And he was even more gorgeous in person.
“Thank you.” He extended a hand to her. “Great to meet you. You’re Hunter’s wife, Kata?” At her stilted shrug, he drawled, “My deepest sympathies.”
“Funny.” Hunter didn’t sound amused as he glared at Luc. “You’re here because . . . ?”
Kata frowned. “How do you two know each other?”
The two men exchanged a glance, and she knew something was up here. Finally, Luc nodded. “Kimber’s husband, Deke, is my cousin.”
He was cousin Luc? Wow . . .
Tyler snorted. “He and Deke used to share everything.”
Did he mean . . . ? From the looks on everyone’s faces, yes. Kimber and Deke and Luc? Kata’s jaw dropped.
Luc cast a sidelong glare at Tyler. “Shut up.” Then he turned back to Hunter. “I’m here because I know the hell of wondering if you’re wife is screwing this asswipe.” He jerked a thumb at Tyler. “I wouldn’t put anyone through it. I’m happy to babysit until I have to start prep for tonight’s dinner service at Bonheur. Besides, Alyssa is wrapped up in Sexy Sirens’ rebuild, despite being thirty weeks pregnant. So my very curious wife sent me to collect the juicy details about your marriage.”
“Thanks for staying with Kata for as long as you can.” Muttering a curse under his breath, Hunter glanced at his watch, then winced. He turned all his formidable attention on her, his face tight with regret. Damn if just being near him didn’t make her tingle from head to toe. Damn if he didn’t make her feel everything for him, even when she didn’t want to.
“I’ll miss you, honey.” He layered his lips over hers.
So often, Hunter had kissed her with possession and overwhelming passion. He was always like a cat-five tornado barreling at breakneck speed for the protective walls around her heart, frightfully eager to mow them down. Now he was like a wisp of smoke, so light she almost wondered if she was imagining the kiss. All too quickly, her lips began to tingle, like they did after eating her abuelita’s homemade salsa. But this sensation couldn’t be cured with cold milk. Hunter just impacted her. And this kiss, so tender, hit her right in the chest.
For her, there really was something about him—both incredible and terrifying.
Needing more, she leaned into the kiss, opening to him, fingers digging into his shoulders. She trapped a whimper at the back of her throat.
With a caress of his knuckles down her cheek, he eased back, then gripped her face in his hands with a desperation that further crumbled her defenses.
“I’ll be back soon,” he murmured. “I promise.”
“Be safe,” she choked on a whisper.
After another lingering kiss, he strutted down the steps to the blacktop parking lot already giving off shimmering heat waves, despite the fact that it was just after nine a.m.
Watching him go hurt. Kata realized that he’d been reassuring her that no third world ass**le would prevent him from coming back to her. It hit her then . . . Hunter had an incredibly dangerous job. Worse than a cop or a firefighter. He was knowingly walking into a fight with people who wanted to kill him each and every time he stepped into his role. Fear quivered in her belly, and she had to fight herself not to call him back. She doubted that she and Hunter were meant for the long haul, but if anything happened to him? God, she’d crumble and die.
Why?
A taxi arrived to take Hunter away. He waved, and she watched until the ugly yellow and black vehicle rolled out of sight.
As soon as it disappeared around the corner, Tyler put a hand under her elbow and smiled. “Why don’t you come inside and make yourself comfortable, baby? We’ll find some way to have fun.” He winked at her, then glared at Luc. “Even with the third wheel.”
AFTER a quick trip through a nearby drive-thru for a burger and a stop at the video store, Kata settled beside Tyler on the sofa as he cued up their movie.
“When I said cuddle up on the couch after Luc left, this isn’t what I had in mind.” His pained expression said he’d rather be boiling in oil. “Are you really going to make me watch this?”
Hot, funny, attentive without being overwhelming, Tyler was everything she normally went for in a guy. Sure, they’d flirted. It was like breathing for him, both constant and automatic. But she wasn’t feeling a serious vibe between them—which was a relief. Usually, she loved flirting, too, but Hunter had invaded every last brain cell and filled it with thoughts of him.
“I’ll take your silence as a no.” Tyler reached for the remote.
She yanked it out of his hand, then had to laugh at his mock pout.
“I love Edward and Bella. Have you even seen any of the movies?” she challenged.
“Hell no. She looks constipated, and I swear he plays for the other team.”
Kata stifled a laugh. She really shouldn’t encourage him. “It’s called angst. Guess you’ve never felt any.”