Page 45 of Betrayal

“I got the sense it was an occasion that needed this sort of dress.”She’d expected an ambush, and he’d been so focused on expunging old memories he hadn’t twigged.“I checked out Marygai.She has a reputation in social circles for taking-no-prisoners.”

“She eats debutantes for breakfast,” Hunter agreed.

“She must go hungry a lot.Can’t remember the last time I met a debutant.”

“But I think we can agree, tonight’s ambush was for me.”

“I was led astray by the last-minute nature of the invitation and your reluctance to go alone.I thought I might be food for the lions.I read you wrong.I’m happy I was wrong.I shouldn’t have worn the dress.”

“Not every male was drooling.”

“Always a relief.”

Hunter’s hand covered hers.She’d made mistakes as a teenager but refused to be ashamed of her body.Maybe, there was a lesson in that, but whenever Nick appeared in Hunter’s life, shame became his running mate.

* * *

Anna held her breath.Telling Hunter that Nick Richardson was the actual birthday boy was cruel, and she didn’t need to do it to make her point.Hunter was as uncomfortable with his father’s history as she was with hers.Or, Anna hoped he was.

“Why did you want the conversation here, Anna?”

“To keep it out of our personal space.Yours and mine.”She hesitated.Hunter looked as rattled as she felt.“Maybe you could organise that transport to take me home now?”

“I’ll do that.”

He hadn’t made a lewd joke.Hadn’t laid a disrespectful finger on her.Hadn’t recoiled in disgust knowing his father had seen her naked.Anna’s stomach turned over at the memory.

Knowing who his father is, can I take Hunter to bed?

Hell, will he still want to take me to bed with this knowledge between us?

Anna sat silently, while her mind jumped from one half-idea to another.She’d become a punching bag, dizzy from the forces buffeting her and unable to find her balance.

Speak to me, Hunter.Don’t send me home alone in a ride share.

“Ready?”he asked.“The car’s on approach.Fare covered.”

Standing, she let him help her back into her coat.Hell, she couldn’t remember being this nervous.Crazy to feel that the next thirty minutes were the most important in her life.When his hands cupped her shoulders, she waited for him to kiss her.She’d welcome the lightest touch.Yet, when he tucked her into his side in the back seat of the car, his arm around her shoulders, his mouth against her temple, her heart leapt into her throat, because all she sensed was his uncertainty.

“What are you thinking?”

“X-rated.”His chuckle was off-key.

“Because Nick Richardson’s still in the room?”

When he withdrew physically and emotionally, Anna cursed her need to dissect silences between people until she’d unearthed absolute truths.They’d become two people occupying a space, which was too small to hold them.

Stuff it.If this thing developing between us is going to blow up tonight, I’ll go out with a bang.

“I’ve got another question,” she said, as the car pulled into the kerb.

He rolled out, while she slid across the seat to stand in front of him.“Ask,” he said.

“Cancel the cab.”

One beat passed, then another, before he leaned toward the driver.“I’ll get out here too.”

Taking his hand, Anna led him around the side of the building, backing him against a wall.“No prying eyes here.”