Echoes of Unrequited Love (Xaviera and Hogan) novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16 

I was fuming inside, and then it hit me that this might be a big misunderstanding. 

Calling for his babe was the real deal. 

As was leaving the door open. 

But Hogan was definitely not looking for me. 

Connecting the dots with Hilary’s mention of a family dinner, I figured Hogan must have had some beef with Cecilla tonight. 

After all, other than Cecilia, no one else could get Mr. High–and–Mighty Hogan to come knocking for peace at this hour. 

Certainly not me. 

With that in mind, I collected myself and reminded him, “Mr. Zade, your babe’s upstairs.” 

After saying that, I tried to shove him away. 

But instead of letting go, Hogan pulled me in even tighter, “Babe, you’re still mad at me, aren’t you?” 

His sweet–talking and clingy hug stoked the fire in my chest even more. 

I gritted my back teeth and said earnestly, “Hogan, you’ve got the wrong person.” 

But Hogan wouldn’t have it, “Too much, huh? Last night you were calling me ‘babe,‘ and now straight to first names?” 

Clearly, the guy was plastered. 

I took a deep breath and said, “Hogan, look up and see who I really am, will you?” 

The man slowly lifted his head, our eyes met, and I caught a glimpse of red at the corner of his 

eyes. 

I was taken aback, feeling like something lightly scratched at my heart, swallowing the words I 

was about to say. 

This was the first time I’d seen Hogan lose his cool like this. 

The next second, he was all over me like a man possessed, pinning me against the foyer. 

When our lips met, I unexpectedly saw a surge of desire in his eyes. 

My breathing was all over the place. 

A total mess. 

It felt like there was a hole in my chest, the more intense Hogan’s kisses, the colder my heart 

got. 

11:39 

Checta 

I couldn’t stand it anymore and bit down on his lip without any courtesy. 

“Hisss.” 

Hogan winced in pain, took a sharp breath, and looked at me in astonishment. 

Ljust watched him calmly, my breathing still erratic, “Clear–headed now?” 

Hogan seemed to still be tangled in the moment, and after a few seconds, he licked the blood off his lip and stormed out the door. 

With the slamming of the door, I collapsed like a deflated balloon, slumping to the ground. 

Come Monday morning, I went to work as usual, only to bump into Cecilia at the elevator. 

The girl was sporting a cute bun, engrossed in messaging. 

She seemed in a good mood. 

When she saw me, she cheerfully greeted, “Hey Xaviera, good morning.” 

The joy in her eyes was obvious. 

Not the look of someone who had been cornered at the Zade family dinner. 

When I thought of Hogan’s disheveled state last night, a flicker of doubt crossed my mind. 

Just then, a man’s voice came from Cecilia’s phone, “You had a tough night too, don’t worry, I’ll handle things at home.” 

Deep and husky, as if he had just woken up. 

Hogan’s voice. 

Cecilia probably didn’t realize she had accidentally turned on the speaker, and after locking the screen, she sneaked a peek at me. 

Then she stepped aside to text back.