Hunting J C

Hunting JC

Hunting J.C. Dominique Eastwick

Aspen Mountain Press

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Hunting J.C. Copyright @ 2010 Dominique Eastwick This e-book is a work of fiction. While references may be made to actual places or events, the Names, characters, incidents, and locations within are from the author’s imagination and are not a resemblance to actual living or dead persons, businesses, or events. Any similarity is coincidental. Aspen Mountain Press 18121-C East Hampden Ave, Ste 221 Aurora CO 80013 www.AspenMountainPress.com First published by Aspen Mountain Press, January 2010 www. AspenMountainPress.com This book is licensed to the original purchase only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. The e-book cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this e-book can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. ISBN: 978-1-60168-270-3 Released in the United States of America Editor: Kathy Weick

Warning This e-book contains language that some may find objectionable. Store your e-books carefully where they cannot be accessed by younger readers.

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Dedication: Special Thanks to Nadine, Jasmine, and Desireé Dedicated to all those Aspiring Authors who still dream to see their books be published to never give up.

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Chapter One “Let’s go find Anthony before J.C. kills him.” Spencer Sherman to Hunter Brooks Hunter Brooks pulled the rented boat up to the dock, threw the rope to a gangly teenage boy, who waited for the party guests to arrive. And arrive they had, the small well-kept dock on the family owned island off the Maine coast was already packed with small speed boats. Others shuttled over from the mainland on the scheduled ferryboats. Hunter pulled his glasses from his face and hooked them in the v opening of his black shirt. His gaze followed the grey flagstone walkway to the large white house just within view through the pine trees. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes—being a city boy, he rarely had the opportunity growing up or even now due to work commitments, to sit back and enjoy the nature around him. The smell of pine mixed with the salty freshness of the ocean invigorated his senses. The tension from days of tough negotiating ebbed away with every breath he took. Opening his eyes again, he looked around at the boats tied to the docks then back to the house. Replacing the sunglasses back on his nose, he tipped the dock boy before starting the short hike to the main house. He paused long enough to take in the large three-story mansion with its white washed walls. Good lord, the house looked more 5

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like a resort than a family homestead. They weren’t kidding when they named the place the “Estate.” There was a lot more old money in the Sherman family than Hunter originally thought, not that he hadn’t known the family was loaded but he hadn’t ever considered to what extent. Growing up poor, he could never imagine anyone having this kind of wealth. Anthony Sherman, his freshman roommate and frat brother, had never been a broke college student like Hunter. Tony reeked of money from his stylish car, to his collection of all new textbooks. Very much the opposite of Hunters “T” pass and second and third hand books, some so many editions out of print that he was forced to borrow textbooks from classmates. They’d been more than just fraternity brothers those four years in college. He and Tony became best friends and the closest thing Hunter ever had to a real family. They might have come from opposite backgrounds but a connection formed almost immediately. Anthony came from a gigantic family full of siblings and cousins. Anthony joked once that if his family had been in politics they would rival the Kennedy’s. Looking at the house just ahead, Hunter believed it. In college, Hunter remembered the endless invasions of Anthony’s family, not just his parents and his four siblings, but the aunts and uncles and older cousins—any one of whom determined to take him and Hunter out to eat when they were in town. For Hunter, an orphan on a rugby and marketing scholarship, those were always the best meals. Both because he was made to feel like family and mainly because it was a meal he hadn’t had to pay for, and a meal that didn’t involve ‘Top Ramin’ or bologna. Almost from that first holiday freshman year, Hunter was invited and later expected to join the Sherman clan either at their house on the slopes of Aspen or Thanksgiving at the penthouse overlooking Central park, where they had a bird’s eye view of the parade. He’d become well acquainted with Anthony’s three brothers, Spencer, Trenton and Lucas, and their baby sister, Jacinda. Jacinda was a constant bookworm, always quiet and docile. He remembered her as the sweet, slightly overweight teen with an oversized crush. Putting aside the fact that

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she was six years his junior, she was also his best friend’s baby sister. The cardinal rule amongst friends has always been hands off the baby sister. As Jacinda matured, Hunter grew more remote where she was concerned. What friendship they might have had, he gradually withdrew. Taking great pains to avoid her, he made an effort never to look her way for fear of encouraging her infatuation. Slowly, Jacinda seemed to get the message. With the exception of greetings, he made little effort to engage her in any way. But years had passed and so much had changed. He was no longer the poor college student, Jacinda was married, and so he hoped he could renew a friendship with all the Shermans. When Hunter let it slip that he would be in Boston over Memorial Day weekend, Tony insisted Hunter come to the family estate for their annual clambake. Hunter said he didn’t want to impose, but Tony maintained his parents and the rest of the family were dying to see him and asked how one more mouth could impose on a guest list of close to two hundred. Approaching the house, Hunter guessed Tony was correct. There were universities smaller than this house. The clear sounds of Jimmy Buffett playing through the outdoor sound system made it clear that Hunter was on the right island. Most rich babies might be born with a silver spoon in their mouths, but it was a commonly known fact that all Sherman babies were born with Margarita glasses. And though the rest of the world put their children to sleep with lullabies, Tony and his siblings were lulled to sleep with the sounds of Son of a Sailor and One Particular Harbor. “May I help you, sir?” asked a smartly dressed maid as Hunter approached the front porch. Hunter slowed his steps and smiled at the woman who he was sure couldn’t be more than twenty. “My name is Hunter Brooks. Anthony is expecting me.” “Yes, Mr. Brooks, you are expected. Your bags I assume are on the docks?” “They are.”

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“Very good, sir. I will personally see them taken to your room. Would you like to freshen up?” The innuendo was clear when Hunter failed to respond she continued somewhat reserved, “Or shall I escort you to Mr. Sherman?” “You can take me straight to Anthony.” Keen to see Tony after all these years the last thing he was interested in was a young girl, no matter how well she filled out the Hawaiian shirt top and white shorts. Hell, it had been at least six years now since he and Tony had last seen each other. Thank God for email or he probably wouldn’t have kept in touch at all. Like clockwork every Friday morning when Hunter logged on to his computer there was an email from Anthony. Hunter followed the maid through the open air white house. Everything was white or shades of white. From the rugs and the sofas to the art work on the wall, it was a colorless house. And yet the warmth of the Sherman family penetrated through everything, making the house warm and comforting instead of cold and hard. The familiar sounds of Sherman competition drifted in through the open veranda doors, the sound becoming louder as he approached the veranda. Hunter felt his lips curling into a smile and a happiness he hadn’t felt in years came upon him. “It looks like they are still involved in a volleyball game. Shall I announce you?” “That won’t be necessary. I can wait.” No one interrupted a family game, not in this family anyway. “Shall I get you something to drink?” “Ice tea would be great.” “Sweetened?” “Sure.” Hunter nodded to dismiss the maid yet never took his eyes off the game. He walked to the end of the veranda to get a better view of the game unfolding down below on the open grass area. Obviously a popular pastime as the lines were well laid and certain areas of the grass worn down to the dirt. Hunter realized he missed his days of rugby. The few hours a week he was able to fit a workout in his hectic work schedule couldn’t rival the adrenaline rush he got from team sports.

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Tony’s taunting voice bellowed above the ruckus of the game. Even after six years, Hunter could find Tony in a crowd by the sheer size of his ego, not to mention his lungs. He stood shirtless mocking the other team. A skill he perfected in rugby. Or perhaps, he had perfected it here on the Sherman playing field and just brought it to the front in college. His eagle eyes scanned the court, all the men were definitely Sherman. Right down to the mannerisms, Sherman’s were Sherman’s through and through. And all looked remarkable like Tony. All the men had the same build and coloring, the dark blond to light brown hair, and each one of them looked like they had stepped out of Hollywood. Hunter settled into a wicker rocking chair, propped his long legs onto the rail in front of him and relaxed. This would be a long game. Twenty minutes of play later, Hunter knew his original collective thoughts were correct, as usual, another highly competitive Sherman game not likely to end soon. A few familiar Sherman family members now circled him, all putting in their commentary of the volleyball game. “Come on, J.C.,” Tony mocked from the net to the slender well-proportioned woman about to serve the ball. Hunter couldn’t see her face but her ass was one that a man dreamed of holding on to. He envisioned many ways to hold on to it with every squat, shimmy and jump she had made over the last quarter of an hour. His attention so focused he wasn’t particularly certain what those around him were talking about. “Tony, if you don’t want me to spike this down your throat, back off.” “Ohhhh.” Tony laughed, turning to mimic the woman. When she served the ball over head, Hunter could only gasp as the ball connected with a loud thump to the back of Tony’s head. “You little hellion! You’re so going to pay for that.” Tony playfully rushed the woman from under the net. “Anthony!” J.C. screamed and smartly started to sprint in the other direction. Hunter sat forward, elbows on his knees, enjoying the view of the slender legs gracefully displayed by a pair of tight white shorts and an elegant back tightly enclosed

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in a pale yellow baby tee. A shirt with very little of the support this woman needed as she ran full speed from Anthony’s fury. “J.C., you can only run for so long.” “Come on, Anthony, leave her be and let’s play. You deserved it.” Hunter’s head snapped back as he recognized the man behind the voice as Tony’s older brother Spencer. “Ah damn, that’s the game.” Spencer threw the ball to the ground. Hunter knew the moment Spencer saw him. He smiled in his lazy half cocked grin and nudged his younger brother Trenton. Both men stalked in Hunter’s direction. They stopped only long enough to grab their mother’s hand and lead her to the veranda. “Trent, where are we going? I was in the middle of a conversation with Mrs. Cromwell about the… Hunter!” The older woman put out her arms and embraced Hunter with a mother’s enthusiasm. Hunter tensed for a moment, not used to such a motherly embrace. He relaxed within seconds at the care she had always shown him. “Mrs. Sherman.” He laid a tender kiss on Michelle Sherman’s soft cheek. She looked no older than she had the last time he’d seen her. She was still stylishly beautiful. Her silver hair framed her carefree face, and Hunter knew she wore her laugh lines with pride. “Mom,” she insisted. “I feel like all my children are here now. When did you arrive?” “About a half hour ago. I didn’t want to interrupt the game.” “Smart man,” the patriarch of the family, Joseph Sherman, said, coming through the door of the house. “Good to see you son.” He shook hands with Hunter before pulling him into a fatherly embrace. “Thank you, sir. It’s good to be here.” “Come on, Hunter. Let’s go find Anthony before J.C. kills him,” Spencer said, putting an arm around Hunter’s shoulder. The two brothers asked a mountain of questions as the three walked around the house toward the pool. Hunter watched as Tony caught up with his nemesis and flung her over his shoulder.

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As they approached, Tony finally turned around spanking the girl squarely on her beautifully rounded rump. “Hunter, Christ is that you?” Tony asked with merriment. “Hunter?” The woman on Tony’s shoulder squealed. “Oh, Jacinda.” Tony grimaced and threw her easily into the pool.

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Chapter Two “Sweet bookish Jacinda has been replaced by hottie, mega bitch J.C.” Tony to Hunter All Jacinda heard before her head went under the clear water was the sound of Hunter’s voice questioning Jacinda? Jacinda, or J.C. as she preferred to be called now, remained under the water longer than necessary. Feeling utterly humiliated at the prospect of facing Hunter loomed larger in her mind. As her head came out of the water relief washed through her to see everyone’s attention was now firmly on Hunter Brooks. Hunky, hot, gorgeous—Hunter Brooks. Jacinda swam to the farthest end of the pool to climb out. With any luck no one would notice her departure. The hours she spent getting ready this morning were now all wasted by Tony’s careless drop in the pool. She knew Hunter would be here, knew the man she craved would be present. Hell, she had wanted him since she was twelve years old. He’d been the one she wanted when she and her ex-husband said their “I do’s” and since her divorce her desire for him bordered on obsession.

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The difference between then and now was that nothing would stand in the way of J.C. getting what she wanted—not her family, not her fears, and not, if she could help it —Hunter himself. J.C. scanned the beach chairs for a spare towel to dry off. Not finding any, she rang some excess water from her shirt. At the same time, she allowed her gaze to drink in Hunter’s masculine form from across the pool. He’d filled out nicely in the passing years since she had last seen him, nearly eight years since he graduated from college. He’d been buff then but still had the body of a young man, now he was all man. Every inch of him screamed power from his timberland boots, to his loose fitting cargo pants that, although baggy, still managed to hint at the strong hips and thighs underneath. Her eyes followed up to the classic polo shirt that nicely outlined his pecks and his biceps, but made him look classy while remaining casual. Sensing that the attention was about to shift to her direction, she quickly turned her eyes away. “J.C., get over here and welcome Hunter,” Spencer yelled over Hunter’s shoulder. She watched as Tony and Hunter turned to face her. Tony’s face fell in horror. “Christ J.C., everyone can see your nipples!” The old Jacinda would have run and cried her eyes out in humiliation. The new J.C. stood her ground. “And whose fault is that, Tony?” J.C. strolled over confidently and smiled at Hunter. “Great to see you again, if you will excuse me, I’ll just go dry off before Tony has a conniption. You’d think he’s never seen hard nipples before.” “Jacinda!” her mother shrieked, appalled. “What?” J.C. laughed then turned from the crowd. She sent one last coy smile over her shoulder targeted at Hunter before she jogged away from the house. She heard the sweet sound of Hunter’s laugh coming behind her. J.C. hadn’t lived in the main house since her marriage and she had no intention of returning now that she had become the first Sherman divorcee. No Sherman ever got divorced. They stayed together happily ‘til death do they part.’ Had J.C. stayed with her ex-husband one of them would have ended up dead. J.C. suspected it would have been her.

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Dave Kirkland had been a controlling bastard. He controlled everything about J.C.’s life from the first moment he’d stepped into it at the age of eighteen. She’d just been too stupid to see it, and she wanted so badly to be loved that she mistook control for love. They dated for a year before he proposed. By then he felt like a part of the Sherman family. He fooled them all. His charm won them over, convinced friends and family alike that she was in great hands. Even her over-protective brothers liked him. But when they married, he changed, and her life became a living hell. **** Hunter watched, enthralled as Jacinda jogged away from them, her white shorts just as transparent as her yellow top. If anyone noticed no one wanted to mention it. Between the dark nipples and the dark triangle of hair at the apex of her thighs, Hunter was now rock hard and uncomfortable, wishing someone would throw him in the pool. If Tony had an inkling of what was going on in his head, or the affect J.C. was having on his body, he would throw him off the island before he could say a word. Hunter listened to the family regale him of the family news, just plain happy no one expected him to talk. Tony’s stories were always a good way to divert anyone’s attention. Now more than ever Hunter needed that. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman excused themselves when Lucas, their second oldest son, arrived. They needed to chat with him alone. Lucas, he was informed, had just broken his long-standing relationship with his fiancée and the family was concerned. Only then did Hunter’s eyes catch Jacinda, now changed into a slinky bikini, come back to the party. She maneuvered slowly around the groups, glancing at Hunter and mocking Tony as she dived flawlessly into the water. The hard won control Hunter had, slipped as he felt his body react to her once more. “I never would have recognized her,” Hunter said when his voice regained some sense of normalcy. Tony shook his head then turned with a smile back to Hunter. “No one does, new name, new nose…”

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“New boobs,” Trent added. If anyone noticed Hunter’s surprise they didn’t say so. “New Jacinda,” Spencer said, “Her husband…” “The Bastard,” Tony said under his breath. “The Bastard,” Spencer agreed, “He did quite a number on her. Had us all fooled.” “They went away on their honeymoon for a six month tour of Europe, when they came back no one recognized Jacinda. Hell, I’m not sure I see any of the old Jacinda in her now.” “Nope, sweet bookish Jacinda has been replaced by hottie, mega bitch J.C. She doesn’t take crap from anyone now.” “Is that such a bad thing?” Hunter glanced again in J.C.’s direction. “It sounds like she’s learned to stand up for herself. Hopefully she is standing up to ‘husband of the year’ as well.” “Ex!” All three men said in unison. “Ex?” “Jacinda will go down as the first Sherman to get a divorce,” Spencer said. “Well if she hadn’t divorced the man, I would have killed him,” Tony said. “Once he had her all to himself… But you didn’t come here to talk about Sherman dirty laundry; I think you came for a game of tackle Frisbee.” “Oh no. I have a merger meeting on Tuesday and I cannot go into it with a broken nose and black eyes.” The last time the group played tackle Frisbee, two men ended up in the ER with broken bones and most were so badly bruised that it looked like they had become professional boxers for the night. “All right then, how about a game of shuffleboard,” Tony grabbed the Frisbee from the lawn chair and held it up. Within moments the men moved out to the far lawn for an all out game of Tackle Frisbee.

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Chapter Three “Seemed safer over there.” Hunter to J.C. The bonfire’s golden flames blazed bright on the dusk darkened beach as J.C. worked her way through the crowd. The cool New England night brought a shiver to her spine. The chill J.C. had, had very little to do with the temperature and more to do with the anticipation of seeing Hunter again. J.C. scanned the beach slowly, taking in the beauty of the Maine coastline and breathing in the fresh salty air. Slowly, with determined steps, she made her way through the guests and toward the bonfire. With over two hundred guests in attendance, avoiding Hunter had been relatively easy until she was ready to see him on her terms. Assuming the approving glances he cast her way were indeed just that. Only the desire she read in his dark chocolate eyes allowed her to return after her afternoon dunking with her dignity intact. She may have a great body but she still felt like the overweight teenage Jacinda. Now wearing a buttercup sleeveless sundress that hugged her curves as she walked, she paused only long enough to still her pounding heartbeat. If she had anything to do with it, Mr. Brooks would be naked and between her thighs before the

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sun rose in the morning. She waited more than a decade for this and she didn’t want to wait another day to feel his hard naked body against hers. “J.C.,” Spencer yelled from the far side of the bonfire, stick in hand, jabbing at the embers. J.C. looked around and saw no immediate sign of her prey. Burying her disappointment, she plastered a smile on her face and headed to her eldest brother’s side. “Hi, Spence.” She leaned down next to him to grab a Sam Adams out of the cooler. “There are sodas in there too if you want one.” J.C. rolled her eyes and opened the beer bottle. She took a quick sip before looking at Spencer straight in his blue eyes. “Geez, big brother, I didn’t realize they raised the drinking age to twenty-six.” Spencer blushed. “You will always be twelve to me, kiddo.” “God forbid,” she moaned and took a gulp of the cold beer. She preferred a mixed drink to beer, but since her divorce, she acquired a taste for beer. J.C. was honest enough to admit she did it because her ex-husband thought women who drank beer were crass. And even now anything that Dear Dave hated she relished with glee. “If you or the others would just look, you will notice I’m a fully grown woman.” “That she is,” Hunter’s husky voice seemed to raise itself over the crackled of the bonfire. J.C. looked through the flames to see Hunter, her prey, standing on the other side of the fire. He resembled a panther, sleek, dark and highly dangerous. He too had changed clothes, now looking lethal in a pair of dark chinos and a black ribbed crew neck tee shirt that hugged his muscular chest to perfection. J.C. nearly groaned; she felt moisture pool between her thighs and dampen her thong. She had to have this man tonight. “What are you doing all the way over there?” Hunter came around the fire. Even his movements were sleek; his walk smooth and silent. His eyes never wavering from hers as he skillfully maneuvered around the crowd. Only when he accepted the proffered beer from Spencer did his gaze leave hers. He exchanged a few words with Spencer before he looked at J.C. again. His gaze

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covertly took in her curves and when he finally met her eyes he said, “Seemed safer over there.” J.C. shook her head to clear her thoughts, uncertain what he meant. Hunter leaned in, his breath touching her cheek as he answered her unspoken question. “You asked what I was doing over there?” He gestured with his beer to the other side of the fire. “My answer is, seemed safer over there.” J.C.’s skin burned, but it wasn’t from the fire, it was from Hunter’s brazen focus on her. His attention had never been solely on her before. Excitement flowed through her veins, he was even more sensual than she imagined. Every inch of her body hummed to life. Spencer gave a questioning glance at the two of them before being drawn away by a single lady looking for attention. J.C. watched her brother depart, relieved to have one less pair of prying eyes. There was a definite spark between them and she knew Spencer noticed it too. They stood there, eyes locked for a moment until someone asked her to hand them a beer. J.C. used the chance to allow her breast to brush against Hunter’s thigh as she reached into the cooler. He sucked in his breath and she felt a thrill of victory. When asked if she could grab a second beer, she did so with delight. This time she positioned herself so when she bent over her ass was in Hunter’s line of site, the short dress riding up to dangerous levels. This time he released his breath in a ragged hiss. J.C. rejoiced, under the cool face Hunter showed to the world, he was just as in tune with her as she was with him. Knowing for certain he was not immune to her advances gave her the confidence to be bold. “Anything else?” she asked sweetly, throwing a look over her shoulder. When the other man said no and thanked her, she turned to Hunter. “What about you? Do you need anything?” ****

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Hunter knew he was taking too long to answer that question—the very loaded question J.C. threw his way. Her advances clearly stated her intentions and he seriously knew he’d been safer on the other side of the fire. He shifted uneasily, before gulping down some beer. His voice and his body were failing him. This overwhelming need to have her was something he’d not prepared for. If he admitted to himself, and he was far from prepared to do so, he’d wanted her for a long time. When she was sixteen, overweight, and somewhat of a bookworm, he had wanted her. For everyone’s sake, he simply put space between them. He invited girlfriends along to the Sherman family events to help him keep his mind off Jacinda’s maturing body. If he didn’t have a girlfriend, he would spend the weeks leading up to the event finding one. The only reason he felt safe coming here this weekend was his uninformed belief Jacinda was still married. Had he known she was divorced… honestly, he didn’t know what he would have done. Why only now, as he felt her breasts brush against him again, did it finally become clear that he wanted her from the moment he realized she was a young woman and not a girl? He’d seen the potential even then. Had ached with what he saw her become. But he chalked any fantasy about Jacinda into a need to be part of this family. Now he knew he had just been assuaging his guilt over what he really wanted to do to his best friend’s baby sister. By bringing an endless string of woman to the Sherman get-togethers, by parading one gorgeous woman after another in front of Jacinda, he’d created a ten foot steel wall between them. There was no buffer between them now, even the Sherman brothers left him alone with her. They felt she would be safe with him. And perhaps she would have been had she not been so damned appealing and so damned obvious about what she wanted. The irony of the situation was—he was not safe from her. So lost in his thoughts, Hunter never heard Tony approach. He only became aware of Tony’s presence when he placed a cold beer against his neck. “Earth to Hunter?”

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Hunter felt a blush forming under his tan. “Uh.” “I know that look and it’s the look of Hunter about to go a hunting. Okay, so which of these beauties caught your eye?” Tony looked around the beach. Most of the older people returned to the house for games of bridge or Yahtzee. All the children were probably watching movies with the nannies. That left the middle generation to find their own wicked way to keep themselves amused. “Okay, so you can’t move in on the blonde over there, Trent has been feeling her out all day. Not that I think he has any hope in hell, but if you move in he will surely lose what little advantage he had. You can see who Spence is after, but other than that…” Tony shrugged as if there wasn’t anything else to say. Hunter grimaced; if Tony knew just whom he was scoping out, Tony would push him into the fire then throw Hunter into the ocean—not to put out the fire but to drown him. “Thanks,” was all Hunter could manage. “Hey, I have a great idea, why don’t we head inland to THE CLUB.” “Isn’t that a gay bar?” Tony asked. Hunter watched J.C. look at her brother shaking her head before she responded wearily, “Well yes, but there are a lot of straight girls that go there, and so there will be easy pickings.” “Thanks but no,” Tony mumbled. “Actually,” Spencer said coming around the fire, his arm firmly around a brunette woman’s waist. “A group of us went the last time we were here and there were so many tourist that no one really knew it was a gay club and J.C.’s correct, the girls are a dime a dozen.” “I’m in,” Trent said from over the fire, it was obvious that he wasn’t getting anywhere with the blonde. “And I think Lucas will be up for it too if only to get away from Mom’s worrying looks.” “I’ll go.” Hunter figured nothing like a group of gay men dancing together to get his mind off any sort of sex.

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J.C. smiled at Hunter before looking at Tony. “There you have it. Come on, Tony, don’t be such a homophobe.” “Fine, we’ll meet on the dock in one hour. I’ll have the boats ready for whoever wants to go.” Tony stomped off. “Now this should be good, Tony in a gay bar,” Hunter mumbled loud enough for Tony to hear but the only response he gave was to stick his middle finger high in the air, leaving everyone to laugh in his wake. J.C. turned toward Hunter, her nipples grazing his chest even through the fabric he could feel her heat. “I’m a bit surprised you’re interested in going, Hunter.” He took another swig of his beer as he realized that he liked the sound of his name on her lips. The soft ‘h’ sounded so husky and erotic, he wanted to hear her scream his name aloud. With difficulty, he said, “I’m completely secure in my sexuality. I know what it is I want.” “But the question is, are you man enough to go after it?” J.C. walked away for the second time that day, her hips swaying seductively and all Hunter could think about was wrapping his hands around those hips as he forced her to take all of him. Hunter groaned and forced himself to greet the last of the Sherman brothers who just arrived. Too late, Hunter realized Lucas had been watching them with keen interest. Not knowing what else to say to the questioning look, Hunter grabbed another beer and with forced levity said, “Are you really sure that women is Jacinda? I think you’ve all been played.” “Don’t say we didn’t warn you.” Spencer patted his back with a chuckle. **** An hour and a half later, Hunter found himself in the second row of seats in the Escalade. Spencer behind the wheel and Tony beside him in the front passenger’s seat, Spencer’s date Belinda, J.C. and Hunter were in the second row, while Trent and two other women squeezed into the back.

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They were followed by two other SUVs carrying just as many people, one driven by the forth Sherman brother, Lucas, and the other by a Sherman cousin. It seemed that no one wanted to be left on the beach. Hunter tried his damnedest to ignore J.C.’s leg rubbing against him. J.C. changed yet again, this time into a black miniskirt and a black blouse that was cut so low that he wasn’t sure how her braless breasts stayed concealed. Neither left anything to Hunter’s wild imagination. This, in turn, left his imagination free to invent many different ways of removing said pieces of clothing. His line of vision moved lower past the deliciously short mini skirt to the long shapely legs beneath the skimpy material. She wore black knee-high boots and with her this close and the length of her skirt rising, he knew that she wore thigh high stockings and a garter belt. Hunter’s mouth went dry and he forced himself to focus on the conversation he’d started with Trent. Certain that at any moment he was going to let his fingers trace that same garter belt line. “Could we listen to something to get us in the mood?” J.C. complained for not the first time as Tony adjusted the radio trying to find a station. “There isn’t much.” “Oh, let me.” J.C. proceeded to lean into the front seat. Unfortunately this gave Hunter the perfect view of J.C.’s ass and the purple thong she wore. Not only was he seeing the purple thong but he now also could see the purple garter belt that framed her perfect ass. Hunter tried to look away but his senses were on full alert. When she shifted, he could swear he could hear the lace lightly brush against her skin. He took a deep breath, hoping he could smell her distinct scent. She must have bathed before changing, so his nostrils filled with the clean scent of soap and her perfume. Pure Poison if he was correct. Spencer hit a pothole, giving Hunter a reason to grab her hips to steady her. One hand inadvertently went up her skirt while the other fell on the outside. His hands tightened when she squirmed a bit. One finger doing what he most wanted to do, trace the garter up and down her ass cheek.

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“J.C., sit down! I doubt Hunter is enjoying that view.” Trent’s voice rang with disgust, “I know I’m not.” Hunter hoped no one looked at the tight bulge in his lap. They would know that far from having her sit down, what he wanted to do was to move the small strip of purple fabric to the side and take a face dive into her crotch. Just the thought of his tongue inside her was enough to make him cross-eyed. Just then, Spencer took a tight curve that sent J.C. falling back into the seat and onto Hunter’s lap. She looked at him knowingly as she wiggled her bottom over his erection. All he had to do was undo his button fly and he would be inside her. No one would know the difference. Well, no one would be wiser until she was panting and moaning, and screaming out his name. That, he chuckled to himself, might give them away. Very gently, he removed her from his lap. J.C. gave a little pout but smiled when she looked down and saw what must have been proof positive of the effect she was having on him. Hunter leaned to retrieve his suit coat, which in J.C.’s shuffle to change the radio station had managed to fall on the floor. He folded it neatly then placed it on his lap with the hope it would hide his obvious arousal. He didn’t want to have to explain exactly what had gotten him worked up, not to three big over protective brothers in the car. When J.C.’s hand found its way under his coat and to his rigid erection, he didn’t stop her. Not that he could have stopped her without making a scene. Instead, he decided to let his body relax and for a minute his conscience was silent. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of her stroking and caressing him. He let his head fall back against the headrest and opened his legs just the slightest to give her better access. Her hand rubbed the soft denim fabric, tracing the hard bulge beneath, squeezing him gently. Hunter focused for a minute on his breathing then relaxed again as he allowed himself to enjoy her discovery. He watched her eyes widen when she realized his erection was now fighting to be freed at his waistband. She then repeated the action on the other side of his bulge. He shifted slightly, opening his legs a bit more to allow

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her all access. Nearly allowing a groan to escape when her hand cupped him through his pants, he sucked it in. He sat back and let the miles drift behind him, thankful that no one seemed intent on a conversation with him. His thoughts only focused on what her hand would feel like when she actually wrapped her fingers around his cock and not through his designer jeans. He knew he would be sleeping with her. Looking into her eyes, he realized she’d known it all along. He had played very neatly into her hands, in more ways than one.

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Chapter Four “I would have taken you for a ‘Screaming Orgasm’ girl, myself.” Hunter to woman at the bar. Hunter needed a drink, a stiff one, to get his mind off the stiff problem he had in his pants. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a woman rub him in the presence of others. His affairs were sophisticated. Usually his liaisons were conducted at the lady’s apartment and, more often, in a bed. He had enough in his lustful youth of quickies in the back seat or in the living room, praying one of his frat brothers didn’t come barging in. He liked to take his time pleasuring the lady, then taking his pleasure once she was sated. Occasionally he spent the night but most of the time left shortly after sex. Not immediately after, he knew women liked to cuddle and feel like they were more than just a body, and he wanted to make sure they felt that way as well. Growing up on the streets had taught him a lot about the kind of man he didn’t want to be. It taught him how to survive but gave him the perspective of knowing the weak needed protecting. That was the problem. J.C. was weaker than he; she had been hurt and she was Tony’s baby sister. All of this added up to a no-brainier, he should walk away, and fast, but his body and his brain were not communicating in the same language. As he stood 25

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at the bar, he tried his damnedest to listen to Tony, but his eyes kept moving to J.C., who was at this moment sandwiched, damn tightly, between two men. He gritted his teeth as he watched the man behind her slide his hands over her hips, his lips dangerously close to her ear. Hunter clenched his fists into tight balls while he watched the leg of the man in front of J.C. move between her thighs. The guy’s arms snaked around her to bring her perilously close to him and his groin. Hunter groaned at the situation. J.C. was not his concern, and although things had gotten a little rigid in the car, he had enough restraint to resist J.C., no matter how much he wanted her. He just needed to keep his priorities in check. Which, he acknowledged as he glanced one more time at J.C. in her skimpy skirt and sexy as hell blouse, wasn’t as easy as he had hoped it would be. “Buy me a drink?” a woman’s voice purred in Hunter’s ear. He turned to see a gorgeous woman with black pixie-like hair looking at him. She bit her lip in a flirty way, making sure that her hip brushed his purposefully. Thankful for the diversion, Hunter got the bartender’s attention. “What will you have?” “Sex on the beach.” Her fingers traced the bicep of his left arm. She easily wedged herself between Hunter and Tony, making sure that Hunter’s focus remained solely on her. This was a woman who knew the rules of the game. She was exactly the type of woman Hunter needed to help keep his eyes, thoughts, and other physical attributes, off Jacinda Sherman. Turning on the charm, Hunter looked at Tony for a minute and saw his friend shake his head and chuckle. This was where the fun began, this was the Hunter Tony knew. There was a sparkle of acknowledgement in Tony’s eyes when he turned away from the Hunter and the pixie woman. “I would have taken you for a Screaming Orgasm girl, myself.” Hunter teased as he placed his hand on the bar behind her, effectively pinning her between him and the bar. The woman threw back her head and laughed. “We will have to save that for later.”

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“I’ll take that as a promise.” Hunter made the supreme effort of placing his entire focus and thoughts on the woman and failing to take them off J.C. “The name’s Hunter.” “Then my name is Prey.” She let her breast brush against his chest when she turned to retrieve her drink. **** J.C. immediately became aware of the intruder moving in on her territory. What in the hell was Hunter thinking? Hadn’t she made her intentions plain in the car? He had not been immune to her charm. She grimaced when she realized that perhaps she underestimated his sense of honor. The man was too honorable for his own good and certainly for hers. J.C. continued to dance, watching with gritted teeth as Hunter leaned into the Gothic beauty. The man was going to make her crazy. She hoped that by dancing with two men, he would become aroused and be unable to take his eyes off her. That had been a tactical error of mammoth proportions, she admitted now. The fact that the said two men were now kissing each other as they bumped and ground into her didn’t help her case. She watched covertly as Tony and the woman he had been talking to excused themselves, and walked toward the other end of the club. They were heading up to the deck. She breathed a sigh of relief. The only way she could break through Hunter’s code of ethics was to keep Tony far away. Excusing herself from her dance partners, J.C. walked to the bar at the far end, making certain Hunter could still see her and that his eyes were focused on her. To achieve that, she had to make enough of a scene to get his attention back on her and off the interloper he was intent on flirting with. She strolled by every person she knew, made an effort to joke and be friendly before moving past them on the way to the bar. She bought a longneck, chatted for a minute, and headed out the back door of the club. Happily, someone yelled after her wondering where she was heading.

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Now she just needed to wait for Hunter’s oversized sense of honor and loyalty to kick in. Ironic the very honor he toiled so hard to preserve, ultimately would be his downfall. J.C. applauded herself silently then moved into the dark recesses of the building. Here she would wait. Here she would lay her trap. Now if only Hunter, for once, would do as he was supposed to.

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Chapter Five “Hunter, what are you doing down there?” Tony to Hunter.

Hunter watched J.C. exit the club, his senses on alert. He looked around but it was obvious that not one of her brothers was anywhere close. Looking at the dark haired beauty at his side, he groaned. Although she was beautiful and had a body most men would die to have sex with, he really wasn’t interested. The woman he was interested in seemed to be hell-bent on getting herself into some sort of trouble. Of that he was sure. He excused himself, promising he would return in a few minutes and followed J.C. out of the club. His anger at her stupidity was astounding. What the hell had she been thinking to sneak out the back of the club alone? Okay, so Ogunquit, Maine wasn’t exactly the streets of Brooklyn but still there were dangers anywhere if you were a young woman dressed like J.C. Like all clubs, the back exit door was sure to lead to a dark alley. Opening the back door, he realized it was more of a dark boardwalk than alley. As Hunter cleared the doorframe, he was attacked, not by a mugger or drunken man, but by J.C. Her hand twined through his hair and brought his mouth down to 29

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hers. Her lips moved under his, begging them to open to her, begging him to give her a taste. She placed his hands on her full breasts. Her nipples immediately pearled in his palms. His mind screamed to stop this now, but his body didn’t seem to be listening. From the moment her soft, full lips touched his, he was putty in her hands. If she didn’t know her power over him, he might yet survive her onslaught. “J.C…” he moaned into her mouth as he said in a tone unconvincing even to his own ears, “We can’t do this.” “Shhh,” she hushed, pressing her breasts further into his hands. “Just feel me, let me feel you.” “Jacinda, will you listen to me?” “Not if your words have anything to do with—this isn’t right. Or ‘Jacinda, this can’t happen between us.’” “Exactly, that is…” “Shhh.” J.C. pressed her fingers against his lips. He felt the electrical vibrations that hummed through her fingertips to his lips. “Please let me do this for you. I want to taste you.” Five words were his undoing—I want to taste you. Hunter didn’t care anymore, honor be damned. He wanted her. She knew that. He knew she could feel his arousal against her stomach. His cock strained against his jeans now, begging to be set free this time. He felt on the edge, wanting so much for her to touch him, to help release the agony he felt ever since he had seen her get out the pool this morning, soaked to the skin. He kissed her with an urgency born out of need and desire. Somewhere in the last few minutes, his body and brain stopped communicating. It was as if his body took over. He no longer cared that this could jeopardize his long-standing relationship with Tony, never mind the rest of the Sherman clan. He no longer cared that this was something that he promised himself wouldn’t happen. Hunter only cared that he couldn’t seem to get enough of her. He drank from her and was still thirsty. His hands skimmed down her body stopping only to cup her buttocks.

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With a groan, he lifted her up against the wall, pinning her between the hard mass of bricks behind her and the hard mass of flesh in front of her. He ground his hips into hers. Evidence of how very much he needed her now pressed hard against the more intimate and softest places of her. He gasped when she wrapped one leg around his waist and rubbed herself against him. He wanted to bury himself deep within her, drive into her repeatedly until he reached oblivion. His lips feasted on her neck, drinking in the moans that escaped her lips. His fingers moved away to her blouse, exposing more of her precious skin for him to savor. The heel of her booted foot pressed into his flank, driving him into a deep grind. He could feel her heat radiate through their combined clothes, and it was his final undoing. His hand slid down her body, moving the leg she had wrapped around him to give him access to his pocket where he stashed a condom earlier. Placing J.C. back on her feet, he retrieved it. The gold foil wrapper shined brightly in the moonlight as he brought it to his teeth and ripped free the protective sheath. Then he froze, condom wrapper still in teeth, and looked straight up, above his head. He heard Spencer and Tony laughing, followed by a curse coming from Trent. They were about to be discovered. Continuing to keep his eyes gazing upward, he saw Tony come into view, and his shadowy figured leaned against the railing of the deck, not ten feet above them. Tony’s back still to them; he was drinking a beer. Hunter watched as he pulled his blonde date into his arms. Neither Spencer nor Trent were in Hunter’s line of sight, but that was only a matter of time. **** J.C. reached for him. She’d known her brothers were up on the deck but could only damn them now for their sudden appearance. A few seconds more, and Hunter would have been fucking her hard against the brick wall. “No!” he stated firmly as he backed away, his frustration evident as he ran his fingers through his hair. What she didn’t know, couldn’t read in his body language,

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was whether he was frustrated with what he had done with her, or what he couldn’t finish. She was damned if she would let him regret what little they had done. “No.” She pushed him into the corner, though not completely hidden from the deck above, it added a little privacy. Tension emanated from every muscle in his body, she took a deep breath and handed her beer to him. Relief etched his face in the moonlight, and she knew he thought she was going to let it go. He threw his head back to take a gulp of beer and she couldn’t help but notice the slight shake of his hand as the beer bottle touched his lips. He wanted her and was doing his damnedest to push down the need. That couldn’t be allowed to happen. As much as she respected his honor and sense of duty, she wanted him, had always wanted him. J.C. couldn’t let him go, not when she was this close. If she let him walk away, Hunter would make sure he never was alone with her again. Time was of the essence, so she got to her knees before him. She had the first two buttons of his jeans undone before he could protest, and protest he would once the shock wore off. J.C. had to get him in her mouth before he could stop her. To her surprise and delight, he was commando under his jeans. It meant that as he moved, as she knew he would, to stop her, her tongue could lap at him. Licking the head, she could taste the salty pre-cum already beading at the tip. With able fingers, the next two buttons released, freeing him enough that she could take him into her mouth. It wasn’t enough though; she wanted to feel him in her hand. Wanted to feel his balls, their weight and texture, she needed to feel them tighten just before he came. Her eyes focused on his face. He threw his head back, whether to scan the deck above for her brothers or at the stars in the sky, she didn’t know, but she relished that one hand gripped the beer bottle so tight that even in the moonlight his knuckles whitened. His free hand fisted at his side. He didn’t try to stop her as she released the last of his buttons and eased his jeans over his hips. The only sound he made came in a hiss when she grabbed his balls with one hand and worked his shaft with her other and her mouth.

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He took another nervous gulp of beer. The moment his eyes met hers again, for a brief time, she gave him a show. She took him deep into her mouth until she could feel his head against the back of her throat. It seemed too much for him to take and he moaned loudly. J.C. groaned with him still deep in her throat, evoking yet another moan. “You need to stop,” he said but made no real move to shift her. J.C. looked him in the eyes and took him into her mouth again, slowly licking him from balls to tip as she pulled her head back. “You need to relax.” “Shit, woman, are you trying to get me killed?” This time he did stop her from taking him into her mouth again. “All it would take is for one of your brothers to look down and I’m a dead man.” “That makes it much more exciting, doesn’t it?” J.C. squeezed his balls lightly at the same time she took him into her mouth again picking up the pace. He relaxed against the wall as his free hand intertwined with her hair, pushing himself deeper into her throat. Hunter was right where J.C. wanted him—and he knew it. She allowed him to fuck her throat until she felt his balls tighten. In that moment, J.C. took the control back. Her tongue caressed his balls and very deliberately took time to let just the tip of her tongue make its way up his long hard shaft. Then with her eyes locked with his, she took him deep one last time. Never had she allowed someone to cum in her mouth. Never had she wanted anyone to. She needed to taste him—to suck him dry. With the intention of making him hers, she needed to own his very soul if she could. Hunter shuddered and his hand eased its grip. J.C. took her time to pull back from his now softening cock. Her lips and tongue cleaning away the remnants of his seed as she did. Feeling very pleased with herself, she sat back on her heels and looked up at him with a devilish grin. For a moment she savored the look of satisfaction on his face. He refastened his pants and helped her to her feet. J.C. took his beer, drank deeply, and then for the first time, felt lost as to what her next step should be. To her surprise, Hunter’s arm snaked around her waist and his

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mouth descended on hers. His lips controlled hers for a brief moment before he stepped away from her. “I think I need another drink,” he announced somewhat breathlessly, never taking his eyes from her. J.C. would have answered, but they were rudely interrupted by a voice from above. “Hunter, what are you doing down there? Get up here,” Tony yelled leaning over the railing to see them better. “J.C.? What the hell are you doing out there?” She could feel Hunter’s tension even from the distance that he had placed between them. Hunter still hadn’t pulled himself together so she took over and yelled back, “I wanted a bit of fresh air, but Hunter followed. He seems to think on my own I would get into some trouble.” Tony looked at them both, motioning for them to get up there with the rest of the pack. “Smart man. Who knows what kind of situation you could have found yourself in?” “Believe me I know.” Hunter placed his hand at the small of her back and fairly pushed her up the stairs.

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Chapter Six “If you are so damn torn, why are you here?” J.C. to Hunter. “Was it good?” Tony asked coming up from behind Hunter and handing him a new beer. The last of Hunter’s old beer went down the wrong pipe and it was only after the extremely hard pounding on his back from Tony that he could finally ask, “Excuse me?” “Was she good?” Tony finally asked exasperated, looking at Hunter as if he had three heads. “Who?” “Who? Who ever you fucked, Hunter. Christ I can smell perfume on you and you look like you just got laid. Besides you have lipstick on your neck.” Tony pointed to a spot on his neck that corresponded with the lipstick mark on Hunter’s. “You were always quick with the ladies, but this might be a record. I mean we weren’t up here that long, so you managed to get laid and still chase after my sister to make sure she didn’t get into any trouble.”

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Hunter downed his second beer and glared at J.C. who stood next to Spencer. At any moment one of the brothers was going to figure it out and he was going over the side of the railing. A quick look over the edge proved the deck couldn’t be more than nine feet from the ground, but still quite a bit higher than he would like to fall. Hunter looked at the barkeep and ordered another beer. He was sure as hell going to be a bit drunker when they threw him over than he was now. “Shit, I know who she was.” This time Hunter spit out his beer taken off guard. “You do?” Hunter gripped the bar with both hands contemplating if he had enough strength to hold onto the bar when three Sherman men grabbed him. He doubted it but he wasn’t going down without a fight. “It was that ‘Sex on the Beach’ girl. I hope you gave her that ‘Screaming Orgasm.’” “What about you? You and the blonde seem to be getting along quite well. Will you be inviting her back to your bungalow for the night?” Hunter purposefully changed the subject. Tony answered his question but his thoughts were on J.C. and what in the hell he was going to do about that huge problem. He desperately wanted her, wanted her under him as he pounded his cock into her repeatedly. The guilt he expected to feel knowing his best friend’s sister had given him the best blowjob of his life, hadn’t appeared. The only feeling he had other than the growing hard-on in his pants, was the need to walk over to J.C. and claim her as his. Where the hell did that thought come from? “Did you listen to a thing I said, Hunter?” “Of course, you said you didn’t know if there was enough room in the car to bring her back.” Hunter thanked fate for his amazing knack for recall. “Three of us can squeeze in the back if that is your only concern.” “Great then if everyone else is ready to leave, let’s head back.” Tony clapped Hunter on the shoulder and headed to round up everyone.

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J.C. handed Hunter a new beer even though he hadn’t finished the one he was drinking. Along with the beer he felt her slip him a key. “In case we get separated on the ride home.” “This is lunacy,” he said between clenched teeth. “I know, but it feels good.” She turned to put her arm through Trent’s. “Come along, Trent, we can’t make Tony wait. His libido couldn’t take it.” Hunter watched her jaunt off the deck securely with her brother in tow. As it happened, J.C. ended up in one car, Hunter in another. It should have given him time to cool his heels but it didn’t. All he could think about was J.C.’s cottage key cutting into his hip. The boat ride back had helped a little until J.C. climbed to the back complaining she was cold and could she share his warmth. If any of the brothers thought that bizarre not one spoke up. In fact, not one seemed to notice. Hunter took off his suit coat, pulled J.C. close and wrapped it over her like a blanket. For a few minutes, he allowed himself to enjoy the feel of her in his arms. It was unfortunate that the boat ride back to the island was a mere ten minutes. **** Hunter slipped the key halfway in the lock when the door flew open. J.C. stood before him silhouetted in the lamp light. Taking a deep breath, Hunter walked inside. He walked to the far side of the cottage before turning to look at J.C., who stood before him in a silky, short, almost too short for him to think, robe. He tried to keep his mind from wondering if she wore matching lingerie under the robe or simply her birthday suit. When she began to move toward him, he put a hand up. “Stay there,” he commanded in a tight tone. After a half hour in which he showered and changed for the third time today, he knew what he wanted to say to her. If she touched him now there would be no way he’d be able to say it, let alone make her understand. If she touched him, he would devour her. “I don’t understand? I thought you wanted…”

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“What I wanted has never been considered, J.C.” He raised a scolding eyebrow. “But never fear, you’ll get me tonight. Just like you want… But there are some stipulations.” “Excuse me?” “J.C., I need you to know just how torn I am.” His right hand rubbed his neck desperate to release some of the tension. The family photo on the bookshelf grabbed his attention. He lifted it and faced it at J.C. “These guys in this picture, your brothers, have been my friends for over a decade. It’s hard to throw that all away. If they find out about this, you and me, my friendship with Anthony will mean less than nothing. Especially when the four of them are tearing me limb from limb.” “I’m a grown woman and I can…” “You’ll always be their little sister and I’m supposed to be their trusted friend. I’m the friend Anthony left to watch you tonight—to make sure no one took advantage of you. Instead, I’m the man who took advantage.” “Strictly speaking, I am the one who took advantage of you.” “Strictly speaking, your brothers won’t give a damn if you had a gun to my head…” “It’s got nothing to do with them.” “Right. Here’s the deal, no one can know about us. We let this thing between us play out this weekend.” “What if this weekend isn’t enough for either of us?” “It has to be, because after this weekend I will make damn sure I’m never in this position again. I’ll make sure that I have plans whenever Tony calls. This will be the last weekend I betray my best friend by screwing his baby sister.” “If you are so damn torn, why are you here?” “Because…” He stalked toward her, slamming the picture face down on the table as he passed it. “I cannot stop myself any longer.” With that, his head descended and his lips devoured hers. Hunter’s arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her so her face was level with his. Her legs wrapped around his waist. They groaned in unison as she

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put pressure on his erection. Her arms linked around his neck pulling him closer, taking the level of the kiss and the embrace deeper. Hunter’s hand moved to her bare ass and squeezed, she was sex on legs and she was driving him crazy. **** He managed to walk to the door. Reading his mind, J.C reached out and turned the dead bolt mere seconds before she was forcefully pinned to it. Hunter growled grinding his hips into the apex of her thighs, his mouth branded hers before moving over her jaw to the sensitive spot behind her ear. She never felt anything so hot before. She’d dreamt for years of what it would be like to feel him against her but nothing prepared her for this. “Christ, J.C., you taste so damn good.” He cursed against the pulse in her neck sending shivers down her spine. “Hmm…you tasted pretty damn good yourself.” She skimmed her hand down his back, and she began to pull his shirt out of his waistband when he cursed again. “Later.” Putting her to her feet, he moved her hands to his belt. “Release me. I can’t wait for you any longer. I need to be in you NOW.” J.C.’s heart skipped a beat. He wanted her, not just because she was here and easy. He obviously wanted her, J.C. She fumbled with the belt buckle and looked up to find Hunter watching her fingers work, there was something erotic about knowing that he wanted to watch her work him, undress him, discover him. When she got the belt and the waistband undone, she moved to her knees and slowly pulled his jeans over his hips again. It had been so hot before, she thought that perhaps she might repeat the experience a second time. She had nearly made herself cum blowing him at the club knowing he was in her control and that her brothers were just above them. More than that, she loved the taste of him. “No,” Hunter said firmly, yanking her to her feet. “This time I want to be in you. Shit, there is a condom in my back pocket.” He kicked off his jeans and pulled out the foil wrapper.

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J.C. grabbed his shaking hand. “I’m clean and on the pill.” “Me too. Clean that is, obviously not on the pill.” She chuckled, relieved that the tension in the air seemed to ebb a little. “I should hope not.” “Doesn’t matter, I respect you and your body too much.” He ripped the foil packet and with deft fingers rolled the condom over the full head and over his shaft. “You’re sure?” he asked ripping off his shirt. “Never more.” “Good.” With one move, she found herself lifted off her feet, placed back against the door, and his cock entering her—stretching and filling her. She felt complete. He paused for a moment allowing her to adjust to his size. Hunter was larger than she expected, and there was a tinge of pain intertwined with the pleasure. The pain of being stretched to one’s limit, of having her breath stolen from her body as she was sandwiched between two hundred pounds of sheer muscle and the hard oak door behind her. J.C. couldn’t wait any longer; she needed him to move. She jabbed her heels into his flanks as if prodding him on. With a deep chuckle, he conceded and pumped once into her. She shimmied, trying to get him to move again. “Beg me, Jacinda.” He fisted her long hair in his left hand. “I want to hear you beg for it. You’ve wanted me since you first discovered boys. Tell me, do girls have wet dreams too?” She whimpered. “Were they of me?” he whispered against her neck. “Tell me.” “Yes.” “Good.” He rewarded her with another deep powerful thrust. “Did you masturbate? Did you think of me when you did?” “Damn you!” J.C. arched into him. She had to have more of him, but she didn’t want him to know all her deep secrets. Not yet, not when they only had one weekend.

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Hunter stood still, his lips mere inches from her flushed cheeks. “Answer the question, and I will give you everything you ever wanted.” “Yes. I used to touch myself, and yes, I always thought of you.” She screamed as he pumped her twice. “Please, now.” “Tell me what you want.” She shook her head back and forth; she could feel his cock twitching inside of her just past her G-spot. She needed him to move, to fuck her hard. Now! “I want to cum. Damn it! I want to have my first real orgasm with a man, with you.” “As you wish.” Hunter growled and began to pump into her furiously. Every thrust brought her close to the edge. Every time he came into her, his cock moved over and past her G-spot. Once he was as deep as he could get, he would grind into her, and she could feel the curly hair that surrounded his cock tease and caress her swollen clit. “Cum for me.” J.C. shattered. If she could have thrown back her head and howled at the moon, she would have. Instead, Hunter took her cries into his mouth. His movements became gentle, coaxing, almost loving. He strung out her orgasm until tears flowed down her cheeks. He kissed them away and pulled her tight against him until the shudders eased and she finally opened her eyes to look at him. “You’re so beautiful when you cum.” J.C. blushed. “I…that is… Oh…” She felt his cock twitch again deep inside. “You haven’t cum yet.” “I wanted you to be able to watch me cum. You need to know that this is what you do to me.” His voice strained, as if he was holding back. “I’m watching, cum for me.” Jacinda watched in awe as his jaw tensed and his movement became faster and choppier. None of the smooth moves now, nothing of the controlled rogue. His movements became animalistic and his need unabated. Suddenly he gritted his teeth and growled. For a moment he threw his head back and then she was pinned between him and the door. His body shook from his release, his breathing ragged and sweat covered them both. She relished it all.

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**** Minutes passed before Hunter was conscious of where he was, although it could have been hours. He savored the feel of J.C.’s body around him. It was only then that he realized he must have been crushing her. He started to move back but she gripped him tighter. Slightly easing her away from the door, he supported her with legs that were not so steady. Neither spoke, neither needed to. Both knew this had been earth shattering. Hunter had never experienced an orgasm that intense in his life. He suspected, neither had J.C. For a brief moment, he contemplated the thought that perhaps one weekend wouldn’t be enough after all. But the complications were too much for his hazy brain to compute. The unexpected knock on the door, just to the right of J.C.’s shoulder, brought them back to the present. Hunter looked J.C. in the eyes, a mixture of concern and bewilderment clouded her beautiful green eyes. He took her face in the palm of his hands, dared not speak for fear he’d be heard, but his message was clear. Get rid of them and don’t worry I’m going nowhere. His mouth sealed his promise. A second knock broke the kiss. “J.C., it’s Tony,” the voice came, filled with concern and authority from behind the door.

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Chapter Seven “Jace open the blasted door.” Tony to J.C. J.C. froze. She looked at Hunter, neither saying a word. Hunter raised his finger to her lips. The intention to shush her, instead she took his finger into her mouth and sucked, curling the heat of her tongue around his finger. Hunter let out a low groan that was quickly silenced by her lips. “J.C., I know you’re still up. I can see the lights on,” Tony yelled then softer in a more brotherly tone added, “Can I come in?” Hunter cursed under his breath, and with intricate care he lowered her to the floor. The removal of his body heat made her shiver. She tried to move but her legs refused to cooperate. Unable to take her eyes off his nude body she watched Hunter walk to the bathroom stopping only long enough to grab his discarded jeans. He emerged from the bathroom seconds later jeans on but the top button still undone, giving her just a hint of what she had and wanted more of. He grabbed his boots and pulled them on. Obviously he was getting ready in case Tony stormed the cottage. J.C. took a deep calming breath. “Tony, now is not the best time.” 43

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“Look, I’m worried about you, some of us were on the beach and we heard you scream.” Tony banged the door again. “Come on, Jace, open the blasted door.” J.C. nerves came to life again as Hunter stalked toward her, his lips coming down on hers briefly as his arm snaked around her naked cooling body to pull her back into his protective embrace. “Go away, Tony” “Not until you let me in.” “That defeats you going away.” “Open the blasted door.” “I’m fine, naked and don’t need my big brother coming to my rescue, especially right now.” There was silence for a moment. “Who the hell is in there with you, Jace?” “I’m a big girl. And, before you start with me, you brought home that yummy blonde. I can guarantee you, I won’t do anything you and Blondie won’t be doing. You can go ahead and stick that in your ear. “Now if you don’t mind I am tired and want to go to bed.” J.C. eased herself out of Hunter’s rigid embrace, walked over to the lamp and turned it off. She then turned off the kitchen light as well. “Get away from the windows, Tony. You know you can’t see anything through these blinds no matter how hard you try. I made sure of that when I renovated.” “Jace, just tell me one thing.” “What?” “It’s not that bastard ex-husband of yours, is it?” J.C. grabbed her robe, put it on and tied the sash with an almost violent jerk. Seething, she threw open the door just enough to look out. Hunter stood stationary behind it. His size twelve boot made sure the hand Tony used to pry open the door wouldn’t move it any more. “Don’t be an ass, Tony. Dave is not and will never be welcome into my bed again. I can’t believe you of all people would even ask that.” Before Tony could respond, J.C. slammed the door hard in his face. Incensed, she turned back to Hunter. Their eyes met in the darkened room and for a moment, silence

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reined. Turning back to the door, she locked the dead bolt and moved further into the room. “Jace, come on, open the door again so we can talk. I’m sorry. That was uncalled for on my account. But can you blame us for worrying?” “Go to hell, Tony.” Outside her cottage, she could hear Tony curse, slowly those curses drifted further down the path away from the cottage. She yelped when Hunter’s strong arms wrapped around her in the dark. His soft lips left a trail of baby kisses at the nape of her neck. “Looks like I’m stuck here for the night.” Hunter’s hand moved to cup her breast. “Do you mind?” She shook her head dumbly then realized he couldn’t see her action in the dark and managed a weak, “No.” “Where’s your bedroom?” Her heart jumped at the thought of him holding her throughout the night. Her mind raced. If he wanted to spend the night then he must want more than just sex. Hadn’t she learned from Dave that once men were satisfied sexually they rolled over and went to sleep? “Through the kitchen last door on the left.” “Lead the way.” “You really want to stay the night?” “Yes, more than you know. And it has nothing to do with your cottage being under constant surveillance by one of your brothers.” Shock rolled through J.C. and she stopped dead in the kitchen. Hunter nearly trampled her in the process. She turned to face Hunter, his face becoming clearer as her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness. “They wouldn’t.” “You can bet your sweet and sexy ass they are assigning shifts as we speak.” His hands dove into her hair to hold her head still. “But all I can think about right now is how much I want to feel you under me.” “I don’t understand.”

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“What is there to understand?” His husky voice reached her ears in a whisper of soft kisses. “I want to spend all night long making love to you.” Each word emphasized with a caress of his tongue to her neck. His hands wandered her body, learning where she was sensitive. J.C. gulped down her excitement. “Again…all night?” “Come now, J.C., you were married. Certainly, you must know the effect you have on men.” “I‘d prefer not to think or talk about Dave.” “I’d prefer you didn’t think or talk about Dave when I do this either.” Hunter parted her robe and lowered his lips to suckle her nipple. He lifted his face only long enough to say, “In fact, the only man I want you thinking about is me.” J.C. gasped. She couldn’t help herself. As if she could think about someone else right now. His lips were sinful, his hands divine. She became vaguely aware as he backed her down the hall and into her bedroom, that she was allowing him complete control over her. Beyond that she wasn’t even sure of her own name anymore. Only Hunter’s continual whispering of her name, over and over, prevented her from fully forgetting everything. J.C., the woman so uncomfortable in her own skin, felt beautiful and desirable. He made her feel like a princess. Hunter worshipped her body with his hands and mouth. He’d already cum so it wasn’t as if he had to do this. She expected a “thanks for the screw, see you later” but here he was, with her wanting to make love to her again. All night, if he was to be believed. She felt her bed hit the back of her knees and let herself fall back into its softness. Seconds later she felt the mattress dip as Hunter laid his weight beside her. His fingers traced the contours of her body. “You are perfect,” he murmured against her shoulder. J.C. tensed for a moment not sure how to respond to that. “Amazing what thousands of dollars and a good surgeon can do.”

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Hunter kissed her shoulder and proceeded to move up to her neck. “That wasn’t what I was referring to. Yes, you are a beautiful woman, and I understand that you had some enhancements done but no surgeon can affect the beauty here,” he tapping her forehead, “or here,” this time he placed his hand over her heart, before moving his hands to her stomach, “or in your soul. That is what makes you perfect.” His lips were soft and warm as they met hers, gentle yet intense. “Everything else is just icing on the cake.” J.C. moaned, moved by his words. He couldn’t have said more perfect words if she had scripted them herself. **** The alarm on his Blackberry summoned Hunter from his sleep. The only opportunity of getting out of J.C.’s cottage, with his hide intact, would be just before dawn. Trent in the past always took the watch shift from five a.m. on and if history repeated itself, Trent would be asleep by five-twenty. Hunter could only hope that in the past years, the Sherman brothers hadn’t changed their way of thinking. Hunter eased J.C.’s arm off his chest. He didn’t want to wake her, and eased himself off the bed. Leaving her warm bed should have been easy; instead every fiber of his being urged him to get back into bed. His body ached to make love to her again. He yearned to wake her with his kisses. Hell, he would be content just watching her sleep. Hunter froze, wondering where that thought had come from. No woman every before had compelled him the way she did. If he stayed and he certainly wanted to, it would open a whole can of worms he wasn’t sure he or J.C. were ready for. Announcing that the two of them were intimate would lead down two roads. The first ended with him at the altar at gun point, the second, him being beaten to a bloody pulp by four very angry brothers. Hunter knew how to fight and certainly wasn’t a coward, but a smart man knew he couldn’t take on four furious brothers all at once. No one walked into a fight knowing he was out numbered. Four against one if the cousins decided to just watch him get his ass kicked.

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As he watched J.C. sleep he knew, his safety be damned, he would give nearly anything for one more hour let alone one more day. Grabbing the pants he discarded hours before, he walked through the dark cottage to locate his missing shirt in the living room. The last button slid through the button hole on his jeans when he caught sight of J.C. in the doorway. Her hair tousled and her lips still full and bruised from his kisses just an hour before. In the warm lamplight she glowed, her golden skin still warm from bed, enticed him in a way nothing ever had. She looked thoroughly made love to. He groaned, took the four steps toward her to eliminate the distance, and pulled her into his arms for a kiss. “I didn’t want to wake you,” he said against her lips. “I see.” He continued to leave little kisses over her chin and neck. “You looked so peaceful. Besides, I knew if you actually woke up, so would parts of me.” He emphasized his point by bringing her hips in closer so she could feel his erection. He groaned as she wiggled her hips against him. “I do see.” “I’m sure you do, now do you think you could see about finding my shirt?” He moved to the couch and lifted the beige cushions. “You can’t go out in the same shirt you were wearing last night it will give you away. Hold that thought, I’ve a tee shirt you can borrow.” She ran back into her room, and he could hear her banging drawers. “I’m not wearing a shirt that belonged to your ex.” J.C. stalked back into the room, she threw a shirt at his head before placing her hands on her hips. “That’s good because I don’t have anything that belonged to him.” Hunter smiled and picked the shirt up from where it had fallen onto the floor. The smile faded when he unfolded the faded red tee shirt. “Where the hell did you get this?” “I borrowed it.” She bit her lower lip. “You wore it the night your rugby team won the championship game. For some reason, Tony let me hang around your place for the

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celebration. You kissed me that night. Do you remember?” She paused for a moment as if waiting for him to declare his feelings. He couldn’t say anything. “Of course, you kissed a lot of women that night. I snuck into your room prepared to offer myself up to you. Unfortunately, it became blatantly obvious that I was too late.” Hunter watched her nervously tuck a stray strand of auburn hair behind her ear. “Someone had beaten me to the punch.” Hunter blew out his breath. He’d forgotten about that kiss—made himself forget about it, and that night he drank himself into oblivion. He’d been consumed by guilt. Guilt, that was suspiciously absent this morning. He couldn’t say whom, or even if, he’d actually had sex with that girl all those years ago. He doubted his ability to achieve an erection, let alone sustain one in the shape he had been in. “So you stole my shirt?” “I wanted…no needed something from you that night.” She looked at the floor for a moment and paused, unsure of what to say. As if gaining courage she took a deep breath and collected her thoughts. “I somehow knew that I wouldn’t see you again. I mean, I knew I’d see you at your graduation, but I knew you wouldn’t see me. I was right, immediately after the graduation ceremony you took off. When Mom and Dad came over to you, you hugged them but refused to even look my direction. You wouldn’t go to dinner with us. You said you had to pack because you had a flight to catch. You were starting that new job the next morning. “I digress, back to the shirt. I took it because I needed something of yours with me. I couldn’t face the thought that you were going to leave me. I couldn’t face the future without you in it.” In a heartbeat he crossed the short distance between them, an unfamiliar lump formed in his throat. His hands reached up as long fingers caressed her cheek before they cupped her face. Every sensor in his body went off warning him of the importance of his next words. Words could mend or destroy the fragility he could see in her face. “J.C., I had to leave. You were underage and hell, your family is the only family I’ve ever known. The thought that I’d taken advantage of their hospitality tore right through

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me. I could barely face your parents and I was afraid that if I looked at you, I would’ve given myself away. I wanted you so badly, had for a long time, not that I was admitting that to anyone, even myself. But even subconsciously I knew it wasn’t the right time.” “I know that now, but I couldn’t let you go without something to remember you by,” she said softly. “So, are you mad about the shirt?” “No. I’m touched. No one has ever saved anything of mine before.” Hunter placed a whisper of a kiss on her lips. It was true, he hadn’t had a mother to save a lock of his hair or that first baby tooth. He moved so frequently he couldn’t even tell you which foster home he had drawn his first picture in. In addition, the one duffle bag he took from place to place barely held his clothes so he never kept anything, not that he ever really got anything anyway. Lifting his head, he smiled. “Just please tell me you’ve washed it.” She blushed and the pink hue made her look sixteen again. “I didn’t for a long time. I used to sleep in it. I still do.” “No more or I will never get out of here.” J.C. got on tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “Then I suppose you don’t want to hear that I used to put it on my pillow and masturbate to your smell?” “No,” he gritted out, definitely not that. “I have to go.” Hunter threw the shirt on over his head and quickly put on his socks and shoes. He looked over at her standing there naked in the doorway and groaned. There was something incredibly sexy about being completely dressed and having her naked before him. “This is insane.” In frustration of not being able to throw her back on the bed, he ran his hands through his hair. “I really do have to go.” “Not that way.” She halted him with her hand. “This way.” J.C. pulled him to a door that led down to a tiny cellar “Watch your head,” she warned, bending down to get into the small room that ran half the length of the cottage above. It was physically impossible for Hunter to stand up straight; the ceiling being about five inches shorter than he was. The small room had rock walls and with the exception of a small wine rack the room was empty. At the end of the room furthest from the stairs was a small door.

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“I found this when I renovated.” J.C. opened the door and flicked on a light which revealed a short tunnel. “I had the workmen restore the tunnel and shore up the walls. Don’t ask.” “Does it have to do with…?” “Please, don’t ask. I don’t want to talk about him and I just can’t talk to you about him…I just can’t.” The pleading look in her eyes was enough to stop him. “Where is this going to lead me?” “This leads out to the beach to a private cove. When you reach the end of the tunnel just push past the blueberry bushes and you’ll be free and clear.” “Excellent.” Hunter hauled her back into his arms. “I’ll use it tonight to get back in. Get some sleep. You’re going to need it.” “Is that a threat or a promise?” Kissing her one last time, he then let her go. “Take it any way you wish.” The tunnel was longer than he expected and took a few turns before he saw the sunlight streaming in through the bushes blocking the entrance. He ensured the entrance was completely covered again before headed down to the beach. He stood on the beach for a few minutes watching the water lap against the sandy shore, twenty-four hours ago his life was certain, perhaps not always easy, but he knew what was going to happen on any given day. His whole world now seemed to have turned on its axis. Breathing deep he took in the chilly morning air, hoping it would clear his hazy thoughts as he headed back to the main house. Hunter walked about twenty yards up the beach when Spencer came around the bend in a jog, his blond hair looked like he had just been dragged from bed. His face showed some relief and distress. Not knowing what the emotions were, Hunter wisely decided not to speak until spoken to. “There you are!” “What’s up?” He was amazed at how calm his voice seemed even to him. Spencer bent over his knees for a second to catch his breath. “Your office has been calling for the last hour. They have a chopper on the way.”

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Hunter broke into a full run. If his company was sending a helicopter to fetch him something had to be seriously wrong. It took him five minutes in a full run to get back to the house, Spencer fast on his heels. He took the stairs two at a time and met Tony who led him into his father’s office. “The maids are packing your stuff for you. I thought it might help,” Tony said. If Hunter hadn’t known things were serious before, Tony’s attempt at helping the situation proved it. Tony never dealt well with situations he couldn’t control. It made him uneasy. Spencer stepped around the desk to boot up the computer for Hunter. “Your assistant director will be calling in about three minutes. He said he would call every fifteen minutes and like clockwork he has.” Hunter took the water offered to him by the waiting maid and sat down. He grabbed paper and pen and waited impatiently for Nigel Taylor, his assistant director of business, to ring. He looked at Tony but he was chatting with a maid who handed him a suitcase. “They think they got everything but the bedroom looked like a tornado hit it…” Tony in worry mode had bad humor. Hunter ignored Tony’s babble about the messy room. After all, he had done his level best to make it look slept in the night before and it seemed the ruse worked. “Did Nigel tell you what is going on?” Spencer shook his head then asked the maid to bring Hunter something to eat and some coffee before turning back to Hunter. “He said it was dire that we find you. I got the impression he could only tell you what’s happening. The computer is up and running if…that should be him now. If you need anything, I’m across the hall.” Hunter watched Spencer leave, grabbing Tony as he went by. Hunter picked up the phone and as calmly as he could. “Hunter Brooks.” The voice on the other end of the line let out a relieved sigh. “Thank God, it’s Nigel.” “Nigel what happened…?”

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“There was an explosion at the Caribbean hotel; I have emailed you the details. You should have them already.” Hunter opened his email, read it quickly before closing it all down again. “I got it. Was it intentional?” “Yes.” “I see…” “We’ve been frantically trying to get in touch with you. What the hell happened to your phone?” “I turned it off when I couldn’t get any service. I think I hear the helicopter now… Have the jet waiting.” Hunter hung up the phone and walked purposefully out of the study. “What’s going on?” Tony and Spencer asked in unison. Hunter grabbed his bags that sat on the floor outside the door and headed out to the porch. “It appears that one of my hotels in the Caribbean was attacked last night.” “Attacked?” “Attacked. Three of my staff are dead and another twenty-two injured.” Hunter ran his hand over his unshaven face. “They think a bomb went off in the staff sleeping quarters.” “Good God man! Can we do anything to help?” “Just make my excuses to the family. I’d appreciate it if you could keep this hush for a bit. I wouldn’t want to ruin your parent’s weekend. Just say something came up at work and I was needed back immediately.” An hour later, Hunter found himself at Logan airport ensconced on his private jet and about to taxi, only then did it occur to him that he hadn’t said anything to J.C. Worse, he wasn’t sure how to get word to her now without raising any suspicion neither of them wanted raised. Just as he picked up his cell phone to call the island to get in touch with J.C., Nigel Taylor entered the plane. From then on, all thoughts of J.C., the Sherman’s, and a phone call he needed to make went out the window.

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Chapter Eight “I thought you liked Hunter?” J.C. to Lucas. Six weeks later… J.C. laughed, not because she actually heard anything her friends said, but they were laughing and so she felt she should. She’d been living in limbo since the Memorial Day party in Maine. That weekend started with such potential and hope. Then it turned into a fantasy come to life. She’d awoken the morning after her incredible night with Hunter, excited about playing the secret game with Hunter. Anxious about that night to come, she knew all the things he would do to her body. Hours she spent just laying in bed remembering what he had done to her the night before. The memories of his mouth and hands doing the most wicked and amazing things left her body flushed. Only when she emerged from her cottage for lunch she found him gone. He had chartered a helicopter off the island not an hour after he left her cottage. She knew he was a Playboy, had heard Tony speak of it often enough in college. Then later she had read about his reputation in all the gossip papers. He left a string of broken hearts 54

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behind wherever he went. She just never thought one of them would be hers. How could she think she was different? That even though he claimed they would only have one weekend, she could convince him otherwise. Hunter had been convinced, convinced that one night was more than enough. How many other women had thought the same? “J.C., are you listening to me?” Heidi Tucker asked, throwing a towel at her. “Sorry.” She picked the towel off the floor and handed it back. “My mind must have been elsewhere.” J.C.’s three friends looked between themselves then Sally finally added, “We noticed, wouldn’t be the sexy personal workout instructor of yours would it?” “No, she’s been distracted for weeks,” Cass Blalock said, then grabbed J.C.’s arm. “We were saying that we needed to take the long way around the gym. Heidi’s new man is on Racquetball Court Three.” J.C. let her friends lead her away from the exit and toward the courts. “You know this is more of a detour than the long way around.” All four women befriended each other in boarding school, and remained close ever since. Every Monday the four of them would meet for aerobics and then for coffee afterward. They sat on the wooden bleachers outside the Plexiglas court. J.C. laughed with the others as Heidi’s “man” got hit in the head with the racquetball when his attention was drawn to Heidi sitting down to watch him. Why shouldn’t the man falter? Heidi was perfection, her Swedish heritage making her the object of many a man’s wet dreams. J.C.’s attention diverted suddenly to the ruckus on court two and the game going on in there. “What are they playing?” Sally Hinton leaned across J.C. to get a better view. “Wallyball, it’s like Volleyball only on the racquetball court. The one and only time I played, I was bruised for weeks. It’s a cut-throat game.” Both women winced as a large balding man hit the wall with a thump. “Looks like it. I won’t be telling my brothers about that one anytime soon.” J.C. watched the

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Wallyball game for a minute then returned her focus to court three when the racquetball game finished. Heidi jumped from the bleachers and threw herself into her man’s arms, the three others slowly made their way off the bleachers as introductions were made to Sam Burrs. It looked like their four might soon become a three. J.C. tried to smile but found her face strained at the effort. J.C. fumbled with her gym bag for lack of anything better to do. The public display of affection made her uneasy. She wasn’t in the state of mind where happy couples made her anything but angry and then extremely depressed. “J.C.?” a familiar deep voice questioned from behind her. J.C. felt her blood turn cold and prayed that she could get away as quick as possible. Not looking behind her, she moved toward the exit. Why here of all places? Why in the middle of a stinky gym, when she wasn’t prepared to see him again? “J.C.?” his voice became louder and more persistent, just a moment before she felt his hand wrap around her arm. Perhaps he turned her or perhaps she turned herself because even now as angry as she was, she was drawn uncontrollably to him. Her body defied her head and came to immediate attention. Her nipples hardened and just seeing him made her ache. J.C. took a deep breath and met his questioning eyes with what she hoped came across as dispassionate indifference. “Hunter. What are you doing here?” “I just finished a game of Wallyball.” “Why am I not surprised?” She rolled her eyes. His questioning eyes held hers. “It’s good to see you.” “Is it? That’s nice, but I am afraid I need to run.” J.C. turned to leave but his hand stopped her progress, she looked quickly from his hand to his face. “Do you mind?” “Yes. What the hell is wrong, J.C.?” “Wrong? Why should anything be wrong, Hunter?”

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Hunter took a deep breath as if trying to get his thoughts in order. He ran a hand through his damp hair then looked at J.C. pleadingly. “Could we go somewhere and talk? Please.” “It’s been six weeks, I…” “Six weeks, two days, ten hours and…” Hunter looked at his watch, “about thirtyfive minutes. But who’s counting? J.C., please, obviously your brothers didn’t explain why I had to leave.” “Something pressing came up.” J.C. looked at her friends who were now very much interested in the conversation going on between the two of them. “You’ve had six weeks, two days and ten hours to explain. You’re six weeks too late with an explanation. I’m no longer interested.” “Christ, J.C. I didn’t know how to get in touch with you. It wasn’t like I could…” “You could have called me on my cell phone, you bastard.” J.C. waited and when his perplexed expression didn’t change. “I put my cell number into your Blackberry when you were asleep.” “What?” Hunter dropped his bag and dug out his cell phone. J.C. didn’t wait around for him to find her number, she simply sighed, turned and walked toward the stairs that led to the exit of the gym. She got as far as the first landing when Hunter was suddenly before her. “J.C. give me fifteen minutes to get showered and changed, then let me take you somewhere for coffee so I can explain.” “Why? It’s not as if you would have searched for me otherwise. You wouldn’t want my brothers getting suspicious.” “That’s not true. Hell, I even went to the Fourth of July bash on your parent’s boat hoping you would be there. Just give me ten minutes of your time. If you never want to speak to me again so be it.” He went to the Fourth party to find her? J.C. searched his face looking for something, anything that would give her reason to walk away but all she could see was

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a man who sincerely needed to talk with her. “I’ll wait for you by the check-in desk. There’s a coffee shop on the corner we could go to.” The relief etched into Hunter’s face could be seen by anyone within a ten mile radius. Hunter shocked her by planting a quick kiss on her lips before taking the steps two at a time to the locker room located on the lower level. She managed to say goodbye to her friends. Not an easy feat as they were all too curious about why Hunter Brooks, her brother’s best friend, was giving J.C. kisses on the lips. Even kisses that quick. “Does Tony know?” “Now it all makes sense.” “Mmm hmm.” The other women all said at once. “It’s not what you think,” J.C. lied. “Unfortunately,” Heidi said, throwing a look at J.C., “It’s exactly what we all think. You have wanted Hunter forever. So the question is, what does J.C. want now? Now, that she’s finally gotten Hunter Brooks where she wants him?” “I want what I have always wanted,” she said cryptically. Heidi smiled one of her concerned smiles that told J.C. that she was worried but willing to trust her judgment. Sam suggested they leave J.C. and Hunter to chat. J.C. was surprised when with no argument the friends all agreed. She promised she would fill them in later. Though she was certain they were just going to hang around outside and see what was happening. She sat down and picked up a magazine when Hunter, looking far more put together, though no less sexy, came up the stairs. He changed from the gym shorts and tee shirt to a pair of black Microfiber pants and a short-sleeved blue mock neck shirt, which hugged every muscle of his chest and arms. She took a deep breath before getting to her feet. Without a word, Hunter grabbed J.C.’s gym bag and threw it over his shoulder with his. He motioned for her to lead the way and with his hand lightly on the center of her

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back he followed her out onto the dark busy Boston street. Not until they were seated in a back booth of the coffee joint did Hunter finally speak. “I honestly thought Tony or Spence would have said something to you about why I left.” Hunter was about to say more when the waitress interrupted. J.C. could have screamed at the blatant come-on written all over the server’s face. On the other hand, Hunter seemed oblivious and ordered a black coffee for himself and a coffee light, two sugars for her. Warmth emanated through her, he remembered her coffee preference, and it was enough to allow a crack in her armor. “Listen J.C., I never would have left had there not been a serious emergency. And I swear it never even occurred to me to check my cell phone address book for your number.” “That was perfectly clear.” “Did you hear about the hotel in the Caribbean that was bombed?” “Yeah, it was all over the news for a bit.” J.C. said, but her face fell as it suddenly occurred to her what he was about to tell her. “You aren’t saying…?” “I am afraid so, it was one of my resorts. We were a mere few weeks from the grand opening. De la Delicioso Costa was bringing much needed jobs to the poor island. I hope you can understand. I had to go.” “Of course you did.” Hunter closed his eyes and wiped his hand across his face. “The people who died, they were my people—my responsibility.” He took a deep breath and looked at J.C. She gave him an encouraging smile then listened as he talked about how important it was for him to give those poor people a chance to make a better life. He was dedicated to reopening resorts in poor areas where resorts had failed before. Making sure to employ locals whenever possible, pay them well and give them roofs over their heads. He talked about how having come from a poor background himself, he benefited from the generosity showed by J.C.’s family, and since they wouldn’t allow him to pay them back, he vowed to pay it forward.

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When he finally paused, J.C. realized he said more than he had expected to. Far more than J.C. had known before. Their hands lay intertwined before them and neither noticed the coffees that sat cold and untouched in front of them. J.C. brought his hand up to her lips and gently brushed his knuckles. “I understand completely.” Hunter exhaled audibly and pulled one hand away from hers to cup her cheek. “I needed to hear you say that.” “So where do we go from here?” “I know I said I only wanted one weekend. But after one night and the weeks away I realize it isn’t possible. I’m hoping that we could try dating. I’m in Boston for another month, at least, and I would like to see you while I am here.” “Just dating?” J.C. asked with a wink. “Well if you are willing for more, I‘m wanting.” “No!” “No?” “No, sorry… Not no to you…yes to you…but no, Lucas just walked in.” J.C. looked toward the door. Hunter tried his best not to look behind him. “Lucas, as in Sherman brother number two?” “That’s the one. And he is coming our way.” “Jace, hey sis, I ran into your friends and they said you came this way with a hunky guy.” “No, just me.” Hunter put his hand out in greeting. “Why don’t you join us?” Hunter watched Lucas’ eyes narrow in speculation before he accepted and sat next to his sister. “We were just about to order new drinks. Ours got cold.” J.C. tried hard to prevent the color she felt creeping up her cheeks. “I was telling J.C. about the attack on my resort.” Lucas suspicious eyes immediately turned concerned. “That’s right. How’s it going down there?”

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“Aside from the damage to the staff quarters and one of the kitchens, the resort’s ready to open. Not as many reservations, of course, but it’ll take off again.” “Did they find the persons’ responsible or a freakin’ motive?” Hunter shifted uncomfortably but looked Lucas in the eyes. “It appears to be personally directed at me. A letter bomb arrived on my desk in New York that Tuesday morning. It had been overnighted to the office.” J.C. gasped. “You neglected to tell me that.” Hunter took that as a cue to flag down the waitress and replace their order. Lucas placed his order for coffee and added dessert to it. Once the waitress left, Lucas bombarded Hunter with a load of questions about the bombing. Slowly the conversation moved to things more mundane. Lucas wanted to know about the merger that Hunter had been working on, which had been on the back burner for the last month. Lucas finished his cake leaned back into the booth’s leather cushion and Hunter knew Lucas did not intend to leave him alone with his sister. Hunter made a grand show of checking his watch before adding that he had to be on his way. He shuffled out of the seat, shook Lucas’ hand once more, and then gave J.C. a sisterly kiss on the cheek. He paid the check then strolled outside to hail a cab. J.C. thought she might scream. What in the world did Lucas think he was doing? He motioned for the server to refill their coffee then motioned back to the booth. “Sit down, J.C.,” Lucas said. When she did, he continued, “What do you think you are doing with Hunter?” “I was having coffee.” “I noticed, and let me tell you what else I noticed. You’re still stuck on him.” J.C. wasn’t sure where this was heading, but she was certain that she wasn’t going to like it. “Not that it’s any of your business, but what if I am?” “Hunter is not the settle down kind of man. He’s a modern day rogue.” “I thought you liked Hunter?” “I do. I love him like another brother, but I wouldn’t let you date any of us either.” “You are such a hypocrite!”

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Lucas continued as if J.C. hadn’t even spoken. “The difference is, he isn’t your brother, and I saw the way he looked at you that night at the bonfire. It’s the new you, we’ve had time to adjust, get used to it. He hasn’t! To him you’re someone entirely new. The old ‘no touching’ rule may not be so easy for him to adhere to now.” J.C. nearly choked on her coffee. “I know that’s crass but we all know the only reason you brought that mystery guy home and slept with him was to make Hunter jealous. Spence called that one right away. Of course, we all got a bit suspicious when Hunter wasn’t in his room the next morning when his assistant tried and failed to raise him on his cell.” “Where was he?” J.C. couldn’t help herself from asking. “Spence found him on the beach coming clearly from the opposite direction of your cottage. I don’t think anyone truly believed he would do that.” “Do what, Luc? Fuck me? And why ever not? Why is it that none of you has ever thought me good enough for him? Why do you think I married David, huh? Because I certainly wasn’t good enough for anyone else.” “You’re twisting my words. Of course, you’re good enough for him. Hell, you’d be the best thing that ever happened to him. But, he won’t marry you. You deserve to be better than just another number in his black book.” “Luc, I know you mean well but I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. Besides, don’t you think you are blowing this way out of proportion? We were simply having coffee.” “I saw the way you were looking at him. You were holding hands, J.C.” “He was talking about the people who died at his resort. I know you can’t believe this of strong, macho Hunter but he is devastated. I was trying to comfort him.” “He cupped your cheek. I saw that too.” “I was touched by the story. He was comforting me back,” J.C. lied. “It isn’t like he’s going to let you or Spence and certainly not Tony see this side. He needed someone to listen to him spill his guts about this tragedy.” Now it was J.C.’s turn to grab Lucas’ hands. “How much comfort has Hunter ever had in his life? When has he ever, in the

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decade plus that we have known him, ever looked to any of us for support? What was I supposed to do? Throw it back in his face?” “Perhaps you’re right. I might be overreacting.” Lucas looked at their hands on the table, uncomfortable for a minute. “It’s just that, ever since David, we all feel responsible somehow. It’s like if we’d protected you more, paid attention more, he wouldn’t have…” “You can say it, Luc. He wouldn’t have hit me? Convinced me I needed all this plastic surgery, or perhaps he wouldn’t have done any of the number of things he did? You cannot protect me from myself, Lucas. No matter how hard you try. I put myself into that relationship, not you. I did, and I bear the responsibility.” Lucas flinched, the guilt plainly written on his face. “Please, J.C., I’m begging you to back off where Hunter is concerned. It’s not just for you, it’s for him.” “How is that?” “You’re going to make him have to choose between you and the family. If he sleeps with you, he risks losing the only family he has ever known. I can’t even talk with Kiloran’s parents anymore, and I wanted to marry their daughter. How do you think Hunter, with his overblown sense of honor, will handle it? Do you really think he could face us knowing he used you? Do you have any idea how devastated Mom and Dad would be with both of you? They practically paid for him to go through college.” “He was on scholarship.” “Yeah he was. Those scholarships took him through the four years, but he got two grants from the family that he doesn’t know came from Mom and Dad. He was working two jobs and couldn’t even afford to eat.” “There were only so many times we could suddenly arrive and take him out to eat before he got suspicious. So they bought an apartment, rented a room to him dirt cheap, arranged for him to apply for these grants to help him live.” J.C. sat there appalled. How would Hunter feel if he knew? Angry, embarrassed, or worse, indebted? It never occurred to her that perhaps her pursuing Hunter would affect anyone but her. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell him.”

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“I know you won’t. That’s not why I told you. I told you so you would know how much Mom and Dad love him. Like another son. If you were to start dating, or worse, sleeping together, it would place them in an awkward position when you two split. Don’t do this to him.” Lucas looked at his watch and got up. “Well enough brotherly advice for one night, eh kiddo?” J.C. said her goodbyes, gave Lucas an affectionate hug and kiss on the cheek, then watched him walk out of the restaurant. He waved briefly as he passed the large plate glass window before disappearing from sight. J.C. grabbed her gym bag and staggered out, she felt confused and guilty. Lucas was right. Hunter had said he wouldn’t be coming to any more Sherman events. She hadn’t thought about that comment then, but now she was able to see it for what it was. He had made a choice, her family or sleeping with her. Valiantly he had fought off her advances, but in the end, he’d given in. He sacrificed the only family he’d ever known to sleep with her. For one single night. Suddenly J.C. didn’t feel as good about herself. She’d been selfish, only thinking about what he could do for her. Even that blowjob in the alley had been about her. Sure, he’d cum, but at what expense to his dignity and pride? Then there was honor, he was a man of honor, he took his commitments seriously. Yet she had convinced him to throw all that to the wind. For what—a weekend romp? What if her brothers had caught them? What kind of damage would that have done to his relationship with Tony? Irreversible damage. J.C. was so caught up in her self-loathing moment that she never noticed the cab as it pulled up next to her and slowed. Only when the door opened did she pay any attention. “Get in,” Hunter demanded, grabbing her arms and none too gently pulling her into the cab and into his strong arms. “Good Lord, I thought he would never leave.” “Hunter, what are you doing?”

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Hunter looked at her for a second then kissed her hard and quick. “I’ve wanted to do that all day.” “We can’t do this.” “What in the back of the cab? I fully agree.” J.C. pulled away from him, moving as far as she could in the confines of the cab. “No, I mean we can’t do this at all. Driver, can you drop me off at the next corner please?” “J.C., what did Lucas say to you?” Hunter’s eyes searched hers. “What’s going on?” “This isn’t right. I know that now. I needed to think about it clearly to know.” As the car slowed down, J.C. looked again at Hunter. “Look, having seen you again and knowing you didn’t blow me off made me realize now that I am no longer angry. I can move on. I’m sorry, Hunter.” “This is Lucas’ bitterness speaking, not you.” Hunter’s hands fisted at his side. “Don’t let his tainted views on relationships sway you.” “It was a mistake.” “Mistake?” J.C. opened her door and stepped out. She turned briefly with a smile. “Yes, one that I will not repeat, but hope I can learn from.” “So that’s it? I am a mistake and goodbye?” “No, you’re not a mistake. My belief that I could have you without anything changing was the mistake. I can’t do this to me, you, or my family. It’s not fair to any of us. Maybe I’ll see you around at the next Sherman outing.” J.C. plastered a smile she did not feel on her face. “No, you won’t,” Hunter said in a dead-pan voice. J.C. realized he had closed himself off to her. In a second, the Hunter she knew disappeared, all traces were gone. “I told you once we slept together there would be no going back. I wouldn’t be returning to the Sherman fold.” Oh shit, what had she done? Lucas was right but had his warning come too late. “But I thought… What about the Fourth of July?”

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“I was looking for you, Jacinda. It was the only way I thought I could see you. I know now that was a waste of my time, too. Driver let’s go.” J.C. stood for a moment watching his cab drive away and wondering what she had done.

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Chapter Nine “You want to tell me what is going on?” Mr. Sherman to Hunter. Sunday night dinner with the Shermans was a mixture between, Family Feud, the Waltons and Sports Night. When two or more Shermans got together for a meal anything could happen and usually did. Tonight there were eleven Shermans present: J.C., Spencer, Tony, Lucas, three cousins, two uncles, and two aunts. They all met at one of the family owned restaurants in the North End. Discussions ranged from how everyone’s week had been, to what the chances were for the Sox to take the pennant. But J.C. felt that something was missing, perhaps she should have said someone. Hunter. Spencer mentioned Hunter agreed to be at Sunday dinner, she felt perhaps he’d forgiven her and himself. Maybe the two would be given that second chance after all. This time she wouldn’t let her family influence either of them even if it meant the two of them would live secret lives. A tantalizing thought. When she’d shown up nearly thirty minutes late she was surprised to find Hunter absent. Her heart sank. 67

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As if reading her mind, Spencer spoke up. “I thought Hunter was going to join us tonight.” “So did I.” Lucas looked at J.C. over the rim of his wine glass. Spencer never slow on the uptake looked questioningly at J.C. “Do you know why he isn’t here?” “No more than Luc, I mean we both saw him on Monday.” J.C. picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth. “You saw him on Monday?” Tony asked. “I’ve been calling him all week and all I get is his answering machine or voice mail. I got a call on my office voice mail at eight p.m. Thursday night saying that Mr. Brooks would be unavailable for dinner.” “Mr. Brooks?” Spencer said, clearly taken aback. “Since when did he become Mr. Brooks?” Tony looked at the table, the cousins and aunts and uncles had broken off into their own conversation, leaving the Sherman clan, minus Trent, to talk freely. “I’m sure as hell going to find out. Hunter has never been great at talking on the phone, but he always answers my emails within a few days. I emailed him any number of times this week, as well as calling his office. I always got the same reply, nothing.” “Have you tried his hotel yet?” “Moved out.” “Something doesn’t make sense here.” “I am heading to his office tomorrow; he has that big merger meeting in the morning. If I can get there early enough, perhaps I can get an explanation.” Tony then looked at Luc and J.C. and asked about their meeting with him on Monday. Luc looked at J.C. who informed him that she hadn’t seen him since Monday. All true, though he had no idea about the cab ride. Luc then explained the extent of the conversation, he managed to leave out the conversation they had after Hunter left, but other than that no detail was left untold, including how he had walked in on their little tête-à-tête.

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J.C. threw her hand in the air. “Luc, you know damn well that was nothing at all. He was telling me about what happened to his resort. He needed a sympathetic ear. He wasn’t very well going to spill his feelings to one of you insensitive louts.” “That’s it then, J.C., you’ll have to go with me tomorrow to Hunter’s office. Maybe if he won’t see me, he’ll at least see you.” “No way. The last person he’ll want to see is me.” J.C. grimaced as she realized she revealed too much. “Why would that be?” Luc asked. “Look, you said yourself that he has some merger meeting tomorrow. The last thing he will want is us coming in and distracting him. For all the love he has for the Shermans, he is still pretty reclusive most of the time.” “I would normally agree with you J.C., but I agree with Tony this time. I’m really worried about him. When has he ever had a message left that referred to himself as Mr. Brooks?” Spencer threw his napkin on the table. “Never,” Tony announced. **** Normally J.C. didn’t think of herself as a dumb, easily influenced person, yet when it came to Hunter, she didn’t ever seem to know her own mind. Here she was, bright and early, too early in J.C.’s opinion, at Hunter’s modest Boston offices. J.C. couldn’t remember the last time she woke up before ten a.m. Well actually, she could. The morning after her night with Hunter, she remembered being awake long before the sun rose. J.C. could feel the familiar flush creeping up her cheeks. Good Lord, just thinking about that night was enough to make her heart skip a bit and her thighs clench. She took a deep breath and looked at Tony over the top of her magazine. They arrived hours earlier around seven a.m. only to be told by a Nazi secretary that Mr. Brooks was already in his office and couldn’t be disturbed. Tony informed her that they would wait and would she please give Mr. Brooks the message. By noon, J.C.

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began to wonder how long a merger meeting could take. At least a dozen men and women had come and gone from his office already. The Nazi secretary once again informed the pair that Mr. Brooks really was too busy today and would they like to make an appointment. J.C. went out briefly and came back with lunch for them both only to return to find their numbers multiplying. Spencer sat next to Tony his long legs spread in front of him crossed at the ankle. He looked ready to bunker down for a long stake out. “Since when does Hunter have so much security?” Spencer nodded at the two men standing next to the door of the lobby and then at two more who sat by the doors to Hunter’s outer offices. J.C. looked about the office, strange she hadn’t noticed the people standing around the office were security, but they must have been. “He did say they suspected the bombing might be personal.” Tony nodded in the direction of the desk outside Hunter’s office. “He also has a new personal assistant, Elaine is gone.” “That doesn’t make any sense. Elaine and Hunter go way back to their days in foster care.” “No kidding, she’s the closest thing, other than us, he has to family.” Tony took the proffered sandwich. “Still no luck getting in. Although, I was informed that: ‘Mr. Brooks would try and fit us in between meetings this afternoon.’ I guess he got the message we weren’t going anywhere.” Three hours and four cups of coffee later, they hadn’t moved and Hunter hadn’t shown his face. Luc stopped by briefly and said he would be back after his meeting with the curator at the Museum of Art. By now even the most dimwitted of people knew Hunter was blowing them off. The problem was, only J.C. knew why. By six-thirty, J.C. was wondering if there was a back door Hunter might have snuck out of. Personally, she wouldn’t have blamed him. The Nazi secretary assured them he was still there or she would have already left. Although the office was empty of everyone except the Sherman army, the four menacing bodyguards remained.

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Just as J.C. was ready to throw in the towel and leave, the outer lobby door opened and in walked the matriarch and patriarch of the Sherman clan. J.C.’s parents looked ready to scale the building walls if need be. Her mom looked concerned, and her father’s face, though masked behind a business-like persona showed signs of worry. J.C.’s father walked over to the secretary. “Get Hunter on the phone, now!” he demanded with a no-nonsense tone. “Tell him it is Joseph Sherman. He will speak to me.” A moment later, he was on the phone with Hunter and then a second after that, walking through the doors that she and Tony had been sitting outside of all day. J.C.’s mother sat next to her patting her knee. “We got here as soon as we could. In fact, I have never seen your father drive so fast after receiving Tony’s phone call.” “I called them three hours ago.” J.C. kept her thoughts to herself, after all what could she add? Nothing any of them would have liked hearing. **** Hunter sat in his office. This was out of control. Why the hell wouldn’t they all go away? He would have thought by now Tony and J.C. would have gone home. He hadn’t been lying. It had been one continuous meeting after another all day. Nevertheless, every hour he would get a message that they were still out there, and showed no signs of leaving. Now it appeared the whole family was besieging him, and Joseph Sherman was on his way in to talk to him. Hunter took a deep breath, dismissed the last of his business associates, and stared aimlessly out the window. This he didn’t need. On top of everything else, someone was outbidding him at every turn. He had his suspicions as to who but his head ached, body exhausted and conscience played havoc that he had left his best friend cooling his heels in his small waiting room all day. No matter the reasons, he still on a normal day would have at the very least gone out to say, “Go away.” Today he couldn’t do that.

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Worse, all day his mind drifted back to the question of what in the hell game J.C. was playing. She laid her cards and made it clear what she wanted. He hadn’t liked her decision but when a woman says it’s over, he wasn’t about to argue. A woman’s prerogative was something he would never understand. The inner door to his office creaked as it opened, but he didn’t attempt to move. He faced the window, and that was how he intended to stay—aloof and detached. “Well, son,” Joseph said, the elder Sherman’s voice came across agitated. “Mr. Sherman,” Hunter said levelly. Every molecule of him fought the urge to turn and show respect to the man. Instead he opened a file cabinet, his fingers moved over the files but his eyes weren’t following. “You want to tell me what is going on?” “I think that you would have to ask your children, who’ve decided that although I am a busy man, they need to camp out in my lobby.” “Turn and face me, son.” ”I’d prefer not to.” “Does this have to do with Jacinda?” Mr. Sherman waited for an answer, and when it didn’t come, he sighed. “Hunter, I really wish we could talk face to face about this. Michelle and I love you like a son. Unfortunately, we’ve known for some time that our daughter never looked at you as a brother. We watched you Memorial Day weekend; saw you as you first noticed Jacinda was a woman. We could see your struggle. We want you to know that you have our blessing and no matter what happens, we will still consider you family. Nothing can change that.” “I wish it were that simple, sir,” Hunter’s voice seemed strained even to his own ears. Joseph’s fatherly declaration took him off guard. Growing up an orphan belonging to a family played into every one of his dreams, until girls became a focus. Regardless, to have acceptance come now, when he couldn’t accept the offer was the cruelest of tortures. “Hunter, son, look at me. The family is worried. Please don’t make me come around that desk.”

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Hunter stood with difficultly, swayed for a second then reached for the walking cane leaning against his desk. With great care and significant pain, Hunter turned to look at the only man who he ever thought of as a dad. He watched the old man pale and stumble back as he took in Hunter’s broken body. Hunter knew what he must see, the ugly bruises under and around his eyes originally deep purple and now turning a putrid shade of yellowish green. The healing cut on his left cheek, ugly and red from the stitches removed earlier that very morning. The black cast on his left arm, where his bones had been broken in three places. Followed by the obvious dependence on a walking stick for injuries he couldn’t see— injuries which had hospitalized Hunter for three days. “Hunter! What in the hell happened?” “It feels like I was hit by a Mack truck.” “Looks like it too. Now what really happened?” “I was jumped last Tuesday evening leaving work.” “Jumped?” “Jumped, attacked, beaten to a bloody pulp…take your pick.” “This isn’t a joking matter.” Hunter too tired to keep up the façade leaned heavily against the cane. “Believe me, I am not laughing.” “Was anyone else with you?” “Elaine.” “Was she hurt?” Hunter took deep breath and shook his head. Elaine Faderney and he met in high school. Both were fortunate and unfortunate to be placed in the same foster house. A rat-infested, hole-in-the-wall, place in Lynn. Although home life was miserable, they had each other, and some teachers were determined to see them succeed. Not so easy, when Elaine found herself pregnant at sixteen. Hunter vowed then that he would make it and help her when he was able. True to his promise as soon as he could take her on,

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he did. She’d been the only soul to come and see him graduate from college other than the Shermans. “Physically, she wasn’t touched. Emotionally, she’s a mess as she was forced to watch helplessly as six men beat me to a pulp. She’s scared, can’t sleep, and is petrified they will come back and hurt her. I don’t blame her. She has her daughter to worry about. But it’s obvious that it’s me they were after. Having her watch, I think, was just icing on the cake.” “So the bodyguards outside are because…” “Actually, there are two bodyguards and three FBI agents, including my new secretary.” Hunter took another step, but it must have been obvious how difficult it was for him because Mr. Sherman was there helping him into his seat. “Listen, could you please get rid your brood out there? I can’t deal with a Sherman ambush right now.” “Of course, though Michelle is going to want to come in, and you need a mother right now. I think J.C. will want to be here too.” “Mrs. Sherman can come in. I don’t think even the FBI could stop her but I don’t want to see any of your children. Besides J.C. made it perfectly clear that she finally grew out of her childhood crush, so she may be relieved to leave.” “I think you’re wrong, but I’ll do as you ask.” Hunter thanked him then put his head back to rest. He tried to open his eyes again when the doors opened, but he found he just didn’t have the energy. The short silence broke with a feminine intake of breath and he cursed that he hadn’t tried to hide his face a little. “Mrs. Sherman, it looks worse than it is,” he murmured, not finding the strength to even look at Mrs. Sherman. “I doubt that,” J.C. whispered, and what little energy Hunter had left ran through him as he looked up in shock, he saw tears in her eyes. “Go away, Jacinda. I don’t want your pity.” J.C. looked offended by his words, but Hunter didn’t want to care, he just wanted her gone.

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“No one could ever pity you. I just needed to know you were okay. Let me take care of you.” “Go away, you are the last person I need taking care of me. You ended it between us. You made your opinion perfectly clear.” J.C. pulled up a chair to sit in front of him, and then pulled his good hand into hers. Good hand might have been a misnomer as his knuckles were bruised and scabbed. “I thought… I don’t know what I thought, but I finally realized what a relationship might do to your relationship with my parents and brothers. At the time, ending it seemed the best for you.” “Not likely, it was always about you getting what you wanted and to hell with the consequences.” “That’s not true.” “Isn’t it? Look, J.C., I don’t have the energy for this. You were right. It was a mistake.” “No, Hunter, I was wrong, terribly wrong.” J.C. moved a little closer, urging him to look at her. “Please, let’s talk this through.” Hunter struggled to his feet. “Go home.” “I know my parents gave you their approval to date me.” “So now it’s all right? When Luc says back off, you do? When daddy says ‘go for it’ you do? But when does what I want matter here? You know what I find sexiest in a woman? No? Then let me tell you—it’s a woman who knows her own mind and acts on it. Sadly that isn’t you, is it?” Whatever her response would have been, they were interrupted by the invasion of J.C.’s mom. She obviously couldn’t wait any longer to check on Hunter. Before Hunter knew it, he was seated again with Mrs. Sherman checking him over with loving hands at the very same time she was scolding him profusely for not calling her sooner to take care of him. He didn’t understand most of what she was saying because his gaze kept returning to J.C. who looked deflated in the corner. He heard ‘independent idiocy’ enough to get the gist.

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A part of him wanted J.C. with him but a larger part didn’t. He wasn’t about to admit, even to himself, how her refusal in the cab had affected him. Her flip flopping was making him dizzy. One moment she wanted him, the next she didn’t. She was everything he ever wanted but nothing healthy could come of their getting together. Shame his body wasn’t as smart as his head. It didn’t matter anyway. Even if events in the cab had been different, he couldn’t keep himself safe. How could be keep a woman safe? Someone had a personal vendetta against him, and he wasn’t going to put anyone else in danger. The best plan would be to keep all the Shermans at arm’s length. If no one was within his radar, no one else would get hurt. Until this psycho was identified and behind bars, Hunter would be on his own. “Sorry, son, I tried to keep her out, give you two a chance to talk, but that as you can see didn’t work.” “It’s all right. I think J.C. and I have said all that needs to be said.” Hunter looked at her for a minute before cringing when Mrs. Sherman touched his bruised shoulder. “You are coming home with us,” Mrs. Sherman insisted. “I’m sorry, but that’s not possible,” a deep voice came from the shadows. “Sorry to scare you, ma’am. I’m Agent Vassar and Mr. Brooks really needs to stay where we can protect him.” Hunter cursed. Agent Vassar had been sitting in the shadows of his office for days and the damn man somehow managed to make his 6’ 4” body disappear. How many times had he forgotten the man was there? Too many to count, and now he had been privy to not one but two very private conversations. “He needs his family,” Mrs. Sherman demanded, fierce as a mother lion. Hunter’s heart nearly exploded with emotion. No one ever defended him like this. “At least let someone come with him.” “I see no reason why Ms. Jacinda Sherman couldn’t accompany him tonight if she so chooses.” Agent Vassar looked at J.C. then pinned an amused looked to Hunter.

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“I‘d be happy to,” J.C. admitted with a smile then said to no one in particular, “Because unlike Hunter, I haven’t said all I intended to.”

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Chapter Ten “Unfortunately my heart isn’t nearly so big.” Hunter to J.C. J.C. took a deep breath and slowly pushed the door open. Hunter nearly slammed it on her face when they arrived at the safe house, which, as it turned out, was really a room at the Ritz-Carlton. He had been rude on the limo ride to the point where Agent Vassar actually felt the need to break the tense silence and make small talk. Not something J.C. thought he did regularly. Hunter, on the other hand, never acknowledged her presence, and when he held out the walking cane for someone to hold, he made sure it wasn’t to her. J.C. walked into the luxury suite followed by three agents. Agent Vassar went ahead of Hunter, asking him to wait while he searched the suite. Obviously that wasn’t in Hunter’s game plan, because he limped in directly behind Agent Vassar. J.C. watched him make a bee-line toward the mini bar and pour a glass of whisky. She was about to say something about meds and alcohol, but thought better of it as she watched him sink into a nearby chair. He chucked his cane unceremoniously on the sofa next to him. Tension in his forehead and jaw told a story of just how spent he was. He was

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close to collapsing from exhaustion as she watched his head fall back against the overstuffed white and green armchair. J.C. stood in the corner of the large executive suite and glanced around. The sofa didn’t look comfortable, and she was pretty sure Hunter wasn’t going to let her share a room with him. She wondered if the agents could arrange for a cot to be brought up. She turned to ask, but soon realized that it was only the two of them in the room. Hunter was swishing his whisky in the glass. “Can we talk, Hunter?” He didn’t look at her. “No.” “Please, Hunter. We need to discuss this.” “No, we don’t. I said all I needed to say. If you want to talk, go find Vassar.” He put his drink down and placed a hand to his forehead. “After all, he invited you here, not me.” “I haven’t said all I need to say,” J.C. said angrily. Her voice began to rise in volume and pitch. “So if you don’t want to talk, then by God, you can have the manners to listen.” “That’s rich.” Hunter looked at her aghast. “Could you think of someone, for once, other than yourself? It’s been a hell of a day. I’m still recovering from a serious concussion, and my head, not to mention the rest of my body, hurts like hell. So do you think you could just shut up?” “As soon as you hear what I have to say,” she said more softly this time. “You aren’t going to let me rest until you’ve said your peace. Are you?” J.C. shook her head. “Then make it quick.” J.C., feeling as if she had just passed a major hurtle, got to her knees in front of him. She was about to place her hands on his knees, when Hunter hissed. “Do not touch me.” Each word packed a fatal punch at J.C.’s ever-shrinking certainty. J.C. took a deep breath and looked into Hunter’s bruised, disinterested face. “I know you’re angry, and you have every reason to be. I let someone else get between us.

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No matter how good intentioned that person tried to be, I should have given you the courtesy and respect to make your own decisions and let you make the decision.” “That would’ve been nice.” “I know you think that the only reason I changed my mind was because my father and mother gave their blessing.” She listened as he humphed then placed her hand on top of his. “But I came to your office long before my parents arrived. Yes, I admit, I went along begrudgingly, but by lunch I knew, I didn’t want to stay away.” J.C. waited, hoping he would say something, anything, but he sat there staring at her hand on his. The silence lay between them like thick smoke, making it hard to see or breathe. Her eyes began tearing up at the frustration of not being able to reach him. She tried to hold back the tears but silently a few fell. The realization that she’d blown it forced her to give in and she was about to get up. “I asked you at the gym to give me a second chance, and you did for no other reason than because your heart is so big.” His large thumb wiped away a tear from her cheek. J.C. held back a cry with a shudder. “Unfortunately my heart isn’t nearly so large.” She choked on a sob. Eyes closed, she let herself relish his hand cupping her cheek. They were so very close, but he was miles away from her. He was the love of her life, always had been, and always would be. She wouldn’t let regrets taint their night together. She would cherish it always even if only in her dreams. He had shown her what it meant to give pleasure simply by giving it. He had made her feel beautiful, wanted and feminine if only for one night. Getting up on her knees, J.C. leaned toward his less-bruised cheek and gently kissed it. They stayed there, cheekto-cheek for what seemed like forever. Unable to take any more, J.C. moved her lips to his ear. “I have always loved you.” Moving swiftly to her feet, J.C. about to turn to leave, found her hand encased in his. “I want to have a heart as big as yours, J.C. But I don’t know how to forgive and love the way you do. I need you to teach me.” J.C. turned back, stunned. “You can’t mean that.”

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“I know that you have the power to hurt me that no one else ever has. That scares the hell out of me.” Hunter seemed to struggle with what he wanted to say next. “You also,” he finally managed, “make me feel things I have never felt before.” Hunter brought her hand to his lips. Gently, he kissed her palm and to her surprise, he didn’t flinch when she gently touched the bruises on his face. For moments they remained quiet. J.C. touched and kissed his injuries one by one. Her beautiful, handsome Hunter never looked so vulnerable. She knew how hard it was for him to let her do that. She felt his tension, felt him fighting the need to push her away. “It’s not safe here, you need to go home.” “I’m not leaving.” “There is some crazy nut out there hell-bent on destroying anything and everything I care about.” “I trust you to keep me safe.” The struggle to push her away and pull her close all at the same time, played out in his eyes. “I don’t think I could forgive myself if anything happened to you.” “I’m staying. Let me take care of you.” He’d been alone all his life, only ever able to rely on himself. J.C.’s heart nearly broke. She thought of him as a boy with a scraped knee and no one to kiss it. Something so small she had taken for granted as a child. Had anyone ever cared for him, tucked him in at night? Had someone been there to scare the monsters from under his bed, or even sing him to sleep? She again whispered her love for him and was shocked to feel after a brief moment of tension he seemed to relax. “I love you,” she whispered, yet again feeling the tension ebb further from his body. She would tuck him in and chase those monsters from under his bed. She would kiss every scrape and bruise if it took her all night. And no matter how long it took, she would teach him what it was like to be loved. For the first time in her pampered life, all she wanted was to give. Love was selfless, it didn’t matter if he didn’t love her yet, she would teach him how. “Let’s get you to bed.” Hunter nodded and let her lead him into the large bedroom.

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**** No one ever cared for him like this. No one ever said they loved him before. Yet tonight Mr. and Mrs. Sherman declared that they loved him like a son. He’d been so taken by surprise that he hadn’t been able to breathe. Now, J.C. repeated and showed her love for him in the gentle caresses and care she showed him. Hunter knew she meant it. Parts of his soul he thought didn’t exist came to startling life. J.C. walked patiently beside Hunter as he made his way to the large bed. He was so tired—so tired of having to be strong and alone—so tired of the emptiness he always felt. J.C. gently started on the buttons on his shirt and Hunter grabbed her hands. “Please don’t. I can do this. I don’t want you seeing me this way.” J.C. gently removed his hands from hers and went back to work on the buttons. “I know this love thing is new to you, so I’ll be patient, but you have to let me take care of you.” As gently as she could, she slid the shirt from his shoulders and over his arms, now she looked at the crew neck tee shirt and cringed. “Best to do it swiftly.” He crossed his arms in front of his abs, grabbing the end of the shirt, he let out a breath before pulling the white cotton over his head. He heard J.C.’s gasp and wished he had been more adamant about her leaving. “Why don’t you see about ordering us some dinner?” “No. I’m fine. I just wasn’t prepared.” J.C. looked down at him as their eyes met. Hunter could read the sincerity in them. Drained, Hunter let his head rest against her stomach. “You’re exhausted,” her voice was soft and caressing as she ran her fingers through his hair. “Where are your pain pills?” “Don’t take ‘em.” He fought the heaviness of his eyelids. His head moved against her hands much like a cat enjoying the pet. Hunter didn’t know how long J.C. stood there, when he edged closer to sleep. He felt her move away. Lifting his head to look at her, he could barely keep his eyes open. She squatted before him, reaching for his foot. Carefully, she removed his shoes, socks, and belt. Unable to fight the exhaustion another minute, he eased back onto the bed and

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let his head fall onto the feather down pillow. Through the slit of his eyes, he saw her reach for the light. “You don’t have to leave.” J.C. came back to the bed and pulled her dress over her head. Hunter watched as she kicked off her sandals and climbed into bed beside him, letting her arms wrap gently around his waist. She smelled so good. This was going to be a difficult night. He tried to control his breathing but having her so close, her soft body pressed against his battered one, his body tensed and his relaxed cock suddenly came to full attention. She leaned on her shoulder and let her hand move over the silky pleats of the micro fiber pants and found him hard. “Want me to take care of that?” she asked against his shoulder. “No.” J.C. kissed his temple. Her lips lingered tenderly against his pulse. Her hand shifted from his waist, blazing a trail of heat up his body until it came to rest on his head. Agile fingers buried into his thick hair, gently massaging the tension beneath their touch. His breathing slowed, his shoulders lost a good amount of tension, and he felt the healing power of sleep come over him. Slowly, J.C. eased herself out of the bed. She was just coming out of the bathroom when Hunter opened his eyes with some effort. “Where are you going?” “I was just taking my bra off.” “Please don’t say that.” He groaned, moving his arm to cover his eyes. J.C. chuckled and crawled back into bed. “You sure it wouldn’t be better for you if I slept elsewhere.” “No.” He looked at her from under his arm. “Knowing you’re here is…peaceful.” J.C. curved her body into his. She was careful not to touch any sore spots but close enough that he could still feel her body next to his. She wanted to let him know she wasn’t going anywhere. Closing his eyes, he listened to her fall into a sound sleep, then he let himself listen to the cadence of her breathing and it too lulled him into a deep dreamless sleep.

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**** J.C. woke with a jolt, in reality it was more with a nudge. Someone was nudging her. Moving deeper into her pillow to escape the early morning disruption, she groaned. Then she felt it again only this time the nudge was large, hard and persistent. She lifted her head just in time to feel Hunter slowly press his cock inside of her. Her eyes opened wide and she let out a squeal of delight. Shimming her ass closer to him, she took him deeper. She let her eyes close again as she melted into his body and enjoyed their intimacy. “Good morning.” His breath brushed against her ear. “That it is.” “Sorry I couldn’t wait any longer for you to wake up,” he said in a wicked way of his that made her melt. That was when she opened her eyes and remembered where and why she was there. She tried to pull away but his right arm kept her firmly in place. Obviously, a good night’s sleep had done him the world of good. “Should you be doing this?” She moaned, feeling the length of him retreat then surge back into her. Hunter chuckled against her bare shoulder. “The question should be, how was I going to last without doing this?” His words were emphasized by a long, strong push inward. “Lift your leg up.” J.C. obeyed, lifting her right leg to allow him better access. He rewarded her with a deeper thrust. Hunter’s right arm, now firmly wrapped around her waist, pulled her even closer into the curve of his body. She felt the hard planes of his stomach and chest, under the thin veil of hair that covered his pectoral muscles. Conscious of the areas that were still healing and covered in bandages, she allowed him to lead. But most of all she was conscious of the velvet hardness deep inside her. She closed her eyes and allowed her body to feel his need and savor it. She’d never had sex in the morning, let alone woken up to it. If this was how he planned to wake her regularly, then she might just yet become a morning person after all.

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“Touch yourself.” J.C. turned to look at him. “You want me to touch myself?” “Yes, I need to make sure you cum. Sorry I’m not quite up to taking care of it myself.” His arm tightened around her midsection as his rhythm increased. With trepidation, J.C. reached down between her open legs. She never touched herself with someone watching before. With Dave she had thought about it, since he rarely cared for her pleasure, but it hadn’t occurred to her with Hunter. He brought her pleasure every time they had sex that night in her cottage, sometimes more than once. Her fingers ran through the trimmed patch of hair at the apex of her thighs, she savored the pleasure of her fingers on her clitoris as he pumped into her. She let them wander a little lower to feel his pulsing cock as it entered her again and again. “I wouldn’t do that unless you want this to end now.” Delighted in the power she held over him, she touched him again. As his breathing became laborious, she reluctantly did as he asked. With slow purposeful movements J.C. removed her touch from his cock; instead letting her fingers find her swollen clit. She rubbed in small circles over the wet erect nub. A whimper escaped her parted lips when sensations began to rack her body. With every little moan, she heard Hunter hiss in a deep breath, as if fighting to stay in control. Her fingers grazed the hilt of his cock twice, her confidence grew bold, and she allowed one finger deep inside with his cock. His breath quickened and felt heavy against the back of her neck. Knowing he was close to release made her work more feverishly toward her own. Every thrust of his hips brought her one step closer. With a last ditch effort, he thrust as deep as he could, holding her tight against his body, his lips pressed hard against her shoulder. “Please hurry,” he said through gritted teeth. Those two little words said with such meaning and force, sent her spiraling over the edge. The small knot in the lower section of her abdomen exploded through her body, every blood vessel came alive with the pleasure of her orgasm. Her body shook, and she tried to curl into the fetal position, but Hunter, in the midst of his own powerful

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orgasm, had tightened his hold. If she thought she knew how powerful his body was, she had been wrong. He held her in a vice grip preventing her from moving. Slowly as his body relaxed, so did his hold on her. His breath became slower and more even. He didn’t try to withdraw from her nor roll over. He just pulled closer to her, still inside, still pulsing. “Don’t you have to be at work?” she asked moments later when she could finally string a sentence together. “Do you honestly think I can walk right now?” He rubbed his cheek against her bare shoulder. “I’ve decided to go in late. Perhaps I will call in sick. Seven weeks of celibacy is a long time for me.” She stared at him in surprise. “No, J.C. there hasn’t been anyone since I was with you in Maine. Now just lay that pretty head of yours back on that pillow and stew over that while I get some much needed sleep.” J.C. found that the information he had just handed her made for pleasant dreams indeed.

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Chapter Eleven “Uh, maybe his cell phone isn’t such a good idea.” J.C. to Spencer. J.C. looked across her office at the clock on the furthest wall. She’d meant to attack her to do list today for the Woman’s Abuse Center. She hoped to, at the very least, make a few phone calls to high power people who might be interested in donating their time or skills to the benefit auction. But she hadn’t accomplished much of anything at all. She blamed Hunter, who at that moment had his head buried beneath her skirt and between her legs. She groaned as his tongue circled her sensitive clit yet again. This was going to be another fruitless day. Maybe not completely fruitless, after all, even Hunter couldn’t go all day and hadn’t he said something about a meeting this afternoon? Not that J.C. really cared now, her only thoughts were of the upcoming orgasm she was sure to have. J.C. yelped when Hunter snapped her garter belt. A ritual formed over the last three weeks, she wore a lacy black garter belt to work every day. Hunter informed her on the first occasion, which had taken place on his desk, his weakness for women in garter belts. She soon found out just how much of a weakness it was. Her credit card statement would show she suddenly owned a variety of garter belts. Drawers once full 87

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of comfortable functional undergarments now filled to overflow with colors and fabrics all meant to drive Hunter to distraction. Today she really only had herself to blame, she teasingly sent a text message stating she was dutifully wearing her garter belt, but she forgot to wear any panties. Twenty minutes later, Hunter stormed into her office, slammed and locked the door. She found herself lying on her desk with Hunter’s head under her skirt. Throwing her head back, she let his talented tongue work her into a passionate frenzy. Her lips formed an O about to beg him to take her, not able to take a moment more, when a loud knock sounded at her door. Hunter’s head came out from under her skirt. “Get rid of them.” “What if it’s a donor? I need to raise some funds today for the charity.” Hunter pulled out his wallet and threw down five one hundred dollar bills. “That should cover it.” “I think I should be offended.” “Then you shouldn’t tell me when you are bare ass naked in your office.” He nipped at her thigh. “I flew out of the office so quickly I’m not sure even the FBI could catch up with me.” “Agent Vassar knows exactly where you are.” “Minx! You do realize that my phone is tapped and all the messages are recorded?” “Of course, it gives those men something to look forward to during their day.” She laughed but stopped when the knock sounded persistently again. “Who is it?” “J.C., I really hate to interrupt you,” Sissy, the administrative assistant whispered loudly through the door. “I know you are on an important phone call, but your brother Spencer is here and wants to see you. I told him you were busy, but he insists on seeing you.” Hunter stood up and looked around. “Unless you want me going through the window, I think it’s time to come clean.” “Not on your life, Hunter. I’m not ready for them to know yet.” J.C. looked over the room again. “Here, under the desk.”

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Hunter looked at her as if she had lost her mind. “I am not hiding under the desk! J.C., we are grown adults. If you are set on keeping us a secret, I’m sure that we can explain away my appearance here.” “Yes, except you smell like me, and I am sure I look like a woman well pleased.” J.C. kissed Hunter, tasting herself on his lips and tongue. “Please darling, just get under the desk. I promise I’ll let you tell the brothers soon enough. It’s just that the last bruises have finally faded, and I find I’m really enjoying having you back at full health again. I’m not ready to deal with the beating my brothers are going to give you.” “Your parents support us…” “Yes but even my father would be hard pressed to support what just happened on this desk.” “I am not planning on broadcasting what I just did to you.” Another knock on the door, this one more forceful put a knot the size of a grapefruit in her belly. “Please I am begging.” “Fine, I’ll get under the blasted desk. But know I am doing it to please you and not because I am afraid of your brothers. And I still don’t understand why your parents think keeping this a secret is a good idea?” “Because they know they raised four Neanderthals.” “Are they that advanced? Am I really supposed to fit under there?” J.C. smiled and watched him nearly pout as he managed to curl his large frame under her desk. This was the only thing the two of them fought about. Two weeks ago, Hunter had changed his tune from, ‘the brothers can never know,’ to ‘we need to tell your brothers.’ He’d said that he wanted them to know; he didn’t want anyone thinking that she was his dirty little secret. She, of course, pleaded with him not to tell the brothers and was surprised when even her parents came to her defense and agreed. After fixing her hair and appearance once more, she opened the door and greeted her eldest brother. They exchanged customary hugs. “I’m sorry for just dropping in

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unannounced, but I was in the neighborhood, and Mom and Dad are concerned because no one has seen or heard from you in two weeks.” “I’ve been busy with the benefit, but I can always make time for family,” she replied as she hugged him again. J.C. sat at her desk and tried to ignore the angry look that Hunter was giving her. Then as the conversation moved on to the family matters she tried to ignore the fingers that ever so gently brushed up and down her stocking calf. “J.C., are you all right? You look…uncomfortable,” Spencer asked with concern edging his voice. J.C. reached for her bottled water and gulped down a few swigs. “Fine…Just fine.” She was just about to take another sip when she felt Hunter’s teeth nip at her inner thigh and covered a yelp with a cough. She watched as Spencer came to his feet and was about to come around the desk. “No really, I’m fine. I just caught my knee on the corner of the desk drawer.” Hesitantly, Spencer returned to his seat, and J.C. let out a sigh of relief. In doing so, she allowed her legs to relax and open. She should have expected what happened next, but she didn’t. She felt Hunter’s hands move up her skirt and around her hips to her bare bottom. Focus on what Spencer is saying. Try as she might, Spencer might as well have been speaking Swahili. All she could focus on was Hunter’s hand gripping her ass and sliding her ever so slowly forward on her chair. Each inch allowed him to spread her legs a little wider, each inch allowed him more leeway between her thighs. She bit her lip as his tongue traced the line of her stocking against her inner thigh. His breath against the trimmed hair at her apex tickled and she felt a rush of wet warmth filling her. She needed Spencer to leave—she needed Hunter to cum inside her. “Earth to J.C., are you even listening?” J.C. shook her head and looked at her brother; his face showed a mix of amusement and a bit of resignation that his sister was miles away. “Spence, I’m sorry, I just have

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tons of projects on my desk at the moment, and I guess my mind is on them. But I’m sure we’ll have time to talk on Sunday at the family dinner.” “Good, I look forward to it then.” Spencer got out of his seat and walked around her desk, J.C. adjusted her chair hoping to hide Hunter’s pretzel form. He kissed her gently on the cheek. “Don’t work too hard, will you?” “Me, work too hard?” She laughed; then coughed as two of Hunter’s fingers entered her. “Are you sure you’re okay?” “Yes. Spence, quit worrying. I’ll see you on Sunday.” Spencer smiled and opened the door. Just as J.C. was about to breathe again, he turned. “Have you seen Hunter?” “Pardon me?” “I was just wondering if you’d seen Hunter since that night we all went to his office. I went by there on my way here, and they said he was out. I’m beginning to think he is avoiding us. Tony says he isn’t returning his calls, though he did get an email a few days ago. I was hoping he would join us on Sunday.” “Well, have you tried his cell phone?” “Does he still have the same number?” “Yeah… Ouch!” Hunter bit her leg and then she felt something hit her lap. She reached down and picked up Hunter’s cell phone. Fumbling with the phone, she realized it was on, and that when she pressed any button it beeped. “Uh, maybe his cell phone isn’t such a good idea. Leave a message with his secretary and make her put it in his appointment calendar…yes the secretary is the best way. Definitely the secretary, not the cell phone.” “Jace?” Spencer took a step forward. “You haven’t heard from the ex have you?” Aggravated, J.C. stood, coughed again to cover the curse from Hunter and walked her brother to the door. “Spencer, I’m thrilled you stopped by, but really, I need to get back to work.” “Okay, but we’ll talk on Sunday.”

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J.C. closed the door and leaned against it for support. She watched as Hunter uncurled himself from under her desk and stalked toward her. “Have you lost your mind? What possessed you to tell him to call my cell phone?” “Do you honestly believe I can think at all when your hands are under my skirt?” She pulled his head down to hers wanting to devour him, feed off him as he did with her. Hunter’s hands started up her skirt when the cell phone on J.C.’s desk rang. “This is all your fault.” He pushed away from her and reached for his phone. “Brooks…Spencer, what a surprise…” Hunter rolled his eyes at J.C. before returning his attention to the conversation. “Sunday? Why yes, I think I am available…” J.C. gasped and swung at Hunter’s arm. What was he thinking? She heard him get the directions then sign off. “Have you lost all common sense? You can’t go to dinner with the family.” Pulling J.C. into his arms, he looked down at her innocently. “Why not?” “Why not?” J.C. pulled away from him. “Because they’d kill you if they knew.” “Then let’s tell them.” “Tell them what? That you and I are humping like rabbits?” “I was thinking about something a little more diplomatic, like we’re dating.” “You’re the one who wanted to keep this a secret,” she pointed out, trying to hold some ground in this argument. “Yes, when I thought all we were going to do was ‘hump like bunnies’ but I want them to know. I want to take you out, kiss you in public and let the family know you’re mine…” “I don’t belong to any man.” Gently Hunter pulled J.C. back into his arms so her back was against his front, and he could rest his chin on her head. “Had you let me finish, I was about to say and that I am yours. Jacinda, I love you. I’ve never said that to another human being in my life. And now that I have, I want your family to know.”

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“Not yet, Hunter. Please try and understand. I just want to enjoy us for a bit. Before we let the rest of the world, or at the very least, the rest of the Shermans in. Once my brothers know they will be like a pack of dogs after a bone. Always checking in, always harassing us. You said yourself I will always be the baby.” Hunter reluctantly nodded, pulled her close and rested his chin on her head once more. “This should make Sunday an interesting dinner. I do wonder which of us will crack first.”

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Chapter Twelve “When I gave you permission to see my daughter, it wasn’t in the nude.” Mr. Sherman to Hunter.

Hunter walked into Legal Sea Foods ten minutes before six on Sunday. He wanted to stake his place before everyone else. He didn’t want to be stuck sitting next to J.C. unable to actually touch her. This evening promised to be difficult enough without adding temptation to the mix. The small things he found himself doing, brushing away the stray hairs from her face, lingering over the place behind her ear that she applied perfume to, letting his knuckles brush lightly over the swell of her breast, he would be unable to enjoy. Hunter cursed and shifted uncomfortably when he felt the all too familiar tightening in his pants which he now associated with J.C. And so help her if she wore or even hinted at wearing a garter belt tonight. He would blow their cover and yank her out of the restaurant so fast no one would know what was happening. Three days was too long. Three days was nothing in terms of his previous relationships, but it was hell now and he missed J.C. He’d had business meetings Thursday and Friday, and she had a big gala benefit on Saturday, one which would

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have been too obvious had he shown up for. After all, he wasn’t the most likely candidate to be the spokesman for cord blood donation. Looking around the large restaurant located on Boston’s Long Wharf, Hunter wasn’t surprised to find he was the first one to arrive, after all, the Sherman’s weren’t known for their punctuality. But then again, when one had as much money as they did, one didn’t need to be on time. Hunter gave his name to the hostess. The short middle-aged woman led him straight back to a private dining room. He stopped mid-stride when he found J.C. standing by the table. “What the hell are you doing here?” “I’m here to eat, and hello to you, too.” “I got here purposely early so that we wouldn’t look suspicious.” “So did I.” Hunter looked her over, head to toe, and sighed with relief when he noticed she was wearing opened toed sandals with no stockings. Meaning: no garters. “I’ve missed you.” He shoved his left hand into the pocket of his blue suit pants and stared at her for a moment, then with his right hand, worked at his tie as if it were too tight. “It’s only been three nights.” “Three of the longest nights in history.” J.C. picked up her purse and brushed past him. “I’m heading to the ladies room for a few minutes.” She paused with her cheek next to his shoulder, he could smell her perfume. He fisted his hands in his pockets to prevent him from grabbing her. “I missed you, too.” J.C. hadn’t been out of the room for more than a couple of minutes when all four Sherman brothers suddenly invaded the room all at once. Hunter turned just in time to look at them all staring him down. For one split second, Hunter braced himself for the worst—sure they’d found out about his secret. “Are my eyes deceiving me or is that Hunter Brooks?” Tony asked, stepping closer.

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“That’s Mister Brooks to you.” Trent laughed, coming further into the room and reaching out his hand. “How are you feeling? You look pretty good even if that scar on your cheek looks pretty angry.” Luc came over and examined the scar. “Oh, that’s a definite character builder.” “Feeling much better. The cast came off last Monday, and all the bruises faded. I’m a little stiff in the morning, but other than that, same old me.” Tony looked him over. “Well, you look good, and I don’t mind telling you I was more than a little concerned about you.” “We all were.” Spencer came further into the room. “Why don’t we sit down and let Hunter take a load off.” He sprawled into one of the chairs as he suggested it. “Let’s save the questions until the parents arrive so Hunter doesn’t have to repeat himself.” Hunter agreed and the conversation quickly turned to the Red Sox and the chances of the Pats winning another Super Bowl. Hunter tried hard to follow the conversation but his eyes keep wandering to the door, waiting for J.C. to return. He was in way too deep, and he wondered when it had become so important to be in the same room with her. As if hearing his silent wish, she appeared in the doorway. While everyone greeted J.C., Hunter took the opportunity once more to drink in her appearance. She showered her family, both brothers and cousins alike, with genuine affection. When she approached Hunter, his breathing stilled. How he wanted to announce to everyone that she was his. But for her, he would hold his tongue no matter what the personal cost was to him. He feared the cost would be great, but he also knew he would exact his payment from her tonight between his Egyptian cotton sheets. “Hunter.” J.C. placed a hand on his bicep and a touch of her lips to his cheek. “J.C.,” he returned in a manner that he hoped came off as nonchalant. J.C. took one step away from him when Mr. and Mrs. Sherman arrived and the whole great ordeal began again. When everyone finally arrived and found their seats, Hunter let out a sigh of relief. The sooner this dinner was over, the sooner he could eat his dessert, sweet and creamy Jacinda.

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“Hunter, are you with us?” Tony asked with a chuckle. “Dude, you haven’t been listening to a word anyone’s said.” Hunter apologized and focused on the conversation at hand. He listened to Lucas talk about the breakup with his girlfriend again. Spencer talked about work as usual, and as always, Tony talked about the women he met. Hunter gave a rundown of the FBI investigation and laughed when someone said at least they weren’t with him tonight. From behind the glass, Agent Vassal stood up to stretch, instantly making his presence known. “I can’t believe they’re still concerned enough,” Trent said above the stunned silence. “No offense, Hunter, but what is it about you and this case that has them all over you like flies on…glue.” Trent amended as he looked at his mother sheepishly. Hunter shrugged it off. As if everyone knew he needed a change of subject, the Shermans broke off into various private conversations around the table. This was far more comfortable than having all eyes focused on him. Hunter pushed away his bowl of clam chowder and was just about to answer a question from one of the Sherman cousins when Tony said something that made him stop dead in his tracks. “What did you just say?” True to form, Tony didn’t realize he was walking on thin ice. With the rumble of the crowd’s conversations, only he could hear Tony’s murmur, “I said, who is this new piece of ass you’re banging?” Hunter watched in stunned disbelief as Tony took another piece of calamari and shoved it into his mouth. Unsure how to answer, Hunter grabbed his wine, shot Tony a look that he hoped he would read as—back off or at the very least—NOT HERE! But the overgrown buffoon who had yet to mature to his age still didn’t get his silent message and opened his mouth again. This time when he spoke, his words coincided with one of those awkward moments when everyone else suddenly became quiet. The only thing anyone heard was Tony saying, “Come on, Hunter, none of this don’t kiss, don’t tell shit. Hell, I stopped by your office Tuesday and heard her yelling.

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Unless God Almighty has suddenly taken up working in your office, I’m pretty sure you’re the one she was begging…” “Anthony Robert Sherman,” Mrs. Sherman snapped in disgust. Hunter closed his eyes and tried not to look at J.C. He could feel his anger starting to boil and for the first time in his life, he wanted to punch Tony’s lights out. He didn’t care if Tony was rude to him. This was typical Tony, it was a game to him. Tony wore the rude crude jock persona like a shield. A shield that only Hunter knew was as false as his carefree attitude. Tony knew Hunter wouldn’t talk. Hunter never talked. Hunter always blew it off before, but he couldn’t do that now. A left hook to Tony’s jaw would raise more questions than he could answer. After Tony’s little announcement, now was not the time to announce that J.C. and he were an item. “I think I need a cigar,” Joseph Sherman announced getting to his feet. Hunter watched him casually place his hand on his wife’s shoulder and squeeze before turning his attention on Hunter. “Hunter, would you care to join me, son?” “Yes, sir,” Hunter threw down his napkin and cast a quick look at J.C. who frantically whispered something to her mother. The two women’s heads bent into one another in secret communication. Hunter shot a look of disgust at Tony, who for once looked contrite, though Trent next to him was finding it hard not to laugh. Hunter was just about to leave the room when he noticed Lucas looking at J.C. with a determined look. “Do you need to let your bodyguards know where you’re going?” Joseph asked once they were out of hearing from the family. “I suppose that depends if you are going to dump me in the harbor.” Joseph humphed but said no more until they were outside and walking along the wharf toward the aquarium. He stoked up his cigar and stared at it before looking at Hunter. “When I gave you permission to see my daughter, it wasn’t in the nude.” “Sir, with all due respect…”

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Joseph waved Hunter’s comments away with a flick of his hand. “Yes, I know she’s a divorced woman, but she’s still my little girl and hearing Tony tell the family what you are doing to her in your office with no more respect than you would have a mistress I…” “Now wait a minute! I admit my office was not the place, and I won’t insult you by telling you who started it, but I do respect your daughter. There’s only one woman in this world that I respect more and that’s your wife.” Joseph seemed to contemplate that for a minute. He puffed on his cigar then stared as the red embers faded to grey ash. “Then why the secrecy?” “Joseph, you agreed with J.C. about the secrecy.” “That was for her safety.” “At first, it’s what we both wanted. Then I wanted it kept quiet because I feared for her safety. Now it’s because that’s the way J.C. wants it. I’m ready to scream to the top of the world and tell everyone I love her. But those damn sons of yours won’t let her grow up.” Joseph stopped walking as he laid his hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “You really love her?” “I really love her.” Hunter watched as Joseph struggled with his fatherly duties, and it was then Hunter knew what he wanted. “I want to marry her.” “Are you asking me for my permission?” “I suppose I am.” Joseph’s eyes lit up and he pulled Hunter in for a fatherly hug. “Nothing would make me prouder than to have you as my son-in-law.” “Hold on, I haven’t talked to J.C. about it. I’m not even sure how she feels. But, I want you to know that I wasn’t just using her. I’m very serious about her. I want our future to be together.” “I believe you, son.” Joseph placed his hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “I don’t suppose you would humor an old man and stop sleeping with her?”

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Hunter looked at Joseph with skeptical eyes, even if he agreed, which he couldn’t, J.C. would never stand for it. He knew better than to think he could tell J.C. no more sex. Good Lord, if she asked him to join her in the bathroom of the restaurant right now, he would. And, she wasn’t even wearing a garter belt. “No, I didn’t think so. Perhaps then you could delay your screaming to the world your love until they’ve caught the lunatic who is after you?” “You have my word. I’ll do all in my power to keep her safe.” “I just hope those FBI men can keep you safe then.”

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Chapter Thirteen “I am not the only one who is going to take issue with your relationship.” Lucas to Hunter. Cream, cream and more cream. Hunter stepped out of the shower and onto the plush, cream bathmat, grabbed the cream towel and picked up his comb from the cream counter top. Cream was starting to get to him after spending nearly six weeks in the hotel suite; he was longing for something homier. He dried himself off and wrapped a towel around his hips, not much use in getting dressed when J.C. was due here any moment. Grabbing his wristwatch off the marble counter where he had placed it, he looked at the time. She was actually due in ten minutes. Of course, on J.C. time, that meant the woman was always either early or late and never on time. He chuckled to himself, and as he wiped the mist from the glass mirror, he debated about shaving again. A rap at the door took his attention away from his five o’clock shadow. Strolling to the door, he found himself mumbling about J.C. forgetting her key card again. Hunter threw open the door saying, “You’re early, did you forget your key?” “Didn’t know I was expected,” Lucas said, pushing past Hunter into the living area of the suite. “Do you always greet guests dressed in a towel?” 101

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Hunter looked out into the hallway toward the elevator once more before closing the door behind him. He looked at Lucas, surveying the man carefully. Tonight Lucas looked like a caged beast ready to explode. This was not exactly a new look, since he and his girlfriend of three years called it quits, but there was something distinctly dangerous about Lucas tonight. As if something made him crack. “Give me a second to slip into something less comfortable so we can chat.” “Chat…ha.” “Help yourself to the bar. You look like you need it,” Hunter said over his shoulder as he entered the bedroom. Thinking it safer under the circumstances, Hunter left the door ajar while he slipped into a pair of designer jeans. “So what brings you here that you couldn’t have said to me at Legal Sea Foods two hours ago?” “Jacinda.” Hunter stopped cold, his hand on the button of his jeans. How to handle this one? Taking a deep breath, he finished buttoning his jeans, not bothering with shoes. He found Lucas nursing what looked to be straight whisky. Pulling a Red Sox tee shirt over his head he said, “What has J.C. done now?” Lucas looked over the rim of this glass. “Apparently she’s been doing you.” Without skipping a beat, Hunter asked, “And why would you think that?” “Don’t, Hunter, just don’t.” Lucas slammed his glass down on the nearest table. “My brothers may be idiots with their heads in the sand, my parents blissfully ignorant, but I’m very good at putting pieces together. There is something definitely going on here, given the appalled glance you gave Jacinda, even as slight as it was, and the color that drained from her face. It can only mean one of two things: One, she was the woman you were banging in your office as Tony so delicately pointed out. Or two, you have banged her in the past and this other lady was a bit on the side.” “I think perhaps it’s time you left, Lucas, before you insult anyone else.” “No, if I am correct, Jacinda is the woman you are waiting for. In which case, I want to beat you to a bloody pulp.”

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“I think it’s the going theme these days.” Hunter crossed the room to get a stiff drink, cursing to himself. This was the reason he repeatedly asked J.C. to tell her brothers. Lucas followed Hunter and rounded him until the two were eye to eye. “If it’s not Jacinda, and you’ve broken her heart, I may very well kill you.” “It’s good to see you have thought this out,” Hunter said, unaffected by the fire in Lucas’ blue eyes. Lucas, though insulting, was genuinely concerned for J.C.’s welfare. Who could fault the man for caring about his sister? J.C. was a grown woman, and her brothers needed to, once and for all, see that. “Lucas, I really think it’s time you left.” “Hunter, why her?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Christ, Hunter, stop playing dumb. Why Jacinda? Of all the women in Boston, why did you have to pick my baby sister?” Something new entered into Lucas’ voice which Hunter couldn’t quite pinpoint. “You’re like a brother to us all.” “She never thought of me in a brother-like manner.” “So, you admit it?” “No, I’m just pointing out that not all of you are on the same page.” Hunter watched Lucas’ shoulders relax as if he was satisfied with the statement. All hell was about to break loose, especially if he didn’t get Lucas out of the suite. He crossed the room, stopping at the door, knowing he needed to give Lucas the boot. He’d just opened the door when J.C. came in. She threw her arms around his neck and landed a kiss smack dab on his lips. “Anxious are you?” she purred, moving her hand over his taunt back. Her hands stopping as she reached his jean-clad bottom. “Why did you bother putting these on?” Hunter had just enough sense to pick J.C. up bodily and put her away from him. Lucas’s expression went from shock to anger and then he came at him with fist clenched. “You son of a bitch, I knew it.” Hunter reacted with the skill of a man who had spent his boyhood on the streets avoiding getting his nose broken. J.C.’s screams of distress filled his head but he

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concentrated on his defensive moves. He wasn’t about to punch Lucas back if he could help it, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to let him kick his ass either. “Lucas, stop! I understand how you feel but…Christ man.” Hunter tried to maneuver around the furniture. “You slapped my parents in the face.” “They know, Lucas,” J.C. yelled. “Mom and Dad know about Hunter and me.” Lucas stopped and stared at Hunter then back at J.C., he seemed to relax, but his fist still clenched at his side. “How long have they known?” Hunter managed to make it back to J.C.’s side and put his arm around her shaking form. “Since the start.” J.C. nodded and Lucas looked dumbstruck, not certain where his footing lay. Hunter could understand the feeling. He was relieved that at least one brother finally knew the truth. Perhaps that meant they could finally tell the others and get this whole thing out in the open. He knew he needed one-on-one confrontations with each of the brothers, as he doubted he could take on the three remaining brothers all at once. Two maybe, three doubtful. “They know about this? That you are sleeping together?” “Well, they do now, after Tony’s little announcement,” J.C. said angrily. Hunter kissed her head and looked out the window. His eyes focused on the skyline of Boston, he needed to direct his focus somewhere, anywhere but on the conversation that had happened at dinner. His anger was still potent. Lucas hissed as if remembering what had made him so angry to begin with and the next thing Hunter knew his jaw exploded with pain and he hit the wall behind him hard. He shook his head to shake off the sudden fog that appeared before his eyes. He could hear J.C. screaming over the buzzing in his ears, but he was having a hard time understanding the gist of it. The feeling was becoming all too familiar to Hunter. Then suddenly the room cleared and he could hear again. He pulled J.C. into his arms muffling her screams against his chest. “Shhh, I suddenly have a headache.” He could feel her shaking in his arms and in a second the shaking turned from shakes of

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anger into full out sobs. Hunter pulled her more closely into his protective arms. He didn’t know what was worse, the ache in his head, or the ache deep in his chest at hearing J.C. cry. “Do you see now why I wanted to keep this a secret?” she sobbed against his chest. He hated this, hated her tears, hated that their relationship was causing her such distress. With a scowl at Lucas, he noticed her brother was a strange combination of pale skin and relaxed posture. His hands no longer clenched, but fell loosely at his side. He looked at Hunter and started to say something but stopped. Hunter looked past him at the large mirror on the back wall and saw what Lucas must have seen. J.C. was buried into Hunter’s protective embrace as deep as she could get, her hands clutching his bare arms. His arm wrapped protectively around her waist, his other arm wrapped around her back up to her head, which he held against him lovingly. His head lay comfortingly atop of hers. What struck him for the first time was that they fit. Like two pieces of a puzzle—they fit together perfectly. As if they had been made for each other, although, Lucas may not want to admit it. Hunter knew the truth. He knew whom he needed and whom he belonged with, but he still hadn’t told J.C. all of this, and he was damned if he would do it now with Lucas in the room. She deserved better. She deserved him. **** J.C. let Hunter hold her, allowing her to feel safe. He should hate her. Hunter only just recovered from one beating to have another one doled out by her ape-like brother. Lucas was the smart one, the calm one. He was the one who thought things out logically and never allowed his emotions to rule him. He still hauled off and sucker punched Hunter. The thought brought another sob to her throat. She felt Hunter’s arms tighten around her, pulling her closer, as if he could bring her into his body. If only he

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could. His hand played gently with her hair on the nape of her neck, helping to relieve some of the tension that had built up in her. If this was how Lucas was going to react, then heaven help them both when they confronted the rest of the brothers. Why did everything in her life have to be so damned complicated and difficult? Why couldn’t just one relationship be easy? They merely handed her over to Dave, and he turned out to be the creep of all men. What kind of treatment did Hunter get? He got a left hook to the jaw. And they liked Hunter. “I want you to leave,” she heard Hunter say. She could feel his deep voice rumble deep inside of him. “Now!” “I’m not the only one who is going to take issue with your relationship.” J.C. pulled out of Hunter’s embrace and turned to her brother, rage showing in her teary eyes. “What right have any of you to take issue about anything I do? If I want to bang half of Boston, it’s my life not yours! You are all a bunch a hypocrites.” “J.C., I would take issue with you banging half of Boston,” Hunter said, putting one hand around her waist. “But he’s right, your other brothers are going to feel betrayed. And the betrayal is mine, am I right, Lucas?” “Damn straight.” “Look at us together, really take a good look. Do you still feel like I’m betraying you?” Hunter never once took his hand off J.C.’s waist. He waited and Lucas finally shook his head. “Then let me ask you to keep this to yourself for a few more weeks. J.C. wants this kept a secret. I would prefer if it were out in the open. But her wishes have to come before mine.” “Mom and Dad know.” “Why do you think I was invited out for a smoke at dinner?” “He used to be a doctor.” Lucas shrugged then pinned another angry look on Hunter. “I figured honestly he wanted to talk to you about the possibility of STD’s.” Hunter looked at Lucas with disdain. J.C. almost laughed, but didn’t. “Your dad just wanted to clear some things up.”

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“Like why you’re banging his baby girl in your office?” Hunter moved past J.C. with the agility of a panther, his hand went to Lucas’ throat. “I have heard all the insults I am going to take from you tonight, Lucas. I have never banged your sister. Do not degrade what I feel for her or what her feelings for me are on the basis of what the Sherman brother’s think is sport. I have far more respect for her than obviously any of you do.” Lucas sputtered and tried to remove Hunter’s hand from his throat. J.C. knew that Lucas’ rich boy fighting style was no match for Hunter’s street brawn. She placed her hand gently on Hunter’s extended arm and softened her voice. “I think you made your point Sir Galahad. My honor is in place.” Hunter released him and stormed from the room. “He needs to be gone when I come back,” he said just before slamming the door to the bedroom. “I hope you achieved what you came here for, brother of mine.” J.C. walked to the mini-bar and pulled out a bottle of water. “I’m not really sure now what I came here to achieve.” J.C. took a big gulp and tried to calm herself down. “Look at your behavior tonight. Is it any wonder I didn’t want to tell any of you about my budding relationship with Hunter? Would you have been any happier to watch it unfold before your eyes?” Lucas walked to the window and pulled back the curtain to look at the lights of Boston. After a moment, he dropped the curtain and looked at J.C., somewhat wary and contrite. “I lost my head. I apologize, but after Dave, we’re all a little concerned about your choice in men.” “That’s even more insulting than the other comments you’ve made this evening. Not to mention the fact that it is completely offensive to Hunter. How dare you even put Dave in the same category with Hunter?” Just thinking about her ex-husband was enough to send a shiver of disgust down her spine. J.C. moved to the front door and threw it open. “Your choice in women isn’t exactly stellar. You can leave now.” “But…”

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“No buts. Of all my brothers, I expected better of you. He’s an honorable man. It’s a shame that for a moment you’ve forgotten how much you’ve always admired and liked him. You’ve also forgotten that what you think doesn’t really matter to me. I love him.” “Does he love you?” The words seemed to come very quickly from Lucas’s mouth. She understood his mocking disbelief. But she wasn’t going to lie to him and declare that he worshipped the ground she walked on. Because no one would believe any woman could bring Hunter that low. Instead, she opted for the simple truth. “He says he does.” Lucas looked at her skeptically. “Has he said those words? Has he looked you in the eyes and said ‘Jacinda, I love you?’” “No. He has looked me in the eyes and said ‘J.C., I love you.’” J.C. watched as a look of stunned disbelief came over her brother. He seemed speechless. Finally, Lucas headed through the open door and turned toward J.C. once more before leaving. “Then he must love you.” Lucas kissed her cheek softly. “Remember, I love you, too.” “I know you do. If you ever want me to speak to you again, you won’t mention this to another soul.” “Except Mom and Dad.” “Yes, except them.” She smiled at her brother and watched him enter the elevator. She was just about to close the door to the hall when Agent Vassar discreetly cleared his throat. He was standing, as always, out in the open but somehow unobtrusive, and she hadn’t seen him there at all. “Good Evening, Agent Vassar.” “Evening, Ms. Sherman. I thought Mr. Brooks might need this.” The agent held a bucket of ice in his hand. “Indeed, I thought your job was to protect him.” “Only from others, never from himself.”

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J.C. grabbed the bucket of ice from the agent then promptly slammed the door in his face. Didn’t he see the problems he caused? He should have stopped Lucas from entering. J.C. stepped inside the bedroom and found it empty. Walking into bathroom, she found Hunter leaning over the sink with a washcloth over his face. Obviously, he was trying to cool down. She could see his muscles were knotted and tight. Still bent over, he gazed at J.C. “So when should I expect the rest of the Sherman tanks to arrive?” “I’m so mad at him, I could scream.” J.C. grabbed a towel and filled it with ice. “Here, put this on your jaw.” Hunter waved it away. “I’ve been dealt far worse.” J.C. turned him around and placed the towel on his jaw herself. “I know, now will you stop with the macho stuff and let me take care of you?” “J.C., Lucas took me off guard more than he actually did any damage.” He pushed the ice pack away and leaned his head toward her. His breath ticked her skin. “But I’d love it if you would take care of me.” His hand led hers to his groin. She could feel him leap to attention under her touch. He took her mouth with his, pushing her gently from the bathroom and into the bedroom. When her legs met the back of the bed, she allowed herself to sink onto it. His lips never broke contact with hers. She wrestled a moment with his jean zipper. He so rarely wore zipper flies that she was unable to deal with his mouth and his zipper at the same time. “Undo this,” she murmured against his mouth. “With pleasure.” Hunter slowly undid the zipper on his fly and pulled the jeans down his tight thighs and his calves until he could kick them off. “Now you,” he murmured, lowering the zipper of her dress until it reached her lower back. She shivered as he ran a finger under her thong. “How much time do we have?” “Unless you have something more urgent tonight, all night.” She shimmied off the bed just enough to allow the blue dress she had been wearing to float to the floor.

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Hunter backed away and groaned. She wore nothing else except a blue silk thong and a blue silk strapless bra to match. “Perfection, there is not another word for you.” His lips brushed the swells of her breasts and his fingers ran lightly over the cleavage. “When are your brothers going to be here?” “Should I be concerned that while I stand here offering you ‘Carte blanche’ with my body that your mind is on them?” Hunter pulled her into his arms, devouring her with his lips. He lowered them gently onto the bed, pressing his body into hers so she knew his body was definitely thinking of her. “I just want to know if I should make love to you long and sweet or hard and quick.” “That is up to you. Lucas isn’t going to say a word.” A glitter entered Hunter’s eyes. “Good, then I can have you both ways.” Hunter knees spread her thighs. This time would be fast—they had all night for slow.

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Chapter Fourteen “I hope you ordered something edible.” Hunter to J.C. J.C. knew all good things came to an end. She also knew her relationship with Hunter was one of those good things. So why did she feel devastated this morning when he looked at her over breakfast and told her the final contracts had been signed and his business in Boston would be wrapping up by Tuesday? She plastered a smile on her face she hoped was convincing and forced the bagel down her throat. He was heading back to New York on Wednesday morning. She’d made some asinine remark about how pleased he must be at the thought of sleeping in his own bed again, and the jerk agreed. He went on and on that the FBI felt certain that the threat was over. One angry letter arrived a few weeks ago, a couple of days after the disastrous dinner at Legal Sea Foods, but they hadn’t been able to tie it in with the assault and the bombing. Hunter was free of the FBI and about to be free of her too. He was taking her somewhere special he’d said. Sardonically, she thought it felt like a prisoner on death row receiving his last meal. It’s delicious, but tinged with the knowledge that it’s your last meal, so it never quite tasted as good as it should. And that was how J.C. felt. Hunter was making this very romantic gesture and rented a 111

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luxurious limo for the trip, even though J.C. had her own car parked in a garage in the city. Although he was reading papers for work, some new project he was working on, his hand never strayed from her thigh. Not two words were spoken between them since the limo arrived. He hadn’t looked at her since he picked up his papers. J.C. worried her bottom lip between her teeth. This was making her crazy. Why the long, drawn-out, romantic getaway if they were going to call it quits? She turned up the air; suddenly the stretch limo seemed very small and confining. Still not even a glance, damn him. The silence was killing her, and it had only taken the first hour of the trip for her to flip through the two magazines. When they stopped for lunch, she would make him pick up more. She shifted a bit in her seat before finally pouring herself a glass of wine. “Can I get you something to drink?” J.C. could not keep up the present unnerving silence. “No, I’m fine.” Hunter flipped the page of the proposal. “You sure? There’s soda, wine, water.” “No, really, I’m fine.” J.C. knew how to take a hint. Grabbing the bottle of wine, she poured herself a second glass and watched the Connecticut scenery pass by. She reached for the wine bottle about to pour herself another when Hunter finally looked up just enough to spy the empty glass. “Don’t drink too much. I want you to remember today.” She humphed and placed the wine back in the bar. How could she forget the last night that she was with Hunter? She watched him for a few minutes, thinking back to the evening before. They made love on the floor in front of the television after watching some romantic comedy she had convinced him to watch. Thinking back, although he was gentle and loving, he never actually said the words. He hadn’t said he loved her last night. In fact, he hadn’t said he had loved her in days, and now she wondered if perhaps it wasn’t weeks, certainly not since he returned from a business trip to New York. How

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had she missed that? He wanted to hear her tell him, last night he had been adamant about it. ‘Tell me,’ he’d demanded as his hands brought her to the brink of heaven then his mouth sent her over. ‘Tell me, you love me.’ Of course, she had. Yet, he hadn’t returned the words. Perhaps she’d been reading too much into what he said. Maybe he was regretting saying those words or he was having second thoughts. J.C. was tired of all this second-guessing. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, unconsciously moving away from Hunter at the same time. He was managing to unearth all those deeply hidden and buried insecurities she’d spent a great deal of time, not to mention money, hiding from herself. J.C. was unaware she was biting her thumbnail until she felt Hunter’s large hand wrap around hers and pull it toward his lips. For the first time, his deep walnut eyes met hers, but unlike hers, his seemed confident, secure, and oddly devoid of any emotion. Why shouldn’t he be unemotional, after all? It wasn’t as if he had been in love with her for the last decade. “Everything all right?” He placed his folder next to him on the seat. “I’ve been a lousy host. I’ve completely ignored you for the last hour.” Or two, but who’s counting? J.C. pulled her hand from his. The sudden lack of warmth his hand provided caused a shiver of dread to go up her back. “You have commitments, I understand that,” she said in a voice she was surprised didn’t crack or wobble. She only hoped her smile was as non-committal. Hunter reached forward, cupping her cheek, and kissed her gently on the forehead. “You’re the best,” he declared before turning back to pick up the discarded folder at his side. J.C. was ready to scream! Were all men this dense or was she just the unlucky one to saddle herself with one after another? She was sure she must have done something in her past life to punish her thus. Fuming, she refilled her wine glass and sipped it, determined to block out the infuriating man to her side.

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By the time they stopped for lunch at a little restaurant, J.C. was ready to hitchhike back to Boston if it meant she could be out of range of Hunter. In the past hour, not only had he ignored her, but he spent the entire time on the phone with his people in New York. At one point, emphasizing the need to make sure the New York apartment had been aired and was ready for his return. She entered the restaurant on her own, not willing to wait a minute more for Hunter to finish his conversation. The very conversation that only emphasized that he was leaving. The insensitive oaf. J.C. just finished ordering herself a veggie wrap when Hunter came in, flashed a smile at the server, and asked the cute, petite waitress-from-hell, to order him whatever J.C. had ordered. The server actually had the gall to flirt with Hunter right there under J.C.’s nose. Enough was enough. “I hope you ordered something edible.” He took the seat next to her. “I hope you choke on it,” J.C. murmured under her breath. Hunter looked at her with concern etching his brow but said nothing as he placed his napkin in his lap. He did, however, turn off his cell phone seconds later when it rang. Still, he remained silently patient, waiting for J.C. to say something. She would rather eat the tablecloth then speak to him. The silence continued until their food arrived. J.C. smirked when the waitress placed the veggie wrap in front of Hunter. She expected an outburst on how he wasn’t going to eat rabbit food. That is, after all, what any of her brothers would have stated. All four of them would have been demanding real food, meat and potatoes, or at least asked who forgot to put the meat in the wrap. The server leaned over the table between the two of them and asked in a husky voice if everything was to Hunter’s liking. J.C. supposed that Suzy was offering herself as the special of the day. Her breasts were the first course. If she pulled her waitress uniform top any lower, the man sitting at the booth across from them could have probably seen all the way to her toes.

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J.C. was ready to scream, but all the fire left her sails when Hunter said in a dismissive voice, “This looks just fine.” Not once did his eyes glance at the busty treat in front of him. “If we need anything, we’ll be sure to let you know.” Without looking again at the voluptuous redhead, he bit into his veggie wrap with vigor. “Mmm, very good,” he managed between bites. J.C. found herself smiling despite herself. “Glad you like it.” “Are you sure? I didn’t quite manage to choke on it yet. I could try though, if you want, to put the last few bites of it in my mouth all at once.” He smirked at her. Hunter knew how to make her melt and all it took was that crooked grin of his. That smile where the left side of his mouth curved into a smile soon followed by the right. “That won’t be necessary.” “Come on, this is the last chance you get.” He brought the wrap to his mouth. When she didn’t answer, he took another bite. Making a show of chewing until a giggle passed J.C.’s lips. He then surprised her by leaning forward to place a soft kiss on her lips. “So, are you going to tell me where we are heading?” “Soon. Not quite yet.” He grabbed one of the carrot sticks off her plate and snapped it with his teeth. J.C. leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “You are so sure that I will like this surprise, are you?” Hunter smiled widely. He picked up his chair and moved it closer to her seat. He sat again with his legs on either side of her. “Oh, if you don’t like this surprise then I know nothing at all about you Shermans. And let me assure you, I know quite a lot about the Shermans.” Hunter’s hand reached between the chair and her body to rest on her lower back just above her bottom, his fingers gently played along her spine, sending excitable messages throughout her body. Almost immediately, her body hummed with expectation. His lips grazed the bare skin at the base of her neck, making goose bumps

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of excitement break out across her skin. He barely touched her and her skin came alive. She was in need of so much more. She ached for him. “As I said, I know the Shermans very well. Of course, I know some better than others.” He leaned back with a smug look that made J.C. want to slap his face. “Beast,” J.C. said through clenched teeth. She stood up, wanting to make a grand exit, leaving him alone at the table to pay the bill. Sadly, as she stood her knees were weaker than she figured. She stumbled. Immediately Hunter’s hands steadied her. “Oh, shut up.” “I wasn’t going to say a word.” His dimples deepened as his lips twitched. J.C. left, but without the grace and determination she’d hoped for. Instead she nearly ran. She was in need of fresh air or she might have jumped him right there in the restaurant and that was so unfair. Here she had been so angry, or at least she had been half an hour ago, but with a charming smile and some witty flirting he’d made her forget everything but the pleasure of being with him. She leaned against the limo, putting her head into her hands, trying to rub away the tension she felt behind her eyes. She doubted herself around every turn. One minute she was certain they were ending. The next she was certain they would be together for a long time to come. Unfortunately, she was too much of a chicken to just come out and ask. She wasn’t even certain now if he was sending mixed signals or if she was just letting her mind run away with things. Weren’t there any number of reasons for his unwillingness to look her in the eye? Suddenly she felt the whole cycle start again. She heard his footsteps across the gravel, his arms pinned her in place as they lay on either side of her. His breath warmed the hair next to her ear, and then she felt him place a kiss against her head. “Whatever it is, Jacinda, it’s not what you think.” “Are you sure?” she asked in a small, almost childlike, voice. She wasn’t able to look up at him for fear of what he might say. “I am.” He opened the door to the limo and helped her in. “Come on or we are going to be late.”

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An hour later, J.C. looked up at Hunter in amazement. “Are we going where I think we are?” Hunter handed her the package at his feet. “Open it and see for yourself.” J.C. grabbed the bag much like a kid on Christmas Day. She opened it and squealed, pulling out a colorful bar wench blouse. Then she pulled out her cheeseburger Mardi Gras beads and threw herself at Hunter. “We’re going to see Buffett?” “See? I told you I knew a bit about the Shermans.” He ran his fingers through her hair so he could deepen their kiss. “Now, you’d better get changed. You may be dressed for the Hamptons but not for tailgating.” By the time J.C. followed Hunter from the VIP section of the stadium and into their seats, she was certain that no day could get any better. J.C. had been unaware that Lucas and Hunter had spoken since that ugly night at Hunter’s hotel. Listening to Hunter talk, she soon realized that the two obviously met one night and worked things out. Hell, if Lucas was giving out the Sherman secrets of tailgating, then they had done more than mend a few bridges. The complete bar in the trunk and the leis to hand out had both been nice touches. It was learning that J.C.’s mother had snuck into her apartment and did a search and seizure of her Buffett uniform that most surprised her. It was usually very difficult to pull one over on J.C., yet four people whom she considered close to her all had. So here she stood in a pair of shorts, sandals, colorful wench blouse that was off the shoulders, her beads lying between her breasts and all she could think about was getting the man next to her naked, in thanks for a wonderful day. Hell the concert hadn’t even started yet. She looked over at him in his loud blue and red Hawaiian shirt, and knew she would follow him to the ends of the earth, if only he would ask her to. The amphitheatre came alive with excitement as well as thousands of beach balls. Then Jimmy Buffett hit the stage and all hell broke loose. When the song Brown Eyed Girl played, Hunter moved behind her, and sang softly in her ear. Although he might not have had the best voice in the world, he wasn’t tone deaf either. All the same, J.C. thought it the sweetest sound she had ever heard. She

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hugged the arms he had wrapped around her as they swayed to the music. Then when the second verse started, she felt him place something cold on the third finger of her left hand. It took a moment for J.C.’s befuddled brain to start working again. She gazed at the gorgeous, two carat, princess-cut, antique-style, engagement ring. She brought her right hand to her mouth then turned around to see Hunter going down on one knee before her. As she looked down at him, she knew why he hadn’t been able to look her in the eye. His eyes showed every one of his emotions in their deep chocolate recesses. She saw the love he had for her glowing brighter than the spotlights on the stage, but there was also the underlying insecurity that she might not accept his very public proposal. Didn’t the man know anything? She didn’t hear him actually propose, and it didn’t matter. She was nodding furiously and within a second, Hunter was on his feet and she was in his arms. All she could hear as he kissed her was the beating of her heart against his.

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Chapter Fifteen “I am warning you now, if you say anything that might remotely be degrading, I may have to punch you.” Hunter to Tony. Labor Day, time again for the annual clambake at the Sherman’s Martha Vineyard house, and Hunter was at the end of his tether. J.C. was still determined to keep their relationship a secret. Obviously her parents and Lucas knew, but they were the only ones. She was going to make him mental. If it wasn’t bad enough, he recently returned to Manhattan without her, her new determination to keep the engagement from the brothers was the icing on the cake. What was the use of buying a giant rock to say ‘This girl’s taken’ if she wouldn’t wear it except at home? She’d been unable to come for a visit the two weekends since he’d moved, claiming she had too much to do to get the wedding done in the amount of time it was going to take. Hunter suspected if she wasn’t trying to work under a veil of secrecy that things wouldn’t take so much time. Then tonight, he arrived at the house early to find J.C. with Trent and Tony. So much for a quick clandestine meeting with the woman he loved. Unable to do what he wanted to do, throw her over his shoulder and ravish her in the nearest private room, 119

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he settled for a lot of grunting and growling. He didn’t dare even touch her for fear he might actually go up in flames. Tony finally said he couldn’t take any more of Hunter’s brooding and dragged him bodily down to the Boathouse Bar for a beer. They moved through the crowd of people toward the bar, the bar scene was exactly where Hunter didn’t want to be. The closest thing the island had to a singles bar and Tony felt the need to bring him here. Leaning over the bar, Hunter turned his back on the room, making it known through very definite body language that he clearly was not interested in anyone’s come-ons or pick-up lines. His posture and stance clearly said keep away. There was nothing welcoming about Hunter tonight. A signal he only wished Tony would notice. He didn’t. Instead, Tony babbled on insistently about this blonde then that brunette. Hunter finally suggested he go over and introduce himself. No such luck, Tony shook his head, turned his body much like Hunter’s, and looked him straight in the eyes. “So what the hell is going on?” Hunter didn’t pretend not to understand the question. “I can’t talk about it.” “Well, you obviously need to talk about it, or why would you have come out to see the ‘Nosy Shermans’ this weekend? Come on, Hunter. You’ve been to four family events in as many months; something is up.” Hunter figured he didn’t have anything to lose by talking to Tony providing he kept J.C.’s name out of it. Perhaps it would ease some of the guilt he was feeling at having to keep his best friend in the dark. “Have you ever had a woman who just flat out didn’t want anyone to know you were a couple?” “Are you kidding me? That’s my ideal date.” “Yeah, mine too, at first.” Hunter downed his Sam Adams and ordered another. “But I’m sick of the sneaking around. Trust me it gets old real quick.” “Christ man, you have it bad.” “The worst,” he agreed.

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Tony turned around so his elbows now supported him against the bar and he could scan the people as they mingled by. “Do you…love her?” “Yes.” Hunter took another gulp of beer. He wasn’t used to telling anyone how he felt, except perhaps Elaine. Opening up to Tony was difficult, though probably easier than it would have been with anyone else, but he had a feeling it was essential. At least when the cat was out of the bag Hunter could look back on this conversation and say he tried. “You do know her, but I can’t tell you who she is. I promised her I would keep her identity a secret especially from you.” “Especially from me, eh? Okay, that effectively shut down my questions.” Tony stayed remarkably quiet. Hunter wasn’t certain if Tony’s over-sexed brain, which was brilliant at deductions when he put his mind to it, was finally putting all the clues together or if he was just plain baffled that his best friend had fallen so hard. “So is this the office girl?” “Tony, I am warning you now, if you say anything that might remotely be degrading, I may have to punch you.” Tony’s smirk widened. “Gotcha, so it is an office girl.” Hunter wisely remained quiet, and it was killing him. Here was the man who should be preparing to be the best man at his wedding, and he couldn’t tell him anything, not that he had become engaged, especially not that it was his sister. All because J.C. had managed to cause Hunter, a man with infinite patience and intelligence, to lose all control and hand it all over to her. When had that happened? Hunter looked around the bar and although Tony was good company, Hunter was not and he wasn’t about to say something to hurt either his relationship with Tony or J.C. He knew it would be best to take his leave. He placed his empty bottle on the bar, threw down a tip then made his excuses. “Hold on. I’ll run you back up to the house.” “No, I’m staying at the bed and breakfast in town.” “I still don’t understand the need to stay in town. We could have made room for you at the house.”

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Hunter took a deep breath just barely preventing himself from saying, ‘Mainly because if I were under the same roof with J.C., after two weeks of not seeing her, no one would be getting any sleep that night.’ Instead, he went with, “I didn’t want to put anyone out. Lord knows there are enough people bunking up in that house right now as it is.” “Oh please, you just wanted to be away from the insanity,” Tony threw over his shoulder, “Well, get out of here. I suspect Mom and Dad will want to see you bright and early for breakfast.” “And you, will you be up bright and early for breakfast?” “You must be joking.” Tony laughed with the underlying hint of disgust in his voice. “I’m no longer the golden boy. You, however, are. At this point you seem to walk on water where they are concerned.” “Only because they see me on my best behavior.” “Yeah, unlike me, who knows what a dog you really are.” Tony clapped Hunter on the shoulder, all the while laying on the Sherman charm and smile to the group of ladies in the corner. Hunter chuckled and mumbled to himself, “You have no idea.” As the women in the bar started to make their move toward the two men, Hunter said his goodbyes. He walked slowly away from the docks where all the yachts were anchored, back onto the main street and toward his bed and breakfast. After all, he wasn’t in that big a hurry to climb into his empty bed at the inn. With his hands shoved deep in his pockets, Hunter thought out every strategy there was to get to J.C. tonight and short of climbing the ivy up to her room, on the third floor of the house, and drugging the young Sherman cousin sleeping on the floor, there weren’t a lot more options. Sneaking into the cottage in Maine had been significantly easier. Nothing of any sense came to him. Hunter walked into the eerily quiet bed and breakfast. The whole B and B scene was something new to him. Early in his career, things had been tight. He knew the Shermans would’ve helped him set up his business, but it was important to Hunter to

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know he had done it on his own. He needed to prove the detention hall guards wrong. They taunted him as a child that he wouldn’t amount to anything but a burden to society. Had it not been for some amazing teachers in high school and Elaine, he wouldn’t have succeeded either. Succeed he had, a little bit at a time. Right out of college, if he had to pay for a hotel himself, he would sleep in his rental car and find a truck stop to bathe at. Later, when he had enough to live on, motels seemed a good bet. Then when the money started coming in, it was five star hotels. The kind of hotels he turned the dumps he bought into. This cozy family-like inn was a complete shock to his system. The man behind the front desk smiled, while he yawned, and placed his hat over his head to catch a few minutes of sleep. After having the FBI at his back for so long, the cavalier attitude of the islanders was a pleasant change. Removing the room key from his pocket, he slid it into the lock, no key cards here. Just an old key with a large diamond shaped key chain. Hearing the lock give way, Hunter let himself into his room on the second floor. He didn’t bother with the lights, just pulled his shirt up and over his head. His eyes adjusted by small degrees to the dark room and he tossed his shirt onto the chair silhouetted in the corner. He was just turning toward the bathroom, when someone came through the bathroom door. Hunter moved swiftly and had the person on their back with his knee at their throat before they knew what hit them. Only when he heard his intruder yelp did he back off. “Jacinda?” “I didn’t think you meant it literally when you said you were going to throw me to the ground and have your way with me.” She panted, short of breath, coming up on her elbows. Hunter reached over to the wall and felt around until he located the light switch. “I could have seriously hurt you.” He growled in frustration, but helped her up and was about to blast her for her foolishness. Instead, her lips met his.

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For a minute, Hunter relished the feel of her body as it melted into his, the soft curves against his harder angles. His hands snaked around her waist pulling her tightly against him. His body needing to have her, he would devour her if he could. Pulling back suddenly he grunted. “We need to talk.” “Later.” “Much later,” Hunter agreed. “Maybe tomorrow later?” “Less talking.” “More kissing.” J.C.’s sentence barely passed her lips as Hunter lowered her ever so gently on the large queen size bed. His big body covered hers and his lips took hers in desperate need. He momentarily straddled her before ever so gently easing himself down and over her with sleek grace. His body partially covered hers. J.C. whimpered when his hand parted the robe she was wearing, and fondled her breasts. J.C. arched into his hand wanting more. Never able to say no to her, Hunter lowered his mouth over her nipple, reveling in her every reaction. “You look far better in my robe than I do,” Hunter murmured against her breast. “Well that’s a matter of o, op, opinion.” She shuddered as his teeth grazed the erect nipple. Hunter knew this woman’s body so well. He knew her sensitive spots and knew what brought her to the edge, in bed anyway. Here, he was in control. Here he knew the rules and how to break them. Here he was the master. But once they got out of bed, she had all the control. That still scared him. She had the power to hurt him like no one else. Unbelievably, he gave her the power, and he would give it to her again.

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Chapter Sixteen “Let go of me, I’m going to skin him alive.” Tony to anyone who would listen. Hunter awoke to the familiar feeling of being alone again! J.C. had somehow managed to sneak from his bed in the early morning hours. With a groan, he threw his naked legs over the side of the bed. Sitting up, he stretched his muscular body before running an absent hand through his thoroughly messed hair. Today was either going to be a roaring success or a complete catastrophe. Unfortunately, he was banking on the latter. Without much thought, he showered and dressed in the outfit J.C. laid out for him. As if he wasn’t able to dress himself, he did wonder sometimes how she thought he had managed without her these last few weeks. He was touched that she took the time to take care of him, if even in the smallest of ways. When he’d finished and was ready, he walked out of the inn and breathed deep of the cool, crisp, sea air. The feeling that it evoked was one of being completely alive. The sun was just managing to burn away any lingering morning fog and the streets were still damp with morning dew. Hunter enjoyed the short walk to the Sherman’s house listening to the gulls’ song breaking the almost monotonous mantra of the small waves 125

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breaking against the rocks. He hadn’t truly felt more alive in years, and that wasn’t such a bad thing because Tony might just murder him before the day was out. Tony, Hunter thought, taking in yet another deep breath, this time filling his lungs to capacity so that it almost hurt. Tony wasn’t likely to forgive him anytime soon. J.C. seemed to think that Tony would just laugh it off, Hunter knew better. Tony might come across as being disinterested and a womanizing bastard much of the time, but he hid a lot of his worries and pain from his family. He cared deeply about them and didn’t want any of them hurt. He once told Hunter that he considered himself to be something of a night watchman watching over his family in secret. When Hunter asked why in secret, Tony confided that he had told his parents when he was ten that he was their guardian. Although the brothers laughed wanting to know how a then skinny kid could possibly protect the family. But his parents had known, they’d seen him walking the halls one night, after a break-in had occurred at one of their homes. No one had been there luckily, but it had had a profound effect on Tony. For months, Tony checked and rechecked windows and doors. He slept with a baseball bat under his blanket, and on more than one occasion had been caught wandering up and down the halls like a knight looking over the castle walls. The Shermans finally convinced Tony that he needed therapy. They were concerned that he was suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. Tony went, only because it seemed to appease his parents and put them at ease. But, Hunter understood. Tony knew what he had in his family and didn’t want to see them hurt in any way. So under the façade of carelessness, he was always on his guard. His parents thought counseling had helped him through it, when in fact it had enabled him to simply find better ways to hide his watchfulness. No one dreamed he still kept watch. Hunter suspected that watch was more seriously on J.C. since her disastrous first marriage. Hunter had flown in under the radar, and he was supposed to be at Tony’s back. Instead, Hunter more often than not these days, seemed to have J.C. flat on her back whenever possible.

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For the first time in months the old familiar guilt crept up, the reason he had always given J.C. a wide berth, refocused in his head. This time it was different. J.C. was his better half, and he could no longer imagine a world without her. He didn’t want to choose, but he knew he had to. His and J.C.’s happiness or Tony’s, not much of a choice, but one he dreaded all the same. Shocked, Hunter realized that he was standing before the Sherman house. He wasn’t sure how long he had stood there either. He looked up at the large house and turned away—he wasn’t ready to face them all yet. He wasn’t ready to put on the façade of not knowing J.C. intimately. Turning away from the house, he kept walking along the road, not sure where he was heading, just away from the house. **** Inside the Sherman house things were buzzing along, caterers ran about both inside and out preparing and laying out the food and tables for the picnic later that day. J.C. had just finished her bowl of cereal when Tony stumbled into the room, looking like something the cat dragged home. “When did you get in?” J.C. asked with a chuckle. She stood, put her bowl in the sink then went to pour Tony a fresh cup of coffee. She pushed the steaming mug across the white table to just within his reach. “Thanks,” Tony muttered wrapping both large hands around the cup and bringing it under his nose as he breathed in deeply. “I think I am getting too old for these late nights.” J.C. decided wisely to stay quiet on the subject and allowed the room to remain silent as she watched Tony drink his coffee as if it were the cup of life. She thought for a brief minute that this would be an ideal time to tell Tony about Hunter and herself until Tony opened his mouth. “I came in shortly before you did.” He placed the coffee mug down on the table. “Ah,” she murmured, after all what else was there to say. She’d been caught coming in just before dawn, and if she remembered correctly, which she was sure she

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did, she had been humming. It wasn’t likely she could lie her way out of it. Not that she wanted to lie about where she was, after all, there weren’t any all night clubs on the island, and Tony wasn’t going to believe she had met up with old friends and had talked through the night. Most of her friends were arriving today, within hours actually. Not for the first time did she want to spit out she had been with Hunter, but having argued with Hunter in the morning hours about not telling the family until later, she couldn’t very well go against her own decree. Publicly was the safest way. “So where were you?” J.C. picked up her glass of orange juice, looked over the rim and countered, “Where were you?” “I don’t think that is any of your business.” “Exactly my thought.” J.C. beamed and pushed her chair once again away from the table. She came around the table laid a wet kiss on Tony’s cheek and chuckled. “I am so glad we are in complete agreement on at least this one issue.” Without waiting for his response, she took the back stairs two at a time. This was a big day and she needed to prepare herself for the fights she now knew would come. Not caring that there were at least twenty others in the house, J.C. entered the largest of the bathrooms and started to run herself a bath. Hunter had worked some muscles that she didn’t even know she had last night. **** Hunter mingled as much as he could through the crowd, his assistant Elaine arrived, and he spent an hour talking with her and her fiancée. She was determined to know when she could come back to work. Apparently, the weeks of free pay and no work were beginning to get to her. “I just don’t feel it’s safe yet.” “Oh please.” Elaine chuckled. “You need help with DRK looming in the distance. I heard that he was still causing trouble with the Greenland resort.”

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“David Kirkland is a prick. He hides behind his company. Just once I would love for him to come out and fight me like a man, instead of the coward he is.” “Are you sure he hasn’t?” John Porter, Elaine’s fiancée, finally spoke up from beside her. Hunter eyed the man with a new respect. “What do you mean?” “Come off it, man. If there was anyone that the feds should have been fingering, it was him. No matter how personal an attack it seemed.” “They can’t find a thing to pin on him,” was all Hunter said. Making it known that his thoughts crossed along the exact same lines as John’s. “Personally, until they do, I’m just as eager to keep Elaine at home and away from your office as well. From what I see, his company, DRK, doesn’t play by the book.” “You both are a bunch of Neanderthals. Speaking of ape-like behavior, are you sure about the way you are handling this…” Elaine looked about her then whispered loudly, “…engagement!” “No,” Hunter whispered equally loudly. Then in a more hushed tone, “but after this afternoon the very large cat will be out of the bag.” John laughed, nodding his head toward the breaking ocean surf. “Yes, but the question is, will the now vacant bag have you in it, at the bottom of that ocean over there?” Hunter looked over at the icy cold water of the Atlantic and for the umpteenth time this afternoon, he wondered the very same thing. He was jolted out of his reverie by a large hand firmly pressing on his shoulder. “Well, if it isn’t the beautiful Elaine,” Tony said leaning over and kissing her quickly on the cheek before turning to John, “You must be John. I’m Tony.” The men exchanged pleasantries for a moment before Tony turned to Hunter. “I think I am the only one who didn’t invite any friends here today. Mom and Dad have a slew of people I haven’t seen in years. Jacinda has all her friends from school here including the one who lives in Texas, and now you have Elaine. I must have missed the part in the email that said to invite my closest friends.”

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Hunter took a gulp of his soda; he hadn’t dared drink today, and looked at Tony with sincerity. “And who besides me would you have possibly invited?” “You know what? That’s a really good point.” Tony laughed. “Of course I might have…” Joseph Sherman walking onto the stage interrupted Tony. It had been set up for the band who had been playing softly until then. He looked about the crowd with a smile. Joseph invited his wife and daughter onto the stage. Spencer came over and leaned into Tony asking if he knew what was going on. Hunter couldn’t hear his answer, but he saw him shake his head. Joseph welcomed everyone then told a humorous story, one that Hunter had heard before, for which he was thankful as he could barely hear over the buzzing in his ears. This wasn’t how he had envisioned this going down. Then again, he hadn’t talked it over much with J.C. He accepted her pleas to trust her. Now he regretted it. He slowly stepped away from the two Sherman brothers, certain he heard Elaine and John laughing behind him. He shot them a look to tell them he heard and didn’t need their kind of help. He did manage to clear his head when he heard Joseph start to talk about his daughter, “…couldn’t be happier and prouder of a daughter,” he said pulling her closer into his arms. “It is with great pleasure and pride that I am here to announce my little girl has finally found happiness with a great man.” A hush went through the crowd followed by ah’s as Joseph announced that J.C. was happily engaged, and she showed the crowd her large ring. Hunter turned to face the Sherman brothers who were now numbering three, as Trent had joined them. He didn’t look long. He just wanted to measure the distance between them and the stage. “…finally found a man that her mother and I think is worthy of her, more importantly who is strong enough to handle her and caring enough to do so gently and effectively.” Joseph beamed down at his daughter proudly. He kissed her softly on the forehead and Hunter could see J.C. was tearing up. He was now within feet of the stage

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and had a good twenty feet and thirty guests between himself and the Sherman brothers, who were at present looking rather mutinous. “It is with great love and affection that I introduce you to my future son-in-law, a man that Michelle and I are only too proud to call son, and give our daughter to in marriage. Hunter, would you please join us?” Hunter took the stage stairs two at a time and kissed Michelle and hugged Joseph quickly before taking J.C.’s hand in his and kissing the palm of her hand before pulling her into his arms for a kiss. Over the applause, which was great, he heard Tony loud and clear. “Let go of me, I’m going to skin him alive and throw him in the ocean for the fish.” Hunter looked over at his best friend and saw John and Spencer physically restraining him. Trent seemed to be beaming with joy, he had two fingers in his mouth and was making loud whistling sounds over the crowd’s applause. “Oh dear,” Michelle said concerned, her eyes following Tony, “I had worried about this.” “So had I,” Hunter murmured. “Well, Mr. Sherman, you might as well announce the rest. Then I can go and try to appease Tony.” Joseph turned his attention back to the microphone and his audience, whose attention seemed torn between the stage with Joseph, and the dance floor with Spencer and John pushing Tony into the house. “I have one more announcement to make,” he said loudly and waited until all eyes were back on him before speaking again. “Not only are you here to witness the engagement announcement of Jacinda and Hunter, but you are here to bear witness to their wedding, which will take place next door in twenty minutes.” Above the excited rumblings of the crowd, Hunter could hear loud and clear Tony growl. “You have got to be fucking kidding me!” Hunter kissed J.C. quickly and turned to head toward Tony, but he stopped when he felt J.C.’s hand intertwine with his. “I’m coming, too.”

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Hunter said nothing, just smiled as hand-in-hand they made it through the crowd. Accepting congratulations and good wishes graciously, they maneuvered to the house. Hunter managed to get through the crowd rather quicker than he had expected. Walking into the house through the double doors that led to the kitchen, they encountered the first of the Sherman brothers and the least of Hunter’s concern. “Way to go,” Trent exclaimed, throwing his arms around Hunter in a brotherly hug. “Man, I couldn’t be happier to welcome anyone to the family than you, and Good Lord I am totally impressed that you managed to keep this a secret since…” “Memorial Day.” “Are you kidding me?” Trent was quiet for a moment then hooted with laughter. “I would keep that information secret if I were you. If Tony finds out you were the man in her cottage all night, all hell will break loose. Well anyway, I guess I’ll see you in a few. Sneaky bastard.” Trent was still laughing when he walked outside. Hunter took a deep breath; the silence coming from the living room was more worrisome than Tony screaming and yelling. J.C. gave him a reassuring squeeze and pushed him forward. “Tony,” Hunter said, his voice even and calm as they walked into the living room. “You ungrateful, no good, Benedict Arnold,” Tony growled through clenched teeth, his face red with fury. “How long? How long have the two of you been going at it behind my back? Weeks, months, years?” “Tony, please listen.” “Jacinda, you need to shut up!” Tony snarled. “You’re just as bad as he is. I can’t believe…” Hunter stepped forward. “Be as angry as you want at me, Tony, but do not disrespect Jacinda.” That seemed to take some of the steam from Tony’s sails. Out of the corner of his eyes, Hunter could see Spencer smile then sit down in the antique Queen Anne chair.

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Hunter stared at Tony, wanting so badly to explain, needing so badly for Tony to understand. “How long?” J.C.’s soft voice answered from over Hunter’s shoulder, “Since he was attacked. But, you have always known I’ve had very deep feelings for Hunter. If you want to deny that, you’re only fooling yourself.” “Tony, I wanted to tell you so many times. But…” Tony turned around again, this time his anger renewed. “So why didn’t you? Lord knows you’ve had the opportunity.” “I wouldn’t let him. Hunter wanted to, but I didn’t want you guys coming in and ruining it before I had a chance to make Hunter fall in love with me.” “Christ, Jacinda, he’s my best friend and like a brother to me.” “Now he will be more of a brother.” “Yeah, a brother who fucks my sister.” “Tony, that’s enough,” Spencer said from the corner. “Hunter has warned you once, I somehow think that’s all the courtesy he’s willing to give you. I, for one, am pleased to see it. Hunter, could you please do me a favor and unclench those fists?” The hall clock chimed two o’clock and the sound of footsteps headed their way. Mr. Sherman came into the room and surveyed it for a moment. “Hunter, you’re needed by the altar, and I’m going to take my daughter to meet you shortly. But first, I would like to speak with her alone.” Hunter smiled down at J.C., for a moment leery of letting her go, but he did so. He watched her walk out the door. “Tony, I know you are beyond angry, and hell, I don’t blame you. But I am asking you, in the name of a friendship that has meant the world to me and has lasted over a decade, to stand next to me while I say vows I never anticipated saying to any woman. I tried very hard not to fall in love. I cannot in good faith marry her, if you are not at my side supporting us.” “You didn’t need my damned support to fu…date her,” Tony amended, “so what the hell difference does it matter now?”

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“Tony, it did matter! I told you what I could last night. I told you I loved her, told you I wanted everyone to know. What would you have me do, steamroll over her like her first husband? She trusts me, and I could not break that trust.” “But you could break mine?” “Will you or will you not stand up for me?” Spencer stood from the corner and came toward Hunter. “If he won’t, I will.” Tony humphed, looked at Hunter then shook his head. “I am pissed as hell, you jackass, but I’ll stand beside you in the name of friendship and because my sister obviously loves you, you no good bastard. I can also see that you love her, you son of a bitch. I’ll even try to smile, but tomorrow I am going to punch your lights out.” “Fair enough.” Twenty-three minutes later, before friends and family alike, Hunter and J.C. became Mr. and Mrs. Brooks. The service had been brief, yet beautiful. J.C.’s four friends standing behind her, all in the same color, though different style gowns. It amazed Hunter that that alone hadn’t tipped anyone off. Standing next to Hunter was Tony, and beside him, Elaine. Elaine beamed with happiness and for only the second time in all the years he had known her, she cried. The first had been at the birth of her daughter. Hunter felt touched that she felt so strongly about him. As the minister introduced with pleasure the newly married couple to the assembly, Hunter and J.C. finally took their eyes off each other long enough to see how others were reacting. Michelle Sherman cried giant tears of joy, supported by a tearyeyed Joseph Sherman. Trent whooped as the minister proclaimed them husband and wife. Spencer nodded approvingly though Hunter knew good and well that they had a lot still to talk through. Then there was Tony. Tony looked at the couple, kissed his sister, welcomed Hunter to the family and then marched out of the yard and around the house. Hunter knew he wouldn’t be seeing his brother-in-law again that night. Tony might be the most arrogant, rude, and even crude Sherman there was but underneath it all was an

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overpowering need to protect. Tony needed time and it was only fair given the circumstances that Hunter give him that unspoken request. The newlyweds made their rounds through the guests, danced their first dance to ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ though this time the Van Morrison version, cut their cake, and then made their excuses. As they prepared to leave, via an antique car, Spencer pulled Hunter aside. “I’ll make this quick. You hurt her, and I’ll personally see you rot in hell.” Hunter looked at Spencer and nodded in agreement. “Good, now we have that settled, welcome to the damned family, and it’s about time, too.” Spencer pulled Hunter into a bear hug before pushing him into the waiting car. When the car finally pulled away, Hunter turned to J.C., cupped her beautiful face in his large hands and kissed her tenderly. “Finally, I can be alone with my wife,” he declared proudly. “So Mrs. Brooks, what shall it be, a plane off the island to my waiting jet, or back to my room at the inn?” “Well, the new Mrs. Brooks does not think she can make it to your private jet.” “Thank God for that.” He pulled her against his body. “Besides, I think that tomorrow your brother may have a few things to say to me.” When J.C.’s hand moved up Hunter’s linen clad leg, all thoughts of friends and brothers faded into the distance. All he could focus on was his wife.

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Chapter Seventeen “You aren’t helping Hunter’s cause.” Tony to J.C. This had to be heaven; there was no other way to describe it. J.C. stretched much like a satisfied cat, in bed next to Hunter. His fingers gently rubbed up and over her hip repeatedly. J.C. was wide awake, yet she didn’t feel the need to move. Hunter didn’t seem to want to move either. The open windows allowed her to hear the sound of the gulls in the air and an occasional chime of a bike bell mixed with the rhythmic sounds of the sea. As the warmth of the diffused sunlight hit her naked skin, J.C. let her senses take over. The melodic chant of his breathing relaxed her, and she hadn’t felt more at peace in years. She tried to roll over, but he had pinned her to him. Her back was locked to his front and although she felt his erection between them, he didn’t push for sex. He just laid there, seemingly content with intimacy. He wasn’t going to get any argument from her—this was heaven. The sudden knock on the door brought them out of their private musings. “Did you order room service?” 136

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“When have I had the time?” Hunter groaned and rolled into a sitting position. “Don’t you dare move a single muscle!” “Are you expecting someone?” Hunter sent her a look that clearly said she wasn’t funny. Still, his lips curled in a way that said she seriously amused him. As he threw his feet to the carpeted floor, J.C. marveled at the ease he had with his body. He walked around the room without thought of his nakedness. He grabbed his discarded linen pants and pulled them on. J.C. pouted prettily as he covered himself. “Would you prefer I let whoever is at the door see me in my natural glory?” She shook her head and pulled the sheet up tighter around her breasts. Approaching the door, he ran a quick hand through his locks to make sure he didn’t resemble a rooster. Then he carefully cracked the door open. J.C. got to her knees as she wrapped the sheet firmly around her to cover her backside and cocked her head trying to hear or see who it was. Hunter’s back muscles visibly tightened. That ruled out the chance it was just room service bringing the newlyweds a romantic, in-room breakfast. “Who is it?” To her surprise, Hunter opened the door wide and facing her was the hard looking, cold-eyed smile of her third oldest brother, Tony. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Hunter, and Hunter hadn’t broken eye contact either. They stood there like two rams ready to butt heads. The hostility was palpable, and she could nearly taste it in the air. “Would you like to come in, or would you prefer to air our dirty laundry in the hall?” Hunter didn’t move or change his stance. His arm still held the door and blocked any entrance Tony might have made. Tony was the first to break the stare-down. His eyes moved to the crumpled bed and picked up Jacinda kneeling in a sea of white sheets. Images flew through her mind of what he must be seeing, clothes thrown about, her hair a tangled mess and her lips swollen. She felt satisfied and thoroughly sated, but she didn’t know how it came across to Tony. It was enough that she was naked in Hunter’s bed.

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“Oh for Christ sake, that’s a picture I didn’t need in my head today. I can’t talk to you in here.” Tony turned around. “That’s okay. I can just get up and take a shower.” Jacinda looked at the men and began to scoot herself ungracefully off the bed. “NO!” both men yelled in unison, though Jacinda was certain for different reasons. She decided to stay where she was for the moment, though slowly edging herself off the bed toward the en suite to enable a quick exit should the scene get physical. For once, she wasn’t going to get involved. Had it been Lucas, Spencer or Trent, she would have told that brother to get over himself and butt out. Tony and Hunter were different and she could see now that perhaps keeping the information from him had been the wrong choice. Not that she ever planned to admit that aloud to either of the two Alpha males standing beside her. “It smells like sex in here.” “That’s what newly married couples do, Tony,” Hunter said, his mouth quirking with humor. “Shut up.” Tony nearly growled, obviously irritated by Hunter’s mocking tone. “Why don’t you two go take a walk? Perhaps the cool morning air will cool you both off.” Tony looked again at Jacinda and cursed, turning away quickly as if he had forgotten she was sitting in only a sheet. “I’ve been outside since six a.m. waiting for someone to open the damned lobby doors downstairs.” Jacinda gaped. “You’ve been waiting outside for two hours?” “I would have come last night, but Spencer stood guard to make sure I didn’t leave.” “Let me guess, Trent was supposed to watch your door at five a.m. and fell asleep?” Hunter asked. “You would think someone would stop letting him take that shift.”

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A glint of humor finally returned to Tony’s face, only to be marred again with a quick flash of anger. “Oh, shut up, Hunter. I’m still wicked pissed at you, and I haven’t said everything I need to say to you yet. Hell, I haven’t even started.” “I hadn’t assumed you had.” “Why don’t you two take a walk over to the Black Dog for breakfast? That will give me some time to get ready, and by the time you get a table, I’ll have had time to get showered and dressed and can drive over to meet you both.” Tony shrugged, but then glared at Hunter. “You’ll need to shower first I take it? I’ll wait for you downstairs; you’ve got five minutes.” Hunter agreed before he turned to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him which left Jacinda staring at the back of Tony’s head. The silence stretched out until she couldn’t take it anymore. Just as she was about to speak, Tony took a step out of the room. “Tony, I’m really sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked Hunter to keep you in the dark.” Tony stopped but didn’t turn around. “Tony, please try and understand. I wasn’t thinking about what this would do to you and Hunter. I could only think about you putting your two cents in where I didn’t need or want it.” Tony did turn at that. “There isn’t much new in that J.C. is there? You’ve always only ever thought about yourself. Hunter was my best friend.” “Is! He is your best friend, Tony.” She stood up and rustled the sheets. “Please stop moving. You aren’t helping Hunter’s cause by bringing attention to the fact that the two of you were in that bed all night.” Tony paled for a minute. “And the whole night before, too. Damn it, J.C.” Tony ran a weary hand over his stubbled chin. “Tony, knock it off. We’ve been engaged for a month. What did you expect?” “I expected my best friend wouldn’t break the golden rule of friendship and bang my sister. I expected that he would be honest with me, and I expected that when he finally got married I would have the honor of throwing the world’s biggest bachelor party known to man.”

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“He wanted to tell you, a day didn’t go by that he didn’t ask me to reconsider and let him tell you.” “Yeah, Hunter always struck me as the kind to let a woman make his decisions for him.” “Tony, that’s not fair. Hunter and I are in love. He felt caught between the proverbial rock and hard place. Besides, Dad agreed that keeping you all in the dark was the best course of action.” Tony looked at her is stunned disbelief. “Dad thought it would be better if I didn’t know?” “Not just you, but all four of you. Although, Lucas did figure it out.” “Lucas knew?” “Yes.” Hunter came from the bathroom with his hair wet and a towel wrapped around his waist. “I thought you were going to wait for me in the lobby.” Tony snarled, but J.C. knew Hunter wasn’t trying to rub his nose in the fact that they were intimate. Hunter had just assumed Tony would have left as he said he would. Tony turned out of the room. “I’ll wait for you in the hall.” Once the door closed, Hunter got dressed with lightning speed. “So, you’ll meet us there?” “Yeah, don’t you dare let him make you feel guilty,” she said, gently placing her palm against his cheek. “Don’t worry. I already feel bad enough. He cannot possibly make me feel worse.” Pulling a tee shirt over his head, he slipped on his running shoes. Hunter walked out of the room leaving Jacinda alone and happy for a moment’s repose. **** Tony and Hunter walked in silence for the first ten minutes, neither wanting to break that calm before the other. Finally, Tony stopped and asked, “Lucas knew?” “He figured it out the night at Legal Sea Foods. And you’ll be pleased to know he sucker punched me in the jaw.”

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Tony let out a hoot of laughter. “That does make me feel better actually. So tell me, where the hell was he for the wedding?” “He’s still too cut up over the breakup with Kiloran to witness us saying our vows.” “She did a real number on him. I actually thought for sure they would tie the knot. When he came home and told the family they had broken it off and he didn’t want to talk about it, I knew it was bad.” “Worse than bad, he did ask her to marry him, but it all fell apart a few nights later. Not that he’s talking about it.” “Kiloran must have…hey! How the hell did you get me off topic again?” “Look, you obviously don’t want to stay angry with me if it takes this much effort to keep your anger intact. Why don’t we just let it go? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but Jacinda’s concerns had to come first, even before you. I know you hate that I kept this from you. You would hate it more if she wasn’t the center of my world.” “You’re right,” Tony said with resigned indifference. Hunter took a deep cleansing breath, relieved to see the end of this chapter. He was hopeful that now he could just get on with living. Tony took him completely off guard with the sudden fist that pounded into his gut. Hunter buckled over coughing and gasping for breath. Hunter felt Tony’s hand under his arm leading him over to a bench he hadn’t even noticed was there. After a moment, he caught his breath. Tony patted him on the back. “I feel better about the whole situation now. Just let me remind you that if you ever so much as hurt her, I’ll have no choice but to beat you to a pulp.” “Yeah, right! Lucas already tried that,” Hunter said between coughs. “I always bring reinforcements.” Tony’s hand grabbed Hunter’s elbow helping him to his feet. “Come on before the line at the Black Dog gets so long we’re waiting for lunch instead of breakfast. And no displays of affection between you and Jacinda.” “We’re newlyweds, what else would we do?” Tony looked at him with disgust. “I‘m not sure what bothers me more, you in love or you in love with Jacinda!”

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“Oh, just you wait; it’ll happen to you too when you least expect it.” “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.” Tony laughed. But as they turned the corner, he groaned. The line at the Black Dog was outside already. “Great, now I’m going to have to stand in line and on an empty stomach listening to you talk about love.” “I could tell you about my love life instead.” Hunter chuckled. “Don’t push it.” Tony grimaced, but the sides of his mouth were twitching as he fought a smile.

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Chapter Eighteen “Oh yeah, what’s my punishment?” Hunter to Jacinda. Sixteen, this letter brought the count up to sixteen. J.C. grimaced, this had to stop. Ten letters were forwarded from the old apartment in Boston. Three came via her family’s penthouse in NYC, and the last three were disguised as wedding cards. Every single one of the letters had one thing in common—each contained a gossip column article and photos of her husband and a different beautiful woman. The large glossy photos chronicled Hunter’s liaisons through the years. Arm candy each and every one. Those didn’t bother her. But it was the latest one, with seedy, grainy photos taken through hotel windows or from hundreds of yards away. These were harder to ignore. Encounters of intimate nature captured through the eye of telephoto lens. Unlike the glossy photos of the letter prior, these photos were personal. Hunter chose to go away with these women for more than just one night. Slamming the photos down she told herself for the hundredth time she wouldn’t let these letters get to her. That was easier said than done. J.C. looked around the large luxury apartment on Park Avenue, trying to take her mind off the pictures. The apartment was large without being in your face. It was in 143

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desperate need of a feminine touch, as the apartment was cold, dull, and sparse. A few obvious art pieces bought as investments, rather than for love of the piece, adorned the walls. No photos, no books, no plants, no mementos cluttered the living area. On one wall a large flat screen plasma television hung, the rest of the wall he left blank. The TV was the most personal thing in the room. That didn’t say much. Jacinda threw herself down on the black leather sofa and sighed. She watched as the rainwater slid down the outside windows that overlooked the avenue below. She’d spent all morning locked up in the apartment. Not because she had to but because she’d hoped with Hunter back at work maybe she could get a better feel of what his life here was about. NO SUCH LUCK. The office was all business and organized down to the pencils. She hoped something about him screamed cluttered and disorganized, but even the desk drawers where neat and tidy. Nothing was out of its place, nothing of any real interest. Nothing that said this was someone’s home and not some showplace. Looking at the end table the three new cards caught her eye again. She hadn’t told Hunter about the letters. The first two she’d thrown out, and then tossed the others into a folder. With all the stuff that had gone on with the FBI, she thought perhaps keeping the letters was her best option, but she hadn’t felt the need to tell Hunter. She didn’t want him worrying about her or her safety. Bodyguards had followed her for years since her divorce from Dave. With Hunter she felt safe, though it took some convincing, her dad and Spencer agreed, allowing her to dismiss her bodyguards once and for all. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t have that specter hanging over her. She didn’t want to worry Hunter unnecessarily and cause him to put another set of bodyguards on her again. On the other hand, marriage was supposed to be built on trust and how could he trust her if she kept things hidden from him?

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Jacinda gnawed her lip and knew she had to do something, anything to get her mind off those letters. She was in NYC and a little shopping therapy might just do the trick. Jealous feelings and insecure thoughts still swirled around her head when Hunter walked through the door hours later. He dropped everything in a mass at the door and made a beeline for her. No preamble was needed as he reached behind her thighs lifting her up and forcing her legs around his waist. Soft, firm lips covered hers and his large hands cupped her jean-clad bottom. “No need to ask if you missed me?” “None whatsoever,” Hunter agreed, taking control of her lips again in a slow thorough kiss. It was sometime later before he allowed her feet to touch the ground again. Only as she stepped out of his embrace did his eyes move around the apartment. In the hours of shopping, she’d made some little subtle changes. “You’ve been busy,” Hunter said with a half smile. Jacinda followed him around the living room. She looked at the four plants she had ordered and then at the framed pictures she had added around the room. Some were of their wedding, one or two she’d grabbed from the family’s penthouse off Central Park. Two she grabbed from the photo albums and had blown up. Those photos were the ones he was looking at with keen interest. He picked one up and ran a finger over it as if trying to feel the moment in his mind. “Where did you get this?” he asked incredulously. Jacinda put her arms around him and placed her chin on his shoulder so she could look at the picture with him. It was a picture taken in Aspen, Hunter and Tony bookended Jacinda, all held their ski poles in the air in triumph at having finished the black diamond trail. “I found it in one of Mom’s photo albums at the penthouse. I can’t remember what year it was. I do remember it was a great winter break. It must have been just after you

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and Tony turned twenty-one because I remember you both hit the bars with vigor that year.” Hunter laughed, turning so she was now in his arms. “Thank you, this was a wonderful surprise.” “Really? I was worried that you wouldn’t like it.” “You can do anything you want…providing you don’t decorate our bedroom in pink.” Hunter turned to her with a look of complete concern. “You didn’t put a pink ruffled floral comforter on our bed did you?” J.C. looked away from him in a coy manner, she giggled as he groaned and found herself nearly skipping after him as he stomped through the apartment. He breathed an audible sigh of relief when they passed his untouched office. He froze for a minute at the closed door to the master bedroom. She watched his muscular shoulders heave upward then relax as he took a deep breath in and out. He put his hand on the doorknob and ever so slowly started to turn it. “Scared?” Jacinda whispered in his ear. “Just a bit.” He pushed the door open. He walked in and stood there for a full moment taking in the room. “You are a minx.” Jacinda laughed, throwing herself into his arms. She then looked about the room with a pleasant sigh. “This room was perfect just the way it was.” It had been perfect, perfectly Hunter. The warm browns and rich golden tones gave the room warmth she hadn’t expected when she had walked into the apartment. Where the rest of the house was cool to the point of being down right chilly, this room had so much warmth she sometimes felt like she was crossing into different dimensions when she changed rooms. The warm, rich colors of the king-sized sleigh bed and the matching furniture gave the room an added classic luxury that was lacking in the rest of the apartment. The contemporary furniture he had in the rest of the place were functional, but not homey. She guessed that the two rooms he spent the most time in were his office and the bedroom.

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Hunter tossed her on top of the copper comforter. “Why, my wicked woman, would you want to scare me like that? The horror of waking everyday to flowers is enough to give a man indigestion.” “Yes, but you would be waking to me, too.” Hunter wisely stayed quiet, but Jacinda could see the playfulness in his eyes. “Regardless, my little prank got you exactly where I wanted you—in this bed. But now, can we do something about these excess clothes?” **** “We’re going to be late,” Hunter said an hour later as he climbed out of the shower. “Late? For what?” Jacinda ceased the assault with her towel on her hair to look at him. “For the dinner at the Waldorf. I left you a message this morning reminding you it’s been on my agenda for months.” “But I…that is, we just got back into town last night. Can’t we just stay here?” “I wish! Unfortunately, I have to go. You could stay here, I guess, but I would rather you were with me.” Hunter pulled up his boxer briefs and headed to the closet. “Look, we can just stay for dinner and after the first speaker bolt out.” “Do you have any idea how long it takes for women to get ready for these events?” Jacinda nearly shrieked, “And you are expecting me to just throw myself together at a moment’s notice and be beautiful?” Hunter chuckled. “You are beautiful, and well you know it.” Jacinda sighed heavily and gave him a quick look of resignation. “You are going to owe me big time.” “Oh yeah, what’s my punishment?” Amusement flickered in his eyes as they met hers. “No, let me guess. Tomorrow when I come home there will be a bright pink comforter with lots of flowers on the bed.” “Oh, and don’t forget the pillows, lots of fluffy pillows.” She walked into her closet across the room. “Oh, and I think that I can do one better than that. I think I still have all those stuffed animals from my childhood. They should look quite comfy in here.”

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Hunter tried hard to hide the shiver of complete disgust that ran down his spine at the thought of sleeping in a room designed by Pepto-Bismol. “Maybe you should stay home.” “No way, I do like this idea of Carte Blanche payback.” “I just bet you do.” He refocused his attention on the tie before him but his eyes keep finding hers in the mirror. The stretch limo arrived promptly at seven. Hunter’s personal assistant, Elaine, and her boyfriend, John, were already in the car. Both looked as thrilled about the dinner as Jacinda did, Hunter mused. He didn’t want to go either, but his business had been on the back burner for the last three weeks and now he was paying the price. “DRK won’t be there tonight,” Elaine said with a great deal of happiness. “That’s the best news I have heard tonight.” “DRK?” Jacinda asked. John looked at Jacinda and rolled his eyes. “You will learn very quickly that the two of them always speak a language unto themselves. Rarely do they speak in sentences that don’t contain some sort of abbreviation, when it comes to work.” “That’s not true,” Elaine pouted prettily. “Yes it is, and you know it.” Hunter cast a mischievous smile in his wife’s direction. “But DRK is a corporation that has been a thorn in my side since it started three years ago. Before that its owner was just a pest.” “Rich pest,” John said. “Very rich pest.” “Kirkland is more like a giant snake in the grass than a pest,” Hunter said, then looked at Jacinda whose healthy tan took on a sudden greenish tinge. “Honey, what is it?” “You don’t mean Dave Kirkland, do you?” “Yeah. You know him?” Elaine asked. “You could say that,” J.C. said, plastering a smile on her face.

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Hunter looked at Jacinda, but he couldn’t read her expression. She closed herself off from the group, and he couldn’t really tell why. Was she friends with David and angry because they were being nasty? He hoped to hell that was not the case. He wasn’t sure he could stomach, even for J.C.’s sake, being nice to the man. On the other hand, did she have some reason to hate the man? In that case, he could once again toast her very good taste and move on. Hunter turned toward her, shielding her from Elaine and John’s view. In a lowered tone he asked, “Are you and Kirkland friends?” “You must be kidding,” Jacinda said with such a look of pure disgust that Hunter wanted to cheer then and there. Though he contained himself, as he felt true hatred should never publicly be applauded. “Just checking.” “You know…” Whatever J.C. was about to say had to wait because the limo came to a stop and seconds afterward the door opened. Hunter suspected whatever it was that had been on the tip of her tongue wasn’t flattering toward his nemesis and that alone was another reason to cheer. Hunter got out and stood tall. He helped his wife out of the car and headed down the carpeted sidewalk. The paparazzi were there. Not in full force, but enough to make Hunter stop and adjust to the flash bulbs. “Who’s the new lady, Mr. Brooks?” one man asked between pictures. Another man asked, “Is that you, Ms. Sherman?” Hunter could see she was about to nod and stepped in to interrupt, “Actually gentlemen, she was Ms. Sherman. She is now Mrs. Brooks.” Against grain, he leaned over and gave her a passionate kiss for all to see. A kiss he was sure would make it into most of the society papers by the weekend. He could think of no better to way to let everyone know she was legally his wife.

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Chapter Nineteen “But, I never thought you would be satisfied with my leftovers.” David Kirkland to Hunter. “You made me go to that boring dinner last week; you can sure as hell come to my charity ball tonight,” Jacinda demanded, setting upon him a black look. To her dismay, he laughed and walked out of the bedroom. “Don’t you dare leave while I am talking to you!” “I’m not leaving,” he said softly, walking back into the bedroom a minute later carrying a dry cleaning bag. “And of course, I’ll go.” “You will? But I thought…that is you said…” “What did I say?” He brushed back a loose tendril of hair from her face, before placing a gentle kiss upon her cheek. “I believe I said I would rather spend the evening here. Which I recall was the same thing you said about that boring hotel dinner.” “I didn’t mean that…I shouldn’t have said it, at any rate.” Jacinda’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Why not? It’s the truth. It was dreadfully pompous and boring.” Hunter walked through to the en suite leaving the door open so they could talk “Anyway, the truth is, I

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would rather spend all my time alone here with you, but that isn’t the way things are. So I’ll go and support your charity cause, just like you supported me.” J.C. shifted uncomfortably, she knew the next piece of news wouldn’t go down so easily. “There is one thing I need to tell you before we get there.” Hunter popped his head out of the door but otherwise remained quiet. “One of the people on the guest list is Dave Kirkland.” Jacinda watched Hunter’s lips curl in disgust. “How many are supposed to be there tonight?” “About five hundred, I think.” “Then there shouldn’t much of a chance we will be stuck at the same table.” Hunter returned his focus back to the bathroom mirror. “Don’t worry about it, I promise to behave. Knowing Kirkland will be there just guaranteed that you won’t be going alone.” “That’s very sweet.” Reentering the bedroom Hunter gave her a dubious look. “There is nothing sweet about me, darling.” “Oh, I don’t know about that,” she purred, running her hands down his back and over his buttocks. Hunter groaned. “Don’t start something there isn’t time to finish. Now, where are those tickets for tonight’s shindig?” She sucked in her breath, thinking for a minute. “They’re in the office.” Somewhere in the clutter of her new desk were two tickets. She just had to remember which pile. “How in the hell do you know where anything is in here?” “There is a method to the madness, I swear,” she said opening the middle drawer. “Ah ha! Here they are.” With pride, she showed him the blue folder in her hand. A strong hand stopped her from closing the drawer again, her gaze followed his to the newspaper clippings that had been under the folder. His hand reached around her and pulled the clipping out. “What are these?”

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Jacinda tried to grab them from him but failed miserably. “They are nothing really.” “Why would you have old clipping of me with other women in your desk?” “I didn’t clip them. These have been arriving since we got back from our honeymoon.” His eyes blazed in anger. “There are more? Why didn’t you tell me about these when you got them?” Placing a calming hand upon Hunter’s arm she remained composed. “It’s all right, they were just meant to upset me. I trust you and know you haven’t been with anyone since we started dating. I have nothing to worry about.” Hunter looked at her and then back at the clipping, she knew as always he saw too much when it came to her. He couldn’t possibly know that there was the kernel of doubt planted. She didn’t want him to worry about her. In his eyes she was strong and self-assured. She didn’t want him knowing she was self conscious and unsure of everything around her. “Do you still have the others?” “I do.” She opened the filing cabinet and pulled out another brightly colored folder. “I thought it best to save them and the cards they came in.” Hunter placed the red folder on top of the filing cabinet and looked through the cards and envelopes, one by one. “So this crazy knows where you lived, currently live, and where I damn well work? This card came through my office, Jacinda.” “I know. Listen, whoever it is wants us to respond, to be upset and it’s not worth upsetting either of us over.” She remained calm although she didn’t feel it inside, but if she showed Hunter they had upset her, it would be like adding gasoline to the flame. He didn’t need any more fuel on that fire. “It’s just a bunch of silly news clippings.” “It’s not.” Hunter stalked over to the desk and picked up the phone. He punched at one of the memory buttons and waited. “Agent Vassar, this is Hunter Brooks. My wife has been receiving some interesting pieces of mail. Though not threatening, they are of some concern, if you could call me back, I would appreciate it. You have the number.”

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Hunter hung up the phone and took a deep breath. “You are not to open any letters from people you do not know.” “Is that an order?” “A strong request.” Hunter was visibly seething with mounting rage. “I don’t want anything happening to you. Up until now all the strange letters I‘ve been getting were coming through to the office, every letter scanned and searched. The very fact that one got through is an issue. I can’t even think about the possibility it could have been another letter bomb.” “Another, have there been more than just one?” “Forget I said that.” Jacinda watched him walk out of the room in disbelief. Another letter bomb had been delivered to Hunter’s office? When had that been? What else had he kept from her? She walked into the bedroom, put her hands on her hips, and demanded he tell her everything. It was in vain, but one could hope. Hunter looked at her and gently reminded her that she was expected to be at the charity ball in two hours. Therefore, she had better start getting ready. The phone rang, and Jacinda watch her husband walk away from her again, this time back into the office. She would have followed, but when she heard the lock engage, she knew he wasn’t going to tell her anything. So much for her concerns about telling your spouse everything. Luckily, she still had Elaine who would at least tell her something. She hoped. **** Getting one’s anger in check sometimes proved harder than it should be. Hunter’s anger hadn’t waned any since getting off the phone with Agent Vassar. Apparently, no one thought about checking through letters addressed to Mrs. Brooks, as he hadn’t bothered to inform the FBI that he’d gotten married. To which he responded, “You’re the God Damned FBI! I would think that if you can discover top secret information, you would have discovered information plastered all over the gossip columns!”

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Hunter assured Jacinda that he wasn’t angry with her, just concerned, and he wanted her to tell him immediately if anything suspicious happened in the future. To which she responded, “You mean like you telling me that you had another bomb hand delivered to your desk?” So now an evening he hoped would be quietly spent at home, alone with his wife, continued to spiral out of control. The downward descent didn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. He couldn’t have been more right. Hand in hand, walking into the ballroom, they found none other than David Kirkland entrenched in the middle of the table of ten. The downward spiral took a major plunge. J.C. tensed immediately at Hunter’s side. Her hatred for the man rivaled his own. Kirkland greeted them with enthusiasm, which bordered on sickening. Hunter ignored the well-manicured hand presented to him for handshake. He simply nodded and acknowledged him with a simple, “Kirkland.” Hunter held the man’s cold, blue gaze as long as he could. Finally Kirkland turned to introduce his date, a woman Hunter vaguely registered as being complete arm candy. While introductions to others at the table were made, Hunter took the time to assess his enemy. He looked to be wearing a ten thousand dollar tuxedo that didn’t fit as well as it should, the man was losing weight. His face seemed to have sunken in a little as well. He wondered, not for the first time, why society didn’t see the depraved individual Hunter did. It appeared Kirkland was losing his hair. Hunter allowed himself a moment of smug satisfaction. When Kirkland’s attention rested on J.C., Hunter pushed Jacinda behind him. Open appreciation and hunger emanated through his eyes. Hunter cursed inwardly at the green sequin dress that covered little of his wife’s front and almost none of her back. They very nearly hadn’t made it out of the apartment when she came out of the bathroom wearing it. Now he wished for the hundredth time they hadn’t left at all.

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“Jacinda,” the other man purred. “You are the picture of perfection.” J.C.’s hand intertwined with his, it felt clammy and cold. Concerned, his eyes shot to hers, she was visibly shaking. That was it! He wouldn’t be sitting here with the NYC golden-boy for a drink, let alone an eight-course, sit down dinner. “You’ll have to excuse us.” Having had enough of Kirkland, Hunter grabbed their place cards and without a word, walked to the other end of the room. He located a table toward the back, which he knew cost half the amount their table had. He took two place setting cards off the table and had a waiter place them on Kirkland’s table. “Thank you.” “That was my pleasure. Actually, my pleasure would have been to grab the man by the throat and squeeze until his beady eyes popped right out of his head.” Jacinda giggled despite herself. “That would have been a sight many people would have paid a great fortune to see.” “Perhaps that could be your next charity fundraiser.” Hunter smiled and grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing server. “Brooks vs. Kirkland: a battle to the pain!” Hunter saw the lines ease on J.C.’s face and the color started to edge back into her complexion. She turned with her normal ease and greeted the newly arriving members of their new table and all talk of David Kirkland ceased. The evening might not be a complete waste after all. They danced several dances together, and neither paid a bit of attention to the good hearted comments made regarding his fall from grace. He handed her begrudgingly over to an old friend of the Sherman family to dance. While she danced her heart out, he talked with the gentlemen at the table and discovered a man that might just be the perfect addition to his company. To top it off, he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Mr. David Kirkland in the last two hours.

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Hunter leaned against the bar to order another drink for J.C., when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up in pure discomfort. He knew before turning that his discomfiture was caused by the current bane of his existence. “What do you want, Kirkland?” Hunter looked the man in the face. He was stunned for a moment at the open venom in Kirkland’s eyes. “I just wanted to say congratulations,” he said lightly, but his voice held a chill to it. “Not just anyone could catch the hand of such a fair maiden.” “Get to the point, Kirkland, I know you didn’t come over here to offer your felicitations.” The grainy laugh reminded Hunted of nails on a chalkboard. “Brooks, you always were too smart for your own good. That’s why I can’t understand why you would settle for someone else’s hand me downs. Of course you did grow up in the poor house, so maybe second hand items don’t bother you.” “Goodnight, Kirkland.” Hunter threw down a bill on the bar and picked up J.C.’s drink. “She’s good, isn’t she?” “Watch it!” Hunter should have just walked away, though every fiber in his body was screaming to punch the man in the mouth. He made a promise to J.C. that he would behave tonight and starting a fistfight with David Kirkland, however satisfying it might have been, did not qualify as behaving. “But I never thought you’d be satisfied with my leftovers.” “What the hell are you talking about?” “I am talking about my ex-wife, Mr. Brooks, the old Mrs. Kirkland is now the new Mrs. Brooks. Ironic isn’t it?” Hunter felt like the rug beneath his feet had just been pulled out. He was sure he hadn’t heard him right. “You’re the ex-husband?” “You didn’t know?” David clapped his hands in amusement. Suddenly it all fit, everything, Dave was David, her disgust when they talked about him a week ago, she must have known then he didn’t know. “You’re the asshole.”

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He shrugged. “So back to my original question, she’s good, isn’t she? Taught her everything I know, taught her to please me in bed.” David seemed unaware of the fists now clenched at Hunter’s sides. “Of course she was always a quick learner, always wanting to please me…” Hunter’s hand shot out and his fist contacted in the dead center of David’s nose. Hunter felt the pain radiate from his knuckles. He welcomed the pain as his fist came down over and over until someone pulled him away. He stared at Kirkland who remained frozen in the fetal position at his feet. Hunter gasped to draw air into his lungs as he fought the two men holding him back. The men held strong. One called for help, the other made a comment about how he knew this was coming tonight. Hunter shrugged off the men’s arms and headed to his table. The taunting sounds of Kirkland yelling behind him brought him up short. He was about to head back when J.C. ran into his path, her face etched with concern. She poured the ice from an empty glass into a napkin and placed it onto his bloody knuckles. “What the hell did he say?” “Not here!” Hunter looked at the manager of the hotel who appeared panicked. David was demanding he be thrown off the premises. Hunter wasn’t about to cause more of a scene and give Kirkland the satisfaction of seeing him hauled away in handcuffs. He cursed at himself for not seeing what had obviously had been the plan all along. Hunter looked at J.C. but didn’t touch her. “I’m out of here.” High heels clicked the tile behind him but he didn’t care; he needed to clear his head. How had he not known? How many times had he heard her ex-husband referred to as Dave? The fact that no one else ever called him Dave didn’t alter the fact that he should have asked, just once, Dave who? He, being a fool, had tried to be considerate of J.C.’s decision not to discuss her very traumatic first marriage. How stupid could he be? Very Stupid. A small consolation was that David now knew how unimportant he must be in J.C.’s life and that she didn’t bother to talk about him at all. But it meant his only reason

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for approaching Hunter was to taunt him. Getting him to swing was just the icing on the cake, and swing he did. Repeatedly. The limo ride home was quiet and fraught with tension. J.C. tried in vain to talk, but Hunter wasn’t ready. Each instance met with the same phrase. “Not here.” Hunter threw his dinner jacket down on the leather sofa and walked through the apartment to the master bedroom. His fingers trembled with barely contained rage. “How about now?” J.C. asked, oblivious to the seething anger coming from Hunter. “Answer me this.” Hunter turned to her, throwing his bow tie on the floor. “Why is it I am the only one who didn’t know that you were once Mrs. David Kirkland?”

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Chapter Twenty “Choose, damn you.” J.C. to Hunter. “What are you talking about?” J.C. looked at him completely confused and bewildered. “How could you not have known? The wedding was the society wedding of that year. It was in all the papers, as was the collapse of our marriage twenty-two months later.” “Yeah, I must have missed that article in the Wall Street Journal,” Hunter threw at her sarcastically. “This might have escaped your notice, but I’ve never read a society magazine in my life.” “Fine, but I would’ve thought at least one of my brothers would have mentioned it. Or you would have noticed it on the invitation when you were sent one to the wedding.” “A. Tony never talked about you other than to say you had gotten married. B. I was, thankfully, never invited to the wedding.” “Of course you were invited! I put you on the list myself.” “I am guessing my invitation got lost in the mail,” Hunter commented dryly. “There is no reason to be nasty.” 159

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Ignoring her, Hunter continued on his tirade. “And C. you were, I take it, referring to the same brothers who decided not to tell you why I left so quickly on Memorial Day?” “You may have a point there,” she conceded uneasily as she removed her necklace. “You think?” “Let me repeat myself again.” Her voice rose, and she threw the necklace at his back. “There is no need to be nasty!” “You don’t think?” Hunter turned on her and glared. “I was just told by a man I hate more than anyone in this world, that he tutored you in the arts of lovemaking. You were eager for his tutelage and that you would do anything to satisfy him in bed.” “Hunter, you knew I was married. You knew I wasn’t a virgin, so why are you acting as if I‘ve deceived you? What does it matter who I was married to as long as I had the sense to get out?” “Because it was him.” Hunter sat on the bed looking somewhat defeated. “Because of all the men in this world, he is the only one I cannot stomach.” “You think I can stomach him?” J.C. lowered her voice and stepped cautiously toward him. She knew he was in shock. Couldn’t blame him, hadn’t she been in shock the other night when he mentioned how much he hated Dave? She had to do what she wasn’t good at and take this slowly. “I regret not divorcing him sooner, and I regret that I assumed you knew who Dave was. The other night when you brought him up I guess I knew then that you didn’t know but…” “But?” “But you can’t expect me not to have a past.” “I don’t…didn’t…it’s just…” “That you hate that man,” J.C. finished for him. “I’m very much aware of that. NOW!” His chocolate eyes looked at her almost pleading. She knew he was hoping she would deny it all—say Dave was just trying to get to him. J.C. only wished she could. His hands worked at the back of his neck, and she noticed the tension knots that twisted

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the muscles of his neck into a hard mass. She moved to help but he pulled away from her touch. “Do you have any idea what it does to me to know that his hands have been on you, that he has been in you?” “I’m quite sure if we were to list the women you’ve slept with, I can come up with one or two that disgust me as well.” Her tone tightened. She stepped away from him, no longer wishing to ease his bruised ego. “Then we can be equally disgusted and angry while I think about your hands being on them and you being in them.” Hunter glared at her, but kept quiet. He stripped out of his tuxedo and slid into a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. “Where are you going?” J.C. asked as Hunter walked from the room. “I have work to do.” “Can’t it wait? I mean you hadn’t planned on getting anything done tonight anyway.” “No, I planned on making love to my wife.” J.C. dropped her gown which left her standing in a thong and a pair of thigh highs. She so wished the dress she wore would have allowed for a garter belt. She could only hope this would weaken him enough. “So make love to me.” Just two strides closed the space between them, moving her hips seductively, hoping that it would keep Hunter interested and take his mind off everything else. Moving slowly around him, she let her hand trail behind her, touching first his back then his side. Moving to the front of him, she let her hands caress his chest. With her eyes locked to his, she saw the battle in his eyes. She knew that if she could just get through to him, if she could just make him see her as he did two hours ago, it would all be okay. Her hands moved up his shirt, bringing her body closer and slowly letting her legs brush against his thighs. She hoped for some kind of response, something to stir within him. Silently she pleaded for him to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless, but he stood there as still as a granite statue. He wasn’t giving an inch.

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Why wasn’t he giving an inch? She wanted to scream but the words stuck in her throat. Time to change tactics. It was time to get aggressive. He hadn’t been able to say no to her at the club in Maine. He’d been unable to send her away at his hotel in Boston. She knew she could get past his defenses if she just worked hard enough. J.C. placed her lips upon his neck and let her tongue lightly touch his sensitive skin just below his ear. She could see goose pimples rise on his skin and his hand now rested on her waist, though she doubted he was aware of it. Growing more adventurous, her hand reached down and under the waistband until her fingers brushed against the soft sensitive skin of his penis. He groaned and closed his eyes, triumph flared within her when she felt him twitch and harden in her hand. “Stop, Jacinda.” “Why, so you can leave? So you can go and drown your self-pity in mountains of work that never seems to get any smaller anyway?” Hunter glared at her, a suggestion of annoyance simmered in his eyes. “I don’t pity myself, J.C., I just need some space.” Gently he removed her hand from his pants. “Hunter, take me to bed, make love to me,” she begged. “Let’s just forget tonight ever happened.” “It’s not that easy for me.” J.C. wrapped her arms around Hunter’s neck. She slowly pulled his head down to meet hers and pressed her lips against his. Ever so gently, she traced his lips with the tip of her tongue, eventually moving her tongue between his lips. She sucked his bottom lip hoping to evoke the familiar reaction. Unfortunately, his arms never wrapped around her. He didn’t fight her, but he didn’t help her in her task either. He stood in her arms unmoving and unresponsive. “Is this what he taught you, Jacinda? Is this how he made you resolve your disagreements?” She pulled away from him as if he had physically slapped her. “Why are you being like this?”

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“I shouldn’t have said that, I’m sorry. “ Gently, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Give me some time. That’s all I’m asking. I need to work through this on my own. It not you, it’s me.” “Please.” J.C. had heard that a hundred times in high school. ‘Sorry, Jacinda, it’s not you. I just want to be friends… Jacinda, you’re a nice girl, but it’s me. I just love someone else…’ She doubted Hunter had ever heard those words in his entire life. “I can’t, J.C., this isn’t something we can resolve in bed.” Hunter pushed past her and slammed the door to the office behind him. J.C. numbly stood looking at the door. It wasn’t until the clock in the living room struck one a.m. that she came to her senses and went to lie down. She didn’t bother with clothes or washing her face, she threw off her shoes and climbed on top of the bed, numb and guarded. She knew if she let one tear fall there would be more, too many to count, too many to stop. She wouldn’t play that game. Hours later, and chilled to the bone, J.C. awoke to find Hunter’s side of the bed untouched. The clock on the night stand glared at her: 4:13. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up before scurrying off the bed. She removed the nylons she fell asleep wearing and threw on one of Hunter’s tee shirts. The light from under the office door let her know Hunter was still in there. She stood there for a brief minute before turning the handle. Hunter didn’t move, though she knew he was awake, but he didn’t acknowledge her presence. He looked years older and the strain of it all seemed to lie heavily on his shoulders. “Aren’t you coming to bed?” “J.C., I thought I made it clear I can’t…” “To sleep, Hunter, nothing more.” She watched him as he leaned forward in his chair. He placed his elbows on his knees and bowed his head in defeat. “I don’t know how to do this,” he said through a strained voice. “I feel like I’m walking on quick sand, I don’t have my footing. I’ve never wanted to fight for a relationship before.”

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“So, you do want to fight?” “Damn it, of course I do. My head says it doesn’t matter but… I just need some time to work it through.” “Relationships aren’t about working problems through on your own, Hunter. They are about doing it together as a team.” She lowered herself to her knees before him. “Just come to bed; we can talk about it in the morning.” He looked so torn, but he had closed himself off to her and she couldn’t read him anymore. He looked as if he was about to cave in. It was the shrill of his telephone going off though that got him to his feet. “Brooks…Elaine what is it? I can’t understand you…calm down, take a breath. Say that again. How many people are hurt?” J.C. watched Hunter’s expression. What was he talking about? He clicked on his computer before he walked out of the room. She followed in his shadow and watched him throw a bag of clothes together, signing off just after he demanded his plane be refueled and ready to leave within the hour. “I have to go.” “I can see that. Why are you running?” “I’m not running. Another of my hotels was just bombed. This time in Amsterdam. I have to go and make sure everyone is okay.” She grabbed a pair of pajama bottoms from her drawer and pulled them on with a yank. “Why is it your hotels are always bombed at the most convenient times for you to run from your commitment to me?” “That is the stupidest thing I’ve heard you say.” J.C. flared back at him throwing his shirt that she was wearing at him before grabbing her pajama top. “You have people trained to deal with this. You can leave in the morning. Don’t go now. Give us the time to fix this or at least get us back on our feet. What difference will twelve hours make either way?” “You could come with me. We could talk on the plane. You might be able to help the families. Either way I am needed there.” “I need you here.”

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“Then come with me.” “I can’t just drop everything. I also have work to do and would only be in the way there. So I am begging you to delay your trip for me.” “I can’t do that. You must understand.” The intercom buzzed from down stairs announcing the arrival of a driver who would be taking Hunter away. “Please, come with me. I can explain why this is so important to me on the plane.” “It’s your job or me, Hunter, what’s more important?” “Don’t do this.” “Choose, damn you.” Hunter crossed the distance between them in seconds he placed a rough kiss on her lips before pulling away. “My employees rely on me to take care of them. I have to go.” The buzzer rang again and he pushed the button to tell them he would be right down. “I’ll call you when I get there.” “I won’t be here,” she murmured through clenched teeth. “Then I will call your cell. Every night. It will be all right, J.C., I love you.” Hunter pulled open the door before quickly disappearing into the darkened hallway. J.C. wondered how one woman could have such bad luck with men. Hunter said he loved her, but if he did, wouldn’t he have waited? And if she loved him as much as she professed wouldn’t she have gone with him? Without a thought she ran out into the hall, and into the elevator. She reached the doorman just in time to see Hunter’s car pull away. “Forgot to tell Mr. Brooks something?” the door attendant asked. She nodded and walked barefoot back to the apartment building, just now noticing the strange looks coming from a couple just returning from their night on the town. “Pajama party,” she muttered as the other couple nodded and laughed. Walking into the quiet apartment, J.C. knew there was one thing she had to do. She had to leave, at least until Hunter returned. Staying here and replaying the last few hours in her head wouldn’t be productive at all. Jumping a plane to Amsterdam would make her look subservient and she couldn’t do that either.

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The family house on the cape would be empty, and the perfect escape. Close enough for her to spend some time with friends and do to the trivial amount of work she had just argued she had to do, yet secluded enough to get some much needed quiet time so she could clear her head and come up with a game plan on fixing her marriage. **** A week later, her family descended on her, when the gossip columns all printed a series of photos of Hunter in Amsterdam on the arm and in the arms of famed actress Kiloran O’Conner. J.C. was about to push the vulgar piece away when she noticed the subtle scar on his cheek. These weren’t taken years ago, these were taken very recently. She read the article and according to the sources, Hunter and Kiloran had been seen together several times over the last week. Most recently going into his hotel and not surfacing until early morning. J.C. held it together just barely, but she knew everything was about to come tumbling at her feet when Lucas came in with his eyes red and his rage seething from every pore in his body. “If your womanizing bastard of a husband wants to cheat on you that’s bad enough, but couldn’t he choose someone to screw who isn’t my ex-fiancée?”

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Chapter Twenty-One “I don’t believe in Prince Charming anymore.” J.C. to Hunter. Hunter stood his ground as Lucas opened the door with a curse. He didn’t move when the door abruptly slammed in his face again. He waited with a patience he didn’t quite feel, but waited nonetheless. Staring at the beautiful stained glass panel laid into the dark wood door, he allowed the sound of the surf to calm him. This wasn’t going to be easy. Nice to see the Sherman’s living up to expectations. As usual. A few minutes later, a tense looking Spencer opened the door. His usual well put together appearance was in sad disrepair. He looked tired and at the end of his rope. Hunter supposed if the roles had been reversed he wouldn’t have looked much better. “Come in,” Spencer said grimly. “As you can imagine, all hell has broken loose here.” “That’s why I flew out of Amsterdam as quickly as possible.” Hunter walked into the house. The house seemed surprisingly calm and unexpectedly quiet. That should have tipped him off. The Sherman home was always boisterous and loud. “Where is she?” 167

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“Out on the sun porch. She hasn’t spoken to anyone since one of the neighbors so thoughtfully brought the paper over earlier.” Spencer stopped Hunter and looked him in the eyes. Hunter could see the question within those blue eyes, but he wasn’t ready to answer anyone’s questions until he’d cleared the air with his wife. Only then, would he answer the slew of questions he knew his in-laws had for him. “I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt. Don’t prove me wrong.” “I’d tell you to mind your own business, but it would be a waste of breath.” “Whatever is going on with the two of you, you need to work it out.” Spencer spoke in true big-brother form. “She hasn’t told anyone what’s going on, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize that it involves David Kirkland.” “Why’s that?” “Let’s see. You get into a very public brawl with him, and then the next day you fly off to destinations unknown and Jacinda comes here to lick her wounds.” Spencer stepped around Hunter to head back the way they had come. “I’ll have someone bring you out some coffee. You look like you need it.” “The only thing I need is some privacy with my wife. Can you keep everyone else out?” “I’ll do my best.” He looked anxiously toward the study door. “But I’m not promising anything. Mom and Dad are dealing with Lucas. So, I’m hoping they will make him see reason.” “I do want to talk with him, because it’s not what it seems. But I need to confront your sister first.” “Good luck.” Hunter and J.C. hadn’t talked much since he’d left the apartment. Strained conversations marred every phone call. He was still angry she’d decided to stay behind when he desperately needed her support. They would have to deal with that another day. Today he needed to see his wife and make sure this malicious bit of tinder didn’t hammer the final nail into their hastily put together marriage coffin.

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He paused for a second as he saw her there sitting in the sunroom. She stared aimlessly out over the ocean, a worn blanket tossed haphazardly over her legs to ward off the fall chill. He dropped his bag just inside the door then took a few steps forward. He took his time drinking her in. She looked young and fragile. He supposed he couldn’t blame her. Before leaving Amsterdam, he knew she would see that gossip column, if not on her own then someone would maliciously throw it in her face. She moved in a society where everyone rejoiced at another’s disgrace and downfall. The reaction he received upon coming into the house made it painfully clear he’d been correct, but he had still hoped that she would remain blissfully ignorant until he could talk to her. As he walked closer, he caught sight of the offending paper lying on the table next to her. Silently he sat in the chair next to her, placing his elbows on his knees and faced her. She had to know he was there, but she seemed to be concentrating hard on keeping her emotions in check. Hunter gave her a minute to get herself in control. He was here now and she could have all the time in the world to get herself together. He made the first move by getting to her, she could have the first word. She did. “I’m surprised that you made it through the family guard and got in to see me.” “Much like a fairytale prince fighting his way to his princess?” “If you like, though I am old enough now that I don’t believe in Prince Charming anymore.” Her voice was calm, but he could hear the slight quiver. She reached over to the side table and picked up the magazine, letting it drop into her covered lap. “So what explanations have you come up with to magic these away?” “They’re fakes. I have my lawyers working on tracking down where they came from. I haven’t been able to look at them yet without wanting to kill someone, so I can’t tell you how they’re fakes. Except to tell you, I didn’t go out the entire time I was in Amsterdam. That is the truth.” He heard her humph, but he continued, “I’m not saying that I don’t know Kiloran, I do, and I dated her years ago.”

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“I don’t know what to believe anymore.” “Believe me!” Hunter demanded taking her hand in his. Her hands were ice cold, and he felt the need to warm them. He so wanted to take her in his arms and hold on tight. The chill in the air wasn’t just coming from the New England weather. “I haven’t seen Kiloran in at least four years.” He pointed at the gossip magazine in J.C.’s lap. J.C. stared at him with a look of disbelief. “She’s Lucas’s ex-girlfriend.” She turned on him, angry and definitely unwilling to listen to anything he might have to say. Her fingers tightened around the magazine until her knuckles turned white. J.C. looked ready to cry and he knew she was trying her best to stay angry instead of crying. “I know, but they weren’t dating then. I doubt they had even met yet when last I saw her.” “Neither did you have that scar on your cheek four years ago.” She threw the magazine at him and got to her feet. “J.C., listen to me.” “No. You listen to me, Hunter Brooks! I’m done being a lapdog. What right do you have to ask me to listen to you? When you wouldn’t take one day out of your busy life to listen to me?” “That, as you damn well know, was different. People were hurt and injured. I had to go.” “Why you? You have an army of underlings who are paid damn well to make sure things like this are taken care of. They could just as easily made sure the people were all right and repairs started on the hotel. I needed you to sit down and talk to me.” “And I was willing to do that. But first I had to see this through.” Hunter stood up and walked to the other window. He felt her eyes on him as he stared out at the cold, restless ocean water that mimicked their relationship. Usually the ocean was beautiful, peaceful, with a rhythm that was hypnotic but the ocean could be deadly and it could pull you under before you could react. As much life as it could give, it could take it back as easily.

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“You could have come with me.” J.C. curled her legs beneath her and folded her arms over her stomach. “And you could have stayed and proven to me that I was more important than a pile of wood and some faceless names on a payroll docket. Dave never would have put work ahead of me!” “Do not compare me to that bastard!” “What are you afraid of? That you will come up wanting?” “Let me tell you something about David Kirkland, you’re right he never would have put his employees ahead of you, because he couldn’t give a damn about anyone in his employ. They work in unsafe conditions, are paid next to nothing, and are treated like third class citizens. This was my hotel and my responsibility,” he declared, exasperatedly throwing his hands up in the air. “And I take care of my responsibilities.” Anger flared within J.C., Hunter could see it in her eyes. Why couldn’t she understand she wasn’t playing a secondary role to his chain of hotels? He didn’t know if he could make her understand because he knew if the situation arose again he wouldn’t hesitate to drop everything he was doing. If families who were dependant on him for their paycheck were in crisis, he had to go. It was instilled in him, a part of who he was. Just like she was—why couldn’t see get that? “What about your responsibility to me and this marriage?” Hunter’s hand raked through his hair. “We hit a speed bump. I thought we were strong enough to be put on the back burner for a few days.” “I guess you were wrong.” “Jacinda!” her mother shrieked in horror. “You can’t…” Both J.C. and Hunter stopped speaking abruptly. Obviously Hunter hadn’t heard or seen her mother walk in, an apologetic Spencer followed close behind. “Mom, stay out of this. This is my mistake. I will fix it.” J.C. turned her back on Hunter and faced her family. “I would kindly appreciate it if you would all go back to minding your own business and stay out of mine for once.”

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Lucas walked in looking pale and understandably upset. He had a copy of the gossip column in his hand. “J.C., I think we need to talk. But first, I think Hunter deserves a fair hearing from you.” “Lucas, I can’t believe you, of all people, are defending him.” J.C. glared at her brother. “Please, for once stay out of my life. If my overprotective brothers hadn’t forced me to see Hunter in secret, I doubt I would have made the biggest mistake of my life.” “What was the biggest mistake of your life?” Hunter demanded. J.C. looked over her shoulder at him. “Marrying you!” Hunter felt the color ebb from his face, his heart dropped to his stomach. He felt physically ill. His wife’s attention now firmly back on her family allowed him the first seconds he needed to recollect himself. Not quick enough he realized when he looked up to see Mrs. Sherman pushing past her daughter and heading toward him. Her face marred with concern. He was done, if she honestly thought he was her biggest mistake there seemed very little left to say. No matter how angry she might be those words cut to the very core of the issue. This was the second time she had referred to their relationship as a mistake. The first he’d shrugged off, now he couldn’t. Had she married him because she could get one over on her brothers? Was it all some big adventure? At the time he wouldn’t have said so but now…now he wasn’t so sure. He had to get out of there. Picking up his bag he gently shrugged off Mrs. Sherman’s hand before turning his back to the group. He hadn’t gotten off the streets and become as successful as he had without the intuitive knowledge of when it was best to just walk away. “Don’t want to fight?” J.C. asked. Hunter turned for a minute, his features cool and calm now. “I was wrong, there is nothing here to fight for.” His voice might have been cool but there was no hiding the southern accent that had suddenly crept through his well polished demeanor. J.C. froze in place. Hunter walked away from her without a backward glance.

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**** He’d be back, J.C. told herself. Hunter would come back and they would work it out. He was at fault, she reminded herself. She was the injured party. Why then did she have this cold feeling of dread running through her blood? Why did she feel so dead inside and empty? Lucas walked over to her and pushed the gossip column photo under her nose. “Look at the picture, J.C.” “I have.” “No, look at it again, really look at it.” Lucas demanded and with an exasperated sigh and pointed to the scar on Hunter’s face. “What’s wrong with this picture?” “Nothing that I can see. “The scar, it’s on the wrong cheek.” J.C. pushed the paper back at Lucas. “So they flipped the negative and printed it the wrong way.” “No, they didn’t; the sign reads correctly, someone added the scar J.C. Which means Hunter was telling the truth. This picture is probably four years old.” J.C. fought hard to hold on to her righteous anger. “I’ll apologize for that when he returns.” “I hope you get the chance,” her mother said sadly. Lucas shook his head. “Hunter won’t be back. Not when you just said marrying him was a bigger mistake than marrying Dave. You just told Hunter that a man who continuously beat and abused you for two years was a better husband than he is.” “I didn’t say…” “You didn’t mean to say that marrying Hunter was the biggest mistake of your life, because that is exactly what you said. Hunter isn’t the type of man to take that insult lightly.” She looked to the open doorway; the one Hunter had walked through. He’ll be back, she told herself. He had to come back.

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Four days later, J.C. finally admitted that he wasn’t coming back after all. She tried to call him, but all her calls went to his voicemail box. She left messages on the machine at the apartment as well, not that she actually thought she would get through. Tony volunteered to check in at Hunter’s offices when he was in NYC on Monday, but she needed to face the music herself. She’d just finished packing her bag when Spencer came to the door holding a manila envelope. She looked at the envelope then at his face, which was taut and concerned. Fingers shaking, she took the envelope from him. Slowly, with very clumsy fingers, she finally managed to open the metal clasps on the envelope. She pulled the large group of papers out gradually. As she read the first few lines, J.C. sank down on the bed. Unnoticed, the envelope fell to the floor next to her. Spencer instantly grabbed the envelope and handed it back to J.C. She had just enough sense to realize that for the first time in her life one of her brothers was minding his own business. She took the papers and closed her eyes. Dreadful emotions flooded her. “Talk to me, kiddo.” Spencer knelt before her. He gently placed his hands on her knees and looked ready to catch her if she fell. Little did he know she’d hit rock bottom. “He’s started divorce proceedings,” she said numbly. “This is his official intent to separate.” “Separating isn’t the same as a divorce; you know that, Jace.” Spencer’s voice was kind, but she doubted it even he believed what he was saying. That he was using her childhood nickname was another sign that he was concerned. “Why don’t you let me drive you back to the city? You need to work this out with Hunter in person, not sitting in hiding here. I’m sure that with time, you two can work this out.” “I wish I was so certain.” Her voice small and raspy, she scarcely believed it was her own. How did one talk to someone who didn’t want to be talked to? Hunter screened his calls, and she couldn’t blame him. She’d have been pretty angry herself if he‘d called

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her his biggest mistake. The hurt and anger caused her to lash out, much like a cat does when cornered. She hadn’t meant it; she just wanted him to hurt as much as she did. She needed him to know the pain she felt. It never occurred to her that he would take it literally. J.C. hadn’t meant the comparison to David. She tried to put that time of her life out of her mind. Especially since society hadn’t understood why she had left David, they just saw his perfect image and didn’t want to see the monster underneath. Society didn’t have to deal with the nonstop presence of David or his almighty need for revenge and destruction. David’s goal had always been to make sure no one could have her. Had he succeeded? Unfortunately, this wasn’t all Dave’s fault. No matter how much J.C. would like to blame it all on him, this was her own insecurities coming into play. All those damn newspaper articles arriving at her office, at her home, at her parent’s home, hell even Hunter’s office. Every picture of every girl had the same effect. It whittled away at her self-confidence and respect. She knew now they must have all come from David, but what did it matter now? After all those other photos, what did she expect when she looked in the paper and saw him in the arms of another woman, Lucas’s woman? She had been hurt and distraught by the photos, but never, ever shocked. J.C. always knew she couldn’t hold on to Hunter. Wasn’t that the reason she had married David in the beginning? She knew Hunter would never love her, and in David’s sick mind, he loved J.C. Maybe too much sometimes. It was time to acknowledge that although he professed to loving her, Hunter came from a life where no one loved him. The one thing he always seemed to want was to be part of the Sherman family and she was the end to that means. But was that enough to hold her to him? “Spence, can I borrow your cell phone?” “Sure,” Spencer said, handing it over. He picked up her packed bag and headed out of the room. “I’ll meet you outside when you’re ready.”

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She nodded and rung Hunter’s cell, but she still only got the answering machine. She hadn’t been able to get through anywhere, even at the office she met with voicemail boxes. Somehow, she doubted Elaine had Spencer’s cell number and prayed that she would get through this time. She let out a tense breath as Elaine’s familiar voice came through the earpiece. “Elaine, it’s J.C., is Hunter around?” There was a quiet pause. “He’s out of the country at the present time. I could take a message.” J.C. had never heard Elaine sound so cold and professional before. “No, that’s okay. Do you know when he’ll be back in town?” “I really can’t say.” “I’m his wife, Elaine. I have the right to know.” “I was told not to tell you.” “Please, I need to speak with him. It’s important.” Exhaustion rushed through her body. She didn’t have the energy to fight. “One woman to another, please just…” “My loyalty is and will always be with Hunter,” and to J.C.’s surprise she heard the buzz of a dead line in her ear.

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Chapter Twenty-Two “You can’t be surprised Hunter wants nothing more to do with you.” Elaine to J.C. J.C. stood stunned as she opened the door to their New York City apartment. Boxes lined the small entry hall. She heard noises coming from the office and her heart caught in her throat. Hunter must be packing. If Hunter was packing, it meant he was here and she had a chance to make good. He wouldn’t run if Spencer was here, and if he could not run, he would have to listen. The first flickers of hope simmered within her. She looked at Spencer and took a deep breath. “Wish me luck.” “Good luck, I know he loves you, kiddo. So don’t fret too much.” “I hope you’re right.” Straightening her shoulders, she walked across the living room and down the hall toward the office. Slowly, she opened the office door. All thoughts of a happy reunion flew out the window as the two people who looked up at her stopped what they were doing. “J.C.,” Elaine said in a tight little voice. Her brown hair, haphazardly twisted to the top of her head with a pencil, resembled nothing of the professional PA she was during 177

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the week. She looked far less put together than usual. Her faded pink sweatpants and matching sweatshirt had seen better days. “Elaine,” she said, and nodded to John who was working on boxing up Hunter’s computer. “I hoped Hunter would be here.” “He hasn’t stepped foot in this apartment since he came back from the cape,” Elaine said, her voice cool and distant. “Whatever you said destroyed him. I’ve never seen him like this. So congratulations. You managed to do in one conversation what your exhusband couldn’t accomplish in half a decade.” J.C. had to brace herself against something. The onslaught from Elaine, though unexpected, shook her deep. “That’s not fair.” “Listen, sweetie, let me tell you what’s not fair.” She threw the files into the box then stood before J.C. Her hands on her hips showed her determination not to back down. “What’s ‘not fair’ is to be three years old and on the street alone, hungry and cold. What’s ‘not fair’ is to have never been given a silver spoon in one’s mouth. What’s ‘not fair’ is to take the only people he trusts, your family, and make it so Hunter can never see them again.” “He can still see them.” Elaine laughed, but it wasn’t the warm laugh J.C. associated with Elaine. This laugh was bitter and bruised. “But he won’t. Unlike you, Hunter understands family loyalty, even never having one himself. Hunter would never put your family in the middle of your fight and make them choose.” “Honey, I think J.C.’s been through enough,” John said patiently from the corner. “Don’t you get involved in this.” She turned on John before turning her ire back at J.C. “I had reservations from the start. When Hunter told me he’d gotten involved with you, I worried that it was a way for him to become a member of the family. I was worried about you. That’s a laugh. I never believed in a million years that you could bring him to his knees. Shows just how little I know.”

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J.C. stood there unable to talk or think. She watched Elaine go into the last file drawer and place the files in a box. She sealed it and turned to John. “I think that’s it. I need to get out of here.” “Elaine, please tell Hunter I need to talk to him.” “You should have tried that before.” Feeling sick of being on the defense, J.C. condemned back at Elaine. “I tried but he couldn’t even give me an hour. He had to rush off to his damned hotel. Had he waited just an hour…” “Had you gone with him?” Elaine threw back. “Why should I do all the bending? Had he waited…” “Families would have suffered. Do you know why Hunter was orphaned at three? Do you know why he was on the streets? Because his father was killed in a fire at a motel where he worked. When he didn’t come home from work, the babysitter just left him in his apartment alone and left. NO one bothered to find out if Hunter was okay. NO one bothered to find out if there was any family what so ever. It was two weeks before anyone thought to go into that apartment and only after the rent was late. Can you even begin to imagine what that was like for a three year old?” Elaine took a deep breath then rallied on. “So don’t you dare ask me to take your side.” “I never knew, he should have told me.” “Did you ever bother to ask?” “What about his mother?” “His mother left when he was two, telling anyone who would listen that having Hunter was the biggest mistake of her life.” Jacinda gasped and sat down into the chair nearest to her. “I want to sort this out.” “I don’t believe there is anything more to sort out. You told Hunter, David was a better husband than he was. So you can’t be surprised that Hunter wants nothing more to do with you.” Elaine looked over the room. She grabbed her coat and purse off Hunter’s black leather office chair, before turning back to J.C. once last time. “A couple of moving men are due to be here in an hour. They know what goes and what stays.” 179

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“But this is his apartment!” “Not anymore, you’ll find on the kitchen counter the deed to the place. Hunter doesn’t want it anymore.” Without anything else to say, Elaine strolled past J.C. and gave a curt nod to Spencer. John put a comforting hand on J.C.’s shoulder. “Give it some time. And please excuse Elaine, she’s just concerned about Hunter.” ”Is he all right?” “He’s a mess.” “I never thought he would take those words to heart. I never knew about his mother.” “Men are funny creatures, you think of us as strong and infallible when all it takes is knowing just the right weakness in our armor to bring us low. You just happened to find his fatal flaw.” John walked through the living room and gave it a once over. “Hunter is hurting now, just don’t give up.” John left, closing the door behind him. The silence and emptiness of the apartment was stifling. It wasn’t until she felt Spencer’s hands on her shoulders that reality sunk in. Hunter wasn’t here, and he wasn’t coming back. She turned into his arms and cried. J.C. allowed all the pent up emotions out. She held onto her brother like a lifesaver. His strong arms wrapped around her, comforted and supported her. She never realized how cold she was until she felt the warmth of him penetrate into her bones. For the first time, she wondered what she would do without her family to pick up the pieces. But who would pick up the pieces for Hunter?

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Chapter Twenty-Three “I’m the mistake, remember?” Hunter to Elaine. Four weeks later… The last thing Hunter wanted was to be trolling the clubs. Elaine thought differently. After officially separating over a month ago, everyone seemed to be in agreement with Elaine. It was time for Hunter to get out in the game again. Hunter didn’t agree, but it had been easier to give in this one time than to turn them down. “If you don’t come out with us tonight, I will simply bring back every single woman I meet tonight.” Elaine threatened and Hunter conceded out of sheer terror that she would make good on that threat. Elaine was determined to get his mind off J.C. Personally, he thought he’d been doing a pretty good job of it. He worked himself into the ground, made sure there was no time to think about J.C. or their failed marriage. When he wasn’t working, he was in the gym. He hadn’t been in this good of shape since his college rugby days.

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Someone slid an article under his office door about the failure rate in first marriages, referred to as ‘Starter Marriages.’ He supposed somehow the article was supposed to make him feel better. It didn’t. The complete silence coming from the Sherman camp stunned him. He hadn’t expected them to be there to see him through the bad times. He’d expected something though, at the very least one, if not all, the brothers showing up on his doorstep, not that he had a doorstep, but being there nonetheless to make sure their displeasure was known. For the first time in years, there weren’t emails waiting for him on Friday mornings. He’d expected Tony at least would have vented his displeasure. Yet, not a word or a peep from any of the Shermans made it to his ears. J.C. finally stopped calling; only the occasional contact from her lawyer, but otherwise, in the last few weeks, she made no attempt to contact him. Hunter found a strange sort of relief in her silence. It was easier to get on with his life when she didn’t call. When she did, he found himself floundering for the rest of the day to get back the control of his emotions. She still managed to do a number on him. “If you still love her, then why don’t you both seek counseling or try and work through this?” Elaine asked shortly after the separation papers went through. “I’m the mistake, remember?” “She was angry at the photo. She probably regretted saying those words almost immediately.” “I gave her the chance to retract the statement. She didn’t! So there’s nothing more to say.” Hunter hated having this conversation. He barely was able to keep himself from drowning in a bottle of Jim Beam. All the alcohol in his office had been removed upon his orders. He didn’t need that temptation. The first week spent sleeping in his office coincided with a week spent in a booze-induced coma. Unfortunately, Elaine was not as easy to remove as the booze. She was relentless. “You love her!”

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“And she destroyed me. I’m not sure I could take another blow from her arsenal.” He’d growled, angry at his weakness and angrier still that she’d made him admit it. So here he sat in a crowded bar, trying very hard to remember the name of the woman at his side, let alone what it was about her that made her so uninteresting. She was tall, large breasted, with a head of silk red curls. Nothing about her interested him. Of course, that wasn’t her fault. He hadn’t much of an interest in anything these days. The only thing at the moment that interested him was how to get out of the club without Elaine ripping into him. Loud techno music and flashing lights never thrilled him much in the past and thrilled him even less now. The tacky mirrors on the wall and the cheesy fog pumped out by the gallons wasn’t helping his ennui. He wondered if there had ever been a moment when he’d found this exciting. But he couldn’t remember feeling excited about much of anything anymore. The redhead was still talking about something…oh, he remembered now, the class she’d taken at university. How old was she, he wondered? How long had she been playing with his hair? Why hadn’t he noticed? He had to get out of there. Hunter removed her hand from his shoulder, and looked around for Elaine and John to make his excuses for leaving when his eyes collided with the one person he’d least expected. J.C. Their eyes met and held. Hunter wasn’t sure he could move if forced at gunpoint. He drank her in, while never breaking eye contact. He hadn’t seen her since their summons to appear in court three weeks ago. Although she’d wanted to talk then, he’d moved quicker than her and climbed into the waiting limousine before she could get out of the courthouse. Now neither moved, and he watched her look over to his left. She looked at the redhead; her expression was one of mute wretchedness. Sudden unwanted guilt stabbed at him. She turned her back to him. Her head drooped in defeat. He may be hurt and angry at J.C., but he didn’t want to win cheap shots off her. Certainly, he didn’t want it to look as if he enjoyed kicking her when she was down. She couldn’t be led to believe he’d moved on so soon. Maybe he needed her to know the

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pain she inflicted, but more likely, he grimaced, he just didn’t want her tearing herself up any more than she already was. Hunter excused himself from the table and made his way across the heavily crowded club toward the corner bar. J.C. hadn’t moved from her stool, but he had a feeling if she knew he was on his way, she would have bolted. He stood at her back, taking in the sight of her, other than the hunched shoulder and her head bowed in defeat, she looked good. It looked like she was spending as much time in the gym as he. Her arms had acquired some muscularity that hadn’t been there a few weeks ago. His hands itched to run his fingers through her dark locks that gleamed under the multicolored lights. He shoved them into his jeans pockets before leaning against the stool next to her. “J.C.,” he said in a cool voice. She looked shocked, as if he’d materialized out of the mist. He let her take a moment to compose herself while he ordered a soda from the bartender. “I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said when the music died down a bit. Hunter noticed the quiver to her voice. “Elaine talked me into it.” Hunter ignored the obvious stiffening of her spine at the mention of Elaine. He ignored it knowing that Elaine had begrudgingly related to him that she’d told J.C. off. Hunter hadn’t wanted to know about it. “You’d better get back to the redhead before she gets the wrong idea.” “J.C., I’m not with her, and before you say that is not how it looked from here. Let me assure you that I haven’t done anything to encourage her.” “But then you never have to. Why’d you come over here, Hunter?” “I didn’t want you thinking I’d moved on.” She looked at him disbelieving. “Why? Are you afraid your good standing with the family would be in jeopardy?” “No, I just didn’t want you to think you were that easy to forget. No matter how hard I’m trying.”

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“I can’t do this. I can’t pretend to be a casual acquaintance. I’m selling the apartment. I’ll send you half the proceeds. I’m moving away. I can’t risk bumping into you.” Tears slowly found their way down her cheeks. Hunter instinctively reached out with his thumb to wipe them away. His thumb lingered for a moment over her cheek before he pulled away. “Eventually, I’m going to run into you and a lady. And, eventually, the lady hanging on your every word will be someone you invited, someone you are encouraging, and I couldn’t take that.” “Where are you going?” “Away from everyone, you can find me through my lawyer.” J.C. stood up looked at him. She leaned forward and set her lips on his cheek. “Have a good life, Hunter.” “Be safe, Jacinda.” He watched her cross the bar and say a few words to some women on the edge of the dance floor. She nodded, kissed J.C. goodbye then went back to dancing. His soon to be ex-wife was walking away from him and he wondered, not for the first time, why he was letting her go. He turned and looked at his table, Elaine was there watching expectantly, but he couldn’t face her questions tonight. Hunter turned to the exit and saw David Kirkland moving quickly through the crowd. Hunter pushed through the crowd after him. They may be getting divorced, but he was sure as hell not going to let Kirkland get his claws into her. David, Hunter was coming to believe, had lost all sense of reality when it came to J.C. David’s hand reached out to grab J.C. when Hunter made a lunge at him. Instead of reaching David, Hunter ran into a very large object first. Hunter tried to get around the gargantuan man but he was unmovable. “Mr. Brooks, we have Mrs. Brooks’ safety under control. Please be patient and let my men handle this.” The tall, dark man said as he placed a restraining hand on Hunter’s shoulder. Hunter, being slightly taller than most men, seemed small in comparison to the man.

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Hunter stood still, in shock, for a moment. He would have remembered meeting this man before. Yet he hadn’t ever seen this man in his life. So how then, did he know who Hunter was? “And who the hell are you?” “I’m one of her bodyguards.” The large man looked over his shoulder nodded at another man about his same size before returning his attention back to Hunter. “My understanding was that the two of you were separated.” “We are. But that doesn’t mean I want her manhandled by that asshole.” “The restraining order should be in place in the morning. We hope that will take care of him.” He said something into is headset microphone before nodding to Hunter. “Enjoy your evening, Mr. Brooks.” Hunter watched stunned as the man walked out of the club. He followed, but knew J.C. would be gone before he got to the door. The only thing he found outside was a police officer who had detained David long enough for J.C. to get away without him following her. “Well, well, well, it looks like she doesn’t want you around either.” David pulled his arm free of the officer’s grasp. “That should be a small consolation.” “Shut up, Kirkland.” Hunter turned away from the club and David. “Just shut the fuck up!”

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Chapter Twenty-Four “Well, if it isn’t the Sherman Army making its invasion.” Hunter to all the Sherman brothers. Hunter heard the commotion long before he reached his office. Having left his office twenty minutes ago empty, his curiosity had been piqued to hear raised voices coming from within. Especially, as it was half past seven in the morning. “Let me go, you brute.” Hunter heard the familiar sound of Elaine’s voice. About to throw open the door he paused when he heard another familiar voice. Tony’s! Through the door, he heard Tony saying in a very conversational tone, “You can’t go, you’ll just warn Hunter.” “Warn me about what, Tony?” Hunter opened the door to his office. He stopped dead in his tracks to see all four Sherman brothers before him. “Well, if it isn’t the Sherman Army making its invasion. Is this a reconnaissance mission or an assassination attempt?” Spencer pushed himself off the wall he’d leaned against and put out his hand in welcome to Hunter. They weren’t playing by the book. They were supposed to come in threatening to beat the crap out of him, or perhaps actually beating the crap out of him. 187

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They were supposed to tell him what a shit he was before they denounced him as Satan and told him never to darken their door again. They were not supposed to be friendly. Hunter reluctantly shook Spencer’s hand and looked at Lucas and Trent who bookended Elaine on the sofa. “Perhaps you could let her up now. Obviously, she can’t warn me now. And, Tony get the hell out of my seat.” Tony laughed, but made no effort to move from Hunter’s seat. Hunter walked past all four brothers, positioning himself so he could see each and every one of them. He scanned them silently, letting them know he wasn’t keen to have them there. In actuality, he wasn’t that surprised. The only surprise was in the time it took them to confront him. Calm and cool, Spencer returned to holding up the wall behind the door. His Khaki pants and blue sweater a testament that he wasn’t heading to work today. Obviously, he felt this might be a long meeting. He appeared from an outside perspective to be doing nothing more than visiting a friend while in town for a few days. Tony now had the gall to put both feet on the deep cherry desk in front of him. His two-piece black Armani suit meant one of two things. First, he was heading to a meeting at the New York office of the advertising firm he worked with. Or, the second was that he meant business, and he wanted Hunter to know it. “Get your damned feet off my desk.” Trent, who still sat on the sofa, though now significantly further away from Elaine, looked like he could be heading to work or to play. Though Hunter figured if Trent was heading out to do forestry work, he wouldn’t be wearing his sneakers, but a pair of Timberlands. Otherwise, the jeans and flannel shirt seemed more grunge chic left over from the 90’s than anything else. Lucas seemed the most uncomfortable. He hadn’t made eye contact once with Hunter. Hunter wasn’t sure if that had to do with feeling uneasy around another man whose relationship had come apart at the seam, or he was so angry he couldn’t think straight. Lucas was the only Sherman who didn’t seem to wear his emotions on his

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sleeve. Reading Lucas was like reading a closed book. His dark green khaki pants, white shirt and loosened tie, told Hunter he had all day but he was there begrudgingly. After summing them all up, he was no closer to knowing what they wanted as he had been when he walked in a few minutes prior. “Elaine, could you get me a coffee, as strong as you can make it please? I have a feeling I am going to need it,” Hunter said, giving her permission to leave. “Coffee for anyone else?” Elaine asked. “No, they can all damn well get their own.” “Hospitality not a strong suit?” Spencer asked. “I don’t remember inviting any of you here, so no.” Tony spun around in the chair. He let the chair stop when he could look out at the view of the city. His elbows on his knees, he turned and looked at Hunter. “Pity, I was looking forward to some coffee.” “Would one of you bastards just get to the point?” “No need to be testy,” Trent said. “Right, now you’re not standing where I am. I’ve a lot of work to do. Therefore, if you’re here to beat the crap out of me, let’s take this downstairs into the alley. Cleanup will be easier that way. If you are just here to curse me out, then by all means get to it.” Hunter crossed his arms and waited. The ball was thoroughly in their court. “We aren’t here to do either.” Spencer said softly. “I won’t lie and say I’m thrilled that J.C. is hurting as badly as she is right now. Of course, she did her fair share of hurting you, too.” “Make’s it rather difficult to pick sides,” Tony, who was now tapping Hunter’s fountain pen on the table, said between taps. “Wouldn’t you say?” Hunter grabbed the pen from Tony and threw it in a desk drawer. “I never asked you to take sides, and I don’t want you taking mine. So if that’s all, would you kindly all get out?” No one budged. Hunter gritted his teeth. “Please.” “Not before we have our say.” “You mean, perhaps, you’d like to tell me why J.C. needs bodyguards?”

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Spencer shrugged his shoulders, when Elaine knocked on the door he took the coffee she had in her hand for Hunter and swiftly closed the door, effectively barring her from the room. He walked over and placed the coffee within reach of Hunter, before returning to his wall and saying, “All in good time.” “I suppose the restraining order information can wait, too?” “Something like that,” Tony muttered, opening one drawer after another. Until Hunter nearly slammed one on his fingers and then he sat up and started to swivel in the chair again. “Have you spoken to Jacinda?” Spencer asked. “Not since I saw her at a club two weekends ago.” There was a round of nodding in agreement from all. “That was the last night any of us saw her either.” Spencer added. “What are you saying?” “She’s dropped off the face of the earth. She told us she was going to get away. We just didn’t think she would be going to get herself lost.” “No one knows where she is?” “The lawyer does, but he ain’t talking,” Tony said. Hunter looked at them stupefied. “Well, what about her bodyguards?” “Dismissed,” came from three of the brothers, Lucas choosing to remain silent. Spencer continued for the rest. “She pulled out cash on the Friday night you saw her, a significant amount. She hasn’t used a credit card, debit card, or pulled any more money from any of her accounts since.” “So what are you doing to find her?” Tony stopped the chair and pinned a look of subtle fury on his friend. “Why do you care, Hunter? You’re the one divorcing her, remember?” “I still love her, but I can’t let her continue in a marriage that she clearly thinks is a mistake.” Hunter couldn’t believe he just admitted that to them. “Glad to hear you admit it.” Tony stood up and grabbed two manila envelopes off the desk and thrust them at Hunter. “This is why we came.”

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“In the top one are your divorce papers, we were at the lawyer’s office and he was about to courier them over here. We volunteered to do it ourselves.” Hunter looked down for a moment, clearly shaken by what he held in his hands. All he had to do was sign his name a few times and he would be single again. This was what he wanted after all, so why did he feel the need to vomit? “The second?” he demanded, his voice rougher than normal. “The second,” Lucas said, standing up. He walked gracefully over to Hunter, the two men stood toe to toe. “The second,” he tapped the envelope, “we hope will make you reevaluate signing the first.” Hunter’s jaw dropped. He watched Lucas leave. “I think it would best if you were able to digest what you read in those files on your own. I doubt you’ll appreciate an audience,” Tony murmured patting Hunter on the bicep as he followed Lucas out the door. “You’re one of us whether you like it or not,” Trent said over his shoulder as he followed suit. Spencer placed a brotherly hand on his shoulder. “We know Jacinda is safe, she is in communication with her lawyer. However, he has orders to give her information only to you. No one else. Look at what’s in the second folder. Really, look at it. And then decide if you think Jacinda’s biggest mistake wasn’t marrying you but actually letting you leave that day at the cape house.” “Spence…” “Don’t think. Just follow what your heart tells you. Use that amazing street cunning to lead you to what you need to do.” Spencer looked out the door, his brothers standing just outside in the hallway. “Trent was right, you know. You are one of us. We want to see both you and Jacinda happy again. We just hope happy means together and not divorced.” “Don’t you think if I thought it possible, I’d want that too? But she ranks me as the biggest mistake of her life. It’s hard to look at that as anywhere to go but to get out.”

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“Heaven knows, I’m no expert on women, and I won’t pretend to be. However, I do know one thing. Women say the cruelest things when they are angry. They want us to hurt as much as they are hurting. I wouldn’t put too much power in words that were spoken in the heat of anger.” Spencer took a step but halted and turned back to Hunter. “It’s not my business but perhaps you are letting old injustices from your past color your present, just a little.” Hunter watched him walk out of the office, closing the door behind him. He tossed the unopened envelopes down on the desk and looked out the window at the high priced view his windows afforded. Central Park, in all its glory, lay before him, but he couldn’t see the vibrant leaves, coloring the landscape in tones of orange, yellow and red. He could have been colorblind for all he knew, because everything looked grey. He briefly asked Elaine, via the intercom, to hold all his calls. He did not want any interruptions. To which she had responded Spencer had already made that clear. Hunter nodded, knowing she couldn’t see him, but what more was there to say? Hunter picked up the two envelopes and threw the one containing his divorce papers to the side. He would sign those after he looked through the other envelope. He’d promised Spencer he’d keep an open mind, and he would certainly try his best. Besides, he knew a small part of him was just waiting for a reason to see J.C. He hoped that something would change everything and bring her back into his world. He couldn’t forget her words. Perhaps, if she could truly make him believe she hadn’t meant them? Wouldn’t he forgive her anything? Well not anything, but pretty damn close. And maybe, just maybe, Spencer was right and he was letting his past color his present. Hunter sat down in the seat recently vacated by Tony and stared at the manila folder in his hands. He lifted the metal clasps that held the flap down, opened it, and pulled out two file folders from within. One labeled, Kirkland divorce papers, the other Brookfield, Connecticut police files.

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Looking at the folders, he wondered which was the lesser of the two evils. He decided to go with the police report first. Opening the folder, he gasped before dropping it upon his desk. Staring at him in a grainy instamatic photo was J.C. At least the body of J.C., her eyes told him her soul was not present. His mouth watered and his throat tightened as he looked at the photo, not with longing but with disgust, at any moment he might lose his breakfast. The photo was painful to look at. The bluish purple circles under her eyes told the tale of what must have happened. Her nose was swollen and obviously broken. Her lips, normally full and luscious, here looked bruised and bloody. Yet, the outer bruises were nothing compared to the look of nothingness that came from her eyes. Hunter turned the pages of the report one by one. He read and reread every word carefully. He absorbed the information, storing it and processing its meaning. She’d filed for a legal separation the morning of the beating, claiming emotional abuse, the report stated. Later interviews with friends and neighbors reiterated J.C.’s statement. David had been controlling her since he put a wedding band on her finger. There were more photos at the end of the report, these focused on her bruised and battered abdomen. It appeared to Hunter’s untrained eyes looking over all the photos that David’s attack was focused on her face and stomach. Knowing Kirkland, Hunter knew there must have been a reason. Face, was easy, he attacked her face hoping to scar her and make her unattractive to other men. Stomach, Hunter dreaded the answer he knew would come on the next page. Jacinda had dared to get pregnant. She told the doctors and police that David was unwilling to share her with anyone, even a child. He demanded she abort the baby, she refused. His anger mounted and ended up dragging her to one. When the doctors refused to do the abortion without J.C.s consent, his temper exploded. In the end he then took the matters into his own hands and beat her until she started to miscarry. The doctor’s statement to the police read:

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Mrs. Kirkland was admitted at 8:30 on the evening of the 8 th of April. She was severely bruised and looked to all of us in the E.R. to be a battered wife. Her husband said he had come home to find his pregnant wife had tripped on the loose carpet runner at the top of the stairs. He said he was concerned that something might have happened to their unborn child. We insisted Mr. Kirkland needed to wait in the waiting area while we examined his wife. We placed security on alert. Mrs. Kirkland was, as expected, detached from the process, her eyes were dull and her voice cracked when she did speak. We found her severely dehydrated and anemic. She admitted to having some cramping and bleeding that had started three hours prior. When we asked why she waited so long to come in Mrs. Kirkland stated, “He wanted to make certain.” We could get her to say little more for the next few hours, even when we affirmed that she was miscarrying. She muttered, “Perhaps, this is for the best.” Mr. Kirkland looked visibly relieved to hear his wife was losing their child and refused to sit with her when he was offered. He said he would come back and pick her up when it was all over. When we informed Mrs. Kirkland that her husband had left the premises, she immediately asked to speak to a police officer. Shortly after, Mrs. Kirkland was moved to a private hospital for her protection. Hunter looked over the rest of the report numb. Nothing it said sunk in. He replaced the two folders in the envelope. He didn’t even bother looking at their divorce papers. He knew enough why she left and what they would say. He knew what he had to do. First thing, was to make sure no one saw this report. He moved across the room to the small refrigerator, opening the cabinet next to it, revealed a hidden safe, he placed the envelope with the police report and the Kirkland divorce papers inside and relocked it again. J.C.’s lawyer gave him the address and information of where he could find her without question. He jotted down the information on the notepad on his desk, ripped the page off before shoving it in his front pocket.

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Grabbing his divorce papers, he walked out his office. He told Elaine that she should cancel his appointments for the next three days and he would be in touch. Elaine nodded then looked over to the waiting area. Hunter followed her eyes to see Tony sitting in the waiting area. “Tony?” “Hunter,” Tony said, getting up and passing him. “We have one more thing to clear up.” Hunter turned and followed Tony begrudgingly, but he wanted to be on the road, and he wanted to talk with J.C. not Tony. “What, Tony?” Tony threw yet another envelope at Hunter. Hunter grabbed it and looked at the front. It was a Fed-Ex envelope addressed to Joseph and Michelle Sherman at their New York apartment. It was marked with the words EXTREMELY URGENT. “This came to the apartment two days ago. Mom and Dad, luckily, had flown out that morning to see Mom’s aunt who has been ill. The doorman asked me to get it to them.” “But you didn’t?” “No, I had a bad feeling about it, and I was correct.” As Hunter opened the envelope, a knot in his stomach the size of a watermelon formed, he had just pulled out the first of a series of pictures, when Tony’s fist made contact with Hunter’s jaw. Hunter landed against his desk with a thud. “What the hell was that for?” “Look at those, and you tell me,” he growled snapping his hand against the photo still in Hunter’s hand. Hunter looked at the grainy black and white, eight by ten in his hands. His eyes closed for a minute. Though the picture was dark and very grainy, it was easy to make out Hunter standing in the back alley of a club. Hunter’s beer in one hand, and the other hand fisting the hair of the head planted in his crotch. J.C. was on her knees before him, and Hunter’s head thrown back in pleasure. Hunter flipped through the other photos. He looked through them one by one. A few more of J.C. giving him head. Though one shot managed to get Trent in the frame

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standing on the balcony above them. The last two photos were of Hunter’s back as he slammed J.C. into the wall. Her face was clearly in focus, as Hunter devoured her neck and her legs wrapped tightly around his hips. The last of the photos was, to Hunter, the most damning of all. It showed Hunter entering J.C.’s cabin that very night. “You were the mystery man in the cabin. How the hell could you?” Tony couldn’t control the rage that Hunter could see had been boiling since opening the envelope. “Listen, Tony…” “No, you listen. I trusted you, and you fucked Jacinda literally right under our noses. How could you be such a damn prick?” “You hypocrite! Until you knew it was J.C. you were patting me on the back telling me way to go for getting some at the club. Suddenly, I go from stud to prick! Well you listen to me. I tried to tell her no. I tried to keep her away, but damn it, I couldn’t do it anymore. I have been keeping her at arm’s length since she turned sixteen.” “Hypocrite I might be but I punched you because that’s what a brother does.” “That I understand. I just wish the Shermans would stop with the sucker punches.” “We aren’t stupid. If I give you head’s up the punch is coming, I would never make contact and that would defeat the whole point.” Tony threw him a handkerchief. “No one has seen these but me. I plan to keep it that way too. However, I wasn’t going to let you get off scot-free. I assume you are heading out to see Jacinda. Do NOT speak to me again until you two have worked it out. That is all I ever want to say on the matter of those pictures again. EVER!” Tony stormed out of the office, but he turned around in the doorway to shake his hand in the air. “What the hell is your chin made of, iron?”

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Chapter Twenty-Five “Don’t look at me like that, J.C.” Hunter to J.C. Solitude wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, J.C. thought walking through the small town farmers market. The leaves had already changed their color and, with the exception of a few lone leaves, all had fallen from their branches. The wet, rotting leaves now all but covered the icy-cold Vermont ground. The trees stood bare along the town common like old withered hands reaching up to the dreary skies. The damp cold clung to every fiber of her body. It reflected her mood and her despair. There was no way to fix the situation she found herself in with Hunter. She loved him, always had, always would, but it didn’t seem to be enough. Foolishly, she believed she held the higher ground. Selfishly, she wanted him to put everything, no matter what the situation, aside for her. She was sure when she confided in her father about her feelings he would take her side. The shock when her father had failed to take her side was still fresh in her mind. The lecture she received made her feel like she was six again and got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Unlike her brothers, she had never been the object of her father’s

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displeasure. Tony held that job and had for as long as she could remember. She kept her nose clean. The pain she’d felt when she’d first retreated to her parent’s house on the coast to escape hadn’t ebbed any. With every passing day, the pain seemed to only make her feel empty. She always assumed that when one felt empty it meant they felt nothing. Now she was aware that emptiness held a new type of pain all on its own. “…And how would you feel Ms. Jacinda Nadine Sherman-Brooks, if something happened to Hunter and Agent Vassar sent a FBI trainee to tell you about it? Especially if you heard that Agent Vassar’s wife had told him it was either her or his responsibility to Hunter’s family?” “But Dad, it’s not the same. Hunter never met these people. What can his presence do?” William Sherman shook his head and exhaled visibly. “What did the president’s presence at Ground Zero do? It made people feel like they mattered, that their loss was important. I worry sometimes that you kids had life too good. I wouldn’t wish the life Hunter had on any of my worst enemies, let alone my children, but sometimes… You see, Hunter has a better grasp of responsibility and honor than all of you put together.” J.C. watched her father, head lowered in shame, walk from the kitchen to leave her alone with her thoughts. Unwelcome thoughts, at that. Her mother begged her to understand that Hunter was in shock and no man liked to learn shocking things in public. J.C., feeling pretty low about herself, finally started taking Hunter’s phone calls. She’d heard the relief in his voice when she finally picked up the phone. The calls were always short and usually without great reception, but she had listened. She wanted to leave the important things for when they were face to face, so she hadn’t told him she’d forgiven him. Then the photos came out in the gossip papers of him and Kiloran. She felt selfrighteous justification for her behavior. Lucas was furious, threatening to kill Hunter the next time he saw him. Her mother and father didn’t know what to say, they just kept looking at the photos and shaking their heads. Tony had called the house trying to

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warn everyone, too late, about the photos. He advised them all not to give credence to them. He and Spence were the only two to stand up directly and say they didn’t believe it of Hunter. “No, but I sure as hell would believe it of Kiloran,” Lucas growled. To which no one said anything. Things went steadily downhill from there. She said things she hadn’t meant, and Hunter had taken them to heart. Now she was out looking at produce she had no idea how to prepare, all because she was too scared to stay at home. She couldn’t outrun the memories though. She knew her divorce papers would come any day via certified mail. Papers that Hunter had managed to push through in sixty days. So, for Thanksgiving, she had very little to be thankful for. Hunter wanted out, and he couldn’t get rid of her quick enough. J.C. picked up a vegetable that looked like red celery and was tempted to buy it just to buy something. She looked around at the women buying vegetables, she was about to ask what one did with red celery, when she heard a familiar deep voice behind her. “I don’t think you want rhubarb.” “Rhubarb? What’s it for?” She tried to remain calm, when everything in her screamed to throw herself at his feet and beg him to take her back. However, her pride, what little was left, wouldn’t allow it. She would learn to stand on her own two feet if it killed her. Hunter grabbed the stalk from her hands and replaced it in its basket. “I believe you use it to bake pies, and as I know you don’t bake, it will just rot in your refrigerator.” The bit of humor and the small smile that reached his eyes allowed her to relax. “You may be right. What are you doing here?” “We need to talk.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her out into the parking lot. “You’re frozen.”

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“It’s a little cold,” she lied. How was she supposed to admit to him that the first time she felt heat in the last three months had been when he had just touched her moments ago? “Where did you park? I can follow you home or we can go to the Bed and Breakfast I checked into.” J.C.’s hopes started to plummet again. He wasn’t expecting to stay the night with her. “Where’s the B and B?” “It’s a little place one town over I’m thinking about buying.” “So you’re here on a business trip?” She suddenly felt colder than before. Hunter turned her to face him, his leather gloved fingers tilted up her chin so she would look at him. “No, I came to see you. I just happened to remember there was an inn up this way I was looking into buying. It seemed like as good a place as any to stay.” J.C. wanted to scream aloud that a better place to stay would be with her. But she couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t let herself make that fatal jump. Her nearly shredded pride couldn’t take it. “Well actually, I walked here, so if you’d like you can walk back with me or meet me there?” “How about you get in my car, which is probably still warm, and that way you won’t turn into a living icicle.” Hunter led her to his black SUV rental. He handed her up into the passenger side before moving around the front and climbing in his side. The tension in the large vehicle made it seem the size of Corvette instead of the size of a giant bus. Hunter turned over the engine and immediate heat pumped through the vents. She watched Hunter adjust them all toward her. The action spoke of a man who still cared. She looked at him, knowing that all the love she felt for him shined in her eyes if only he would take the time to look. “Don’t look at me like that, J.C.,” Hunter demanded as if reading her mind. “Why?” “Because of this.” He answered her by tearing off his gloves with his teeth. His warm hands cupped both sides of her chilled face before bringing his warm lips down

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to cover her iced ones. She moaned, moving into his kiss, trying unsuccessfully to get out of the seat belt. Between it and her coat, she was stuck in place, unable to reach him, to touch him. His tongue invaded her mouth possessively, tangling with her tongue. He demanded, she gave. He gave, she took. Every breath she managed to get in, he took from her, selfishly needing and taking from her all he could. When he pulled away from her, he was breathing as heavily as she was. He looked shaken and disheveled, and she hadn’t even touched him. “Why’d you stop?” He gripped the wheel so tight that his knuckles turned white. He took a deep breath. “I’ve no intention of making love to you in the parking lot of the Farmers Market.” “I see.” “I doubt it,” he said as he reached out his hand to grab her gloved one. “My wife deserves better.” J.C.’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t dare read anything into that statement, she was too afraid of getting it wrong. They would talk when they got back to the house. “Let’s get to my place. It’s close by, and that way we aren’t dealing with nosy desk clerks.” “Nor do we have to deal with other guests.” J.C. watched him drive in silence, his hand still firmly holding hers, was the only evidence of what had happened in the parking lot ten minutes earlier. As they pulled up to stone cabin she was staying in, she realized how little of its quaint beauty she had taken in. When her friend, Heidi, offered it to her, J.C. jumped at the opportunity to just get away from it all, to lick her wounds in relative privacy. Now she was looking at it in a completely new way. She moaned as she noticed the lack of smoke coming from the woodstove chimney. “I think it’s going to be downright chilly in there. I forgot to stoke up the stove before I left.”

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“No problem, you take these.” Hunter handed her two large envelopes. “I’ll get us some logs.” She pointed him in the direction where the wood pile was and went inside the cozy two bedroom cottage. True to her word, the stove had just about burnt itself out and the chill was beginning to settle into the house. Shaking from cold and nerves, she placed the last log left in the house and some kindling in to the stove. She blew on the kindling until the red ambers allowed the dry wood to catch. Once the crackle of the fire could be heard, she backed up, closed the door, and waited for Hunter. Her eyes focused on the two envelopes she had dropped on the rustic log coffee table as she walked in. J.C. walked over to the sofa, wrapped the old patchwork quilt around herself before she sat down and reached for the envelopes. Picking them up, she examined them both. One was a Fed-Ex envelope addressed to her parents. The other, the manila envelope, simply had the return address of her lawyer. A cold heat engulfed her, threatening to burn. She ripped open the manila envelope and pulled out the one thing she’d been dreading. Hunter must have anticipated she wouldn’t be available to receive these papers, so he’d come himself. Typical Hunter fashion, if you start something in person, you finish it in person. Hunter walked in and dropped the logs on the floor in front of the fire. “I hope this is enough. I admit I don’t know anything about wood burning fires. I only know about furnaces and the occasional trashcan fire.” He was in the process of stacking the wood when he turned to face her. “J.C., what’s wrong?” “I don’t seem to have a pen.” Hunter raised a quizzical brow. “A pen for what?” “Well, you were kind enough to bring these all the way up here. I thought I would be kind enough to sign it quickly and let you be on your way.” “No!” “No what? You don’t have a pen?” “No, you can’t sign it.”

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“Why not? You brought them here for that reason didn’t you?” Hunter moved from the stove to the floor in front of J.C. He pushed the coffee table out of the way and grabbed her face; this time his touch wasn’t gentle but demanding. “I want…no I need you to answer something for me. I need you tell me the truth; our life together rides on this one answer.” She nodded in understanding. The desperation in his eyes was there for her to see. She could also see something she had never related to Hunter before. Fear. “Did you mean it when you said marrying me was the biggest mistake of your life?” Without a pause, J.C. barked out, “No!” “Oh, thank God.” Hunter claimed her lips with a flourish. She felt every emotion through that kiss and it flooded her to her toes and back again. Hope soared through her. “I love you. I will always love you,” he murmured between broken kisses. “But I couldn’t have lived with you thinking I was some mistake you’d made.” J.C. looked at him, embarrassment flushing her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have said that. I was angry and I…” “If I could think in a sane manner around you, I never would have believed those words. You have to remember I am not sane around you. I need you too much.” “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know about your mother then and I was…” “Shhh, later. Right now, I need you to lead me to the nearest bedroom.” He stood up, quickly lacing one arm around her waist and the other around the back of her knees lifting her as if she weighed nothing at all. “It’s been entirely too long since I’ve been inside you. Celibacy is not the state of grace for me, it’s torture.” “You mean?” “Trust me, when I finish before we’ve barely started you will understand.” Pointing the way to the smaller of the two bedrooms, J.C. unwrapped one arm from around his neck long enough to open the door and sucked in her breath as the cold air hit her heated flesh. “Don’t worry, we’ll be warm in seconds.” “Perhaps you could make love to me out in the living room in front of the stove.”

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“Later,” Hunter insisted, placing her gently on the edge of the bed. Swiftly he pulled the cable knit sweater over his head, followed soon after by the tee shirt underneath. He reached for his pants but noticed J.C. hadn’t moved from her place on the bed. “Damn it, wife, get naked and under that quilt before we freeze to death.” J.C. did as she was told. She shivered as she felt the cool sheets wrap around her body, but the chill left her completely as Hunter climbed in next to her. The heat of his body burned into her cooling flesh. The first touch of his knuckle grazing against her erect nipple nearly sent her body into flames. She shivered, but not from the cold. If this was what it meant to be in heat, then so be it. Hunter pulled her close; his mouth devouring hers. His hands laced into her long chestnut mane. He commanded their kiss, pulling her deeper into the embrace. His tongue led hers in a waltz making her head spin and her body begging for more. A pool of moisture formed at the apex of her legs, letting her know she was ready for whatever he dished out. His arousal pressed insistently against her stomach. She needed to touch him, feel his power in her hand. Her hands moved downward, feeling his skin prickle under her touch. As she wrapped her hand around his erection, he pulled back with a groan. She gripped him tighter and moved her fingers up and over the head of his shaft, growing more daring as his breath grew shallow. Shifting her hand down to the base, she released him momentarily. Her fingers gently caressed the tip of his head, reveling in the pre-cum coating the head of his erection. She brought that finger to her mouth and sucked. Hunter groaned again and recaptured her lips with his. He untangled his fingers from her hair and glided them over her soft flesh. The smooth curves of her shoulders led to the soft mounds of her breasts and down into the valley that lay between the two, to feel the heart that beat underneath. While his hands explored her curves, his mouth and tongue feasted on the hollows of her neck and shoulders. His mouth took ownership of her body. All she could do was

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grip his upper arms and hold on. Her hips curved upward toward the velvet hardness of his erection and demanded he take care of the ache that he caused. “Please Hunter,” she begged, moving her hand down his back to his buttocks hoping to pull him closer. “I want to take this slow,” his voice broke against her skin. J.C. knew he wasn’t in control any more than she was. Again, insistently, she curled her hips into him, pressing her stomach against the tip of his erection. “Next time.” Hunter grabbed J.C.’s hips, moving her over him as he rolled to his back. She rose to her knees, grabbed the base of his cock, teasing him by rubbing the head against her wet heat. Her body hovered above him close enough for him to feel her heat but too far for him to enter her. His hips lifted in vain as a wicked little smile formed over her swollen lips. For what seemed like hours, she tortured and teased him, until he begged—begged for mercy—begged for her. Satisfied, she impaled herself on his erection. In pleasure, she threw back her head back, pushing her breasts toward him. He gasped coming up to meet them, taking first one then the other erect nipple into his mouth. She kept her hips still, waited a minute, allowing him to stretch her. She wanted to feel him twitching deep within her. Hunter had other ideas. His fingers gripped her hips tightly and forced her take him deeper. He jerked her hips back and forth, up and down. She groaned as his curly hair at the base of his erection rubbed sensually around her clit. She moaned, feeling the first electrifying sparks move from the pit of her stomach throughout her body. She picked up her pace, riding him with purpose. Her teeth bit into her bottom lip. Frantically, she worked toward her goal. “Jacinda!” Hunter roared falling back against the pillows, his hips rising off the bed to meet her downward thrusts. Hazel eyes met his deep chocolate ones. She lowered herself so her sensitive nipples grazed his chest hairs, so that her lips were but inches

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from his, needing to feel his lips on hers. Her legs locked around his, allowing his hands and hips to set the pace as her lips took his. Her tongue entered his mouth, mimicking each thrust he made into her. As he slowed, so did she; as he went deep, she followed suit, until the movements mimicked each other and neither was leading nor following just aching together in perfect timing. They were finally one. When they exploded, they exploded together, each taking the other’s passion and cries of pleasure into their body. Until the only thing the either could feel was the other’s breath on the hollow of their necks. J.C. lay there for minutes. Her head on his chest, legs still wrapped around his hips, and him still deep inside. She could hear his heart beating strong and frantic at first and slowly subsiding into a methodic rhythm. The last shudders of euphoria raced through her body as she slowly came down from the mountainous high. “If I am dreaming, please don’t wake me.” Hunter chuckled and the deep rumbles tickled the hairs on his chest against her cheek. “It’s no dream, and I am not going anywhere.” To make his point, his hands left her hips and his arms wrapped around her waist holding her close to him. She shivered for a second, not wanting to move, but now that their sweat-covered bodies cooled, the chill came back. Reluctantly, J.C. moved out of his embrace and pulled the covers over them both. She snuggled into his side and relished in the security of his arm wrapped around her. “Don’t go to sleep.” Hunter opened one eye questioning. “You have wiped me out, woman.” “Well, I know you just said you weren’t going anywhere, but…” Hunter pulled himself up so he was sitting against the headboard. The quilt fell to his hips and J.C. thought there couldn’t possibly be a sexier man in the world. Her hand moved up to run through the hair on his chest, but his hand stopped hers. “You were about to say something about me leaving.” His voice held a mixture of censure and disbelief, edged with uncertainty.

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“Yes, well you kind of interrupted me while I was out buying food. So there is nothing to eat here, and I have suddenly worked up an appetite.” Her gaze fell to his hand holding hers. She looked up in astonishment. “You didn’t take off your ring?” “Neither did you, I noticed.” He brought her left hand up to his lips and kissed the rings on her third finger. “Would you mind running out and getting us come Chinese food? There is a great little place in town. I could call it in so it would be ready when you got there.” “Why don’t we go out tonight?” “I would rather be alone,” J.C. purred against his shoulder. “We could go and get the food together and bring it back.” “I don’t think I can walk.” Batting her eyes, she smiled. “Please.” Hunter sighed, pushed the covers away as he rolled himself off the bed. “This floor is damn cold,” he muttered, pulling up his pants then reaching for his socks. “I’ll make it up to you when you get back.” “You bet your sweet ass you will.” Hunter threw on his cable knit sweater and leaned over her to give her a kiss. “Do you think you could stoke up the fire while I am gone? I would prefer not to freeze my ass off tonight.” “I think I can handle that.” She smiled and pushed the covers off the bed and made to get out when Hunter stopped her. “I’ll throw on a log on my way out. You stay put until the room gets warm.” “You don’t want me to walk you out?” “I don’t want to you to catch pneumonia.” He picked up her clothes and placed them within reach on the bed. “Just be dressed by the time I get back, or we’ll never get around to eating.” J.C. got to her knees, quilt wrapped around her naked body. She leaned into him and kissed his full lips. “I do want to eat tonight.” “Then stop tempting me.” Hunter cursed, but his hand wrapped around her quilt covered waist and his mouth came down on hers in a searing kiss. Her stomach protested in hunger, she groaned. “Food, now, please.”

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“I thought it was the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, not the other damn way around.” Hunter cursed again and pushed away from her. “Just remember to call it in.” She watched him stomp out of the room looking none too pleased then she heard the door slam on his way out. J.C. threw herself on the bed, deliriously happy for the first time in weeks. Slowly she pulled her clothes back on and made the phone call. As she moved into the living room, she saw the divorce papers and cringed. She wanted them out of her sight. She picked them up, leaving the other unopened envelope for when Hunter returned. She was just about to burn the blasted divorce papers when a knock came from outside. Hunter must have forgotten his wallet, J.C. thought moving to the door, envelope still in her hands. As she opened the door she muttered, “Forget something?” “You.” David Kirkland said, pushing his way into the house.

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Chapter Twenty-Six “Are you pregnant with his bastard?” David to Jacinda. “Dave, how the hell did you get here?” J.C. felt ice start to flow through her veins. She couldn’t move; she looked into the icy blue eyes and froze. Why had she sent Hunter to get food? Why hadn’t she gone with him? “Baby, close the door. You’re going to catch pneumonia.” He gently grabbed for her hands but instead encountered the manila envelope. He pulled the envelope from her grasp and closed the door behind him. Strolling past the stove, he stopped and pulled off his leather driving gloves. Before J.C. could stop him, he opened the envelope. His well-manicured hands pulled the legal pages out. “Ah I see he’s delivered the papers himself. So like Hunter to finish it in person.” “What are you doing here?” “Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to start anew.” He looked around the cabin. J.C. was only happy she’d remembered to close the bedroom door. Dave was in a pleasant mood believing Hunter’s only reason for having been here was to hand over the divorce papers; she wasn’t going to discourage that train of thought. Hunter would return soon, she just had to keep him agreeable until then. 209

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“Did he try to get you to take him back?” J.C. pulled her gaze away from the driveway to focus again on Dave. “What are you talking about?” “Hunter! I am talking about Hunter. Please darling, I know it’s hard, but do try and keep up. Did he try to persuade you to come back to him?” “Why would you think that?” “He left here like the devil was on his heels and he couldn’t get away fast enough.” David threw the divorce papers down on the table. “He slammed the door so hard I could feel the ground shake up at the road, where I was watching.” He’d been watching her? Terror filled her but J.C. nodded calmly, knowing Hunter’s need to get away like a bat out of hell was the need to get back as soon as possible, and that couldn’t be soon enough for J.C. Never very good at lying, J.C. remembered seeing a movie once where the woman was told that if she had to lie keep to the truth as much as possible. She was a lousy liar so she thought it better to keep to short answers that were as much the truth as possible. “He didn’t take having to leave too well.” All the truth. “What man would, baby?” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. He must have felt her tense because he pulled back, looking at her questioningly. “We’ll take this slow. I promise. I heard about what you said to Hunter at your folk’s house. I was so very proud of you. I knew you would come around. I never thought you would admit he was the biggest mistake of your life.” J.C. watched Dave move about the house scoping out his surroundings. She watched him look over the photographs on the wall before he headed down the short hallway to the bathroom and bedrooms. He opened the door to the master bedroom and smiled back at her. “You always were so tidy, perhaps we can mess it up a bit tonight.” “Let’s take it one step at a time,” J.C. said gently, controlling an overwhelming urge to gag. She prayed he wouldn’t open the guest room door. Needing to divert him from his track, she asked, “Who told you? About what I said to Hunter?”

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“I have my ways.” Dave moved to the kitchen, a strange look came over his face as his eyes focused on the counter. “How’d these get here?” She could feel from across the room Dave’s temper rising. J.C. looked at the Fed-Ex envelope now clenched in Dave’s hand. She tried to piece together how an envelope addressed to her parents that was now in Hunter’s possession could possibly concern Dave. Not only did it concern him, but instantly it sent his blood pressure and temper rising. J.C. lived this nightmare before and wasn’t planning to live it again. If she could keep Dave in a pleasant mood just long enough for Hunter to return she would be safe. Hunter wouldn’t let anything happen to her. What the hell was in that envelope? “Hunter brought it, he must have forgotten it. I never even opened it.” Dave physically relaxed, throwing the envelope into the trashcan. “Good, we don’t need to think about it.” “Okay, Dave, whatever you say.” “That’s my girl. Now, before we can get us back on track, I need to ask an important question.” Dave removed his coat and placed it on the back of the chair. “You do want us to get back on track, don’t you, baby?” “Of course, Dave” “Good.” Dave turned to her, his eyes angry and menacing. “Are you pregnant with his bastard?” “No, certainly not, I’m on the pill,” she said truthfully, and to prove her point she grabbed her purse off the kitchen counter and pulled the pack of pills from within. Dave smiled brightly, his white teeth looked distinctly evil under his fake tan. “That’s good, baby. I knew it wouldn’t last with you and Hunter. I also knew the only way for you to get over him was to see that he couldn’t make you happy. “For years I‘ve known you harbored a schoolgirl’s crush on the man. Unfortunately, until he could disillusion you, I knew it would continue. So I allowed you to chase him and gritted my teeth when I knew he was fucking you. I knew also that he would

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propose. He had to, didn’t he, or the brothers would have had his hide. Of course, I waited to fuck you until we were married. I respected you in a way he never could.” Dave moved around J.C. and placed meaningful hand upon her shoulders. “But I always knew he would treat you poorly. That is why I took my revenge for you years ago. Because I knew. I’ve been slowly tearing at his business little by little.” “How?” “I would underbid him or spread lies about his scruples. Of course, when I heard what happened in Maine, I lost my head a bit and took things a bit further than I probably should have.” His hands tightened on her shoulders, his fingers bit into the tender flesh. She knew the only way to survive when he was like this was to remain still and quiet. “What did you do?” J.C. asked conversationally, but inside her stomach churned and she felt nauseous. “Can’t you guess? That explosion at his island resort was all my doing.” His laugh chilled her even more. “Of course, he still didn’t get the hint. I thought he had when weeks went by and he didn’t contact you, but then he did and he threw you out of his cab. No one treats my baby like that.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. “So I had to make my point. I had a few friends of mine help me beat him to within an inch of his life, even made sure that whore of his watched. What’s her name…?” “Elaine?” J.C. offered over her shoulder before she could stop herself. Dave let his head fall back as if he were reliving the horrid moment in his head. “Yeah, that’s her. Still, the bastard didn’t get the message. The next thing I hear the two of you are married. I don’t know how you managed to keep your engagement a secret, but he is tricky that man, I’ll give him that.” “So, it was all you?” “But I did it all for you. For us,” he assured her. “I even got a vasectomy so we wouldn’t have to worry about any unwanted brats coming between us. Nothing will take you away from me again, short of death that is.”

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J.C. felt the first taste of panic engulf her. She breathed a silent sigh of relief as Dave released his hold on her and walked back into the living room to add another log to the fire. Still he talked, he confessed about spies in Hunter’s company. He talked about future plans to bring Hunter’s empire to the ground. He just talked. J.C. looked at the back door, wondering if she could make a run for it. She knew she’d never make it in her socked feet. Just as her fears were about to overcome her, she saw briefly Hunter’s face through the back door, before he disappeared once again into the darkness. J.C. grabbed her shoes and looked at Dave. “I forgot to refill the bird feeder. Would you come with me, it’s dark out there and you know how skittish I can get.” “Now?” J.C. pulled on one shoe then the other; she grabbed her coat off the peg and threw it on. “I promised I would keep the bird feeder full. But I get all creeped out when I am alone in those woods. Now that you’re here, I have nothing to be afraid of right?” Dave looked up at her, pleasure in his cold eyes. Nothing boosted his ego more than to know she was relying on him once again. Thankfully, he didn’t question why she wasn’t bringing any bird feed with her. She slowly slid open the door and walked out. Hunter stood just outside the door and relief filled her to the brim, she would be fine now. It was only then that she realized her actions had given her away. She heard both men curse together and all hell broke loose.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven “At least you won’t have her.” David to Hunter. Hunter noticed the light colored sedan parked in front of the cottage as soon as he turned the corner of J.C.’s street. Concern etched into every pore of his body. A sense of dread ran from his neck, down his spine, and seemed to pool at his feet. Hunter cut off the lights and stopped the car at the top of the drive, hidden behind some trees. He got out of the car and closed the door as quietly as he could. Every ounce of him screamed to tear into the cottage and make sure J.C. was all right but his logical side said that he needed to take his time. He needed to see who and what was going on. Without thought, he dialed 911 and insisted that they send a patrol car out. He didn’t hold any punches about who he thought was in the house and he wasn’t going to take any chances. He would rather look stupid than lose the one thing in the world that mattered most. What seemed like hours to get to the cottage, he knew only took minutes. Hunter thanked his lucky stars that he wore black jeans and a long sleeve black sweater. At least this would aid his advance on the house. Hunter walked to the cottage window to see what was going on. He was only able to see J.C.’s back from the windows at the 214

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front. He needed to get around to the back, but was concerned that if he went around the house to the left David would see him through the large windows. Going around the house to the right meant that he wouldn’t be able to see what was happening in the house. Finally, Hunter decided that quicker was better and though he loathed the thought that he couldn’t see J.C., he knew that if things were bad then he would need to get to her quicker than not. He moved carefully away from the front windows, careful not to make any noise. Hunter, once clear of the windows, took off in a mad dash around the side of the house. He came up short as he saw J.C. in an embrace with David. He was holding her from behind. Hunter watched David’s grimy lips trail over her delicate neck. The overwhelming need to throw something at him nearly cost him his advantage. She must have expected to see him because she looked through the windows in despair. When David pulled back from the embrace and came around to face her, she pasted a larger than life smile on her face. That’s my girl, Hunter applauded quietly, I’m coming sweetheart just keep him happy. Every second she had to succumb to his touch and vile tongue felt like an eternity. One of the things life on the streets had taught Hunter was that one should have all bases covered. You never went into a fight blind. He couldn’t afford to lose this fight. There was too much at stake. Hunter took off his sneakers, and in socked feet climbed the few stairs of the back deck. He wished he had been on the deck at least once before. Hunter prayed none of the wooden beams squeaked. Slowly he made his way to the sliding glass door. Keeping hidden in the shadows, Hunter waited until David was out of view. He moved as close to the back door as he dared, he made a slight gesture with his hand hoping J.C. would see it. If she did, she made no noticeable change to her features. He moved closer to the door and could hear her muffled voice from inside. She was moving closer, somehow convincing David to come outside with her. She was doing beautifully, Hunter thought with a fierce sense of pride.

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A minute later the sliding glass door opened, J.C. walked out first and their eyes met for a moment. That was all it took. Relief flooded her face and her body. Hunter knew then they were sunk, David was too keen not to pick up the obvious change in her body language. As soon as J.C. was in the clear, Hunter attacked David, his hands going for the jugular. “You Son of a Bitch,” Hunter cursed, taking great pleasure in squeezing the life out of David, though he wasn’t nearly satisfied. Pushing the man away from him, he heard David gasp for air. Hunter took his time rolling up his sleeve. “Get up.” To Hunter’s surprise, the coward actually did. David got to his feet and their eyes clashed. Stunned by the look of pure hatred from the soul of the devil, Hunter prepared for the worst. David had the soul of a man consumed with pure evil and hellish rage. He knew then this had to end tonight. David needed to be out of J.C.’s life. No matter what the cost. “Hunter,” J.C. shrieked just as he felt David’s hands cover his throat. Luckily Hunter was quicker. He was learning fast, fighting a man who seemed criminally insane wasn’t at all like fighting street fights. Even in street fights, there were rules. Not many but some. This man was making it up as he went along. David fought like no man Hunter had ever fought before. One second he was punching at Hunter the next trying to scratch his eyes out. Hunter was just figuring out a defense and counter movement when David mixed things up again. Having had enough of this little dance, Hunter went in for the kill. His large fist connected soundly with David’s stomach. David didn’t budge. He just appeared crazier. So Hunter swung and hit his jaw. Although David stumbled back, he showed no signs of having been punched. Repeatedly, Hunter punched him left and right then left again. Finally, the man fell to the floor. Hunter didn’t stop, every picture of every bruise on J.C.’s body hovered in his mind. Hunter’s fists doling out the retribution J.C. so deserved. Payment long past due. “Freeze!”

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Hunter dropped David back on to the wooden deck and raised his hands over his head. He froze, didn’t turn until told to, didn’t breathe unless given permission. He knew the drill, this was when he went to jail for attacking David Kirkland. As long as David went as well, Hunter could care less. J.C. was talking frantically to a female police officer. While the other officer, cuffed Hunter’s hands behind his back and had him sit against the side of the house. Other than to make sure David was breathing and alive, they had yet to move him. “Ma’am,” the male officer said. “Can you tell us what happened?” J.C. nodded and allowed them to move her inside the house. Hunter assumed it was to make sure she felt secure and safe, to talk openly about what happened, without the pressure of either man. Hunter sneered and had an overwhelming urge to kick David’s unconscious body. Before he could fulfill the urge another cruiser arrived and one of the officers came out on deck to keep an eye on the men. David groaned nonstop as he started to come to. Hunter glared and demanded that they gag the shithead. The officers didn’t seem to take much heed to Hunter still handcuffed and leaning against the wall. They simply checked David’s handcuffs and repositioned him once he was awake. A few minutes later, the policewoman came out with J.C. now wrapped in a blanket. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. He had never seen her look quite so frail and insecure. Even that night at the nightclub, after their separation, she had looked to be holding her own. But now she looked like the old J.C. he had known, the bookish Jacinda who was shy and would have preferred to bite her tongue than use it. “Please you have to let my husband go,” J.C. pleaded her voice barely audible over the chilly November wind. “Yes, let me out of these handcuffs,” David demanded from the other end of the deck. “That man attacked ME!” “Oh shut the fuck up!”

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A large male officer told both men to shut up or he was going to gag them both. Hunter knew better than to push an officer and wisely kept his mouth shut. David who thought he was about to be released must have thought that reason enough to shut his trap. Hunter couldn’t wait to see the look in his face when she choose to release him, Hunter, not Dave. “Mrs. Brooks, can you tell us which of these men is your current husband? This one?” the officer asked pointing to Hunter. “Yes, as I told you, he was only trying to save me from my ex-husband, who is over there.” J.C. stood by the officer but as soon as Hunter was out of the cuffs, she threw herself into his arms and let the tears fall. Hunter desperately needed to rub his aching wrists but the need to comfort J.C. was stronger, his wrists could wait. J.C. could not. Hunter felt her sob against his chest. Her sobs were ugly deep sobs that gutted him. His shirt was now drenched with her tears. All he wanted to do was place her out of harm’s way so he could beat the crap out of David all over again. To beat the crap out of David meant he had to disengage J.C. and that was not a possibility at the current moment. The officer started to question Hunter about what had happened. She needed to confirm he was the one to call in the emergency and apologized for having to subdue them both. He simply stated he understood. Because, in fact, he did understand. He’d been ready to go to jail to protect his wife, if need be, he still was. If that was what was necessary to protect her that was what he would do. He, of course, kept that little bit of information to himself. He answered the officer’s questions as simply and as honestly as he could. When the officer demanded to know why, after calling for help, he hadn’t waited for that very help to arrive, he looked at her stunned and asked simply, “Would you have?” The officer nodded and admitted she probably wouldn’t have either. Hunter asked when he could get his wife out of here. Sometime in the confusion he’d decided it would be best for all involved if they both stayed at the Bed and

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Breakfast. After all, he hadn’t cancelled his reservation. Just as he turned to ask if he could take J.C. inside to pack, another commotion started. J.C. gasped. “How the hell did he get here?” “I haven’t a clue,” Hunter admitted baffled as he watched Agent Vassar and his partner come further into the light spilling from the kitchen. Hunter watched the agents talk for a few minutes in hushed tones to the officers, obviously Agent Vassar managed to make sure the officers felt he wasn’t stepping in on their territory. Laughable as that was, that’s exactly what he would do and Hunter knew it. “Mr. Brooks,” Agent Vassar said, coming to stand next to them. “Mrs. Brooks, I am sorry to hear about the problems you are having tonight, luckily we were already on our way.” “What’s going on Vassar?” Hunter demanded. “Why don’t we go inside so you can look at this file while the other officers take Mr. Kirkland into federal custody.” Hunter nodded, his arm wrapped around J.C., pulling her into a protective embrace. He didn’t want her to have to look at David again, as they walked past him to get into the kitchen. She stiffened in his arms when they moved closer but she didn’t stop walking. Hunter lowered his lips to the top of her head, kissing her dark curls. “If she won’t be with me, then she won’t be with anyone,” David shouted from behind. Hunter didn’t think, he pushed J.C. into the house and made sure he was protecting her bodily. He saw David lunge toward him and braced himself for the impact. Hunter tensed and waited for something to happen. Fortunately nothing did. When Hunter could finally think straight, he looked back to see two officers dragging David off the deck. They were having a hard time getting his arms restrained, and that was when Hunter saw the gun now waving in his direction. Hunter saw one officer go down having the butt of the gun hit him in his temple.

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Hunter knew obsessed people could be unstoppable, people who were insane defied physics. Hunter watched David Kirkland take down two of the men. It all happened in slow motion. Hunter couldn’t move fast enough, his reaction seemed painstakingly slow. He watched in horror as David pointed the handgun at him. “At least you won’t have her,” David slurred. The gun blast sounded and Hunter knew he must have been shot, but nothing hurt, except his ears which were ringing. It was then that he looked up and saw lying face down on the ground, David. His body twitched uncontrollably. Other than kicking the gun away from him, no one seemed in any sort of hurry to check his breathing or vital signs. Only when the movements stopped did Agent Vassar whose gun was still at the ready, and Hunter was pretty sure was the smoking gun, came around and lowered to one knee to feel for a pulse. “He’s dead,” Agent Vassar said. “Damn it.” “Look at it the positive way, now the tax payers won’t have to pay for him to go to trial,” Hunter said dryly. “You may not feel that way after what I have to tell you.” Hunter didn’t care what Vassar said as long as the bastard could no longer hurt his wife. When he stepped in the kitchen, J.C. shook so hard he thought she might pass out from relief. He moved her to a seat at the table and demanded that someone bring her a glass of water. When she finally got the water and color returned to J.C.’s face, he turned to look at Vassar now sitting patiently across from them. With two fingers, Vassar slid a file across the wood table toward them. Hunter picked up the file, read a minute, and threw the file back down. “Son of a bitch,” he said almost conversationally. Hunter stood and walked around the kitchen island as if trying to get space between himself and that file. He watched J.C. open the file. He watched her profile, he expected some change in her demeanor but none came. She looked at Vassar. “He’s dead, isn’t he? That’s what

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the shot was. I mean I thought it was Hunter at first but I could see him standing there perfectly healthy. So it had to be David.” “Yes, he is dead.” “Your report isn’t complete,” J.C. said flipping through the pages. She pointed to page three. “It started long before this.” Hunter crossed back around the island but didn’t sit down. He stood there like an army general at an interrogation. “What do you mean?” J.C., to his great relief didn’t cower, and he knew she trusted him. She had complete faith he would never bully or hurt her. “While you were gone, David decided he needed to let me know the extremes he went to for me. He admitted to bombing your hotels and of course, to the attack outside your office, he admitted to all the little things you have outlined here Agent Vassar. But it’s the other things that you need to know about as well.” Hunter listened as his wife retold every minute of her ordeal with Kirkland. How David tried to destroy Hunter every step of the way. David knew early in their relationship that Hunter was a threat. First David had tried to change J.C., hoping a new J.C. would forget what she had liked about Hunter in the first place. David’s plan backfired, every time she transformed it made him more and more jealous. Every time David sent her under the knife, Hunter would show up in the tabloids with a woman who matched all the new changes. “Someone has been feeding him information on you for years.” She grabbed his left hand as if trying to comfort him. Hunter wasn’t surprised by the news that David was behind any and all of his business problems. He was surprised to learn that someone who had inside information about him, for years fed the information to David. That was the most disturbing. Not only had this mystery person been filling David in about his business, but he had kept him informed regarding his personal life as well. “Who knows everything about you?” J.C. asked. “Other than you and your family? Elaine,” Hunter chocked out. “But it’s NOT her.”

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“How can you be so certain?” Vassar asked. “I just am!” Hunter growled. “Look we know that David was an asshole. But it’s over and I will deal with the inside leak on my own. But for now your case is closed and I would like to get my wife the hell out of here.” “I hate to be the bearer of more bad news but we discovered the leak tonight. That’s how we knew we had to hightail it out here.” Vassar sat back in his chair. “Mr. Kirkland’s informant called the bureau with the tips that allowed us to put together that file. Fortunately, for us he didn’t…” Hunter interrupted, “He?” “You’re correct, your leak wasn’t Elaine, but before you get too relieved you should know one of the leaks was her fiancé John Porter.” “John?” Both Hunter and J.C. questioned in unison. “Apparently, Mr. Porter has been feeding Mr. Kirkland information on you for years. Up until your involvement with J.C., it didn’t have much of an impact. You see what Mr. Kirkland wanted most was to know that you were staying away from his exwife.” “That son of a bitch.” “Mr. Porter was told that if he didn’t help David Kirkland out that the father of Elaine’s child would come forward and sue for custody of their daughter. Apparently he dug up a lot of dirt on Elaine. Unfortunately, things got out of control when you spent Memorial Day with the Sherman’s. When Mr. Porter threatened to tell the police, Kirkland took matters into his own hands and made sure Elaine was there to witness your beating. That seemed to have scared him enough for a while anyway, but Mr. Porter finally had enough and walked. He said Kirkland had gone too far by sending letters to various Sherman family members.” “That explains the photographs.” “What photographs?” Vassar and J.C. asked in unison. Hunter looked around the kitchen then in the living room. Finally, he noticed the envelope in the trash and pulled it out. “These photos were sent to my in-laws.

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Fortunately, Tony intercepted them. They are personal photos of an intimate encounter between J.C. and I at a club.” J.C. jumped up and grabbed the envelope from his hand. Before he could stop her, she had the photos in one hand as her other hand covered her mouth in horror. “Tony saw these?” Hunter grabbed them from her, opened the stove and threw them in. “That was evidence,” Vassar roared. “Tony looked at all those?” J.C. demanded, ignoring Agent Vassar. “Honey, it’s okay.” “It’s not okay, my brother saw me…” Agent Vassar moved over to the stove. “Mr. Brooks you just destroyed evidence. Damn it.” “The man is dead! I’ll not have these circling the FBI office for anyone to look at.” Hunter pulled his wife into his arms. “I promise it’s okay. Now I think I would like to get my wife out of here.” Agent Vassar moved away from the stove. “I’ll be getting in touch with you tomorrow, Hunter. Oh, do you need these?” He threw the envelope that contained their divorce papers onto the table. “No,” J.C. said. “Yes,” Hunter said at the same time. Agent Vassar raised his eyebrows and for the first time seemed taken off balance by their response. He picked up his file on David Kirkland and walked to the door. “I will leave you to sort it out.” Hunter took J.C.’s hand and led her into the back room, and watched as she threw a few items into a bag. Then walked her out of the front of the house, making sure the officers knew where they would be and that they were leaving. They walked down the drive quietly hand in hand. When they got to the end of the drive, Hunter dropped her suitcase before he grabbed the envelope that J.C. held tightly clenched in her left hand.

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Looking her in the eyes, he ripped the divorce papers in half then in half again. He repeated the action over and over until all that was left were small pieces of paper in his hands. He walked over the trashcan and dumped them. “Fine with you?” “Fine with me,” she agreed. “Good! Let’s get as far from here as possible.” He opened the passenger door, but stalled her for a moment from getting in. His lips lowered on hers in a searing kiss, her arms wrapped around his neck pulling him closer. Everything was confirmed, plain and simple, in that kiss, their needs, fears, desires and relief. No words could have spoken the truth as clear or as loud. As the coroner’s van pulled into the drive, his lights blinded them for a minute. Hunter released his hold on J.C. and helped her get in the car. “Could you do something for me first?” “Anything.” “Could you throw away this Chinese food with those papers? I no longer have a craving for it after all.” J.C. half smiled, handing him the bag of food he had all but forgotten in his haste to protect his wife, his love, his woman. His.

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Chapter Twenty-Eight “I intend to get lots and lots of practice.” Hunter to J.C. Hunter watched J.C. as she slept, curled into him like a contented cat. Her hair fanned over his chest and her right leg wrapped possessively over his. Tonight was the first time in weeks that their lovemaking hadn’t been rushed and frantic. The feeling that life was too short had finally departed and the two of the them came together tonight in a slow time-staking loving that had blown everything he had known about sex and the art of lovemaking out of the water. They still weren’t answering questions from the family or friends about what exactly occurred in the cabin that fateful night. Neither seemed ready to open wounds not completely healed. Together they braved Sunday dinner, just days after David’s death, and announced they were reconciled and no one was to call or stop by until further notice. Hunter and J.C. needed time without interfering, though well meant, family. Surprisingly their announcement met with a great deal of approval and little surprise. Mrs. Sherman insisted they stay for dinner before departing on their selfimposed exile. They’d agreed and had an enjoyable dinner. Tony was the only one 225

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present who brought up the cabin and David and that had been done with quiet tact. His only purpose was making sure both J.C. and Hunter were getting the help they needed. Then, in a move very unlike Tony, he nodded and went back to the meal in front of him. Hunter stared at his friend for a good few minutes wondering if Tony was aware that the mask he wore for the world was slipping. Hunter knew the Tony the world saw was a fabrication. One that had been created to protect those he loved. Just as he was about the ask Tony about it, Tony’s attention was drawn back to conversations about the Red Sox. Always a safe conversation, always the standard fallback, when no one wanted to broach the elephant in the room. Hunter returned to work the next morning with too many loose ends to tie up. He knew the time had come for him to delegate more authority to others, within a week, several project managers found themselves promoted to Vice Presidential positions within his company. Hunter found he didn’t miss the workload one bit. The emptiness he once filled with work, J.C. filled to overflowing. Weeks came and went, and he still wasn’t any closer to figuring out how to handle the ‘John and Elaine’ situation. He knew Elaine had been in the dark about John being the leak. Hunter guessed John was her confidant and that gave him the inside track. Elaine turned in her notice that first day Hunter returned saying she loved John. John had confessed everything to her, immediately after tipping off the feds. “He needs me, Hunter,” Elaine said, “I don’t agree with what he did, but the reason’s he did it were selfless. Besides, you don’t need me anymore. You have J.C., and she needs you.” Hunter managed to talk Elaine out of leaving the company but she insisted he find a new P.A. She said it was the only way she would be able to stay with John and work for Hunter without feeling she had let Hunter down. J.C. more than once suggested inviting them to dinner but Hunter wasn’t feeling that magnanimous just yet. Elaine postponed the date of her wedding so that she and John could work things through. Hunter figured he would decide what to do about John then.

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Hunter looked out the window at the sun just now climbing into the morning sky. The colors of red, pink and orange filled the window and the room with a warm glow. Nothing though, compared the warmth he felt within him knowing nothing could come between him and J.C. again. Not easily, at any rate, as they both were ready to fight for what they had. When he insisted J.C. seek out a counselor regarding Kirkland, his treatment of her, and his sudden death, she agreed almost immediately. When the counselor suggested Hunter join the sessions, he agreed almost as quickly. Though he knew, she had years of counseling ahead of her, she seemed at peace for the first time since she stormed back into his life almost a year ago. Their only set back occurred when the subject of children came up and Hunter had said, “Not yet.” Old insecurities rose to the surface. Hunter no matter how gently he phrased his objections, found it hard to get her to understand. He wanted her to himself for a little while longer as his wife, before she took on the important role of mother to his children. Only after three counseling sessions and a signed agreement that Hunter would allow them to start a family after their one-year anniversary, did J.C. relax again. During a private counseling session, the counselor suggested J.C. start coming alone again so she could talk through the loss of her baby. Hunter agreed but only if J.C. wanted it that way. She didn’t, she wanted him there with her. Together they were working through her grief and eventually J.C. decided that perhaps a baby wasn’t the best idea, at the moment. Though she added with a sexy laugh, that Hunter would have to give her one baby for every six months they delayed. Hunter felt torn by that, because he already knew he wanted a large family, but how long would that mean he would have to wait. Hunter brushed an errant lock of hair from her cheek and wished his sleepy wife would awaken so he could make love to her again. As if hearing his silent wish, J.C.’s eyes fluttered open and she smiled up at him. She stretched in her feline way before snuggling closer into him again.

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“What are you thinking about?” “How much I want to make love to you.” “Hmm that sounds like a plan.” “That’s good because it’s what I have planned for the rest of our lives.” She smiled up at him her fingers brushed his cheek. “Mmm, that sounds like a better plan.” “I have to practice if we are going to make all those babies.” “Practice does make perfect.” Hunter snuggled into the blankets next to J.C. rolling her under him. “I intend to get lots and lots of practice.”

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Now Available through Aspen Mountain Press Tony’s Haven, book two in the Sherman Family Series. Excerpt from Tony’s Haven by Dominique Eastwick Her breath caught as Tony pushed her forward toward the glass window. A full moon lit the snow white landscape giving it an angelic feel. The white mountain shimmered dreamlike as if waiting for the sun to crest over them to awaken the skiers and bring it once more the joyful life. But at the moment nothing moved. No wind, animal, or person disturbed the quiet slumber of the mountain. “It’s beautiful.” “I know. I come here, to this spot every time I come up here. My favorite time is now, like tonight, under a full moon. When a thousand crystals are sparkling at us. It’s almost magical, isn’t it?” “Magical,” she agreed. “May I ask you something?” “I guess so.” “Would it be okay if ... That is, may I...can I kiss you?” Haven took a step back. “Why are you asking?” “What do you mean, why am I asking?” “Why ask? Would you have asked any other girl you were with?” Tony looked at her stunned, here he was trying to be a gentlemen and she wanted to know why. “I don’t know, because maybe I didn’t want to get slapped or worse have you accuse me of sexual harassment when we got back to the office on Tuesday. Or perhaps I was just trying to treat you like a lady. How the hell do I know? I just thought...” Whatever he thought to say was thrown to the wind. Her lips met his and he couldn’t have formed a complete sentence even if he tried. Snaking his arms around her waist, he pulled her into him, forcing her to rise up on tip toes. She was soft where a woman should be soft. She made him feel strong and masculine. His lips wanted to

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devour every full inch of her mouth. She tasted like the strawberries from her Daiquiri and smelled just as sweet. His mouth demanded hers open, not that he was receiving any resistance. She opened for him and met his tongue eagerly welcoming and stroked him in. Her left hand moved over his shoulder, up his neck and now her long fingers intertwined into his locks. He didn’t know, didn’t care who was driving the kiss deeper. He just knew that he wanted it, needed it, like no other kiss in his life. He wanted this moment to last. This moment of beauty, its purity and its fire.

Dominique Eastwick lives with her family in Raleigh North Carolina, when she is not writing she is an avid photographer. You can learn more about Dominique at www.DominiqueEastwick.com

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