His Every Move by Kelly Favor

ended well over four years ago. And I hadn’t seen her in person until she showed up at the restaurant that night. The night you found us talking, she came to tell me that she’d finally left Terrence and was completely alone and without any resources.”
    “Did she want to get back together with you?”
    Hunter didn’t answer. He stood up suddenly, shoving his hands in his pockets and turning away. “I suppose she did, but I made it very clear that wasn’t going to happen.”
    “You swear to me that you haven’t slept with her? Not even a kiss?”
    Hunter turned and faced Kallie again. His eyes were unwavering. “I swear I haven’t been involved romantically with Scarlett since she showed up in my life again.
    It’s been strictly friendship—I wouldn’t even call it friendship. I owe her a debt and I’m trying to pay it off.”
    “What kind of debt do you owe her?” Kallie said.
    “In a way, she saved my life. And now her life’s in danger, and I need to do my best to return the favor. I can’t just throw her out on the street and let Terrence have his way with her. You understand that, don’t you?”
    Kallie nodded slowly. “I don’t like it, but I guess I can understand why you feel you owe it to her.”
    Hunter’s eyes softened. He walked to the bed and took Kallie’s hand once more.
    His touch was soft and gentle and warm. “You can see why I haven’t wanted to tell you about myself. I don’t want to expose someone like you to…the kind of person I am. I need to keep you at a distance so you don’t get hurt.”
    “But that can’t work,” she said. “You can’t be in a relationship with someone you don’t even know. At least, I can’t.”
    “I just wanted to protect you. But I failed.” His eyes hardened again as he looked up at the bandage on her head. “I won’t fail again, though,” he said through partially gritted teeth. “I promise you that, Kallie.”
    “It’s okay,” she said. “It’s not your fault.”
    “I’m going to make someone pay dearly for what they did to you.”
    “Hunter, please. Don’t talk that way.”
    He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Fine. No more of that talk,” he said.
    “You should probably rest.” He slid the chair back to the wall, and she was certain he was going to leave.
    “When will I see you again?” she asked.
    Hunter smiled. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here until you’re released from the hospital.” And with those words, he sat down on the chair and got comfortable. “You rest now, Kallie. I’ll be right here.”
    She couldn’t believe her ears. Kallie didn’t know if Hunter had lost his mind, or maybe—just maybe—he’d finally found his heart.

    ***
    The next morning, after changing out her old bandage in favor of a smaller dressing, Doctor Scofield told Kallie that she’d be being released sometime that day.
    “Everything looks good,” he said. “However, you’re still going to have to be in bed for at least another five or six days, with just short walking breaks, using crutches so that ankle can heal. Every couple of hours, you should walk around the house on your crutches or take a short walk outside for maybe five or ten minutes.”
    Kallie nodded. “Thanks, Doctor Scofield. I’ll do that.”
    The doctor examined her chart, as Hunter sat in the chair and listened to the doctor’s explanation. Hunter had slept overnight at the hospital, and Kallie had indeed found herself resting much more peacefully knowing that he was nearby.
    A few times, she’d woken up and seen him in his chair, typing on a laptop he’d brought in from his car.
    This morning, he looked disheveled and tired, but still gorgeous. The scruffy beginnings of a beard only served to make him sexier, she thought.
    “…to take home with you,” Dr. Scofield said.
    Kallie realized she’d been too caught up thinking about Hunter to listen to what her physician was telling her. So she just nodded