Page 35 of Meet Me in Paris

The driver’s side door swung open, and I took yet another step back, zipping my purse open. I had no keys to stab anyone with, and obviously I had no pepper spray. I imagined myself wielding my four-inch heels like a weapon and winced. How much damage could a pair of safety pins, a hairband, and my driver’s license do? I’d taken a short karate class my sophomore year. At least the slit of my dress was high enough that I had the freedom to kick.

But to my amazement, out of the car slid Hunter.

He stalked over to his passenger side and yanked the door open. “Get in.” He looked furious.

I gaped at him. Where had he even come from?

Claude, scowling, seemed less surprised. “I will take her home,monsieur.”

“No, Iwill take her home.” Hunter stared Claude down as if hoping the man would put up a fight so he could deck him. I’d only seen this side of Hunter a few times, and I knew he wouldn’t be standing down tonight. If I resisted, he would throw me over his shoulder and shove me into the car like we were twelve years old again.

I gave Claude a wry smile. “Thanks for the fun night. I don’t think things will work out between us, but if you find another apartment in that area we talked about, let me know.” Then I climbed in and fumbled for the seat belt.

Hunter’s hand brushed my waist as he grabbed the belt, clicked it into place, and slammed the door. He muttered something to Claude in French as he strode around the car, and Claude’s smile tightened. A second later, we were off.

“I think you just insulted my date,” I told him.

Hunter gripped the steering wheel with both hands, hisknuckles white. “Making Claude happy is not my priority right now, and it should never have been yours.”

I looked around. “I thought you didn’t own a car.”

“It belongs to a friend. It’s all I could find on short notice.”

Short notice? What did that mean? I folded my arms. “I’d like an explanation, please.”

“Jillian told me about your date. Most of the locals here are incredibly kind people, but like everywhere, there are players. Jillian didn’t remember his name, but she found his business card in your belongings, and I did some research. You should have seen all the photos of women on his social media. I’m sure the guy’s broken some kind of world record. He must have four girlfriends at any given time.”

“I know.”

He looked braced for a fight, but my words disarmed him. “You know?”

“I figured it out. I was leaving when you pulled up.”

The streetlights painted lines across his face as he turned onto a deserted road. “Then I’m glad I found you when I did.”

“Hunter, I’m an adult. I don’t need a big brother.”

He stared at me in the darkness. “Is that what I am to you?”

The memory of us together under the hot sun on a country road four years ago returned in full force. That kiss injected liquid fire into my veins just thinking about it. I hadn’t experienced anything that intense before or since. Not even tonight.

The full impact of tonight’s events slammed into me, and I shuddered at the thought of kissing Claude. Creeper or not, one thing I knew for sure. If it had been Hunter and medancing on that boat, having a romantic moment, and he’d leaned in to kiss me, the experience would have been completely different.

Anger lit a torch inside. Would every date be like this forever? Comparing Hunter to men who could never measure up while he held another woman in his arms at home?

It took us a few minutes to find an empty parking spot. As he parked tightly against the curb, I blurted, “Where is Collette?”

Hunter turned off the car and said nothing.

“Your mom told everyone about her,” I continued. “Said she was beautiful and educated and you were head over heels in love. She’s why you wouldn’t come to my mom’s funeral.”

“You’re right about some of it,” he said quietly.

Enough with the games. “She’s out of town, isn’t she? That’s the only reason you’re showing us around the city. Once she comes back, you’ll be together and I won’t see you again.”

His knuckles on the steering wheel turned white again, even in the dim light. “Kennedy, you’re missing the boat here.”

With a growl, I flung the car door open and stomped up to the double doors. At least as much stomping as my high heels allowed. My feet would be permanently deformed from these shoes after tonight.

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