Page 10 of Hunter

Hunter waited in the hallway for Zoey to join him once she had collected her coat and wrapped it around herself to keep out the icy cold wind she had mentioned. A wind that slightly dissipated, thank goodness, her mating scent. Hunter would hate to lose control and have his dragon appear in front of Zoey without warning, frightening her beyond redemption.

“Why did we need to talk privately?” Zoey prompted cautiously once they were standing outside.

Hunter drew in a deep breath before slowly releasing it. “Because I know how Ben McGregor really died and also the reason he did.”

Zoey gave a shocked gasp, her eyes wide. “Ben fell down a mountain while he was part of a search party looking for a mutual friend.”

“Belle Brown.”

“Yes,” she confirmed.

Hunter shook his head. “Ben fell to his death on the mountain after being pushed out of a helicopter.”

“What!” Zoey looked horrified, her cheeks paling at the horror his words evoked.

He nodded. “For the sake of Ben’s family, my brother made itlookas if Ben had fallen down the mountain, but the truth is that someone murdered him.”

She swallowed, her cheeks now deathly white. “Why?”

“Because he had something they wanted.” Hunter deliberately kept his tone even, knowing this news would be hard enough for Zoey to understand without him allowing his own anger over the tragedy to make the situation worse.

She eyed him suspiciously. “Did you or one of your brothers push Ben out of your helicopter?”

“No.”

Zoey stared at him for several long seconds before stating firmly, “I believe it’s time for you to leave, Mr. Drake.”

Hunter’s towering height made him very aware of the difference in their sizes. The top of Zoey’s head barely reached his shoulder, and her frame was so tiny, he was sure his hands could easily circumvent the slenderness of her waist, and his fingers would still be able to interlink.

All of which meant he could easily pick her up and forcibly remove her if he wanted to.

He wasn’t going to do that.

Yes, Zoey was tiny, but the fire in her glittering green eyes warned him never to underestimate her because of that physical fragility.

She is perfect, his dragon purred.

She really was, Hunter agreed, his senses drowning in the look and scent of her, to a degree he found it difficult to stop staring at her.

Which, on top of sensing he was somehowmore, was probably why she wanted him to leave.

He forced his expression to soften slightly. “I know this is a lot for you to take in, but there are some other things I still need to tell you?—”

“And you can do that while I drive you into town,” she cut in decisively, her auburn brows high above her challenging gaze as she took the keys to the Mini from the pocket of her coat.

Hunter tilted his head guardedly. “You’re leaving with me?”

She nodded. “If that’s acceptable to you?”

“God, yes,” he assured, totally relieved after thinking she was just going to ask him to leave with the intention of never seeinghim again. “Although I might have a little difficulty getting into your car,” he added with a glance at the small red-and-white vehicle.

Zoey grimaced. “It’s going to be fun watching you try!”

Hunter eyed her appreciatively. “You have a weird idea of what’s fun, Zoey—” He broke off with a frown. “What is your surname if it isn’t Wallis?”

“Ashworth,” she provided.

“Then, Zoey Ashworth…” Hunter trailed off, making a mental note to look more fully into her parents.

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