Page 16 of Hunter

I turn back to look at all my belongings. Even the way the room is laid out reminds me of my childhood. Then, I notice the old teddy bear sitting on the bed.

“How did you—” I exclaim, rushing over and picking up Oso. He was my mother’s before mine, and I never thought I would see him again. This bear had been my friend growing up. I’d told him everything, and Hunter knew that.

“I asked my mother-in-law nicely,” he says with a small smile.

“My mother would never have given you Oso willingly.”

He shrugs, then turns away. “Perhaps it’s better you don’t know.” He walks toward the door. I follow him. “Get settled,” he says over his shoulder.

“I need my bags.”

“I’ll have them brought up.”

“I want to know how you got your hands on Oso.”

He stops and turns back to face me. There is a pause for a few moments, then he smirks. Suddenly, his face lights up like it did when we were teenagers stealing kisses in the garden when our parents weren’t looking.

“Join me for dinner tonight, and I’ll tell you.”

Chapter nine

The Level Boardroom

Hunter

“I have house guests,” I announce as the elevator doors open. Damon and I step into an empty boardroom. “Fuck’s sake, we’re summoned here and not one bastard is ready for us.”

“Relax,” Damon says. “I’ll make you a coffee.”

“Fuck coffee, I need something stronger.”

Damon walks over to the drink cabinet on the far side of the room as I throw myself down on the first chair I come to. He takes a bottle of whiskey from the top shelf; he’s chosen the good stuff, not that my lawyer friends have any cheap liquor. But on a day like today, I prefer the best possible medicine.

“How did the house tour go?” Damon asks me. He’s turned away, pretending to focus on preparing the drinks. On our trip in the car here, he hadn’t asked me any questions about Isabella and our situation, but I could tell he was dying to. For a man you can trust with trade secrets, he does love to know the gossip.

“I escorted Isabella to her room.” I keep my tone casual as if moving my estranged wife into my home is something I do every week. He doesn’t need to know the excitement and terror that fills me with the prospect of what could or couldn’t happen.

“That’s all? Surely your wife deserved a better tour around the house she should have lived in for the past twenty years.”

Damon’s mouth twists with obvious amusement as he pokes at my predicament. He knows the fact my wife chose not to live with me is no-go conversation territory. I’ve never honestly discussed our situation with anyone, and I don’t plan on starting to divulge the details now.

“It’s a temporary arrangement for both of us. I invited her to dinner as an olive branch. She isn’t happy about moving in, if you haven’t guessed.”

“Hmm…”

“What doeshmmfucking mean? No, don’t tell me. Keep your opinions on my love life to yourself. Remember, you’re staff.”

My friend turns around and stares at me. He lifts an eyebrow and smiles, then the three others decide to show up as he opens his mouth. Harrison, Russell, and Connor walk into the room as he speaks.

“Try not to put the moves on her on day one. Give the girl a chance to settle in.”

They all stop dead as I fly out of my seat and stalk across the boardroom. I jab at Damon’s shoulder with my finger. Furious at being called out on a plan I haven’t even accepted myself. There is no way, as long as I breathe, that I will be signing those divorce papers. She’ll need to kill me.

“It’s none of your fucking business. She’s my wife. I don’t need to hear your shit about relationships.”

“Relationships? I thought it was only a beneficial arrangement?” Damon retorts.

“Wife is a bit of a stretch. I mean, a contractual partner would probably be a better definition,” Russell adds as he takes one of the glasses of whiskey. He lifts it to his lips and drinks it in one gulp. “Nice, I needed that.” Connor and Harrison snigger as I attempt to burn them with my eyes.

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