“The one you’ve been hanging all over with? In the store?” He narrowed his eyes.

“Oh, her? She’s nobody,” I frowned, wondering how he knew Ellie was in town. But Coleman was a small enough town that word could spread like wildfire.

“Didn’t sound like a nobody…”

“Hey!” I exclaimed. “How did you know about Ellie?”

“Ellie?” Hunter frowned and pushed off me.

He stood, wiped his hands off on his thighs, then held a hand out to help me up.

“Ellie Parsons, that model I was dating until a few months ago,” I let Hunter heft me up. “How did you know she was in town?”

“Taylor,” he snarled.

“Taylor?” I narrowed my eyes. “How did she know about…”

“She saw you two in the grocery store hanging all over each other,” Hunter spat. “Why did you hurt her?”

“What Taylor saw was nothing like it seemed…”

“Well, explain it,” Hunter challenged.

“I’d never hurt Taylor,” I murmured.

Glancing at Hunter, who had his arms crossed over his massive chest, and whose glare could have melted the Antarctic ice caps, I began telling him about Ellie, and how she showed up in Coleman, much to my disgruntlement. By the time I was done, Hunter stood without saying a word.

“Come on, Hunter,” I held up my hands. “Why would I hurt Taylor?”

“I don’t know,” he shook his head. “But from where I stand, you must see how this looks.”

“I can imagine,” I mumbled. “I never meant for Ellie to show up here. I’d broken it off with her months ago.”

“So, why would she come here?” Hunter cocked his head.

“I have my suspicions,” I snorted. “But regardless, we are not a couple, and what Taylor witnessed was Ellie being Ellie. Overzealous and needy.”

Hunter nodded, loosened his arms around his chest, and seemed in deep thought.

I shifted on my feet and wondered what else to say.

“You’re going to have to talk to her,” Hunter replied.

“Who? Ellie?”

“No, Taylor,” he shook his head. “She’s devastated.”

“Man,” I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “I never meant to hurt her, and I had no clue that she saw Ellie with me.”

“Has Ellie left?”

“I hope so, but knowing her, I doubt it,” I grumbled.

The memory of her warning me that she’d ruin me came to mind. I wonder what she meant by that. I knew Ellie could be quite vindictive when it came to her career, and how she was two-faced with other models, or people she thought would slow down the advancement of her career.

I should be concerned with Ellie and her revenge, but my main thoughts were on Taylor and how I had hurt her without knowing it. Now I knew why she wasn’t answering my calls and messages.

“So, what do you plan on doing when you talk with Taylor?’ Hunter broke into my thoughts.