“I doubt it.” She snatches the folder.
“How so?” He crooks an eyebrow, crossing his arms.
“I pay you for your services, unlike the string of skanks that you know.” She opens the folder, reading while speaking. “You charge too much not to be demanding.”
What does he do? He can’t be one of those geeks who require investors for their new gadgets. He’s getting paid. Hmm, is he a real estate agent?
I’m gawking at him trying to guess his profession and what his real relationship with Hazel is. Are they friends? Acquaintances with benefits?
His attention goes from my sister to me. “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.” He takes four long steps, extending his hand. “Hunter Everhart.”
“Don’t start hitting on her, Everhart,” Hazel demands running to meet us and waving his hand away as if he was an insignificant fly. “She’s not your type.”
“How do you know my type, Beesley?”
“Met her last month. What was her name?” she snaps her fingers biting her bottom lip as she recalls who I think is Hunter’s girlfriend. “Was it Heinie?”
He snorts, and it takes a moment for him to compose himself and side glance at me.
“I call her H. Her name is Henie. Short for Henrietta,” he explains to me. Then, gives Hazel a pinched expression. Annoyed at her remark. If we are talking about the same H who texted last Thursday, my sister is spot on about me not being like her. Not. At. All. “Who told you that nickname? Fitz?”
She laughs, and there’s a pinch in my heart. I hate to know he’s making her laugh, as much as I love to see her smiling freely maybe for the first time in months. Is she attracted to him? Maybe it is time for her to move on and find a new person to make her heart beat.
“Hey, Willow.” Hazel sobers up giving me a funny look I can’t read. “How about that lunch?”
“What about it?”
“I need you to go and get me something to eat?”
Am I her delivery service too? Two thousand dollars a month doesn’t justify being her butler. “Weren’t you going for it?”
Her eyebrow raises, her head tilts. Fuck, I think this is what she meant when she said I shouldn’t undermine her authority. “No.” She lifts the folder that this man brought. “I have work to do.”
“Who will be tending the phones?”
“I can answer the phones while I go through the contract.” Her eyes remain glued to the folder. “Just bring me a grilled cheese sandwich and a chocolate shake.”
“Nutritious.” I grab my purse, biting the health risks she faces if she continues eating like she’s in an eternal state of PMS.
Standing up, I study her. “Are you okay, Bee?”
“Yeah, I just have a ton of work.”
“I’m here if you need to talk.”
She nods, giving me a sad smile. Whatever she has going on inside her head won’t come out in front of Hunter. I hurry to the elevator, pushing the down button. I step inside, and the man follows me. Maybe moving to my grandfather’s home was a good idea. Hazel needs me. My spirits are back up in full big-sister mode. Hazel needs me at my best, doesn’t she?
“I never caught your name,” Hunter interrupts my thoughts.
He did, Hazel mentioned it a couple of time. I dismiss him by mumbling, “Willow.”
“Did things work out with whoever you went to visit?”
“Huh?” I stop strategizing about Hazel and what we’ll do to keep her entertained. Turning to him, I find him studying me. His warm eyes are speeding my heart rate. “What are you talking about?”
“You were going to find your ex the night we met.” He tilts his chin down, frowning.
Suddenly the rich aroma of amber notes envelops me causing me to almost break into a mating-ritual song. I take a step back. Musicals are my passion, this man and I have nothing to sing about—or dance along to either. “Whoa. You’ve got it all wrong.”
Why would I have to see him again? That night was the worst night of my career. And I’ve made some pretty bad career moves. Like the month I pretended I was a ballerina instead of a stripper. That planning party company where I worked as Elsa and sang “Let It Go” for months at children’s parties. Back then, there was hope that something better would arrive. Now, the something better shuts down, and I’m back to square one. I have no leads. My agent assures me something will come along.
“How so?” Hunter waits for more than my retort.
Fuck. I didn’t plan to see him again. More like, I begged never to see that guy again. He saw me at my lowest. Weak, defeated, and I even let him help me into a cab. He saw a part of me I hate to show. One only Hazel has seen.
Willow, take it easy. It doesn’t matter. By tomorrow he won’t remember your name, and he’ll be dating another Fanny. Or was it Heinie? Who cares? Not me. I’m not interested in dating anyone, not even Chris Pratt’s doppelganger. In the meantime, I should make a plan to avoid him. Maybe I can ask the front desk to call every time he’s in the building. Stop, Willow, you’re overthinking it. My sister is right. I’m a drama queen. The elevator car comes to a stop and the doors open. I scurry through the crowd of people entering it and dash outside the building through the glass revolving doors.
“Hasta la vista, Hunter,” I mumble.
When I enter the deli, I look behind me. He didn’t follow me. That’s good, Willow, I tell myself. Isn’t it? I can pretend with everyone that I don’t care about what’s happening to me, show the people around me that nothing affects me. The ice-queen façade protects me from being hurt. My parents taught me not to trust those who say they love you. They leave without caring about you. At least, my parental units never gave a fuck about us.
For a second, Hunter’s playful, warm eyes made me forget the rules I’ve established for years. Never fall for a charming smile or a kind gesture. Only a few minutes ago, I was drooling while dreaming of our future. Last week, he woke something inside of me, something I’d numbed a long time ago, and I don’t care to feel ever again. For a few moments, I felt safe as he broke my fall and offered to take me home. And that’s all you need, one second to let a man into your life. They destroy you slowly with false promises and a sense of security.
Sure, he looked like a gentleman. A caring man who might pledge the woman he falls in love with the sky. Is he the kind who won’t stop at anything to fulfill his promises?
No, most men take everything away and leave without giving a second glance.
Acknowledgments
I am so grateful to so many people. First and foremost, to all my readers. You’re the power that pushes this engine. I am grateful to have you. Thank you for reading my words, and for supporting my books. Thank you so much for those emails and notes you send after reading my books. They mean so much to me.
To my husband, thank you so much for everything. This book and the past couple of months couldn’t have happened without you taking care of me and everything in the house. I love you fearless.
To the amazing group of editors that helped me shape Found. Becca, Paulina, Ellie, and Robyn.
What you’re reading is a team/love effort from a group of people who I will forever be thankful.
Thank you to Becca for reading this story numerous times and walking me off the ledge when I was about to push the delete button again and again. Thank you to Yolanda, Mo, Patricia, Colleen and Michelle.
To Hang Le. I’m thankful for her patience, her talent and her friendship. For the amazing covers that she prepares for me. I love you so much.
To my Chicas, you’re the best fans in the universe. I love you from here to the moon.
Publishing this book was so much different than the other twelve books I’ve released. My health hasn’t been ideal but having so many amazing people behind me has make it a million times better. Thank you to all my author friends, bloggers and every reader who has been helping me not only spread the word, but also reach out to me to check that I’m doing well. I love you all.
Also By Claudia Burgoa
Standalone books
Flawed
Fervent
Until I Fall
Finding My Reason
Flawed
Unexpected Series
Unlike Any Other
Unsurprisingly Complicated
Uncharted
Uncut
Undefeated
Life Series
Where Life Takes You
Next To You
About the Author
Claudia is an award winning, international bestselling author. She lives in Colorado working for a small IT company, managing her household filled with three confused dogs, two daughters wrought with fandoms and a son who thinks he’s the boss of the house. And a wonderful husband who shares her love for all things geek. To survive she works continually to find purpose for the voices flitting through her head, plus she consumes high quantities of chocolate and wine to keep the last threads of sanity intact.
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