Page 16 of Rhett

Quinn wrapped a protective arm around Imani. “She’s a Hunter, and you brought Imani here? Endangering my mate’s life?”

“Let’s all take a deep breath,” Bonnie demanded. “You didn’t let me finish explaining.”

“Well, get to clarifying before I lose my shit,” Quinn demanded.

Bonnie squared off with him. “Look here, Quinn Bane. I’m an elder in this town. So you will watch your fucking mouth.”

Someone knocked at the door.

“This better be important,” I barked. “Come in.”

The door swung open. Heidi strolled in, pushing a cart filled with bottles of water, cups of coffee, and plates with slices of pie.

“Not the time for refreshments, Heidi,” I declared.

“Make time,” she sassed back, stopping the cart in the middle of the office.

“Oh pie,” Imani exclaimed, excitedly grabbing a plate. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” Heidi said, then eyed Quinn and me. “The festival events planning committee just arrived at the station for their scheduled meeting, so I figured I’d share some of the food and refreshments they brought tonight.”

“That’s tonight?” Quinn exploded.

Heidi nodded. “Yup. Rhett gave them permission to have the meeting here because their usual meeting location at the town hall is being used by the beaver-shifters tonight.”

I rubbed my chin. “I forgot that meeting was happening at the station tonight.”

“I figured that, so I told them tonight’s meeting is canceled,” Heidi replied. “But they’re still inside the station, lingering and listening to everything you all are saying inside this office. I’d give it an hour before the station’s phones start ringing off the hook from nosy-ass townsfolk asking about the Hunter in town.” She turned to Nova and grinned. “Damn, you’re the spitting image of your grandma.” She winked at her. “Welcome to Black Forest,” she finished before hustling out and closing the door firmly behind her.

“Shit, she’s right,” Quinn affirmed. “Let’s speed this up, Bonnie. My pack and I need to strategize a plan for damage control.”

“I vote for kicking her ass out of the Ridge,” I grumbled even when everything in my head rebelled against that idea.

And I vote that we don’t,my jaguar interjected.

Nova rounded on me. “Kick my ass out?” Her scent had changed and was now mixed with a light note of hot peppers. She was pissed off. “Are you always such an asshole? Or is this a special occasion, Sheriff Stick-Up-Your-Ass?”

“I told you to stop calling me that.”

Quinn, Imani, and Bonnie looked back and forth between us like it was a tennis match.

Nova glared at me. “Does it bother you?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Good,” she retorted.

“I like Rhett’s new nickname,” Imani commented around a mouthful of pie.

“Imani, don’t add,” Quinn replied.

Imani shrugged. “I’m just saying the truth.” She held out a forkful of pie to Quinn, who opened his mouth to eat it.

I shot her a dirty glare. “Whose side are you on?”

She pointed her fork at Nova. “Hers.”

“Traitor,” I grumbled.