“Hey, Hunter.”
“Hey. Traffic wasn’t nearly as bad I thought coming out of Denver.”
“Glad you’re back. Come over here and meet Allison, Riley’s new assistant.”
The blonde jumps to her feet to meet my best friend. The difference in height is shocking.
Hunter glances at me before stepping forward and I can’t read the expression on his face. “Welcome to our ranch,” he says, removing his cowboy hat with one hand while reaching out to greet Allison.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well,” she says, tilting her head back to take in Hunter’s tall frame. I’m six-three, but Hunter towers over me by a solid two inches.
“Hunter, there are more wraps warming up in the oven. Are you hungry?”
My friend turns in my direction and the way he arches his eyebrows suggests he’s as pleasantly surprised as I am to meet Allison. I nod knowingly. She’s freaking hot.
“No, buddy. I’m good. I had a big lunch in the city.” Hunter walks towards me and pats me on the shoulder. “I’ll just have a cold one.”
“Good idea. Grab me a beer at the same time, will you?”
“Allison, would you also like a beer?” Hunter is gripping the refrigerator door and grinning as he plays host to the newcomer.
“No, thank you, Hunter. I’m afraid I’m not much of a beer person. I prefer wine and girlie cocktails.” She giggles.
“Jake’s sister and Isadora are the same. We have a nice selection of wine in our cellar. I’m happy to go and grab you a bottle.”
Look who’s being so accommodating.
“I’m fine for now. I still haven’t finished the ginger ale Jake grabbed for me a few minutes ago.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Thank you. I will.”
“So is this your first time out here?” Hunter closes the fridge, hands me my beer without even looking at me and makes his way to sit right next to Allison. I follow him back to my seat.
“It is. I’m guilty of not travelling much.”
“How are you enjoying it so far?”
“I was telling Jake how different the skyline is from New York or Chicago where I grew up.”
“Yeah, not only the skyline, but the air and the open space. You’ll sleep like a queen tonight.”
“I’m a light sleeper and I usually need white noise to fall asleep, but it’s so quiet here…”
“Trust me, you’re not going to need any white noise out here.”
Did he just lick his lips?
When Allison blushes at Hunter’s comment, I realize I’m not the only one who heard a double entendre.
“So I hope your boyfriend isn’t going to find your time away from New York too difficult to handle?”
Could he be more obvious?
“Hunter, buddy, Allison’s private life is her own.” I glance in Allison’s direction and she’s beet red.
“Uh. Gosh, you don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
“It’s a simple question. I was curious if you’ll have any weekend visitors. We’re all adults here.”
“Hunter,” I growl. “Enough. You’re going to make her uncomfortable.”
“Jake, it’s okay. I don’t mind answering the question,” she says, curling up her lips. “I broke things off with my boyfriend a few months ago, so you don’t have to worry about anyone coming around to visit me,” she says, lowering her eyes to her drink.
“What an idiot for allowing you to get away.”
Jesus Christ. Is he already flirting with her?
Hunter can be so forward sometimes. I tend to be more reserved at first, but once the doors are closed and I have my dick deep inside a woman’s sweet pussy, I turn feral. Hunter might be an alpha male, but I’m the top dog. I just don’t operate like he does.
“So, Allison—”
My best friend is about to ask a question when the front door swings open again and we hear kids screaming and yelling.
“Riley’s back with the kids,” I say, dropping my beer on the counter and standing up to greet my niece and nephews.
“Uncle Jake, Uncle Hunter, we’re back.” My four-year-old niece is always so eager to get home at the end of the day to tell us all about school.
“I can see that, sweetie. Come over here and give me a big hug.” As I pick up my niece, my sister’s oldest son runs into the house.