Byte had spent her entire life putting distance between herself and others. It shouldn’t be too hard to let their anger and frustration remain front and center. Because she knew if she let Hunter in, he’d do everything in his power to change her.
Not happening, she thought. Her resolve came from years of pushing people away. It shouldn’t be to hard to push him away, despite her curiosity.
Remember, curiosity killed the cat, and satisfaction brought it back.
That was one saying she didn’t need to examine to understand. No doubt there was a good reason why only the first part of that saying was ever told.
No amount of curiosity or satisfaction would be enough to bring Byte to her knees.
Never again.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
Hunter watched as the streak of blue left his driveway. He knew her words would play on an endless loop.
“My entire life I’ve searched for freedom, and when it didn’t happen, I decided to embrace what life did offer me.”
What kind of life had she lived? What did her family think about her profession, or did they not know?
He couldn’t imagine how his parents would react if Kyle told them he wanted to be a professional hacker.
It didn’t matter what her story was or who she was before becoming a hacker. He’d likely never see her again, and why did that fill him with equal amounts of sadness and relief?
He nearly jumped when Kyle stormed into the family room.
“Why did you have to be such a prick?”
“Hey. Watch what you say, Kyle.”
“Then a butthole, is that better? You were horrible to Byte.”
“I was not. Besides, this is all on you. Didn’t you think I’d worry? Did you think I’d just relax and enjoy a beer while you were gone? I was out of my mind fearing the worst. So when you leaped off her bike, I reacted.”
“Badly.”
“Yes, badly. I hate that I scared Byte, but I was scared too. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Did you say you were sorry?”
“You heard me tell her that when we were outside.”
“And she didn’t accept it. So did you try again?”
“I did. Everything will be alright,” he promised his brother, although he wasn’t truly sure everything would be okay. Not with the warring happening inside himself.
“Don’t ruin this for me, Hunter,” Kyle warned before returning to his bedroom.
Forty-eight hours.
That was how long it would be before his parents returned. He had forty-eight hours to rebuild his relationship with Kyle and try to forget everything that had happened, including his attraction to the woman he vowed to stay away from.
* * *
Byte slammed her front door.The man drove her crazy. He was determined to see only one side of her.
Why do I even care? I’m not going to see him again, she tried to remind herself. Only it didn’t feel true.
For years, Byte had erected a wall around herself. She didn’t care what people thought about her. She learned to protect herself and only worry about doing what made her happy. Then it all changed.