“I did. You drove here?” I say.
“Keeps me from drinking when I have a big game the next night,” he says.
I hug everyone else good night, and Ashley, Charly, and I make plans to go to Hunter’s game tomorrow night.
We’re all walking to the door when I have the feeling somebody’s watching me.
I glance back at the bar.
A man has swiveled on his stool so he can follow me with his gaze as I walk. I stop in my tracks and stare at him.
He smiles and waves in a flirty way then gestures to his drink.
“Let me buy you one,” he mouths.
I don’t know him. IknowI don’t know him, and over the last year, I’ve gotten used to being recognized for my work. But something in his face looks eerily familiar; he reminds me of—
“Shit.” The word comes out of my mouth too loudly and unexpectedly.
Hunter’s immediately by my side. “What is it?”
The blood drains from my face as I point a shaky finger at the man. “He…”
“What? Did he say something to you?” Hunter’s got his arm around me now and he’s staring hard at the bar. “Tell me what he did, Winter. I’ll go make sure he never does it again.”
I shake my head. “I have to go home. Please take me home.”
Hunter turns me toward the door. “Okay.”
* * *
I don’t thinkany of the others noticed what happened as we were leaving, and Hunter doesn’t say anything in front of them. But he helps me with my seat belt after I climb into the front seat, and I can feel his gaze on me every time we hit a stoplight.
I spend the time focusing on my breathing like the therapist said to do.
Long breath in through the nose, longer breath out through the mouth. Just relax. I’ll be okay. This too shall pass.
When we reach Hunter’s place, he parks next to my mother’s BMW and shuts off the engine.
“I’ll help you inside,” he says as he opens his door.
By the time he makes it around to my side, I’m already out of his truck and heading for the front door.
Hunter takes a hold of my arm and walks with me. Once we’re inside and I go to disappear into my suite, he says my name quietly.
I look up into his emerald eyes. “I’m fine. I just need to sleep.”
“You’re not fine. You’re white as a sheet. Let me help you.”
I don’t fight him, partly because I’m so drunk and partly because I don’t want to be alone. Theo scampers out from wherever he was and rubs his body against my legs.
I scoop him up into my arms and bury my face in his soft fur. “Hi, buddy. You want to sleep with me tonight?” I look up at Hunter, who’s watching us. “Is that okay with you?”
His eyes fill with affection. “Of course. I don’t let him sleep on my bed.”
“Why not?”
“I need to make sure I get uninterrupted sleep during the season. So he’s not allowed in my room.”
