Page 70 of Double Obsession

He winced.

“That cat saved us,” she said.

“That’s Fluffy. He’s a survivor and my newest pet.” Hunter grinned. “And beautiful, you saved me.”

“Woof, Woof, Woof,”sang out two excited dogs as a voice from the first floor called, “Police. We are armed and coming down.”

“Thank fuck. It’s about time,” yelled Hunter. “Could you bring me clothes, water, and a peanut butter sandwich? Hold the lettuce.”

Epilogue

Fourteen months later…

Behind the stone wall stood a three-story country house of whitewashed brick. A turret rose from the south end, turning it into a fairytale castle.Large bartizans crowned the numerous corners, and a corbie-stepped gable gave the impression you could climb the slanted roof and touch a cloud. A line of weeping ash trees lined the walkway to the knot garden, where beds of box bushes and roses surrounded an artificial pond with a spouting fountain. Jenna anchored her backpack on her shoulder and spun around, taking it all in.

“What do you think?” asked Berta.

Her awestruck “Wow!” captured the setting better than the thousand-word description she’d written in her firstDesirous Dukemanuscript.

Although Berta smiled, her brow remained furrowed. “Sorry I dragged you off, but I wanted to double-check and make sure you were doing okay after everything you’ve been through with the trial and that woman’s death.”

“I’m okay. Thanks for asking.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Jenna’s therapist had listened to her drone on for months about Arkansas’ illness following the rusty nail thought to be covered in mouse feces. The woman had been hospitalized for over a month. At first, she had refused the intravenousTetanus immune globulin, antibiotics, and Valiumtreatments. Somehow, the doctors eventually convinced her to accept medicine, and they had prolonged her life enough for her to stand trial for the kidnapping. Arkansas’ mental health issues had earned her a permanent bed at a facility. Unfortunately, as Tetanus often did, the bacteria had weakened her lungs. She’d developed pneumonia and recently passed while Jenna sat by her bed reading from the fifth duke book.

Berta crooked her finger, and Jenna followed her out of the garden and through an orchid of pear trees. They paused to stare at the view. In the distance, little Lisa held Marie’s hand as she picked a bouquet of British wildflowers. At least fifty people occupied the movie set in the valley below the historic structure.

At their approach, Jake Milton—the assistant Hunter had stolen from his ex-agent—smiled and waved. Beside him, Ethan sat on the ground, splitting his attention between a Border collie and an Australian shepard. “Mom, a real duke used to live here. I bet real live pirates visited him,” he whispered.

Jenna smiled and held a finger to her lips.

“Holy shit,” mouthed Stacie. “He’s so flippin’ gorgeous!”

With a taunting gleam in her eyes, Kylie placed her lips next to Jenna’s ear. “I don’t get it. Why isheinto you?”

Kylie had a point. But for the first time in her life, Jenna was going with the flow. Her business trip was about to become a dream family vacation. Her father had recovered from both his surgery and the battle with a brick wall and was back to doing what he loved—busting drug dealers and pimps. Matt, the philandering prick, was officially single and eating crow. And Jenna was staring at her boyfriend.

Hunter stood in the middle of a romantic picnic scene. His coat tails blew with the breeze and he wore a sapphire cravat that matched his eyes. Tan breeches were pulled tight over his crotch and tapered into black leather boots.

Unfortunately, Hunter held the buxom A-list Gwenneth Thompson in his arms. Her cleavage overflowed from her Empire gown and her British accent oozed sexuality. The woman made a splendid Constance Clayborn.

“Cut,” yelled the director. “It’s a wrap. See everyone tomorrow morning. Same time. Same place.”

“Here he comes.” Kylie posed on her stilts and fluttered her lashes.

Jenna’s body hummed with need as Hunter sauntered to them. When he bowed like a true gentleman, pride thudded through her. Soon he would be the most sought-after actor in the world.

“Where’s the cat that saved my mom?” asked Ethan.

Hunter ruffled Ethan’s hair. “Helping my roommate keep my house safe while I’m gone.” He winked at Jake.

Jenna covered her smile with her palm. She wasn’t supposed to let on that she knew about Clark and Jake’s upcoming nuptials.

“My lady,” Hunter said in his seductive British lilt. He picked Jenna up and swung her in a circle. Layers of fabric didn’t hide his hard cock, and his lips squelched her squeals of delight.

“Eww,” squawked Ethan.