Page 74 of The Huntress and Her Hound

Henry pulls away from the curb, and the tension in the car is enough to choke anyone within ten feet. He finally clears his throat. “How was lunch with Sarah?”

Jude laughs.

Henry shoots him a dirty look.

I wipe the sweat from my forehead. “Fine.”

“The first house we’re looking at was your top choice. I was hoping Lydia would be here to go with us, but it didn’t work out.”

“Maybe you could just go home,” I say flatly. “It seems you might be happier there.”

“I think that’s a great fucking idea,” Jude says, his tone still monotone and unwavering. “I’m tired of the heat myself.” My stomach curls at his words, and I can’t help but steal a look at him. This time, he’s looking back—and the warmth of his gaze, so opposite of his voice, nearly serves to undo me.

“You can go back to California whenever you want,” I tell him.

“I’m aware,” Jude replies, his eyes dropping momentarily to my lips. “But I’ve yet to explore the desert.”

“Why would you want to?” Henry chuckles.

Jude pulls his gaze from mine and leans his head against the seat. “The desert is full of wildlife, and you want to know one of the most elusive of them all?”

“Sure, I’m just dying to fucking know,” Henry says wryly.

“The Mojave Rattler,” Jude says, his eyes focused on the window. “Deadliest pit viper in the desert, too. I’d like to find one. No, actually, I think I won’t stop until I do find it.”

“Interesting mission,” Henry rolls his eyes. “You’re such a nerd.”

“You know what’s crazy though?” Jude continues, his off-topic infomercial as weird as it is intriguing.

“What’s that?” Henry takes the bait.

“If you put a Black Widow up against the Mojave Rattlesnake, the spider would win when it comes to venom toxicity ounce for ounce. However, her fangs are too tiny to pack the punch that the rattlesnake does. So, when up against humans, the rattler would win—but when up against each other...The Black Widow would beat the snake. Just imagine if they were on the same team.”

Henry makes a face. “Wow, who needs National Geographic when you’re around.”

Though I feel a stirring, I have no idea what Jude’s speech is actually referring to, and before I have a chance to think it through, the car pulls into the long driveway of the two-story desert paradise, perched on the side of a low-spanning mountain.

“This is a nice place,” Henry comments as he pulls through the circle drive, parking next to a Jeep with a realtor sign on the back.

“Yeah.” I take in the two-story stucco with a wall of windows. I’d have to buy curtains. “It’s a long drive to work though.”

“So stop working,” Jude scoffs, kicking his door open with his foot. “We all know big brother will foot the bill.”

“Why the fuck did you even come?” Henry fires off at him.

“Entertainment value, really,” Jude snaps back.

I roll my eyes at the two of them and climb out, my phone buzzing in my purse. I can’t read it, the screen still broken.

“How’d that happen?” Jude’s voice is right behind me, and I quickly shove it back into my purse. I spin around to see him popping a cigarette into his mouth.

“I dropped it,” I answer him as he lights the end of it and takes a draw. I’m taken aback by him smoking, but I don’t comment. It’s stupid to point out something I didn’t know about him, when he truly doesn’t know anything about me.

“Come on,” Henry calls to me. “Jude will look at the exterior and meet us inside.”

“Better go,” Jude nods toward the door, where a middle-aged blonde woman in slacks, heels, and a bright pink blouse is waiting for us.

“Can we talk later?” I blurt, instantly biting down on my lip for being so fucking desperate. “Please.”

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