Chapter 8 - Brooklyn

“Here’s some clean clothes for when you are done. I don’t know how long I’m going to be, so if you are hungry and I’m not back, help yourself to anything you can find.”

Brooklyn nodded as she grabbed the folded clothes from Hunter’s hands. The white shirt and blue sweats smelled like him, just like the small space.

“Thank you again, Hunter. I promise I won’t get in your way.”

A small smile covered Hunter’s face and he shoved his hands in his front pockets. “No problem, really. I’ll be back soon. Lock the door after I leave, okay?”

Brooklyn found it unlikely that anyone would try to break in but nodded anyway.

Hunter mimicked her nod and rocked on his heels. “Well, I guess I will go now. Unless you need something else?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Landon nodded short and quick and slowly turned on his heel, heading for the door.

Brooklyn couldn’t take her gaze off him as Hunter walked quickly to the door and shut it tightly behind him. She followed after and moved the lock on the door just as Hunter committed her to do.

Hunter’s room was similar to a studio apartment. There was a small kitchenette attached to the bathroom on the other side. A half-wall separated the bed from a small living area. There wasn’t much in the space, adding to Hunter’s mysterious aura.

Brooklyn wasted no time in reaching the bathroom and peeling off her drenched clothes. She had given up on keeping Hunter’s apartment free of her filth and dripped water all over his carpet. She was glad to get rid of the wet clothes.

She took a quick shower and slipped on the clothes Hunter left for her. She let her mind wander for a moment as she inhaled the delicious scent buried in the clothes. She privately lifted the collar of the shirt and took in the scent.

Brooklyn felt the frustration bubble over her actions and left the bathroom, heading for the kitchen.

There was something about Hunter that she was unnaturally drawn to. When she had first met him, she felt she would give anything to see him again.

Now that she had him in her grasp, she would do anything to get him out of her mind.

She knew she could have gotten caught up at work if it wasn’t for the distracting thoughts he put in her mind. She focused on his eyes, the hypnotizing color she had never seen on a man before. The piercing yellow color that was similar to a tiger’s had heat running through her body.

And heaven forbid, she would give anything to get that kiss out of her mind.

It didn’t even seem to bother Hunter. He just went along his way after their encounter, seemingly unaffected. Brooklyn on the other hand was still trying to shake the hypnotizing effect it had on her.

Why did he kiss her?

Brooklyn shook her head to shake her thoughts and focused on grabbing something to eat.

Because of her late start, she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. She whipped open the cupboards, amazed at the number of alcoholic beverages in the cupboards and fridge. Thoughts of Hunter being an alcoholic ran through her mind, making her once again realize she knew nothing about this man who could easily be dangerous.

Brooklyn quickly found a pack of noodles and put a pot of water on the stove, waiting for it to boil. There weren’t many options to choose from, but this was about the extent of her culinary skills anyway.

A soft buzzing caught Brooklyn’s attention. She moved from the stove and followed the gentle noise until it led into the tiny living room and she saw Hunter’s phone vibrating on the coffee table.

An unmarked number lit up the screen as the green and red buttons asked to be pressed. The light turned off on the phone and a generic background displayed the missed call.

Why was his wallpaper so bland? Don’t people usually personalize that kind of thing?

Brooklyn grabbed the phone and slid her finger across. When the screen asked for a passcode, Brooklyn huffed in annoyance.

Of course it would be locked. Hunter was the tech guy after all.

Unable to resist, Brooklyn started snooping around the space, looking for anything and everything that would tell her about the mysterious man.

She was still amazed he was even real and not a figment of her imagination.

When her searching came up bare, Brooklyn moved into the bedroom. It didn’t take long to spot the empty phone box on the nightstand. Brooklyn picked it up and opened it, not surprised to see the box empty.

She knew the phone looked new, but she didn’t know it was this new.

Brooklyn couldn’t help but think the lack of personal items was somewhat suspicious. The only things that he seemed to have that was actually his were his clothes and his toolbox.

“What are you doing?”

Brooklyn’s heart almost jumped out of her chest at the sound of Hunter’s raspy voice behind her. She spun quickly and came face-to-face with a firm chest covered in dripping wet clothes.

“Umm, I...”

Brooklyn had a curse. She was the worst liar on the face of the planet. Ever since she was young, she hasn’t been able to tell a lie.

This time was no different.

Hunter looked at her expectantly, his golden eyes pinning her and her tongue in place.

She would be lying if she said she wasn’t checking him out at the same time. The way his black hair darkened in the rain and his yellow eyes glowed was mesmerizing.

“I… was looking through your stuff.”

Really, Brooklyn? You couldn’t think of anything?

Brooklyn cringed while maintaining eye-contact, Hunter’s phone box still in her hands.

“And why are you looking through my stuff?”

Brooklyn shrugged and sheepishly smiled while setting the phone box back on the nightstand. “Umm, I was looking for something to clean with?”

“And a box was the best you could come up with?”

Brooklyn looked at him sheepishly and placed the box back where she found it.

Hunter sighed and looked down. “Well, I just looked at your car. I think it could be either the alternator or the fuses since it was your battery earlier.”

Brooklyn felt like he was speaking another language.

She knew what a battery was… but that was it.

“I won’t know until tomorrow when I can run some tests on it.”

“Would you mind taking me home then?”

Hunter sighed and stuffed his hands in his front pockets. A habit Brooklyn was quickly finding out he did often.

“The storm has gotten worse, that’s why I had to come back so soon. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to bring you anywhere tonight. You’re stuck here.”

Brooklyn felt her jaw fall to the ground.

“You’re kidding, right?”

Hunter hook his head and walked away, towards the small kitchen. “Did you eat yet?”

Brooklyn felt frozen in her place.

She can’t stay here overnight. Just the thought made her anxious.

She not only had to work in the morning but if Vincent found out she spent the night at another man’s house, he would lose it. There was a high chance Hunter would get fired. And if Vincent figured out Hunter kissed her on top of that, she felt there would be a hefty price to pay. She couldn’t help but feel there would be major consequences for both of them.

Goodness, that kiss. She knew both of them were avoiding the topic of conversation, but just the thought of it had her toes curling and her body overheating.

“Oh shoot, the kitchen!”

Brooklyn shoved past Hunter and raced for the kitchen, finally remembering the pot of water she left on the burner. When she reached the pot, there was only a small layer of water left on the bottom while the rest had already evaporated.

What little water was left boiled rapidly and Brooklyn pulled it off the burner and dumped the water in the sink, quickly rinsing the pot with cold water.

Brooklyn heard Hunter step up behind her and click the burner off. “Okay, how about I make us something?”

Heat rushed into Brooklyn’s cheeks as she thought about leaving the pot. He probably thought she was going to burn the place down.

Hunter was suddenly right behind Brooklyn, his body almost pressed against hers in the small space. His body heat radiated through his wet clothes, making Brooklyn surprisingly warmer with his presence so close. He slowly wrapped his arms around her, bringing his hands out and gripping the handle of the pot.

Hunter pulled the metal bowl from her hands and placed it down in the sink, letting the cool water rush over the steaming metal. Brooklyn felt the heat from the pot now matched the heat flowing through her body from Hunter’s close proximity.

His head lowered slightly and he buried his head in her hair, inhaling deeply. Brooklyn stayed stalk-still, afraid her movement would cause him to do something equally shocking.

The pot dropped into the silver sink with a soft ‘thud’ and Hunter’s hands moved to the edge of the counter, trapping her between his arms.

“I got it,” Hunter rasped into her hair, his deep words rumbling through to her toes.

It took a minute for Brooklyn to realize he was talking about the pot and not her. She felt embarrassment heat her cheeks at her imaginary thoughts.

Hunter released his left hand from the counter and Brooklyn quickly slipped from his grasp, as if the heat scorched her. She refused to look at him as she stepped out of the kitchen and away from his hypnotizing effect.

She might be the one needing a drink tonight.