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“Hunter.” Bennett’s smile on his name allowed Hunter a reason to shift his attention and let his smile free without mistaking it for something it might or might not have been.
“Bennett! You’re back.”
“I am. I brought reinforcements.” Bennett’s hand rested on a young red-haired girl’s shoulder. “Meet my little sister, Gemma.”
The girl’s smile matched Bennett’s, all charm and persuasion, even down to the dimple that likely melted Hazel’s stubborn heart. With one glimpse Hunter had little doubt that if she chose to, Gemma could work that adorable grin to gain whatever she wanted. He hoped she wouldn’t be that type.
“And that over there”—Bennett pointed to a boy in a black hoodie and stonewashed ripped skinny jeans that likely cost well over $200—“is my brother, Nathan.”
“Half brother,” Nathan mumbled, not looking up from the phone he held lengthwise. “And that hardly counts, since we’ve only met, like, five times.”
Hunter shifted his glance from the boy who clearly wasn’t happy with this situation to the man who had been stuck with it. Bennett’s attention held on Nathan, a look of frustration marking his features.
“Nathan is just grumpy,” Gemma proclaimed with extra sunshine in her voice. “He doesn’t do well with change, and he doesn’t like meeting new people.” She settled a pleading look on Bennett. “Don’t worry. He’ll come around.”
“Sounds like someone else we know.”
Though Hunter had spoken with a teasing intent, he had an immediate and strong aversion to the situation as it was playing out. Namely, that Gemma, the younger sister, was protecting Nathan, the older brother. Having lived through a different but similar ordeal, Hunter believed strongly that the boy was shirking some God-given responsibility. He should have been protecting his sister, not the other way around.
The instantaneous impulse was to dislike the boy.
“Pizza is served.” Janie came around the counter with four loaded plates magically balanced in her two hands. Her smile hit Bennett, then Hazel. Gemma and, though the boy couldn’t possibly have seen it, Nathan. When she looked at Hunter, she paused.
No glorious smile. But there was something soft in her eyes . . .
Hunter turned toward Gemma as she slipped into a chair at the table beside the window. “What do you think of Montana so far?”
She sipped on a glass of ice water, then summoned that winning charm. “I like the mountains.”
“They are a sight, aren’t they?”
“I like . . .” Gemma bit her bottom lip as she searched for something else to remain upbeat about. “Well, the view from my bedroom is pretty.”
“That’s good.” Hunter glanced at Hazel, searching for help.
“She’ll get to wake up to an eastern creek view,” Hazel said.
Look at her, being friendly. Helpful.
“We went to the creek this afternoon,” Gemma said. “It’s pretty.”
“Did you hike?”
“Yes. I think I’ll need better shoes next time.” Gemma stuck out a foot and wiggled her thin-soled slip-on canvass shoes. They bore the stains of dark silt among the sparkles embedded in the coral and white stripes.
As Hunter nodded and nearly replied with something about Mama B’s having a selection of sturdy footwear in the back of her store, a presence behind him summoned an involuntary warmth to ooze through his limbs. Even before he looked around, he knew the only woman who could draw that sort of physical response was standing there. Close enough to touch. Near enough to crumble his flimsy resolve.
Why did he always respond this way? How did a small blue-eyed woman possess the power to turn his military-trained body and mind to a puddle of warm goo?
Before he met her eyes, he allowed the replay of her smile aimed decidedlynotat him to flash through his mind. The mush hardened to ice. And that was what he wanted as he met her gaze.
“Pizza?” Her expression grew guarded, as if she sensed his stiffened response.
“Sure.” Hunter kept cool stream in his tone. Indifference. That was what he was going for. He wasn’t going to give her that power anymore—not to turn him to a melted puddle nor to drive him to maddening frustration. He took the plate she held out, allowing their fingers to meet and forcing his stare to remain apathetically locked with hers even while the impact of contact ricocheted up his arm.
“Thanks.” Then he turned back to Gemma. “Can I join you?”
Gemma nodded, Hunter sat, and Janie stood nearby for more moments than necessary. Her lips pressed, her gaze dropped to the spot near her feet, and she swallowed. Then she pivoted and walked back toward the counter, her steps slow and without spunk.
