Crossed (9 page)

I pulled the sponge over his chest first, watching water wash the lathered circles off as soon as I made them. He was an absolutely breathtaking specimen whom I couldn’t get enough of.

“Then let me do it. Whatever it is that he wants, it didn’t sound that good from the phone call.”

“Don’t you have to work?”

“The beauty of my job is that I can make my own hours.”

“Well that’s nice of the Crosses.”

“It’s the way they’ve always run their business, and it works.”

It sounded like Hunter was quite close to the Cross family—which didn’t surprise me at all. It was very easy to get close to them. Emma’s parents took me in as if I were their own daughter. And her brothers treated me better than any of mine had in the past.

“Believe me, you don’t want to deal with my family either,” I said. “But you’re in computer forensics, for Pete’s sakes.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He gently grasped my wrist, stopping the momentum of my washing. I yanked my hand back and motioned him to turn around. It took all my power not to squeeze his tight ass right away—the perfect ass that was pounding into me only a few minutes ago.

“It’s supposed to mean that my brothers, all four of them, are assholes who have hosted underground boxing fights since their teenage years. They don’t know how to be nice. All they make is trouble—big trouble. And I’m sure that whatever business they’re in now hasn’t gotten any better.”

“Grace, I know enough to protect you. Listen, I don’t know how to tell you this…”

“What, when you run into Scar you’ll just cuff him and take him to a police station? He had a gun, Hunter. And it sure didn’t look like he wanted to show me a new purchase he made for his fucking gun collection!”

By now I was in a full shake mode. Hunter turned back around and took me into his arms.

“C’m here, Grace. Don’t worry. I know I’m just a forensics guy.” He sighed. “But I wish I could tell you I was more. I wish I could tell you that I’m an undercover agent working at Cross Enterprises and that I know more about your family’s dealings than you think. I wish I could tell you that I’ve been in the Seals and trained with the best of the best, that I know how to protect myself and those around me beyond street fighting and will jump in front of you to take a bullet. But I can’t. I’m just in forensics. But I do promise you that I’ll take care of everything. No man’s gonna harm you, and that includes any of your brothers.”

I leaned my head against his chest, feeling the water pass over us and its steam enfold us. His words were so honest, it felt easy to trust Hunter.

“Guys like you aren’t supposed to exist.”

“Define ‘guys like me.’”

“You know, caring, gorgeous, good career, and very giving.”

“You’re too kind, Grace. I have my demons. Let’s dry you off.”

Hunter turned the shower knobs off and meticulously dried us both. I wrapped my head in a towel and put on my robe, slipping into my bed. Hunter sat at the edge. It was already five in the morning.

“Why do you think it hasn’t happened before?” I asked. “You know, your choking someone after a nightmare. Why me?”

“I don’t think it’s you, Grace. I just haven’t spent a night with a woman before.”

“Wait, you’re a virgin? I mean, you
were
a virgin?” My eyes flew open.

From the moves Hunter had in bed, it certainly felt like Hunter knew what he was doing—quite well, in fact.

“Hell, no! Not that there’s anything wrong with that. What I mean is that I never had a reason to spend a night with a woman. If you want me to be blunt, I fucked, never made love, and never fell asleep with a woman in my arms.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know, Grace. I really don’t know.” He shrugged.

“Did you know about the nightmares?”

“Yeah, I did. It doesn’t happen often. I’ll wake up drenched in sweat, reliving…”

He paused, suddenly aware he was opening up to me. I took his hand into mine, pulling him in closer.

“Please, Hunter. I want to know.”

“I’m not sure I can tell you. It’s not pretty.”

“I’m not looking for pretty. Just honest,” I whispered. I pulled my knees up to my chest, waiting for Hunter to begin. Little did I know, this was one of those stories that would stay with me for my entire life.

“I was sixteen and this was my second summer with the scouts. We were supposed to watch fireworks that evening, and we took the sounds of the gunshots as misfires at first. But when the bullets of a madman flew through the cabin, we all dropped down to the floor. Three of the six of us survived that first attack. Two buddies and I escaped through the back window and stayed hidden in the forest until the gunman did a head count of the dead bodies. He said he’d rape and kill one kid every hour, taking turns on boys and girls. We held out until the last minute and made a plan to attack. It went wrong though. I tripped and never got ahold of his guns the way I was supposed to. He dragged me into a cabin.”

My hand flew up to my mouth, trying to cover the gasp that escaped.

“He said I’d have to take it for all of them and tied me to a chair, bending over.”

I threw my hands around his neck. “Hunter, I’m so sorry.”

We stayed like this for a while, in each other’s arms, not moving, until I asked, “How do you live with it?”

“It’s been ten years, Grace. I’m good now. But the nightmares come back from time to time. A lot of the work at Cross Enterprises helps capture men like him. It’s what keeps me going. Knowing I can save a life, any life, before another pervert gets his way means everything to me. I think having that personal connection to the job is what makes it the best job I could ever have.”

“So, you go through computer screens looking for pornography and stuff.”

“Something like that. But it does get more complicated.”

“Everything in life is complicated. How did you escape?”

“I found a way to untie the ropes when he left me. And I promised myself I wouldn’t give up until that bastard was dead. He didn’t fucking deserve a trial. I found one of his guns and began untying my friends until he woke up and lunged at me, not even giving me a choice. So although in self-defense, I killed a man at sixteen. He left me with a scar from a shot he took.” Hunter pointed to his arm where he had the thorns inked to cover it up.

“You did what you had to do. Do you keep in touch with your buddies?”

“Yes, they live in a small town quite a drive from here. Come to think of it, one of them would be perfect for Emma.”

“Emma’s not ready. Not yet. Maybe when all this is over, we’ll visit?”

“Yeah, maybe.” He smiled. What did that mean? Was Hunter expecting to stay with me for as long as I was with him? Was it possible that we could have a future together?

“When you saw me at your salon, Grace, I had come directly from a case. Actually two cases. I was investigating child abuse in hockey. We were able to get enough evidence to book three coaches and two assistants. Maybe that’s why the nightmares started again. The other case, that was important too. In Vegas. I was a bum. I had to be.” His voice lowered. I guessed that would explain Hunter’s shaggy beard and long hair when he first walked into my salon.

“May I trim your hair?” I asked.

“Now?”

“Yes, it won’t take long. I owe you.” I smiled.

Soon enough I had a pair of scissors in my hands, chopping beautiful curls off. I didn’t cut off a lot, just a tad. They suited him. Semi-long hair made him look authentic.

“Will you sleep in my bed tonight?” I asked after I was done.

He thought about my proposal for a moment before he spoke. “What if I hurt you again?”

“You won’t. I trust you, Hunter.”

I removed the towel from my head and slipped out of my robe and right underneath a duvet. Hunter’s warm naked body spooned me from behind. It was the best few hours of sleep in my life.

C
HAPTER
9

Over the next week Hunter drove with me to check on the salon renovations. He stayed with me every night, and remained in my bed through the night. He hasn’t had another episode since the first one. I got used to his body beside mine so quickly, it scared me a little. When I woke up each morning, being able to snuggle against him was the best feeling in the world and I was beginning to see the relationship flourish every day. This morning I slipped into my shoes and sweatpants and rode the elevator down to the lobby to get my mail. With everything that had been going on, I hadn’t had the chance to catch up on my life. Hunter was still sleeping and I had no heart to wake him. Besides, this building was secure and I didn’t expect Scar or any of my brothers to pass for family and get upstairs. Harold, our concierge, wouldn’t even disclose who lived in the apartments above, let alone allow anyone who didn’t belong here to get on the elevator.

On my way back, as the elevator door opened, Allie Cross, Emma’s sister-in-law, stepped out.

“Hi, Grace. I heard Emma got you to finally take the plunge last week. I just saw her curing a hangover.”

“Yes, she did. I skipped the party last night. Another migraine. And I’m gonna make sure she pays for the jump, too.”

“You girls crack me up. But at least you’re living it up the way you’re supposed to. Is she doing well, Grace?”

Ever since the accident that had taken away Emma’s love and my fiancé, we promised not to dwell on the “what could have been” and instead concentrated on the “what could be.” You never knew when your time came. In a quick snap of your fingers it could all be over. Except while I constantly looked for
the one
to replace the empty spot in my heart, Emma gave her heart to every single guy out there. Her reputation was beginning to worry me as much as her brothers had been worried about her.

“She’s good. Still dating dweebs. I have a feeling I’m gonna have to change that.” I wondered whether I, or maybe Hunter, knew of any eligible bachelors.

“You know if you mess with Emma’s love life you’re asking for trouble,” Allie laughed.

“I know, but I’m hoping she’ll listen to me. I really think there must be a guy for her somewhere, and I’m willing to bet she won’t find him by hooking up with the first piece of meat that she sees in a club.”

“I’m glad you’re looking out for her.”

“Of course. Listen, I wanted to tell you I’m sorry about Hunter. It wasn’t Emma’s fault that he didn’t get to the mental institution.”

“What mental institution? You mean Hunter Reeve? From work?”

“Yes, didn’t you tell Emma to get Hunter cleaned up and drive him to Holland’s Wellness Center?”

“Hunter’s been on an out-of-town project for the past three months. I didn’t even know he was back, which is fine because he was supposed to go on vacation when he returned.”

My jaw nearly fell to the floor. What the hell was happening? Why would Emma lie about Hunter? Why would she say to drive him there? Was there more to the story?

“Oh, well. Then I guess I have nothing to be sorry about.”

Allie rested her hand on her hip. “What has Emma done now, Grace?”

“I’d like to know just as much as you would,” I sighed.

“For what it’s worth, Hunter’s a good guy and if she’s messing around with his head, she better stop.”

“Well, if he’s in computer forensics he has to be a good guy, right? Although he doesn’t look geeky to me at all.”

“What do you mean computer forensics? His specialty is undercover work and security.”

What the hell?

“Right, I must have mixed him up with someone else. You know, you’re lucky to have someone like him work for you guys. I wish I knew your recruiting secrets.”

“Hunter came highly recommended. It wasn’t a difficult decision. It never is when an ex-Seal officer who retired too early can’t seem to want to stop working. So, you two have been seeing each other?”

Great! More lies.

“Yeah, nothing serious.”

“Well, if you want my advice, Grace, I’d hang on to this one. It’s not easy to find men like Hunter Reeve anymore. I thought for a while there that Emma would go for it, but they just ended up being good friends.”

“Thank you, Allie.”

“Take care of yourself, Grace.”

We hugged and I headed back upstairs to my apartment. Taking in a deep breath of courage, I lifted my head high before opening the door. Part of me wanted to tear into him right away, thinking about the items in my condo I could throw at his head. But another part, the part that had just heard Allie describe Hunter as a keeper, was already giving him a chance to come clean. Why had he lied about being in forensics and going to a mental institution? Why had Emma lied? And he was an ex-Seal?

“Hunter?” I said quietly. Was he still sleeping?

I tiptoed to my room, only to find an empty bed with a note on the pillow:

Good Morning, Magic Fingers ;)

I’m sorry I had to leave. It was an emergency. I wish I could have stayed with you in bed all day. After last night, I have so much to tell you. I don’t even know where to begin. I hope to see you soon so that we can continue where we stopped. Please don’t go out on your own. Call me if you need anything.

Hunter.

I plopped down on the kitchen stool deciphering the few words on the paper, wondering what it was that Hunter wanted to tell me. But first, I had a bone to pick with someone else.

I dialed Emma’s number and, after hearing her dead voice, I said, “Get your ass down here, Cross.”

“Good morning to you too. I see the migraine hasn’t gone away.”

“Oh, it has. But I have a feeling someone else is about to get one. Five minutes, Em. This is serious.” And I hung up. I wished I had one of those old phones where you could smash the receiver, instead of a cell that ended the call automatically.

Emma showed up with thirty seconds to spare. I sat on my couch with one leg crossed over the other, swinging it lightly. She eyed me warily before sitting down in a chair. “What’s got you so raved up?” she asked.

“Well, get this, here I am apologizing to Allie for not driving Hunter to the rehab, and she happens to know nothing about it.” I lifted my finger to my lips, in an overdramatic thinking pose. “And he’s not the geek you said he was. Did you know he’s an undercover agent? Oh yeah, and deals with security? I think she mentioned that ex-Seals are always dependable workers.”