Page 34 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

Hunter heard music in the background, heard Dylan say something to someone else.

“Where are you?” Hunter asked.

“I’m at Monet’s. We’re about to start making Thanksgiving dinner. We just got home from a parade. Give me a minute, Monnie. I’m going to take this call in the other room.”

Hunter couldn’t miss the peculiar tone in Dylan’s voice. Something seemed odd, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was. It was throwing Hunter off, making it harder for him to confess what he was feeling for Annie. If Dylan was having problems in New York, Hunter didn’t want to add to his misery.

“I’m alone now,” Dylan said after a few moments.

“Dylan, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just… Ah, fuck a bloody duck. I’m just going to say it. Call me a dickhead all you like, but I think I’ve fallen arse over tit for Monet. I feel like shit, given that Annie flew all the way to?—”

“Jesus, Dylan,” Hunter interrupted, the breath flying out of him in a relieved swoosh.

“I know, man. I fucked up. Big-time.”

“No,” Hunter said. “You didn’t. I think I’m already halfway in love with Annie.”

“You are?”

“And I’ve been feeling like a right prick for stealing your girl.”

Dylan’s laugh washed over him like rain on a hot summer day. Calmness descended on Hunter. He realized it was the first time since Annie arrived and turned his world on its ear that he didn’t have an ache in his chest.

“Didn’t expectthat. Sorta figured you’d chew my arse off and tell me to get my shit together and hop on the next plane.”

Hell no.“I think you should stay in New York. See what’s what with this new girl. Give it a chance. She could be your soul mate.”

Hunter could hear the shock in Dylan’s voice. “Is this the same brother who told me to get my head out of my arse? Told me flying to New York was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life?”

“One and the same. You can kickmyarse for being a self-righteous prick when you get home.”

Dylan’s sigh of relief traveled all the way to Farpoint. “Deal.”

Hunter heard a female voice before Dylan said, “I need to go. Give Mum and Annie my love.”

“Will do.”

The phone clicked off before Hunter could say goodbye.

Dylan was staying in the States. He’d met another woman.

Hunter’s smile grew.

This changed everything.

Chapter7

Annie turned off the shower and sighed. After her heated interlude with Hunter in the shed, she’d felt the need for distance to gather her thoughts. It had taken every ounce of strength in her body not to insist that he fuck her right there in the hay. Unfortunately, he’d made it perfectly clear on several occasions that he wouldn’t let things go too far because of Dylan.

The truth was, months of emails and Skyping with Dylan had never left her feeling the way she’d felt as she lay next to Hunter just talking. It was becoming abundantly clear that even if she and Dylan hadn’t crossed wires, they would never have produced the same sparks or shared the undeniable chemistry she had with Hunter.

She’d thought taking a shower would clear her mind, but it hadn’t. The only problem it had alleviated was the itchiness. Hunter hadn’t lied. Hay was scratchy stuff.

She pulled back the shower curtain and grabbed a towel from the rack. As she did so, a huge spider dropped to the floor and scurried through the door to her bedroom.

Annie cringed then panicked. Quickly wrapping the towel around her, she darted from the bathroom to her bedroom door, keeping a very close watch on the floor.