Page 36 of Reticent

He doesn’t know Niko’s out of town, yet he’s still offering to stay the night. I’m tempted to let him, but I’m even more tempted to see where he lives. “Do you have a guest room?”

His face softens. “I do.”

“Then I’ll stay with you.”

His smile is easy and confident as though he knew I would end up at his place.

We both face the front, and Hunter shifts gears, driving us out of the ER parking lot. “You look beautiful in that dress, by the way.”

“Thank you,” I answer softly, checking my smile and shifting my gaze to the passenger window.

* * *

“We’re home.” Hunter’s deep voice rouses me awake.

I stretch and yawn, taking in my surroundings. We’re parked in a garage, underground by the looks of its roof structure, lighting, and sloped driving paths.

After we left the hospital, we headed to Niko’s to grab an overnight bag. I don’t remember falling asleep on the way to Hunter’s apartment. But it feels like I only blinked, and now we’re here.

Hunter turns off the engine. I unbuckle my seat belt and reach for my door handle. “Hold on a sec,” he says, opening his car door. “Let me get the door for you.”

I could get used to having a guy open car doors for me. Though maybe I shouldn’t. The last thing I need to do is compare any future boyfriends to my baby daddy.

Hunter grabs my duffle bag from the trunk and opens the door for me. I take his hand and allow him to help me out. I’m a little sore from the accident, which is expected.

“Thank you,” I say, my hand still in his.

“You’re welcome.” He releases my hand, and I inwardly curse for not letting go of his hand first.

We cross the garage in silence, passing dozens of shiny expensive cars on our way to the elevator. Once we slip inside, I stand against the back wall and rest my eyes. It’s not until I feel Hunter’s hand on my shoulder that I realize I’ve fallen asleep standing up. I startle awake.

“I’m sorry.”

His lips tug into a small smile. “Don’t be. Let’s get you to bed.”

We exit the elevator into a carpeted lobby. To my left, a full-size window showcases how high up we are. “What floor are we on?”

“Thirty.”

“Where are the other doors?”

“They’re only four apartments on this floor,” he says as we walk past the first unit.

Farther down the hall, we approach the second door. Hunter unlocks the keyless door by typing in a code. He opens the door for us, and I walk in first, accepting his invitation. The door closes behind me, and muted lights flicker on.

My gaze darts around the modern apartment. Masculine furniture, tall ceilings, windowed walls, and expensive-looking art reflect his posh lifestyle. Its sophistication is fitting for his age. Being here, in his home, confirms what I already know to be true. Our differences are vast—our worlds an ocean apart. Although I’m no longer intimidated by the man he is, I’m intimidated by his wealth.

“Are you hungry?” he asks.

Embarrassment flushes as I meet his inscrutable stare. Can I be any more of an outsider, standing here gawking at his apartment? “I think I’ll go to bed,” I say, ignoring the dull hunger pangs in my stomach.

“I’ll show you to your room.”

We take the stairs to the guest room. Hunter sets my overnight bag at the door and turns on the light. He stays in the doorway while I venture inside a bedroom taken right out of the pages of a five-star resort with its neutral colors, expensive bedding, floor to ceiling windows and eclectic art on the walls. If the guest room is this nice, I can only imagine what the master looks like.

“There’s a bathroom across the hall. And there’s some leftover shrimp pasta in the fridge if you get hungry tonight.”

“I’ll use my phone’s navigation to find the kitchen.”