chey tried to stop her heart from pounding. She looked down at her barely touched food and summoned the waitress.
“I’d like to take this to go.” She pointed to her plate. The waitress nodded and went away. Chey gathered her things.
When the waitress returned with her check and container, Chey quickly dumped the rest of her food inside, dropped her money on the table and headed for the door. When she looked back, Hunter’s slightly less gorgeous doppelgänger looked up. Chey turned and left.
Chey hiked a full block before stopping to take a breath. Her heart was still racing. What had just happened? Then she truthfully answered her own question as she continued down the street at a more reasonable pace. She couldn’t face Hunter. What would he really think of her? As much as she’d enjoyed throwing caution to the curb and indulging in several blissful romps with him, she found security in the fact that she would probably never see him again. What decent girl had sex with a stranger after knowing him for just two days? Despite her honestly telling him that it was the first time in her life that she’d ever done something like that, what were the chances that he believed her? A man like him must have heard that crap as often as hello.
Chey headed home and prepared herself for the start of classes the next day. As much as she wanted to forget about her encounter, she couldn’t get Hunter out of her mind. Despite the amazing things he’d done to her body, she thought about how they could never make it in a relationship. Relationship! What’s wrong with me?
Chey reached for the teakettle. A cup of chamomile would help settle her thoughts. The afternoon was young. She plopped onto her secondhand couch, folded her legs under her bottom and sparked up her laptop. Her plan was to spend the afternoon writing. Once classes started, she assumed she wouldn’t have much time to write.
Chey had reached the part of the book where sexual tension sizzled between the hero and heroine like lightning. The kettle shrieked, jolting her from her fictional world. She fixed a cup and returned to the couch. Images of her and Hunter bathed in darkness, dimly lit by the fire’s embers, played across her mind and she typed out every stimulating detail she could recall from their searing encounter. By the time she finished writing, the sun had retreated for the night and she had missed her prime-time shows. Warmth radiated from her insides. Her pearl had awakened and longed for Hunter’s touch. She shut down her computer, took a cool shower and went to bed with memories of him stroking her thoughts.
Chapter 15
Hunter ended the conversation with his parents and headed out of his office in a rush. Classes started today, and after his brief meeting with Kenya the day before, he was even more excited. All day he wondered about his syllabus, his students and how his classes would go. Kenya had confirmed that what he had planned for the students during this semester was both valuable and innovative. Adrenaline pumped through his veins like water rushing downstream after rainfall.
Kenya was a pretty woman with soft-looking skin and beautiful fluffy coils of hair that sprung from her head in a wild yet polished fashion. Though she was attractive, Hunter looked forward to getting to know her as a colleague and friend. He wasn’t one to mix business with pleasure. He left that trap to his younger brothers.
Trotting down the subway stairs, Hunter hit the platform with pep in his gait. The train screeched to a halt and the doors opened right in front of him. He stepped aside to avoid being trampled when a thick batch of riders came pouring out. It didn’t even bother him when one passenger who’d just realized that he needed to get off pushed past him, almost knocking his briefcase from his hands. Hunter sighed and plugged his ears with the music streaming from the playlist on his phone. Bobbing his head as he held the pole, he swayed with the train as it tumbled through the stations.
A rush of cold winter air made Hunter pull his coat tighter as he ascended the stairs on the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City. He arrived at school early enough to find his classroom before going to set up his temporary office.
“You made it?” Hunter looked up to find Kenya standing in the entrance to his office. Her voice sounded lower than it had in recent conversations. She leaned on the door frame and folded her arms in front of her.
“Hey. Yes, I did.” Hunter clapped his hands and rubbed his palms together. “I wanted to get an early start.”
“Good! Want me to walk you over to your classroom?”
“Actually, I just came from there. I know exactly where it is.”
“Well—” Kenya smiled “—I’ll leave you to finish setting up. My office is just down the hall if you need me.”
“Thanks! And again, I can’t thank you enough for helping with this opportunity.”
“It didn’t take much effort at all. Your credentials are quite impressive. The university prides itself on the fact that they have working professionals teaching cutting-edge curriculum.”
Hunter appreciated her comment. “Thanks.”
“What you can thank me for,” Kenya started, snatching Hunter’s full attention, “is my recommendation that you be considered for the board.”
“Pardon me!” Had Hunter heard her right? “You recommended me for the board?”
“There’s a vacancy on the board of trustees and I mentioned your name. A few of them liked the idea.”
“There are faculty members on your board of trustees?”
“You’re looking at one of them.”
Hunter nodded, impressed. “So now there’s more riding on this than I thought.”
“Just act like you didn’t know if someone approaches you about it, okay?”
Hunter held up three fingers like a Boy Scout. “You have my word. Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome.” Kenya smiled and turned.
Assuming she was leaving, Hunter turned his attention to his briefcase. He pulled out some pens and placed them in an empty drawer.
“Perhaps you can thank me for the board recommendation by taking me to dinner.”
Hunter looked up. He stifled a laugh. It was obvious that she was coming on to him. �
�You choose the place.” His voice dipped lower than he had intended. His eyes scanned her slim waist and curvy hips before reaching her face again. The playboy in him was practically instinctive, able to be strummed to the surface without much coaxing. He remembered that he wanted to date with more of a purpose these days. Despite the fact that she had a pretty face and nice curves, she was a colleague and a potential fellow board member. That could become messy very quickly. He’d promised himself that he’d keep things on a friendly basis to avoid the kind of confusion screwing a coworker could inflame.
“Are you busy today after class?”
“Actually, no.”
“It’s a date, then.” She cast her eyes upward. “Well, not an official girlfriend-boyfriend kind of date, but it’s... How about I just say it’s confirmed.” She laughed.
“Consider it...confirmed,” he teased.
As he watched her walk away from his office, Chey came to mind. Why? He didn’t know, but he allowed the reminders of her supple skin and sensual whimpers to entertain him while he prepared for class. When he glanced at the clock, it was time to go. Kenya met him in the hallway on the way. Her next class was a few doors down from his.
A few students were already inside his classroom when he arrived. Since he had a few more minutes before starting, he stood outside the room and continued to talk to Kenya, who was giving him some more basic information about the culture of the university. A few students excused themselves, passing between Kenya and him to enter the classroom. As the room filled, nervous energy swirled inside Hunter, but no one would ever have been able to see past his confident facade. Strong poker faces were also a part of the Barringtons’ makeup.
Hunter looked at his watch. It was time to start, but Kenya didn’t seem to want to stop talking. He excused himself politely by asking where she wanted to meet after class.
“Oh. How about your office?”
“That’s fine! See you.”