My breath caught at the raw edge in his voice. He’d never called me sexy. He’d complimented me often, but this felt different. Carefully, I glanced up. The look in his eyes was feral. I didn’t want to read anything
into it, but my body hadn’t gotten the memo. My pulse sped up.
“Don’t argue with me.” He leaned in slightly, dominating the space—and me.
“I’m not.”
His eyes flashed, and I felt all that power he emanated like a physical force.
We ended up ordering ice cream and panna cotta and shared them. It was a good thing Hunter asked for the check right afterward, because I was eying the strawberry pancakes as well, and I really couldn’t indulge in that too.
When I rose from the table, I accidentally caught my heel in the leg of the chair.
“Easy there, tiger.” Hunter hurried to my side, and before I knew it, he had an arm around my shoulders, his fingers pressing slightly into my arm. He held me so close that I couldn’t help registering that he smelled like both the ocean and the forest.
“Hunter, Josie, what a surprise running into you two here.”
Bernard Wagner stopped in front of us, watching with a curious smile. He was a mutual acquaintance from our school days.
“Hi, Bernard,” I said smoothly.
“You’re not leaving, are you? It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Anything new?” he asked.
Hunter wasn’t loosening his grip on me. If I hadn’t been so lost in him, perhaps I would have foreseen his next move. He pulled me even closer, so that my right breast was pressed against his steel chest.
With a wolfish smile, he told Bernard, “As a matter of fact, yes. Josie and I are engaged.”
Even as Hunter tipped his head down to mine, I didn’t realize he intended to kiss me—until his mouth touched mine. I parted my lips without hesitation. I nearly moaned at the unexpected shot of pleasure. Every cell in my body seemed lit by a fuse, reacting to the kiss.
I was completely overwhelmed by him—the possessive grip on my arm, the delicious feeling of his lips on mine. When the kiss stopped, I nearly pulled him back by the collar of his shirt. I didn’t have time to gauge his reaction, because he focused on Bernard, who congratulated us.
I was in a daze as we exchanged some more pleasantries, and none of the words registered. I was still acutely aware of Hunter’s grip on me as we walked to the elevator. Once inside, we were alone.
“We did well out there, didn’t we?” he asked, and I instantly deflated. What was up with that?
“Yes, I think we did.”
Hunter watched me carefully. “Josie, did I do something wrong?”
“No, no. Just... took me by surprise.”
I’d assumed our first kiss would be when we announced it to the family, that we’d talk about it before. But that didn’t explain why I was so out of it, and I felt uncomfortable with Hunter still studying me.
“You’re a hell of a kisser. Threw me off my game,” I said, to lighten up the mood.
Hunter grinned. “I see. Now I know what to do next time we have an argument.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I think we need to set some rules.”
“I’m all ears.”
I cocked a brow. “Why are you so agreeable? You’re not a fan of rules.”
He leaned into me as the elevator doors opened. “I didn’t say I’ll follow them.”
He resumed his hold on me as we walked out. There was no need for it, and he knew that. My heel was fine. Did he just want to make a public statement? I stopped short of asking him, because of course he was making a public statement. The show had started when he’d kissed me, and now I had to roll along with it. The valet already had a cab ready for us. We’d arrived together, and by the looks of it, Hunter wanted to take me home, but I couldn’t be this close to him right now. Not after he’d kissed me like that.
“I can take a cab by myself.” I needed to whip my thoughts back on track and possibly fan myself.