Page 32 of Hunted Temptation (Alpha Nights: Unlikely Heroes #4)

MARLOWE

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I wonder what Hale sees when he looks at me. I was never as beautiful and vivacious as my sister. She has always been and will probably always be the life of the party.

I’ve always been more of a nerdy type, but not an actual nerd, because I haven’t even graduated from high school, but I love learning, and I love books, all types of books. My favorite right now is romance, but I’d read a book on the strategies of the Civil War if it were in front of me.

I stare at the woman in the mirror but don’t recognize her. Then I realize that I don’t recognize who I am. I don’t know who I am anymore. I’m a mother, but that doesn’t define me, or does it?

I need to be something else, for him, for Stellan. Otherwise, I won’t be able to provide for him. He deserves a life that I never had… which is anything and everything, because I had nothing.

A soft knock on the door and Hale’s voice calling out to me alert me to the fact that it’s dinnertime. He opted to order in, but I have no idea what he ordered. He insisted—all but demanded—that I take a bath while he watched Stellan.

I try not to think about that. About him watching my son. And not just watching him but taking care of him… caring for him. He’s good at it, better than I am, actually. That’s a bit unnerving in and of itself, too. Maybe I’m not even good at this mother thing?

He knocks again, three raps, and it takes me out of my thoughts, thankfully. “Coming,” I call out.

I slide my sweaty palms down the skirt of my dress and cringe. I bought this dress at the secondhand store. It was my first maternity purchase, and for whatever reason, I thought I would be running around looking cute and living my life.

This one black dress I washed and wore every day to work, and when I couldn’t work any longer, when Hale brought me here, I never even tried it on again.

It doesn’t look half bad. I try not to look at my reflection anymore.

My body hasn’t been my own for so long I don’t even remember what I looked like before.

Moving toward the door, I twist the knob and tug it open. I don’t expect Hale to be there, but he is. Standing just inches away, a smile on his lips. His eyes rake down the entire length of my body before they slide back up to meet my own gaze.

“You hungry, sweetheart?” His voice is husky and deep, rough and sexy all at the same time.

Wow .

“Yeah,” I exhale. “I’m hungry.” For you .

He turns around and walks down the hallway. I follow behind him, stopping when I see the dining room. There on the table are lit candles in the middle, a dozen of them at least, all different sizes. There is also a vase full of roses, at least two full dozen pink roses.

My feet stop moving.

Because there, beside the table—that is romantically and beautifully decorated—is my son in a swing, fast asleep as it rocks him back and forth. I almost cry out in joy, but bite the inside of my cheek to keep from waking him up.

“Come eat,” he murmurs, extending his arm as he waves it over the table.

There are two plates and full silverware. I don’t know what is going on here, but I’m both scared and nervous, along with seriously impressed, beyond impressed. After sinking down in the chair across from him, I fold my hands in my lap, twisting my fingers, and look down at them.

“You wanted to talk to me?” I ask, slowly lifting my gaze to meet Hale’s.

HALE

I don’t know what to say, or more like I don’t know how to say it. I also don’t know how I’m going to sit here in front of her and not fuck her. I want to be inside her… now. She’s beautiful, absolutely stunning.

I watch as she sits nervously across from me, and I decide that instead of waiting, I need to talk to her right now, because if Stellan wakes up, having a serious conversation will become exponentially more difficult.

“I just wanted to start out by telling you I think you’re doing an amazing job,” I begin. Her head pops up, and her eyes widen. Her lips part in awe, but she doesn’t speak, so I continue. “I think you’re probably one of the best mothers I could ever imagine.”

“Hale,” she exhales.

“But I’m sure you want out of my house and to be on your own. I know you’ve been mentioning going back to work…” My words trail off, mainly because they put an acidic taste in my mouth. “I want to propose something to you,” I continue.

“What’s that?”

Her words come out in a whisper, but I can tell she’s worried, concerned, and likely scared. I never want her to be scared of anything when it comes to me. Nothing. Marlowe should never worry again. She’s had enough of that to last her a lifetime. I can see it plainly in her eyes.

“The woman who does our organizing and filing in the office is out on maternity leave. My partner suggested you could come in and do that work for her. He said he didn’t mind if you brought Stellan in with you.”

Silence.

She doesn’t speak, her eyes wide as she just stares at me. “You’d be paid. It’s office work. Boring, I’m sure.”

“You want me to come and work for you?” she asks.

Shrugging a shoulder, I shift in my seat as I pick up my fork and stab half of a baby potato.

“I want you to do whatever you like. Stay here if that’s what you want, but you mentioned needing to get back to work, and I don’t know where you were going to take Stellan, but I’d feel better if he were safe in my office building. ”

“You would?”

I shake my head, and my gaze flicks to meet hers. “You and Stellan are the most important people in my life.”

“Hale,” she exhales. “What am I doing here, really?”

“Living,” I state.

She nods. “I know, but why? Why us? Why you? Why?”

I don’t know if I could ever explain it to her. I don’t think there are words. But before I can think of a response, she continues speaking. I wonder if she’s been working up her courage to say all of this, turning it over in her head for months.

Now that I’ve mentioned a job, the future, it’s got her to a point where it’s all bubbling out. So I sit back and relax and let it bubble.

“What do you want out of this? What do you want from us?”

“What do I want, or what do I expect?” I ask.

Her lips press together as her eyes widen. She clears her throat but doesn’t speak immediately. She inhales a deep breath and holds it for a moment before she lets it out slowly. She’s working up her words, trying to decide how she’s going to say what’s on her mind.

“Expect, then want?” Her words come out as a question.

I could really frazzle her and demand she give me an actual response, not a question to my question, but I don’t. Because I don’t want her to ever feel uncomfortable, and I’m not really someone who enjoys being an asshole to women. And I wouldn’t dream of purposefully being one to her.

“I expect nothing, but I want you, Marlowe.”

“You want me?” she asks, her words coming out in a whisper.

“More than I want anyone else. Be ready to leave by seven tomorrow, and you guys can come into the office.”

I don’t say anything else. If I did, she’d know I’m a gigantic fucking pussy for her. Dipping my chin, I tuck into my food. I focus on the meat, potatoes, roasted artichokes, and side of macaroni and cheese.