“There is an extra blanket here in the closet if you get cold. And extra pillows.”
“What did you mean by that?” I ask.
He frowns. “I don’t know how many pillows you like.”
“No, not that. In the bathroom. You said that how you feel around me doesn’t make sense. What did you mean by that?”
He shoves his hands into his pockets. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said it.”
Oh, so maybe it wasn’t a nice thing. I sit on the edge of the bed. “You mean because of a sense of duty?”
His brow furrows. “I’m not following.”
“Your sense of duty to protect me? Is that what you meant?”
He sits next to me and stares at the closet. “No, that’s not what I meant.” He glances at me. “Look, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, so we should keep this professional.”
I’m not sure where it comes from, but a rush of boldness hits me. I turn and face him. “I know we don’t always get along, but from the first time you touched me andevery time since, I felt something. Something I haven’t felt with anyone else.”
He nods. “Yeah, that about sums it up for me, too. And I don’t understand it.”
I take his hand in mind and then stare into his eyes. “Maybe it’s just chemistry.”
“Maybe,” he says.
“There’s one way to find out,” I say.
“What’s that?”
I lean forward, and he doesn’t back away. I take that as a sign and go for it, planting a gentle kiss on his lips. Instantly, I’m turned on. The zap I felt from simply holding hands is now pulsing through my body.
He must feel it, too, because his arm goes around me and pulls me onto his lap as he deepens our kiss.
My hands go to his face and then into his hair. He pulls me even closer. I move one hand down and then up the bottom of his shirt until I’m touching his bare skin.
“Hunter,” I breathe out.
He freezes. The grimace on his face tells me he’s in pain.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I hurt you!” I say.
He moves me back to the bed beside him. Then he stands up and takes a step away. “No, it’s not that. We can’t do this. You’re my sister’s best friend. I’m sorry. Good night, Savvy.”
He rushes out the door, leaving me flustered and confused.
A door clicks and then a lock. He locked himself in hisbedroom? Is he afraid I’m going to rush in and attack him with kisses? After what he just said?
We can’t do this. He’s sorry. About what? That I’m his sister’s best friend? Does he think I want marriage and he’s a playboy?
I flop back onto the bed. There’s no point in ruminating because I can’t read his mind. In the morning, I’ll ask him. I’ll be direct and ask what that was all about.
If I had my phone, I’d text Maria:Your brother is a hot, confusing menace.
Staring around the room, there is nothing to do but sleep. But after that, I’m not sleepy.
I spend the next hour lying awake, replaying everything that has happened with Bob and even before. Were there any signs that he was involved in all of this? I still don’t understand why he’s doing this. It makes no sense.
At some point, I finally fall asleep. I wake to the smell of bacon. The smell grows stronger as I walk down the stairs and into the kitchen. Hunter is sitting at the table with a plate of eggs and bacon in front of him.
