Page 106 of Five Alarm Love
Amplified his request.Reached millions of other people.His followers had Sherlock Holmesed the information.
Now, how to use the gift he had been given?
The answer appeared in the tent, right in front of him.Hunter’s and Steve’s heads were bent toward one another as they talked, Hunter gesturing with his hands.Whatever he was saying, Lou’s dad was buying it, judging from his nods and smiles.
Lou joined them, and Hunter slung an arm around her shoulders.Tuli almost bolted right for the guy.Instead, he strolled toward them, remaining unseen in the shadows.
“We’ll have the mine producing by next spring.The corporation and the town will retain all rights,” he said.“Just subcontract me to coordinate the permitting and project management.”
Steve asked, “Why should you be the one to do this?”
“I’m the perfect bridge.I’m from here, so everyone trusts me, but I also have connections outside of Alaska.I have the mine management training.”
“Connections?”Lou asked.
Hunter kept his eyes on her father.“You all are about to have money flowing into this town like you’ve never seen before.We’re all about to become very rich.”He pulled out a paper.“With the help of my contacts.”
“I need to talk with the committee,” Steve said.
“You need to make this decision soon.The company I’m working with books projects years in advance.They’re making an exception for you all, but the offer’s only good until Monday.I’ve already put them off as long as I can.If you want this for Yukon Valley, you need to sign.I’ll send the paperwork right over to my contacts.”
Tuli strolled up.“I bet you do have some contacts.”
Lou frowned and tried to move away from Hunter, but his grip tightened around her shoulders.
Tuli rolled his hand into a fist, ready to remove Hunter’s arm permanently.
“Tulimak,” Steve said.
“Sir.”
“We’re having a private conversation.”
“At a public event.”Tuli motioned around him.
Lou gasped.
Hunter glared at him.
“Also, my grandma is part of the committee, as well as a lot of other people here.Don’t you think they should be involved in these… pressured negotiations?”He weighted the word with a splash of sarcasm.
Hunter rose to the bait, face reddening.“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“For a guy who walked right into town, picked up a job with the fire department he never intended to keep, and then invited himself into the town subcommittee on managing the mining rights, your real goals seem to still be running under the radar.Wonder why that is?”
“What?”Hunter said.
“Tuli, this is not your concern.”Steve said.“If you want to come with Ruth to the next meeting, you can bring your questions up then.”
“Dad,” Lou said, forehead furrowed.
“Oh, I have questions.That’s for sure.”Tuli turned to Hunter, walked forward a few steps so that he squeezed in between the guy and Lou, making Hunter drop his arm.She stepped away.Good.One problem down.“Ever since you returned to town, I thought your butt-kissing routine was a little too good to be true.”
Several other guests milled around nearby, listening to what no longer seemed like a polite conversation.
Damn it, Tuli didn’t want to ruin the wedding reception.But words needed to be said.
“So what?I’m a nice guy with skills I can provide to my community.To myfamily.”Hunter grinned, but the smile stopped at his mouth.
