by Robin Kaye
Hunter sat perusing the book she’d set on her bedside table—He Comes First: How to Find Your Perfect Man and Marry Him.
She didn’t know which was more mortifying, her behavior, or the fact that he knew she was reading that book. “It’s not mine.”
Hunter peered over the top of the book and raised an eyebrow. He must have practiced that look since he was a kid. It bothered her that it worked.
“Okay, it’s mine, but I didn’t buy it. My mother sent it to me. She believes in marriage—she must since she keeps trying it, over and over and over. After number five I thought she’d give up, but apparently she hasn’t.”
The man said nothing.
“Some girls might find the strong, silent type attractive. I don’t.”
He turned the page and kept reading.
“Just so you know, I’m not looking for a husband, but I would like to have a healthy, long-term relationship. So I thought, what could it hurt? You know? It stands to reason you’d look for the same thing in a long-term relationship as you would in a spouse. I mean, really, marriage is nothing more than a long-term relationship with a license attached and a divorce in the making. Since I’m not into doing paperwork or being legally bound to anyone, I plan to forgo the whole wedding thing.”
When he didn’t comment, she blew her hair off her face and crossed her arms. “Are you always so talkative?”
“With you it’s hard to get a word in edgewise.” Hunter closed the book and held his finger in it as if not wanting to lose his place. He’d gotten farther into it than she had. “I thought I’d let you finish.”
“I’m done.”
He set the book on the table and slid the chair around to face her. The tall bed put them eye-to-eye. “No, you’re not.”
Toni took a deep breath. She wasn’t known for her patience, but dug for it, since pissing him off on their first day was probably not a good idea—especially considering she’d have to work with him for the next week. God help her. “I think I would know when I’m finished babbling. I usually don’t babble. I may talk to myself or mumble on occasion, but I never babble. You caught me off guard. I thought you were James. He’s the only one brave enough to come into my cabin without an invitation. This begs the question, what made you think it’s okay to waltz in uninvited?”
Hunter threw his ankle over his knee as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “I’m not much of a waltzer. Walking usually works for me.” He cocked his head and grinned. “Though there have been times I’ve found running effective. I told James I was going after you, and he didn’t try to stop me.”
“The charm is so not working on me. I deal with beautiful men on a daily basis. I’m immune. So since James didn’t stop you, you assumed you had permission to invade my personal space? Why?”
The corner of his mouth quirked up. “It wasn’t as if you stopped me either.”
“I would have had I known it was you.”
“But you didn’t, and I’m here. Why don’t you tell me what you’re so afraid of?”
Toni shook her head. “That’s personal.”
“And your mother’s five marriages aren’t? Not to mention your low opinion of the institution of marriage and your interest in hooking up with someone.”
“I’m not interested in hooking up.”
His eyebrow rose again.
“Not hooking up the way most people think of hooking up. I’d just like to have a normal, stable relationship with a normal, stable man.”
She snapped her mouth shut, not sure why she was even talking to him about this, especially since it didn’t look as if he was buying it. Since it was the God’s honest truth, his cynicism ticked her off. She pulled her pillow onto her lap, hugging it to her chest. “What?”
“Maybe our definition of normal is different. I can’t see you going out with anyone boring enough to be defined as normal.”
She sat up a little straighter. The guy certainly knew how to get under her skin, and not in a good way. “You don’t know anything about me.”
His low, sexy chuckle grated on her nerves. “Toni, I’ve learned more about you in the last half hour than I know about most of my best friends.”
“You don’t know much about your friends then, do you?”
“I know how long their skis are, how much they weigh, their favorite beer, what kind of flies they tie, and who they’re married to or dating—all the important stuff. Now why don’t you tell me what’s got you so spooked you almost passed out at the thought of taking a raft down a lazy river?”
“No.”
“Afraid of the water?”
Damn, the man could have been a cop. All he was missing was the bare lightbulb. “Not particularly.”
“Then what is it?”
“None of your business.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I own River Runners, which makes you one of my guests. Everything about you that affects the quality of your experience is my business.”
“Nice try, but no cigar. The only thing you’re responsible for is following the schedule I emailed you last week and keeping my models safe. The rest is my business and mine alone.”
He stood and inspected the living area of the small cabin as if he expected to see something more than the rustic couch, coffee table, chair, TV, desk, and a few lamps. He returned to the bedroom section against the far wall, peeked into the bathroom, and then opened the closet, which served as a partition separating the two spaces. “Did you get everything on the packing list?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Because you can’t wear a getup like that on the raft tomorrow.” He reached into her closet and pulled out her checkerboard, slip-on, canvas Vans.
He was going through her closet? She got off the bed and pulled her sneakers from his huge hands. “Do you always invade everyone’s personal space and property, or am I just special?”
“These will work fine. You might want to put on a bathing suit or at least swap that skirt for a pair of shorts. Oh, and don’t forget your sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat tomorrow. I’ll be here at 9:00 a.m. sharp.” He grabbed a hoodie out of her closet. “Everyone’s meeting up by the lodge for the barbecue. You might think about changing into a pair of jeans. And I’m sure you’ll need this.” He tossed the hoodie to her; she caught it with one hand. “Once the sun ducks behind the mountains, the temperature drops. I’ll wait outside for you to change.”
“You ignored my question.”
Hunter turned and looked her up and down again. “I didn’t ignore it. I don’t know the answer yet.”
“You don’t know if you invade everyone’s personal space?”
“No, I don’t know if you’re special, but I’m looking forward to finding out.”
***
Hunter stepped outside. He leaned against the closest tree, pulled his sat-phone off his belt, and dialed his sister. God, this was going to kill him.
“Speak.”
“Great phone manners, Karma.”
“Ha, you’re just jealous you can’t answer the same way, Mr. Businessman.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. I need a favor.” He could almost hear her deciding how to make him pay. “I need you to buy me a book and bring it up here tomorrow.”
“Oooh, this is gonna cost you. What book and where?”
“You have a pen handy?”
“Do I need one? It’s not one of those boring treatises on history or literature you’re so fond of, is it? If it is, I’m going to charge you twenty bucks a pound to lug it all the way up there. And why the urgency?”
“It’s a paperback, and no, it’s nothing like my usual reading material. You have to promise you’ll keep this a secret.” Man, he was going to be paying for this forever.
“This is just getting better a
nd better. What is it? The Joy of Sex or something?”
“Worse. It’s called He Comes First: How to Find Your Perfect Man and Marry Him.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
He pulled off his hat and wiped his brow on his forearm. “Unfortunately, no.”
“Spill.”
“That’s not part of the deal.”
“It is if you want to get your hands on a copy in the near future.”
“Fine.” He held back a groan. “A woman I know is reading it. I just thought it was something I could use—”
“To become her perfect man?”
“No… well, maybe for a little while. I thought it could be fun to screw with her.”
“Literally, figuratively, or both?”
“Not your business.”
“And what about that whole ‘men come first’ thing? I thought the woman was always supposed to come first, sexually speaking, of course. But maybe that’s just wishful thinking.”
“I’m not talking to you about this. Are you going to bring me the book or not?”
“Okay, I’ll bring it, but you owe me big. What’s her name?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“The usual reasons. I’m a nosy little sister, and I want to meet the woman who would incite you to call me and ask me for something you know you’ll never live down.”
“Karma, how about this? If you don’t bring me the book, I’ll tell Trapper who backed into his brand-new Sequoia.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wanna bet?”
“Fine. I’ll bring you the damn book, and I’ll find out on my own who the lucky lady is. Heck, I’ll probably know more about her than you do before I’m halfway to wherever it is you expect me to deliver your package.”
“Doubtful.”
“Which reminds me, where are you?”
“I’m up at the Sawtooth Inn now. Tomorrow morning we’re taking a raft trip to my place. When can you come?”
“Lucky for you, tomorrow’s my day off. I guess I can meet you at the cabin. Want me to bring anything else since I’m making the trip?”
“Has Mom made any cookies lately?”
“I’m sure she will if she knows you want some. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. Call me if there’s a change of plans.”
“Will do… and Karma? Mum’s the word, okay?”
“Sure, but it’ll cost you.”
“Believe me, I know.” He ended the call and waited. He’d give Toni another three minutes, and then he was going in after her.
Hunter checked his watch and called Emilio, one of the campers he’d worked with and wished he could have kept longer. Emilio had begun to show progress just in time to go back to the streets. “Emilio, it’s Hunter.”
“Hey.”
Street sounds came blaring through the phone. “What’s up?”
“Just hangin’.”
“Pat said you missed curfew last night. What’s up with that?”
“Dude, I had my girl with me. I wasn’t thinkin’ ’bout no curfew.”
“You should be thinking about your curfew, but more importantly—be safe. Real men protect themselves and their girls.”
“I hear ya. Hey, I gotta go. Later.”
“Emilio, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” The phone went dead.
Hunter cursed under his breath. Emilio didn’t believe him, and why should he? He had absolutely no reason to think Hunter would follow through on his promises. No one else in his life ever had.
Hunter slammed the phone back onto his belt and felt like punching the tree he leaned against. Emilio was slipping away, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. It was a good thing he had another problem to concentrate on.
Just as he turned toward the cabin, Toni stepped out wearing skintight black pants with what looked like black leather suspenders hanging from the waistband. The pants were tucked into tall, high-heeled black boots that laced up the front and had four black straps hanging from hooks and draping around the calf. Hunter swallowed hard as his gaze moved up to the black-and-white-striped top that fit her like a second skin. She wore the same wrist cuffs she’d worn earlier, but she’d changed collars; this one sported studs and rings with silver chains draped between them. Her hair was down and so straight and shiny, it looked fake. She caught her bright red bottom lip between her teeth and watched him with wide eyes. She looked like something out of a steaming hot sexual fantasy. He’d never had a sexual fantasy of the Goth variety before. He was pretty sure that was about to change.
The shadows lengthened, and although it didn’t get dark until after ten at night in high summer, the first hint of the evening chill had settled. Hunter cleared his suddenly dry throat. “You forgot a jacket.”
“Oh.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m not going to stay long.” Her gaze skittered to the edge of the clearing and back to him.
“We’re having a bonfire after the barbecue. Come on, it’ll be fun.” He took her arm and walked her toward the barbecue.
“Yeah. Fun is subjective… obviously.”
He wasn’t sure why she was so nervous, but whatever it was, it had her wound tighter than a duck’s ass. The farther they got from her cabin, the slower she walked, and the more often she glanced back.
Maybe she was reconsidering going back for her jacket or possibly rethinking the outfit choice. She looked fine to him. Mouthwateringly so. But he figured Karma would probably think Toni was overdressed. He didn’t know what they wore at barbecues in New York, though if the few episodes of Sex and the City he was forced by assorted girlfriends to watch were accurate, they dressed a whole lot different for just about everything. In Idaho, shorts or jeans and T-shirts were good for every occasion except weddings and funerals.
She stopped dead in her tracks, and Hunter almost stumbled over his own feet.
“You know, I’m really tired. It’s been a long day, and I’m still on Eastern time.” She backed away. “I think I’ll just go back to my cabin and crash.”
“You’re not even going to eat?”
She shook her head and bolted.
Since Toni looked more terrified than tired or angry, Hunter didn’t take it personally. He just wanted to know what had her so upset.
When he arrived at the barbecue, James was deep in conversation with Trapper.
Trapper shook his head, dug a twenty-dollar bill out of his pocket, and handed it to James. “Little brother, I’m disappointed in you.”
“Yeah, and why is that?”
“I just lost a bet to James that you’d have Toni out of her cabin in under a half hour.”
“I had her out of the cabin and halfway to the barbecue before she made up some excuse about being tired and bolted. What’s going on with her?”
James let out a sigh. “That, my friend, is Toni’s story to tell. If she chooses to share it with you, she will. I’ll fix her a plate and make sure she’s okay.”
Shit. Hunter had wanted to do the same thing, but then barging into Toni’s cabin uninvited twice in one day might not be the best idea. “I need to know what’s going on, James. I can’t do my job if I have to be afraid of Toni freaking out and disappearing. This isn’t New York.”
“I believe Toni is painfully aware of that. I’ll talk to her, and we’ll see you all in the morning.”
James made his way to the buffet that had been set up and piled two plates with food before moseying off in the direction of Toni’s cabin.
Trapper handed Hunter a cold one. “James said she’s not into the great outdoors.”
“Yeah, that much is obvious, not to mention an understatement. She’s terrified. Why is a mystery—she’s told me everything but.”
>
“Everything?” Trapper speared Hunter with the look he had that makes everyone spill his guts. Everyone but Hunter, that is.
“Nice try, Trap, but that hasn’t worked on me since I got caught under the bleachers with Jeannie Coleman in the sixth grade.” Hunter took a draw off his beer before going to get some grub, leaving Trapper to give up on the idea of an inquisition. Hunter wasn’t about to say anything that might incriminate himself. He knew better.
***
James knocked on the screen door to Toni’s cabin with his foot. “Toni, it’s James.”
“Come on in. Everyone else does.”
His girl sounded disappointed. She must have expected Hunter. “I can’t get the door. My hands are full.”
The door opened a crack, and Toni looked out before opening it fully.
“Did you think I’d bring the paparazzi?”
“As if, I was just making sure Hunter wasn’t lurking.” She moved aside to let James in. “Hunter just walked right in here earlier as if he owned the place. I thought he was you. I was shocked when I found out who it was.”
James handed her a plate. “Oh, so I was right. You are disappointed.”
Poor Toni was completely flummoxed. “Now or then?”
“Both.” But she was definitely disappointed now.
Toni gave him a confused look, and avoiding both the table and the subject, took her meal to her bed and crawled up, sitting cross-legged in her vintage cabbage rose, blue, and white cotton pajamas. She’d taken off the collar and wristbands. With her hair down, she looked like every other pretty twenty-six-year-old woman. Unfortunately, he was the only one who ever saw the softer side of Toni. She wore her Goth clothes like armor. James understood why. He just wished she did.
Toni took a bite of a barbecued chicken leg. “Thanks for bringing me dinner. I was getting hungry. I tried to go…” She licked her finger and then waved her hand. “I just couldn’t.”
“You’re welcome.” James sat at the end of the bed and leaned against the footboard facing her. “I’m sure if I hadn’t thought of it first, Hunter would have brought you something. He’s a good guy, not to mention single and gorgeous.”