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.

was taken aback, feeling like something lightly scratched

about to

was the first time I’d seen Hogan lose his

next second, he was all over me like a man possessed,

lips met, I unexpectedly saw a surge of desire in his

was all over

A total mess.

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

got.

11:39

Checta

it anymore and bit down

“Hisss.”

breath, and looked at

watched him calmly, my breathing still erratic, “Clear–headed now?”

moment, and after a few seconds, he licked the blood off his lip and stormed out the door.

collapsed like a

usual, only to bump into Cecilia

cute bun, engrossed in

a

saw me, she cheerfully greeted, “Hey Xaviera,

joy in her

of someone who had been cornered at the Zade family dinner.

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

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

husky, as if he had just woken

Hogan’s voice.

had accidentally turned on the speaker, and after locking