The Unseen Enemy Series

Chapter 235

The truth was that without Chantal, Cordelia wouldn’t even be able to begin to manage. Single parenthood was challenging enough, but throw in Sean’s doctor’s appointments, radiation sessions, blood tests, days off school when he wasn’t doing well, trips to the drug store to pick up his steroids… if she’d had to handle all of that on her own, Cordelia would never be able to hold down a job.

And it was her job with Dallas Foreman that provided them with medical insurance and a steady paycheck.

She wandered into her bedroom and grabbed her towel and bathrobe, headed down to the miniscule bathroom. She turned on the shower and stepped in, sighing with pleasure at the warmth. She just stood still for a minute, enjoying the silence and privacy.

As so often happened when she was alone and actually relaxed, her thoughts turned to Hunter Sullivan. She’d heard at work that he’d killed Michael Ferguson that day, and despite the fact that he always acted as though that was no big deal, she imagined it had to be a weight to carry. It had to affect him somehow, on some level, though she had no way of confirming that.

She scrubbed her body with the papaya body wash that Sean had given her for her birthday, still thinking about Hunter. He was the one – probably the only – person that she couldn’t really seem to read. That gorgeous face was hard and closed, those black eyes emotionless and flat, that sensual mouth always set in a firm line, that powerful body almost mute in terms of body language. He was the most controlled man she’d ever known, and that confounded her.

The only time she’d ever seen that iron control slip was when they had been alone in Foxburg Falls. Hunter had played the part of the doting, adoring husband to perfection, and there had been times when she’d found herself wanting to believe that it was real. He hadn’t held himself back from her for those weeks they were together: she truly believed that he’d shown her a little part of his soul, of his heart. He’d been funny and sweet and protective, and she’d found herself hopelessly attracted to him.

But the minute they were back in Denver and back at work, he’d reverted to the cool, abrupt, distant man that she’d known before the undercover work. She still flinched when she remembered that first morning back at the office, when she’d made him a coffee and brought it to his desk. She’d missed their morning chats, and had wanted to recapture a bit of that closeness if at all possible.

He’d stared at the coffee that she’d set in front of him, and then sat back in his chair slowly, regarding her with cold eyes. “You don’t need to do that anymore, Cordelia.”

“Do – what?” she’d faltered, confused by his impersonal tone.

“Play the wife.” His voice had been dry, professional. “The op is over and so is the charade. No need to take care of me, no need to do nice little things out of the blue. Just go back to your desk and answer the phones, and I’ll make my own coffee.”

She’d been unbelievably hurt by his words. She’d nodded quietly and turned away, and since that morning, she’d barely looked at him. If he wanted her to leave him alone, she sure as hell could do that. But she still worried about him on days like today, when his job took him somewhere dangerous, when he took a life.

Hunter Sullivan is not your worry, Cordelia. Sean is, your Mom is, the rent is. Just focus on your training and the new role that Dallas has planned for you, and stop thinking about that gorgeous and totally distant man.

She washed away the body scrub and shut off the shower, feeling refreshed. After all, just because she and Hunter worked in the same damn office didn’t mean that she had to talk to the guy, did it? No, it did not. She’d just carry on doing what she’d been doing since they got back from Foxburg Falls. Avoiding him, not looking at him, not talking to him beyond muttering ‘good morning’ when he passed her desk.

Yeah, she could handle that limited contact. No problem. No problem at all.