Page 199 of Sin With Me

“I don’t think so. No, I know I can’t. But what do Isay?”

“Think it through. Forgiveness is a powerful attribute. Believe me, I know, because I’ve been on its receiving end for years. It can make everything right again. It can heal that broken heart of yours.”

“Thank you, K.” I threw back the tequila. It didn’t even sting anymore. In fact, it was almost like water. “But right now I just need to clear mymind.”

“I gotta go. This one’s not letting me sleep through the night.” she rubbed her belly. “Plus, Grace ishere.”

I turned around and rolled my eyes at the man beside Grace. Hunter was walking close to her side, obviously aware at the damage he’d done. I hoped Grace had the wits to put him in his place. Although that might have only led to a long night of sex. Nope, I didn’t want him to get any pleasure out of my misery. Whatever punishment Grace had for her boyfriend, it better have been one that included him hanging by his balls.

“He’s the one who came up with the brilliant idea,” I said to Kendra.

“Then you should thank him for introducing you to the man I think youlove.”

I gasped. Kendra kissed me on my cheek, saying, “I’ll have Matt call you a cab when you’re ready to go home.” And sheleft.

Did I love Eric? Was that the feeling I’d had with me the entire time? I should have gotten over the lie a long time ago. The agony of being so far away from him was tearing me apart. It was worse knowing he was so far away than it was being angry with him for lying to me. It wasn’t the same as when I was with David. We were younger and more prone to stupidity, living without a care in the world, taking it one day at a time while making plans for our entire lives. We lived on pure adrenaline, and the idea of being each other’s sweethearts kept us going. We grew up at the same time, and I’d never known what true love should be like and assumed it was what I’d had with David. Part of me felt like what I’d experienced with David was just the tip of the iceberg. What I felt for Eric seemed so much stronger and fiercer. What we had was like that root underneath the ocean, holding the iceberg steady, the mass of its foundation much stronger than the white tip bobbing on the surface. It didn’t matter to Eric that I wasn’t a girl from his town, or that I couldn’t square dance for the life of me, because no matter how silly I acted, he still wanted me. Me over Claire, me for who I was, accepting my job, knowing the dangers I could be in and not being threatened by it. I could count the ways when men I’d gone out with were afraid the moment I’d mentioned my lastname.

I wanted Eric so badly, yet I hated him for betrayingme.

“Hey, you. Still mad?” Hunter asked.

“Furious.” Maybe I could punch Hunter instead? Get my anger out on his wickedly sharp jaw line. Would Gracemind?

“Wow, there killer. Get that murderous look off your face. It doesn’t suit you.” Grace stood between me and Hunter.

“I better become scarce,” he said, kissing Grace on her cheek. I grabbed his arm when he stepped to the side. His gaze lowered and a hint of fear sparked in the corner of his eyes. Hunter was never afraid of anything – not anymore.

“Look, Hunter. I know you did it for my brothers.”

“You’re wrong, Em,” the tension in his shoulders eased. “I did it for you. I’ve known Eric for a long time, and when Julian and Tristan asked me to keep you occupied and out of trouble, I knew you two could be a good match. And getting away from the city and the fast life was exactly what you needed, wasn’t it? Didn’t I do the same thing for you that Grace has for the past year with the bets and dares and gambles – make you forget the past for a moment? There’s no time to stop in New York. How were you supposed to let David go if you kept yourself busy with work? How were you supposed to experience life again when the guys you picked to date were assholes and jerks not worthy of one of your minutes? You were the one who got me and Grace together. I just wanted to return the favor. That’s why I never told Julian or Tristan how perfect you two were for each other.”

Was it possible that Hunter had done for me what I’d done for him and Grace a year earlier? I had known him most of my life. I knew the moment he told me of the trouble my best friend was in that, Grace would be the perfect woman forhim.

Hunter was right. I had lost myself in work and obnoxiously pointless dates I knew would never lead to anything serious. Eric was the first person I’d met who was able to hold my attention with one look. He was the one who healed my heart and helped me completely get over myloss.

“So you really never told my brothers about Eric and me, you know, maybe ending up together?”

“Are you kidding? Do you think they’d have given you the case if they’d known the truth? I told them what they needed to know, skipping the part about how women fell on their knees for him and how perfect he was for you. I wonder if they’re doing so again, now that he’s obviously back on the market.”

I knew what he was trying to do, and it was working. The idea of Claire – or anyone else – hanging on Eric’s arm was beginning to turn my stomach. Or maybe it was the tequila. And no, had they known, my brothers would never have given me the case. They’d think they were pimping me. Was that why they were so insecure at that first dinner with Eric? Because they’d realized we had the kind of connection they feared?

I breathed out, softening my eyes at Hunter.

Maybe I had been too harsh with him. “For what it’s worth, thank you. But I’m stillmad.”

“You’re welcome. And I like you mad. It gives you an edge.” He winked, kissing Grace on her cheek before he went to chat with one of the barmen.

I tried to swivel back on the stool to get another shot I had lined up on the bar, and almost fell off myseat.

“Oh, honey. How many of those have you had?” Grace lowered her hand tomine.

“Not enough,” Isaid.

“Then I have a lot of catching up to do.” She took one of my shots and threw her head back, immediately sucking on a lemon.

“Shit, I haven’t had tequila in a while. Please tell me it gets better.” She took another one as if she wanted to wash the first onedown.

I laughed. “It does. After a few, you stop feelingthem.”

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