Page 23 of Five Alarm Love
On the other hand, Hunter held out a proverbial olive branch, even if accepting it meant she had to acknowledge that the guy who broke up with her wasn’t a jerk to everyone.Just to her.
She didn’t want to talk about Ryan or her shame.
His expression serious, he took a breath and opened his mouth.“Louise, I’m sor—”
Lou froze.
The brush shook—someone was walking up the path from the parking area.“Gganaa’!Hi-de-ho-de there, neighbors!”a loud voice rang out.
Tuli’s head popped into view above the thick green leaves of labrador tea shrubs.
Lou looked away.
Hunter scowled.
“Oh, I didn’t realize this was a private party,” Tuli said with a big smile and anoopsshrug.
Chapter Eight
“What are youdoing here?”Hunter’s tone was cold enough to make the Yukon River freeze up in September.
Tuli’s grin held.Barely.
He didn’t care if the guy was mad.Tuli could see the droop at the corners of her mouth.In a flash, all Tuli wanted was for Hunter to step away from Lou.He didn’t care if it spoiled the family reunion.
She gave him a relieved smile, but her shoulders had a weary slump.Lou didn’t talk a lot, but Tuli was fluent in Lou’s expressions and body language.He had made the right call.He gripped his camera stand.Had Hunter’s discussion been unwelcome?Did he hurt her?No way.He was her cousin.Family.
Family could hurt one another, though.Tuli’s life was a testament to that fact.
For a few seconds, common sense fled, and buzzing irritation filled Tuli’s brain.He took a few breaths to remain calm and maintained what he hoped was his typical friendly, aw-shucks smile.
“I’m doing clips for my socials.”He held up his phone as he walked toward them.Ooh, picnic blanket overlooking the riverbank.Beautiful day.Lots of snacks.They were lucky a foraging bear hadn’t joined in the party.
Hunter scrambled to his feet and glared at him.“Out of all the places in Alaska and you’re here?”
“Ta-da!”Tule put his hands to the side and wiggled his fingers.“Actually, I’meverywhere.Ask anyone in town.Right, Lou?”
She smiled up at him, obvious relief written all over her face, and he felt ten feet tall.
“Besides, today is”—Tuli made a kissing motion with his fingers to his mouth—“perfect for creating content.This location is popular withlocals.”Yeah, he dropped some weight on that last word.Firefighting teammate or not, he wanted Hunter to understand that he no longer had the insider track on Yukon Valley.Or Lou’s ear.
That was Tuli’s job.At least, the Yukon Valley part.
Truth be told, his appearance wasn’t simply a local enjoying a popular view on a nice day.Mav might have mentioned this morning about Lou meeting up with Hunter, including time and location.Then somehow Tuli had ended up here at the same time and location.
The world was filled with coincidences.“This is the best view around.”He stuck a thumb over his shoulder toward the river.“Present company excluded, of course.”He pointed at Hunter in what he hoped was a disarmingly joking manner.
Lou giggled.
Hunter did not.His head whipped around to stare at her, and she went silent.
Tuli clenched his jaw until it ached, but somehow, he held off physically inserting himself between the two of them.
Whatever was off about the guy sent Tuli’s radar pinging all over the place.
However, Lou’s family wasn’t his business.Who she hung out with wasn’t Tuli’s business.He might not like it, but Lou made her own choices.But what if today she hadn’t made her own choices?He glanced at the brow-raised relief written on her face.
What kind of friend would Tuli be if he didn’t have her best interests at heart?
