by Robin Kaye
“Alan Meeks?”
“That would be him.” Trapper sipped his coffee.
“If you knew what was going down, why didn’t you stop Bianca?”
“Just because Fisher isn’t capable of handling the woman doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have the opportunity to try. Besides, have you looked at Bianca Ferrari? There isn’t a man alive who would mind waking up with her.”
“Except me.”
Trapper groaned. “Spoken by a true casualty of love. We all can’t be so lucky. So how’s Toni taking the news of her boss’s recent adventure?”
“Better than expected, which makes me nervous. We’ve already fought about Bianca after Toni called her to check in. Bianca insinuated there was a hell of a lot more between us than a working relationship.”
“Did you tell her the truth?”
“Yes. Both times.” Hunter winced. “What choice did I have? I was up all night trying to figure out what to say, or a way to avoid it. I had to be straight with her.”
“So you told Toni that Bianca, without invitation, snuck into what she thought was your cabin and Toni bought it?”
“I think so. She thanked me for being straight with her.”
“I can see why you’re nervous. Most women I know wouldn’t take that kind of news well. Since you obviously didn’t get kicked out of Toni’s cabin, what are you doing here bugging me?”
“James is over at our place. He and Toni are putting their heads together trying to figure out how to deal with Bianca.”
Trapper looked up from his coffee and shook his head. “Man, I don’t envy you. Talk about an uncomfortable situation. You’re right in the middle of a nightmare triangle—Bianca, Toni, and the job.”
“Is stating the obvious a judge thing, or is it just one of your many annoying gifts?” Hunter took off his hat and wiped his tired eyes. “Hell, I’d take a few days off if I could, but as the owner I’m under contract to be one of the guides. Bianca’s got me by the short hairs.” He took a deep breath and smelled Bianca’s perfume. One look at Trapper’s sardonic smile confirmed her presence.
She propped a fist full of red lacquered fingernails on her hip. “I don’t remember you complaining last month, but you weren’t sleeping with my manager then either. You’ve been a busy boy, haven’t you, Hunter? I must say, I’m surprised.”
He didn’t want to know why Bianca was surprised by his relationship with Toni. “I guess opposites attract.” He took a long look at Bianca—all six feet of her, taking in the straight blond hair, which was long enough to play peek-a-boo with her breasts as it shimmered in the early light, khaki shorts highlighting the very tan length of her legs, and the black pushup bra that left nothing to the imagination under the almost see-through T-shirt she wore over it. Her green eyes sparkled with nefarious plans only a woman like Bianca could conceive. He didn’t want to talk to her about anything but the job. “We have a team meeting at 9 a.m. then we’re taking the rafts down to Mormon Bend and Rough Creek.”
“I would have thought you’d have already done that shoot. After all, most of it is at your cabin.”
“Toni and James put together the schedule. I didn’t have much to do with it. The crew has been trained on the rafts. We took a float trip down to my cabin on their first day here. Since my sister, Karma, joined the team, James and Toni thought it would be a good idea to get some pictures of her shooting the Shotgun and Sunbeam Dam Class IV rapids.”
“That wasn’t on my list of scheduled shoots.”
“True, but since Karma is an experienced River Runners guide, they thought we could do what you had planned and add more white-water shots. Karma’s up for it, and from what James said she’s a natural model.”
Bianca turned up her perfect patrician nose. “We’ll just see about that.”
She didn’t look enthused, but after last night, Hunter had a feeling there wasn’t much anyone could do to improve her mood.
Trapper had been silent through the whole exchange, which was unusual for him. He watched her unnoticed from under the brim of his hat. “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to get some breakfast. Bianca, would you join me?”
Bianca aimed that cover girl smile she always used on him, and Hunter thanked God Trapper willingly put himself in her line of fire. Hunter wasn’t sure if Trap was taking one for the team, or if His Honor was looking for Bianca to fill one of his seventy-two-hour relationship slots. Hunter didn’t really care to know Trapper’s motivation, but he didn’t hold back a relieved smile. If there was one man who could give Bianca a run for her millions, it was Trapper. He hoped.
“I do have something to discuss with Hunter, but I suppose it can wait.” She slid her sunglasses on and ran both hands through her hair, starting at the base of her scalp and tossing it over one shoulder, posing before pumping up the wattage on her smile. “Breakfast sounds good. I’d love to.” She slid her hand through Trapper’s offered arm.
Trapper nodded at Hunter as he walked her toward the lodge.
Waving her fingers, Bianca shot a grin over her shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”
Damn, he sure hoped his big brother wouldn’t get them all in a heap of trouble.
***
Trapper walked Bianca to the restaurant at the inn and held the chair for her. She hadn’t said a word on the walk over, and he wasn’t about to start the conversation. He learned a long time ago that the less you say, the more you learn. Right now, Trapper was on a mission to learn as much about Bianca Ferrari as humanly possible.
She sat in the chair he held, crossed her uncommonly long, gorgeous legs, and sat so straight he wondered if she’d gone to a finishing school or had studied ballet.
He removed his hat and laid it on the seat next to his as Bianca examined him with the same intensity he’d directed toward her.
Jamie, the server, approached the table. “Coffee?”
Trapper shook his head, holding up his travel mug. Bianca, not knowing any better, turned her cup over. “Thanks.”
Trapper waited until the server poured Bianca’s coffee and left them to their menus. “You might not want to drink that.”
“Why?”
“The inn’s a pretty nice place as long as you bring your own coffee or don’t mind drinking dishwater.”
She bravely took a sip, and from the looks of it, fought the urge to spit it back into her cup. He had to smile at the face she made. He’d bet there were no photos of her wearing that expression on any magazine ads or posters.
“You bring your own coffee?”
He held up his cup. “I sure do. I’d be happy to share if you’re interested.”
“In coffee?”
“That’s what I’m talking about. What were you talking about?”
“We can start with coffee I suppose, and see where we go from there.”
Her face was blank. He’d always been great at reading people, but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out what was going on in that mind of hers. She let nothing show. He looked over the menu and set it aside.
“Any other warnings you want to issue?”
“About what?”
“I don’t know—the food, the people? I’ve already heard about Hunter and Toni. From the sound of it, they’ve been going hot and heavy since she met him. I have to tell you. I never would have thought those two would be at all compatible.”
“Why’s that?”
“Toni is afraid of the wild, and Wild Thing is Hunter’s middle name.”
“People grow. Toni’s obviously conquered her fear. And there is a lot you don’t know about Hunter. He doesn’t open up to many people, especially not clients.”
“We spent a week together less than a month ago, and no matter what you might think, I’m hardly a typical client.”
“Your pers
onal fantasies aside, Hunter never mixes business with pleasure. You’re the client—that puts you in the ‘do not touch’ category in his book.”
“And Toni’s not?”
He just smiled. “She’s not the client. She works for the client, so she falls into the ‘tread carefully’ category. Obviously, Hunter thought Toni was worth the risk.”
“I guess time will tell.”
“So, are you going to tell me why you felt the need to fly all the way out here to check on a shoot that, for all intents and purposes, is going like clockwork?”
“Action Models is my business. This shoot is for one of my largest clients, and in this position, Toni is untried. Sure she’s done a few shoots in the city, but when it comes to her personal handicaps, I felt it would be better for me to take over.”
“I might have bought it if you hadn’t snuck into what you thought was Hunter’s cabin. Since you did, you’re gonna have to come up with a better one than that, sweetheart.”
“I’m not your sweetheart, and I don’t have to explain anything to you.”
“I don’t suppose you do. But as Hunter’s brother and legal advisor, I think it only fair to warn you that nowhere in your contract with River Runners does it give you the right to anything other than a guide service.”
“What are you? A fishing guide and a lawyer?”
Trapper sat back and smiled. “Yes, ma’am, and a judge too.”
Bianca laughed, and for the first time he saw the woman behind the mask. “Sure you are. On what planet?”
“The planet earth. The State of Idaho specifically.” He pulled out his wallet, removed his card, and handed it to her.
“Judge Trapper Kincaid, Fourth Judicial District Court of the State of Idaho.” She looked at the card and then scratched at the embossed state seal before returning her gaze to him. “If you’re a judge then what are you doing working as a River Runner?”
“Just taking a vacation and helping out my little brother.”
“Some vacation.”
“I think so. It’s been a lot of fun escorting a bunch of beautiful women around the wilderness. You can’t beat the scenery—not to mention the beauty of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.”
“Do you do this often?”
“Take beautiful women out to breakfast? As often as I can. Between my courtroom gig, helping out River Runners on special occasions, and taking time off to ski, my docket’s pretty full. What about you?”
Storm clouds brewed in her eyes.
“Oh, that’s right. You like the less traditional approach. I think you would have had Fisher if you hadn’t called him by his twin’s name. They’re a little sensitive when it comes to that. The two of them were almost indistinguishable when they were younger. They hated when people confused one for the other, well, except when they’d switched places, which they did often. But back to you. I assume you’re usually more successful than you were last night. Was this just a one off or something you do regularly?”
Bianca took the coffee cup in front of her and tossed the contents right in his face, wiped her hands on the napkin, and left.
Good thing the coffee there was not only bad, but lukewarm.
Chapter 16
“Your brother’s a pig.”
Hunter tossed aside a life vest and looked into Bianca’s angry eyes. “I take it breakfast with Trapper didn’t go well.” He smiled when he saw Trapper walk by, his once white T-shirt stained light brown and plastered to his chest.
“What makes you think that?”
“Just a feeling. I’m told his brand of charm grows on you.”
“That’s doubtful, but I didn’t come all this way to talk to Judge Trapper Kincaid. I have a proposition for you.”
Hunter leaned against the back of his Land Cruiser. “If it’s anything like the one you had for me or Fisher last night, I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline.”
Bianca looked away, and if he wasn’t mistaken, she blushed. “It’s not.” She squared her shoulders and continued. “This is business, and although I had hoped we could mix business with pleasure, it’s certainly not a condition of the deal.”
“What kind of deal?” Hunter locked the truck before grabbing his gear and throwing it over his shoulder.
“The kind that will take your plans to expand that little camp of yours and make them a reality.”
“River Runners Camp?”
“Yes. You mentioned it when we scheduled this shoot. Remember you sandwiched our shoot between the weeks you had the camp operating? I researched what you’ve done with the camp, and I contacted your friend Pat in LA—the rest is history. Come on.” She took his arm and led him toward the cabins.
Hunter was more than a little skeptical. He didn’t think Bianca was a bad person, just egocentric and maybe a little on the narcissistic side, which was probably typical among supermodels… or ex-supermodels in Bianca’s case.
“I merely saw an opportunity for both of us to profit. Why do you think I skipped the first half of this shoot? I wanted to see if there was any corporate interest before I approached you.”
“Interest in what?”
“A way to make us both fabulously wealthy and still satisfy your more altruistic tendencies. Come. I have the plans in my cabin.” When Hunter hesitated she stopped. “Problem?”
“No.” Bianca was his client, and they had business to discuss. The fact that it happened in her cabin shouldn’t make any difference. He hoped.
She unlocked the door and tossed her bag on the couch. “Make yourself at home.”
That was something Hunter was not going to do. He left the door open, only closing the screen door behind him, and stood in front of it as she dug through what looked like the world’s largest designer purse. When she pulled out a laptop, he figured it must be a briefcase.
Bianca slid a file folder out of the bag and shuffled through papers. “When I flew back to New York last month, I started thinking about all the amazing work you do with those kids at your camp. I knew there had to be a way you and I could work together to our benefit as well as the camp.”
“Bianca, the only ones who should benefit are the kids. That’s what River Runners Camp is all about.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Sure, it will help the kids, but there’s no reason we shouldn’t profit from it too. And by going in on it with KidSports, the company I’ve contacted, we’ll all come out ahead. You see, KidSports wants to proudly sponsor River Runners Camp, generously fund it, and supply all the clothes and any equipment you’ll need. Action Models will work on the marketing campaign that will feature the kids and all the good work you do at the camp, giving it fabulous, free exposure. It’s a win-win situation for all those involved. You, me, the camp, and KidSports.”
“And the kids. Bianca, this is all about the kids.” Still, he got more than a little queasy at the thought of the kids having to cute it up as models.
“Sure, sure.” She waved her bejeweled hand. “That’s a given. KidSports is very interested. They do have some conditions though, and I’m sure you will too. I’ve drawn up a deal memo with everything we’ve discussed so far. Nothing is set in stone. I just wanted to make sure there was a high degree of interest on their part before I approached you with the idea.”
She handed him a pile of papers. He paged through information about KidSports—a company he had done business with for several years since he carried their merchandise in his store.
He looked from the sheaf of papers to Bianca, who bounced in front of him with her perfect C-cup breasts jiggling.
Turning to the next section titled “Deal Memo,” he scanned the page. The initial investment amount made him almost swallow his tongue. With that kind of money, he’d be able to complete all three phases of his River Runners ten-year plan.
He’d have the money to build the cabins, a dining hall, and a kitchen. He’d be able to hire several child psychologists and social workers instead of using volunteers the way he had in the past. He could house kids year-round, whenever they were out of school, which would give River Runners more time with each camper. A week or two once or twice a year wasn’t enough to make a lasting impact on the kids. With KidSports funding, that wouldn’t be a problem.
Hunters mind spun. He swallowed hard and tried not to get his hopes up too high. “I’m going to need to take some time and look at this more closely, but I have to tell you, Bianca, I really like what I see so far. Thank you.”
She threw herself against him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. He stepped back, almost hitting the screen door behind him. “Bianca.”
She loosened her grip but didn’t let him go. “Oh Hunter. This is going to be just perfect—you and I working together. You’ll have the camp you always dreamed of. I’ll have the contract for the KidSports catalogue. All those kids will get what they need, and we’ll all be paid very well.”
He wasn’t sure how to disengage himself from her without looking like an ungrateful ass. So she kissed him on the lips, but it was just a kiss, and it wasn’t like he kissed her back.
“Bianca,” He stepped back, thankful the screen door was on a spring and not a latch. “This is a lot to take in. Let me go and read this. Do me a favor. Don’t say anything about this to anyone until we talk again, okay?”
She looked a little disappointed, not to mention confused. “Okay, but we’ll talk soon, right?”
Hunter backed away. “Yes. I just need a little time to look this over.” He turned and walked toward his and Toni’s cabin.
When he unlocked the door, he was glad Toni wasn’t there. He had to figure out what to tell her. He dug out the dating book he’d been reading while he scanned the deal memo. Maybe the book would have some advice on how women handle situations such as this.