“You didn’t know?” I found it almost impossible to believe our parents kept it secret.

Hunter shook his head. “Not a clue.”

“Nice surprise, huh?”

Hunter laughed. “Could be worse.” He glanced at me. “My new stepsister is kind of hot.”

I clasped my hands together and kept them planted on my lap. I stared out the window.

“We didn’t do anything wrong, Summer.”

“I know that.” I glanced at Hunter. He clenched his teeth and tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

“Then what’s with the look?”

“What look?” I bristled.

“You look like you just killed your dog.”

There he was. The Hunter I was used to dealing with. The relentless ass who tossed barbs at me whenever he got the chance.

“Look, Hunter. I don’t give a shit if you don’t like the look on my face.” It started to bubble out. I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to. If my mom and I shared one trait, it was not knowing when to stop talking. “I’m not so good with change, okay? So now, instead of going home I find out that my mother has moved. Not only has she moved, but she’s also remarried. Now I have a new stepdad, who has a son, who I fucked the night before.” I pulled my hair up into a ponytail. “So excuse me if I’m not great company right now.”

“You’re angry with me.”

“No.”

“Admit it, Summer. You’re mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at myself, Hunter. Don’t you get it? Not everything is about you.”

Except this was. He was wrong. I wasn’t angry at him. I was mad at myself for being stupid and reckless the night before. I was even angrier with my mom. It was a sad, sick twist of fate that the only guy who ever made me feel alive was now my stepbrother.

Hunter went quiet. It was a few minutes before he spoke again. “You’re not the only one whose plans got shit on, you know.”

There it was. The walls were up again. Last night we tore them down with our hands, our lips, our sweat, only to rebuild them. Perhaps even higher this time.

Chapter Seven

I ignored Hunter all the way to my new house. Life didn’t even feel real. It was as if I went to sleep and then woke up in an alternate universe. Except my mom was still yanking the rug out from under me, so this must be mine. I stared out the window the whole drive, painfully aware of the silence that drove the wedge deeper.

Once we finally pulled into the driveway, I was ready to leap from the vehicle. I looked around. Hunter and his dad lived in a large colonial-style house. My eyes widened as I stepped out of the truck.

“Holy shit.” I pulled my sunglasses off and looked around. “Where’s Mom and David?”

Hunter grabbed one of my boxes out of the back of the truck. “Dad said they were going to stop for dinner.”

My stomach rumbled. I could have used a dinner break. I bit my lip, grabbed a box and followed Hunter into the house. From the outside, it looked large. From inside, it looked enormous. Vaulted ceilings, curved staircases, marble floors.

“Holy shit.”

“You said that already.” Hunter headed for a set of stairs. “Follow me. The bedrooms are this way.”

I followed him up a large flight of stairs and down a long hallway. He stopped near the end and opened a door. “You can have this room.”

I entered and set the box down. “This place is bigger than some of the apartments I’ve lived in.”

I smiled at the sight of the king-size, four-poster bed. It wasn’t the kind with curtains, where you could shut yourself away from the world, but it was solid oak and covered in ornate carvings. I turned to thank Hunter for showing me to my room, but he was gone. I looked at my bed longingly. I wanted to fling myself onto it and snuggle in. Instead, I groaned and went downstairs to get more of my stuff.

I was headed to the stairs with my last box when my Mom and David appeared out of nowhere. I set it down.

Mom flung her arms around me. “How was the drive?”

“Fine.” I panted as I picked my box up off the floor. David looked at me, somewhat puzzled.

“Summer, didn’t Hunter tell you to park the truck in the garage and the staff would get your stuff in the morning.”

Fucking Hunter. I smiled. “Yeah, but I didn’t want to trouble anyone.”

“It’s no trouble, Summer.”

“You’re very kind, David, but it’s not a big deal. I can carry my own stuff.” My words sounded harsher than I’d intended. I sighed and started up the stairs.

“Summer.”

I took a breath and turned. “Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you take the elevator?” He pointed to a door a bit farther down the hallway.

Fucking Hunter. I shrugged. “Stairs are great cardio.”

I wanted to kill Hunter. I imagined my hands wrapped around his throat as I squeezed the life out of him. My imagination shifted when I realized that in order to strangle him, I’d have to touch him. I remembered what happened the last time we touched. My traitorous body warmed to the idea of touching him.

My last box in hand, I pushed my door shut with my foot. I took in my new surroundings. I wasn’t joking when I told Hunter this room was bigger than some of the apartments I’d lived in. There was a bookcase beside the window and a large lounge chair. I flopped onto the bed, promising myself that I’d only relax for a few minutes before I started to unpack.

* * * *

My eyes fluttered open. Everything was dark. There was no light, except for the moonlight that streamed into my window. I had no clue how long I’d slept. My stomach roared with hunger. I needed to find the kitchen. I was partway to the door when my foot slammed into a box I didn’t see. I hit the floor like a ton of bricks.

I pushed myself up and rose to my feet when the light flicked on.

“You okay?”

“What are you doing? Sitting outside my door?” I stood but didn’t move.

He stood in the doorway, one hand braced on the frame, the other gripped the knob. He wore a pair of track pants with no shirt. His hair was damp. I flicked my gaze over his chest, his abs, the sexy-as-hell V that disappeared into his pants. I smoothed my hair. I hated that I cared how I looked.

“I’m fine. What time is it?”

“Just after midnight.” Hunter smirked. “You hungry?”

“You read my mind.”

Hunter motioned for me to follow him and led me to the kitchen.

“We always have a stash of leftovers in the fridge.” Hunter opened it and peered in. “Looks like the menu tonight is Caesar salad and homemade macaroni and cheese.”

I sat on a stool at the counter. “Sounds good.”

Hunter grabbed two plates from the cupboard. He heated the mac and cheese in the microwave, then served the salad. He set my plate in front of me before he took the seat beside me.

I swore I could almost feel the heat radiate from him, he sat that close. “Thanks.” We ate in silence for a few minutes. I looked at him from the corner of my eye. “You could have told me there was an elevator.”

Hunter smirked. “Where’s the fun in that?”

“If you’d told me, maybe I wouldn’t have been so exhausted that I slept until midnight. I’m going to be awake half the night now.”

“I’m awake half the night most nights.” He turned and looked at me. He roamed his gaze over me, but came back up to meet mine. “I could help tire you out.”

I hopped off the stool and grabbed my plate. “That’s not happening again, Hunter.”

Hunter threw his head back and laughed.

“I’m going to finish eating in my room.”

“Want me to check your closet for monsters?”

“Goodnight, Hunter.”

I didn’t have to turn around to see his smile. The image was burned into my brain, and no matter how hard I tried to stop thinking about him, I failed. It was going to be a long night.

Chapter Eight