by Kayla Perrin
“Now you’d better let me go so I can get dressed,” Lorraine said.
“If I must,” Hunter agreed, and released her. “But I’ll see you soon, right?”
Lorraine offered him a small smile instead of a direct answer. Because she didn’t know what to say. He wanted to spend more time with her, but Lorraine wasn’t sure she wanted that.
In fact, the very notion terrified her.
Chapter 16
“I just have to make sure that I never see him again.”
Lorraine raised her glass of water to her lips and took a swig. She was at Rosa’s condo and sitting beside her on the sofa. She’d gone home only to shower, then had immediately gone to Rosa’s place. She needed someone to talk to about this complicated situation.
“I saw the chemistry between you two the first night,” Rosa said. “It’s not rocket science that you two ended up doing the horizontal tango again.”
Lorraine’s face flushed hotly. “But I should know better. Once, I can understand. But twice?”
“You said he’s quite the lover. It’s clear to me that your body was down for another roll in the hay, even if your brain wasn’t.”
“Please, stop with all those sex metaphors,” Lorraine said, then sighed. “Sorry. I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at myself.” She sipped more water. “I totally planned to sign the store over to him, but then you had me thinking twice about it and when I spoke to Hunter about his father’s wishes, I started to realize that maybe I was being hasty in making that decision. He suggested that we work together.”
Rosa’s eyes lit up.
“He said he’s looking for a business opportunity, that this would be a way to honor his father.”
“But...?” Rosa asked. “You think he’s being dishonest?”
“No, not at all. In fact, I completely understand why that would appeal to him. He’s wrestling with the reality that his father wasn’t as bad as he thought, and he wants to do something meaningful to remember him.”
“That’s great. Isn’t it?”
“It’d be great if I didn’t think about getting naked every time I looked at him.” Lorraine groaned. “Keeping the store will mean tethering myself to him even further. And I just... I don’t want to be vulnerable to a guy like him.”
“What does that mean?”
“You know. He’s experienced. You don’t get to be that great in the bedroom without a lot of experience.”
“So you’re upset that you two click sexually?”
“That’s not what I’m saying. It’s just... I don’t want to set myself up to be hurt. You know my track record. I’m not good at casual sex. I’ve never gone to bed with someone I didn’t know and like...until now. And after today with him, seeing his vulnerable side and connecting...” Lorraine’s voice trailed off.
“You like him,” Rosa supplied.
Lorraine swallowed. She did like him. And that was precisely the problem. Fresh from a relationship that had ripped her heart out and dealt a blow to her self-esteem, she wasn’t ready to put herself in a vulnerable position again.
“I think I’ll let some time pass, then contact the lawyer to finalize the paperwork to sign the store over to Hunter.”
“You’re not going to keep it?”
“After today... Come on, Rosa. You know I can’t.”
“The only thing I know is that you seem more frazzled than I’ve ever seen you before. But kind of in a good way.”
Lorraine’s eyebrows shot up. Rosa gave her a sly smile. “Your problem is that you’re a hopeless romantic. I should have gone to see Amanda.”
“But you didn’t. You came to see me. The one person you knew would tell you to stop being afraid and just go for it. Why is that?”
Lorraine’s lips parted, but she wasn’t sure how to answer the question. Why hadn’t she gone to see Amanda? Amanda had been burned by love and knew how to get involved without putting her heart on the line. Amanda would have told Lorraine to cut ties with Hunter—immediately.
“You know why,” Lorraine said. “You and I have always been the closest.” While Trina and Amanda were her friends for life as well, Rosa was like the sister Lorraine had always wanted.
“You like this guy, I can see that. And that’s okay. But you’re scared. After Paul, how could you not be?”
Rosa always saw the sexual attraction without the rest of the drama. She lived for that initial spark and the fantasy of happily-ever-after. Lorraine had been married, hurt and the last thing she was looking for was another relationship.
“Don’t be afraid to love again,” Rosa went on. “Maybe Hunter’s the one.”
* * *
Rosa’s words played on Lorraine’s mind all through that night and even the next day. She had to admit, she couldn’t stop thinking about Hunter and their explosive chemistry. She’d spent much of the day driving around and checking out vacant properties, but the idea of keeping the store was preoccupying her thoughts. Especially after she’d received a text from Hunter bright and early, where he repeated what he’d told her the day before. His father would want her to keep the store; he would help her run it.
And his last words had truly touched her heart. If wanting to spend more time with you is a crime, then I’m guilty.
Lorraine had gone through the motions of checking out a few possible locations, asking neighboring business owners how they liked the area, but she was leaning toward doing what she never thought she would—keeping the store.
Her response to Hunter, however, had been reserved. She told him that she needed more time to consider what she would do, and that she didn’t want their relationship to cloud her judgment.
Lorraine was determined to take her time and make the right decision. To weigh the pros and cons before deciding what she should do.
As she turned into her townhouse complex, she realized that once again, Hunter was consuming her thoughts. The truth was, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. Their time together yesterday had culminated in an amazing lovemaking experience. Hunter had opened up to her, been completely vulnerable about his father and their past, and Lorraine’s walls around her heart had come crashing down. Yesterday had marked a shift within her. Hunter wasn’t just a man with a spectacular body who could make her feel utterly amazing. He was a good man, with complex emotions. He was real—and Lorraine liked the person she was getting to know.
She parked in her usual spot in the townhouse parking lot, and made her way toward her unit. Maybe Rosa was right. And Hunter, too. Keeping the store would allow her to pursue her dream, and honor Douglas in the process. And if she got to know Hunter a little better...? Why was she letting her past dictate her future? He wasn’t Paul, after all.
Lorraine halted before ascending the few steps to her door. A spectacular array of a dozen or so yellow lilacs with red highlights sat in a thick glass jar filled partly with water. Vibrant greens added to the lushness of the bouquet.
“Hunter,” she said, and rushed toward the beautiful arrangement, her heart pounding. How many times had she said that she needed to put Hunter in the rearview mirror? Yet seeing that he’d sent her flowers had her heart filling with warmth.
With hope.
She searched for a card, an ear-to-ear smile dancing on her lips. He must really like her. A guy wouldn’t send a booty call flowers, would he?
Finding no card, Lorraine frowned. But after a few seconds of confusion, she started to giggle. Hunter was trying to be mysterious. She liked that.
Lorraine opened the door and took the stunning bouquet inside, where she placed it on her kitchen table. Only as she was positioning the arrangement to best get the light did she wonder how Hunter had gotten her address. Through the lawyer?
Not more than thirty seconds later, the doorbell rang. A rush of exciteme
nt instantly ran through Lorraine’s veins.
Hunter? But wasn’t he working?
Maybe he had his whole squad on a firetruck and was making a quick stop to see her. Lorraine grinned at the fanciful thought. Rosa’s romanticism was rubbing off on her.
She bounded toward the door, hopeful as she opened it quickly.
“What are you—” The question died on her lips when she saw who was standing outside her door. Her face crumbled.
Paul!
“What’s the matter?” Paul asked, speaking with a tone of mock concern. “I’m not who you expected?”
Lorraine swallowed, uncomfortable. Why was her ex-husband here?
Paul gave her a creepy smile, then glanced beyond her into her home. “You’re not going to invite me in?” he asked.
“What are you doing here?”
“Is that any way to greet me?” he asked.
“You’re not welcome here.”
“But we need to talk.” And before Lorraine could protest, Paul pushed past her and walked into her townhouse.
“We have nothing to talk about,” Lorraine said. “Not anymore.”
“Oh, but we do. We need to talk about the divorce.”
Lorraine’s eyes narrowed. Was Paul drunk or simply out of his mind? “What’s there to talk about? Everything’s official.”
“That’s what I thought. Until I found out you weren’t completely honest with me.”
Lorraine crossed her arms over her chest and blew out a frustrated breath. “Paul, I don’t have time for this.”
He wandered into her kitchen, as though he owned the place. “Nice flowers.”
“All right, enough,” Lorraine said. “Either tell me why you came here or leave.”
Paul made a dramatic show of sniffing one of the lilacs, then smiled. “Beautiful flowers. From a new man?”
Lorraine’s stomach tensed. “I’ve had enough of this song and dance.”
He withdrew a small envelope from his pocket, and Lorraine realized that it held the card from the bouquet. Her eyes widened and her body began to shudder.
“So you are dating,” Paul said. “Wonder what this new man of yours had to say.”
Lorraine lurched forward, trying to snatch the card, but Paul jerked it out of her grasp. “Give me that!”
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
He was creeping her out. “That card is none of your business. My life is none of your business. We’re divorced.”
“How long have you been seeing Hunter Holland?”
Lorraine’s stomach bottomed out. Oh, God. Paul knew.
“I swear to God, if you don’t give me that card and get out of here immediately, I’m calling the cops.”
“And more importantly, why did you think you could shaft me in the divorce?”
Lorraine lurched for the card again, but again, Paul pulled it out of her reach. “I didn’t shaft you. And my love life is my business.”
“Not if you were cheating on me.” The annoying smirk on his face fell flat, replaced by an angry look. “Were you?”
“I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer.”
“Fine. But you know what you do owe me an answer about? Not disclosing your assets during the divorce. Divorce law in California is very clear. All debts—and assets—acquired during a marriage are to be split fifty-fifty.”
“Paul, we’ve been through this.” And she didn’t care to remember the money she’d lost because he’d invested in a business without her consent that had turned out to be a bogus pyramid scheme. She’d had to share in that debt. “I honestly can’t imagine what’s gotten into you, but I’m done with this conversation. I’m going to call the cops now.”
As she dug her cell phone from her purse, Paul placed the card on the table. Lorraine quickly snatched it up.
“1437 Keele Street,” Paul said nonchalantly, as if he’d just announced that there was more sun in the forecast. “Great location, don’t you think?”
Lorraine’s heart stopped, and an odd sensation spread through her. A numbing sort of feeling that left her light-headed.
“I bet it’ll fetch a pretty penny on the market.”
Lorraine couldn’t speak. Paul was referring to the property Douglas had left her. But how did he know?
Paul took a step toward her, and she inched backward. “Half of that property belongs to me.”
“You still have that investigator looking into my life? How dare you!”
“There’s nothing you can keep from me. Haven’t you learned?”
What was happening? Was Lorraine in the middle of a nightmare? Because this didn’t make a lick of sense.
“I—I didn’t keep anything from you. I never... I didn’t have that property while we were married. Only after our divorce was final.”
Paul threw his head back and laughed. “How convenient. You think I’m stupid enough to believe that? You getting that property was in the works before our divorce was final. You know it, and I know it.”
“You’re wrong,” Lorraine said, and felt the sting of tears. She didn’t understand how this was happening. She balled her hands into fists to avoid actually lashing out at him. And she hoped that by digging her fingernails into her palms and directing the pain there she would stop the tears from filling her eyes. She didn’t want Paul to know that he was getting to her.
“You were left in the will before that old guy died...while we were still married.”
“Get out.” Lorraine wanted to slap the smug look off of Paul’s face. How had she ever loved him?
“Half of that property is mine,” Paul said. “You thought you could pull one over on me, but think again. As a married couple, whatever assets you have, I have. Half of that store is mine. And I expect a cash payout.”
Then Paul turned and marched toward the door. Lorraine stood, speechless.
Paul opened the door, but then turned back toward her. “You gotta love the state of California.”
“Keep dreaming, Paul. You know nothing.”
“Oh, really?” His eyebrows shot up. Then he said, in a low, deep voice, “If wanting to spend more time with you is a crime, then I’m guilty.”
“What?” Lorraine asked, her eyes narrowing. But Paul just chuckled, then walked out the door.
Lorraine rushed forward and quickly locked the door, then bolted it. Finally, she sucked in a deep breath.
Her body was still trembling, her adrenaline coursing through her at rapid speed. And when she understood Paul’s parting words, she doubled over, as though she’d been kicked in the stomach.
Paul had just recited the exact words Hunter had written to her in a text.
No... That made no sense. Hunter must have also written those words in the bouquet’s card.
Lorraine quickly opened the card and read.
I know everything. My lawyer will be in touch soon.
Lorraine’s pulse pounded in her ears. What was going on?
She looked at the stunning bouquet, a sinking feeling filling her gut. Hunter hadn’t sent the flowers? Paul had sent them to her as a ruse? Some psychotic ploy to build her up, then tear her down?
That’s when she crumbled, placing her back on the door and sliding down it until her bottom hit the floor.
She began to cry. Finally, when she was ready to accept Douglas’s gift and move forward, Paul had thrown up a roadblock. He was determined to kill her dream just as he had killed their marriage.
Chapter 17
At first, when Hunter saw the text from Lorraine, he thought it was a joke.
Did you send me flowers?
His response had been a smiley face and a LOL, followed by a question mark. Was she playing some kind of joke with him?
&n
bsp; “What’s so funny?” Omar asked, looking over his shoulder at his phone.
Hunter put the phone into his pocket, then got up from the table and picked up his dinner plate. “Women,” he said. “Hell if I’ll ever understand them.”
“You’ve already got woman trouble?” Tyler asked. He was seated across the table from him. “You really are filling Omar’s shoes, aren’t you?”
“You bounced back from that woman who dumped you,” Peter said. “Where’d you meet this one? At another bar? And why didn’t you call me to hang with you?”
Hunter held up a hand. “You guys are way off base. This is the same woman.”
“What?” Peter asked. “How?”
Hunter took a minute to give them the abbreviated version of the story. “Illogically, she knew my old man, so we’ve had to be in touch.”
Peter slapped Hunter’s shoulder. “In touch. I’ll bet!”
Hunter’s phone vibrated in his pocket, and he withdrew it and read the newest text.
Did you? I need you to tell me. Please!
Hunter’s lips went flat. “What’s wrong?” Tyler asked him.
“I’m not sure,” Hunter replied, putting the plate back down on the table. He quickly typed a reply to Lorraine.
No. I never sent you flowers. Is that a not-so-subtle hint? :)
Something told him that Lorraine was upset, but in case she was playing some sort of joke with him, he’d added the smiley face. Though he couldn’t understand what kind of joke she could possibly be playing.
Never contact me at this number again.
“What the heck?” Hunter said aloud.
“Hey, man. What’s going on?”
Hunter heard the questions from his new friends and colleagues, but he couldn’t answer them. Instead, he strode out of the dining hall and into the corridor. He quickly called Lorraine’s number and put the phone to his ear.
She answered after the first ring. “I said to never contact me at this number again,” she said without preamble.
“Lorraine, what’s going on?”