B008IJW70G EBOK by Soraya Lane Page B

Months instead of years. Just when she was starting to warm to the idea, when she might actually want him like that, she could just as easily lose him forever. 
          “Hunter?”
          He snapped to attention, eyes moving from Sophia to her. 
          “I want to go see Claudia now. Can you take me?”
          Riley needed to see her for herself. Needed to know for sure that Claudia existed and seek her guidance. Needed her other half more than ever. She had a big decision to make. And only her sister was going to give her the answer she needed. 
          Hunter glanced at Sophia as if for permission and received a nod of her head in approval. Riley felt in her bones that she needed to choose now. Today. Even if she just kept it to herself, in her heart and in her mind she needed to know. 
          “Yes, but tomorrow. It’s safer to go in the morning, so you’re back before late afternoon from the forest,” said Sophia. “I’m sorry, love, I’ve kept you talking too long and now the time has passed.”
          Riley was so gutted she could have screamed, her body covered in goose pimples just at the thought of seeing Claudia again. But she would wait, she had to. Because she had no other choice. Hope flickered in her chest, calmed her. The idea of even seeing Claudia made her body hum with anticipation. 
          “Oh, Riley?”
          She was pleased to hear the lightness back in Sophia’s voice after what they’d spoken about. After hearing of her private heartache. 
          “Yeah?”
          Hunter stopped and turned too. Eyes on Sophia. 
          “Don’t be telling your parents that I let your boyfriend stay over. They’d have you back home in no time.”
          Riley could have crawled into the earth and disappeared. Her entire body was on fire, embarrassment itching across her skin. She turned away from Sophia before she had to answer. 
          “Told you she didn’t mind,” said Hunter, grinning as he bumped into her lightly with his shoulder. 
          If Hunter was right, then at least Sophia would know they hadn’t been up to anything. So long as Hunter’s delicious style of kissing classified as not up to much .
          “I have to go, but I’ll see you tonight, okay?” he said.
          She tried to mask her disappointment. The rest of the day without Hunter sounded like hell. 
          “What’s tonight?”
          They walked out side by side, bodies almost touching.
          “Nothing, I thought we could hang out, that’s all.”
          “Can’t we just go be normal? You know, get a burger or something?”
          Hunter grinned at her, elbowing her in the ribs. “You want me to take you on a date?”
          She rolled her eyes, ignoring his touch. “Do I have to spell it out?”
          Riley was starting to think Hunter had rocks in his head. Did he just expect her to agree to pledge the rest of her life to him, without even…
          “How about I pick you up tonight. Take you out for dinner then.” He was smiling now, but the naughty grin was gone, replaced by a more serious Hunter. She almost thought he was less intimidating when he was cheeky. 
          She had a feeling he was trying though. Making an effort for her. And she liked it. 
          “Do you even have a car?”
          That made him laugh. He reached out and touched her arm. She shivered as his fingers skimmed her skin. 
          “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
          He turned to leave her on the porch, but she didn’t take her eyes off him. She couldn’t. It was like some sort of magnetic pull kept dragging her to him, drawing her eyes and her body toward him. 
          “Riley?” Hunter stopped, swivelling so that he started walking away backwards, eyes trained on hers. 
          She waited, eyebrows raised in