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“So was I.” His tone was quiet.
Attraction sparked between them as she finished fluffing and then gelling his hair.
“So do you want to come over around eight?” Hunter asked as she pulled off the cape from around his neck.
“Sure.” Cheryse grabbed some of the powder that she put on men’s necks to make sure they didn’t itch. But before she could apply it, she heard the doorbell ring. She froze, seeing who it was and dreading what he might say.
“Cheryse.” Roger barreled toward her, holding his computer bag and looking all disheveled.
She didn’t even have time to react before he pulled her into a hug. For the past couple weeks, he’d been traveling to different hospitals to do their fundraising, and she had broken down on the phone with him last night. She hadn’t told Roger about kissing Hunter, but he’d obviously heard how rattled she was.
She stared at Hunter over Roger’s shoulder. He glowered at Roger, then turned his glare on her. She felt caught, like she was in trouble for something, and she didn’t like the feeling.
Roger pulled back and then pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. It was something she didn’t like him doing, and she had told him not to.
She swatted at him and scolded, “Don’t.”
Roger didn’t seem to hear her. “How are you doing? I wish I could’ve been here.” Roger’s eyes flitted briefly to Hunter, and he cleared his throat. “Hunter. Oh. I … I’m so sorry.”
The look on Hunter’s face told her exactly what he thought of Roger. His lips were pursed with deadly purpose, just like they were before he’d killed bugs when they were twelve and her bedroom had been infiltrated by spiders. Hunter and Trent had been with her. Trent had simply screamed like a girl and jumped on the bed with her, but Hunter had pursed his lips, methodically moving back and forth across the room, and stomped on each one.
For an awkward moment, Hunter said nothing. Then he nodded stiffly. There it was: the Navy SEAL in him. She had always called it his serial killer look, an expression he gave to people when he felt like they were crossing boundaries. Rarely had he given it to her—maybe once when she had kissed Trent on the cheek and Trent had put his lips on hers. They’d still been in high school.
Roger cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I would have attended yesterday, but I’ve been helping with fundraising at the hospital for the cancer wing in Wilmington. I owe you one.”
“You didn’t need to attend. Trent wasn’t anything to you,” Hunter said, a somber look on his face. The statement felt … cold.
Roger didn’t respond.
Cheryse’s heart seized. Hunter was right, and he was hurting, but that didn’t mean he needed to be rude.
Hunter turned his attention to Cheryse, ignoring Roger. He pulled a bill out of his wallet and held it out. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Okay.” She shook her head, pushing away his hand. “You’re notpayingme.”
Hunter grabbed her hand a bit roughly, then placed the money in it. “I don’t take advantage of my friends.” His eyes met hers, and she felt another wave of that insane intensity. He wasn’t talking about his payment for the haircut.
“Tonight? Are you going somewhere tonight?” Roger asked. “I was hoping we could have dinner since I’m only home tonight.”
Cheryse stared at Hunter. Irritation made her hackles rise, and she pulled her hand out of his. “I’m helping Hunter with something.” She glanced at Roger, feeling ticked off about this whole situation. All of this would have been easier if Roger hadn’t come home. Hunter needed her right now.
“That’s too bad,” Roger said. “I’ll miss you tonight.”
Hunter gave Roger the kind of look that said he wanted to punch him out. “Guess you’ll deal with it. You owe me for missing my brother’s funeral, right? Isn’t that what you said?”
Roger’s mouth clamped shut. He clearly didn’t know how to respond.
“That’s what you said, right? You owe me?” Hunter took a step toward Roger, looking as intimidating as the Navy SEAL he was—like a man who wanted to rip another man’s head off.
“Hunter,” Cheryse said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Stop. I’m coming tonight.”
Roger held Hunter’s gaze, but the look on his face made it obvious that he didn’t like any of this. “I guess I did say that.”
Hunter grunted. “Yeah, you did.”
“I’ll see you tonight.” She turned to Hunter and gave him a hug.
She felt his body tense, then relax a bit as he held her. What kind of look was he giving Roger over her shoulder? She could imagine there was a silent warning that he would mess him up if he didn’t back away.
