Page 14 of Sworn to Defend
“How distasteful,” she said, slipping into Regina’s polished tone. “I can see the headlines now. Mayor’s wife investigated for threatening sister.”
Her sister made a strangled cry. “I don’t even know why they want you here! Collin is bound to do something unpredictable or strange during one of the events. And you. You dragged our family through the dirt. An unwed pregnancy. The baby’s father a caddie at the country club.”
“Strange? Who gets to decide what’s strange and what’s not? Collin is perfect. There is not one thing he should ever change. You on the other hand don’t possess an ounce of the goodness my son has. As for our parents, they want to keep up the façade of being supportive, even if it means demanding the black sheep of the family comes to Texas every so often to pose for a photo or two. And don’t think I missed how Father mentions his autistic grandson to the press, to his business partners, like it will make people perceive his company as being inclusive and welcoming to people who are neurodivergent. I would’ve cut ties long ago if it weren’t for Collin. If it weren’t for fear of something happening to me and Collin having no family to support him.”
“Mother and Father have given us everything.” Regina’s voice dripped with so much hate, it chilled something in her blood.
“Monetarily, maybe. Nothing more.”
“It is not their fault you never appreciated the private schools, traveling all over the world on a whim, being a member of the country club. Anything we wanted, and it was never enough.” Her sister’s breath was coming fast, muffling the line. “You’ve never been good enough for this family, Hannah. You are dead to me. Keep your opinions to yourself around Vivienne, or I swear, I’ll ruin you.”
The line went dead and Hannah stood stiffly, locked in place. After a few cleansing breaths she lifted the phone again and dialed Vivienne’s number. The call went straight to voice mail. She tried again. Nothing. The daylight had dimmed, casting shadows around her backyard. She was surely getting eaten alive by mosquitos but she couldn’t seem to make her feet move from their current spot. How had she missed Regina’s hate all these years? Of course, they’d never been friends. Had never been anything, really. Still, the pent-up fury in her sister’s tone made her wonder how long she’d been harboring those kinds of ill feelings toward her.
She gasped when heavy hands landed on her shoulders.
“Easy,” Hunter said gently from behind her. His palms warmed her skin and made her pulse kick up. Moments ago all she could process was anger. At her sister for blaming and threatening her. For wanting to essentially hold Vivi hostage. Now, Hunter’s presence consumed her. What an odd sensation—comfort and this white-hot longing to have those hands other places on her body.
“I didn’t hear you come out.” Her skin tingled and sparked as his fingers lightly brushed back and forth over her skin. Everything that had been on the tip of her tongue evaporated. Each time he took a breath, his chest rose against her back. She couldn’t even form a coherent thought when he was this close, his fresh, masculine scent clouding her brain. A soft chuff escaped his lips, and his warm breath tickled the nape of her neck. A current was winding through her lower belly and pulsing at the apex of her thighs.
She turned to face him. The banister pressed into her back, and his hands immediately dropped to grip the rail on either side of her. She liked being caged in by him. Knew he would never intentionally hurt her. She wasn’t sure what to do with her hands. Laying her hands on his chest seemed like a good idea. It wasn’t the hard planes of muscle beneath her fingers that ratcheted up her desire, but the way he sucked in a gulp of air the second she touched him. His heart was thundering against her palms, and she glanced up to his face. His eyes had darkened and the expression rising in their depths slammed into her chest, stealing her breath. He looked down at her lips, then back. Oh God, he was going to kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her. He leaned in, then froze. Instead of his mouth crashing against hers like she craved, he dropped his forehead to hers.
“Are you okay?” His voice was strained.
A light breeze wrapped around them. Crickets chirped in the distance, a bullfrog croaked, but nothing was louder than the thrum of her heart and the blood roaring through her veins.
Better if you freaking kissed me. She blew out a long breath. Kissing Hunter was the very last thing she should be thinking about after that phone call; still it took her a moment to regain her equilibrium. “Regina hinted that Vivienne was having second thoughts and I was to blame for putting ideas in her head. When Vivienne told me about her engagement, she didn’t sound like she was floating on a cloud of happiness. I mean, that’s how you’re supposed to feel when you’re in love, right? The whole thing sounded more like a business contract. An arrangement.” Her parents’ estate was heavily secured. Vivienne was safe there, so why did she feel this trickle of dread building in her chest?
His lips pressed flat. “Have you talked to her since?”
“I just tried to call her, but it went right to voice mail. Twice.” She brushed at her arm, shooing away another mosquito that landed on her skin.
“Let’s get you inside. Bugs are out in full force. So, that typical for her?” he asked, placing his hand on the small of her back and leading her inside.
“No, but maybe she doesn’t want to talk to me,” she said, dragging her fingers through her hair. “Or Regina forbade her to.”
“And she’d listen?” Hunter closed the sliding glass door behind them and locked it.
“Regina can be very convincing,” She looked at him over her shoulder as she walked to the couch. “Especially when something works in her favor.”
“And what benefit does Vivienne’s marriage give her?” His brows drew together.
“The prestige of an elaborate wedding. Social media attention,” she got out before Hunter scooped her up and settled them on the couch. Being on his lap wasn’t exactly conducive to a conversation, especially when his arms were banded around her waist. “And not of the runaway bride variety. Her husband is up for reelection as mayor. She thinks the wedding will cast him back in the spotlight and give him ties to some pretty powerful businessmen.”
Hunter shook his head. “Sure you weren’t adopted?”
“Wish I was. I just can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong between Regina’s threats and my mother’s words this morning—”
“She threatened you?” Hunter’s body went taut beneath her. “What words?” His voice was ice and steel. Totally unrecognizable from his usual carefree tone. She’d always known he was a highly trained SEAL, never doubted he could handle himself, but this was the first time she’d heard him detach, like he was ready for battle.
“When we were arguing about my scandalous plus-one, I said you wanted to protect me and Collin. She lost her cool, which is something unheard of for my mother. Not yelling or screaming, but definitely unregulated. She asked why I would ever dream that I’d need protection from my own blood. It wasn’t the words so much as the feeling her reaction gave me. Then there’s Regina. She said I was dead to her. That if I did anything to interfere with the wedding, she’d ruin me.”
An honest-to-goodness growl rumbled deep inside his throat. “Whatever happens, Hannah, whatever shit your family tries to throw your way, believe me when I say I will stop it. Nothing will touch you or Collin. If it gets to be too much, I’ll change our flight. All you have to do is say the words.”
His arms tightened around her, as though he was protecting her from some invisible force. She’d never had a champion who had her back; now, she had the ultimate protector at her side. Not for the first time, she wondered what she’d done to deserve Hunter in her life.
Chapter Eight
Hunter didn’t want to kiss Hannah. He wanted to devour her. Every ounce of self-control had been spent dragging his gaze off those lush lips on the deck. He wanted to take care of her, and like an ass, he’d nearly let his overwhelming desire derail their conversation. Being present to support her emotional needs came before the physical ones. Still, her expression had burned through his chest, making him want for things. So many things. Now, she was sitting on his lap, trusting him enough to give her comfort and update him on her dysfunctional family. He didn’t get a warm, fuzzy feeling from the conversation Hannah had with her mother. The one with her sister had a red tinge hazing around his vision.