"Hardly. I'm going home to shower. I don't think I'd fit in yours."
"You'd fit."
I quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh, you meant the shower." Her face was flushed as she handed me my clothes.
I looked down at her. If she asked me to stay, I was going to push her into that dinky little bed and fuck her all night.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," she said.
I felt jumpy, like I could twist out of my own skin, as I walked to my car. I didn't like that Hazel felt sorry for me. I wanted her to desire me. I had half a mind to go back to her apartment, push her against the couch, and kiss my way down to the wet pink flesh and—
McKenna jumped up from behind my car when I beeped it open with the key fob. I swore as she came around the car to me.
"I already told you," I warned.
"Archer, I miss you," she begged.
"No, you don't. You don't even like me," I countered. I looked back up, hoping Hazel wasn't seeing this.
McKenna grabbed my jaw, sinking her nails into my skin. "Don't think about her. Think of me. Archer, we were good together."
"Stop," I told her, pushing her off, getting in my car, and racing home.
* * *
I couldn't sleepthat night between wanting Hazel and then being angry about McKenna.
After tossing and turning, I got up early and went out for a run. There were lights along the trails that crisscrossed our estate. Since it was summer, the sun rose early. I stood on the terrace and watched then went inside to scrounge for breakfast.
"I thought you went back to Manhattan," Hunter said when he saw me sitting at the table. He placed a box of food on the table.
"What's that?"
"Hazel sent food. Apparently you ordered it?"
"She was here?" I looked wildly around. Why hadn't she come to talk to me?
"No. A courier left it," Hunter replied, throwing me a bagel. "But now I see why you're still here. It's that girl, Hazel."
"No, not Hazel. I have to be here for my conference center," I lied.
"The presentation is not for another week and a half," Hunter said. "You're neglecting your real business. Mike has lodged several complaints with me."
Traitor.
"I have the art committee and the art retreat," I said around a mouthful of lox bagel.
"Someone else could do that," Hunter replied. "You can't bank everything on winning this convention center. Meg might give it to Harrington out of spite."
I snorted. "Hazel is painting away. She's fast and good. Go ahead and buy the champagne for that factory site because we're going to win it."
"As long as she delivers a superior product to whatever Harrington is going to show. But know this; once this is all wrapped up," Hunter warned, "you need to go back to Manhattan."
Back to Manhattan? I would need to find some way of convincing Hazel to come along. I wanted her around. But she might not want to leave her friends and her sisters.
"Are you paying attention?" Hunter asked.
