Chapter 12 – Revelations

  Hunter stood there, stunned. As she headed for the door, he realized what she had actually said. "Shit," he muttered as she opened the door. "Wait a minute!"

She ignored him and walked out of the room. He followed her and just as she was swiping her key through the lock, he put himself between her and the door.  "Wait just a minute Evie."

"Get out of my way!" she shouted.

He didn't move. "Not until you tell me why you're quitting."

"Hunter, if you don't get out of my way, I'll kick your ass! I mean it!" Her eyes blazed with anger.

"Tell me and I'll move," he replied, not backing down.

"You want me to tell you why?" she asked and he nodded in response.  She let her temper loose. "I'll tell you why! I am not someone to play with. I am not a toy. I am not here for your amusement. I do have feelings Hunter, and right now my feelings are telling me to knock your fucking block off!"

He looked around and noticed that a few people that happened to be passing by were staring. Without a word, he grabbed her arm and steered her back to his room. To her credit she didn't resist, but before he even had a chance to shut the door behind him, she picked up right where she left off.

"I am tired of this crap Hunter! I want you to tell me why you keep messing with me like this. Why all the flirting and the kissing? You tell me I'm beautiful, you have me on the bed and all you can say is 'Never mind'?" She shook her head. "What is wrong with you?"

He became angry. "First of all, you enjoyed the flirting and the kissing, so don't deny it. Second, if I wanted-"

She cut him off. "If you really wanted me you would have had me by now." She rolled her eyes. "I've heard it all before Hunter. And you know what?"

"What?"

"I think you're all talk and very little action."

"Is that so?" He crossed the short distance between them. He stopped directly in front of her and loomed over her, trying to intimidate her. To her credit, she stared right back at him, not even attempting to submit. He saw the challenge in her eyes.  "You don't know who you're messing with," he growled.

"I know exactly who I'm messing with," she said as her eyes sparked with challenge.

He scowled.  "Is that right?"

She smirked. "Yeah. All talk and very little action."

"Don't drop a challenge and not go through with it Evie."

Her tongue slid out to slowly wet her lips. "I wouldn't talk about not going through with things if I were you."

The scowl was still on his face.  "Really?"

Her eyebrow arched. "Don't start something you're not going to finish Hunter," she said as she poked his chest with her finger to emphasize each word.

He glanced at her finger, still pressed against his shirt, and then looked her full in the face.  Who did she think she was?  He leaned in closer to her. "Who do you think you're playing?"

"Who said I was playing? All I'm saying is, if you're gonna start something, you better be prepared to go through with it."

He stood there for a minute, contemplating what he wanted to do. He looked her over; her eyes flashed at him, still challenging him to tell her what he couldn't even admit to himself.

If you let this opportunity pass by, you'll regret it for the rest of your life because she will leave your sorry ass behind, said that little voice in the back of his head.

The thought of her leaving helped him make up his mind. He wasn't sure how to go about saying what he had to say; what he wanted to say. But hell, she did deserve an explanation for his behavior after all he had been putting her through. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, he thought wryly. He drew in a breath and pushed the words out before he reconsidered. "All right.  I'm attracted to you physically," he paused for a second, "and emotionally."

She kept her face calm, but inside she was roiling with excitement. "Is that so?"

He nodded as he watched her face. "It's been a long time since I've felt this way for anyone. I guess it kinda surprised me."

"And the problem would be what?" she pressed.

He became a little upset. "I don't know why I feel this way! You just show up one day, telling me that you're my personal assistant and not even a year later, I feel more for you than I did my ex-wife!"

Evie remained where she was. After the past couple of months, after all the hell he had put her through, all the agony, she couldn't believe he was finally telling her this.

His next words caught her off guard. "What about you Evie? I know there's something there. I'm not stupid. I've seen it in your eyes."

Evie pressed her lips together and looked down. All the things he was telling her were what she had wanted to hear. Now that he had said them, she was finding it very hard to say anything to him. She was starting to feel like she had waited too long and now the words were stuck.

He lifted her chin so he could see her face. "Tell me Evie."

Her green eyes locked with his hazel ones. They weren't angry anymore, but were filled with a tenderness and compassion. Something she hadn't seen in a long time. The next words tumbled out. "I'm very much attracted to you."

"Really?" His heart turned stealthily over. "Since when?"

"Since Birmingham."

His eyes widened at her reply.  That long? "How come you never said anything?"

She pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Because you were concentrating on your rehab, you were still married and then you returned to work. Now, you're in the middle of a divorce." She smiled playfully at him. "Besides, you started all this anyway."

"Ah, but you let me kiss you," he replied with a grin.

"It's kind of difficult not to respond to something like that." She laughed softly. "Besides, I haven't been kissed like that in a long time. I liked it."

He smiled faintly. "You did huh?"

She nodded. "Yeah. It isn't everyday I get kissed like that."

"I can kiss you like that again," he murmured as he bent down and his lips came down on hers fiercely, passionately.

Her blood pounded in her ears as she leaned into him. The kiss burned away all her hesitation and worry. She twined her fingers in his hair, pulling his head closer. His hands wound around her waist, pressing her to him.

After a few minutes, he pulled his lips away from hers. He looked down at her, breathing heavily. Her eyes shone with excitement. "Are you still going to quit?" he asked huskily.

Evie laughed. "I think I'll stay right where I am. I like it here." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And I like you very much."

He leaned to kiss her, but she pulled away ever so slightly. A questioning look came over his face. "What?"

"It's late and we need to get an early start tomorrow," she said.

Hunter shook his head. "Oh no. You're not getting away from me that easily." As he tried to pull her closer, she placed her hands on his chest to stop him. He saw the devilish glint in her eyes and he exhaled noisily. "You're gonna make me work for this aren't you?"

A mischievous grin appeared. "Oh yes I am and I think I'm going to enjoy it too."

He dropped a brief kiss on her lips. "I'm sure you will." He reluctantly let go of her. "Get outta here before I change my mind."

"Goodnight Hunter," she said as she left.

He admired the view as she walked out. As the door closed behind her, he threw back his head in exasperation and relief.

Well, you finally got around to telling her the truth, but I think you just opened up a whole new can. You are definitely gonna get your ass whooped Hunter. He smiled as he got ready for bed. That wasn't such an unpleasant thought at all.

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 A/N: Hope you enjoyed this! Yes I know they haven't really "gotten together", but they will. Just remember, patience is a virtue! (Not right now it's not!-Rick O'Connell from The Mummy)