The week went on without another word from Steven. But Camilla knew she hadn’t heard the last of him. The thing that made her more uncomfortable was now Steven knew she was dating Hunter, and his outburst at WTZB earlier that week was a bit disturbing. Steven was used to getting his way, so Camilla had never seen his ugly side, but Camilla replayed the way he yanked her, demanding she come with him. Or else what? That was the part that had Camilla checking corners every time she left her job and even at times when she was at the grocery store.

It was tiresome, and on top of that, she hadn’t expressed these feelings to Hunter. Her reasoning was plain and simple. Hunter was not the type of man to sit idly by while his woman feared for her safety. He would most likely put Steven out of his misery. Do you believe Hunter would really kill Steven? Her first response was to say no, but she couldn’t be sure. Camilla sat inside her car that was parked in her assigned space at The Regency.

Tomorrow was Friday and she was going to meet Hunter’s parents. She’d decided not to tell him they should wait, partly because of being distracted by her surroundings and relatively because a part of her wanted to meet Mr. and Mrs. Valentine. But still, Camilla sat in the parking lot, with her cell in hand thinking about sending Hunter a bland text about needing to postpone. Camilla bit down on her lip. Maybe she was just nervous. Instead of sending him that text, she sent him another.

Hey you. Do you mind if I bring along a friend to lunch tomorrow?

She hit send then waited patiently as her mind ran around the idea she had. It didn’t take long for Hunter to respond. When her phone beeped, it brought an exhilarating smile to her face.

Just the woman I was thinking of. Is this friend Corinne?

The smile journeyed further.

No. You met her at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. My assignment editor, Allison Sullivan.

Send.

I don’t see why not. Where are you?

Camilla texted back hurriedly.

Home.

Send.

When do you suppose I’ll get to see this home you say you have? I’m starting to believe you don’t really live at The Regency, and you’re a foreign spy sent to gain the heart of a wealthy bachelor in order to find out our governments secrets.

Camilla giggled and responded to his text.

I didn’t know you had government secrets, but now that I do, you must tell me what they are since I’ve won your heart.

Camilla was only joking, but when her phone beeped again, the message took her breath away.

Damn it. I’ve always known a woman would be the end of me. I’m glad it was you, Angel.

She reread his words several times, and her heart rate increased. Could it be possible? That Camilla had stolen his heart? She reminisced back over the conversations they’d had throughout the week. Particularly the one during lunch on Wednesday.

“There is something I’ve wanted to ask you, but I’m not sure if you’re up for discussing it.” Camilla sat her fork down and rubbed her lips together. Her eyes fluttered over to Hunter, and he held them with a dynamic stare of his own.

“What’s on your mind, Angel?”

Their table quieted as Camilla internally pushed herself to move forward, but something told her that what she wanted to know was a heavy subject for Hunter.

“Trevor,” she said. Camilla examined his face. Hunter didn’t seem to go still like he did the first time she mentioned Trevor. That gave her a bit of hope that Hunter had warmed up to her.

“What would you like to know?”

Hunter pulled his legs up from the relaxed languid position they were stretched out in to rest on his feet beneath the table. So much for warming up.

“I can tell this is a hard subject for you, and I completely understand if you’d rather not get into it.”

“Ask me your question, Angel,” he encouraged.

uHunHCamilla swallowed. “Okay, originally when I asked you said he was your brother, but you changed the subject pretty quickly so…”

Hunter’s gaze traveled over her face. “He was, my brother.” He cleared his throat, and his voice grew deeper. “He didn’t make it.”

She saw the solemnness in his eyes, and her heart broke for him.

“Remember when I told you we were born septuplets?”

“Yes.”

“Trevor was among us. He lived for forty-five days in the NICU before he passed.” Hunter didn’t move as he spoke. “Unfortunately, he didn’t get enough nutrition like the rest of us, and it caused him to have complications that overcame him.”

“Hunter, I’m so sorry.”

“Me, too, and you’re right,” he continued. “It’s a hard subject. I always wonder what knowing my little brother would’ve been like. What kind of person he would’ve become, the things he would be invested in, and if I could kick his ass on the basketball court like I do the others.”

Camilla smiled softly. Hunter was being a good sport trying to bring some light into the conversation.

“Sometimes, I think I see him in my dreams. He’s never quite clear to me, but I sense that he’s there. Do you think that’s crazy?”

“Of course not. I believe it’s him.”

Hunter’s brows rose. “You do?”

“Sure. I believe in a higher power, and I know from my own personal experiences that God has his way of calming our spirits. May not be in the way we would like it to happen, but He is there nonetheless.”

Hunter watched Camilla for a long moment. “You know I’ve never told anyone that. My brothers would crack on me, if I did.” He smiled, but it was cut short.

“I don’t believe that. I know your brothers might be like all brothers on their siblings, but when it comes to Trevor, they might surprise you. Who knows, it’s possible that they’ve met him, too.”

Hunter’s heart swelled at the idea that Trevor was really visiting him and the possibility that his brothers had interacted with him as well. It gave Hunter the courage to talk to them about it, and right then and there, he knew more than anything that Camilla had been sent to him, too.

“Thank you, Angel. That means more to me than you know.”

“Always,” she said, and deciding to lighten the mood, she switched to another topic altogether. “Once upon a time, you asked me what was the one thing I’d long to do or have that I had yet to achieve,” Camilla said. “So now I throw that question back at you. Tell me, Hunter, what does a man who appears to have everything want most in life?”

Hunter didn’t bat an eye in thought. A smile curved up his lips then he spoke. “Children.”

To say Camilla was taken by surprise was an understatement. “Children?”

Hunter nodded. “I’ve always wanted a house full of children. An entire football team with the cheerleaders to match.”

A slightly horror-stricken look crossed Camilla’s face, and it didn’t slip by Hunter.

“Don’t look so frightened, Angel. I take it by that look you don’t want children?”

“Uh— well, it’s not that I don’t want them, uh…”

Hunter accessed her with a squinting peer and a thorough perusal.

“Don’t worry about it for now. That comes later.”

Camilla had been distracted the rest of their meal. Much like him, when she’d asked the question Camilla didn’t expect that response. She almost regretted her inquiry and his comment about it coming later, what did that mean? Last week’s sexcapade rewound in her mind. They hadn’t used a condom in the heat of the moment, all five or six times throughout the night and in the shower the next morning. Camilla didn’t know how to chastise herself. Being with Hunter felt perfect so although her actions were reckless, she didn’t care.

Camilla cleared her throat and her mind long enough to send a text message to Allison.

Hey Allison, I know it’s late, so I’ll just cut right to the chase. Are you free for lunch tomorrow?

Send. It took about three full minutes before Allison responded.

It depends, are you asking me out on a date because I don’t go both ways.

A burst of laughter shot from Camilla, and she shook her head in disbelief while her fingers tapped the screen in a dance.

Ha, ha, very funny. Actually, I’m having lunch with Hunter tomorrow at his parents’ home, and I’m inviting you to come along. You know Lance will probably be there.

Mentioning Lance must have given Allison spirit fingers because this time she texted back within seconds.

You should’ve started the conversation with that. Count me in.

Camilla chuckled again.

Be ready at noon.

* * *

Inside her apartment, Camilla sat with her laptop open on the bed and her legs folded underneath her. As much as she wanted to go knock on Hunter’s door and let him ravish her, she needed the rest, so she could feel and look her best tomorrow. Being with Hunter would just make her feel like sleeping the day away, so she opted to stay put.

As her eyes traveled over the screen, Camilla frowned. Throughout the week she’d been keeping up with news reports in Florida that said Hurricane Jasper was headed for the Keys. There were three potential paths Hurricane Jasper could take and two of them cut straight through her old neighborhood where her parents lived. The governor was already saying if Hurricane Jasper came close to hitting the mainland, as predicted, he would declare a state of emergency.

That was the one thing about the sunshine state. For as beautiful as it was, there was never a winter season that went by when a hurricane didn’t threaten to wipe out the masses. Picking up her phone, Camilla dialed her parents. The phone rang twice before it was answered.

“Hello, baby, is everything all right?” Sharon Augustina asked with worry tones in her voice.

“Everything is fine, Mom, I’m sorry to call so late.”

“Oh, you gave me quite a scare there.” Sharon paused. “What has you up at 1 a.m.?”

“Hurricane Jasper.”

“Oh, don’t you go worrying about us, you know we’ve got the fallout shelter if we need to take cover.”

“The fallout shelter won’t hold against Hurricane Jasper. It’s in need of serious updating, and this is a category five storm we’re talking about.”

“Yeah, well, we have a little time before finding out if it will hit us or not.”

“Next weekend, Mother. Are you and Dad going to wait until it’s on the mainland?”

“Where should we go?”

“Is that a serious question?”

“Listen, baby, your father and I don’t want to intrude on what you’ve got going on in Chicago.”

“Is that another serious statement?”

Sharon paused, and Camilla cut in. “Because I’m certain if it were me, you would be very outspoken about me leaving.”

Sharon sighed. “You’re right. I’ll talk to your father.”

“No, I’ll talk to him.”

He’s sleeping right now, and you know he gets grumpy if you wake him up, and he hasn’t had his eight hours.”

“I don’t need to talk to him right now. I’m taking a trip down there, and both of you are coming back with me. Corinne doesn’t know it yet, but so is she.”

“Oh, baby.”

“It’ll be Monday. I have a few things this weekend to take care of but when I get there, you might as well have your bags packed.”

“You know your father will never be swayed into leaving.”

“He will if it’s me swaying him. Daddy never could refuse his little girl, so I’ll put it on thick if I need to. You just have the bags packed and ready.”

Sharon chuckled a bit. “I will.”

“Thank you, Momma.”

“I love you, baby. Get some rest. Makes no sense worrying about something that’s happening in the future, tonight.”

“I’m going now. Good night, Momma. Love you, too.”

They ended the call, and Camilla thought about calling to threaten Corinne with being kidnapped if she refused to leave. But the thought didn’t last long; instead, it switched to Hunter and the many times he’d stolen her breath with a solitary kiss. She was in a relationship for fifteen years and never had she felt so treasured and taken care of like with Hunter. What did that say about Steven? Camilla wasn’t sure if that meant he sucked that bad or if the two of them were never meant to be. Because in the timeframe Camilla had been with Hunter, she’d quietly fell in love with him. His gentle caresses at times were soothing, and when he became a fierce lover, it was all-consuming. The intellect he bestowed was almost sexier than when he stared her down with a smoldering gaze. Almost.

Camilla closed her laptop and rolled to her belly, stuffing her face into the pillow, and before another thought took root, she was sleeping like a baby.