Page 9 of The Prey
His hand came up. She didn’t flinch, though she wanted to. He cupped her cheek. His thumb brushed her bottom lip.
His eyes darkened—withhunger.She wasn’t stupid.
She’d been looked at like that before.
Just not byhim.Never by him.
“Maybe I am…”
She swallowed. Tried tothink.“What? Seeing domesticated-Gia turns you on all of a sudden? You forget I’m a damned demon no sane man would want? Or what was it? A demon capable of sucking the soul right out of a room? Satan’s attorneys’ evil spawn?”
“You’re a demon, all right. One thateveryman would want. I think that might be part of my problem where you’ve been concerned. I think maybe I’ve missed a few things through the years…”
He leaned forward, and sheknewhe was going to kiss her. To just…kiss her. Probably so he could see what would happen.
The jerk.
He was going to kiss her. And change everything between them forever.
With the couch behind her, there was no way she was going to be able to get away. Her heart sped up. She could smell the man surrounding her. Her hands came up, and her fingers spread over the T-shirt he’d borrowed from one of her brothers. Probably Gunn—it had a religious saying on it. And was just a little too small. Hudson did dwarf other men sometimes. Her fingers…almost curled, clung.
“Giavonna…”
No man had said her name like that in a long, long time.
At least, not one that she wanted to, anyway.
She felt the heat of his breath on her lips. Her own mouth parted in response as her entire body tightened in a way it hadn’t in a long, long time.
Sincebefore.
Just as the front door came open. Gia sprang back, almost tripping over the ottoman. She hurried away.
Grady had shown up just in time.
5
All good thingsmust come to an end. Hudson knew that his time at the Hiller Ranch was over—but it had been highly illuminating. He’d studied that woman every chance he could. She knew it, too. It had become a game between them; one he had enjoyed playing.
She had just watched him in return, those beautiful eyes—he didn’t know why he had missed how beautiful her eyes actually were—studying his every move. Hudson had enjoyed those last two days. Disconcerting her.
Until she’d thrown pillows from her couch at his head the last time they were alone, and told him he was a giant asshole, just trying to mess with her head. And demanded to know what he thought he was up to. He’d not been able to help himself—he’d challenged her. Asked her whatshethought he was up to instead.
He couldn’t decide what his favorite new hobby was now—watching Gia when she was alone, or watching her when she was with his son. Ryan had sought her out constantly, climbing all over her—especially when Hala wasn’t around. His sister seemed to have free access to the Hiller Ranch whenever shewanted—she’d made a point of being there as much as she could. With Ryan, with Greer, with Hudson—and with Gia.
Gia and Hala were together frequently. It was obvious they were good friends now, as well. He didn’t know how he had missed that.
Apparently he had missed everything where Giavonna Hiller was concerned.
Now, he had Ryan’s things in a bag over his shoulder. He’d already carried his own bag outside. His rental truck was ready and waiting in the drive. Guthrie and Gene had picked it up for him that morning. He would never be able to repay the Hillers for what they had done for him and Ryan and Hala. And they made him appreciate the people he had in his life even more.
Now, it was their sister he wanted. And she was watching him, hiding behind the kitchen island. She liked to hide out there. Especially when he was near. Hudson paused, and looked at her. Ryan and Calvin were at preschool now. Hudson would pick his son up on his way home. But first… “Giavonna.”
“Hudson. So sorry to see you go.” She’d been so snippy with him all morning. Ever since they’d argued about the direction he should take on his next case. She’d been doing half the grunt work for him on the case over the past week. He’d almost had the case prepared before the accident had derailed him, but he’d needed her to take a second look. They’d argued, of course. He’d enjoyed it.
Normally, when they’d spar and argue he’d become frustrated with her and need to walk away. Only with her—he could disagree with Mike and Remi, the other attorney who worked with them, he could argue with the public defender’s office for hours on end, and be just fine. But arguing withher—set him off every time.
Now, he suspected it had more to do with him and her specifically. That maybe he’d been using their arguments as away to hide that she was pushing his buttons in other ways. And she most certainly pushed every button he had.
