Page 24 of Five Alarm Love
Hunter took a big step forward.His glare was all but palpable.
Tuli braced himself, ready for anything.He shifted his weight onto his bad leg, testing whether it would hold long enough for him to take necessary action.Adrenaline spiked fiery zaps through his veins.
“Don’t you have someplace to be, Chief?”Hunter said.“Deli meat to cut?Fire engine to clean?”
“Don’t get uppity with me, Hunter.You’re still in your probationary period at the department.You’re mine until I say you’re safe to work on your own.I could assign you bathroom cleaning duties for the next month.”Before Hunter could snap out a reply, Tuli continued, “But no worries, kids.I’ll be out of your hair here in a few minutes.”A cool breeze drifted past them with a clean, damp scent.He peered up at the quickly darkening sky.“Oh wow, would you look at that?Looks like it’s going to rain soon.Mind if I set up here to do a quick shot?You’re welcome to be in the clip.My subscribers would love to see other people from Yukon Valley and you, too, Hunter.”
Lou scrambled to her feet and stood to the side of the blanket.“I don’t want to be in it.”
Hunter planted his fists on hips as he stood with his feet shoulder-width apart in front of Lou, making an absolutely ridiculous show of shielding her from Tuli’s scary camera.Which was funny, considering that Tuli knew full well her aversion to public photos and posts.He had always respected that boundary.Always would.
Hunter lowered his voice.“You heard Louise.No videos.”
The guy’s protective stance was also laughable, considering he’d been Ryan West’s wingman even as Lou’s ex had advertised the details of their breakup for public entertainment.
“It’s okay.”Lou stepped around Hunter and pointed at the camera.“You have a job to do, Tuli.Shoot all the videos.I love following your page.”
“Really?”Tuli pulled his chin back and stared at her.
He thought she never got on social media.He would need to take that info into consideration when shooting future clips.Make himself look even better.
She blushed.“Everyone in town probably follows it as well.”Lou waved toward Tuli.“Get whatever you need.”
“I said, don’t shoot that stuff here.”Hunter crossed his arms and tightened his biceps so they were on full display.
Nice gun show, but Tuli had originated that move.He glanced at Lou.Little good it had done him.“Whoa there, caveman.There’s a lot of undirectedaggrohappening.”He lowered his phone.“First of all, Lou might be quiet, but when she speaks, I damn well listen.”He glared at Hunter.“Hopefully, you’re doing the same.”Tuli tried to remain calm as he erected the camera stand.“Second of all, I can’t put Lou in any of my posts.She would end up way more popular than I ever could be.I have to keep my audience focused on me.”
Lou’s snicker both satisfied him and soothed his amped-up nerves.“Since when do you listen to me, Tuli?”she said.“Or anyone?”
“Hey, I resemble that remark,” he bantered back.
Hunter grunted and took a step toward Lou.
She took a step away from him.
Weird behavior for Lou and her cousin.
Hunter didn’t seem to notice, but Tuli sure as hell did.
“Get your shot and leave,” Hunter said, like he made the decisions.“We were here first.”
Tuli turned to his stand and set the phone in it, framing the scene.“It’s Alaska, bud.Lots of public land, which means all of us can be here.Together.Like one big jumble of friends out here enjoying the day.”
Hunter muttered, “Sure.All the crappy land is public.The good stuff’s owned by losers.”
Lou frowned and studied Hunter, then crossed her arms and withdrew further into her frame.Something had happened between them.Hunter had upset her.
Tuli fought back another wave of need to wrap his arms around her and become a physical barrier.As a friend, because that was what they were.
There was a weird flop in his chest as he watched how her hair fell forward to hide her face.Actually, she did have a claim to Tuli, but didn’t know it.
And he had only started to realize it.
The darkening clouds overhead began to release fat drops.The poppingblapsof rain hitting broadleaf shrubs blended with the rush of the Yukon River below as Hunter and Lou scrambled to pack up their supplies.
“Would you look at that?”Tuli said.
In a matter of seconds, they hurried off toward the parking area, Lou mouthing,I owe you oneover her shoulder.
