She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not (The American Soldier Collection 8)

“Sure are. This is great. Thank you for inviting us,” Hunter stated.

“Inviting you? Hell, this party is for you. I knew that you would kick that Green Beret’s ass,” Sam said and then smiled. Hunter and Seno chuckled.

Hunter watched Ellie excuse herself from her conversation with Link and then head inside, answering a call on the way.

* * * *

“Hello, Detective Ramirez. How are you?”

“The question is, how are you? Unc called and said that Paul has been texting you. How long?”

She took a deep breath and released it as she walked toward the side of the cabana and away from the music and people.

She took in the tropical décor and the large sitting area and couch. Her back was toward the door as she spoke to the detective.

“Do you know where he is? I mean is he local again? Because I saw his cousins today, and they were aggressive in their comments.”

They talked about what he knew and how Paul was reinstated into the corrections job he had before the assault.

“Are you kidding me? How could they hire him back? After what he did to me? I was in the hospital for weeks.”

He went on about him serving part of his time, about the community service Paul did, and about presenting his case to the board about his counseling for anger management.

“He has a lot of friends, Ellie.”

“Well that’s great, Detective Ramirez, now isn’t it? So I have to worry about these text messages, and the fear I’ve had to deal with for over a year that was beginning to lessen has just skyrocketed again because of this conversation. Goddamn it. It isn’t fair.”

She heard a sound and turned to see Hunter standing there leaning against the door frame. He looked so pissed off. She could hardly focus on what the detective was telling her. He said something about getting an order of protection.

“An order of protection cannot be obtained because of text messages. Besides, I’ve been there and done that, and look where I wound up. I’ll just keep doing what I’ve been doing. Watching my back, looking over my shoulder, and living my life. Thanks for nothing, Detective. I suppose I’ll call you if something more takes place.” She ended the call and then collapsed down onto the bench right behind her. She covered her face with her hands and growled low. She was so frustrated.

>

Plus now Hunter heard part of her conversation. This was all she needed.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he took the seat next to her. She shook her head.

He reached over and moved her hair from her face. She turned to look up toward him. The man was so damn sexy and attractive, but she couldn’t take the chance her mind was begging her to take.

“Want to talk about it?” he asked.

“Absolutely not. I’m frustrated, angry, disillusioned, and mostly fucking scared. I can’t believe that this is happening. A year. A Goddamn year and just when I’m feeling back in control and stronger mentally, this happens?”

She crossed her legs and leaned back against the bench seat. Hunter didn’t say a word. He just seemed to watch her. She tried closing her eyes and breathing through her anger and her outburst. It seemed to work and she opened her eyes and released a long sigh.

“I’m sorry. I totally didn’t mean to just blurt all that out, or to have you overhear my conversation.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping. I saw you head this way and wanted to talk to you. Then I heard you mention a detective, an order of protection, and something about you being in the hospital for weeks. I was concerned.”

Her eyes widened when he said hospital for weeks. She didn’t want to tell him about Paul and about the assault. She didn’t want any of this crap to be part of a potential relationship. But now, after talking with Ramirez, her hope of there being any possible relationship just diminished. She couldn’t get involved with the Lawson brothers. Not if Paul was going to pursue her again.

She stood up, but Hunter grabbed her hand. She turned toward him and he pulled her closer and between his thighs. Surprisingly she wasn’t turned off by the prosthetic device he wore from his knee down. The masculinity of his muscular thighs, and his sexy chest she had gotten a glimpse of uncovered, aroused her.

“Don’t run away from me, from us,” he whispered.

She licked her lower lip and he pulled her onto his upper thigh.

He placed one arm around her waist to hold her in place on his lap and the other hand he placed on her thigh just barely below the hem of her dress. She wondered what it would feel like to be caressed by such large, capable hands.