Page 54 of Betrayal

At least to me.

But she was also vulnerable as hell and prepared to reveal that side of herself to him.He had the sense this was new territory for both of them.

Hunter pushed through the front door of the pub, a goofy smile plastered on his face, and spotted her instantly.She’d been watching for him, and his heart flipped over at the gentle smile curving her mouth.For him.

A popular pub, meaning he had to work his way through a cluster of people to get to her.She saw his dilemma and was ahead of him, already signalling the bar for drinks.

“Hi.You won, and winning makes the bruises painless, but was it a good game?”she asked.

“A high standard for their age group.And the final score was close.Gareth was carried off the field on his teammates’ shoulders.His reward for scoring the winning goal.”

“Before we go any further, can I say, Mr.Thompson, you look all easy rider delicious in your black jeans, dark turtleneck shirt and that weathered black leather jacket.”She leaned closer, seeming to inhale him.

“If I can say, I had a hard time concentrating on the game.I kept imagining that little shimmy you did when you stepped out of your dress last night.”He stifled the moan accompanying the image.

“Don’t tempt me.We’re in a public place.”But her gaze travelled down his body as if recalling with delight every move he, or she, had made last night, and this morning.

“Thanks.”Hunter smiled at the woman who brought the iced mineral water, then drained half the glass.“I didn’t realise how thirsty I was.”

“I’ve watched enough boys watching football games to know they can forget to eat or drink when the game gets intense.”

“You go to games?Where have you been all my life?”

“I went to a few finals,” she clarified, “in my misspent youth, when I was trying to attract attention.”

“Ahh.This was our first final.”

“A big moment.”She moved her stool closer, until her arm brushed his.

“It was.Now, quit stalling and tell me what I need to know to survive tonight.”

“I already told you, my twin, Kate, writes romance and is a top-notch environmental researcher.Liam, her husband, is an environmental lawyer.They’re besotted.Kate’s pregnant with their first child, so talking babies will distract both of them.”

“And they’re very protective of you.”

“Close doesn’t always mean protective, but you’re right, and both Liam and Niall see me as a little sister.I’ve joined an extended family, and I like it.”

“And you’re equally protective of them.”

“Maybe.”She drew a line through the condensation on her glass before glancing up at him.“I told you Niall, Liam’s brother, makes bespoke wooden furniture.He’s a genius, won a mentorship with a master craftsman in Ireland.Niall’s got more of an Irish lilt.It’s the one thing that distinguishes the brothers.With the market the way it’s been for the last few years, it’s been a struggle, but he’s got an exhibition coming up.”

“You sound proud.”

“I am proud.We did classes together at uni.I’ve known him for years.I call him a carpenter.It’s a running joke because he’s so much more.”

“You make friends with men,” he teased.“You’ve adopted the Quinns.”

“They’re family.Families aren’t just blood kin.You’ve adopted Casildo.”

“Cas adopted me.”

“Besides, I didn’t have brothers, and it’s important to have male friends, otherwise how will I know about men, what they’re like, how they play?You need to see people in all sorts of situations to understand the underbelly of the beast.Don’t you have female friends?”

“Clearly not enough.The underbelly of the beast is a closed book to me.”Hunter thought of Marygai, Gina, even his mother and how they’d fawned over Nick Richardson.

“I can introduce you to women”—she patted his thigh—"who are only offering friendship.”

“Jealous?”He drained his glass.

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