Page 13

Kelly

Wildlife : I know we said no texting, but can I see you? Dinner?

Having been ghosted for five days, I hesitate before responding. I don’t want to appear too eager. Neither do I want him to think he’s hurt my feelings. We’re not a couple. Hell, we haven’t had sex…yet. Why am I acting so childish? Gritting my teeth, I thumb a message back.

Kelly : I have the 5-8 PM shift. Afterward, I’m free.

He sends me a thumbs-up emoji. Because Canadians are boycotting the US, I literally have nothing to do but stare at the minute hand on the vintage wall clock while gazing at the parking lot. Finally, Hunt pulls into the drive. My heart pounds as I push my chair away from the desk. Standing fast, I realize my foot’s asleep.

As I tap the tingling extremity away, in walks Mr. Sexy Fed.

“Hi.” His heated gaze triggers all my hormones at once. Tongue-tied, I struggle to sound like he doesn’t affect me.

“Hi back. Did you finish your…work?” I almost said investigation which sounds a lot more FBI-ish than environmental-ish.

I’m sure the people watching me would be eager to share that information. Holy crap, I need to pull up my big girl panties and stop drooling over the man who has ignored me for the better part of a week.

Unzipping his coat, the G-man doesn’t miss a beat. “Thanks for asking. From what I’ve seen, the deer herds are healthy. Only yesterday, I studied a Moose cow with her calves.”

Phew, this safe topic, I can discuss. “Yeah, they stay near their mom for almost a year.”

His eyes twinkle as if he has some kind of x-ray vision able to see under all my layers of clothes. “It will be a while until we can learn if the habitats of predators or smaller mammals have been disturbed. So, I’ll definitely need to return in the spring.”

For a moment, I had forgotten. The grant is a ruse. The minute he’s done counting, he’ll be gone, leaving me to lick my invisible wounds.

“Ready to go, babe?” He brushes a kiss across my lips and places a hand at my lower back before walking me to his vehicle.

Inside, he turns the key. When the engine gurgles but refuses to start, he scratches his beard. “That’s weird. It was working fine a second ago.”

Shivering, I shrug. “It’s below zero. You probably have water in the fuel line. Let’s take my car. There’s a lot of great chefs on the mountain. On the way we can stop for dry gas.”

Hunt blocks the wind while I open my door, then quickly slips into the passenger seat. As I merge onto the highway, I steal a glance at his handsome, silent face. He probably expects some snarky comment about ignoring me, but I keep quiet. We agreed that if we got together, it would be strictly casual. Perhaps he’s not as into me as I thought.

With more important things to discuss, I clear my throat. “So, how’s my brother?”

Hunt shifts in his seat, a faint blush creeping up his neck. “It’s not what you think. A lot of farmers mentioned Kade spends time in the woods. I figured he might have some insight.”

Pure unadulterated bullcrap . “So, you didn’t talk about me?”

“Not exactly.” He scratches his jaw. “He did mention not to hurt you—in the politest way possible.”

“Right. And?” Catching my furious glare, his eyes soften. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me to call him out.

His voice lowers. “He mentioned your hospital stay, but only so I’d understand. He cares about you.”

“It wasn’t his story to tell, dammit.” So long friend-with-benefits. Thanks a lot, Kade.

Halfway up the mountain, a loud pop echoes from under my Kia—not a sound any engine or muffler should make.

“Slow down. Pull over.” Fingers wrapped around the emergency brake, Hunt remains unnervingly calm.

My pulse spikes as I ease my foot off the accelerator and press on the pedal to the left. It sinks to the floor.

“Oh shit. No brakes.”