Page 63 of Five Alarm Love
“Lou!”Dad said.
She rolled her hands into fists, like doing so could keep back every inch of frustration from flying out.“I don’t know what my future holds and who will be in it.But I want to find out for myself, and I think this is a nice start.”
“If you say so.”Dad turned up the volume on the football commentary.
Chapter Twenty
“Dude, are youstalking me?”Tuli tried not to jump as Hunter appeared from the shadows next to the Wrights’ house.That guy was the last person he wanted to see on his short walk to Grandma’s.
Hunter flashed a smile that somehow didn’t work.Sure, objectively speaking, the guy seemed casual and carefree in his Alaskan styling choices.Tech pants, nice hiking boots, button-down shirt.Also, he didn’t have a bum leg.Point to Hunter.
Tuli had something extra.He could detect BS from a hundred miles away.This guy was ten pounds of crap in a five-pound sack.Nothing added up.
Hunter gave a guffaw that sounded more like an eighty-year-old’s laugh.“You off tonight?”
“You know I am.Other folks are on call this weekend, so yeah, I’m footloose and fancy-free.Sky’s the limit.”
“Is it now?”
“Huh?”This guy was all swagger and no substance.Dude needed to get to whatever stupid point he was making so Tuli could find out if Grandma had freshly baked cookies.
“Just saying it looks like we’ve got some friendly competition.”The way he saidfriendlywas anything but.
A sinking sensation dropped in Tuli’s midsection.“Not following.”
Hunter’s grin widened.“Your leg puts you at a disadvantage.A liability.Folks will figure it out, hopefully before it’s too late and your disability gets someone killed.When people realize that you can’t do the job and they see my application, I’ll be ready to step in, with two functioning feet.”
Tuli shined his nails on his jacket while his gut churned.“Good that you’ve gone to the trouble of setting up a succession plan for me, because I have recently been presented with some amazing opportunities.You may have freed me up to pursue greener pastures.”
Hunter looked like he’d swallowed a tart salmonberry but crossed his arms.“Well, I’ve got an in with Louise and her dad.”
Tuli dropped his hand into a fist and balanced on his feet.That square jaw was so tempting.“Do tell.”
“Our dads are brothers.Go way back.They want quality partners for their kids and grandkids.I know guys with good educations, who Louise would be lucky to date.Also, I’m about to become the key to the community mining project.My words carry weight nowadays.More professional capital, less, uh, baggage.”
A high-pitched, hot teakettle whistle sounded in Tuli’s head, and his heart thudded.“Baggage?”
“You know, with the problems your parents both had.All of your struggles growing up.The bum leg.Not having a solid job.Baggage.”
Tuli fought the urge to pummel the guy.“I grew up just fine.”
“With your grandma.”
“What’s wrong with that?”He leaned forward.This guy, whose parents had divorced several years back, didn’t have his own leg to stand on in the discussion.
Hunter raised his hands in an exaggerated maneuver.“Whoa, there.No need to get hostile.”
“Who’s hostile?”Tuli clapped him on the upper arm, like a buddy.But real hard.
“Ow.”Hunter’s eyes narrowed and he lowered his voice.“I can’t wait to be invited to Louise’s wedding.”
“What, to one of yourqualityfriends?The last one ruined her life, if you didn’t notice.”
“Water under the bridge.”His teeth flashed white in the shadows.“Maybe they’ll name their first child after me.”
First of all, Tuli knew way more than Hunter about Lou’s future baby situation, and boy, oh boy, did he want to tell him.But Tuli would die before he shared her secret.
He stepped into the guy’s personal space.“You’re an idiot.You know that?”
