Page 2 of Finding Chloe

I allowed myself to mull it over for one more second before I straightened my shoulders. “Okay, fine, but I’ll blame you if this all goes wrong,” I called to Gina where she was mixing a round of drinks for her newest guests.

“You cancreditme when it all goes right,” she grinned as she shook her drink tin.

I grabbed the glass and turned toward Hunter and Katherine, who were still deep in conversation.

I can do this.

He was only going to take the drink, ignore me, and continue his conversation. It was no big deal. This would be a great way for me to practice approaching guys in the future. Determination propelled me forward.

As I got closer, I could make out some of their words.

“Come on, Hunter. What’s wrong with you? You never act like this. We always have a little fun after a show. Why is tonight any different?” Katherine whined.

I cringed. Her voice went right through me.

“I don’t want to say it again. We’re over. I shouldn’t have dragged it out as long as I have.” Hunter’s deep voice was rough, with a hint of exhaustion. He ran his hand over his tired face. I had to wonder if it was because of the long day of competing or as a result of this conversation.

“But, baby, I want it hard and fast tonight, and I know you’re the one who can give it to me. Why do you have to be so mean? You know you want it too. Don’t deny us both.” Katherine continued to pout while seductively brushing her fingers up and down his arm.

Oh God. I wanted to block my ears.

“Kat, I said no. Find someone else tonight.” Hunter kept his voice low, and I respected that he was trying not to make a scene, even though Katherine seemed to have other ideas.

She crossed her arms over her chest, and her voice rose. “You couldn’twaitto rip my clothes off last time. Why not tonight?”

Hunter took a step back, creating distance between them. He ran a hand over the nape of his neck. “We were never serious. You and I both agreed it would be fun while it lasted, but it’s not fun now.”

“I can’t believe you, Hunter.” Her eyes shined with tears that were probably as fake as she was.

He drew in a long-suffering sigh. “Don’t do this here.”

“Do what? Get upset that you were stringing me along?” She grabbed at his arm.

His eyes flashed with anger just before he tempered it. “I’m not getting into this with you. I told you we are over.” He gently removed her hand.

She immediately wrapped her arm around his.

Hunter shifted. “Please let go, Kat.”

My stomach churned. This woman would not take no for an answer. Hunter was trying to be reasonable and respectful, and she was creating a scene. If what Gina said was correct and Hunter was an up-and-coming rider, he didn’t need this kind of negative attention. Katherine needed to be taught that no means no.

Stepping in between them, I faced Katherine. “He’s with me.” I couldn’t stop the words from pouring out of my mouth, but now that they had, I had to roll with it. My knees shook as Katherine turned her glare toward me.

Gina had said Hunter needed saving, and that was what I would do. He didn’t need to be hounded by a woman who was borderline obsessive.

An arm snaked around my middle and turned me away from the woman. “Where have you been, sugar?” Hunter beamed. His gray eyes took my breath away. I hadn’t seen them from across the room, but now that I was close enough, I could drown in them and never surface.

“I’ve been waiting for you. It seems you got distracted, so I brought your rum and Coke, just how you like it.” I surprised myself with how smoothly my words dropped from my shaky lips. It was like my inner woman had taken over.

“Just what I wanted.” Hunter took the glass from my hands and set it on the table. “Which makes me wantyoueven more,” he said, brushing his hand over my cheek and gently tugging my face closer. Our lips touched, softly at first, then he deepened the kiss.

Oh… my…

The taste of rum tantalized my tongue as his dipped between the crease of my lips. My stomach flipped, and I couldn’t help but grapple at his navy button-down and tug him closer.

Hunter’s hands slid to my lower back, pinning me against him. My knees felt like they were going to give out any minute when the harsh clearing of a throat behind me broke us apart.

“Who are you?” Katherine refused to take the hint. Her nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed as her hands pinched at her waist.

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