“Anytime,” Hunter says. “So, you want to talk?”
I nod. “I do.”
“We’re all ears,” Jake says.
I clear my throat. “It’s about Carina Callahan.”
“Riley’s new addition?”
“Yes, Jake.”
“What about her?”
I can’t make out Hunter’s tone, so I proceed with caution. “I don’t want to break any employee conduct rules, so I thought I’d be upfront about it.”
Jake frowns. “About what?”
“Carina and I… are seeing each other.”
Jake and Hunter exchange a look and a silent conversation.
Think fast, Sullivan.“I know she lives on your property and all, but we don’t work together.”
Jake shifts his attention to me. “When did you two meet?”
This isn’t going as I expected.
“Does it make a difference?”
“It could,” Hunter says.
“I met Carina officially last Saturday night, but I saw her for the first time a couple weeks ago when I dropped by to see April at Happy Belly. We talked for a bit in the parking lot, but I was interrupted by Mr. Devon and his plea to marry his grandbaby?—”
“As far as I’m concerned, that old goat is a pervert.” Jake shakes his head. “The way he talks about intimate details related to his granddaughter is plain wrong.”
“So wrong.” I nod.
“Too many shades of latent incest for my liking,” Hunter says. “You wouldn’t believe the number of times I had to turn him down before he finally,finallygot the goddamn message.” He rolls his eyes. “The ring on Miranda’s finger wasn’t a strongenough deterrent to get it through his head. I’m. Off. The. Market.” He shakes his head. “Fool.”
“He didn’t get the message until I walked down the aisle,” Jake says.
“I feel sorry for the poor guy who’s going to end up marrying Mr. Devon’s grandbaby,” I say. “Those people are twisted in a disturbing way.”
Jake nods.
“I agree,” Hunter says.
“Back to Carina.” I set the conversation back on course. “While Mr. Devon was pitching the virtues of his virgin granddaughter, Carina got away. I never got her name. Then, we bump into each other at the cookout.”
Jake arches a brow. “You’re a hundred percent sure you didn’t meet her for the first time last Saturday?”
I nod. “Yes, sir.”
I tell them the whole story about trying to track down the beautiful girl with the big blue eyes.
They exchange another strange look.
“I didn’t think it would be a problem. I don’t want to get Carina in any kind of trouble with Riley. It’s just… we get along really well, and I didn’t want to sneak around. She deserves better. She’s not a side thing. I’m damn proud to be seen with her.”
