Page 127 of Hunters and Prey

“Oh no,” he said. “Not at all.” He winked at Cailyn. “We all knew she’d be a famous writer one day.”

Cailyn forced a smile, relieved that both of Asher’s parents had stopped shooting bullets into her body with their eyes.

“You two enjoy your dinner,” Asher’s mother said. She pulled her pink cardigan closer and smiled at Cailyn. “You look nice tonight, sweetie. It was good to see you again before you and Asher leave town.”

She nodded, speechless. She watched as the Fox’s left their table and followed the host to a table of their own.

Once they were out of eyesight, Cailyn downed her entire glass of wine.

Cailyn turned to Connor.

“Can we leave? Please,” she pleaded.

Connor’s face was unreadable. Why did he lie for her?

He nodded, reaching a hand for her.

Without a word, he put a hundred dollar bill on their table and they left the restaurant.

Outside, they waited for Connor’s car to pull around.

Silence filled the air, but Cailyn still shook with fear. The look on the Fox’s faces would haunt her. She couldn’t bear to think of them hating her.

“Why did you do that?”

Connor saw her there, shivering, and put his suit jacket over her shoulders.

“I told you, Cailyn. I’m not a monster,” he said. “I know you were with Asher Fox. He obviously didn’t tell them what’s transpired between the two of you. This was not the way they should find out.”

Cailyn closed her eyes against tears.

“Thank you,” she said.

Why was she thanking him? He was the reason for all of this.

When she opened her eyes, she was ready to give him a piece of her mind. Instead, her breath caught in her throat as he pulled her close to his body by her waist.

Her lips parted as he looked down at her.

“I did that because you looked absolutely mortified,” he said, his voice lowering as his face was inches from hers.

She closed her mouth, her eyes going to his full lips.

“And I’d do anything in my power to protect what is mine.”

“So,” Cailyn said, licking her lips. “You’re saying that I’m yours.”

Connor pulled her body tight to his, leaving no room between them or any room for doubt about what he wanted.

He kissed her lips, hard, yet with such passion that her eyes fluttered closed, her heart melted, and her core heated at his touch.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” he said before letting her go.

Breathless, and a bit woozy, Cailyn stood there unsteady on her feet. The memory of his intense kiss wouldn’t fade no matter how hard she tried to push it aside.

He reached for her hand as the car pulled out front.

“Let’s go home,” he said. It wasn’t a request.

Cailyn nodded. What am I doing?

“Okay.”

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