Page 3 of Loved By the Hacker

“You sure? If you wait an hour or so, I or one of the guys can take you home.” His offer was sweet, but it was high time I took care of myself.

“I don’t need a babysitter.” I rolled my eyes before hopping off the high bar stool and pulled the strap of my purse over my shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”

“Text!” my brother called out, and I waved at him.

Walking through the brewery and grill my brother and his friends had opened made me smile. It was good to see our little mountain town grow and flourish after the recession. It had taken a bit, but it was slowly coming back together.

I pushed the door open and almost, like fate had a terrible sense of humor, bumped into a familiar chest who smelled like home to me, or used to.

“Shit. Sorry, Cora.” His eyes locked on mine, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel anything towards him.Is this me getting over him? Have I moved on?

“It’s fine.” I shook my head. His familiar green eyes softened. Eyes I thought my kids would have one day. I moved to take a step to the left, and he matched it. Then the other direction. We both stopped, and he looked at me. Something in his gaze was almost contrite. Apologetic.

“Umm…” He cleared his throat. “How have you been?” he asked, and I frowned. Small talk was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Fine. I should get—“ I moved again, but his hand reached for me. His touch didn’t feel the same. Not even close to how it once did. Not now that I knew his true colors and was finally waking up to how unhealthy our relationship had been.

“Don’t act like that. I miss you,” he said quietly, almost for my ears only.

“Are you serious right now?” I scoffed.

I tried to step back but bumped into someone behind me. I turned and looked into the deep, dark brown eyes of Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.Holy shit.His hand touched mine, and silky wet heat rushed through me. Like electricity and a great shot of incredibly potent but smooth liquor swirled together.

“Hey, beautiful. Miss me?” With his eyes locked on mine, I was almost positive he was talking to me, but I couldn’t process why he was saying those words. I’d never spoken to the gorgeous man in my life. I’d only admired him from afar since Valentine’s Day.

“I tried to get away early,” he continued to talk. Something about the tone in his voice and the warmth of his embrace had me melting into him. “But you know how my meetings go,” he said, as if I knew what the hell he was talking about.

“Meetings?” I repeated.

“Yeah, the ones I told you about last night?” His brow rose and his eyes softened. Just like that, my brain caught up with the rest of my body, which was leaning into his like I knew him well versus just having met.

He was giving me an out.

Somehow, he knew the precarious situation I found myself in, not that it surprised me, Moonlit Pines was a small town. Everyone knew everyone’s business.

“Who the hell are you?” Jack asked, but I didn’t bother to look at my ex.

“Well, I guess you have to make it up to me.” I smirked, flirting back as easily as I found it to breathe.

“I do, huh?” He leaned in closer. His scent wafted into my nose and filled my lungs. He smelled good. Different. Masculine and spicy with a touch of musk.

“You were late.” My open-palmed hand rubbed the center of his chest, and I watched Tall, Dark, and Handsome’s eyes turn molten. Like the center of an incredibly decadent gooey chocolate lava cake. “I think at the very least, I deserve a kiss.” I had no idea what came over me. Maybe Oli and Onyx’ advice for a rebound was finally starting to stick?

“Then that’s what you will get.” He leaned forward.

In the back of my head, I could hear Jack talking shit, huffing and puffing about what the hell was going on, but I didn’t hear a word. Not when the sexy stranger’s lips pressed against mine and the world disappeared right after.

His lips danced with mine with firm dominance. Soft and tender with a hint of familiarity. It was the most perfect first kiss. He didn’t try to shove his tongue down my throat, but he did nibble on my lower lip for a moment. I felt like I had kissed this man a million lifetimes.

When we pulled apart, my face was in his undoubtedly strong hands, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. “You can have more of those later,” he promised, and it sounded more enticing than any kind of ice cream I could ever ask for.

“Are you fucking kidding me with this shit right now, Cora? This has to be some kind of joke,” Jack complained. He sounded like a petulant toddler.

“Like you and what’s her name?” I asked. It was catty and petty of me, but I couldn’t help it. Not that I turned to look at Jack. Why would I when the handsome man in a suit stood in front of me, his body heat radiating in waves against my front? The sexy stranger’s gaze penetrated mine, making me want a lot more than a kiss. There was no doubt the attraction was two-sided.

“Cor—“ Jack didn’t say another word. He couldn’t when the dark sexy stranger pulled me behind him and stood between me and my ex. Jack was tall, but Tall, Dark, and Handsome was taller. He towered over Jack.

“Now, you! You, I gotta thank you, my man.” He grinned before patting Jack on the shoulder. Jack’s body shook slightly. “If you hadn’t fucked up so royally, fumbled worse than the last play of a tied Super Bowl, I wouldn’t be ready to get out of here with the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Fucking stupid on your part, no disrespect, but thank fuck. Am I right, babe?” He pulled me back to his side with his strong long arm wrapped around my shoulder.

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