Page 30 of Rhett

Emmett arched a brow. “You sound disappointed about that.”

“Shut up,” I snapped. “I ain’t disappointed. Just suspicious.”

“That the town didn’t launch an attack on the hybrid?” Brody asked, chewing on a bite of food.

“She’s a Hunter, so I expected shenanigans.” I guzzled my coffee.

“She’s not a Hunter,” Quinn said, dropping more steaks onto the platter on the counter. “The information about that already spread through the town’s grapevine.” He filled his plate and started eating.

I snorted. “You think they care about the difference?”

Jasper examined me with way-too-wise eyes. “They’re not stupid, Rhett. Most townsfolk could give two shits about her estranged family.”

“I heard she’s beautiful,” Emmett said, shoveling steak and eggs into his mouth like he hadn’t eaten in days.

I stopped midchew, glaring at him. “What’s with your hair?” I just noticed that instead of his normal scraggly ponytail, his locks were shiny and flowing around his shoulders like some damn model in a shampoo commercial.

He grinned. “I want to make a good impression when she comes to my repair shop today.” He waggled his brows.

“She’s not yours!” I shouted, barely stopping my canines from dropping.

“Why do you care?” Brody asked. “Quinn told us that you have no intention of claiming her,” he said, tilting his head, studying me.

I gave Quinn an evil glare.

Quinn swallowed his bite of food. “What?” He shrugged. “You said it. So own it.”

An uncomfortable sensation settled over me like a scratchy wool sweater.

“Well, since you ain’t going to claim her, she’s fair game,” Emmett said.

“Like I said, she’s not yours,” I argued.

“And apparently she’s not yours either,” Quinn said.

Emmett, Mack, Jasper, and Brody nodded in agreement.

My mouth flopped open and then snapped closed.What the hell?

I eyed Emmett. “You haven’t dated anyone since we came to the Ridge. I thought you’re waiting for your mate?”

Emmett shrugged. “I am. I’m not trying to fuck her. But there ain’t nothing wrong with being her guy BFF.”

My jaguar growled with displeasure.She’s ours. Aren’t you going to do something about this nonsense?

“What the hell does that mean?” I sputtered.

“Everyone knows that I listen well,” Emmett explained. “I know how and when to give advice.”

I placed my fork on my plate, instantly losing my appetite. “Shouldn’t we focus on protecting Nova?”

“We are,” Emmett answered. “We’re taking shifts protecting her. Hopefully, when she stops by my shop, I can wrangle a dinner invitation for tonight with my new BFF.”

I had a feeling he was deliberately trying to provoke me. My fingers clenched around my cup so tight, I thought it would shatter.

“What’s wrong with you?” Jasper asked with a smirk while examining me. “You look like you’re a volcano about to blow.”

They all turned to stare at me.