Wild Thing (19 page)

“Houston, we have a problem.” Trapper’s voice sounded as if he was holding back a laugh. “You better get your ass over to Fisher’s cabin on the double. I’ll meet you there.”

Hunter cursed under his breath and rolled out of bed. He was gonna fillet Fisher when he got his hands on him. It was almost 1:00 a.m. for the love of God. He’d fallen asleep less than a half hour before still unable to believe Toni admitted she loved him—not only on their date, but several times in the throes of passion. Damn, that was something he could definitely get used to.

Not wanting to wake Toni, he felt around in the dark for his clothes, pulled them on, stepped into unlaced hiking boots, and grabbed his phone and key card before leaving the cabin.

Cold air slapped his face, chasing away the last remnants of sleep and fueling his irritation at being ripped from his bed and the woman he loved. He stomped toward the far cabin, the lights glaring through the windows. Trapper fell into step beside him. “This better be damn good, Trapper.”

Hunter rapped on the door before throwing it open. There was Bianca sitting on the bed. Fisher held up his hands as his unfastened jeans slid dangerously low. “I didn’t touch her, I swear. Okay, I touched her, but I was asleep, so it doesn’t count, does it? I don’t even know her. I went to bed alone, and when I woke up she was there. I thought I was having a really great dream.”

“Or nightmare.” Trapper stepped inside and tipped his hat. “Ma’am.”

Hunter wanted to punch someone or something. “Fisher, pull your damn pants up for God’s sake.” Bianca, the client, Toni’s boss, was supposed to be in New York, not in the cabin he was assigned to. “Bianca, this would be a really good time for you to get out of my brother’s cabin.”

“But Hunter…” Her breathless croon made him wince, and both his brothers glared as if they were ready to scalp him.

“We’ll wait for you outside.” Trapper said, as he and Fisher exchanged looks before monkey-lifting Hunter out the door. They turned on him with matching sneers. Trapper stomped into his personal space, puffing up his chest, his hand clenched in a tight fist. “First Bianca and now Toni?”

Fisher followed. “She thought I was you. Her saying your name is what woke me in the first place. Shit, Hunter, when did you turn into such a horn dog?”

“I never touched her.”

Trapper crossed his arms and did that judge thing that made him so damn good at his job. “So Bianca just waltzed into your cabin uninvited and started messin’ with what she thought was your tackle? Talk about the old bait and switch. I thought you two outgrew that in high school.”

Hunter couldn’t believe he was being forced to explain himself. He’d done nothing wrong. “That’s the only way she’d ever be in my bed. I don’t sleep with clients—it’s bad for business.”

Trapper laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Yeah, this doesn’t bode well either.”

Bianca opened the door. Her booted feet were shoulder width apart, and she placed one hand on her hip. She pointed at Fisher with the other. “Who are you? And what were you doing in Hunter’s bed?”

Hunter crossed his arms and stepped in front of his twin. “I think the question is—what were you doing in my bed? My brother, Fisher, and I traded cabins. You’re the intruder.”

“Hunter.” She moved toward him. His brothers both stepped forward, blocking her. “I was only trying to surprise you.”

Trapper tipped his hat. “Ma’am, I don’t know what it’s like in New York City, but in these parts, that’s breaking, entering, and a possible sexual assault. Fisher, if you want to press charges, all you have to do is call the Blaine County Sheriff’s office.”

Bianca blanched.

Fisher ran his hand through his blond hair. “No, it was just a case of mistaken identity. No harm done. It’s happened before.” Fisher smiled.

“Son of a bitch.” Hunter would have given just about anything to pound the shit out of Fisher. The boy was really asking for it. “When?”

Trapper looked from Fisher to Hunter. “You two can reminisce later. Right now, I think I’d better escort Ms. Ferrari to the front desk and get her a cabin of her own. We’ll see you in the morning.”

“What about my bags?”

“I’ll bring them to you myself after we get you settled.”

Hunter held out his hand to Bianca. “Why don’t you give me back the key so we can avoid any further confusion?”

She pulled a key out of the back pocket of her painted-on jeans and slapped it onto his palm. “I thought he was you. I didn’t notice the blond hair in the dark. I was just trying to wake you. We have a lot to talk about. It’s business mostly.”

Hunter wanted to tell her she was damn lucky it had been Fisher in the bed, because his brother was much more forgiving, but he held his tongue. As much as it pained him, it wouldn’t help to make an enemy of his client. “We have a meeting at the lodge every morning at 9 a.m. We can talk business there. Trapper will make sure you get settled in the right cabin. Good night.”

Hunter didn’t bother to wait for Bianca’s response. He only wished he could wait a lifetime before having to tell Toni her boss had arrived and was up to no good.

He stalked back to the cabin and tiptoed in, shedding his clothes before slipping back into bed. Toni rolled over and threw her arm and leg over him. He lay still, praying she was asleep.

“Where’d you run off to?”

“Just a little problem I had to take care of. Go back to sleep, babe. I’ll tell you about it in the morning.”

“Okay.” She kissed him before resting her head on his shoulder. Her warm hand slid across his stomach, and within a minute she was asleep.

The rest of the night Hunter held Toni and worried. He spent an inordinate amount of time attempting the impossible—trying to figure out what Bianca was doing there—besides the obvious. Thank God they’d crashed in Toni’s cabin. If they’d stayed in his, this minor disaster would have reached epic proportions—not that it still didn’t have the potential to do just that. Bianca ending up in Fisher’s cabin was going to be difficult enough to explain. If his brothers had a hard time believing there was nothing between him and Bianca, Toni certainly wouldn’t believe him.

Chapter 15

Toni awoke to the scent of freshly brewed coffee and a showered Hunter. When she pried her eyes open she was surprised to see him already dressed.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” He bent down to kiss her and sat on the bed before handing her a steaming mug of coffee.

She knew better than to say anything before caffeine, so she drank enough of the scalding liquid to hot-wire the nice side of her brain. She stretched, surprised she’d overslept, only to check the clock and see she hadn’t. Toni snuggled closer to him and slid her free arm around his waist, nuzzling his neck. “It’s not even seven yet. We don’t have anywhere to be until nine.” She trailed her fingers down the button band of his shirt to his belt. “Why aren’t you naked and in bed?”

He took a good long sip of his coffee, and after taking hers, set them both out of reach. She smiled, wondering what he’d planned to do with her that would make him need to protect their coffee from spilling. Athletic sex? She nibbled his ear and ran her hand down his thigh.

He caught it and gave her hand a squeeze.

“Hunter?” She stopped to look at him, really look at him, and noticed his eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn’t slept. His jaw was clenched, and a vein popped out in his forehead and throbbed. His back and shoulders were so tight and straight, it looked as if they might crack if he bent them.

She remembered waking last night to find him sneaking back into the cabin. “What happened last night that dragged you out of our bed at weird o’clock in the morning and is dragging you out of it again?”

Hunter turned her hand palm up and traced the lines, before kissing it and closing her fingers over the kiss. He made eye contact and looked so utterly miserable, Toni held her breath. Maybe he’d changed his mind about loving her? She felt the sting of tears and blinked them away. She’d known it was too fast. He was dumping her. Taking a deep breath, she braced for it.

“Bianca showed up last night in Fisher’s cabin.”

Huh? He hadn’t changed his mind? “Bianca is here? What’s she doing here? I just spoke to her twenty-four hours ago. I told her everything was fine. She didn’t mention coming out.”

Hunter wasn’t moving, not saying anything, and he certainly didn’t look as if his stress was decreasing. If anything, it looked like it was getting worse. What could have him so upset? “Oh God, did she find out about us?” Then it hit her. “Hold on. Did you just say she was in Fisher’s cabin?”

He nodded. Hunter’s look darkened. He looked dangerous. His glower wasn’t directed at her, thank God, but she had to admit this hard, angry, rebel-without-a-cause thing Hunter had going was a complete turn-on.

“If Fisher and Bianca have something going on then we’re off the hook.” Toni shrugged and scooted closer. “I guess she figured if she couldn’t have you, your twin is the next best thing. And really, personality-wise, I think Fisher is a much better match for her. He’s easygoing, definitely not like you. I assume Bianca figured that out. Anyone who knows Fisher—”

“She certainly knows him now. Intimately. Or at least well enough to pick him out in a naked line-up.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Was he jealous? “Are you telling me they didn’t meet each other the last time she was out?”

Hunter nodded.

“What? Did she pick him up at the bar last night?”

“No. He was asleep before she arrived.”

“Then what was she doing in his cabin?”

Hunter remained mute.

“Oh God, Fisher’s cabin was supposed to be yours. Bianca wasn’t expecting Fisher. She was expecting you.”

“She must have gotten an extra key to my room from the front desk. She couldn’t tell us apart in the dark, and I don’t think I ever talked to her about my family or anything personal. Fisher woke up when she called him by my name.”

“What made Bianca so sure she’d be welcome in your cabin in the middle of the night?” Sure, the woman’s ego knew no bounds, but this was over the top even for her.

“I know what this looks like, Toni, but I really need you to trust me on this.”

“This is like a freakin’ nightmare. What exactly happened?”

“Trapper called me at about 1:00 a.m. Said there was a problem at Fisher’s cabin, and he’d meet me there.”

“Had Fisher called Trapper?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know that he had time. When I walked in, Bianca was there, and Fisher was still climbing into his jeans. Fisher’s a heavy sleeper. He didn’t wake up until he heard her calling my name. Fisher—he just thought he was having one hell of a good dream.”

“Oh God, she thought he was you.”

“If it had been me, she’d never have gotten past the door. I’m nothing like Fisher. He just laughed it off as an accident and a case of mistaken identity.”

Toni shook her head and scooted closer, hugging him sideways and wrapping her legs around his waist. “What are we going to do?”

“Nothing. She’s your boss and my client, and as far as I’m concerned, anything that doesn’t have to do with the job is off-limits.”

“Well, good luck with that. But it’s unrealistic as hell. She’s a pissed off, humiliated, ex-supermodel—talk about an ugly combination. James and I are going to be right in her line of fire. This is a disaster. Would you do me a favor?”

“Whatever you need.”

“Go get James for me while I jump in the shower. He’s been with Bianca since their modeling days. He knows her like the back of his hand.” Toni slid around on Hunter’s lap so she faced him and kissed him, feeling the tension disappear. Too bad she had fires to put out, or she’d spend the morning fanning the flame that sparked between them every time they were in the same room. She ended the kiss and hugged his neck. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For being straight with me. You could have candy-coated it, but you didn’t. I appreciate that.”

“I love you, and I promised I’d never lie to you. That includes candy coating.”

“I thought it would be bad when I went back to New York, and Bianca found out about us. But with her here—things could get ugly.”

Hunter reached for her face and forced her to look at him. “The only way Bianca can come between us is if we allow her to, Toni. I’m not going to let her do that.”

Hunter looked so sure of it. What he didn’t think of was that Bianca obviously cared for him—she must have if she felt it was okay to just walk into his cabin in the middle of the night and risk being turned down. Even if Bianca was a saint, that would smart. The fact that she had three eyewitnesses only made it worse.

***

Toni had just finished tying her new hiking boots when James knocked on the door and pushed it open without waiting for a response. He raised an eyebrow. “Is this a new fashion trend, Toni?” He took in her shorts, relatively plain T-shirt, and lack of accessories.

“No.” She looked at her new boots and cringed. “I hate them, but Hunter insisted on buying the ugliest boots known to man.”

“Well, aside from the unfashionable shoes he foisted on you, you look marvelous, darling. I think love agrees with you.”

She blew her bangs out of her eyes. The boots definitely didn’t match anything in her closet, but she wasn’t about to rock the raft with Hunter by wearing her Vans again. Maybe she could dye the boots later.

“Word all over the inn is that Bianca showed up and had a busy night last night.”

Toni looked up from braiding her hair and pasted on a wary smile. “That’s an interesting way to put it. She thought she was in Hunter’s cabin and got Fisher instead.”

“Oh, to have been a fly on the wall.”

“Hunter wasn’t too happy about it. The poor guy looked about ready to blow a gasket when he told me this morning. He said he and Trapper walked in on Fisher pulling up his pants and Bianca sitting on the bed. Trapper ended up escorting her back to the front desk to get her own cabin.”

“I take it she wasn’t happy to hear the news about your reincarnated love life.”

“Hunter didn’t say, but it’s not too much of a stretch of the imagination to think Bianca’s not going to be happy a guy like Hunter passed her over for the likes of me.”

James put his arm around her. “It’s not like you’re chopped liver, darling. You might have questionable fashion sense, especially in those boots, but you’re beautiful and vibrant, and you have a hell of a head on your shoulders.”

“But James, she’s a supermodel. How can I compete with that?”

“There’s no need to compete. You’ve already won. Just relax.”

“Easier said than done. But let’s not go there now. What we need is a plan.”

“Toni, we have a plan. You have every shoot scheduled to the nth degree, oh anal one. All we need to do is stick to it. There’s no need to change the way we do anything—it’s working, girlfriend. Bianca will see you have everything well in hand and realize she’s not needed. Maybe once that becomes as obvious as the fact that Hunter has the word
taken
written all over him in black and red lipstick, she’ll give up and hop the next flight to New York or LA.”

“You and Hunter don’t seem to get it. Bianca must have had a specific reason to drop everything and fly out here. You of all people should know that. You’ve worked with her for how long?”

“Almost twenty years, but she’ll never admit it. She’s still telling everyone who asks that she’s in her twenties. She’ll be thirty-four next April, not that you heard it from me.”

“Like I’m going to mention it. I would really like to survive this trip and not be thrown off a cliff.”

“Hunter would never allow that. He keeps such a close eye on you, I’m surprised he left you alone for this long.” He smiled. “Look at you. You’re blushing.”

“I am not.”

“Look in the mirror. You’re blushing like a schoolgirl.”

Toni’s cheeks burned, and she covered them with her hands. “Leave me alone.”

“So… have you told him yet?”

“Told him what?”

“Have you told Hunter that you’re in love with him?”

“Yeah, okay. I told him. Are you happy now?”

James fanned his face and sniffed. “My little girl is growin’ up. I’m so proud.”

***

Hunter walked the path that led past the cabins and found Trapper on his porch sipping a cup of coffee. “Did you bring your own coffee?”

Trapper tipped back his hat. “To the inn? What the hell do you think?”

“Good.” Hunter sat on the porch chair and passed him his travel mug. “Then pour me another cup, would you? I’m beat.”

Trapper reappeared a minute later.

Hunter took a sip. “Ooh, Kona. You’ve been holdin’ out on me, Bro.”

Trapper shrugged, and they watched the models come and go while Hunter arranged his thoughts into words. “Something’s been bothering me since last night.”

“Besides the fact you have two beautiful women after your sorry ass, and one looks as mean as a mountain lion with PMS?”

“Yeah, besides that.” He turned and studied Trapper. “How did you know there was gonna be trouble before Fisher did?”

“I saw the limo, the lady, and the luggage. There’s no way in hell Fisher is capable of handling a woman like that, and since she had her own key, I knew she had to have bribed that kid at the front desk. You know… the one who’s always following Karma around.”

“Alan Meeks?”

“That would be him.” Trapper sipped his coffee.

“If you knew what was going down, why didn’t you stop Bianca?”

“Just because Fisher isn’t capable of handling the woman doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have the opportunity to try. Besides, have you looked at Bianca Ferrari? There isn’t a man alive who would mind waking up with her.”

“Except me.”

Trapper groaned. “Spoken by a true casualty of love. We all can’t be so lucky. So how’s Toni taking the news of her boss’s recent adventure?”

“Better than expected, which makes me nervous. We’ve already fought about Bianca after Toni called her to check in. Bianca insinuated there was a hell of a lot more between us than a working relationship.”

“Did you tell her the truth?”

“Yes. Both times.” Hunter winced. “What choice did I have? I was up all night trying to figure out what to say, or a way to avoid it. I had to be straight with her.”

“So you told Toni that Bianca, without invitation, snuck into what she thought was your cabin and Toni bought it?”

“I think so. She thanked me for being straight with her.”

“I can see why you’re nervous. Most women I know wouldn’t take that kind of news well. Since you obviously didn’t get kicked out of Toni’s cabin, what are you doing here bugging me?”

“James is over at our place. He and Toni are putting their heads together trying to figure out how to deal with Bianca.”

Trapper looked up from his coffee and shook his head. “Man, I don’t envy you. Talk about an uncomfortable situation. You’re right in the middle of a nightmare triangle—Bianca, Toni, and the job.”

“Is stating the obvious a judge thing, or is it just one of your many annoying gifts?” Hunter took off his hat and wiped his tired eyes. “Hell, I’d take a few days off if I could, but as the owner I’m under contract to be one of the guides. Bianca’s got me by the short hairs.” He took a deep breath and smelled Bianca’s perfume. One look at Trapper’s sardonic smile confirmed her presence.

She propped a fist full of red lacquered fingernails on her hip. “I don’t remember you complaining last month, but you weren’t sleeping with my manager then either. You’ve been a busy boy, haven’t you, Hunter? I must say, I’m surprised.”

He didn’t want to know why Bianca was surprised by his relationship with Toni. “I guess opposites attract.” He took a long look at Bianca—all six feet of her, taking in the straight blond hair, which was long enough to play peek-a-boo with her breasts as it shimmered in the early light, khaki shorts highlighting the very tan length of her legs, and the black pushup bra that left nothing to the imagination under the almost see-through T-shirt she wore over it. Her green eyes sparkled with nefarious plans only a woman like Bianca could conceive. He didn’t want to talk to her about anything but the job. “We have a team meeting at 9 a.m. then we’re taking the rafts down to Mormon Bend and Rough Creek.”

“I would have thought you’d have already done that shoot. After all, most of it is at your cabin.”