“My bastard of a father had a kid who was relocated to Miss Angelina’s. He’s run away,” Hunter said.
Well. That was a quick explanation.
“Okay,” Raider said, his voice cautious.“That’s a lot.”
Hunter’s chest hitched, and dark amusement crossed his rugged cheekbones. “I know you’re busy with the new gig—”
“If you need me, I’m there,” Raider said.
Hunter sucked in air in a rare show of emotion. They were all there for each other—no matter what. Faye’s hand itched to take Hunter’s like she would’ve so many years ago, so she set it on her lap. She no longer had the right to touch him.
Hunter shook his head. “You can run point from there for now. I don’t want to screw up what youhave going on.”
Faye cocked her head. “What exactly do you have going on?” He had better not be thinking of going undercover again. Last time had nearly killed him, and knowing Raider, this new unit was completely ignorant about it. In fact, she’d bet her bottom dollar that he was still working the case that had gotten himhurt. “Raider?”
“I’m just a handler in this new unit,” Raider said.“Don’t worry.”
Hunter looked up at Faye, his gaze narrowing. She nodded. Their best friend was a horrible liar. He was still working that case.
“Well,” Faye said, going in for the kill. “Miss Angelina asked that you work onthis with us.”
Hunter gave her a look, and she shrugged.
Raider sighed. “Then I’ll be working that case with you. Please send me everything you have so I can prepare on the way. I’ll wrap things up here tomorrow and be at the cabin on Friday, and I’ll expect you to be there too, Faye. See you then.”He clicked off.
Triumph filled Faye. So there. She’d get a visual on Raider herself. She smiled.
Until the back door opened, and a naturally stunning blonde poked her head inside. “Hunter? I thought we were meeting down at the fishing hole.” She came all the way inside, all five-foot-eight of her, and smiled. Her jeans were tight and her denim shirt a perfect match for her intelligent green eyes. “Oh, hi. Sorry. I didn’t know you had company.” She set her hand on Hunter’s shoulder.
* * * *
Hunter nearly smacked his head. “Dana. Shit. I’m sorry.” The fishing hole was a slippery hike, and nobody should do it alone. “I got caught up.” He gestured toward Faye. “This is Faye. Faye, this is Dana.” His gaze caught on Faye, and she looked even more pale. Worse yet, her eyes had gone that deeper brown that showed she was about to eitherbolt or punch.
Dana released his shoulder and leaned over to shake. “Hey. It’s nice to meet you.”
Faye shook hands, the fakest smile imaginable on her face. “You, too.”
It hit him then. Right between the eyes. Faye was jealous? How was that possible? They hadn’t been together in five years. Even so, his default impulse had been to not cause her pain from day one. “Uh, Dana is a journalist doing a piece on the guides of the Cumberland River.”
Dana snorted. “Puff piece, because my editor is forcing me to take a vacation.” Her emerald eyes sparkled. “They can’t make me vacation completely.” She strode into the kitchen and took a glass from the cupboard, heading for the fridge. “You still have that lemonade? It wasquite a hike.”
Faye’s chin lifted, and her nostrils flared thetiniest amount.
Humor attacked Hunter for no good reason. Not one. He hid the smile because he didn’t want to get kicked beneath the table. How could he better explain Dana to Faye? He shouldn’t have to—not really. Yet if some guy was with Faye, he’d want to knock the asshole’s teeth out. “Listen, I—”
Dana took the lemonade out. “Anybody else want some?”
“No thanks,” Faye ground out.
Hunter coughed to keep from laughing out loud.“No. I’m good.”
Dana poured a glass and took a drink. Red bloomed across her angled cheeks. “You put more sugar in it,” she gasped, coughing. “Seriously, Hunter.” Giving him a look, she dumped the liquid in the kitchen sink. “What is wrong with yousouthern boys?”
He lifted a shoulder. Miss Angelina had probably ruined them all withher sweet tea.
Dana finally caught the whiff of tension in the room. She faltered. “Oh no. Am I interrupting something?” She gingerly put the glass in the sink.
“No,” Faye said, starting to gather the papers into the file folder. “Not at all. I wasjust leaving.”
