Page 80 of Animal's Reformation
Hunter:I thought you would. We need to exchange photos, then if we like what we see, we should talk on the phone. I want to meet you very soon. I promise our meeting will be romantic and full of tenderness. Nothing is too good for my sweet woman. I have a small confession to make: I think I could fall in love with you and hope you have some feelings for me.
“What a fucking asshole,” Animal said. “And there’s no fucking way you’re giving out you photo, phone number, or meeting this nutcase anywhere.”
“Will you calm down? I don’t plan to meet him privately—only in a public place,ifI even meet up with him.” She placed her fingers on his lips. “Don’t start with me. I’d be better to meet him for my paper, but I’ll admit I’m starting to feel sorry for him. I mean, what if he’s sincere and is really falling in love with Rose? I’m basically cat-fishing him and it’s starting to feel wrong.”
“How the fuck can he be in love when he hasn’t even met or seen you? The guy’s bullshitting. He’s got an ulterior motive going here.”
“Maybe … maybe not. Loneliness makes people look for relationships and then try and make them fit. I’m really starting to feel bad about this now.”
“This dude’s not lonely, he just wants to fuck.”
“I’m not so sure,” she said as she began tapping the keyboard.
Rose:Falling in love is pretty serious. I’m not there yet. Sorry. We can talk on the phone, though.
“Why the fuck are you telling himthat?” Animal said.
“A burner phone. I’m going to end the conversation now.” Olivia needed time to think about what she was doing. A part of her was drawn to Hunter—she felt his loneliness and his pain, and another part of her felt terrible in stringing him along like this. The other guys she’d communicated with were in it only for the sex, and several of them admitted they were married and just wanted a fling, but Hunter was different, even though Animal would disagree with her. But then, he hadn’t been talking to Hunter for the past several weeks. Hunter truly did seem like he neededher, and that could be a powerful aphrodisiac for a woman. She wondered how many other women he’d met on the site.
Hunter:Being in love is absolutely serious, my sweet, and I don’t expect you to feel it now. I’m just hoping that you feel something for me. I want us to get to know each other, and when we do, I know we will love each other—body and soul. Let’s start first with a phone call.
“No dude talks like this except some pansy-ass trying to get fucked or a damn psycho. I don’t have a good feeling about this, babe.” Animal rubbed his hands up and down her back.
“He’s just lonely, and I think what he’s saying is sort of romantic. I mean, I can see how a woman would fall for him,ifhe’s sincere.”
Rose:I do like you, but I need to think about everything. I have to go now.
Hunter:Did I offend you? Please tell me you still want to talk to me.
Rose:You didn’t offend me. I do still want to talk with you. It’s just that I have a lot to think about, and a friend of mine is here.
Hunter:A friend? I thought you had no one.
“That’s strange,” Olivia said.
“I told you the guy’s a psycho. Why the fuck does he want a woman who’s all alone? My radar’s going off big time, baby.”
“Maybe he doesn’t have any friends and thought we were kindred spirits.”
“Bullshit.”
Rose:I do have friends—just not any family. I do have to go. Bye.
She clicked out of the site and closed the lid to her laptop. Animal was right: somethingdidseem off with Hunter. Maybe she should just make her own assumptions and wrap up the paper. It seemed like she was getting in over her head, but then just one phone call with Hunter wouldn’t really hurt. Olivia could get a better sense of him after talking on the phone.
“I don’t like you talking to this guy, but if you’re ever gonna get together with him, you need to tell me and I’ll come along with you. There’s no way you’re meeting him alone—public place or not.”
She rested her head against his shoulder and he held her tight. “Agreed. I’ve got to admit, he’s creeping me out a little. I just want to forget about all that now.” Olivia tipped her head back, and his lips captured hers possessively. The kiss sent the pit of her stomach into a wild swirl.
Standing up with her in his arms, Animal made his way to her bedroom, his lips still fused to hers.
