Page 93 of Bargain with the Bachelor
I gave her a curt response. “I don’t drink.”As of today. “Is Cinda in?”
With a pout, Olivia reached for the phone on her desk. “I’ll see if she’s available.”
After a brief conversation, Olivia hung up the phone and directed me to the closed office door behind her. “She said to go right in.”
Cinda stood from her desk chair as I entered. “Hunter. This is a surprise. Are the guys happy with our service? Is there some kind of problem?”
“No, everything’s fine. That’s not why I’m here.”
“Oh. How are you? Please, sit down.”
“Thanks, but I can’t stay. I just need to get Kristal’s new number from you.”
Cinda’s open expression shuttered. “I’m not sure I should give it to you. She changed it for a reason, you know. What’s this regarding? Can I maybe give her a message or something?”
“I just need to speak with her briefly. Something important has come up. I think I’d better explain it to her directly.”
Cinda sat back down and nodded toward the chair in front of her desk, indicating that I should sit as well. Her face was sympathetic.
“Hunter… you had months to explain. And you didn’t. Now I’m not sure if it’s the best thing for Kristal to hear from you. She’s finally getting to the point where she can function normally again. She needs a clean break from you—it’s the only way she’ll ever be able to move on and find some happiness.”
The unexpected words thrilled me while simultaneously kicking me in the gut.
“Did she say that? Did she really care that much for me?”
Cinda rolled her eyes. “She was in love with you, you big dope. Believe me, you don’t just move on from that right away.”
I shook my head, fighting a sense of dizziness that had nothing to do with my lingering hangover. “It’s still hard for me to believe, I guess. But that’s not what I’m here about. I’ve got some news about her trust fund.”
“The one someone emptied out?”
“That’s the one. And I have a pretty good idea who that someone is. Her dad’s law firm is already looking into it, and so are the police.”
“Wow. That’s great. Of course she’ll want to know about that.”
Cinda picked up a pen and dragged a notepad toward her but stopped mid-motion.
“I’m still not sure if I should give you her number. She might be furious with me. She said she needed to go cold turkey.”
Cold turkey. As in one method of breaking an addiction.
My belly simmered with excitement, but I kept it out of my tone. “I understand. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
After another moment’s hesitation, Cinda printed some numbers on the pad and ripped the top sheet off, handing it to me.
“It’s her work number.”
Practically leaping out of my chair, I took the paper and strode quickly to the office door. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
“Hunter.”
I stopped and turned back to face Cinda.
“I miss her too,” she said. “I’d love nothing more than for her to come home. But just know… even if she recovers that trust fund money… it might be too late. She’s been trying really hard to get over you.”
There was a sinking sensation inside my chest, but I pasted on a smile.
“Yeah. It’s okay. I’ll just tell her about the developments and… let her get on with her life. I’d never do anything to hurt her again. I only want what’s best for Kristal.”
