I stared at her for a long time before letting her go and climbing off her. I stood from the bed, and so did she, but on the opposite side.
“All right,” I said after a while. “But Coby made this deal because she wants it, Hunter. I didn’t force her. I gave her a choice, so I’ll give you the same. My offer still stands. I’ll let you be with Coby and help her through this marriage on one condition: you can’t tell her about this until I’m ready to come clean.”
Hunter was already shaking her head. “You can’t ask me to lie to my best friend.”
“Would you be telling Coby the truth for her sake or yours?”
“What kind of question is that?” Hunter spat.
“One that requires an answer,” I shot back.
She lifted her chin. “For both of ours.”
“Bullshit. You were just kissing your best friend’s fiancé. Did you do that for Coby?”
“You know what, Ocean?” Hunter said with the driest chuckle. “Go straight to hell, but until then, sleep with one eye open because not only am I going to get Coby away from you, I’m going to kill you in your sleep before I do!”
“That should be easy enough since you’ll be sleeping next to me right along with Coby, and I guarantee when it happens, you’ll both love it as much as I will.”
“Kill yourself,” she spat as she looked away from me to hide what my promise really did to her.
“Does this mean we have a deal, Hunter?”
Her gaze returned to mine to glare daggers. “For now.”
“Come here.”
Hunter hesitated just to piss me off, and then she slowly rounded the bed to stand in front of me. Once I was able to breathe her jasmine scent in again, she just stared at me like I was some great mystery she couldn’t solve, but I knew what it really was.
Curiosity. Eagerness. Doubt.
She was thinking about what I’d said—about the three of us together in my bed just as I’d described. She was wondering if I’d really succeed. I’d gotten the same vibe from Coby when she demanded I give Hunter everything I offered her. I tried to tell myself she hadn’t known what she was asking, but…what if?
I had the feeling Coby Perry was underestimated a lot.
My hand curved around Hunter’s neck, and then my thumb gently swept her soft cheek. Even more surprising was that she let me.
“You may not know this, but I do. You deserve more than to be treated like a prize in a game, and I promise you, Hunter, it won’t happen again. You’re much too precious for that.”
Her lips parted, but I kissed her forehead and stepped away before she could tell me to go to hell again. I’d already fucked this up because I couldn’t let go of my upbringing. I couldn’t stop approaching every fucking thing like a game or battle, and the people involved like opponents or chess pieces.
At this rate, it would take a miracle to win their hearts when Coby and Hunter had already stolen mine.
“I’ll have someone bring you clean clothes, food, and whatever else you may need,” I called at the bedroom door. And then I allowed myself one last look until tomorrow. “Good night, Hunter.”
Walking toward the cabin door, I could have sworn I heard her soft voice parrot, “Good night, Ocean.”
HUNTER
Three days after Ocean’s ultimatum, I was lying on the bed, wearing only a towel. Ocean had delivered on his promise of clothes and food, but I hated him, so I was determined not to accept anything from him. None of the clothes were useful anyway. They wouldn’t keep me much warmer than the towel if I tried to escape again.
Thankfully, the old cabin had running water and was stocked with the essentials, so after taking care of my hygiene, I decided to take a nap while I waited for him to fulfill his other promise—letting me see Coby.
Half the week had already gone.
Instinct told me that this was by design. That Ocean liked the idea of knowing I was waiting on him—anticipating his arrival. Why hadn’t I killed him when I had the chance? I couldn’t even say that if given the chance again, I wouldn’t hesitate again.
The proof was in the kiss.
