Exposed - Part Three (The Exposed Series, #3) by Deborah Bladon Read Free Book Online Page B

push the laptop to the couch beside me. "He means that you're special and unlike any woman he's ever known."
    "You're great at this." She laughs before standing. "It's probably the same thing he says to every woman."
    "Don't think like that." I push back. "You're always the one telling me not to sell myself short."
    "You shouldn't." She bends to kiss me on the forehead. "Don't worry about who Cory is. Hunter is part of your past. You're moving on and into that great new place."
    I nod silently.

Chapter 16
    "T hat fellow that is always lurking around here was in looking for you last night." Josephine says as she hands me the schedule for next week. My manager rarely talks to me. I'm actually shocked that she paid close enough attention to Hunter to recognize him.
    "Hunter?" I ask even though I already know the answer.
    "That's him." She smiles. "I hear Alexa talking about him to you sometimes."
    I blush at the mention of our conversations about Hunter. They typically involve Alexa talking about him intimately. I really need to speak to her about reining that in.
    "Sadie." She grabs my hand just as I'm ready to walk to the front. "He specifically asked me not to mention he was here."
    "What?" I raise a brow. "He didn't want you to tell me he was in looking for me?" That made no sense.
    "He did but I don't feel right about that." She drops my hand and throws her gaze back to her desk.
    Why would Hunter be looking for me and not want me to know? As soon as my shift was done, I was going to find out.
    ***
    I glance down at the white sundress I'm wearing. It's so humid out and in my rush to get here, I'd thrown on the first dress I could find in my closet. I hadn't realized that the top of my scar was visible until I looked down. Seeing as how I'm already standing in the lobby of Hunter's building, now doesn't seem to be the right time to worry over it. I'll just find out what he wanted last night and be on my way.
    "Can I help you?" The doorman rushes over. I thought I was coy when I snuck past him as he helped a young woman move a baby into her car.
    "I'm just going up to see a friend," I say casually as I press the call button for the elevator. My mind jolts back to when Hunter and I stood here together. It was right before the last time we'd made love. Right before he'd taken me so hastily and with such raw desire.
    "Miss?" The doorman is shaking my arm. "I asked who your friend is."
    "It's Hunter." I stop myself. "Zander Reynolds," I say his name with as much calm certainty as I can muster.
    "Do you want me to announce your arrival?" He pulls a phone from the pocket of his jacket just as the elevator arrives.
    "No." I call back as I step into the lift. "I want to surprise him."
    I pull in a heavy breath as I stare at myself in the mirror that adorns the elevator wall. I had taken the time to apply just a bit of makeup before catching a taxi to come here. Even though I know in my heart that Hunter and I are over, my body still craves him. I still want to know that he finds me as attractive as he did during those magical weeks we spent together.
    I smooth my hands over the skirt of my dress as the elevator doors slide open. I march with determined steps towards Hunter's door.
    I run my tongue over my lips, push back the hair that has fallen over my forehead and I knock softly on the door.
    I turn around wanting to have a brief moment of solace to gather myself once he opens the door and greets me.
    I listen as the door slowly opens. The silence is endless before a very small, and soft voice says, "Hi."

Chapter 17
    I turn slowly and my eyes move downward in what feels like slow motion. Standing at my feet is a small boy. His hair a wild mess of red, his eyes the same brilliant blue as Christina's.
    "Hello," I whisper back.
    "I'm Cory," he announces proudly.
    I smile at the softness of his voice. "I'm Sadie."
    He pulls his hand to his mouth and lets out a gleeful squeal. "Are you Princess Sadie? Princess Sadie?" He jumps up and