Except he’s not willing to offer it to you, Olivia!
I looked away as a tear made its way down my face. I sighed in helplessness. “You won’t push me away, and I won’t walk away on my own, so I guess we’ll just have to see where it ends.”
“We know where it will end,” he said softly.
“Then so be it.”
Hunter stared at me for a moment. He opened his mouth to speak, but stopped at a knock on the door. He moved, and admitted the bellboy with a cart of luggage. Hunter arranged for the right bags to be brought in before tipping the man.
He held the door open as the man wheeled Hunter’s own bags to the room next door. Hunter glanced at the inside door before letting his gaze settle on me again. “Use that door when you need some privacy. I’ll leave mine open in case you need something. I have to be in a conference in an hour, so I would advise you to take your computer and stroll through the grounds. Meet people. Make friends. You never know who you might need to accomplish your goals.”
Another tear fell. I looked down at my bags as I rubbed my face before running my fingers through my hair. It wasn’t a good cover, but it was all I had.
“Try to shut yourself off from me, Olivia,” Hunter advised softly. “Try to distance yourself, and think of this for what it is—experience and great sex.”
“I don’t work like that. I can’t separate my heart from my life. It stops me from being a whole person.”
“I know,” he whispered. And he stepped away. The door closed with a dull thunk.
I heaved a breath and blinked, trying to rid myself of tears. I rubbed at my chest where my heart was seeping, aching painfully.
I looked at my luggage for a long time, remembering the various looks I’d gotten from Hunter over the time I’d known him. I knew he was scared of love, and afraid of intimacy, because of whatever lurked in his past, but the deep passion he expressed in tender moments, and the openness he’d displayed, meant he was capable of it. I had to believe that.
Maybe just not with me.
I shook my head as a metal latch hit against wood. The connecting door swung open, revealing a muscular shoulder in a button-down shirt moving away on the other end. He’d said his piece, given me the warning I’d heard a few times before, and that was that. He was clear.
I wished it were that easy for me.
I took a quick shower to waste some time before climbing into my battle gear—jeans and a hoodie. Hunter said I could wear what I liked, so I chose a loose-fitting gray hoodie to complement my dour mood. I peeked into Hunter’s room, only to find it empty.
I dusted myself with makeup and threw my hair in a ponytail. I didn’t need to try very hard to get that look. I probably wouldn’t see Donnelley, since the grounds were so big, and definitely wouldn’t randomly make friends. Like a stereotypical geek, I was more comfortable in a corner somewhere with my computer, avoiding contact with anyone else.
I grabbed the plastic key off the little stand by the door and shoved it in my pocket before heading out with my computer. I found my golf cart right where I left it. Hunter must’ve walked. I climbed in and started her up with no idea of where I was headed. I just followed paths willy-nilly, until I found a lovely little spot with non-native trees, non-native flowers, and definitely a non-native little lagoon surrounded by benches and tables. Maintaining the integrity of the Nevada desert was not important with this little setup.
I shut off the engine and climbed out, lugging my ever-faithful computer with me. Two people sat at tables on opposite ends of the lagoon. I headed for one of the tables between them. As I passed the nearest man, though, I caught sight of his face.
I did a double take. My foot caught a rock and had me stumbling to the side with a loud grunt.
Donnelley looked up.
Of course I’d find Donnelley. I had to, right? With my luck, there was no way that I would get to sit on my own and reflect on Hunter’s words. That would have been too easy.
I pointed vaguely at the ground. “Rocky.”
His focus dipped down to his hands where he held a phone. A man in his late fifties, he had graying hair and life’s wear and tear lining his face. Frustration painted his visage. His laptop was pushed away to one side.
Now to make contact.
“You…ah… Everything okay?” I’d never been good at initiating friendship.
Chapter Three
He glanced up in irritation. Great, I was already annoying him.
“No. Just—” He shook his phone a little. “This blasted thing isn’t picking up a signal.” His eyes were crisp and blue, sparkling with intelligence and anger. “I design programs that sell like hotcakes on these things, but I can’t even work it.”