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“Hazel and I aren’t a whole lot alike.” Although in truth, yes, people could be wearing to him in certain circumstances. This one—where Janie hung on Grady’s arm, rubbing it in Hunter’s face—being a prime example.
The smile Isa allowed was nothing short of triumphant. “Ah. So you’re not a hermit.”
He bristled at the condescending tone referencing his sister. Even if Hazel was, for the most part, a hermit. She was also a woman with feelings, and his little sister. And Hunter wasn’t in the mood to be accommodating anymore. As the moments passed, in fact, he felt his ire cock and was ready to fire.
“No.”
“No offense.” Isa sighed as she looked toward the fire ring. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about how that would sound.” Wide brown eyes lifted to his with sincere remorse. “Sometimes I say dumb things.”
Ah. A sweet girl who wasn’t easily offended or ready to spar with him at the first opportunity.
“Don’t we all.” Hunter let his shoulders loosen. Man, had he been this tense all night? By the ache in his back, he’d have thought he’d done two hundred pushups that day.
Tipping her head, Isa’s expression turned warmly appreciative. “How about I get you a cup of apple cider? Then I’ll come back, and maybe we can start over?”
“That’s sounds like a good deal.”
With a pat on his arm, Isa nodded and moved out of the ring of firelight and toward the long tables that had been placed where the great room of the lodge would take shape. Hunter followed her with his gaze—she was easy to track with that red wool hat. His vision collided with Janie and Grady yet again.
Janie watched him, her smile having vanished. When Hunter’s eyes met hers, she raised a brow. Then she pivoted her attention back to Grady, said something to which he nodded, and arm in arm they made their way to the bonfire.
Awesome.
Janie and Grady stopped a few strides from him, and Isa arrived with two cups of cider a few beats later. Hunter accepted her offer with a grin that felt as plastic as a GI Joe.
“It’s a good party.” Grady broke the tension. “Thank you for including me.”
Hunter hadn’t included him. Janie had. Even so, he nodded, then lifted his cider for a long sip.
Isa slipped closer. “When will you open?”
“Hopefully, in May, if all goes well.” Hunter shoved his free hand into his pocket. “That way we can catch the end of turkey season and have a soft start before the fall season hits.”
“Are there many turkey this way?” Grady sounded skeptical.
“No. Not a ton. But we have a lowland draw that’s fairly shrubby. Hazel says there’s a consistent flock in there, and she’s been careful to let the numbers grow over the last few years.”
Grady nodded. “Smart of her.”
“Bennett says there’s no one who knows these hills better than Hazel,” Isa said.
Appreciation mixed with more concern as Hunter glanced down at the woman nearest him. Isa met his look, hers completely guileless. Was that an act, or was this girl truly unaware of her flirtatious tendencies? Hunter preferred to think of her as sweet and innocent.
“That’s the truth,” he said. “There’s no one like Zel when it comes to Elk Canyon.”
“You’re lucky to have her, then.” Isa dipped a firm nod. “And I hear she likes horses too.”
“She does.”
“Will you include trail rides in your stay packages?”
Hunter rubbed his bearded chin. “I haven’t thought that far. I doubt Hazel would be up for guiding those.”
“You’re not good with the horses?”
“Not awesome, no.”
Isa made a disapproving face. “What is with these men who don’t like horses?”
