Page 28 of The Rancher's Wedding Betrayal
"Drop it, Janelle. I don't want to hear another word."
His cousin's phone chimed at that moment, and Hunter frowned at the way Janelle's face turned expressionless while reading whatever it was on her phone.
"There's obviously something wrong."
Janelle bit her lip. "Am I being that obvious?"
"You've never been good at lying, Janelle. So yes," he said dryly, "you're being that obvious."
"The company offered me a promotion," she explained with a sigh.
"And the catch?"
Her expression turned rueful. "How did you know there'd be one?"
"There always is."
"I'll have to move all the way to Alaska."
And of course, for someone like his cousin who still wore a cardigan even in the hottest of summers, that would be akin to a death sentence.
"Just quit," he decided, "and work for our company."
"Thank you for the offer, but no."
"Start a business then. I'll bankroll you."
Janelle made a face. "You really won't let this go, will you?"
"At least sleep on it before giving me an answer."
"Alright, fine. Now, will you please stop bullying me and just go back to Eve and live happily ever after?"
They walked back to the residential wing together, their footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway, before Janelle excused herself to make some tea before heading to bed.
Hunter continued up the stairs alone, slowing as he neared Eve’s room. Her door was slightly ajar, and hearing a soft gasp, followed by a muffled voice that wasn't Eve's had him striding inside with a frown.
The sight that greeted him turned his blood to ice, the color draining from his face.
“What the fuck is this?”
Evelline let out a cry at his hoarsely spoken words while Matt, whose hand was still possessively cupping her breast through the towel, jerked away, and when the younger man turned to him, the guilty expression on his face had Hunter feeling like his heart was torn out of his chest.
Chapter Nine
EVE TIGHTENED THE TOWELaround her body, still dripping from the shower. The hot water had helped ease the tension in her muscles, but not the warmth in her heart.
Today had been...perfect.
Morning coffee with Hunter on the porch, lunch with their parents, that...thatthingin his office, and then dinner with Janelle, and of course, there was still the rest of the night...
A soft knock on her bedroom door startled her from her thoughts, but before she could ask who it was, the door had already opened, and Eve froze in shock.
"Matt?"
What was he doing here at this hour?
"I'm sorry for barging in like this." His voice was oddly...strained. "But I really need to talk to you."
