Chapter <b>50 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>50 </b>


    -CELINE-


    My hands won’t stop shaking.


    I stumble down the hallway, nearly crashing into one of the side tables. The sound of Hunter’s door mming behind me echoes in <fnba1b> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN0vel</fnba1b>


    <b>my </b>ears.


    Oh my God. I just saw my boss naked. Completely, utterly naked.


    And not just naked–freshly showered, water droplets sliding down his muscr chest, over his perfect abs, lower to his…


    I press my palm against my hot cheek. What’s wrong with me? I should be mortified, not… whatever this feeling is that’s making my heart race and my skin flush.


    “Celine? Are you alright?”


    I look up to find Sally, the head housekeeper<b>, </b>watching me with concern. Imust look like a mess–face ming red, eyes wide, breathing too fast.


    “I–I’m fine,” I lie. “Just… Mr. Reid was in his room when I went to collect theundry. I didn’t know he was home.”


    Understanding flickers across Sally’s face. “I’ll go check if he needs anything”


    She heads toward Hunter’s room, and I flee downstairs, desperate for fresh air. I slip out the back door into the garden, gulping in cool evening air,


    The memory of Hunter standing there, steam swirling around him, water running down his powerful body, won’t leave my mind.


    <b>I’ve </b>never seen a man sa… perfect. So intimidating. Even naked, he looked like he owned the world.


    And the way he looked at me–anger mixed with something else that made my stomach flip.


    I sink onto a stone bench, dropping my face into my hands. I need this job. I can’t afford to lose it, not when Caesar’s preschool tuition is notplete. Not when I’m finally saving a little money for art sses.


    “Pull yourself together,” I whisper to myself.


    A text from Caroline lights up my phone:


    ‘Drinks tomorrow night? My treat!‘


    I smile despite mysell Caroline has been my lifeline these past few weeks. Hunter’s cousin is nothing like him–warm, friendly, maybe a bit too wild for her own good.


    She insists on being my friend despite our different backgrounds back in high school.


    “Can’t. No <b>sitter </b>for Caesar, I text back.


    Her reply is instant: “Bring him! We’ll go somewhere kid friendly. I miss my little buddy.”


    Before I can respond, the <b>garden </b>lightse on suddenly, flooding the <b>space </b>with soft golden light. I look up to see Hunter standing at the back door, watching me,


    My heart jumps to my throat. He’s dressed now, in gray sweatpants and a ck t–shirt that hugs his broad shoulders. His dark hair is still damp from the shower.


    For a moment, neither of us moves. Then he walks toward me, his expression unreadable. I stand quickly, smoothing my uniforms.


    “Mr. Reid, I’m so sorry about earlier. I should have knocked-”


    He raises a <b>hand</b>, cutting me ofl. “It was a misunderstanding?”


    His voice is controlled, calm. Nothing like the roar that chased me from his room. He <b>stops </b><b>a </b>few feet away, hands in his pockets Up close, I notice the shadows under his eyes, the tension in his jaw.


    “I shouldn’t have yelled,” he says, surprising me. “You were just doing your job.”


    I stare at him, unsure how to respond to this rare moment of… is it an apology? From Hunter Reid?


    “It’s okay.” I manage. “I should be more careful.”


    His blue eyes–so much like Caesar’s–study me intently. “How is your son?”


    The abrupt subject change throws me off. “He’s good. He enjoyed the dinosaur books you gave him.”


    Something softens in Hunter’s face. “He’s a bright kid.”


    es,” I say cautiously. “He is,”


    Silence stretches between us, filled with unspoken questions. Why is he suddenly interested in my son? Why does he look at Caesar with such intensity?


    “Mr. Reid-”


    “Hunter,” he interrupts. “When we’re alone, call me Hunter.”


    My eyebrows rise in surprise. “I don’t think that’s appropriate.”


    A hint of his usual arrogance returns in his slight smile. “I’m your boss. I decide what’s appropriate.”


    I want to argue but bite my tongue. Instead, I nod stiffly. “If you insist… Hunter.”


    His name feels strange on my lips. Intimate somehow.


    He takes a step closer, and I catch his scent–expensive soap and something uniquely him. My traitorou quickening


    “Have dinner with me tomorrow,” he says. It’s not quite a question.


    I blink in confusion. “Dinner?<b>” </b>


    “Yes, dinner. The meal people typically eat in the evening


    There’s the sarcasm I’m used to, but there’s no real bite to it. His eyes remain fixed on my face, waiting.


    “Why?” I ask before can stop myself


    responds, heart


    His mouth quirks. “Because I want to talk to you.”


    “About?”


    “Your son.”


    Ice floods my veins. Caesar. This is about Caesar.


    Has he noticed the resemnce? The identical blue eyes, the same stubborn chin? Is that why he’s been watching my son, giving him gifts<b>, </b>asking <b>questions</b>?


    “What about him?” I ask, trying to keep my voice <b>steady</b>.


    Hunter’s word gives nothing away. “I’d rather discuss it over dinner. Tomorrow. Seven o’clock.”


    It’s not a request. It’s barely even an invitation. It’s Hunter Reid expecting to be obeyed.


    “I can’t,” I say, finding my courage. “I promised Caroline I’d meet her tomorrow night.”


    Something shes in his eyes–annoyance? Jealousy? “Caroline can wait. This is important.


    Icross my arms. “So is keeping promises to friends.”


    We stare at each other, neither willing to back down. Finally, Hunter sighs, running a hand through his damp hair.


    “Fine. Saturday. No excuses.”


    Before I can respond, he turns and walks back to the house<b>, </b>leaving me staring after him.


    What just happened?


    I drop back onto the bench, mind racing. Hunter Reid wants to have dinner with me to discuss my son. The son who looks exactly like him. The son who was conceived after <b>a </b>night I barely remember<b>. </b>


    Oh God.


    My phone buzzes with another text from Caroline: ‘Helloooo? You there? Kid–friendly drinks tomorrow?”


    I stare at my phone, thinking about the strange tension between Hunter and me. About the way he looks at Caesar. About the dangerous path I might be heading down.


    “Yes, I text back. “We’ll be there.”


    I need to talk to Caroline. Maybe she can help me understand her cousin’s sudden interest in my life.


    Maybe she can tell me why every time Hunter looks at me with those blue eyes–Caesar’s eyes–I feel like I’m falling into dangerous


    <b>waters</b>.


    thead back inside, pausing at the door to nce up at Hunter’s window. The light is on, silhouetting his tall figure as he paces back


    and forth<b>. </b>


    Whatever game he’s ying, I need to be careful. Caesar is my whole world, and I’ll do anything to protect him–even from his billionaire father who doesn’t know he exists


    But as I walk through the quiet house toward the staff quarters where my son sleeps peacefully, another thought troubles mas


    the memory of Hunter’s naked body, powerful and perfect, and the unwee heat that flooded me at the sight.


    I can’t be attracted to him. I can’t want the man who could take everything from me if he discovered the truth.


    Yet as I check on Caesar, brushing a dark curl from his forehead–a curl so simr to Hunter’s–I know I’m in trouble. Deep <b>trouble</b><b>. </b>


    Because despite his coldness, despite his arrogance, despite the threat he poses to my carefully built life, I can’t stop thinking about Hunter Reid.


    And that terrifies me more than anything.