Page 74 of The Triple Threat

“Yeah, sorry, honey,” Mom called without even looking away from the board. “We forgot. There’s pumpkin pie just out of the oven if you and Hunter want some.”

I growled and Hunter looked at me. His eyes were still full of indignation, but I wasn’t sure if it was just down to me or our families as well.

“You want some pie?” I asked, trying to clear the air.

His eyes raked up and down my body and then stopped right at my crotch. He shook his head and then looked back at my face, a wicked grin on his own.

“No thanks just had some.”

Chuckling to himself, he turned on his heels and went off toward the kitchen where all the beer was, leaving me with the distinct feeling that I might regret not hearing him out.

I looked back into the den deciding whether to join them or get pie first, when I noticed Bronte staring up at Jefferson, all starry-eyed. Every time he spoke, she giggled and flipped her hair and a feeling of foreboding passed over me. She was down and out flirting and in front of everyone. It was not good.

“Excuse me,” Hunter said, coming back from getting his beer, and laying a hand on my waist. “Just need to squeeze past you here.”

“Have you seen Bronte?” I asked, barring his way into the den. “She’s outwardly flirting with your dad.”

Hunter looked over my shoulder and shrugged. “And?”

“And we need to step up our plan.”

He took a long swig from his bottle of beer and then sighed as he leaned in, so his lips were at my ear.

“I think it’s about time I got some recompense for helping with this plan of yours.”

Side-eyeing him I snorted my derision. “Recompense for what? I’ve done everything.”

“Well for listening to you in the first place, for doing the calendar.”

“Oh, which I’ve seen the proofs of by the way,” I replied excitedly. “And I have to be honest, you look pretty good.”

Hunter preened, pulling to his full height. “You doubted me?”

I shrugged but smirked and earned myself a beautiful smile.

“Wish I’d done December though, don’t cha?” He nudged me with his shoulder and winked.

“As much as I hate to admit it, you are a teeny bit more photogenic than Dylan.” I held my finger and thumb apart to show him how small the gap was. It was a lie of course; his pictures were phenomenal. I had no idea how, but he knew how to work the camera. His eyes looked down the lens as though they were looking right at me and only me.

Phew, just thinking about them made me hot.

“That mean you’re going to be buying more than one calendar for yourself?”

“Well, it is for a good cause,” I replied with a shrug.

“Sure is.” He grinned and took a drink of his beer. “So, I look forward to hearing from you when you’ve decided what I deserve for helping you.”

He moved to go and join the Monopoly game, but I caught hold of his sweater.

“What are you thinking?” I asked. “A few beers, a dinner. What?”

Hunter’s eyes crinkled with amusement and he put his mouth close to my ear and whispered.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something, but until you do, you’re on your own baby.”

“What the hell is wrong with you today?”

Pop jumped out of the way as I threw the broken fence post to one side.