Page 105 of The Triple Threat

“Ellie,” Carter sighed. “I hate to tell you this, but I don’t give a shit whether he defiled you or not. As long as he didn’t hurt you or give you some nasty disease. I can’t sit down to Thursday night dinner with someone who has crabs.” He held up a hand. “I’m sorry, call me unsympathetic, but I saw with Erik Mackenzie at college what those little critters can do.”

“I do not have crabs,” Ellie huffed out. “How dare you.”

“I did not give her crabs. I’m clean as clean can be.”

Carter threw his hands in the air. “Seriously, how you two haven’t got together before now, I have no fucking idea. I didn’t say you’d given her anything. I pointed out that would be the only reason I’d punch you.”

“Yes, well,” Ellie said, narrowing her eyes at me. “It might just be Bronte he’s given them to now.”

“I don’t have fucking crabs, or any other disease of the dick.”

“What do you mean?” Carter’s tone stopped me in my tracks. It was low and pretty murderous.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?” I asked, turning to him. “What do you think I mean. I’m fucking clean, man.”

“Not that. What did Ellie mean about you giving Bronte crabs?”

“Carter,” Bronte sighed. “Don’t be an idiot.”

He swung his gaze to Bronte and the look he gave her almost knocked me on my ass. It was soft and gentle, and it was just like the ones that I found myself giving Ellie.

“Carter?” Ellie said his name so softly it made me wonder if she’d seen it too. “I was only joking. Well, kind of, I did find Hunter with his arms wrapped around her.”

Boom!

The punch landed right on my chin and it did actually land me on my ass.

“Carter.”

Ellie ran to me and dropped to her knees, her dress gaping open, and even as I saw stars, I couldn’t help but think how amazing her legs looked.

“Are you okay?” she asked, cupping a hand around my face and gently rubbing her thumb along my jaw. She looked over her shoulder to Carter who had taken a step toward me. “You’re a damn idiot.”

“You said he was kissing Bronte,” Carter exclaimed, looking at Bronte.

I pushed myself up into a sitting position.

“Just lie back down,” Ellie said pushing a hand against my forehead. “You might be hurt.”

Shaking my head, I sat up and rubbed my chin. “I’m fine. Like he could hurt me.”

“I totally could,” Carter scoffed.

“You could not,” I replied, getting to my feet and then holding out a hand for Ellie. “You caught me unawares is all.”

“Even I could lay Carter out,” Ellie said, scowling at her brother.

Grinning down at her, I helped Ellie up. “She could too.” Once she was standing, I didn’t let her go but pulled her closer.

“Hunter,” she said softly as she collided with my chest.

I bent my head so that my mouth was close to her ear. “Ellie, where in the hell would you get the idea that I was kissing Bronte?” I whispered, ignoring Carter’s voice whining on in the background.

“You had her in your arms,” Ellie replied, glancing over my shoulder.

“I was hugging her.”

“Before we get back to whether you can take me in a punch up or not,” Carter said. “Tell me why the fuck you were hugging her.”