Page 31 of Five Alarm Love
Lou stared at his smile, which somehow didn’t fit.She rubbed the bridge of her nose.This was her cousin.They’d grown up together.
“What are you doing here, Hunter?”Dad said in a neutral tone.
Hunter’s Adam’s apple bobbled.Yeah, her dad could be a little intimidating.
He said, “My dad asked me to come since he couldn’t attend this evening.”
“He isn’t part of this working group.”
“He should be.”The words came out like spiky spruce needles.
“Pardon?”Dad said.
Lou studied her father.Then back to Hunter.A strange undercurrent ran between them.Like Hunter was a poker player bluffing with an iffy hand.Dad could pick up on BS a mile away.
So, what was Hunter doing?
“What I meant was, my dad thought I could help you all out,” Hunter recovered.“I have experience in mine management.”
“Do you?”
“Um, yes.Studied it when I was away.”
“You were gone for several years, weren’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Gained experience?”
Hunter nodded.“Experience I’m happy to use for the good of everyone here.”
Lou watched his expression.His words were congenial, but his eyes were narrowed.Tiny beads of sweat popped out on his upper lip.
Hunter was as unflappable a person as she’d ever met.
Besides Tuli, who was the Houdini of any social situation and could make even the most argumentative person come around to his side of things.She flicked her gaze across the room, spying Tuli and his grandmother leaving the venue.Earlier, he had wanted to talk with her.
Part of her was eager to find out what Tuli wanted to say.
The other part—the realistic part—dreaded it.
“We should talk more,” Dad was saying to Hunter.
“I’d like that.”Hunter paused and glanced over.“If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a word with Louise for a second.”
Dad shot her a curious smile.“Of course.Let me step out of here while you two young people chat.I need to get out of here anyway.Mom’s probably wondering if a bear ate me.”He gave her a matter-of-fact nod before exiting.
Lou would have gone with him, but she would have had to step around Hunter.Make a scene.
She and Hunter stood alone next to the back wall of the mostly empty meeting room.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to finish our picnic,” Hunter said.
“Around here, the weather changes a lot of plans.”
“That wasn’t what messed up our discussion.”
“It wasn’t a discussion.It was a nice outdoors lunch.As family.Friends.”
