Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 16

I was fuming inside, and then it hit me that this might be a big misunderstanding.

Calling for his babe was the real deal.

As was leaving the door open.

But Hogan was definitely not looking for me.

Connecting the dots with Hilary’s mention of a family dinner, I figured Hogan must have had some beef with Cecilla tonight.

After all, other than Cecilia, no one else could get Mr. High–and–Mighty Hogan to come knocking for peace at this hour.

Certainly not me.

With that in mind, I collected myself and reminded him, “Mr. Zade, your babe’s upstairs.”

After saying that, I tried to shove him away.

But instead of letting go, Hogan pulled me in even tighter, “Babe, you’re still mad at me, aren’t you?”

His sweet–talking and clingy hug stoked the fire in my chest even more.

I gritted my back teeth and said earnestly, “Hogan, you’ve got the wrong person.”

But Hogan wouldn’t have it, “Too much, huh? Last night you were calling me ‘babe,‘ and now straight to first names?”

Clearly, the guy was plastered.

I took a deep breath and said, “Hogan, look up and see who I really am, will you?”

The man slowly lifted his head, our eyes met, and I caught a glimpse of red at the corner of his

eyes.

aback, feeling like something lightly scratched at my heart, swallowing the words

to say.

time I’d seen Hogan lose his cool like

like a man possessed,

a

breathing was all over

A total mess.

was a hole in my chest, the more intense Hogan’s kisses, the colder my heart

got.

11:39

Checta

bit down on his lip

“Hisss.”

pain, took a sharp breath, and looked at

calmly, my breathing

to still be tangled in the moment, and after a few seconds, he licked the blood off his lip and stormed

I collapsed like

morning, I went to work as usual, only to bump into Cecilia

sporting a cute bun, engrossed in

in a

she saw me, she cheerfully greeted, “Hey Xaviera,

joy in her eyes was

who had been cornered at

of Hogan’s disheveled state last night, a flicker of doubt

voice came from Cecilia’s phone, “You had a tough night too,

and husky, as if he had

Hogan’s voice.

on the speaker, and after locking the