Page 92 of Betrayal

“He’s the kind of man who comes through a door with his ego ten feet in front of him.”

“Not all women read him so clearly.”He shook his head.

“He spoke to me at that party.I’ve never forgotten his words.‘I don’t need long with a woman before I know what I want to do with her, how I want to do it, and when I want to do it.’”

“He’s amoral when it comes to women.I want you to know, there were a lot of reasons I split with Gina, but sleeping with Nick wasn’t the main one, if that makes sense?”

“What was the main one?”

“Nick wasn’t the only one.Not the first or the last.She didn’t see her actions as disloyal in any way.”

Anna set her cup down, a frown creasing her forehead.“Did we go to Marygai’s party to exorcise her memory?”

“In a way.I wanted to show you off.Someone good and clean and honest was choosing to be with me.I was a stupid idiot, and it meant Nick saw you.”

“He didn’t see me.”She brushed his attempt at an apology aside.“He saw a body and a bracelet.”

“You showed me something that night.You’re not ashamed of your body.By your own admission, you stuffed up as a teenager, made some wrong choices, and got taken advantage of by cock-happy idiots who lacked brains and charm.You defeated them all.You exorcised Marygai simply by being.”

“But you didn’t remember that when you got the photos.”

“Knowing what Nick’s capable of, I thought he could have coerced you, then blackmailed you.He threatened to destroy you now.I don’t know what sick fantasy he was brewing.I just wanted to get you away from him.”

She was wearing her speculative expression, her cut-and-dice facts and fake-news expression.She drew her own conclusion.“Did you think he might have assaulted me?”

“It crossed my mind,” he whispered.“I knew you’d never have had sex with him willingly that night.”

“Good answer, Sam-I-am.It hasn’t been easy thinking you didn’t trust me.”She pressed a fist to her chest.

Pain ricocheted off her, and he cursed his part in contributing to that.

“My reaction to the photos was because I don’t trust Nick.”

She nodded.“Have we covered everything?”

“I might have left out a few small details, but that’s the gist.To be clear.I’m glad he didn’t touch you that night, but it wouldn’t make a blind bit of difference to how I feel about you.”

“How do you feel about me?I can guess, but guessing isn’t good enough.”A few heartbeats later, and she continued, her voice softer.“No answer?”

“I’ll answer when this is over.”Because if I say I love you, you’ll never walk away.

She exhaled loudly, as if summoning her courage.“Last question.”

“I wish.”But Hunter smiled, because she was still in the room with him.

“Do you think I’ll betray you—"

“No.”

“Not finished the question.”She rested her hand at the top of his thighs.“In your body?”—then moved her hand to rest against his chest—“in your heart?”—before touching a finger to his temple—“in your head?Because for you it has to be body, heart and mind.”

“You told me about Nick’s birthday party.You sent Niall to offer help when you thought my business was in trouble.You gave me Helen’s story.You turned up tonight.If you wanted to tell me something, you’d do it to my face.”

“I love you,” she said.

“I know you do.”Hearing the words strengthened Hunter’s resolve to permanently banish Nick from his life.“I also know you’re strong enough to walk away.I don’t deserve you.”

“It’s not a matter of deserving, it’s a matter of accepting.That’s always been the hurdle with you.”