Page 2 of Always You

It’s not.

He’s supposed to be on the other side of the country, living his jet-set life while we are nothing more than a distant memory. Going to clubs, hanging out with his celebrity friends but definitely not crashing my fucking girls’ night on the worst day of my life, reminding me I have no clue what I’m doing with a single look.

“How are you?” He flashes me his famous boyish grin, dropping his burning eyes to mine. Even though he’s twenty-five now and all-man, his shoulders look even broader than the last time I saw him.

“Fine.” I avert my gaze to settle my thumping heart down.

There is no way I’ll be able to keep things distant and acquainted if he keeps looking at me like that. I mean, I have a boyfriend; I love Ben.

So, we’ve hit a bump in the road. Or a mountain,whatever. We will get through it together. But I admitted to myself a long time ago that I have a never-ending weakness for Hunter Hansen, and him staring at me like I’m about to be his dinner makes me forget loving another man real fast.

It's freaking hard to resist hissuperpowers.

I mean, I’m only human.

“You here to visit your mom?” I already know the answer, but my nerves have me chickening out to ask the real question burning on my tongue.

I bring my drink to my lips, just keeping busy to settle the tingling in my stomach.

The asshole takes the stool next to me, making himself comfortable, as he turns his body toward my side. His eyes burn a hole through my skin, making it hard for me to breathe, and I swallow my nerves—hoping, praying, wondering if I can drown the feelings I apparently still have before they come floating to the surface.

“Nah, I’m moving back.”

“You’re what?!” I snap my head to his, my eyes as wide as a deer in headlights. “Why?”

I glance at his muscled arms, covered by a red flannel shirt. His sleeves are rolled up, and I resist the urge to run my fingers over the tattoos covering his skin, pushing away the need for him to wrap his arms around me.

Damn you, Charlotte. Keep it together.

“Because I have unfinished business in this town.” He boldly grabs my glass of vodka and lime from my hand, his fingers brushing mine for longer than necessary. An electrifying jolt ripples through my arm at his simple touch. His eyes fill with an amused spark, pinning me down from under his signature black snapback.

Jackass.

I watch how he casually wets his lips, then takes a sip of my drink.

He can’t treat me like I’m his for the taking, giving me this flirtatious look and igniting something in my body that I’ve hidden away with diligent effort. I resist the urge to slap the drink from his fingers, scolding him for being an arrogant dick.But instead, I let him, watching his Adam’s apple softly bob as he slugs the liquor down his throat.

“You better be talking about your mom, Hunter Hansen.” I shoot him a reprimanding look, even though I already know she would be the last reason for him to move back to Braedon. In reality, he doesn’t have anyone left in this town.

Except…..

“She’s the reason I left.” He pauses, and I send up a quick prayer.Please, don’t say it. Please, God, don’t let him say it.“You are the reason I’m back.”

Of course he said it.Fuck.

His hand takes residence on my thigh, bringing back the familiarity I need to end right now, while his other hand places my glass back in front of me.

“No, I am not.” I shake my head, closing my eyes for a brief moment and trying to put up an unaffected front. I choose to ignore his hand on my body, and the feeling it’s giving me. But the heat that crawls up to my neck is a clear indication I’m failing this test like a sinking ship.

“I know it took me a while, but I’m back.” The sincerity in his voice causes a raging battle between what I feel and what I know as he leans in. As his breath fans my cheek, telling me he’s at least two inches too close, my brain to shocked to tell him to fuck off.

“Good for you,” I manage to snarl instead, staring into my glass while Julie stifles a chuckle.

“I want another shot.” His voice is all husky and needy, trickling goosebumps down my body. Ouch. I waited for this kind of truth for so long, but now all it does is hurt like hell. It would be so easy to fall back under his spell, especially today. To let myself slip into his comfortable arms, to besafefor just a moment.

But I can’t handle heartbreak anymore. I’ve lost too much.

“At what?” I ask, my curiosity holding back from saying nothing at all.

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