“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve been horny before but never felt like that.”
She grabs a different pillow and holds it up to her face before screaming into it. She sets it down. “Okay, whatever happens between you two, I don’t want to know. Do you understand?”
I nod.
“I mean it. If he breaks your heart, you cannot come to me crying about it because I am telling you right now that is probably what will happen.”
I grin. “Maybe I’ll break his heart.”
She glares at me. “Don’t you dare! He can’t take it again.”
I hold up my hands. “Whoa. He can hurt me, but I can’t hurt him?”
Maria stands up. “He won’t hurt you on purpose. It will just happen. You’ll fall for him, but he won’t be able to give you anything serious.”
She really seems to know exactly what’s going to happen.
“Has he done this before? Is this how he is with all women?”
“What? No. Actually, I don’t know. I’ve never met any of the women he dated, only his ex.”
I want to know the story with this ex, but I don’t ask. It’s something Hunter should tell me if we ever discuss our pasts.
“Enough of my brother. Tell me what happened these last few days. What happened to Bob? He must be in jail or dead if you are safe to be alone now.”
I tell her everything about what happened with Bob, all the way through Bennett hovering over me while I was sleeping.
Tears well in her eyes. “Wow, that’s a lot. I can’t believe that agent took that risk to get that suspect. He could have killed you.”
Her phone rings on the coffee table, but she ignores it.
I scoot over and hug her. “He was an asshole, but I’m fine.”
“Yeah, but that was too close.”
I lean away. “Your brother felt the same way. He punched the agent.”
Maria laughs. “Good. He deserved it.”
Her phone rings again. “I better check it.” She picks it up. “It’s a client.”
“I’ll let you go.” I stand up. “We’ll talk soon.”
“No wait. Do you want to stay here? You’re always welcome if you don’t want to be alone.”
“Thank you, but I really want to be home.”
She sighs. “If you change your mind at any time, let me know.”
“Thank you.” I hug her and then see myself out.
I stand on the sidewalk, replaying our conversation. I admitted I want something with Hunter. And she didn’t tryto forbid me from pursuing it. Well, she did at first, but not by the end, so that’s good.
Now, how should I approach Hunter? Ask him on a date? Go to his place and kiss him?
I find myself walking to his house. When I reach the stairs to his door, I pause. I should text him first to see if he wants to see me. No, I should march up there and knock. When he opens the door, I will tell him what I want.
