Page 33 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

Everything had been a whirlwind since Annie’s arrival. So much so, he’d forgotten his mother had promised to take a turn caring for his elderly great aunt. “Oh yeah. That’s today?”

Hazel nodded slowly. “And tonight. I’m sleeping there as well.” Her gaze traveled from his face to Annie’s. Damn observant woman.

Annie must have felt the penetrating look as well. “I think I might head upstairs for a quick shower,” she said.

Hunter didn’t want to let her go, but Hazel clearly had some piece to speak and he wasn’t going to be given an easy escape like Annie.

“Of course, dear.” Hazel gave her a motherly kiss on the cheek. Annie smiled at the gesture and, for a moment, Hunter thought he saw the sheen of tears. “You have a nice day and I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

Annie said goodbye to his mum. Hunter watched her walk down the hallway, knowing he was in a whole world of trouble—and not with his mother.

He was falling in love with Annie Prince.

Hunter Sullivan, the world’s most practical man, was losing his heart to a woman who didn’t even live on the same continent, whose father had more money than God, who had come here because of her interest in Dylan. Fuck.

“Call Dylan.”

Hunter glanced at his mum, trying to ignore the elephant in the room. “You need a hand with your bag?”

Hazel narrowed her eyes. “No. I don’t.”

“How about I drive you over there?”

She shook her head. “Keith’s waiting in the truck. He’ll take me. Call your brother.”

“I will, Mum.”

His mother reached over and placed her hand on his shoulder. “If for no other reason, Hunter, than to tell him how you’re feeling.”

He nodded. His mother left and Hunter watched the retreating truck until the taillights disappeared into the darkness.

Then he walked over to the phone. It rang the moment he touched the receiver.

He answered with his usual. “G’day.”

“Hunter.”

A twin moment. It wasn’t the first time he and Dylan had reached out to find each other at exactly the same moment. His mother always laughed and it was she who’d dubbed them “twin moments”.

Hunter forced a casual tone to his voice. “Dylan. How you goin’?”

“I’m doin’ all right. Mum says you’ve been entertaining Annie there for me. Well done, mate.”

“Are you on your way home?”

It took a few seconds for Dylan to reply. “No.”

“You still missing your luggage?”

Dylan cleared his throat. “Uh, no. I got it back a couple hours ago. Just thinking I might stay here a little longer.”

“You’re going to stay in New York? I didn’t think you were interested in sightseeing. Thought you were just going to meet Annie.”

“Yeah. I was, but I met Annie’s friend, Monet. She’s been putting me up, showing me around. Is, uh, Annie planning on coming back soon?”

Dylan was still expecting to see Annie. “Didn’t Mum tell you? Annie’s staying here for a couple weeks. She’s writing an article about the cattle station for her magazine.”

“Oh yeah. Monet said she’d gotten an assignment. Didn’t think she’d do it with me here.”