CELINC
I spent the entire next day avoiding Hunter,
After our quarrel in his study, I couldn’t bear to see the regret in his eyes again. Another mistake, he’d called it. The words still burned.
I kept busy with <b>Caesar</b>, who was recovering nicely from his virus. We colored together, watched cartoons, and I even convinced Sally to let us baka cookies in the kitchen.
Anything to keep my mind off Hunter Held and the way my heart raced whenever I thought of him standing so close to me, pushing me away.
Byte afternoon, dark clouds had gathered outside.
almost kissing me before
The weather report warned of a severe thunderstorm heading our way. I tucked Caesar into bed for an early nap, then went looking for candles in case we lost power
“Try the wine cer,” Sally suppos
y items.
Sally suggested when asked. “There’s a supply cab down there with emergency <b>i </b>
Memory flush back as I remember thest time i was here, the choos. It was located beneath the west wing of the mansion, essible through a heavy wooden door off the kitchen.
As I made my way down the stone steps, the temperature dropped noticeably
The cer was still impressive–rows upon rows of wine bottles stretching into the shadows, theirbels facing outward like tiny works of art
I found the supply cab at the far end, next to a cozy sitting area with a small leather couch and low table. Just as I opened the cab, looking for candles, I heard footsteps on the stairs.
“<b>Sally </b>mentioned <b>you </b>were down here,” Hunter’s deep voice echoed in <b>the </b>space,
I froze, not turning g around. “I’m just getting some candles for the storm.”
“Smart.” He moved further into the cer. “The power bands to go out during bad storms up here.”
I nodded, still not looking at him as I gathered a handful of candles and matches. “Caesar’s napping. I should get back.”
“Celine,” he said softly. “We need to talk aboutst night.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I replied<b>, </b>finally turning to face him.
He looked tired, like he hadn’t slept much. <b>His </b>usual perfect appearance was slightly rumpled…shirt untucked at one corner, hair not perfectly styled.
It made him seem more human, more approachable. More dangerous to my will.
“I shouldn’t <b>have </b>spoken to you that way,” he said. “was worried, and I took it out on you.”
I clutched the candles tighter, “It’s fine. I’m used to being your mistake
He winced. “<b>That’s </b>not
“Isn’t it?” I challenged, finding courage in my hurt. “You’ve made it very clear where I stand. The help you can’t stop thinking about but won’t allow yourself to want.”
Hunter took <b>a </b>step toward me. “<b>That’s </b>not
A deafening crack of thunder interrupted him, followed instantly by darkness as the lights went out exped, shortly bloded <b>by </b>
<b>“</b>Don’t move,” Huntermanded. “There’s a shlight in the cab ”
I heard him fumbling in the darkness, then the beam of a shlight brightened the space between us. He ced it on the table, light pointing upward to create a makeshiftmp.
“Let me light some of those candles,” he said, taking them gently from my hands.
As he worked, I heard a distant rumbling that grew louder until it became a mechanical groan, followed by a loud click
Hunter sighed. “That would be the emergencycks engaging”
“Emergency <b>locks</b>?” <fn391a> Follow current nov?ls on ?ovelFind</fn391a>
“Security feature, When the p
e power goes out, certain areas of the house automatically lock down to prevent <b>intrusion </b>during vulnerable moments.” He
looked at me apologetically.
“Including the wine cer.”
So we’re… trapped here? Until when?”
“Until the poweres back on, or until Baron realizes we’re down here and overrides the system with the manual key.”
Isank onto the leather couch, putting as much distance between us as the small area would allow
“Great. Just perfect.”
Hunter lit thest candle, cing it on a nearby shelf. The warm glow cast dancing shadows across his face, highlighting the strong line of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes.
“It could be worse,” he said, sitting on the opposite end of the couch, “At least we have wine.”
Despite myself, Iughed. “Thousands of bottles, and not a corkscrew in sight.”
He reached into his pocket with a small smile. “Actually…” He produced a small folding corkscrew. “Never go anywhere without one in this house.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling back. “Of course you don’t.”
He stood and selected a bottle from a nearby rack. “Chilteau Manaux, 2005. A good year for being <b>trapped </b>in a cer.”
I watched as he skillfully opened the wine, movements detailed <b>and </b>confident. He poured two sses from a small set kept on a side table and handed
one to me<b>. </b>
To unexpected situations,” he said<b>, </b>raising his ss slightly.
I <b>took </b>a sip, the wine rich andplex on my tongue. “It’s good.”
“It should be, for what it costs,” he replied, settling back on the couch.
We sat in silence for a while<b>, </b>sipping wine by candlight as thunder rumbled overhead. The tension between <b>us </b>was almost a physical presence, thick and heavy in the sit
“I don’t regret what happened in my <b>study</b>,” Hunter Finally said, his voice low. “I regret how I handled It
I stared into my wine ss. “You told me to get out before you made another mistake.”
“A poor choice of words.” He sighed deeply. “I’m not good at this, Celine. At feeling things I can’t control,”
“You think I wanted this?” I asked, finally meeting his gaze. “I came here looking for a job, wanting a life without chaos. A stable emirbrimi I shook my head.
“I never asked to feel anything for my difficult, frustrating boss.”
His eyebrow raised slightly. “Difficult and frustrating?”
“Incredibly.” I took another sip of wine for courage. “And confusing. One minute you’re cold, the next you’re caring. You push me away<b>, </b>then pull me <b>back</b>. I never know which Hunter I’m going to get.”
He set his ss down, turning to face me fully. “Then why do you look at me like you do?” His voice dropped lower, more intimate. “Like I’m the storm and you crave the lightning.”
My breath caught in my throat. “I don’t…”
“You do,” he insisted, moving closer on the couch. “The same way I look at you
The candlelight flickered across his features, casting shadows that brought out the warmth in his eyes. My heart hammered against my ribs.
“Hunter,” I whispered, not sure if I was warning him away or pleading for him toe <b>closer</b>.
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, he closed the distance between us, his lips pressing firmly against mine. The kiss was desperate and hungry, months of restraint snapping like a thread.
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