Page 45 of The Triple Threat

“If you do go tonight, please don’t make a play for Jefferson.”

Bronte opened her mouth to say something, but before she spoke, I jumped right on in there.

“It won’t be pretty if Hunter sees you.” I gave her my puppy dog eyes, laying on every bit of cuteness I had. “Show him a little respect.”

Bronte thought for a couple of seconds and then nodded.

“Okay, if I go, I’ll stay away from Jefferson.”

With a sigh of relief, I left, pulling the treatment room door closed behind me. As soon as I reached the parking lot, I pulled out my phone and dialed Hunter’s number.

“Hey,” he greeted me. “What’s up? You changed your mind about tonight?”

“No,” I replied, glancing towards Bronte’s salon. “We need to step things up, so as well as getting Carter and Bronte together I have another idea for the plan.”

I heard Hunter groan quietly and wished he’d been in front of me so I could stamp on his foot.

“Go on,” he sighed before I had a chance to lose my shit with him. “What’s this new piece of the plan.”

I grinned, pretty pleased with myself.

“Tonight, at singles night, we make sure your dad gets fixed up with someone.”

Hunter laughed on the other end of the line, almost deafening me.

“Hunter,” I snapped. “What’s so funny?”

“We don’t need to make sure Pop gets fixed up, Ellie.”

“Yes, we do.” I pulled to a stop and slammed a hand against my hip. “Bronte is…” Damn. How did I tell him she was fixin’ to be his new mom without him either laughing until he peed his pants, or losing his shit?

“Bronte is what?” he asked.

“She’s definitely going tonight.” I improvised, not wanting to give the whole of Bronte’s sordid plan to make him her stepson. “So, we need to make sure she’s not even on Jefferson’s radar.

Hunter replied with a frustrated “I know, I was there when the twins told us, remember.”

“Oh, and by the way, Carter is going too,” I offered.

“Yeah, I know. He said.”

“And he was okay about us going together?” I asked, wondering what Carter would be like about his friend hitting on his sister. Okay, it was immaterial; Hunter wouldn’t be hitting on me and Carter barely tolerated me himself, so probably wouldn’t care.

“Yes,” Hunter replied sharply. “Because it’s not a date. Now can I go? I need to help round up the herd and bring them in before I shower.”

Pressing my key to open my car, I once again glanced over at the salon wondering if I could actually lock Bronte inside until Monday morning.

“Fine,” I replied. “And don’t be late picking me up.”

Before he ended the call, I was pretty sure I heard Hunter say something about me being a dictator, but wasn’t sure, so let it go.

It was only once I was in my car that I let myself relax and realize that it wasn’t hunger swilling around in my belly. I was excited and it was actually a hundred, thousand butterflies doing a synchronized dance.

When I pulled up outside the Maples house, I didn’t expect Ellie to be running down their driveway, coatless, in a tiny dress with her shoes in her hand. I especially didn’t expect her to be closely followed by her dad.

“What the fuck, El?” I asked as she yanked the door open and hauled herself up into the truck.

“Drive!”