Page 46 of Hard to Lose

“That’s proof you’re looking at it all wrong. Love isn’t something you set out to achieve. It’s something that happens unexpectedly.”

“For you, maybe. We’re all built differently.”

But even when we hang up, I hate that her words continue to hover in my mind.

Love isn’t something you set out to achieve. It’s something that happens unexpectedly.

And even more? I hate the feeling of dread that hits me because eventually, I will have to say goodbye to Gunner.

“That’s the crazy talking,” I mumble to the empty hotel room.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Chase

When I walk up to FU-Bar at nine o’clock that night, I tell myself it’s to prove that I’m wrong. That Dekker’s wrong.

That my want to see Gunner when I left him, and The Center, behind less than six hours ago is strictly because I crave his physicality again.

I’ve sat in my hotel room for the past few hours questioning everything when I don’t ever question myself. I’ve told myself that at home, I’m normally going a million miles per hour, and therefore the desire to spend more time with someone isn’t there because I’m too busy, too scheduled. And on the odd occasion that I do have downtime, I can call up my two close girlfriends and go out for drinks to let loose for a few hours.

But while I’m in Destiny Falls, everything is different. I have less work, more free time, and no friends to call that are close by.

Is that why I’m suddenly craving some company?

Or is it simply about the sex with Gunner? Our chemistry? About me being a woman with needs and Gunner being a man who very easily met and satisfied those needs?

As I take a deep breath and pull on the door, I’m well aware that all of that is a total bullshit lie.

Heads turn when I walk in, simply because I’m a lone female in a target-rich environment. Normally I’d notice and take stock of the opportunities available, but tonight there’s only one man I’m looking at when I meander through the tables.

Gunner is busy, looking over to Aubrey as he finishes mixing some drinks. But when she walks away, he glances up and sees me. His smile is slow and sexy as he wipes his hand on the towel tucked in his waist before walking toward the end of the bar.

“Hi. What are you doing here?”

“I wanted a drink, some dinner, and some company and I thought to myself, I know a man who can give me all three.” I slide onto a barstool that Nix has somehow procured for me at the more than packed bar.

“Oh really?” Gunner asks. “And who might be able to provide that for you?”

I smirk and tease, “Nix.”

The crowd around me barks out laughs as Nix sits up a little straighter and dusts off his shoulders. “I knew you couldn’t resist me,” he says as Gunner playfully takes his beer away. “Hey!”

“You steal my girl, you lose the beer,” Gunner teases.

“Don’t I get a kiss?” Nix continues the charade.

“Nah, kissing is overrated,” I murmur, earning a lift of one eyebrow from Gunner.

“What was that?” Gunner asks.

“I said kissing is overrated.” Words I used to think were true until Gunner. Until his kisses that feel like a slow, sweet seduction, pulling you in, dragging you under, becoming a temptation like I’ve never known.

But I can’t say that out loud.

It’s hard even to admit it to myself.

So instead, I lift my chin, with a grin on my lips, and challenge Gunner.