Keep it together, girl. Keep. It. Together.
How I’ve managed to maintain my cool while Maverick is but two feet away, I have no freaking clue. Neither does Mila based on the glances she’s throwing me. Yeah, girl. I don’t know. Call it my new superpower.
Face of indifference, activate.
It’s helpful that the ranch is absolutely breathtaking, this dining room being no exception.
I look around and take a seat at the massive table, taking notice of the intricate molding on the walls and ceilings that speak of a history I’m desperate to discover. That and the decorations for Mila’s birthday party has my body humming with a warm sense of joy.
It’s clear this family loves each other, and they poured that effort into showing my bestie a good time.
Hey, my life may be a shit show, but at least my best friend’s is on the up-and-up. “This is amazing, Mila! Yes. It definitely beats our birthday tradition of takeout and T.V.”
She sniffles, a lone tear crawling down her cheek. “I love our birthdays together, Mel. But yeah. This is special.” She turns to her guy and the look that they share melts me on the spot. “Thank you, Jason.”
Just then, Penelope walks in and sits at the end of the table, “Don’t thank him until you’ve tasted the cake. It’s Mary’s specialty.”
And right on cue Matthew’s stomach growls, a sheepish look taking over his face as Jason chuckles. “Ladies, this is Matthew Crown. I believe he’s the only one you haven’t met yet.”
I’m not sure who he’s talking to, but his eyes haven’t left my best friend and I couldn’t be happier for the pair.
And because life is a bitch, Catherine’s snark breaks into their moment. “So how do you all know each other?”
Before I can say anything, Maverick answers first, “Melissa is my best friend’s little sister.”
“You mean Erickson?” Jack, the eldest of the brothers, asks.
Maverick nods. “That’d be the one.”
Right then, Catherine’s eyes bore into Mila, wanting more info. “Okay, but how did you not know of the Crown brothers? If you two knew Hunter, then clearly, you’d know about his family.”
Who the fuck is Hunter?
I’m looking around the table, wondering if I’ve missed a brother, but all eyes are on Maverick. Maverick, who’s looking guiltier than a dog covered in cat shit.
Oh, fuck no. I can’t bite back my response. “She didn’t know he was Hunter, let alone a Crown. My brother introduced him as Maverick, so that’s what he’s gone by. And whenever I would ask him for his real name, he’d either say it didn’t matter or quote the dictionary for me, giving me some bullshit definition about how he’s independent and doesn’t go along with the crowd.”
Catherine rolls her eyes. “I could see why he’d do that. They are Crown men, after all.”
This just serves to piss me off even further. I don’t give a shit if he were the Queen of Sheba. After all that we’ve been through, I’d think that I should at least know his real name.
But apparently, I’m not worthy of even that.
And if Catherine’s words weren’t, enough salt on the wound, Penelope’s drive in the dagger. “Yes. They’ve had thirsty women after their deep pockets for as long as I can remember.”
Oh, this is some shit. I’ve heard enough.
“Is that it? Is that why you refused to give me your name? Even after the cabin, you still didn’t give it to me.” I push my chair back from the table, the loud scraping against the floor preceding the continuation of my verbal assault. “I can’t believe that’s what you think of me. That all I’d care about was your money instead of who you really are. What you were… my hero.”
Those last two words get stuck in my throat, my chest getting impossibly tight as my eyes burn with impending tears. I need to get the hell out of here. Right the fuck now.
Without looking back, I hightail it out, not caring that I’m making a scene. Mila knows I’d make an even bigger one if I remained in the same room as that coward.
I can’t help it—tears drip down my face as my heart implodes. All this time. All this fucking time. I loved him with everything I had, and he couldn’t even give me his name.
No, there’s no excuse. He doesn’t want me, and it’s never been clearer than it is right now. As I blindly open a door, quickly crumpling behind it, I know there’s no other way. I have to leave. Leave this godforsaken town and get as far away from Hunter Crown.
Hunter
I’ve fucked up. Fucked up bad.
This is so much worse than my pushing her away at the cabin or the truck. And as I storm through the house, ripping every door open in search of my girl, I fear I’ve gone too far.
Damn it. Where is she?
I’m about to tear this house down when I hear the cadence of Mel’s voice, but the pain in it slays me where I stand. I did that. Me.
A mixture of guilt and resolve comes over me as I approach the last door in the hallway, and that’s when I hear it, the words that have my knees threatening to give out.
“Because I’m leaving this hell forsaken state and never coming back.” Mel’s voice cracks on that last word and my heart goes right along with it.
“Like fuck you are.” A growl rips from me as I storm into the room.
“Excuse me?” Mel’s eyes widen, her perfect pout parting in surprise, and if looks could kill, I’d be six feet under.
At least she’s stopped crying as she gets up from the bed, charging toward me like a woman on a mission. Unfortunately for her, I’m about to show her who’s in charge.
“You heard me, baby doll.” I step forward, closing the small gap between us, letting our bodies brush against one another as I stare my little girl down. “You aren’t going anywhere.”
Mel’s breath hitches, her nipples hardening into points against the thin shirt on my abdomen. “I don’t have any reason to stay. Not when my best friend is leaving for college and my brother is always working. So, tell me, why should I stay?”
Placing both hands around her tiny waist, I dig my fingers in deep. “Because I said so.”
Despite the shiver that dances across her perfect skin, Mel throws her head back and cackles. “Oh please. Says the man who wouldn’t even trust me with his name. That’s hilarious.”
Her body is shaking in my hold, but I’m not deterred. Yes, I fucked up. But I’ll be damned if I let that mistake keep us apart.
“I’m not joking, Melissa.”
Something flares behind her eyes just then, a fire I’ve only seen once before. “Neither am I, Hunter.”
Fuuuuuck. My body hums with pleasure. Just the mere sound of my name coming off of those fuckable lips has me craving more.
I want her screaming it. Screaming my name before I shove myself down her pretty throat.
Out of my periphery I see my girl’s roommate stand, prompting Mel’s response. “No, Mila. Stay. It’s Maverick who needs to leave.”
And just like that, I crave to hear my real name. Need it. Nothing else will do. “You’re out of your goddamn mind if you think I’m leaving you alone right now.”
Without skipping a beat, Mel responds. “And why is that?”
I’m pulling her harder into me, her neck arching back in order to look me in the eyes with so much vehemence, I almost believe the venom behind her words. Almost. But I know her like I know the back of my hand and I can see her wheels turning with every passing second, the thoughts making me chuckle.
“Because you’re hell bent on punishing me, and god knows what you’ll do if I let you.”
Mel’s mouth hangs open, her eyes going wide. “Yeah? Well, you’d deserve it, too… whatever it is that I’d do.”
No doubt I do, but I’m not agreeing with her on that. Doing so would be signing away any hope of keeping my fiery girl, and that’s just not something I’m willing to do.
“I have a better idea.” Lifting Mel off the ground, I throw her over my shoulder and walk us out of the room.
“Put me down, you fucking caveman!” Melissa’s fingernails scrape against my back as she shouts, but it does nothing but make my cock hard. “Mila! Stop him!”
“Oh, no. I’m not getting involved.” I hear her roommate laugh behind us. Good. She knows it’d be pointless if she did.
“Traitor!” Melissa yells as she lets her body go limp against mine, and if I’m not imagining it, she curls herself in, pushing herself closer against me.
That’s right, baby. You know who this body belongs to. It’s mine. All mine.
But the truth is, I belong to her too. Every bit of me has always been hers, and maybe it’s about damn time I stopped denying it.
