Page 64 of Five Alarm Love
Hunter windmilled dramatically, like he’d been hit.“What are you doing attacking me?We’re two friends having a conversation.”
“Dude, you want an Oscar for that performance?Look, all I’m saying is, you don’t know what you’re talking about.You don’t know Lou.You don’t know anything about the situation.”
“Don’t I?Then you won’t mind if I introduce her to a friend or two at my next Wright family dinner.You think I’ve got the insider track now?Wait until I try my luck hooking Louise up with one of my buddies from Seattle.”
A car drove by, and Tuli and Hunter waved out of habit, even though the driver likely couldn’t see them well in the dim light.
“Try your luck?”Tuli spun back and growled.
Hunter might be an inch taller, but Tuli’d been working out.Hard.Overcompensating for his leg, sure, but he knew that his strong right hook packed a wallop.Just ask the punching bag.
He wanted to test drive his strength on Hunter’s jaw.“She’s not a fucking roulette wheel.”
“You’re a funny guy.”Hunter turned on his heel and walked away.He turned halfway back and said, “Sit back and watch the master work.I’m about to become invaluable for the Koyukon tribe, make her family’s dreams come true, and deconstruct your entire life.”
Tuli’s heart thundered in his chest, and every muscle in his body shook like live electricity ran through him.His fist tingled with the urge to realign Hunter’s teeth.
No way would Tuli let that guy do the things he promised.
He ran a hand through his hair and looked around at the widely spaced village houses, some with warm yellow lights in the windows.Damn it.Hunter had already begun his work.Laid the foundation for destroying everything Tuli had built.
Stopping Hunter meant alienating the Wright family.
Damn it again.
Tuli would figure this out.He’d taken down bullies before.He could find a way to stop Hunter without ruining his future with Lou.
After taking a few more breaths, he got a grip on his anger and calmed the heck down as he trudged to Grandma’s house.
Wow.He’d almost hit the guy.Truth be told, he could probably get one good jab in, but not two.Hunter was no shrinking violet.With a leg that wasn’t cooperating, Tuli couldn’t depend on footwork for stability or for a reliable generation of force.
Or to run away.
That, and there could be neighbors peeking out of windows.Tongues wagging.Didn’t pay to make a scene.
His right foot caught on the step, and he grabbed the railing of Grandma’s porch.Regaining his footing, he stepped on the landing, frowning at the creak of a loose board.He’d need to come back and repair it before she got hurt.
He knocked and heard her light footsteps.“Hi,nok’eedonh!” he called through the door.
“I was hoping you would stop by.”She opened the door and hugged him, her head coming up to his chest.When she leaned back, her face creased into extra lines with her smile “Did you have a nice time with the Wrights?”
Dropping the stupid loafers off inside the front door, he followed her to the living room, where she perched on the edge of her easy chair.
“It’s always good seeing Lou and the Wrights.Gordy’s looking better.”
She smoothed her blue cotton kuspuk hem over her thighs and tucked her hands into the slanted front pockets which were lined with white bric-a-brac.She peered at him with her dark, knowing stare.Then she sat back and got comfortable.Uh-oh.Grandma wasn’t going anywhere until she was satisfied.“You didn’t answer the question.”
“Lou’s dad was kind of rough.”
Her smile fell.“Steve?What happened?”
“Talked about my upbringing, including that both my parents are out of the picture, and why.It was a tough discussion.Nothing like sitting at someone’s house and taking slander about how I was reared.”
“I brought you up, Tulimak!”
He grinned.“I’m all the luckier for it.”
Sitting up straight, she scowled.“Do I need to go over there and set him straight?We might both be on the council of elders, but I have seniority.I was the nurse at his delivery.I can give him the what-for.”She gripped the arms of the chair in her strong but work-worn hands.
