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.

scratched at

to

first time I’d seen Hogan lose

he was all over me like a man

lips met, I unexpectedly saw a surge of desire in

was all

A total mess.

like there was a hole in my chest, the more intense Hogan’s kisses,

got.

11:39

Checta

stand it anymore and bit down on his lip

“Hisss.”

winced in pain, took a sharp breath, and looked at me

him calmly, my breathing

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

door, I collapsed like a deflated balloon, slumping to the

went to work as usual, only to bump into Cecilia

cute bun, engrossed

in a good

she cheerfully greeted,

joy in her

look of someone who had been cornered at the Zade family

of Hogan’s disheveled state last night,

had a tough night too, don’t worry, I’ll handle

if he had just woken up.

Hogan’s voice.

had accidentally turned on the speaker, and after locking the screen, she sneaked a