“Maybe we should have the wedding on Martha’s Vineyard,” Liv, Thorn’s mother, said. “It’s so beautiful there. Thomas and I go every summer when the flowers are at their finest.”

“Not a bad idea,” Thomas said. “Or we do a beach wedding. Everyone likes those.”

I drank my wine and looked out the window to see people passing in their heavy coats. The restaurant was warm, with fireplaces spaced around the room. Dates enjoyed each other’s company over candlelight and a nice bottle of wine. The distant sound of forks tapping against the plates filled the room. The conversation carried on, but I didn’t focus my attention on it. I thought about a lot of things, like my new relationship with Kyle Livingston, what Vincent Hunt would do in retaliation, and what my lover was doing right now…Diesel Hunt. Every time he said he loved me, I immediately said it back. Every time he kissed me, I kissed him back harder.

“I don’t care where we get married.” Thorn had his arm draped over the back of my chair. He didn’t directly touch me, but he was deeply affectionate whenever we were in public. Now that we were engaged, he touched me more often. For most of the evening, his hand had rested on my thigh. He was in slacks and a dark blue collared shirt, his powerful physique stretching the fabric in masculine ways. “I just care about the honeymoon.”

Thomas laughed at his son’s crude comment.

Liv smiled then covered up her smirk with a sip of her wine.

I was only partially paying attention.

“What are your thoughts?” Liv asked, her gaze directed at me.

I quickly swallowed my wine and tried to pretend I’d been engaged in the conversation the entire time. “I wouldn’t mind something simple. All I really care about is the dress. An outdoor wedding would be preferable.” This was the only wedding I would ever have, so I should put more effort into it. Our children would see pictures someday. But it was hard for me to get truly excited when we weren’t in love. I wouldn’t question Thorn’s happiness or mine on the big day because I knew we loved each other so deeply, but I knew that love would never be passionate…not like the kind I had with Hunt.

“Then it should be on Martha’s Vineyard,” Liv said. “What do you think?”

That sounded fine enough. “Sure. What do you think, Thorn?”

He shrugged. “Like I said, I only care about the honeymoon.” His wineglass was empty, so he helped himself to mine.

If we were alone, I’d swat his hand away.

“Then it’s settled,” Liv said. “I know of a great wedding planner out there who can help us out.” She looked like a springtime flower that was blooming after a cold winter. She was over the moon that her eldest son was getting married. He was the first one in the family to do it. “We need to work on your wedding dress next.”

“I’ll talk to Connor Suede about it,” I said. “I’m sure he could design something wonderful.”

Thorn nodded in agreement. “He really understands how to highlight your natural beauty.” He turned to me with a handsome smile.

“Thanks,” I said.

Liv smiled at the two of us. “You guys are so great together. Sometimes you just know when two people are going to be together for the rest of their lives.”

Thorn and I hadn’t even kissed each other, and we spent our time in bed with other people. But we did have a powerful connection between us. Even if we never married, he would always be a significant person in my life. To me, he was family. “I think so too.”

“What about kids?” his mother pressed. “That’s happening soon, right?”

“Liv,” Thomas said quietly. “Let them get married first and see how it goes…”

Liv looked slightly embarrassed but couldn’t cover up her excitement.

Thorn addressed it. “We want to have kids pretty soon. Titan feels like she’s getting old, and I’m ready to start a family.”

Liv looked like the happiest mother in the world. “Oh…that’s so wonderful.” She covered her mouth with her hands as tears sprung in her eyes.

Thomas smiled, unable to hide his excitement. “Well, you know that makes us very happy.”

I was grateful my kids would have wonderful grandparents. Thorn’s parents were very sweet. They were a little too involved in Thorn’s life, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. I didn’t have any relatives, so I was glad my kids would have a strong family of grandparents and uncles.

“So right after the wedding, then?” Liv asked.

“Pretty much.” Thorn turned to me with a grin on his face. “Maybe we’ll start on the honeymoon.”

“Maybe.” That didn’t sound like a bad idea. The whole reason we were getting married was so I could start our family. No reason to wait.

Thorn winked. “This trip is gonna be awesome.”

---

Kyle sat across from me in the conference room at Stratosphere. “China is the biggest retailer in the world. America comes in a close second, but in terms of actual items sold, it’s further down the list. But since the prices are much higher elsewhere, that’s why they compete so well.”

“I agree.”

“I think we should start your products in the high-end stores and market them as luxury items. Beauty is a big deal for a lot of women there, and they want the best product out there. But we’ll have to redo the label to serve this demographic better. While it’s sleek and elegant for the American market, it clashes with the Chinese audience.”

“Makes sense. I can have my team put something together.”

“I was actually thinking my team would come up with something,” he said. “Since we work in that space a lot. How about I bring it to you and ask for your opinion, then we can go from there? I assumed you would be handling my marketing as well since you understand this field so much better than I do.”

That was fair. “I think it’s a good plan.”

“Awesome.” He closed his tablet and organized his papers before he dropped them into his bag. “I think this is going to be a great partnership. Hunt speaks so highly of you, which is strange because he doesn’t seem to have anything nice to say about anyone.”

I smiled as I rose to my feet. “He’s a bit grouchy sometimes.”

Kyle chuckled and walked with me to the door. “There’s obviously something about you that doesn’t make him grouchy.”

We walked to the lobby where our four assistants were working, taking phone calls and working on spreadsheets.

“Do you know who his mystery woman is, by the way?” Kyle stopped walking as he adjusted his satchel over his shoulder.

Right at that moment, the elevator doors opened and Hunt emerged, looking sleek and deadly in his black suit with his matching hair. He stepped onto the floor like owned the whole building, not just half of it. His eyes were only on me, as if Kyle and the four assistants weren’t even there.

As always, my heart soared like a bird that just took flight.

“I’m sorry, I don’t,” I said to Kyle. “Hunt and I don’t discuss our personal lives.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” Kyle turned to Hunt when he approached us. “Hunt.” He shook his hand.

Hunt reciprocated before he placed his hands in his pockets. “Business going well?”

“It is,” Kyle said. “You were right about Titan. She’s got an incredible mind.”

It was nice to hear a compliment once in a while. Men were usually intimidated or annoyed by my success. They put me down rather than praised me. Maybe being associated with Hunt had changed people’s perception of me. After Hunt declared war against Bruce Carol, the industry knew not to cross him. And since he did business with me…they shouldn’t cross me either. I didn’t need his shadow to protect me, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t nice getting this kind of respect.

“She does.” Hunt turned his gaze on me. As if Kyle weren’t standing right there, he gave me that typical possessive look. He clearly didn’t give a damn if anyone picked up on it.

If Kyle paid a little more attention, he would have the answer to the question he’d just asked me.

“I’ll see you later.” Kyle shook my hand before he walked away. “Having lunch with the wife before the kids get out of school.”

“Enjoy your alone time while you can,” I said.

“Will do.” He waved then got into the elevator.

Hunt and I stepped into the conference room, and he shut the door behind us even though I preferred to keep it open. Anytime we were in public but not visible, I was high-strung. Hunt didn’t respect boundaries. If anything, he wanted to be caught in the act.

I purposely moved to the other side of the table so there would be a solid barrier in between us.

He stood with his hands in pockets, his heavy gaze centered right on me. When he was dressed like that, sexy in all black, it was hard not to think about stripping everything off and throwing it to the floor. Images of us in bed together came to mind, the sweat, the moans, the orgasms…like they were plastered on a TV screen. I couldn’t be close to him without sex crossing my mind. I couldn’t touch him without thinking about the way he told me he loved me.

My brain turned into a fried egg.

He watched me like he was witnessing all of those thoughts for himself.

Maybe we needed to screw every morning and every night so these tense encounters wouldn’t happen anymore. Or maybe they would just make us want each other more. Judging by the shameless way he eye-fucked me, it probably wouldn’t make a difference.

“You look beautiful today.” He could get any woman on her back if he just said those words. He could walk up to her in a bar, not even bother introducing himself, and she’d be on her knees sucking him off in the bathroom.

“We aren’t doing that.”

A grin crept onto his lips. “Then how did it go with Kyle?”

“Really well. We made a lot of progress.”

“Good.” His grin didn’t change. “And I still think you look beautiful today.”

I did my best to glare at him, but it was a pathetic attempt. “What happened to professionalism?”

“I’m not touching you, am I?”

Only because the table was between us. “Kyle and I are going to work on rebranding next. It’ll be a few months before we can start testing products in our territories, but at least we’re going somewhere.”

“These things take time. I’m glad you guys are getting along so well.”

“He’s very nice. I feel like people have been a lot nicer to me in general since we started working together.”

He dropped his smile, turning serious. “People know they shouldn’t piss me off.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and made sure I stuck to my side of the table. If a piece of furniture weren’t in the way, I could imagine my hands moving up and down his chest. A soft kiss sounded perfect for lunch. I wouldn’t mind hiking up my skirt for a quickie. I could bend over the table, and he could ram me from behind. Then his come would be sitting inside me for the rest of the day.

Wow, I needed to get my shit together.

Hunt regarded me with that ferocious stare, like the table wouldn’t get in his way if he really wanted to grab me.

Now my knees were getting weak.

My breath was coming out unevenly.

I almost didn’t care that we were at work.

He obviously didn’t.

“If we’re done here, I’ll see you later.” I had to dismiss him now. Otherwise, my panties would be around my ankles.

“You’re going to have to come around the table sometime.”

I stayed put. “I have a few things to do here.”

He called my bluff with a smile. “Whatever you say, Titan.” He stepped out of the room and turned around at the door.

I stared at his fine ass in his slacks. It was tight and muscular. I wanted to sink my teeth into it then and there.

He turned around before he stepped out. “I have dinner plans tonight, just so you know.”

My heart fell with disappointment. He’d come over every night this week. “Oh…”

“I’ll be home at eight…if you want to surprise me.” He walked out and let the door shut behind him.

He was so arrogant, and it drove me crazy.

But I knew I would be there at eight.

He knew it too.

---

I was ready for him when the elevator doors opened. I was in my black teddy and garters, along with shiny black heels. My hair was curled the way he liked, and my makeup was dark and heavy. Seeing him in that black suit had driven me crazy all day. I couldn’t stop thinking about having him, about taking him deep and hard. It was as if I hadn’t been enjoying him every single night of the week.

He was still in the black suit he wore earlier today, looking handsome and sexy. His jaw was cleanly shaven, his hair was still neat, and he didn’t look the least bit surprised to see me waiting for him.

As he walked closer to me, his smile widened. His eyes roamed over my body in the sultry lingerie, and a lustful look of approval was in his eyes. He slowly peeled off his jacket and tossed it on the floor, as if the expensive coat didn’t mean a damn thing to him. His eyes never left my face.

“Hands by your sides.”

He hesitated before he obeyed.

My fingers worked the buttons of his shirt. I yanked the tie off and placed it over my shoulder to use later. His belt was undone and his fly was open. I pushed all of his clothes to the floor, enjoying the spectacular view of his body as more skin was revealed. When he was naked in front of me, all muscle with a fat cock between his legs, I moved into him and kissed his chest. My tongue explored the hard muscles until I sucked one of his nipples into his mouth.

He watched me lustfully and dug one hand into my hair.

I shoved his arm down and kept kissing him. I slid down to my knees so I was level with his throbbing cock. My mouth opened, and I took his large length down my throat. When he face-fucked me, it made my throat raw and my tear ducts sting. But it felt so good at the same time. I slathered his entire shaft with my saliva and sucked the tip so I could taste the pre-come he had already begun to release.

He fought the urge to touch me by keeping his hands by his sides. But he watched me with a powerful look of desperation. A masculine moan emerged from deep in his throat, the most erotic sound I’d ever heard.

I soaked him with my mouth before I rose to my feet again. Giving head was something I could do all day when it came to Diesel Hunt, but I had bigger plans in mind. I wanted to get on that gorgeous body and please myself.

I already had a kitchen chair placed in the middle of the floor, and he knew exactly what it was for. “Sit.”

His eyes were trained on my lips, so he leaned down to kiss me.

I pulled away, making him miss the mark. “Sit.”

My movement seemed to amuse him more than annoy him because he smiled before he followed my directions. He seated his massive body in the chair, his long legs open as his dick rested against his stomach. His hand wrapped around his length, and he rubbed himself slowly as he watched me. “What are you going to do to me, baby?”

I pushed his arms back so they dangled past the chair. “Everything.” I undid the crotch in my teddy before I climbed onto the chair. “No touching.”

He growled loudly.

I planted my feet on the chair then gripped his massive shoulders for balance. I wanted to fuck him the way I wanted to, to use him as a gorgeous man rather than someone I loved. I pointed his cock at my entrance then slowly slid down.

I was wet before he even came home.

I pushed down to the bottom and breathed through the pleasure.

He moaned too, both of his hands formed into fists.

“I could barely keep my hands off you today.” I slowly moved up and down, my fingertips digging into his powerful muscle. He stretched me apart every time he was deep inside me. My pussy loved the sensation of utter fullness. Hunt was a man who always felt incredible—every time.

“Then you shouldn’t have.” His look intensified, and he became darker and more brooding. His intensity was exceptional, enough to nearly suffocate me. His hands still didn’t touch me, but his arms began to shake from the force of his restraint. “You should have bent over that table, hiked up your skirt, and told me to fuck you.”

My pussy tightened around his dick in response. “I’d rather save it for tonight.”

“I wouldn’t. I want both.” His feet pushed against the floor, and he thrust up into me. He wanted more of my pussy than I was giving him.

“No.” I stopped moving, making him stationary.

He growled in my face.

“I’m fucking you the way I want. You’re supposed to sit there and let me.”

His eyes darkened as he looked at me. “Yes, Boss Lady.”

My arms circled his neck, and I kept moving at the pace I enjoyed. I liked long and even strokes. I liked getting his fatness at a slow tempo in the beginning. Once my body lit on fire, I would squat at a quicker pace. “Your cock feels so good…”

His hands slid up my thighs, and he used his strength to help me move up and down. He had powerful arms, so he lightened the load on my glutes and hamstrings. He kneaded my ass with his fingertips at the same time. Then he spanked me.

A moan escaped my lips.

He spanked me again when he knew I liked it.

I scooted closer to him so I could take his entire length with every thrust. I wanted to swat his hands away, but with his help, I could fuck him harder. He was hitting me in the perfect spot over and over, and I was already biting my lip in enjoyment.

“Come all over my dick, baby.” He looked me in the eye, his expression scorching and sexy.

After a few more pumps, I was there. I was grinding on his dick at a faster tempo, and I was experiencing a blinding orgasm that made me scream right in his face. I clawed at his back and nearly drew blood as I enjoyed my high. Hunt was the only man I liked to use so much. He satisfied me a fix no other man ever could. I knew I wanted him to be the man I fucked for the rest of my life. I didn’t want anyone else, just him.

When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me. His jaw was tense and his expression was tenser.

I knew he was about to come. “Not until I say so.”

He released a scoff along with a slight smile. “I shouldn’t have expected anything else, Boss Lady.”

---

Thorn sat across from me at the table in his navy blue suit. A black tie ran down his chest, and a shiny watch sat on his wrist. He was a hard man with a body thick like concrete. His facial features were masculine and handsome, but they had a slight softness to them. Pilar described him as a pretty boy. With dirty-blond hair and blue eyes, he was much fairer than Hunt’s darkness.

We met for lunch in the middle of the workday, talking about work and the wedding. A gorgeous woman walked by in a tight skirt and a low-cut blouse, and she was distracting enough that I even noticed her.

Thorn didn’t even glance. His eyes remained on me the entire time.

“Did you not see her?” I asked incredulously.

He shrugged and drank his Old Fashioned.

“Are you okay?” This wasn’t the Thorn I knew. Thorn had wandering eyes and definitely a wandering dick.

“Come on,” he said as he put his glass down. “You’re my fiancée. I’m not gonna stare at another woman’s ass when you’re sitting across from me.”

I cocked my eyebrow. “Because…?” I didn’t care what he did during his personal time, and he certainly didn’t care what I did in the privacy of my bedroom. “You’re afraid someone will see you?”

“Yes. But it’s also rude.”

“How do you figure?”

He drank from his glass again before he licked his lips. “You’re going to be my wife. Even if we aren’t in love, I still love and respect you. When we’re together, you’re the only woman on my mind. You’re my primary focus. You’re gonna be the mother of my kids. You won’t have my fidelity, but you’ll have everything else. I still want to be a husband to you.”

My eyes softened because I’d never expected Thorn to say something like that.

“I would hope the same from you,” he said quietly. “After all, it’s the two of us against the world. Women will come and go…but we’re in this together forever. So you’re my priority, and I’d better be yours.”

“You know, that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

“Yeah?” he asked with a smile. “Hmm…I guess it is. Never thought I was the romantic type.”

“That makes two of us. But I see your reasoning.”

“Besides, I don’t want my kids to see my checking out some other woman, you know? I want them to know we love each other and we’re happy. The last thing I would want is for them to think I’m a cheater. I suspect they would never understand the parameters of our relationship, even as adults.”

“No, probably not.”

He finished his drink then leaned farther over the table, his elbows on the surface. “So, is Martha’s Vineyard okay? Or were you just saying what my mother wanted to hear?”

“It doesn’t make a difference to me. What do you want?”

“Whatever you want,” he said. “This is your big day.”

“You know I’d like to just get hitched somewhere and get it over with.”

He grinned. “True.”

“The only thing I’m looking forward to is getting a dress.”

“You’ll look stunning. I’m actually looking forward to taking it off you.” He gave me a heated expression, similar to the kind Hunt gave me.

All we’d ever done was hold hands or kiss each other on the cheek. I’d never even kissed him on the mouth. Going from platonic friends to lovers would be strange. “How is this going to work?”

“Your meaning?” We sat at a small table near the back of the restaurant. People were gathered around us, but we had enough space that we weren’t overheard.

“You and I will always have other partners, so how do we take care of our sexual health? Do we get tested every time?”

“I guess so.”

“Because that would become tedious…”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He rubbed his jawline as he considered it. “I guess we could wear a condom.”

“But I’m monogamous in my relationships.”

“But you aren’t always in a relationship. There’s usually months in between, right?”

“True.”

“Then we should be fine. And during those windows, I’m not wearing a condom. It’ll be a nice change.” He locked his gaze with me, unashamed by his intentions.

“You don’t think it’ll be weird?” I asked honestly.

“Not really,” he said simply. “You’re a very attractive woman, Titan. I’m great in the sack. I think it’ll be easy for both of us. Don’t overthink it.”

None of this had bothered me until Hunt walked into my life. Now I felt guilty for even thinking about kissing Thorn. It felt strange to imagine myself having sex with him when I was spending all my nights with Hunt.

Thorn caught the unease on my face. “Hunt?”

He read my expression like an open book. “I’ve been sleeping with him for a long time now.”

“That fire will burn out anyway. They always do.” He waved the waiter over so he could order another drink. He hit the whiskey again even though it was only a little past noon. “How are things with him?”

“About the same.”

“And what does the same mean?” He stirred his drink before he brought the glass to his lips.

“It’s just sex now. We don’t talk as much anymore.”

Thorn nodded. “I wondered what would happen after we got engaged.”

“We didn’t talk for over a week. But he came back around, a little hostile. It’s been getting easier ever since.”

“Maybe he’s finally given up.”

Hunt still told me he loved me, said it with such meaning that I lost my grasp of reality. He touched me delicately as he whispered those words to me, his affection washing over me like his warm breath. “Yeah…maybe.”

The waitress brought our lunch, two garden salads with no dressing. Thorn added extra chicken to his so he would get enough protein for the day. He was as obsessed with his diet as he was with making money.

“I don’t think I told you the good news.”

He finished chewing before he spoke. “What good news?”

“Kyle Livingston and I have partnered up.”

Thorn cared about food more than anything else—almost. But he ignored his lunch and stared at me in shock. “When did this happen?”

“Earlier this week.”

“Vincent Hunt never made good on his word?” He wiped his mouth with a napkin and set down his fork.

“No, he did. But Kyle didn’t take the offer.”

Thorn’s eyebrows practically popped off his head. “Why the hell not?”

“Hunt talked him out it. Said Kyle should work with me instead.”

“Seriously? And it worked?”

I nodded. “I’m not entirely sure what he said to Kyle, but he basically said Kyle believed in my partnership more than Hunt’s father’s. He said I had a lot to offer and Vincent wasn’t trustworthy. Hunt somehow used his influence to talk Kyle out of a deal of a lifetime.”

“Jesus…” Thorn sat back in his chair, still floored by the revelation. “This changes everything.”

“I know. Kyle and I have already gotten off to a great start. He’s easy to work with, and he respects me.”

“He’d better,” Thorn snapped. “If he did otherwise, I’d make his life a living hell.”

I smiled at his protectiveness, my future husband immediately turning in a guard dog. “Anyway, Hunt made it happen.”

He slowly nodded as his eyes shifted away. A quiet sigh left his lips, and his shoulders straightened as he considered what I’d said. His eyes then landed on something interesting because his pupils immediately contracted. “Speaking of the devil…”

I turned my head to see Hunt enter the restaurant with a gorgeous brunette leading the way. She was in a tight black dress, matching heels, and a pink wallet. Black frames sat on the bridge of her nose, making her look smart and sexy.

Like any other instance when I saw him with an attractive woman, I felt sick to my stomach. I was far too confident in myself to ever feel jealous or threatened, but with Hunt, all my suave coolness evaporated. I was uneasy and unnerved. I tried not to stare, but I couldn’t help but be irritated by the sight of her. There was an explanation for this, so I just had to stay calm.

They reached their table, and Hunt pulled out the chair for her like a perfect gentleman.

The sickness was getting worse.

Thorn eyed them before he shifted his expression back to me.

I knew exactly what he was thinking.

“One moment, he helps you out with a great business deal. And then the next moment…he’s having lunch with a gorgeous woman.” He shook his head. “Just like old times.”

Sweat collected on my chest, and I felt my breathing escalate. Hunt spent all of his evenings in bed with me, so I found it hard to believe he had time for anyone else. When he told me he loved me, it seemed like those words were coming from the bottom of his heart. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt because I didn’t want to be played so fiercely.

Hunt sat perfectly straight in his gray suit, his musculature obvious even through his clothing. He wore a black watch, shiny dress shoes, and he stared at her head on with a serious expression. They seemed to be in the midst of an intense conversation, which didn’t bode well either.

I might hurl everything I just ate.

“Let’s stop by and say hello.” Thorn placed his napkin on the table.

“I’m not doing that.”

“Come on. We can catch him when he least expects it.”

“No. Even if he is sneaking around, I’m not going to march over there and act like a crazy jealous woman.”

“You won’t. Just be cool.”

I drank my water. “Forget it.”

Thorn turned back to them. “Then I guess we’ll just watch what happens.”

---

They talked all through lunch. Not a single touch transpired through the conversation. He didn’t rest his hand on hers on the table. If he did, I probably would have lost my shit.

Thorn and I were long finished with our lunch, but we kept ordering drinks just to stall.

I felt pathetic lurking around so I could watch Hunt.

I hated not trusting him. I missed the days when I didn’t think twice about what he was doing. I could see him with a beautiful woman and not even consider the possibility he was two-timing me. The trust was ironclad. But once I’d seen a photograph of him kissing some woman, we hadn’t gained back everything we’d lost.

“I’m not sure what to make of it,” Thorn said as he kept staring at them.

“Maybe they’re just colleagues.”

“That woman is drop-dead sexy. Yeah, right.”

I glared at him. “You aren’t making me feel better.”

“It’s not my job to make you feel better. It’s my job to tell you what you don’t want to hear.” He eyed them again. “And if I saw that woman in a bar, I’d be buying all of her drinks until she was in my sheets.”

If Thorn thought she was sexy, then Hunt must have thought the same thing. But I shouldn’t let that bother me so much. I should remain confident like I’d always been not to feel threatened by it. I kept drinking my water, but I wished I had something stronger.

They both stood from the table.

Thank god. It was finally over.

Thorn raised his hand in the air and whistled.

I slammed my drink down. “What the hell are you doing?”

Hunt turned in our direction and stilled when he saw us. The woman did as well.

This couldn’t be happening.

Thorn waved him over. “I caught him with his pants down. We’ll see how he plays this.”

“I hate you so much right now,” I whispered.

“Hate you too, sweetheart,” he said with a grin.

Hunt led the way, one hand in his pocket with his typically stoic expression. He didn’t seem alarmed at all by our presence, even if we’d been watching him the entire time. He arrived at the table with the woman beside him. “Thorn.” He extended his hand.

Thorn shook it, his smile gone. “Hunt.”

He turned to me next but didn’t shake my hand. “Titan.” Instead of touching me, he greeted me with an intense expression he never showed to anyone else. Whether we were in a crowded room or not, he looked at me like I belonged to him and no one else. The ring on my finger meant nothing to him.

I didn’t say anything back.

Hunt indicated the woman beside him. “This is McKenzie.” He introduced her to the both of us.

I shook her hand but loathed every second of it. I ignored her beaming smile and the way her hair perfectly settled around her shoulders when she stood upright again.

Hunt continued to behave naturally. “McKenzie is one of my top candidates to head my HR department. This was her second interview.”

It was a job interview.

Oh, thank god.

I nearly clutched my chest in relief.

McKenzie nodded. “It was a pleasure to meet you both of you.”

Hunt didn’t say goodbye, but he gave me that a scorching expression before he turned away and walked out with McKenzie. He didn’t place his hand on the small of her back the way he did with me. His hands always remained in his pockets, nowhere near this woman he just interviewed.

When they were gone, it was just the two of us again.

“Well, I feel better,” Thorn said.

“Yeah, I do too.” Except I didn’t want to picture him working with her on a regular basis.

Thorn grinned. “Still jealous?”

“I’m not jealous,” I lied.

He chuckled. “You can lie to Hunt, and he’ll probably believe you. But you can’t lie to me.” He winked. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep your secret.”

I covered my frown by drinking my water.