Hunted (Love like Yours Series Book 3)

by Nicole S. Goodin

  I groaned.

  “You have to admit, it’s pretty funny.”

  “Not when it’s happening to me it’s fucking not!”

  “Okay, okay. Hit me with the story.”

  I groaned in frustration. “The story doesn’t matter… I just don’t know what the hell I should do now.”

  “The brother…”

  “Harrison.” I prompted.

  “Does Harrison know you’re interested?”

  “No. I don’t know. Probably. I couldn’t really stop looking.”

  Lawson leaned back and threw one of his huge arms over the back of the couch.

  “So when you’re staring at him, what’s he doing?”

  “Looking.” I amended. “I’m not a stalker.”

  Lies.

  He waved his hand at me dismissively.

  I thought about it. “He’s looking at me too.”

  “Okay.” He nodded. “Good… he’s interested.”

  “Is that your professional take on the situation?” I quipped. “It doesn’t even matter… I can’t get in between two brothers like that.” I shook my head quickly.

  “You want my honest opinion?”

  I nodded.

  “I’ve never seen you like this, so I know for a fact that you aren’t just going to be able to forget about whatever’s happening here. I’d be willing to bet you’re already in deeper than you told yourself you’d get.”

  I closed my eyes momentarily and nodded again.

  He was one hundred percent right. I can’t stay away.

  “I think you need to give it some time Q. Colt is going to be hurt, his brother is going to need to figure out what all this means, and you need to decide if he’s really that important to you.”

  He squeezed my knee. “If it’s real, it’ll still be there in a couple of weeks.”

  “When did you get so sensible?”

  He rose to his feet and looked back down at me with a grin. “When I married your best friend.”

  11. Harrison

  “What happened?”

  I limped back to the couch as soon as she drove off. She’d seen me standing in the window, I was sure of it.

  “You saw.” He grumbled.

  Shit.

  “Yeah.” I admitted sheepishly. “It’s over then?”

  I thought I was doing a pretty good job of sounding sympathetic, but the daggers he shot me made me think otherwise.

  If looks could kill.

  “I’m gonna go lay down” I pointed towards the hallway before dragging my broken ass up off the couch.

  “Good idea.” He grumbled.

  I hobbled to the doorway. My ribs were killing me now – I shouldn’t have been so nosey.

  I looked back at him and the poor bugger looked miserable. “Hey Colt?”

  He looked over to me.

  “Thanks man, for everything. I really appreciate you looking out for me.”

  He smiled slightly and nodded in response.

  I might have thought he was a little shit a lot of the time, and I might have really wanted to go after the girl he was pining after, but more than all of that, he was my brother and I never wanted to see him hurt.

  I briefly considered searching Google for ‘how to date the girl who broke your brothers heart’ but decided against it.

  Quinn was out of reach, at least for right now, while I was living here, that was for sure.

  Two more weeks.

  ***

  My phone rang and I groaned. I knew who it was without even looking at it.

  I’d spoken to both of my parents, my brother Mitch and a few of my mates… there was only one person left.

  Reeve.

  Reeve was the best guy I’d met, honest to god the best man I’d ever come across. He’d do anything for you and he’d do it with a smile. I was more than privileged to not only call him a friend, but a business partner too.

  I knew he was worried about me. He knew something wasn’t right, but I was giving him nothing to go on. I couldn’t tell him. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, it was the fact that he’d be put in a shitty position if I ever got caught. This way was better. At least he was an innocent party in it all.

  I snatched the phone up off the bed.

  “Hey man.”

  “Took your time waking up Harry.” He said by way of hello.

  “Yeah I bet you’ve got a shitload of work waiting for me.” I replied, trying to change the direction of the conversation.

  “Who gives a shit about that.” He stated. “What the hell is going on?

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

  “Shit luck right.” I acknowledged. “But don’t worry, I’m good, just need some time to heal up.”

  The line went silent and my gut filled with dread.

  “What the hell is going on?” He repeated.

  “It’s nothing. Just wrong place, wrong time.”

  “That’s what you said a few months back when you fractured your hand. Or six months back when you dislocated your shoulder. Or every month in between when you had bruises and busted lips.”

  Shit.

  “This shit has been going on for months, a year even. You’re not stupid enough to think I wouldn’t notice.” He continued.

  “I told you about the boxing.” I lied through my teeth.

  “Yeah and I call bullshit on that too. I’ve seen you in the ring. You’re fast… precise. Your technique is flawless. There’s no way you got beat up like that inside the ring.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you man.” I replied, exhausted by my own lies.

  “The fucken truth would be great.” He snapped back.

  “Just know that I’m fine, and I’m telling you what I can.”

  He went quiet for a moment.

  “Fine. Look whatever you want Harrison. I just want you to know that I’m here. I worry about you and what’s going to happen to you next. It was bad enough when you were getting all those punks locked up who kept conveniently punching you, but this… I don’t know what the hell this is.”

  His concern was what got me. That, and the fact that he knew a lot more about what I’d been up to then he’d ever let on.

  “I appreciate that.” I choked out.

  “Yeah well I mean it. Get better and get back here, alright?”

  I nodded to myself. “Will do. Later Reeve.”

  “Catch ya.”

  I dropped my phone and groaned.

  I hoped like hell this shit wasn’t gonna cause me to lose him as a friend.

  12. Quinn

  Reeve looked up from his desk in surprise. “Quinn?”

  I watched his features change as realization dawned.

  “Ah crap.” He stated guiltily.

  He forgot.

  “No way Rush, you promised me lunch a week ago.” I whined.

  He dropped his pen on the desk. “I know. I’m so sorry, I’ve double booked.”

  I groaned. I’d been dying to catch up with Reeve, I wanted to ask him about Harrison and how he’d been doing these past two weeks.

  “C’mon… please Reeve, we can eat in here?” I begged, desperate to get whatever I could from him.

  “I’ve got a meeting in ten minutes.” He said apologetically. “The sooner Harrison gets back here, the sooner I can get my life back to normal.”

  My pulse quickened at the mention of his name. “How’s he doing?” I tried to sound laid-back about asking, even though I was busting my ass to get information about him.

  “Not bad.” He replied as he picked up his pen and scrawled his signature on the bottom of a page. “Hopefully he’ll be back in a week or so.”

  I nodded, but I needed more details. “Is he still staying at Colt’s?”

  He opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by the shrill ring of his cell phone. He grimaced and held one finger up at me.

  He glanced at the screen and grinned.

  “Well speak of the devil.” He joked.

  H
arrison?

  I focused intently on the phone in his hand; this was the closest I’d been to him in weeks.

  He listened for a moment and paled.

  “Triple booked.” He muttered as he glanced up at me.

  I shrugged. I didn’t know what he was talking about.

  “Fuck man I’m so sorry, I’ve got a meeting… I completely forgot.” He rambled.

  “I’ve gotta get out of here.” I heard Harrison’s muffled voice through the phone.

  “I’ll get you later, I swear, shit is just so hectic here with you gone. I forgot about lunch with Quinn too so don’t take it personally.”

  Reeve listened and glanced up at me again curiously.

  “Yeah she’s right here?”

  I couldn’t help the smile that spread on my lips.

  Reeve frowned. “Look, I’ve got to go; I’ll call you later when I can pick you up okay? I’m sorry man.”

  “I’ll do it.” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

  Reeve covered the speaker of his phone with his hand. “You’ll do what?”

  “I’ll pick him up.” I replied. “I’m assuming he wants to go home.”

  Reeve stared at me for beat before a smirk appeared on his face.

  “I’ve got a better idea Harry. Quinn here is as free as a bird.”

  I stopped listening. My heart was racing at the thought of seeing him again… being alone with him.

  “You wanna tell me what the hell all that was?” Reeve interrupted my thoughts; apparently having finished his phone call.

  I looked at him and blushed. “I’m just helping you out.” I lied.

  “Uh huh.” He smirked as he rose from his chair. “And my meeting is with the Queen.”

  He slipped his suit jacket on and led me out of his office.

  He looked over at me again curiously.

  “What?” I laughed.

  “You’re grinning like a fool.” He chuckled.

  I winked at him and headed off for the elevator. “Say hi to the Queen for me Reeve.” I called over my shoulder.

  His laugh followed me all the way down the hall.

  “I think you know you’ve found someone special when you meet them for the first time, and it feels like you’re just picking up where you left off. You kind of look at them and think ‘Where the hell did you come from? Where the hell have you been?’”

  - Caitlyn Siehl

  13. Harrison

  Ah shit.

  I glanced down at my boxer briefs and mess of a lounge room and cringed. I’d been counting on my best mate to be coming to pick me up – not a drop dead gorgeous woman. I’d planned on throwing on some sweats and maybe chucking a few pizza boxes in the bin, but now…

  Shit.

  It was way too early in the game for Quinn to be seeing me as a messy slob.

  I couldn’t move fast, but I was willing to push it to the limit right now.

  I winced as I pushed up off the couch. My ribs were improving, but I still wasn’t completely spared from the jolt of pain that I was growing accustomed to.

  I needed to get over this shit and get my life back on track. I needed to clean the hell up, get home, get strong and get back to work.

  And get the girl.

  I glanced down at my boxers again.

  Shit.

  Pants.

  First things first… I need pants.

  ***

  I stole a glance at her again. It was surreal. Like a dream come to life.

  She was right next to me, driving me home, all alone.

  We were all alone.

  She shook her long brown hair out and a raspberry scent wafted around my face. I inhaled deeply.

  God she smells good.

  “This is kind of like stranger danger you know.” She stated to fill the silence, peeking a glance at me out of the corner of her eye.

  “What do you mean?” I asked curiously, unsure where she was heading with this.

  “You know.” She waved her hand at me. “I don’t know you. You don’t know me. You’re not supposed to get in a car with strangers; didn’t your momma ever teach you that?”

  I chuckled. So apparently Quinn rambled when she was nervous.

  I decided to humor her. “Okay then. Let’s remedy the situation.”

  She nodded and grinned.

  “My name’s Harrison Hunt, I’m a lawyer and I went to Harvard. I own a nightclub with my brothers.”

  She sniggered. “You sound like you’re in an AA meeting.”

  I laughed deeply, causing my ribs to ache.

  “I like to run, box and read. I’ve got two brothers and I’ve been told I’m the best looking of the three of us.” I carried on.

  She rolled her eyes and laughed.

  “Alright… your turn.” I prompted.

  She raised an eyebrow at me in question, like this little game didn’t include her.

  “Hey now, fairs fair. I’m worried about stranger danger too.” I joked.

  She grinned. “Okay… I’m Quinn Pierce. I’m from L.A and I’m the Chief Technology Officer at Rush Communications. I like to run and read too… and shop. I’ve got one brother.”

  “I’m thirty.” I told her.

  “I’m nearly twenty nine.”

  “No kids.” I added.

  “Ditto.” She replied.

  “Single.” I smirked, stating the obvious.

  I heard her mutter something under her breath that sounded a lot like ‘It’s complicated’ before she grinned and replied. “Me too.”

  “Ahhh…” I was struggling to think of more to tell her about myself. “I like… nacho chips.”

  She laughed. “I don’t love anything as much as I love chocolate.”

  “Is that a challenge?” I asked without thinking.

  She stilled momentarily before recovering and smiling. She looked at me briefly before shrugging. “Who knows, Harrison Hunt who went to Harvard… who knows…?” She replied quietly.

  Challenge accepted.

  14. Quinn

  I took his key from him and twisted it in the lock. The air inside the house smelt stale.

  I looked around. “Home sweet home huh?”

  I was pleasantly surprised by his house. It wasn’t small, but it also wasn’t huge or flashy like I’d imagined, I thought he would have chosen something sleek, professional, modern and masculine. But the reality was quite different. It was modest, and the brick held warmth and character – it was cozy.

  He attempted a shrug, but the look on his face told me it still hurt his ribs more than he was willing to admit.

  “This is it.” He stated.

  “I like it.” I beamed at him.

  “You do?” He sounded surprised.

  “What is that meant to mean?” I demanded in mock outrage.

  I stepped inside the entryway and sat his bag down.

  He chuckled. “I just took you for a more… ah… ‘Refined taste’ kind of girl.”

  “You think I’m a snob?” I sat my hands on my hips dramatically.

  He shook his head. “Not a snob.”

  “Posh?” I asked.

  “Nah.” He shook his head again.

  “Oh god.” I groaned, dropping my hands. “You don’t think I’m high maintenance do you?”

  He smirked and held up his thumb and forefinger, only an inch apart. “Maybe just a little bit.”

  “Well I thought you might be a show pony.” I shot back. “I was expecting some big sleek mansion, floor to ceiling glass, designer chandeliers in the entry way…” I gestured to the ceiling.

  He chuckled and shook his head. “No pony tricks here. Just simple and comfortable, that’s how I like it.” He pointed toward the living room in front of him and I looked around behind me for the first time. He had large, solid pieces of furniture that had a rustic feel to them. His brown leather couches looked like you could sink into them and be content for hours. The space led through to the dining room, and I could see a peek of the kit
chen beyond that.

  “There’s another living area out back and the bedrooms are up stairs.” He told me as I strolled around the room, looking at the trinkets and photos he had scattered on shelves and the mantel.

  “You can tell a lot about a man by the way his house looks, you know.” I told him without looking back.

  He was watching me, I could feel his eyes boring holes into my back.

  “And what does this room say about me?” he asked curiously.

  I picked up a heavy brass dog and set it back down again next to one of the many live plants he had in here. I took a few more steps and smiled at a framed picture of Harrison and Reeve in their graduation gowns and hats.

  “Where do I start…”

  The couches…

  “I think you like to look good, but not to the point where you’ll sacrifice comfort.” I looked back over my shoulder at him and watched him watching me.

  The photos…

  “You value the people you have in your life.”

  The art work…

  “You’re vibrant, but you don’t always like to be the centre of attention.”

  I sneaked another peek at him as I continued to stroll around the room.

  The plants…

  “You can be gentle and nurturing.”

  I ran my hand over the rough finish of the shelving as I turned back towards him.

  The rustic wood.

  I smirked at him. “But I think sometimes you like it a little rough.”

  His expression had remained serious the entire time, right up until my last comment. He barked out a laugh and shook his head.

  “I’m wrong?” I asked innocently, batting my lashes.

  “Nope.” He confessed. “I’d say you hit the nail on the head.”

  ***

  I’d made Harrison park up on the couch while I went and got him a glass of water. He’d insisted he was fine, but I was feeling a bit restless now that we were here alone. I wasn’t ready to leave, but I wasn’t necessarily willing to stay either.

  I flicked off the water and froze at the words I heard floating down the hallway behind me.

  Did I just hear…

  “Fuck off.” It came again from the hallway off the kitchen.