Hunter seemed infuriated, with lips set in a fierce, straight line and eyes glowing terrifyingly among the silhouettes. The shadows seem to embrace him from where he was sitting, making him appear more menacing than ever. Other than the harsh lines of his profile, Amber could barely make out anything else.

Almost as if he was contemplating someone’s demise.

“Hunter?” Amber asked, unsure of what to do next. She couldn’t help but notice the tight grip he had around the plastic spoon. Her own hands remained relaxed on top of the table.

How the plastic was still in one piece was beyond her.

“Hunter?” Amber called out again after a minute. At least she could see his face better now. It was less intimidating but no less daunting. Or maybe she had just imagined the expression earlier?

It was a moment before Hunter answered in a subdued voice. “How can you be so calm after that? Are you two really engaged?” He finally loosened his grip on the plastic spoon, and it landed on the table with a quiet clink.

Not knowing how to handle this different side of Hunter, a nervous smile erupted. “What do your sources say?”

“Hmmm…,” No smile. Rather, Hunter consciously settled both elbows against the table before intertwining his fingers. Then, with palms raised slightly, face down, Hunter gradually careened forward to rest his chin on top before giving her an odd, hungry stare.

Which was strange because he’d just eaten.

“Hmmm… what?” Amber tilted her face.

“Hmmm,” Hunter studied her, unable to decide whether to nibble her bit by bit or devour her whole. Either way, Amber supposed they both had the same effect, and she swallowed, throat suddenly parched.

In that quiet tone, he continued. “Say my name, again.”

The way his voice stroked her, blowing into the embers of her very soul.

“Hunter…?” Now, why did she oblige, and did she always sound so… breathless?

What in the world was happening? None of this made any sense! They barely knew each other, yet here she was sali—nope—nah-uh. Amber closed her eyes.

Not going there.

She refused to contribute any more to this fantasy going on in her head.

She accepted his gaze but didn’t return it. After opening her eyes, Amber coughed lightly and turned, feigned interest in the students laughing at each other while waiting in line for their food. Ignorance was bliss, after all.

Eyes on the student. Focus still on the students.

Amber cleared her throat. “Are you alright?”

“We know what we are but know not what we may be,” Hunter answered, not that his voice couldn’t get any deeper. Any sexier. Hard like granite but as smooth as a bourbon whisky on the rocks. Another word, and she would combust.

And why was Shakespeare being brought into all of this? While not a huge fan, Amber had read enough to recognize some of his more famous verses. Yet, why, and what did Hunter mean by them?

Earlier, outside, he had also taken a quote from the famous writer. She’d meant to ask who he referred to as not objecting, but forgot about it until now. It was more likely directed at her if she wanted to take a closer examination.

She didn’t.

And still, his gaze bore into her, but she didn’t return it.

Amber found it easier to feign ignorance than to investigate the reasons behind most of her problems, and Hunter was becoming high on that list.

“The course of true love never did run smooth,” Hunter murmured after a moment.

Was he talking to her or himself?

Curiosity piqued, and because she was never one to shy away from conflict, Amber finally shifted. Made eye contact.

Big mistake.

The silence was earsplitting. The pressure whispered and sparked with voltage even as the world dissolved. Everything and everyone became a blur once more, white noise against the backdrop.

Hunter appeared wickedly delicious to Amber suddenly, with those sharp green eyes attuned to her.

Just for her.

With chin still propped against his intertwined fingers, Hunter’s emerald eyes never moved, his gaze never left. And now, it was impossible to turn away.

She opened her mouth to say something–anything, but the words caught at the back of her throat. Her brain seemed to have turned into mush. Her mouth dry. A mixture of breathless sighs was all she could muster while her treacherous heart hammered swiftly and audibly against her chest even as she grappled with breaking free of whatever hold Hunter had on her.

She was trapped.

Hypnotized.

Gripped by the flames dancing within the depths of his irises even as he drowned her, pulled her underwater.

Just like the night at the library, his vision lowered. Ever. So. Slowly. As if he had all the time in the world to taste her with his eyes. They sank to her neck–or wait–her hands? He really had been fixated on them the first night!

Incredulous, Amber blinked, only to find he was now studying her chin, suspended on her lips. Unconsciously, they parted, those traitorous pairs, and his eyes tightened, clouded, and loitered, almost as if imagining what her lips felt against his skin—pressed against his own.

Hunter dipped forward to close the distance between them. As if the table between them was nonexistent. And Amber shadowed, unable to control herself, holding back a gasp herself even as heat filled. Expanded and constricted.

Would he be a biter? Her breath caught at the back of her throat just thinking about it. Or would he tease her mercilessly first with his tongue before setting his teeth against her flesh? Amber inhaled sharply, wondering where the thoughts came from, suddenly weak and dizzy.

“You’re wasting your time on this one, baby.” The unfamiliar voice came first before she felt an arm against the back of her neck, where it dropped comfortably against Amber’s shoulders. “This one here breaks hearts. Why don’t you take your chances with me instead? I know how to treat a lady.”

A godsend and a curse.

Amber closed her eyes and took a deep breath, grateful for the interruption. Taking–needing–a minute to recompose, she sank back slowly into her seat and placed both hands, fingers somewhat trembling, against her lap.

A few more minutes passed.

It must have been five minutes later before Amber finally turned to discover a stranger, a young man with raven hair and a hint of blue eyes, grinning at her. His feature more feminine than masculine, bringing to mind a little boy who still had a lot of growing up to do.

“Nathan, what the hell are you doing here?” There was an edge to Hunter’s voice. A first, hearing him swear, despite only knowing him for two days.

Nathan withdrew his arm from her shoulder and brought both arms up, palms opened. “My bad! My bad! I didn’t know! Forgive me!”

Didn’t know? Amber glanced at Hunter.

Hunter tilted back against the booth and crossed his arms, still waiting for a response.

Instead of answering, Nathan turned back to Amber. He flashed her a bright smile, leaning against his elbow, which was now on top of the table. She caught the two dimples on either side of his cheeks. “Hi! I’m Nathan Storm, a good friend of Hunter’s.”

His smile was contagious. So was his attitude.

Amber grinned, unable to help herself. “Hi, Nathan. I’m Amber. A… friend of Hunter’s as well.”

Where did she hear that name before?

“I see.” Nathan’s brows came together. “You’re the heir to Cyber Consulting.”

Hunter began tapping his fingers against his arm, and Nathan cleared his throat, deciding it was time to answer and not test his patience. “I wanted to get something to eat before our next class. Imagine the surprise when you were already here on a date!”

Amber wanted to refute what he said, but something else caught her attention. “Our next class?” She took a moment to check the time on her phone. It was only 12:55 pm, which meant there was still some time left. “Nathan, are you also in our next class?”

Nathan sat up straight, eyes widening as he realized what she meant. “So you’ll be in JavaScript Basics as well?”

His eyes rolled to Hunter, who was no longer paying attention. Hunter was busy scrolling through his phone, checking messages and emails.

Nathan took that as permission and continued chatting. “No wonder Bossman is interested in you. You’re one of a kind.”

“Boss… man?” Amber blinked, trying to follow.

“We’ve been together ever since we were kids,” Nathan explained. “He’s been the boss of the group.”

Amber stole a glance at Hunter to see his reaction, but he revealed nothing and continued to type away on his phone, dismissing them both.

“No wonder Bossman wanted to find out himself.” Nathan eyed Hunter again as he spoke. Hunter’s typing on the screen slowed down for a few strokes before picking back up. “Now I’m curious as to what he’s discovered.”

“Do you also have the same habit as your boss here of performing background checks on people?” Amber answered dryly. She eyed Nathan from top to bottom. “Let me guess. Are you the reconnaissance of the group? You’re the one that gets sent in to do all the scouting?”

“Holy crap,” Nathan said, turning to Hunter. “Bossman, is this why you fancy her?” He was like an open book, an innocent child who said what was on his mind without thinking of the consequences. He hid nothing as his expression turned from disbelief to acceptance and then playful. Even if Amber had been right, Nathan could have pretended otherwise, but he didn’t. “If only I had met you sooner! Atlas, now you belong to him!”

Amber wanted to be annoyed but found that was impossible. Not with Nathan. “I’m not his. We’re just friends. And this isn’t a date. We were just having lunch. Didn’t you say you wanted to get something to eat?”

“Oh, that? I already ate. I was throwing my lunch away when I spotted you two.” He rubbed his chin with an odd expression.

Amber opened her mouth, but Nathan advanced. “So, you and Bossman are just friends, huh? Fascinating… how very interesting. You realize Bossman has—”

Hunter cleared his throat twice, interrupting Nathan, and took a drink of water before going back to his phone.

“Don’t you worry!” Nathan slapped his left fist against the palm of his right. “You couldn’t have asked for a better friend!”

Amber blinked, bemused at the change in direction. “You said Hunter has—”

“Don’t you worry!” Nathan interrupted again. “If Hun—Bossman ever breaks his promise, you just tell me. There’s nothing I can’t find out and no one that can escape my reckoning skills!” Nathan leaned in and murmured. “But tell me, aren’t you the least bit bothered by Bossman digging into your background?”

If Nathan intended to keep the conversation between them, he was doing a poor job of it. She knew Hunter was listening from across the table.

Eyes locked on Hunter, Amber responded in the same whisper. “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

Amber’s heart hopped a beat as Hunter paused what he was doing. She half expected him to glance up at her, but he continued to focus on his screen. Her stomach twisted into knots as a slow smile spread across his lips before his fingers started typing anew.

“Ugh!” Nathan shook his head, obviously not quite comprehending. “Boss, where did you find her? She likes to quote from Shakespeare just like you!”

Not precisely, but Amber said nothing. She had this sudden urge to tease Nathan like a grown-up would tease a child, and quoting from Shakespeare seemed the perfect torment.

“I didn’t find her.” Finished with what he was doing on the phone, Hunter turned off the screen and stood, eyes only on Amber. “She found me.”

“Really?!” Nathan turned back to Amber. “You found him?! Can you find me someone similar?”

“Heh,” Amber scratched the back of her head. “Funny story… that...”

“What happened?” Nathan settled in against the booth with all the time in the world. “I’ve got nowhere to be.”

“Another time,” Hunter answered, and Nathan jumped up faster than Amber could blink. Hunter picked up his lunch tray and empty cup. “Something came up. We need to go first.”

Without being told, Nathan grabbed Amber’s tray and her half-empty cup of water. She made a reach for it, but Nathan shook his head at her, stepping out of range. “It’s been a pleasure, Bosslady. Let’s save the story for another time.”

Boss… lady?

“I wanted to walk to class together, but there’s something else I need to do before our next class, so if you’ll excuse me…,” Hunter paused, then gave her a wink before walking off. “Don’t miss me too much.”

Amber sat there, watching his receding back, their receding backs, wondering just what happened?

A few minutes later, she was still reeling from tornado Nathan, trying to understand half of their conversation while also wondering where the other half concluded.