Page 96 of Savage

I listen to their conversation, finding that Bethany can be interesting when she isn’t trying to get a rise out of Hunter. Is that sibling rivalry, maybe? Or something more? I can’t tell. “Would they really bring other people with them?” I find myself asking.

Bethany starts laughing. “Yes. Jacob’s done it before. It’s hilarious watching him try to hide it, when everybody knows what he’s doing.”

“No, Father sometimes doesn’t realize,” Hunter counters. “But only because Father somehow actually believed that—I forgot her name already—was Holly’s personal yoga trainer. Simply there to help with the yoga. Who brings a yoga trainer to Tuscany?”

My mouth goes dry. “He paid for her to go to Italy with you all? Wouldn’t it have been easier to find a local strip club…” I stop, my face going hot when both of them stare at me. My hands clench under the table, and I’m worried I’ve pissed Hunter off again.

He shakes his head, though. “I’ve told him that. I even found a local place for him.”

Bethany rolls her eyes. “I think half of the thrill for Jacob is getting away with it under everybody’s noses, except we all know! I have no clue who he thinks he’s fooling.”

A little emboldened by their response, I say, “Himself?”

Bethany covers her mouth and lets out a laugh. “Yes! Exactly.” She gives me a smile. “If you do come to Hawaii with us, you’ll have to pay attention to Holly and Jacob. Their drama is usually worth the family trip alone. And! I once caught their individual side-fucks making out with each other, too.”

It’s the nicest she’s been to me, and I offer a tentative smile. Now that I’m getting to see a little more of her, I can see she’s the type who likes a captive audience. All I really have to do is give the appropriate minimal reply and she’ll chatter about gossip and the family without coming after me.

Hopefully.

I give her the appropriate scandalized expression. “Did they find out about that?”

“That would require them to pay attention to anything but themselves,” Bethany answers, but she leans in closer to launch into some other family gossip. It’s easy to listen to her when she’s animated like this, and I briefly wonder what tales she has about Hunter.

Hunter squeezes my thigh underneath the table, and I meet his eyes briefly. He gives me the smallest smile.

I return it, grateful that he seems to approve of how I’m handling his sister.

She stays for a little while longer, and despite the amusing stories, I’m beyond ready for her to leave by the time she stands up to excuse herself.

“Don’t tell Mother you’re not coming,” Bethany says. “If you really don’t want to go to Hawaii, just be late for the flight or something. But I think you should come.” Her eyes glance over to me. “Especially if Stef is miraculously still with you by then.”

“She will be,” Hunter answers curtly, crowding Bethany toward the door. “And I’ll think about Hawaii.”

“I’m sure.” She looks past Hunter and waves to me. “Dinner was good, Stef. Take my card, in case you want to call me.” She ignores Hunter’s crowding and pulls a business card out of her purse, reaching past him to hand it to me.

I take it, even though I have a feeling he’ll throw it away. It isn’t as though I’d ever call her, though, so I don’t think I care. “Thank you.” There’s really nothing else to say, and I smile tentatively at her as she takes Hunter’s more than unsubtle hint and leaves.

Once the door is firmly closed—and locked—behind her, I look at Hunter. My entire body is tense again as I wait for a reprimand for having disobeyed him.

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, messing up the careful styling. “This is why I can’t ever let her into my condo. She takes forever to fucking leave.”

I tentatively press myself against him, wrapping my arms around him and resting my head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Master,” I say in a small voice. “I just… The bread…”

“The bread? It was good.” Hunter puts his arms around me and pulls me closer to me. “Let’s go clean up.” He starts leading us toward the dining room. “I really was hoping to just relax tonight, but of course Bethany had to ruin things. At least there was nothing for her to complain about in terms of the food.”

I follow him. “But… Did you enjoy it?” I ask, biting my bottom lip. In the end, I don’t give a fuck whether Bethany liked the food. I just care if Hunter liked more than just the bread, even though it was a simple peasant meal for people who can’t afford to spend a few hundred dollars on a single meal.

“Yes, it was good. Let me know what ingredients or tools you need for other dishes and I’ll have them delivered.” He lets go of me to pick up the dishes and take them to the kitchen.

I follow, starting to tidy up. I already washed out the bowl for the stand mixer and wiped it down, and there’s not much else to clean up after we put the leftovers in the fridge and clean out the slow cooker. The plates are easy enough to put in the dishwasher.

As we work, I say, “Thank you. I… really like the stand mixer. Do you think we could maybe leave it out?” I pause, then attempt a joke, not sure if he’ll like it or scowl at me. “I know it’s a splash of color, but you’re the one who bought it in red instead of industrial white or silver or something.”

Hunter looks at the stand mixer, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What? I just bought the first one listed. And my place isn’t completely white. I don’t know why people keep saying that.”

I quirk a brow. “The only thing that’s not white in the living room is the blue controller for the gaming system. What else has color besides your clothes?” Shit. I shouldn’t mention clothes. He’ll realize I’m wearing them, but… Surely he has to realize it was better than me prancing out in just an apron and nothing else.

“The fridge and ovens are silver,” Hunter says, like that’s a victory. “Anyway, I simply enjoy the look of a clean space.”

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