Free Possessed by Passion by Brenda Jackson

heartstrings?”
    â€œYes.”
    Hunter raised a brow. “What does my heart have to do with it?”
    â€œBecause you’re still in love with him.”
    Hunter shook her head. Now she had heard everything. “Nadine, why would anyone think I’m still in love with Carter?”
    â€œBecause you haven’t been seriously involved with anyone since your divorce. You didn’t date when you were here in Boston and from what Carter is hearing, you haven’t dated anyone since you’ve moved back to Phoenix.”
    Hunter frowned. “And how can he know that?”
    There was a pause on the line before Nadine said, “Carter has friends in Phoenix and they occasionally report back to him on your activities. You’re not involved with anyone so it seems you’re still carrying a torch for him.”
    â€œWell, whoever thinks that is dead wrong.”
    â€œI’m glad. I was getting worried. You did the right thing by ending your marriage to my son.”
    Hunter frowned. “That’s not what you told me, Nadine.”
    â€œI know. But trust me, I did you a favor. I saw what was happening and refused to let you become a mini-me. Carter had begun treating you like Lewis treated me. You had started believing the lies and accepting his behavior. I knew you deserved better. The best thing you did was divorce my son. He’s out of your life and I hope you won’t let him back in.”
    Hunter hated admitting it, but Nadine was right. She had started letting Carter get away with murder and he knew it. Instead of divorcing him, for two years she had bought into his crap that her life would be nothing without him. She’d opted to stay married to him but moved into the guest bedroom.
    It had been goodbye and good riddance to Carter Robinson. And that’s the way she would keep it.
    â€œTrust me, Nadine, there’s no way I will ever get back with Carter. And if he has this bizarre delusion that I’m still in love with him then he is dead wrong.”
    â€œGood. I’m glad you moved back to Phoenix. But you need to get involved with someone. You need a life. As long as you don’t have one, Carter is going to think he has a chance with you again.”
    As far as Hunter was concerned, Nadine had no right to tell her what she needed. And Carter could think whatever he wanted. “Let me assure you, Nadine, I do have a life.”
    â€œSo you’re seeing someone?”
    Tyson’s image suddenly came into her mind. “Yes, I am seeing someone. In fact I’ll be meeting him for dinner in a couple of hours.” What she’d just said hadn’t been a total lie.
    â€œI’m glad. I know you probably won’t ever forgive me for siding against you during the divorce, but I did what I felt I had to do for your own good. Goodbye, Hunter. I wish you the best and hope your young man makes you happy.”
    â€œGoodbye, Nadine.”
    Hunter clicked off the phone, shaking her head. Carter actually thought he could show up in Phoenix with a plan to get her back? Did he really think she was pining away for him just because she hadn’t gotten seriously involved with anyone since their divorce?
    At that moment her phone rang and she recognized Mo’s ringtone. She was glad it wasn’t Nadine calling her back. “Yes, Mo?”
    â€œKat called earlier. She has a date and Eric decided to come to town this weekend. Just wanted to make sure you’d be okay.”
    She shook her head. “You guys don’t have to keep me company like I don’t have a life, you know.” At that moment Hunter realized she had lied to Nadine because in all honesty, she really didn’t have a life.
    â€œMo, can I ask you something?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œDo you think I’m still in love with Carter?”
    There was a pause. “To be honest with you, the thought had crossed my mind a time or two. Where did that