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Bennett shook his head. “You need her. And she needs you. I don’t mind the hunts. The thing is, I’d hoped we’d . . .” He ran a hand along the back of his neck and then let it drop to his lap. “It is what it is. And it’ll be better when you have the lodge open.”
Hunter knew exactly what Bennett had been going to say—that he’d hoped they’d be married. Hazel would truly be his—by willing promise—and known to all the world. And he’d feel free to live up at Elk Canyon, by her side. Able to protect, should she need it.
Would Hazel ever understand? Would she ever yield to the idea of marriage—embrace it, even, as a gift? Didn’t seem likely to Hunter. But for her sake, and for the man sitting across from him right then, Hunter prayed for a miracle.
Another lake shore miracle? There was Bennett. And there was Hunter.
God was a big God—it wasn’t too much to ask.
Twenty-One
Snuggledinherbed,feet still chilly from a full day out with her two clients, both looking to bag an elk, Hazel read the text that Janie had sent late Thursday afternoon. The one Hazel didn’t receive until she’d called it a night. Her heart strummed with anxious energy that threatened to turn into unreasonable anger.
Janie:Have you met Bennett’s friends?
Beneath the typed text was a snapshot that had certainly been taken surreptitiously. There was Bennett, standing next to a man with short black hair with his arm around a petite lady whose long, thick hair matched the color of the man’s. And on the other side of Bennett, another woman. A young beauty who grinned up at Bennett as if he was her favorite person to look at ever.
Names scrolled through Hazel’s mind. José, who was married to Rosalina. And his younger sister, Isa. Who had given Bennett horseback riding lessons.
Scowling hard at her phone, she picked out exactly who was who in that snapshot. The blood in her veins raced with scalding heat.
She typed one word in response to Janie’s question.No.
But come morning, that was going to change.
Janie tasted acrid guilt as she prepared the industrial-sized coffeemaker for morning. She shouldn’t have sent Hazel that text. She’d known it even before she’d secretly taken that shot of Bennett standing with the Romeros.
Why had she done it?
Bracing herself with both palms against the counter, Janie shut her eyes and forced herself to examine the scrambled mess in her heart and mind. José and Rosalina were both wonderful, lovely people. If it had been only them to come down and help Bennett and Hunter yesterday, all would have been fine. She and Grady would have gone over, the group of them would have unloaded the vehicles, and Janie would have offered the large pot of turkey noodle soup she’d prepared without a hint of reservation.
But it hadn’t been only José and Rosalina. There had been Isa.
Isa, who looked like Salma Hayek. Isa, who’d laughed at everything Hunter or Bennett had said, whether it was funny or not. Isa, who apparently had a PhD in flirting. Particularly with Hunter. But also with Bennett. Even sometimes with Grady.
Janie’s stomach roiled.
Why had she sent a text she knew would upset Hazel? Because she’d wanted an ally. Someone who would, like herself, immediately dislike this beautiful young woman, even though she was friendly and funny and helpful.
Just standing there, picturing the girl’s sugary smile and unending energy, made Janie want to howl.
The back door to the kitchen squeaked, and Janie jolted straight. Pushing off the counter, she strode into the dining room and stopped short at the sight of brown eyes shaded by the bill of a US NAVY hat.
“Hunter.” Her whole body stiffened. “What are you doing here this early?”
He drew back, his eyes flickering with insult. “I thought maybe you could use a hand this morning. Since I stayed at Mama B’s, and I was awake ... and you said you wanted us to be friends ...” He shook his head, then turned back toward the door.
“Wait.”
He glanced over his shoulder.
“Sorry,” she said. “I haven’t had my coffee yet.” Yeah, that was why she was snippy.
One brow cocked. But he said nothing. Then he slowly shed his black coat and hung it on a peg beside the door. “Will Grady mind?”
“Mind what?”
“If I’m here helping you before the sun is up.”
