Hopelessly Devoted to You

The door opened after she’d turned her back, and Raina swung around hating Hunter to have her at a disadvantage. For a moment, she could find no words to say. The man was gorgeous. He held himself straight which made his broad shoulders even wider. His jaw was chiseled as if from steel, clean-shaven, and his gray eyes could freeze a person where they stood. Raina hated most of all having to tilt her head way back to look him boldly in those intimidating orbs.

Hunter was somewhere around his late thirties and looked good for his age, but today, there was strain in his expression. His lips were tighter than normal, and the way he seemed to close off more made her think he didn’t relish seeing her anymore than she wanted to see him.

She raised her chin to show he didn’t scare her. “Is Kyle still here?”

The flash of pain took her by surprise, but it was gone too fast to be sure it was there in the first place. “Come inside.”

The words were a command. Raina thought about telling him what he could kiss, but she stepped into the house. Hunter had a lot more space between him and his neighbors in his single-family house than she did in her apartment, but she still didn’t need to make a scene outside. He led her to the living room, and she sat down on the couch. Hunter disappeared without a word, and she heard him talking. Only then did she realize someone else was in the house, and the woman was crying.

What the hell is going on?

A blonde in business-casual attire entered the room. Raina recognized her as Jill, a family friend and sometimes lover of Hunter’s. Jill’s eyes were red-rimmed and puffy, and she held a used tissue between the tips of her fingers. She took a seat across from Raina and didn’t speak.

Hunter returned to the room with a drink for both of them. Jill downed hers, and Raina set hers on the table. She was impressed that he remembered her favorite. “Did you call him?”

He hesitated, and that’s when she knew something was up.

“Did I interrupt anything?”

His dark brows lowered over his eyes. “Don’t you answer your cell phone?”

She sucked her teeth. “Please. Tell that to your damn brother. I’ve been calling him all day.” While she spoke, she fished out her cell and found that she’d missed four calls. “It never rang. So annoying.”

Jill squeaked. “You insensitive bi—”

“Be quiet, Jill,” Hunter roared, and Raina jumped at the vehemence in his tone. She’d picked up her drink without thinking but didn’t take a sip. When she glanced up at Hunter who was still standing, this time she knew she saw pain in his eyes.

“My brother was in an accident earlier this afternoon,” he announced in a monotone. “He’s been killed.”

Raina surged to her feet, the words half registering. When they sunk in, the room spun, and the glass began to slip from her nerveless fingers. “But…but…”

She pitched forward. The edges of her vision darkened, but the next instant, a strong arm came around her, and the glass was removed from her hand. She found herself wedged up against Hunter’s chest. He set down the glass and moved his hand to the back of her head, cradling it like she was someone he cared about rather than the dislike that had dominated their relationship.

Raina clutched at the sleeves of his shirt. She heard him a long way off telling her to take deep breaths. She was going to throw up. Oh no, not in front of him.

“I have to go to the bathroom.” Her words were muffled with her lips pressed to his shoulder. She tried to step out of his arms, but her legs were jelly. Hunter whipped her up into his arms and carried her out of the room. Jill called his name, but he ignored her.

They trekked to the bathroom in the hall, and Hunter stood behind her with one arm wrapped around her waist while she decided whether her stomach had settled. She wanted to be alone, but he didn’t move. Her head swirled, and she began to cry. His big body pressed close from behind seemed to give her strength—that along with the physical attraction she’d always felt when he was near.

She closed her eyes breathing deep. He said nothing, and Raina filled the quiet with nervous chatter. “I just talked to him this morning. We had an argument.”

“It’s okay.”

“I…we…didn’t agree on something important. I came here to talk it out.” She sniffed. “He got on my last nerve, but I cared about him. And now I…”

She swayed. Oh hell!

The world was going dark, and she heard Hunter saying, “Raina, honey, are you okay? Raina!” But she must be imagining the endearment and the worry.