Hating You, Loving You (Inked Hearts 4)

He arrives at the shop bright and early, fingers wrapped around a thermos of coffee, deep blue eyes filled with calm concentration, chip firmly on shoulder.

If anything, he looks more broody and intense than he did last week.

I guess it fits. He is filling in for Brendon. If this is Hunter’s usual vibe, he more than belongs here.

Dean nods a hello. He motions to our suite, where I’m working on a mock up.

I shoot him a what’s that supposed to mean look.

He chuckles. “I looked at you. That enough for a reaction, sunshine?”

More than enough. With everything going through my head… I need to be at his apartment. In his arms. In his bed.

I need the rest of the world to go away.

I stand, set my sketchbook on the chair, greet Hunter. “Hey Hunter.” I offer my hand.

He shakes. “Good to see you, Chloe.”

I nod.

“It’s Chloe Grace Lee,” Dean jumps in. “And she knows karate—”

“Aikido,” I correct.

His voice stays bouncy. Proud. “Don’t fuck with her or she’ll fuck you up.”

Hunter’s eyes flit from me to Dean then back to me. He’s trying to figure out why Dean is teasing me.

Okay, he’s trying to figure out if we’re fucking.

Dean’s wearing his usual I love starting shit smile.

Does he care if Hunter knows?

There is something about this being our world. About having our secret.

Especially when…

Who knows what the hell happens after I get the call?

“Shit, you can cut the sexual tension with a knife, huh?” Dean winks at me. Then at Hunter.

I stare at my… whatever I should call him, trying to figure out his intentions.

There’s something about his devilish smile, about the softness in his eyes.

He’s trying to keep me here. To keep me present.

He’s doing it in the most Dean way possible.

But, well, that’s the man I… I can’t use that word. Not yet. But, fuck, I really, really like him.

I take a deep breath. Shrug my shoulders. There’s a lot to do today. I can’t get sucked into thoughts about the future.

I motion for Hunter to follow me. “You’re borrowing Brendon’s suite for now.” I lead him to the center suite. “Not that it’s officially his. Now that you’re working here—”

“I’m just filling in,” he says.