Page 43 of Five Alarm Love

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His second thought at the snide sound of the voice was,Crap.

Lou immediately stiffened, and he turned them so that her back was to Hunter.He kept his hands on her upper arms, providing support, while she took a few deep inhalations that he wanted to breathe into his own soul.

Hunter whistled.“So that’s how it is.”

Lou brushed shaking fingers over her lips, then stood straight and turned around.“No, it’s not.”

At the same time, Tuli blurted out, “Yes, it is.”

Hunter laughed, the sound harsh and dry.“Sounds like you two aren’t in the same zip code with this conversation.”

Tuli caught a whiff of alcohol coming off Hunter.“We’re fine.”

With another snort, he crossed his arms.“Why would you pick this guy, Lou?He’s a mess.He cuts meat for a living.He had deadbeat parents.Had to be raised by his grandma.Probably bad genes.I know the whole story.Everyone does.”

Lou made a strangled noise, and her eyes popped open wide.

“Are you okay?”Tuli asked.He’d never seen her this rattled.

She visibly trembled.“You’re way off base about Tuli and all of this, Hunter.”

“Really?Because it gets worse,” Hunter said.“He’s disabled too.”

Tuli’s belly clenched.The last thing he wanted was for Lou to hear this.It was one thing for his past to be common knowledge around here.It was another thing to have someone air his dirty laundry right in front of him.In front of her.

Hunter sneered.“You know he still has problems with his leg.He can’t even do his job.”

Before Tuli could form words, Lou said in a flat, dead voice that he’d never heard before, “That’s low, Hunter.I’m going to need to ask you to leave.”

“What?I’m family who is sticking up for your well-being.”His words slurred and he wavered on his feet but remained standing as he pointed.“Now you’re actually defending this guy?You know I had to haul his ass out of the last fire because he has become crippled.Lame.”

“Quit it.”Lou’s voice rose and quavered.“Don’t use mean words like that.”

Tuli caught the glint in her eyes.Of course.Gordy.That, and the fact that she possessed normal human kindness—something Hunter seemed to lack right now.

“He’s a loser.”

Tuli tried to diffuse the situation.“That’s fire chief loser to you.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”

Lou and Tuli, at the same time, said, “What?”

Hunter smirked, a strange expression, with his face half in shadow.“Oh, did I not mention it to you?I’ve put in for the position, seeing as the current chief is unfit for duty.That’ll make my dad and Uncle Steve proud too.”

One part of Tuli really wanted this guy to leave so that his weaknesses would stay hidden.For as much as Tuli had tried to compensate for his leg, Hunter had a point.Tuli’s leg was not fully healed.Not even close.The leg was a liability.But he could still lead and train others.He had skills and experience.

The side of his neck where he could feel Lou’s eyes fixed on him burned.

What he would give for Hunter to be gone and for Tuli to continue kissing Lou.

This moment with Lou that started off amazing, then became a disaster had changed everything.Normal life would never be the same for Tuli.

“What, you have no answer for that?”Hunter said.

Tuli ground his back teeth.No way was he having this conversation right now.No way was his personal business getting aired at the festival by a tipsy Hunter.“Thank you for your concern.Have a great night.”

Hunter watched them for a long minute.The noises of chattering people exiting the fish fry drifted over to them on a cool breeze.Tuli could sense Lou shivering next to him.He wanted nothing more than to wrap an arm around her and keep her warm and safe, but at this point, any action would be fuel.Another minute passed.No one spoke.