Page 80 of The Triple Threat

I grimaced and shook my hands in front of me. “Ugh, nasty visual, Hunt. And how long have you been a member of the library? I didn’t know that about you.”

He sighed heavily and closed his eyes for a few seconds. “Stop changing the subject, and I can damn read you know.”

“I know, I just never imagined you in the library searching through all those books is all. What was it a murder mystery, or some sort of science fiction?”

“It was Jim Warvell’s autobiography.”

I shrugged, having no clue.

“The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee?”

“Nope, sorry.”

“He and his—fuck will you stop distracting me,” he cried. “Just admit what you did was crazy and give my pop some damn credit. He’s not interested in Bronte, and if truth be told, you know that deep down.”

“I know no such thing,” I replied haughtily. “She’s pretty, she’s twenty-four, why wouldn’t he be interested?”

“Because he’s forty-eight, and still grieving my mom. He just wants some damn fun, Ellie. He’s not going to risk his life-long friendships for a quick fuck-fest with Bronte.” He moved closer to me, his breath ghosting over my skin and setting me on high alert. “Now, you’re going to go over there and tell Bronte you’re stepping out for a few and then you are going over to see Carter.”

His words forced me onto the back foot. I put a hand against the wall to steady myself as my heart thudded wildly in my chest.

“I can’t,” I whispered. “He can’t know I poisoned a cat. He’ll want to know why and then I’ll have to reveal the plan and he’ll go batshit crazy on my ass, then he’ll tell Bronte and she’ll be mad and then I’ll—”

“Okay, okay,” Hunter ground out. “But you should take responsibility for your actions.”

Lots of hot and sexy ways that Hunter could make me pay whizzed around in my brain. I gave myself a little fan with my hand.

“Sorry, baby,” he whispered, getting closer to me. “Not those sorts of things. I told you I’m withholding until you realize what I want in return.”

“I-I-I have no idea what you mean.”

Hunter smirked. “I think your thighs pushed together and those pretty little nipples of yours poking in my direction tell a whole other story.”

I looked down and my nipples were indeed sticking out far enough for Reverend Booth to hang his cassock on.

“How do I pay then?” I asked, coughing to disguise the want in my voice.

Hunter wiped a hand backward and forward over his mouth, his gaze bore into me. “I think it only fair you offer to help Carter out.”

“Help him? How?”

Grinning Hunter took his phone out of his pocket and punched his long finger at the screen before holding it to his ear.

“Hey, Carter. Just thought I’d let you know that Ellie is on her way over… yeah,” his eyes held mine, “she felt bad that she’s here and you’re having to take care of Bronte’s cat when she was the one who fed it.” He laughed and then stared at me with a glint in his beautiful brown eyes. “Yeah, that’s what she said…he is, woah sounds bad…well Ellie can do that she’s used to it…he will, that’s great man. So, if she comes over to watch the cat, you want to take her place and drink some beers… excellent. See you in a few.”

He pushed his phone back in his pocket and looked at me. His face full of amusement and victory.

“What?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Carter says Rodrick’s just had another round of the shits, but it was a big one, so he reckons that’s the last one.”

“That’s good.” I actually breathed a sigh of relief. Who knew two little laxatives could cause one pussy to splash so much turd around? “So, I don’t need to go over?”

Hunter shook his head and smiled, giving me a wink. “Oh no, you need to go. Carter said there’s shit everywhere, he didn’t get to the kitty litter in time.”

I held my hands palms up in question.

“It’s pretty rank over there, so I offered your services to go clean it up.”