5 comments/ 12728 views/ 10 favorites Rekindled Heat Ch. 01 By: fiammetta Rachel Durand frowned, unconsciously chewing her lip as she stared at the math problem before her. The light was dim in the classroom, one lone desk lamp casting shadows on the walls around her slim form. Her eyebrows were pressed together as she studied the equation in the book, then the problem on the white board before her, and back to the book again. Substituting the numbers in, checking each step, and carefully doing the math next to each part of the equation, Rachel groaned and half-heartedly tossed the marker at the wall when she came up with the same wrong answer. For the fifth time in a row. Sighing in frustration, she trudged over to where the marker had landed and picked it up, erasing the board and starting over again. Rachel had never been a math whiz, but she had also never had a hard time with it. But the calculus class her university required had changed all that. She struggled through the class, never understanding the material, even with frequent visits to office hours. She'd failed the practice final, despite her efforts. The fact that she was in the math department, on a Thursday night, when she usually would be playing pool with her friends Jenna and Kate, flirting with guys and relaxing, was a testament to her desperation. She swore as the formulas and rules began to swim before her eyes. Rubbing them fiercely, she tried to focus on the page. She started when her phone rang, the blaring sound painfully loud in the quiet of the room. Checking the caller id, she picked up and greeted her Jenna tiredly. "Hey! Me and Kate met these guys and they wanted to catch a late movie. Wanna go?" Running a hand through her hair, she actually considered it. Imagining how nice it would be to chill out, forget the stupid math problem that was kicking her ass. Then her conscience kicked in, and she sighed. "I can't. I have to get this stuff before next week or I'm not going to pass the class." "Bummer." Jenna commiserated. She heard laughter in the background, and said goodbye, almost wishing she could let herself go. But it was more important to try to understand the material. Calculus was required for her degree in psychology, and it was by far her most difficult class. Settling back against the table, she focused in on the problem again. Not five minutes later, the door to the room burst open, banging against the wall. Rachel spun around and her heart sank to her stomach when she saw who the intruder was. His harsh laugh raised her guard. "Well. I never thought I'd see you in a math class." To other girls, the deep husk of his voice might have seemed sexy, but it sent chills down Rachel's spine. "What are you doing here, Gallagher?" she asked wearily, not feeling up to their usual verbal sparring. "I should ask you the same question, Durand." He leaned against the table, crossing his muscled arm over his equally toned chest. When she merely glared at him, he chuckled and advanced, grabbing the marker from her and writing the solution beneath the problem. Rachel couldn't help but gape, managing to wipe the expression away before he turned around, smugly staring down at her. Finding her voice, she lifted her chin and met his gaze. "What does it look like? I'm working on calc." "Why? It's simple." He was baiting her, and she knew it. He had never had trouble with math, but he wasn't a genius either. She couldn't help but scoff. "Simple? Calculus is simple?" "Eh. Maybe it's you that's simple." His eyes shone with mischief, letting her know just how happy he was to piss her off. But he also knew that her intelligence was a sore spot. She cursed the heat that flooded her cheeks, refusing to look away. His eyebrows quirked and he gave her his crooked grin. He knew exactly how to get to her. "Screw you. And why the hell are you here?" "It's a shortcut. Why are you so interested?" She frowned. "I'm not. You can go now." Dismissing him with a wave of her hands, she turned to the board, studying the equation and the solution he'd written. Unaware of his perusal of her back and ass, she spoke to him over her shoulder. "Why aren't you leaving? Isn't someone waiting for you?" "Why are you so concerned with my schedule, Rach? Your newest fuck buddy not doing it for you?" Trying to control the blush that was brought to her face, Rachel took a deep breath. He was just trying to provoke her with his crudeness. She spun around and scowled up into his face, which was suddenly much closer than before. For a moment, she got caught up in the hard planes of his face, the Roman nose, the strong jaw, the intense eyes. Mentally shaking herself, she pulled herself back to the conversation. "I don't give a damn about your schedule, Jamie. And my fuck buddy is doing just fine, thank-you. Go ahead and take your shortcut. I need to work on this-," she pointed to the board, "and I don't have time for your crap." He grinned down at her, his warm breath fanning across her face. His large, rough hand came up to her face, almost touching her skin, but not quite. She set her jaw and knocked his hand away, fighting the shiver that threatened to run down her spine. Raising her eyebrows, she forced coolness into her voice. "Gallagher, leave. I have to-" "Yeah, yeah, I know. Even though you're dumb, I didn't think you were that dumb. It's just calculus." "Just calculus! Are you insane?" she burst out, backing away. What the hell is his problem, she thought. What gives him the right to criticize me for not understanding calculus? Taking a deep breath, she ran her fingers through her hair, not noticing how his gaze snapped to the motion. "Just leave. I don't know why you decided to antagonize me tonight, but I'm really not in the mood." Turning quickly to gather up her book, she stilled as a wave of dizziness hit her. Crap. The one day I forget to eat, she thought, grasping the edge of the desk and shutting her eyes as vertigo rolled over her. "Rachel?" Her eyes opened, and she pushed past him on her way out. "Go bug someone else, Hunter!" she yelled over her shoulder as she slammed the door behind her. As she hurried across the upper quad to the main path, she pushed away the nagging sound of Jamie's voice in her head. He had almost sounded worried. But that was crazy. Wasn't it? ***** Hunter scowled as he dumped his gym bag on the couch in his tiny on campus apartment. The encounter with Rachel had turned his mood sour. Why the hell could she piss him off like no one else? Ever since seventh grade, they'd argued whenever they were near each other. He couldn't resist pushing her buttons, and she always returned the favor. Other girls might laugh off his comments but Rachel never hesitated to call him out. And unlike other girls, Rachel possessed a sharp wit and a sarcastic sense of humor. But tonight she'd seemed tired. Why the hell had she frozen like that, eyes squeezed shut, fingers in a death grip on the table? For a second it had him . . . worried? Shaking his head, he tried to get the image of her midnight curls and sparkling green blue eyes out of his mind. Not to mention the sight of her tits pressing against her shirt, and the sensual curve of her hips that peeked above the rise of her jeans. Groaning, he fell onto the couch and flipped on the TV. For some reason, Rachel Durand could irritate him and turn him on more than anyone else. But he'd be damned if he'd tell her that. The next morning, Cooper Winters caught up with Rachel as she picked up breakfast in the dining hall. "Hey." He greeted her as he filled a bowl with cereal and added milk. "Morning." He cut a glance at her out of the corner of his eye, noticing the heavier makeup around her eyes. "I guess studying didn't go too well?" She laughed, the sound humorless. "No. I'm really beginning to hate it. And guess who showed up to add to the fun?" "Damn, Rach, that sucks. Did you get any sleep?" Smiling ruefully, she added a muffin to the coffee and strawberries on her tray, then found a table. "Some. I have to get this math crap, or I'm never gonna pass that class." He scowled as they started eating. A long time ago, she'd asked him for help in math. Six hours, three outbursts, and twelve pages of paper later, he'd concluded that math was the one area where they spoke completely different languages. "Maybe you should ask the professor if there's tutoring you can get." Digging into his cereal, he tried to ignore the uselessness he felt from not being able to help her. "Mmm hmmm. . ." she nodded, zoning out as she sipped her coffee. They lingered over breakfast, talking about the week, the weekend, and nothing at all. She glanced at her phone and groaned. "If I'm gonna catch Bauer at his office hours, I gotta go." "Sure. See you later." Grabbing her bag and tossing the empty coffee cup in the trash, she hurried out of the dining hall, blinking at the bright sunshine outside. The weather in this part of California was usually dull and grey now, in February, so the unexpected weather was welcome. Pausing a moment to enjoy the sun in the dull grey sky, Rachel then hurried on across the lower quad to the main path, then to the mathematics building. As she rushed up the stairs to the entrance, she slammed into a brick wall. Groaning, she looked up into the malevolent face of Hunter Gallagher. "Two times in twenty four hours, Rach. You got a thing for your professor or something?" He had a vise like grip on her arms, holding her in place. "Maybe. Maybe not. Let me go." She pulled ineffectively at his wrists, but his grip tightened painfully. He laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised if you were fucking one of the old guys. Guess you're not good enough to keep your grade up, huh?" "God dammit, Gallagher, let me go!" He did, so suddenly that she nearly lost her balance. "Later Rach." He drawled over his shoulder as she stood there for a moment, getting her bearings again. Cursing, she hurried to professor Bauer's office, arriving just as he was packing up his briefcase. "Miss Durand. I'm on my way out-" She shook her head, realizing that if not for her difficulty understanding the class, he probably wouldn't know her name. "Wait, professor, I just was wondering if there's any tutoring I could get." He frowned, the lines on his weathered face coming into sharp relief. "I believe there is someone I could ask. I'll let you know on Monday. But really, Miss Durand, if the course is too advanced for you-" "No! I can pass it. I just need someone to help me a little." Nodding, he finished packing his briefcase and ushered her out of the room. "I'll ask around. But if you cannot understand the material, I would advise you to drop the class. It's early enough in the quarter that you would not be too far behind in another class." Frowning, she left the building, paying more attention to her surroundings this time as her mind went back to the confrontation with Hunter. What the hell was his problem? She knew he used crudeness to shock her, had ever since she was fourteen. She had never understood what had happened that year, when everything had changed. Rachel smiled, waving goodbye to Hunter and Cooper as they turned down Holbrooke and she continued on Vassar. It was a beautiful autumn day, the air crisp but the sun warm on her back, freshly fallen leaves crunching under her sneakered feet. She fingered the folded note in her pocket, she forced herself to be cool, not to open Hunter' note until she got home. Glancing up the tree lined suburban street, she hurried her pace, seeing her mother's red sedan parked in the driveway of their two-story house. Her mother was usually home in the evening, but on the rare day she came home early, Rachel was always greeted with the smell of some goody baking mingling with the scent of detergent and the soft whirring of the washing machine. She unlocked the door, and nearly stopped dead at what she heard. Or more precisely, what she didn't hear. The house was silent, only the vague aroma of old coffee and stale air. "Mom?" she called, dropping her backpack on the floor and wandering into the kitchen. There was a bottle of wine on the worn countertop, like when her parents had those stupid date nights where they whisked her off to grandmas. She still felt a small sting of pain, of longing. Her grandmother had passed away almost a year ago, and even though she was a ripe old eighty-nine, they all missed her. Shaking herself out of her reverie, Rachel called to her mother again as she checked the dining room, and the small laundry nook off the kitchen. Finding them empty, she ascended the stairs, calling for her mom. Checking the spare bedroom they used as storage, an office, and an exercise room, then her bathroom, she continued on to her parents' room. The door to the bathroom was almost shut, unusual for this time of day. She knocked softly, and the door fell open against her hand. Hesitating, she continued into the room. "Mom, what-" she stopped cold at the sight of her mother in the bathtub, suds mostly gone. An empty wineglass was on the side of the tub, and at first, she thought her mother was asleep. She lay in the tub, hair up in a clip, arms tilted awkwardly. But her eyes were partially open, and in their blue depths, so like her own, she knew the truth. There was no light there, no life. Gasping for air, she tried to scream but couldn't get the breath. On shaky legs she approached, flinching back as her hand rested on her mother's shoulder. There was no life warmth there, and she had the sudden urge to scrub her hands with bleach. Backing out of the bathroom, she made it to the threshold before she threw up, finally finding her voice. Her first instinct was to call her father, to find out what to do, to find reassurance. But she remembered the police officer who'd come into her class for the D.A.R.E. program, who'd told them what to do. Shaking, she crawled to her parents' bedside, picking up the phone and barely managing to dial the three numbers. The operators calm voice only served to ratchet up her fear, but she explained as best she could, obediently reciting her address. Setting the phone down without hanging up, she sank down, laying her face against the soothing warmth of the carpet. The familiar scents of her mother's favorite perfume, and clean carpet surrounded her. That was how the police found her, conscious but unresponsive, in a fetal ball on the floor, phone next to her hand. The rest of it was a blur, as the police asked her questions, her father arriving and screaming when he saw his wife's body. She remembered a female officer giving her a cup of cocoa, but nothing else was distinctive until she was alone, sitting in the room she now shared with her distant cousin. She couldn't seem to cry, not at the funeral, and not now. Every night she had woken, drenched in sweat, to the sight of her mother's lifeless body. But there were never any tears, and she wondered if she'd ever be able to cry again. A year later, she'd returned to her hometown, a different house this time, but the same school. A fourteen year old Cooper had found her, the day before school started, sitting alone on her porch swing. He'd instantly known something was wrong, and hugged her with all the ferocity of a grown man, not knowing what it was, but knowing what she needed most. The next day at school, he'd held her hand as they entered the main building, greeted by stares. Finally, she asked about Hunter, only to be told that he was in the cool kids group now. Later that day, walking to sixth period, she'd run into him-literally. Sneering, he'd pushed her aside with a snarled, "Move!" She stood there in shock, wondering how the sweet boy she'd been friends with had changed into this callous, older guy. She couldn't help but notice that he'd grown taller, had the beginning of muscles across his chest and arms, and a new haircut. From that point on, he'd only spoken to her to insult or yell, pushing her around, stealing her books, and trashing her lunches. Rachel had never figured out what had made him so cruel, and had found new friends, still mourning the loss of his friendship in a corner of her mind. ***** That night, Hunter sat at a table at Joe's, the on campus bar, drinking a beer and grinning as his friends flirted with some girls playing pool. His buddy Gage sank down into the booth across from him, taking a bite of a burger and a swallow of his own beer. Hunter glanced around, his eyes flickering over the busy bar, even busier seating area; some kids huddled around the jukebox, and a group of girls at the second pool table. His eyes settled on Rachel Durand, bent over the table to take a shot, laughing at something her friend said. Noticing where his gaze landed, Gage grinned. "She's a fine piece of ass, huh?" Hunter quickly turned to Gage, frowning. "What, you didn't know? We hooked up the other night. She was hot as hell, man. Gave me the best blow job I've ever had." Ignoring the sudden urge to deck his friend in the face, Hunter instead downed the rest of his beer and rose to get another. When he returned, his friends Rob and Mark had joined Gage, and they were laughing as he approached. "We heard you were talking about Rachel." announced Rob as Hunter took a seat. He frowned, wondering where this was going. "Man, you haven't gotten a piece yet?" interjected Mark. "I don't know why not. She's easy." Added Rob, grinning lasciviously. Under the table, Hunter hand curled into a fist, but his voice was calm. "Naw, not yet. Maybe another night. She's probably loose, anyway." "Nope, she's practically like a virgin, man. You're missing out." Pushing his chair away from the table, he ignored his friends shouts as he rushed out of the bar, needing fresh air. What the hell is wrong with me? He wondered, leaning against the side of the building. His friends had never bothered him when they talked about a girl before. Hell, he'd led the raunchy conversations. So why did he get the sudden urge to slam Rob against the wall? Rubbing a hand over his face, Hunter returned to the table, ignoring the odd looks his friends shot each other. He started on the unopened beer at his place, listening to their conversation about last night's basketball game. ***** Rachel grinned as she sunk the eight ball, winning the game. "Ahhhhh!" shouted Kate, groaning good spiritedly at the loss. Jenna laughed, and started racking up the balls again. Yawning, Rachel grabbed her bag from a nearby table. "You're leaving already, Rach?" called Kate from the pool table. "Yeah. I'm wiped, and I was gonna try to study more tomorrow before we go shopping." Making a face, Kate waved as Rachel slipped out the door of the warm, noisy bar. She shivered as the cold air hit her face, hugging her light sweater closer as she quickly crossed the main street of the campus and started on the path that led to her dorm building. She shook off the eerie feeling the path gave her, lights shining in some areas, but casting large parts of the path into deep shadow. Glancing up at the waning moon, only partially visible through the trees, Rachel's ears picked up a soft noise. Startled, she gasped and stopped dead. The sound was gone. She started walking again, much faster, trying to convince herself that if there was someone on the path, they were probably just heading in the same direction as her. Shaking her head and speeding her pace more, she tried to ignore the fear that crept at the back of her mind. ***** Hunter laughed as his friends cheerfully waved, each following a different girl out. He could have easily picked up a girl of his own: God knew there were plenty of them willing. But he wasn't in the mood. None of the girls at the bar tonight were what he wanted . . . Some were too flashy, or too stupid, or too snobby. He chuckled at his own selectiveness, paid his tab, and started for the door. A flicker of movement in his peripheral vision caught his eye and he turned to see Rachel Durand heading out another door. Rekindled Heat Ch. 01 Hunter grinned to himself. Well, if she was going to make it that easy, he would just have a little fun. He slipped out the door, waiting long enough so that she wouldn't see him, and caught a glimpse of her bag as she turned onto a path leading to her dorm. He jogged to catch up, falling a few yards behind, hoping she wouldn't notice him. When she stopped short, so did he, shrinking to the edges of the path so that she wouldn't see him if she looked. Following her as she continued on, Hunter tried to decide on the best way to scare the shit out of Little Miss I'm Too Good For You Durand, when she came to a curve in the path. Most students cut across the curve, which only meant traveling through about thirty feet of woods, but tonight Rachel stuck to the paved road. Smirking, Hunter hurried across the stretch of woods, and waited for Rachel to catch up. Moments later, he saw her approach, still walking quickly and sending darting looks all around her. Just as she reached his hiding spot, he shot out in front of her, yelling "Freeze!" A tingle of unease spread through him at the terror on her face, before she recognized him. "Gallagher! What the hell!" she shouted, her voice almost imperceptibly higher than normal. He grinned, shoveling some hair out of his eyes. "Scared, Rachel?" But now that she had gotten over the surprise of seeing him, her face was a mask of anger. Rachel was royally pissed off. "How old are you, Gallagher? You hid and waited for me? That's pathetic." Fury rolled through him, his gut clenching at her words. "Pathetic? I'm not the one heading home at ten on a Saturday." She laughed humorlessly. "Wow, that's bad. You're taking shots at my social life? What, Gallagher, did your last choice reject you?" He scowled, then settled a satisfied expression on his face. "Why, Rach? You jealous?" "Jealous? No, you don't have to worry about that, Gallagher. I pity the girls you sleep with. Assuming there are any." Making a noise deep in his throat, he stepped closer, silently cheering when she retreated. "There are plenty. And they are all more than satisfied. But I don't fuck whores that my friends have passed around like a bong, so you're SOL." A flicker of confusion darted across her face, but he had no time to analyze that before Cooper appeared, scowling at him, hands on Rachel's shoulders. "Are you calling her a whore, Gallagher?" he said, voice low and threatening. Never one to back down from a fight, he stepped forward again. "Are you sleeping with her too? Cuz man, you got bad company if you are." A muscle in Coopers jaw twitched, and he eyes darkened. Hunter simply grinned. Suddenly, Cooper moved Rachel, using his firm grip on her shoulders, behind him, giving her a little push as he turned back to face Hunter. "Go on ahead, Rach. I'll catch up." He ordered, ignoring her attempt at a protest. When she was out of earshot, he stood toe to toe with Hunter, his height putting them eye to eye. "I don't know why you decided to pick on Rachel, or why you can't pull your head out of your ass long enough to realize what you're doing, but I don't care." "Is this a warning?" Hunter asked offhand, knowing his casual tone would infuriate Cooper. "It's a promise. Leave her the hell alone, or you'll answer to me. And you know me well enough to know I don't pull punches." Hunter stopped for a second, remembering the fight that they'd gotten into not long after Rachel left. Cooper hadn't pulled punches then, and he had no doubt he would now. "I'll do what I want, Winters. But don't worry; when I fuck Rachel she'll be begging for it. On her knees." A low growl was his only warning before Cooper hauled his arm back- and was caught in Rachel's gentle grasp. "I don't know what he said. Knowing him, it's crude bullshit. But come on, Cooper. Your scholarship. . ." she warned. Shaking her off, taking care not to hurt her, Cooper stepped back, taking a deep breath. "You're not worth my future, Gallagher. But don't think I won't make good on my word." Then, pulling Rachel with him, he stalked off, leaving Hunter standing there wondering when the hell this had gotten so bad. We used to be friends, he thought. What happened? Then he remembered, and a cold vise wrapped around him. She'd chosen Cooper. She believed that bastard over him, and she'd taken the grudge far enough to crush his feelings along with their relationship. ***** Rachel hugged Cooper goodbye as she shut the door to her dorm, then kicked off her shoes and sank into the chair squeezed between her bed and desk. Hugging her knees to her chest, she wondered what Hunter had meant, about his friends. She was used to his taunts about her imagined sexual promiscuity, but usually he wasn't so specific. For that matter, it had never bothered her that much before. Groaning, she rose to her feet and changed into a tee shirt and short shorts, then crawled into bed. But she still couldn't get the incident out of her head, tossing and turning, unable to stop her mind from whirring. Finally, one thought gave her peace. Whatever Hunter's problem was, she was safe with Cooper. Rachel sighed as the smooth silk dress slid over her waist. They had been shopping all morning, and Kate had convinced her to try on this luscious red dress she could never afford. Really, it was more of a gown, reminding her of the elegant French balls she had read about as a child. A sweetheart neckline topped a fitted bodice in scarlet silk, with a skirt that belled out around her hips and floated to the floor. She could easily imagine a princess in a fairy tale dancing the night away with her prince in this dress. "Hey! Get your butt out here!" shouted Kate from outside, pulling her out of her reverie. Smiling to herself at her foolishness, she unlatched the dressing room door and stepped out. "Holy crap, Rach. That dress." Jenna remarked appreciatively. Rachel grinned and turned, watching the skirt float around her in the mirror. "It's amazing, isn't it?" "You have to get it," added Kate. She laughed. "And wear it where exactly? I don't really have any formal stuff to go to. Plus it's-" she glanced at the price tag again and winced. "Four hundred dollars. That's my clothing budget for two years." Kate sighed, looking longingly at the dress. "Yeah, I guess that's a little steep. Even for something that great." Returning to the dressing room and slipping out of the gown, Rachel smiled. After she pulled her comparably boring everyday clothes on, she carried the gown out and handed it to the clerk. "But hey. When you're some famous brain surgeon making more money than God, I'll let you buy it for me." "Sounds like a plan." They both laughed as they left the store to find Jenna, who had stopped to flirt with some guy she saw in the food court. Just as they greeted her, her phone beeped, alerting her to an incoming e-mail. She turned to check it as Kate teased Jenna about the guy. "You guys, Bauer found me a tutor!" "That was fast. Who is it?" "I don't know. This just says to meet him at the Kaiser library at 3." "Oooh, him. Wonder if he's hot?" mused Jenna. Rachel laughed and swatted her arm. "He's my tutor. He'll probably be some math nerd. But I don't care what he looks like so long as he can help me understand this crap." Kate grinned and hooked her arms through each of theirs. "Come on. I need to find a new pair of boots, and they're having a sale at Bunny's." ***** At three oh six, Rachel rushed into the library, hurrying up the stairs to the tables in the middle of the second floor, bypassing the computer terminals and study tables on the first floor. This room was much more quiet than the first, huge bookshelves taking up the middle of the room, muffling noise, while floor to ceiling windows covered one wall. She hurried to the small area by the windows with several tables. They were empty, except for one lone person at the table furthest from her. When she recognized him, she froze. No. He's probably just here to study. Then why is he looking at you, waiting for you? And he was waiting, arms folded over his chest, a wicked grin on his face. Resigned, she started towards the table, wondering what fucked up kind of luck she had, that Hunter Gallagher was the tutor Professor Bauer had chosen. Rekindled Heat Ch. 02 He could tell she was struggling to move forward. He tried to keep the grin off his face, failing miserably as she stepped closer, a determined look on her face. Cautiously she took another step, watching him as if he might bite her. He stiffened at that thought, wondering if she liked it rough. Gage said she did. He frowned at the thought of Rachel with Gage. What the hell does she see in him? He wondered. Finally, she reached the table, setting both hands atop it, keeping her bag on her shoulder. He stayed silent, admiring the way her dark jeans clung to her long, long legs, topped in a black shirt that emphasized her ample tits and a whitish sweater. She frowned at him, almost as if she could read his thoughts. "Are you just going to stand there staring or are you going to sit?" he asked nonchalantly, glancing at the chair next to him. Sighing, she sat, pulling her bag off her shoulders and setting it on the table. "So it's calculus you're having trouble with?" he asked, mock seriously, delighting in the annoyed expression on her face. "Yes, calculus. You already knew that." "I was just checking," His grin belied his words, and she groaned. "Look, if you're going to tutor me-" "That's the plan." She glared at his interruption, then sighed and flipped open her book. "Fine. I'm having trouble balancing trigonometric equations." He was a little surprised at her down to business attitude, but he started to help her on the problems in the section. He couldn't help but tease her when she got frustrated – she was so easy to anger, and she gave as good as she got. And when she finally solved a problem on her own, the first time, the hundred-watt grin on her face was infectious. After an hour and a half, she called an end to the session, sighing and stretching in her chair. He tried to ignore the wonderful things that did to the chest under her sweater, but he settled for looking away. "I've got to say I'm surprised." She said as she packed up her bag. "I'm actually starting to understand some of this." He very nearly didn't say what he did next. But something inside drove him to make this a challenge. "Well, that's great. But I don't think I'm up for doing it again." He nearly flinched when her face paled, but managed to control his expression. " "What? Why-" She stopped, and the self-deprecating look in her features made him angry somehow. "I guess I should have expected that. But then, it's you we're talking about. You've never stood by anything in your life." He growled, rising to his feet. "Well, look at you. Hope you're comfortable up there on that pedestal." Color rose in her cheeks. "I'm on a pedestal? You mock me because I don't get calculus, you call me a whore, and I'm the one on a pedestal? Jesus. I don't know why I even sat down. I should have known you'd never help me." He studied her for a long moment, taking in her stubborn chin, her soft, inviting mouth, and her sparkling eyes. "Maybe I will." "Excuse me?" "I said, maybe I will help you. The question is, what are you willing to do for me?" She stared at him. "Wh-what do you mean?" He leaned against the table, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well, I need a little motivation." "Gallagher, if your sick mind is thinking I'm going to–" "Oh, calm down, Rach. Give me your number." "What?" "Your cell number." He gritted. "Why?" She looked suspicious, and given their relationship, he wasn't surprised. "Just give it to me." She hesitated, and he cursed. "Do you want me to tutor you or not?" As she bit her lip, he ground his teeth in frustration. "Well?" Finally, she pulled a slip of paper out of her bag and scribbled a number on it, handing it to him. He shoved it in his pocket and grinned, showing all his teeth. "When I call you, make sure you answer." She glared at him, then left the library, her pace faster than usual. Sighing, he followed her down the stairs, too far behind to see where she went. He touched the piece of paper in his pocket. He didn't need to follow her. He could have her back at his side with one call. ***** "You did not!" Kate laughed so hard, tears rolled down her cheeks. "Yes! And when he finally pulled over to let us pass, he just gave us this terrified look." Rachel laughed, remembering the jerk from their high school she and Cooper had followed after he nearly rear-ended them. "Then he realized who we were, and he turned bright red." Added Cooper, grinning as he sipped his drink. The two guys who'd come with them to dinner, Jake and Austin, cracked up. Kate shot Rachel a surreptitious glance, then darted her eyes to Jake. Rachel fought a groan. Kate had been trying to set Rachel up with Jake all night, and even though he was funny and sweet, there wasn't any chemistry there. She rolled her eyes at Kate, who pouted. She hid her smile as she sipped her iced tea, ignoring the questioning glance Cooper shot her. He had opened his mouth to say something about it, when their waiter returned to the table and asked if they wanted dessert. Jake ordered cake to share, and she was about to add ice cream when her phone rang. She excused herself and stepped to the side, pressing her phone to her ear to hear better. "Hello?" "Isme. Come aget me." She scowled. It was Hunter, and it was obvious that he was falling down drunk. "No. I'm busy." "You wan me tutor you? Or you rather I drive home?" His voice was slurring less, she was relieved to hear. Sighing, she grabbed her purse from the table, waving off her friend's questioning glances. "Gotta go. Call you later!" she called over her shoulder as she left. "Where are you?" she asked, digging through her purse to find her keys. Why the hell are they always, always at the bottom? She wondered as her fingers closed around them and she unlocked her car. "Downtown. Rico's." was his reply. She scowled again. Rico's was one of the seediest bars in the worst part of town. Usually she didn't worry overmuch about being downtown, but she had her reservations at ten on a Saturday, and at Rico's, where fights were the rule, not the exception. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Wait outside." "Can. You godda get my keys." Groaning, she pulled out of the parking lot and started towards downtown. "Fine. Sit at the bar." "Bossy." Her angry response was cut off as he hung up. Cursing at the phone, she fought her way through late night traffic. Fifteen minutes turned into thirty, thanks to the construction going on as she got closer to downtown. Finally, she squeezed into a parking space near Rico's and hurried inside. Wading through the hordes of people, most of them still sober enough to push back, she found her way to the bar. It took her a second to find Hunter in the madness, but there he was, slumped in a stool at the end of the bar. "Finally." He complained as she took his keys from the bartender. Ignoring him, she groaned as he tried to stand and swayed. "There's an alley out back, if you can't get him to the street." Offered the bartender. "Wait there." She told him, figuring he could at least haul his own ass across the bar. "I'm going to pull the car around." Turning back before she got too far away, she added, "And if you're going to throw up, do it here. I just washed my car." Pushing her way back through the bar, she turned into the alleyway behind the bar, shivers crawling up her spine at the deep shadows there. Hurrying out of her car, she reached for the back door of the club. A strong hand wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her back and slamming her against the wall. Heart pumping, she struggled, but the man was bigger than she was, and he pressed her to the grimy brick wall, preventing her from moving. She sucked in a deep breath to scream, but he squeezed her throat with one large hand, cutting off her air. She choked, coughing when he released his grip. "I like 'em noisy." He grunted in her ear as he ground against her. "But you need to be quiet." She realized with a jolt that he was already hard, pressing against her stomach. She tried to get an elbow between them, but he was stronger than she thought. Squirming only seemed to excite him more, and she cringed as his hands swept beneath her skirt, roughly yanking it down. She let out a startled shriek, panic surging through her. "No!" she managed, finally giving him a weak push. He stumbled back only a foot, but his face twisted into a mask of rage. Growling, he slammed her to the wall again, harder this time. He pinched her breast sharply, making her whimper in pain. She kept struggling as he shoved a hand into her panties, wincing as his nails raked across her hip. She pushed as hard as she could against him, but it was blow delivered from her left that sent the man stumbling back. Breathing hard, she leaned against the wall as Hunter stumbled into the alley. Light and noise floated out of the bar behind him, and the man took off. She struggled to pull her skirt up as Hunter started towards her. "You okay?" he asked, his voice clearer now. "Y-yeah, I think so." She answered, mentally checking her body for injuries. She would be sore and bruised, but there was nothing serious. "Sure?" he persisted, coming closer. "Yeah. Come on, get in the car." She helped him into her passenger seat, trying not to shake as the adrenaline left her. Ignoring his gaze, she maneuvered out of the alleyway and back towards campus. The ride passed in silence, seeming to take forever. At long last, they reached his apartment, and she helped him to the main entrance, though he wasn't leaning on her much anymore. Just as he began to open one of the heavy double doors, she cautiously put a hand on his arm. "Hunter? Thanks. I- just thanks." He just shook his head and headed inside. Sighing, she got back in her car and returned to her apartment, where she fell into bed after changing and brushing her teeth, and putting antibiotic cream on the scratches he had left on her hip. But it was a long time before she fell asleep, her mind racing, always coming back to one question. Why had Hunter intervened? ***** Cooper caught up to her again at breakfast Sunday morning. "Hey." He said, sitting down next to her and grabbing her banana from her tray. Rachel mock glared at him, then grinned. "Morning. And you owe me a banana." He laughed. "So where you'd go last night?" She shot him a sideways glance, trying to decide whether he was trying to change the subject or not. "Ummm . . . just . . . I had to pick up a friend." He frowned. "Who?" She sighed. Rachel really didn't want to lie to him, but he wouldn't be happy if he found out she'd bailed Hunter out. "A friend." He looked at her now, studying her face. "Fine. I guess you don't want me to know-" "Hunter, okay? It was Hunter." His face darkened. "Why the hell did you need to pick him up?" "I just-he was drunk. He needed someone to give him a ride home, so rather than let him drive drunk, I just . . . gave him a ride." "He could have called a cab, Rachel." "I know! But he called me. And I thought he'd try to drive if I didn't come get him." Cooper sighed. "Even Hunter wouldn't do that." "Well I know that now!" she replied, more defensively than she meant to. "Look, he just called, and I said yes, okay?" Cooper gave her a sheepish grin. "Sorry. I didn't mean to jump on you." She smiled back, relieved. "I know. Now how about that banana?" He laughed and set his bagel on her tray. "I'd say we're even." "A bagel for a banana? Please!" she laughed, falling into their usual friendly bickering. When Kate dropped into the chair next to Rachel ten minutes later, she groaned. "Over a banana, you guys? Really?" Rachel laughed and snagged the apple on Kate's tray, barely escaping with her prize. "Not anymore." She said, taking a big bite out of the apple. "Whatever makes you happy. You're pretty easy, you know." "That's what all the boys say." She delivered, deadpan. Kate choked on her tea, coughing and laughing at once. Cooper groaned and rolled his eyes, then retrieved his bagel from Rachel's tray. "Oh, yeah, how'd that tutoring session go? Was he hot?" Kate asked, taking a bite out of her pastry. "Good, actually. I think I might be able to pass if I keep going." Kate looked at her expectantly, but Rachel hastily changed the subject. She knew her friends would think it was strange that she had actually agreed to let Hunter tutor her, much less ask him to. She'd deal with that situation when the time came. ***** Hunter woke, only to groan and cover his face with his pillow. The light streaming in through the window nearly blinded him, and he could feel the beginnings of a killer headache. He sighed. He had things he had to do today, but it felt like the most complicated thing he was capable of would be sitting up. He had a niggling sensation in the back of his mind. Something seemed out of place. In his room? No, his clothes were in a heap like he'd left them, his phone on the stand by his bed. He sighed again: whatever was different, it couldn't be that bad. After five minutes of rolling around to try to find a comfortable position, Hunter decided he might as well get up. Taking his time, squeezing his eyes shut against the bright daylight, he slowly shuffled to the shower. It was a Sunday, so his side of the apartment was empty. The fierce headache made his movement drag, and it was only when he stepped under the hot spray of the showerhead that he noticed the marks on his knuckles. He'd been in enough fights to know that the shallow cuts suggested he'd punched someone, but he could only dredge up vague images of an alley. As he showered, he tried to remember everything that happened last night. It felt as if everything was there, but he couldn't grab hold of anything long enough to remember it. Rachel. Rachel had been there. Why? He wondered. He'd been drinking at Rico's; he knew Rachel wouldn't go there. And unless he ran into her, he usually tried to avoid her. I called her, he remembered with a jolt. But why? He knew she'd shown up, and the look on her face, like he was worse than the scum beneath her feet, had clouded his mind for a moment. Then she had left, to pull the car around- To the alley. He recalled that she was taking forever, and when he finally went outside to check on her, fury had overwhelmed him. Why? He scrubbed hard, trying desperately to summon up the reason for his rage. Finally, it came to him. A man – some disgusting, horny, son-of-a-bitch – had her pushed up against the wall, his hand under her skirt, pushing it up her thighs. Just as the night before, he saw red at the thought of someone – anyone – doing that to Rachel. So he'd punched the guy. He remembered the guy running off, the satisfactory burn in his hand, and seeing the fear in Rachel's eyes. Stepping out of the shower, he frowned. What the hell was that, anyway? Why did he feel this . . . imperative need to protect her? Almost every time he'd seen her, since freshman year, he'd tried to get under her skin. Hurt her even. He knew damn well she could take care of herself but- Not last night. Last night, Rach was in over her head, and the thought of what that man had wanted to do – would have done – made him sick and irate at the same time. Groaning, he glanced at the clock and swore. It was already 12, and he'd told Jessica Greenhagh that he'd meet her for lunch. Usually he'd just blow it off, but knowing Jessica, she'd annoy him about it for years. Hunter dressed simply in a dark blue dress shirt, jeans, and old sneakers. Grabbing his wallet off the desk, he looked around for his keys. Damn. He'd left his truck downtown. He glanced at his watch again, and decided he could make it if he hurried. ***** Rachel hurried into the only on campus Chinese place, Ming's, hoping the line wasn't too long. Weaving her way through the tables towards the pickup counter, she bumped into someone. As she turned, her apology died on her lips at the sight of Hunter Gallagher. Rachel scowled. "Your car's parked outside Rico's." She figured he'd forgotten, considering how drunk he'd been. Judging from the black look he shot her, he had. "Great." There was so much disdain in his voice that she wanted to hit him. She settled for turning on her heel and hurrying towards the pickup counter, but she didn't get far before Hunter grabbed her arm. Impatiently, she tugged it out of his grip. "What?" she demanded, her voice full of impatience. The expression on his face was almost . . . unsure. "I was just going to- I just wanted to say thanks. For picking me up." "I assumed it was part of the deal." She spat, leaving him standing there, looking confused. Flushed, Rachel paid for her food and hurried out of the restaurant. She hadn't meant to be rude; her parents had raised her to be as polite as possible, but his gratitude had shocked her. Wasn't it part of what their deal? If not, why would he thank her? She briefly considered the possibility that he was just being nice, but immediately discarded it as ridiculous. What if he's changed? A tiny voice in her head insisted. What if he's different? She took a deep breath, trying to push away the longing she felt for the old Hunter. They had had a perfect friendship; he had known when to tease her, and when to be serious. He had always been able to make her laugh with his sarcastic sense of humor, and he had understood how her mind worked. She laughed out loud, remembering some of the times she'd had to explain it to Cooper, with no success. Hunter had just laughed at their friend's confusion, unable to explain it any better. Most likely, he was just experiencing a momentary lapse in his usual asshole behavior. But if not, she certainly wasn't encouraging him by snapping. If, in fact, he was trying to turn over a new leaf, she would try her best to support him. Wouldn't she? She was fine with him now. She could deal with his nastiness, even if she got tired of it sometimes. But she wasn't sure how she would handle him if he suddenly decided to be friendly. What if he changed again? It had hurt like hell, coming back to school only to find that he had turned his back on her. Was she willing to open herself up to that again? Shaking her head, as if to chase away the troublesome thoughts there, Rachel waved to Lacy, her roommate from freshman year. Lacy beckoned for her to come over, and Rachel did, offering some of her Chinese food. She let herself shove her earlier thoughts to the back of her mind as she laughed with Lacy over eggrolls and sweet and sour pork. But in every lull, her mind fell back into the same track. He probably wasn't changing. But she couldn't help hoping. ***** The house Rachel had grown up in hadn't changed. It was a two-story, plantation style house on a block full of similar homes. Overgrown shrubs and uncut grass surrounded the wide porch, in sharp contrast to the well-groomed lawns of the neighbors. It needed a new coat of paint, and the floorboards inside creaked under her weight. Dust lay thick in some rooms, the trash bin was full, and she could see that most of the trash was beer bottles. Glancing into the formal living room, she could see the Christmas decorations she'd put up last year were still up, but the table in the corner covered in photographs of her mother was clean. Sighing, she called to her father, who hurried in from the den. "Rachel! Sweetie, you're early." She forced a smile, kissing her dad on the cheek as she set down her purse. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I thought I'd start dinner early." Her father smiled, a meager shadow of his old grin. Rekindled Heat Ch. 02 "Don't be sorry. I'm always glad to see you." She took a deep breath, not sure what to say. "Could you help me with the groceries? I was planning on making lasagna." "Of course. They're in your car?" "Yup." They retrieved the brown bags from the trunk of her car and she began unpacking and preparing the dinner, while her father watched and tried to make small talk. It was painfully obvious that their once strong bond was so strained that even normal conversation was difficult. Still, they tried, and slowly they got more comfortable. It was as Rachel was putting the lasagna into the oven that her dad cleared his throat. She looked over at him, trying to figure out what it is he wanted to say. After a long pause, he cleared his throat again. "Honey, I've been thinking. . ." She frowned. In her experience, no good news ever followed that opening. "Yeah, dad?" "I saw this townhouse over on Hyacinth. It's smaller than the house, but this place is too big for me anyway. But I was thinking, you don't really come home anymore, except to visit me, and-" "Dad, are you selling the house?" "Er- I- I'm thinking about it, Rach." She took a deep breath, struggling to keep her face neutral. After all, he was right – she didn't come home much anymore. But something inside rebelled at the thought of selling the home she'd grown up in, where she had some of her best memories of her mother. "But if you don't want me to . . ." He offered, looking so uncertain she couldn't bring herself to oppose him. "No, I- I guess, you're right. But- are you sure? I mean. . . I grew up here." He sighed, and suddenly he looked older than his fifty-two years. "I know you did, sweetheart. But sometimes the memories just- they're too much, sometimes." Unable to speak, she nodded mutely. She knew what he meant. Sometimes the past was so strong here that it overtook her. But the good memories were here, too, weren't they? How could her father just throw that away? "Dad, I guess . . . if you want to sell the house, then I'm okay with it. But just . . . be sure, okay? Be positive you want to sell it before you do." He nodded, and she could see the relief in his face. "Of course, honey." There was an awkward silence as she chopped the lettuce for salad, adding it to a bowl with tomatoes already in it. "Well, Cooper said to say hi. You know, he's working at Macpherson's this summer." The mention of his honorary son always made Jackson Durand happy. "Really? I always knew that boy would make a great mechanic. Even if he does want to be a- what did you say he chose?" "Medicine. He's torn between neurologist and pediatrician." Her father laughed, a loud, full sound that reminded her of her childhood. He rarely laughed like that anymore, not since Mom died. "He always was funny like that. Interested in such different things." She smiled. Cooper had always had a unique set of hobbies; as a kid, he'd wanted to be either a police officer or an architect. She'd teased him about it, but he insisted she was jealous because she was so normal. "Yeah. But he's hoping to get an internship at Mercy." Their conversation went like that, her trying to steer them towards safe topics, him following her lead dutifully, as she finished making dinner and dished it out. At his suggestion, they ate in front of the TV, watching some football game. She was almost relieved, because that meant her attempts at talking were unnecessary, and she left him watching the game as she started the dishes. By the time she was done, he had fallen asleep, remote in hand, in his favorite chair. Looking at him, she smiled, remembering the many times he'd done just that over the years. Shaking away her thoughts, she turned off the TV and dimmed the lights, then quietly locked the front door behind her. As she got into her car, she hesitated, halfway wanting to run inside and insist that he keep the house. But she knew that he couldn't deal with the memories; the good ones hurt because they were gone, and the bad ones hurt because they had happened. Rachel had always focused on the happy memories, but she had learned long ago that her father couldn't. That was why the trash was full of beer bottles, the yard was unkempt, and the house was falling into disrepair. She blinked away tears as she drove back to campus, smiling softly as rain began to fall. ***** "Hey, Hellen." The blonde woman loading the dishwasher looked up and smiled at the sight of Hunter in the doorway. She'd known him from the time he'd been a small child, and he could always make her smile. "Hunter! I've missed you, dear." He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek, and she laughed. "You're so tall! Are you done growing yet?" He grinned at her, a youthful expression full of mischievous glee. "Maybe. It's those veggies you forced down my throat all those years." He teased, leaning against the counter. "How have you been? Is school going well?" "I'm good. Schools busy but good, too. How's everything here?" "Your mother had another one of her episodes yesterday. It seems the designer didn't get the right shade for the new sitting room, and, well. . ." She frowned, but she didn't seem too concerned. His mother was a perfectionist, and used to getting her way. Every few weeks or so, she'd find something to throw a fit about, working herself into a frenzy. Hunter figured it was for the attention, but he'd never shared that theory with anyone. "Poor man. We should pay him anyway, for dealing with her." "Hunter Gallagher! That's your mother!" she scolded half-heartedly. Hellen had been the head chef for the Gallaghers for seventeen years, and she had gotten used to her bosses tantrums. But she couldn't admonish Hunter too harshly; she had always thought that he deserved a much better mother than Eileen Gallagher. The woman cared more about her little projects and her society functions than she ever had her son, and Hellen disliked her for that, knowing what a good person he had become. He grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, well. How's Richard?" "Elated. Apparently he closed a big deal today." "Actually, I came here to talk to him. Do you know where he is?" "I believe he's at the office. But, Hunter, he said he doesn't want to be disturbed-" "Don't worry. I was going to talk to him if he was here, but it's no big deal." "Oh. Well, would you like me to heat you up something? There's plenty-" "No, thanks. I already ate." "Your mother wanted me to tell you she wants you at the Lancette event." He gave a noncommittal grunt, and she shot him a look. "It's in two weeks. You'd better have a plus one by now." "Why? I can find someone the day before if I have to." She sighed, exasperated at his typical male ignorance of society rituals. "No, you can't. She'll need time to get a dress, and get to know the other women attending, and-" He laughed. "This is California, Hellen. These things aren't so formal here." "They're formal enough, Hunter. You know that. I'm sure you have someone in mind. Whoever she is, ask her soon." "Who says it's a her?" he joked, laughing as she swatted him on his way out. He slipped into his truck, jacking the music up loud. Seeing Hellen always cheered him up – the woman had practically raised him. She was certainly more of a mother to him than Eileen Gallagher. At a red light, he glanced at his phone, thinking. He knew he should call Rachel to set up another tutoring session. It actually hadn't been as bad as he'd expected; he'd used each and every opportunity she gave him to tease her. She made it so easy, and her reactions were so fiery he couldn't help but spur her on more. Telling himself to get over it, wondering why it was so difficult, he dialed her number. "Tomorrow, same place, at eleven." She started to stutter out a response, but he hung up. If she could get under his skin and refuse to leave, well, two could play that game. Rekindled Heat Ch. 03 Rachel sighed, leaning back in her chair at the library, watching the clock tick away the seconds. Hunter was late. Twenty minutes late, to be precise, and she was getting fed up with his attitude. And to think she'd thought he was changing. He's probably still asleep, she mused, adding a ribbon to the doodle-covered paper before her. Eleven is awfully early when you've been out 'til 3. Glancing around the second floor one last time, she began to pack up her stuff. If she wasn't going to learn any math today, she could at least start on that paper for Greek Lit. Rachel nearly screamed when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and whipped her head around to see a tired looking Hunter. "You're late." She said, trying to recover from her surprise. "So? Get your stuff out." Groaning inside, she obeyed, yanking her book from her bag and setting it down on the table. He raised an eyebrow disdainfully, motioning for her to speak. "Okay, so today I need to figure out how to graph trig functions. I know sine and cosine, but the rest. . ." Nodding, he set to work, starting by sketching the graphs. Ten minutes later, she started at the sensation of her phone buzzing in her pocket. Glancing at the caller id, she bit back a moan and told Hunter she'd be right back. The look he gave her was one of pure annoyance, but she ignored him and headed for the stairwell. "Hey, Dad, what's up?" "Rach, I might need your help this weekend. I'm starting to clean out the house, and --" "Wait, you're selling it? What happened to thinking about it?" "Honey, I know the house is important to you. And to me, too. But. . . I can't live with these ghosts. I need to--" He paused, the sound coming over the line hitting Rachel in the heart. "I have to move on. I can't do that in that house, sweetie." She took a deep breath. She only wanted what was best for him, but what about her? Didn't she have some say in this? Not really. Because what she wanted wasn't nearly as important as what her dad needed. She had to stop being so selfish. "It's okay, Dad. I understand." He sighed. "Thank-you, Rach. I know this isn't easy for you." "It's nothing," she lied, "I just want you to be happy." "And I want that for you too." Taking a deep breath, she shoved the suffocating feeling away. "So when did you need me to come over?" "Well, I thought I'd box up the back room first, seeing as how I don't use any of that stuff anymore." Rachel squeezed her eyes shut, fighting to maintain her hard-won control. The back room was where all her mother's things had been stored. "Okay. How about eleven, Saturday?" "That's perfect." "I've gotta go, but I'll be there Saturday. I love you, Dad." "I love you too, honey." Ending the call, she hugged herself, then returned to the table and a very pissed off Hunter. "You done with your chat?" he asked darkly. "Yes." He cut a sharp glance at her cool response and picked up his pencil. Hesitating, the look on her face broadcasting the fact that she was upset, he tried to ask her what was wrong without sounding too concerned. "You okay?" "Fine." She answered curtly, pointedly moving to continue working on math. "Liar." He had no idea why he'd provoked her like that, but the word had just popped out. "It's just my dad, not that you care. Now can we get back to work?" Frowning, he did, wondering what was wrong with her dad, and more importantly, why he gave a damn. ****** Even though it was a Monday night, Joe's was busy. Cooper glanced up from the game to see Hunter Gallagher saunter in, surrounded by his group of idiots. Cooper's jaw tensed, but he tried to focus on the game, even when Hunter dropped down onto a stool next to him. "Hey, it's Rachel's guard dog. What're you doing here, Coop? What if she needs you?" This time his teeth ground together, but still he ignored Hunter. "Maybe someone's relieved you of the duty. She is kind of a flirt, you know. I wouldn't be surprised if she's with some guy right now --" Cooper cut him off, too angry to remain silent. "Shut the hell up, Gallagher. You don't know anything about Rachel." The other man's green eyes glinted with trouble. "That's where you're wrong, mate. I know more about Rachel than you'll ever know. Did you think we're actually studying at those meetings?" Growling, Cooper turned to face Hunter. He knew that Rachel would never, ever sleep with Gallagher, even though it was a surprise that he was her tutor. "Are you so hard up that you have to make up stories, Gallagher? Jesus." He leaned closer, capturing Hunter's gaze and lowering his voice. "If you hurt her -- I don't care what it is, if you make one wrong move, you'll be sorry." "More threats? Don't make any you can't follow through on, Winters." Cooper laughed harshly. "Believe me, Hunter, I can and will follow through. Leave Rachel the hell alone." Anger glinted in Hunter's eyes. "Can't do that. I'm her tutor, remember? And I think the library is just a little too public for what I have in mind for our next session. . ." Cooper lunged at him, his fury ripping rationality from his mind. He only got two good punches in, though, before he was restrained. Glancing back, he saw the manager of Joe's, a big, thickly muscled guy. "Out." The man demanded, giving him a shove towards the exit. Struggling to tamp down on his anger, Cooper headed outside, still fuming. He strode down the street, not paying attention to where he was going. What the hell is Hunter's problem? He took every opportunity he could to harass Rachel, a polar opposite to their old relationship. And his attitude to Cooper wasn't any better. They'd been friends, until the week after Rachel's mother had died. Neither of them had known at the time what had happened, but where Cooper had waited for Rachel to return, Hunter had turned angry. He fed into the rumors that Rachel had left school because she was pregnant, or on drugs, sticking to them even when Cooper confronted him. That rift had only grown in high school, until he no longer recognized Cooper. He'd had the suspicion that Hunter had cared about Rachel as more than a friend, but that didn't excuse him. Cooper shook his head. He'd probably never figure Hunter Gallagher out, and trying was a waste of time. All he could do was warn Rachel. ****** Rachel grimaced, all but falling into a seat at the back of the large classroom of social psych, the last class of the day. And what a day it had been, starting when her phone had woke her up half an hour late, up to the point where it had started pouring rain on the long walk across campus. Shivering in the air-conditioned -- air-conditioned! -- room, she pulled out her notes, barely noticing when Hunter entered and took up a seat a row in front of her. The class started, the professor droning on about cognitive dissonance, and Rachel struggled to keep her eyes open. Losing the fight, she awoke when someone nudged her. Her eyes flickered open to see the girl next to her grinning knowingly. "Thanks." She said, stretching and gathering her blank notebook up. "No problem." Still groggy from the too-short nap, Rachel rose from her seat and headed out the double doors. Hearing the rumble of voices outside, she slowed, not wanting to make idle chit chat. When a reasonable amount of time had passed, she left the building, noticing a group of guys not too far ahead. "I'm telling you dude, she's easy. You just gotta know what buttons to push." "No thanks. I don't need your leftovers, Rob!" The group burst into laughter, then quieted down as another guy piped in. "Rachel Durand is hot, you can't deny that." She nearly gasped. These guys were talking about her? "Definitely fuck-able. She's horny, man." "You would know, right Draper?" Again, the group burst into laughter, and Rachel turned onto a different path. She recognized that voice. Hunters. Fuming, she hurried out of earshot of the idiots, indignation welling up inside of her. Why the hell did they have to talk about her like that? She'd never slept with any of them; she'd never slept with anyone for that matter. But they still made those maddening jokes, told those sick lies about her. She knew they shouldn't make her so angry, but it was so pointless. What did they gain from doing it? Her phone rang, and she gratefully pulled herself from her thoughts to answer it. After making plans to join Cooper and some of their friends at the dining hall, she hung up and continued on the path. Shivering in the cool night air, Rachel wrapped her arms tighter around her, trying not to let her imagination get the best of her. The lights here were few and far between, leaving gaping shadows to dance along the path. Distant voices just reached her ears, unintelligible signs of life. Speeding up her pace, she reached the main road and headed for the dining hall, more than ready to finally relax. ***** Hunter knocked softly on his father's door, knowing that the old man was stringent about procedure. At the bid to enter he gently pushed open the door, shook his father's hand, and settled gracefully into a chair. "What can I do for you, Hunter?" He could have laughed at the attempt at casualness. His father was nothing if not formal, and only an idiot would take his friendliness for weakness. "I want a bigger role in the company," Hunter began. His father hated when people beat around the bush, and there Hunter was going to use every insight he had on the man to get what he wanted. "I'm assuming you have a legitimate reason for thinking you merit this." His father leaned back in his chair, crossing his hands on his desk, his eyes missing nothing. "I've been working with Kevin Duvaldi for a year now. I think I've learned everything I can from him, and I know the inner workings of the company at least as well as he does." He glanced at his father's expression, but it was blank and unyielding. He'd have to make a damn good case to make any headway, and he started by reciting what he'd learned, moving on to ideas he had for the company. An hour later, he finally finished, and waited long minutes for his father to make a response. His heart pounded in his ears; he couldn't ever remember wanting anything this badly, he'd never worked so hard in his life. At last, at last his father drew a breath to answer. "You've shown great potential. I will take your proposition into consideration, but know that you will get no preferential treatment because you are my son." Hunter nearly scoffed, nearly threw away everything he'd just gained a finger hold on, but restrained himself -- just barely. His father had never given him preferential treatment in anything, let alone his precious company. Where his mother was selfish and attention seeking, his father was a cold workaholic. "Thank-you, Mr. Gallagher." With that, he left the study, breathing a sigh of relief as he did so. Inside, he did a little victory dance. All that work, all that time, was about to be rewarded. The only thing he really cared about was within his grasp -- and he needed a little stress relief. Preferably in the form of a little Jack Daniels and some curvy, willing woman. Grinning, he snagged his coat from the rack by the front entrance and headed towards Rico's. ***** Hunter laughed as he won another round of pool, taking the money he'd won from some schmuck. He'd been playing pool since he was nine; no one was better. He waved off the next contender, heading back to the bar for another glass of Jack and coke. Sitting on a stool to wait for his drink, he glanced over at a group of people who'd burst into laughter. A couple disentangled themselves from the crowd and joined the queue at the bar, and Hunter recognized Rachel Durand, some guys arm hooked around her waist. "Sam Adams and a vodka tonic!" the guy shouted to the bartender, then leaned Rachel against the bar. Hunter couldn't hear what they were saying, but from the low tones and Rachel's soft laugh, he could figure it out. The wait seemed to stretch on and on, and he could hear nothing in the din of the bar but the soft murmur of voices and the flirtatious looks they shared. The bastard's hands slipped down to settle on her hips, as he leaned in to whisper something in her ear, and she tilted her head back in laughter. By the time his drink arrived, Hunter's teeth were clenched and his heart was beating a quick rhythm in his ears. What the fuck was she doing? He knew what those guys wanted, mostly because usually he was one of those guys. He watched as the guy led her over to the pool table, and leaned over her, pretending to teach her how to shoot. Hunter scoffed. Rachel was a damn good pool player; this idiot was obviously trying to cop a feel. Taking a swallow of his drink, he watched as Rachel bent over and made an easy shot, laughing. She pressed a kiss to the strangers face and Hunter had had enough. Spinning away from the bar, he grabbed his keys and stormed out, slamming his car door and jerking the car into traffic. ***** Rachel giggled, checking up and down the street for a cab as they left the bar. "Poor guy. I think he actually took me seriously." Cooper laughed, leaning on her a little. "They always take you seriously, Rach. Every time!" She grinned mischievously, readjusting his arm so that she supported him more. "Oh well. And it's a good thing the weather's holding up, 'cuz we're definitely not getting a cab." Groaning in mock-despair, Cooper walked with her across the street and started the trek back to campus. He could feel his buzz wearing off but he kept leaning on Rachel anyway, not wanting to lose the comforting feel of her next to him. Long minutes of silence passed before Rachel slowed and looked up at him. "Dad called today." Glancing down at her, he quickly looked down the street. "Aw, shit, Rach. What is it this time?" She sighed and told him about how her father had decided to sell the house. "Look, I'm probably being really selfish about this, but I just- Why does he have to sell it? I mean, there are bad memories there, but. . . I don't know." "He's gotta move on Rach." "I know that! I do! But what about me? What about what I need? That's the last place I ever saw my mom, and --" She had to stop to keep from crying. His hand squeezed hers, and Rachel looked up at him gratefully. She didn't even know when his palm had enveloped hers, but she drew strength from the connection. "You'll be okay. I promise. You're probably the strongest person I know, and if that's not enough to get you through this, then I don't know what is." She smiled to herself. Cooper could be so sweet when he wanted to be. "And I have you." She whispered, searching his face. "Yeah, you've got me." He replied, his voice husky. He turned away, and she took the opportunity to study his profile. All the girls in high school, and most of them in college were crazy about that face, about Cooper. Rachel knew he was attractive-- she'd have to be blind not to-- but his tousled blonde hair and all-American good looks had never stirred anything inside of her. People had always mistaken them for a couple, much to Rachel's dismay. There was a girl out there for Cooper, but it most definitely wasn't her. Their walk continued in a comfortable silence until they reached her building. "Rach, you know Hunter's just messing with you right? Whatever he's told you, he's just fucking with you." She laughed. "He's just being an asshole like usual." "He acts like-- like you're together or something." She raised an eyebrow. "No. . . that's ridiculous, Cooper! This is Hunter we're talking about here." Cooper nodded. "Yeah. Okay, you're right. Just be careful okay? You and I both know that Hunter is manipulative, and if he wants something out of you-" "What could he want out of me?" Her voice was skeptical. "Rach. The guy likes you." He responded, as if it was obvious. "What? Are you insane? Hunter hates me. He goes out of his way to mess with me!" Cooper laughed. "Yeah, sure Rach. Just don't forget he knows how to get what he wants. I just don't want to see you get hurt." Other guys might have shied away from being so sentimental. Sometimes Cooper did too -- but he knew what she needed to hear, and he wasn't afraid to say it. She smiled. "I know. But really -- even if Hunter does want me, he'd better not hold his breath. I can't stand him. The only reason I speak to him is 'cuz he's helping me with this math." Cooper nodded. "Good. Want me to help you in?" "Nah, I'm good. See you tomorrow?" "Yeah. Laundry?" She groaned. "Unfortunately. At least there's no class." Luckily, even though the rest of her week was packed, Rachel's Wednesdays were free. Waving goodbye as she headed upstairs, she couldn't get one thought out of her head. It raced around, keeping her awake as she slipped into bed. Was Cooper right? Did Hunter like her? She groaned, flipping over onto her stomach. She wasn't in high school. If Hunter wanted her, he could damn well act like it. But for now, she focused on sleeping. Shifting in her bed, Rachel couldn't ignore the glaring fact that she was alone. Sure, she could have a boyfriend, if she wanted one. But relationships had never been easy for her, and she just wasn't a girl who could jump into bed with any guy she met. If she was . . . she couldn't say how resistant she would be to Hunter. She knew he was hot, and his looks appealed to her far more than most other guys. His dark green eyes, strong jaw, and killer smile made the perfect package. Add in his very well developed body, and she could see why it was so easy for him to get girls. But his cruelty towards her, as well as his constant harassment, wiped out how hot he was. Well, almost. ****** Hunter flipped through the keys on his key ring, trying to find the one for his apartment. He heard a soft noise from behind, and spun to see a drenched Rachel. Her cheeks were flushed, her black sweater clinging to her curves. Her drenched curls were pushed back from her face, revealing her lovely ocean eyes. He raised an eyebrow. "Ummm. . . I just wanted to see if you wanted coffee or something. I know we haven't been friends in a long time, but --" "Well, come in. You want creamer? Sugar?" She looked a little surprised, but let him usher her into the room ahead of him. In the darkness, she gasped, and he could see her silhouette, falling. Instinctively he reached out and grabbed her, pulling her close against him. He stifled a groan at the feel of her pebbled nipples against his chest. She looked up, her dark lashes fringing those eyes. The eyes he couldn't say no to, those eyes that were now filled with hunger. Still trying to be a gentleman, he began to step back. "Forget the coffee." She whispered throatily as she pulled him back to her, curling her arms around his neck and pulling his face down to meet hers. Screw manners, he thought, cupping her face in his hands as he pressed his lips against her, relishing her soft, pliable mouth. Without another word, he led her down the hall to his bedroom. The sex was hot and furious, and together they succumbed to exhaustion, letting sleep overtake them. Hunter woke with a start. It was still pitch black in his apartment, and at first, he looked around for Rachel. She wasn't there. She had never been there, he realized with a groan. The sex they'd shared had only been in is dreams, leaving him with the hard-on from hell.