“What do you mean intimate, Fern?” Hunter asked bitterly, his eyes glued to the dancing couple as they swayed and laughed like lovers.
“Fern means one can easily talk to one another without letting other people know what they’re discussing.”
Hunter jerked his eyes to his friend then, his breathing rough.
“You mean to say they could say anything in the throng of people and no one would know?” Hunter asked for confirmation.
“Yes,” Fern said, still eyeing Anton laughing with Clarice.
“Even a confession?” Hunter asked in fright, as he could feel his goal crumpling down on him.
“Even a confession,” Fern said absentmindedly.
Hunter snapped. “Come on, Fern. Let’s dance.”
“Wh-what?” Fern was so startled when Hunter dragged her onto the dance floor, standing so close to the other couple, it made her heart jump again.
“Hunter, what are you planning?” Fern whispered close to his ear.
“I need your help.”
“Hunter needs Fern’s help?” Fern asked, her interest piqued now.
“Mmm.” Hunter nodded. Then he whispered something into Fern’s ear, which made her eyes light up. Fern looked at Clarice, gave her a smile, and nodded to Hunter.
Fern was only too willing to oblige as she laid her hands on top of Hunter’s shoulders and they both proceeded with their dance, swaying to the sound of Michael Bublé’s song.
So Hunter was trying to make Clarice jealous, was he? Fern knew Hunter liked Clarice, but she didn’t know it went to this extent. Oh, she was glad to be of help. In fact, Fern also wanted to make Anton jealous. So she hoped by dancing with Hunter, Anton would take notice.
Hunter’s plan was to make Clarice jealous, but he also wanted to hear and survey the dancing couple at a closer quarter too. If Clarice planned to confess to Anton, he would make it his mission to annoy the heck out of them, hence preventing Clarice’s admission.
When he saw Clarice drawing her face towards Anton, Hunter took action. Once or twice, he would intentionally bump into them just to disrupt the dancing pair and to annoy the living hell out of Clarice, as if to inform her, Look, you’re not the only one with a dancing partner. But Hunter’s mission only backfired threefold and Hunter gritted his teeth harder, almost breaking his enamel, when he saw Clarice laughing at what his goddamn cousin was saying, his action having no effect whatsoever on them.
Hunter couldn’t take it. She was already pregnant, so how dare she treat other men like that, especially his cousin? He was furious, literally pissed off with the whole situation, and he was about to storm away, throwing his usual tantrum like most rich heirs would, but then another idea emerged inside his mind and he took action.
CHAPTER 30
What was he doing? Clarice couldn’t breathe with Hunter and Fern this close to her. She tried to concentrate on Anton’s steps as he swayed her around the dance floor to the voice of Michael Bublé, but Hunter was too distracting. When she tried to motion Anton away from him, he came swaying their way as well. Then she saw Hunter whispering something into Fern’s ear, which made Fern turn to look at her and then smile before turning back to nod at Hunter. A stab of jealousy robbed her heart, and before she knew it she was mad.
You want to play this game, Hunter? Clarice thought angrily. Well, so be it. So she held Anton even closer, hugging him even tighter to her body, and even pretended to laugh at something Anton said, which she hadn’t a clue as to what it was.
She was enjoying her charade, especially when she saw Hunter eyeing her like he wanted to eat her alive with those molten sky-blue eyes. No, she didn’t want to see Hunter. Seeing Hunter only made her condition worse, so she turned back to Anton, but he was no longer looking at her. Who was Anton looking at? Surely not his own cousin dancing with Fern… Unless… Wait… Fern? Could Anton like Fern?
As she couldn’t contain her curiosity, she asked him. “Anton, are you—”
“I’m taking over!” Hunter declared darkly, then went ahead without letting Anton or Clarice voice their permission, by wedging Anton to the side and taking hold of Clarice, slamming her body toward his.
What? Clarice asked herself after her sudden change of dance partner.
When she realized Hunter had literally kicked his cousin to the curbside, Clarice wanted to utter her disapproval and terminate the dance, but those words didn’t come out of her lips because Hunter just glared at her like he wanted to gobble her alive and then said, “Dance.”
Anton was quite surprised by this so he just smiled at his cousin and left to go back to his seat, when Fern stood in his way. His heart did another jump. God, the Emerald Queen. She was so beautiful he couldn’t stop blinking. But he must stop this foolish act. Anton’s cool demeanor was in charge tonight, not the man who melted into a puddle whenever Fern was around. So with that thought, he pasted on his usual cool, unaffected bearing and tried bypassing her, but Fern kept blocking his path.
“Anton. Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?” Fern spoke in first person.
And before his brain could tell his body what to do, he’d already took action and pulled Fern into his arms and glided her around the dance floor, passing Clarice and Hunter, who still held on to each other like lovers embracing for the first time, standing in the middle of the dance floor while everyone else danced around them.
Oh dear, Clarice thought. And oh dear it was when Hunter grabbed hold of her. Hunter literally mashed his whole body to hers, embracing her so tightly she almost couldn’t breathe.
“Could you at least move back a bit? I can’t breathe.” Clarice voiced her discomfort.
“This dance is supposed to be like that,” Hunter said, happily squeezing her even tighter within his hold.
God, it was perfect. Gone was the furious fiery dragon who breathed fire, only to be replaced with a kid that had received his prize candy, Clarice in his arms. He couldn’t believe having his avocado like this could make his heart swell up with this much happiness.
“Anton didn’t dance like that, though.” Clarice struggled to speak as she tried pushing him back a bit.
“Anton doesn’t know how to dance,” Hunter remarked.
Clarice was about to retort when Hunter swayed her so fast it knocked her breath away. Her head was getting dizzy and her heart rate was now at full speed.
Clarice glanced up at Hunter and into his glittering pupils, smiling at her. Clarice didn’t feel happy, nor did she feel like smiling back. In fact, she felt moody. She wanted to get out of this situation. What with being held captive like this on the dance floor while tossing and turning to the sound of the music; it just wasn’t right for her body or her peace of mind.
“What are you doing?” Clarice whispered in panic when she felt Hunter’s fingers exploring her back. One tap, two taps, drumming on her backside like a horse galloping on a sunny day along the prairie, then those fingers making small circular motions, which caused tingling sensations to run up her spine. This wasn’t good. Not good at all. Her breath hitched and butterflies swarmed in her stomach. “Stop Hunter! Stop!” she whispered.
“What was that? I can’t hear you,” Hunter replied. His voice wasn’t helping her either, so husky and seductive.
“I said stop what you’re doing right now.” She spoke under her breath.
“You want me to stop dancing? But Bublé is still singing. It would look bad to walk off the dance floor like this.”
“Arrggh, that’s not what I meant,” she said, frustrated. She could hear him just fine. How come he couldn’t hear her? So in resolution, she went to capture his neck and pulled him closer until his ear was just an inch from her mouth, and then she whispered, “Please stop making those shapes on my back. It’s uncomfortable.”
“Oh,” Hunter whispered, happy they were so close they could almost be melded as one.
While they were whispering back and forth to each other, Clinton Silverton was eyeing his son and takin
g note of the little beauty who had caught his attention. He turned to Winton. “Who’s that young lass?”
“Oh, that’s Miss Clarice Mason, the periodontist Master Anton asked to present her case on implants to our elderly clients here tomorrow.”
“Oh. So she’s a beauty and a brain,” Clinton said as he continued to watch as the little drama in front of him unfolded. “Take note, Winton. If my son shows any interest in that lass, I want a full investigation of her background.”
“Yes, sir,” Winton said.
“Good,” Clinton said and then turned back to his son with a fat grin on his face. Could this young lass be the one that could change his son’s way of life? He hoped so.
“Will you stop it? I said I’m uncomfortable. How many times do I have to tell you? And when will the song finish? I want to go back to my seat,” Clarice grumbled to herself when Hunter wouldn’t stop making the small circular shapes on her back.
“Missing Anton already?” Hunter asked playfully, his eyes twinkling as he watched his avocado making that sour face.
“Yes. At least he’s a better dancer than you,” she retorted.
“You…” Hunter couldn’t take it. His anger came back full swing. Why must she compare him to Anton all the time? What was so good about his cousin anyway? Apart from their age gap, he didn’t see how he could be any different. “I’ll have you know I can capture any woman and make her swoon if I want, unlike my cousin.”
“I doubt it. Some other woman maybe, but not this one,” Clarice said, challenging him.
“Is that a challenge?” Hunter eyed her.
“I’m always up for a challenge,” Clarice answered, looking up into Hunter’s azure eyes.
“Just be warned that once I attempt to make you swoon, don’t go blaming me.” Hunter warned Clarice.
“I won’t blame you,” Clarice said, smiling. What was Hunter going to do anyway? They were in a room full of people. But to her surprise, she almost went into shock because in the next second, she felt her neck captured by long, gentle fingers, imprisoning her in their embrace and then hot breath fanned the nape of her neck. Clarice sucked in her breath when she felt teeth, lips, and tongue, sucking, biting, and licking her soft skin. Clarice couldn’t do anything but stand still like a tree stump.
“What… what are you doing?” Clarice asked breathlessly.
I’m seducing you. “Not a word, Avocado. Didn’t you say you wanted to challenge me? Keep up the pretense and stay like this until Bublé finishes his song.”
A hundred, a thousand, no, a million bees were stinging her at that moment, all centered around that spot Hunter was busy sucking. He was seducing her… on the dance floor? How could he do this? Her knees felt weak. She felt like she was about to faint again. Dear heavens, please. When would the song finish? She really needed to get out of here. Her body was acting all out of sorts. She really needed to get out of here right now.
Dear God, please don’t let the song end just yet, Hunter prayed. He was enjoying his time immensely. He wanted to stay like this with Clarice in his arms throughout the night, just the two of them, dancing, embracing, and kissing each other while everyone else faded away in the background.
But sadly, the song ended all too soon, and before he could blink an eye, Clarice disappeared from his arms and was already across to the other side of the hall, then was lost in the large crowd.
Hunter went into the swallowing crowd too and was lost in the midst of chaos on all sides, his eyes flickering in all directions, trying to locate that white gown, but to no avail.
Hunter growled and made his way to sulk by himself. He found a nice spot where no one could interrupt him. A nice spot near the side of the stage where there was a curtain hanging obscuring him from anyone who would want to annoy him. Grabbing a glass of red wine from the waiter, he made his way to his destination.
He thought he could stay in peace, but it was only an illusion because not three seconds passed before someone came to stand beside him.
“Hello, Hunter.”
Hunter turned to see Caroline and gave out an annoyed huff.
“What are you doing here, Caroline?” Hunter asked, not so nicely.
“That’s not a nice way to talk to the heir of Bass Enterprises. My father does have a large share of the current business with your father. He might not like it when his daughter is spoken to like that.”
“I don’t give a damn what your father thinks,” Hunter said, gripping his wine glass in anger.
“Dance with me, Hunter.” Caroline changed the subject when she realized Hunter was in no mood to play.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not interested,” Hunter said, his eyes like radar, still searching for that white gown. “Go ask Anton.”
“But I want to dance with you.”
“But I don’t want to dance with you,” Hunter spit. “So go.”
How dare Hunter speak to her like that? Caroline fumed. “Are you interested in that old fruit?” she asked.
“Huh?” Hunter turned to Caroline then, giving her his full attention. “Who are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about that girl you called Avocado.”
“Clarice?”
“Yes, Clarice.”
“What about her?”
“You like her, don’t you?”
“Psh! None of your business,” Hunter said, turning back to the crowd, his eyes still scanning.
“You should give up already,” Caroline said, pretending to be kind by offering her advice. “She already likes Anton. I can tell.”
Hunter jerked his head to Caroline again and fire burst from his azure eyes. “Why would you say that?”
“Because she’s walking towards him right now with a determined look on her face.”
Hunter’s head snapped back to the crowd and sure enough, he saw Clarice walking towards Anton with a fierce determined look on her face.
Oh shit. She’s going to confess. And this time, there was no backing down. Hunter still held his wine glass in his hand. He had to do something. Shit, he had to think of something fast. Otherwise, everything would turn into custard. From this distance, it was too far to stop them.
Hunter scanned around the hall quickly, trying to find anything at all to distract Clarice from confessing to Anton. Then he saw the microphone standing on the stand on stage and an idea brewed inside his head. Handing Caroline his wine glass, he told her to stay put and climbed up on stage. Caroline was so surprised by Hunter’s action that she just stared blankly at him in confusion.
Up on stage, Hunter could see Clarice was just a few meters from Anton. Any minute now and she would confess. He hadn’t enough time to stop them. He needed to do something fast. Then he picked up the microphone.
Clarice walked towards Anton with a determined stride and only one purpose: to confess and then go home. She’d had enough of today. If she didn’t escape, she could guarantee she would faint into Hunter’s arms. Yes, she must get away from him, stop him from distracting her so she could make her confession and then leave. Except she didn’t know Hunter was standing right behind her onstage, holding on to the microphone awkwardly, staring at her making her way towards his cousin.
As Clarice neared Anton, she saw him talking to Fern. She really didn’t want to interrupt them. She had a strong feeling Anton liked Fern, but she had to tell him, just to get the guilt out of her system. So she tapped him on the shoulder, making Anton and Fern turn around. Without allowing Anton and Fern to greet her, she spoke, “Anton, I have—”
“You can’t, Clarice!”
Clarice froze, hearing Hunter’s shout, the sound of his voice through the microphone echoing around the main hall.
Shit, what have I done? Hunter thought. He’d just literally shouted out without thinking when he saw Clarice was about to confess to Anton. And now he’d alerted the entire audience who were now standing still, staring at the heir of Silverton Enterprises, who was stan
ding up on stage, holding the microphone like he had a special announcement to make.
Hunter was sweating. The eyes of everyone down below gazed up at him. But his only focus was on Clarice as she turned to him, staring with a confused expression on her face. He felt his forehead dotted with perspiration and his hands felt like they’d been dipped in a jar of water. The microphone kept slipping from his hands.
“You can’t, Clarice,” Hunter repeated, his eyes still zoomed onto Clarice, not caring and not seeing the sea of faces that continued to stare in his direction, waiting and watching for the event to unfold before them. The many faces that included Anton, who was thinking at that moment just what was his young cousin was up to now. Fern was smiling because she knew what was about to happen, Clinton was in shock, as he had never seen his son act like this before, and Caroline fisted her hands so tightly by her sides, afraid of what Hunter was about to say.
“Don’t,” Hunter spoke again. God help him. He felt awkward standing onstage like this, but there was no way around it. He needed to stop Clarice’s confession; otherwise, Anton would get her.
Clarice was confused. She turned away from Anton and started advancing towards the stage until she stood just at the edge, staring up at him from below.
“Don’t confess to Anton,” he said, looking down at her, only seeing her.
“Why?” Clarice asked.
“Because… because…” His hands trembled and his voice shook.
“Because?” Clarice worded silently, her heart pounding in her ribcage. And then it hit her. Oh God! Oh God! Hunter knew.
“Because…”
Hunter could feel his throat going dry and the microphone slipping from his grasp again. But he had to confess. He had to do it now. He had to say it now.
“Because I want to sleep with you again.”
THE END
Next in the Spinsters & Casanovas Series featuring Hunter and Clarice
Baby Be Mine (Spinsters & Casanovas Series Book One) Page 26
