Forever Yours, Sir by Laylah Roberts

with was Hunter. Sure, he, Josh, and Connor had been away on a job for the first week she’d been here, but even after they’d gotten back he’d said barely two words to her. She got the feeling that he was avoiding her.
    She rubbed her eyes as she yawned. Jaron had pushed her hard today and she was spent. But she knew she’d feel even worse if she didn’t get up and into a bath.
    Cady laughed quietly to herself as she moved slowly into the bathroom. She felt like she’d aged a hundred years. She wouldn’t be capable of swatting a fly in the condition she was in.
    Bending over, she put the plug in the bath tub and turned on the water. A knock on her front door had her groaning. Turning, she shuffled her way to the door, looking out the peephole. Her heart stopped for one agonizing moment. She forced herself to take a deep breath as she leaned her forehead against the wooden door.
    What the hell was he doing here?
    The door rattled as he knocked again. Christ, he wasn’t going to go away, was he? Much as she wished she could hide, she knew that was cowardly and Cady was sick of letting fear rule her actions.
    She undid the two bolts and turned the key, opening the door. At least this place had plenty of security. Not only did the door have more locks and bolts that Fort Knox, but there was a security system and panic buttons in each of the rooms.
    Hunter scowled as she pulled the door open. “You didn’t ask who it was.”
    Cady rolled her eyes. “I looked in the peephole and saw you.”
    “ There could have been someone out of eyesight holding a gun on me.”
    “Right, because that happens every day. How would asking who it was even help?”
    “I’d have found some way to warn you.”
    She leaned against the doorway. “What are you doing here, Hunter?”
    He held up a white bag. “I brought dinner. Chinese.” He moved forward and she had no choice but to step aside and let him in. After all, he did own the place.
    Plus the Chinese he’d brought smelled really good.
    “You know most people call first before they come over.”
    “That would have given you a chance to say no,” he replied. “ Have you got water running?” He placed the bag on the table in the small dining area.
    “Oh shit, the bath tub,” she said, moving into the bathroom as quick as she could.
    Luckily, the tub was quite deep and was only three quarters full by the time she turned off the water.
    She turned to find Hunter standing only a foot away.
    “Crap! Do you have to sneak up on me?”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Just checking you hadn’t flooded the place.”
    “Don’t worry, I promise not to wreck the apartment while I’m here.”
    “Come and eat. Food’s getting cold.”
    She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at his back. Barely. They sat down together at the table, eating silently.
    Cady stood up with a groan to clear the table.
    “What’s wrong?” Hunter asked, standing. He frowned as he looked her over.
    “Nothing.”
    “You don’t moan like that about nothing.” He moved around to her side. “What is it? Did someone hurt you?”
    “Yes, Jaron.”
    “What?” Thunder filled his face and he looked ready to kill. “He’s dead.”
    She was an idiot. She grabbed his arm as he went to storm past her. “Hunter, I was joking.”
    He stared down at her in disbelief.
    “Jaron didn’t hurt me, well, nothing that I didn’t ask for. We were training today and I’m just a bit sore, all right?”
    He relaxed under her hand.
    “Well, why didn’t you say so?”
    “Because it’s embarrassing. I didn’t realize I was so out of shape.”
    Hunter helped her clean up the empty containers.
    “Jaron is pushing you too hard. I’ll have a word with him.”
    “Oh no, you won’t.” She turned to him, prodding at his chest with her finger. “You will stay out of it. This is nothing to do with you.”
    “I’m your boss,” he told her.
    “And I need training to do the job you pay me for, which is exactly what