Page 80 of Bad Love

Hunter:Put some sunscreen on that baldspot.

Nellie had calledmy ass Thursday night when it was clear I wasn’t making it to poker to ask why the fuck I hadn’t booked my ticket to Ibiza. I gave him the easiestanswer.

I wasn’tinterested.

In truth, I need to be here for Hunter’s Cross. But if I’d thought passing on a trip I've been on every year for the last ten would be painful, I waswrong.

What does bother me is I'm in my apartment staring at these bullshit spreadsheets as though they'reLatin.

Latin, incidentally, I was better in thanmath.

I stalk back to the island and brace my bare elbows on the smooth surface as I stare at the printouts. It’s maddening. I can work my own budget, but these categories and projections won’t makesense.

I'm not walking away from my family's company if there's anything I can do to fixthis.

But I am willing to admit that I needhelp.

* * *

"Icome bearing a computer."Kendall’s bright face at the door of my condo makes my whole daybetter.

When her smile freezes as she takes in the fact that I’m half dressed, her gaze dragging down my chest and lingering on the waistline of my low sweatpants, that’s abonus.

I was grateful Kendall had agreed to come over. But now, as it’s my turn to take in her simple tank top and yoga pants and ponytail and—yup—flats, I’m thinking this might’ve been a badidea.

How the fuck I degenerated to the point where a pair of flats gives me a hard on is beyondme.

"What's in your hand?" I eye up the Tupperwarecontainer.

Kendall holds it out of my reach, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Rory made scones. He’s at a friend’s for theafternoon."

I have to hold in the groan. "Get your ass inhere."

She trails me to my dining room and passes me theTupperware.

“Damn, Hunter. Whatisthat?!”

I follow her gaze to the corner of my living room and the bronze elephant statue that’s taller than me. “Winnings of another bet withNellie.”

She rounds it, inspecting every inch before turning back. “Do you have a harem I don’t knowabout?”

“No space after the elephant,” Iexplain.

“Right.” With a bemused shake of her head, Kendall sets up on the only remaining corner of theisland.

"How'd Rory’s pasta project work out?" I set the scones down on an edge of thegranite.

"Oh, man. He was so proud of it. No one's ever done that for himbefore."

"Not a big deal." Though I’m really glad it worked out. The kid had seemed so pumped once I showed him there was a way to blend the assignment with his love offood.

"It was to him. He keeps talking about doing things the ‘Logan Way.’ As if it'strademarked."

I grin. "What's your opinion of the LoganWay?"

She meets my gaze. "From what I've seen, it's definitely destructive. Often impressive. One hundred percent original. You always surprise me,Hunter."

I’d been teasing, but the sincerity in her voice hits me in the chest. It takes me a minute to regain mycomposure.

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