TACK

I can't relax in the guest room despite the mattress being far better than mine at the farm. My mind replays everything from today, fixing mistakes I made and editing shit I said.

If I had been tailing Hunter instead of Jay, she'd never have gotten hurt. Those assholes might also be alive to rat out their boss.

I wake up late, missing breakfast with Hunter. One of Suzanne's assistants brings a huge meal to the dining room, where I eat alone and look over the hundred messages left overnight by my crew.

Eventually, I stand in the foyer like I did last night, willing Hunter to find me before I leave. My silent powers of persuasion work. Hunter pokes her head out of a doorway and guides me toward a billiard room.

As I join Hunter, I notice how her red hair looks almost pink in the sundrenched room. Her blue eyes are lined by smoky eyeliner and a hint of green shadow. She wears a dark blue blouse revealing just enough cleavage to get my blood flowing to my dick. Her beige khakis do little to hide her curvy ass.

When her fruity scent hits me, I'm trapped between lightheaded bliss and an aggressive arousal.

"Before you head out, do you want to play a game?" Hunter asks, offering me a welcoming smile. "We can put on music and pretend we're enjoying a quiet night at the clubhouse."

Joining her at the slick, high-end table, I take the pool stick. Hunter turns on grunge music like we often hear at the clubhouse. She's replicating a time when we were at our most comfortable.

After a perfect shot leaving two balls in separate pockets, Hunter says, "I got word about Jay. He's expected to make a full recovery and is currently enjoying his hospital suite."

"Your mom shouldn't pamper him too much. He's a dickhead. That's why he obeys me. If he fails, I'll have no qualms about ending him."

"That's nice," Hunter murmurs and pats my forearm. "Dickhead or not, he still kept me in the garage long enough for you to save me. This might be the only time in his life when he gets to be a hero. Let the man enjoy his reward."

I almost mention how I ought to get a reward. Except Hunter let me stick around last night, and she's agreed to a date. I've got no reason to whine about wanting more.

After sinking another ball in the pocket, Hunter says, "A part of me feels like I should go home to the condo and live my life rather than running away and hiding."

"That's a mistake."

Hunter's soft expression instantly hardens. "You'd never hide away. Why should I?"

Fatigue clouds my internal edit button, so I blurt out, "I shoot people. Isn't that why you won't date me?"

My words stump her. She just shuts down.

Allowing her space to think, I line up my first pool shot.

Hunter finally mumbles, "I can shoot people, too."

"You said you weren't comfortable with guns."

"I can learn."

Smiling at her stubborn nature, I reply, "Well, I'd love for you to become a badass, gun-toting bitch. You could stay in Banta City and go on that date with me. But I'd rather you stay alive, even if it means I can't see you for a long while."

Hunter's blue eyes narrow until they're the thinnest slits. "How long do you expect me to hide?"

"Well, this shit happened yesterday. So, I don't know but more than a single day."

Stepping back, she looks ready to walk away. Instead, she inches forward and explains, "You don't know what it's like to be smothered by a powerful person's concern. My sister got stuck in that suffocating comfort for half her life."

I absolutely, without a fucking doubt, should shut up. I'm pissing off Hunter for no damn reason. She's on edge today, feeling powerless after living her life at the top. What she wants is to play pool and flirt. I just need to go along with whatever she says, so I can enjoy our time together before she's gone.

However, I feel out of sorts in this house. I've long been insecure about my place in Hunter's life. Her mom is loaded in a way that boggles the mind of a guy like me. Suzanne could lose half her fortune and still be richer than most people in the world.

I'm a simple guy. I'll spend money on my motorcycle or a decent pair of boots. Otherwise, I think small.

At the clubhouse, I'm an important guy from a powerful club. I feel worthy of Hunter in my domain. In this fancy fucking house, I'm just a thug with no education or class.

So rather than shut up, I ask, "What's so wrong with being protected? Your mom loves you. She has the money and power to keep you from getting hurt. Why should you wake up in pain like today if you can be safe?"

"You saw how Austen was. Her life revolved around work and home. She barely went out with her best friend. She never dated."

"You never date, either."

Hunter frowns at me. "Most men don't interest me."

"Yeah, I've noticed," I mutter. "I'd think you were gay if you didn't eye fuck me from time to time."

Hunter struggles against a smile. "Even though I don't believe you and I will work, that doesn't mean I'm unaware of your value. Besides, I said we would go on a real date when I get back. I'm curious if you can pull off the promised ‘best date of my life.'"

Feeling emboldened by how she's agreed to a date, I ask, "Why do you think we can't work? We're always hanging out. We basically date now, just without the sexy stuff."

"What if we go on the date and nothing changes? Can you ever just be my friend?"

Holding her gaze, I reply, "No, because you feel like mine."

"Maybe you're right," Hunter says before adding, "But it's just as likely you're wrong."

"If I'm wrong, I'm wasting my time. But if there was another woman for me, I can't help thinking I would have noticed her by now. Waiting for you isn't easy. I'd love to get distracted by a chick who wants me now. But there's no one like you."

As a pink hue warms her pale face, Hunter doesn't know how to respond. I suspect she'll keep me at arm's length until the plane steals her away to Hong Kong. Once she returns, she'll come up with a hundred new reasons why our date shouldn't happen. I already feel her sabotaging this thing between us.

Sighing, she glances downward. I notice her stiffen before her gaze returns to my face. "Why are you barefoot?"

"I only brought my boots, and I didn't think you'd want them clomping around this fancy house. Besides, they're kinda muddy. This is me being respectful."

"But why no socks?" Hunter asks as if I'm a crazy person.

I think about her question and try to imagine the way she sees me. Though I'm crazy about this woman and want to make her mine, I've never had any clue how her mind works. Not knowing what she wants me to say, I go with the truth.

"Socks are meant for shoes," I explain. "Without shoes, what's the point in wearing them?"

Hunter stares at me for what feels like forever. As usual, I can't tell what she's thinking. I only know she looks extra beautiful when she's close enough for me to count the freckles dotted across her perfect pale skin.

Setting down her pool stick, Hunter looks ready to bail on our time together. Instead, she steps closer and wraps her hand around the back of my neck. Despite her possessive touch, I don't dare take the lead or assume I'll get a taste.

I let Hunter guide me down to her level. Her lips cover mine. She hesitates before deepening the kiss. I open wider for her curious tongue.

My hands ache to reach for her. I need to feel her body pinned against mine. I've waited a long fucking time for this moment, and I don't want it to end.

Siobhan O'Malley ruins my day by entering without knocking. Hunter pops her lips free and backs away from me.

"Oh, did I—?" Siobhan asks, realizing she's interrupted what I've been trying to make happen for years.

Hunter wipes her mouth and adjusts her shirt. I frown at Siobhan who considers apologizing and leaving. Her guilt is written across her pretty face. Then, her O'Malley brain decides to put her own interests first, allowing her guilt to shift to concern.

"I wanted to visit last night, but people said I should wait," she tells Hunter as they hug. "I hate common sense thinking."

The women hug for a long time. I hear them whispering. Siobhan's voice breaks, and she buries her face against Hunter's shoulder.

I lose my irritation at Aunt Fred's daughter when I hear her crying against her friend.

"It's okay," Hunter says while stroking Siobhan's back.

"It's really not. They could have killed you."

"Thanks to Tack, I'm okay."

Siobhan probably wouldn't be so frazzled if she had come over last night and gotten this angst out of her system. Instead, her panic festered.

"Why don't you clean up," Hunter suggests to her friend. "I'll kick Tack out of the house, so he can get his shit done. Natasha will be here soon."

Siobhan glances at me and sighs. "He looks like he might cry next."

Before I can flip her off, she heads to the nearby bathroom.

"I know it's difficult after what just happened," Hunter says, wearing an unreadable expression. "But maybe you need to get the hell out here now."

"Why would it be difficult?" I ask, messing with her. "You kissed me, remember, hot stuff? I was just talking about my feet when you lost control of yourself."

Hunter rolls her eyes and walks to the door. "You were flirting so hard, I had no choice but to throw you a pity kiss."

I grudgingly follow Hunter who glances down at my feet and smiles. "I've never seen a man walk around the house barefoot. It's funny."

"I'll add your foot fetish to my list of Hunter turn-ons."

Smirking, she inhales sharply and points out the door. "You do your thing, and I'll do mine. If you're good, maybe we'll do a dry run on the promised ‘best date of my life' when you get back."

I glance down at her socked feet. "I wouldn't mind seeing your ten little piggies stripped naked."

"Weirdo," Hunter says, laughing as she gently shoves me out of the billiard room. "Go handle your club and get clean stuff for tonight. I want your mind on me tonight and not your constantly vibrating phone."

With her talking less like my buddy and more like a girlfriend, I hurry my ass to my room to locate my boots. The sooner I deal with a pissed Zoot and grab my best clothes, the faster I can work my magic on Hunter again.