What You Don't Know (Sequel to "Secret Love")(Hunter Hayes/James Marsden)

Ulterior Motives

What's this?! Another update?! WHAT IS GOING ON?!

Well, hey. I am on spring break this week! :D Hopefully that means I'll have lots of time for updates and writing and just everything. (:

There were a couple of comments on the last chapter about Hunter's escalating situations. xD You guys are awesome. Dude though, if this story was real, I can't imagine how hard Hunter's situation would be. Or Beth's for that matter!

Are you guys liking this story? :D Leave me a comment and vote it up! I'd love to hear your thoughts! ;) Better or worse than "Secret Love"? Equal? 

God Bless and Happy Reading! 

Trenton sat, his thumb pressed over his mouth, which was pulled down in a frown. Across the room, Bethany was digging through a box of costumes, throwing articles of clothing into a separate container to pass along to the seamstresses. Her cute body was tied up in a pink dress he had seen many times, and her hair was loose and curlier than usual.

He wanted her. There was no other way to put it. He knew it he did not make a move soon, he would lose his chance forever. Already she had been here four weeks, and he had only said a handful of words to her that had not pertained to their professional business.

He lifted himself from the chair and smoothed out his ridiculous comb-over. He brushed a few grains of salt from the front of his shirt from the peanuts he was constantly eating. As he ambled across the concrete floor, he stared at Bethany and tried to soften his naturally hard gaze.

Bethany looked up in surprise when she caught sight of Trenton. She had been so caught up in her own thoughts that she had barely noticed his footsteps on the grey tile. She stood up straight and pushed her dress down. This was Hunter's favorite dress. She had almost not brought it with her, knowing it would only serve as a painful memory of him, but, judging by the way Trenton was looking her over now, it had been a good decision to pack it anyway.

She had been puzzling all day over how she was to get Trent alone long enough to gently pry into his personal life. She figured the easiest way was to begin dating him, but how was she to do that? Since she had returned, he had shown less than little interest in her, and he had never seemed the kind of man who would welcome a woman's advances. He would most likely see it as an arrogant attempt to emasculate his male role.

She had only just determined to try asking him out in spite of that possibility, but his next words put her at ease.

"Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?" He struggled to speak more gently, hoping not to scare her away. He had, over the course of his years as a hired hit man, schooled his tone to be brusque and ominous, but Bethany was not one to be wooed by such an affectation. If he wanted to win her over, he needed to show her that he had a kinder, more tender underbelly.

Bethany smiled brightly, internally sighing in relief that she would not have to do the asking herself. She nodded emphatically, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Yes! I'd love to!" She replied, surprising him with her enthusiasm. She saw him puff out his chest a bit, and wanted to laugh.

Trenton let himself smile in return, and watched as she tilted her head to the side a bit. Bethany hardly ever saw him smile, and was disconcerted by what it did to her. He was far more attractive when he smiled. He was by no means irresistible, and could never achieve the level attraction that Hunter held with her, but when he smiled, he seemed much more friendly. She could not hate Trenton McDermott when he smiled.

"Wonderful." He said the word almost reverently, and it made her blush. Why did it feel as though he were talking about more than her acceptance? Was, in fact, calling her wonderful, and not just their upcoming plans?

"I'll pick you up at eight." He turned to leave, but stopped himself. He had trained himself never to linger too long in a conversation, else he appear suspicious to a discerning eye, but this was a different situation. He had to give the appearance that he trusted her, that he liked her. So, he forced himself to turn around and say something else. "Is that okay?"

She nodded, wanting to laugh again. She had never seen him act this way: so unsure, almost awkward. Again she marveled at the mission she had been given. How could he possibly be a criminal?

He tried to rape you, Bethany. Or did you forget that?

Her subconscious reminded her of that awful fact, and her face paled. She choked down a gulp of revulsion and stammered, "Y-yes. That's f-fine."

Trenton noted her sudden hesitance and realized that he was pushing his luck. He needed to retreat, quickly, else she change her mind. He, too, recalled what he had attempted the day she had left him.

"Good. I'll see you then." He smiled once more, then paced away, praying she would not call his name and call it off.

Bethany let out a breath, then sucked in another. I'm going on a date with Trenton McDermott. I'm going on a date with the man who tried to rape me. She gasped for air for a moment, but eventually regained her composure. It was just a date. A simple date. She would grill him for information, tell Jeremy Willakers and Reese Thereon what he had revealed, and then maybe, just maybe, she would be allowed to return to the love of her life.

You can do this, Bethany.