Wild Thing (3 page)

Maybe she was reconsidering going back for her jacket or possibly rethinking the outfit choice. She looked fine to him. Mouthwateringly so. But he figured Karma would probably think Toni was overdressed. He didn’t know what they wore at barbecues in New York, though if the few episodes of
Sex
and
the
City
he was forced by assorted girlfriends to watch were accurate, they dressed a whole lot different for just about everything. In Idaho, shorts or jeans and T-shirts were good for every occasion except weddings and funerals.

She stopped dead in her tracks, and Hunter almost stumbled over his own feet.

“You know, I’m really tired. It’s been a long day, and I’m still on Eastern time.” She backed away. “I think I’ll just go back to my cabin and crash.”

“You’re not even going to eat?”

She shook her head and bolted.

Since Toni looked more terrified than tired or angry, Hunter didn’t take it personally. He just wanted to know what had her so upset.

When he arrived at the barbecue, James was deep in conversation with Trapper.

Trapper shook his head, dug a twenty-dollar bill out of his pocket, and handed it to James. “Little brother, I’m disappointed in you.”

“Yeah, and why is that?”

“I just lost a bet to James that you’d have Toni out of her cabin in under a half hour.”

“I had her out of the cabin and halfway to the barbecue before she made up some excuse about being tired and bolted. What’s going on with her?”

James let out a sigh. “That, my friend, is Toni’s story to tell. If she chooses to share it with you, she will. I’ll fix her a plate and make sure she’s okay.”

Shit. Hunter had wanted to do the same thing, but then barging into Toni’s cabin uninvited twice in one day might not be the best idea. “I need to know what’s going on, James. I can’t do my job if I have to be afraid of Toni freaking out and disappearing. This isn’t New York.”

“I believe Toni is painfully aware of that. I’ll talk to her, and we’ll see you all in the morning.”

James made his way to the buffet that had been set up and piled two plates with food before moseying off in the direction of Toni’s cabin.

Trapper handed Hunter a cold one. “James said she’s not into the great outdoors.”

“Yeah, that much is obvious, not to mention an understatement. She’s terrified. Why is a mystery—she’s told me everything but.”

“Everything?” Trapper speared Hunter with the look he had that makes everyone spill his guts. Everyone but Hunter, that is.

“Nice try, Trap, but that hasn’t worked on me since I got caught under the bleachers with Jeannie Coleman in the sixth grade.” Hunter took a draw off his beer before going to get some grub, leaving Trapper to give up on the idea of an inquisition. Hunter wasn’t about to say anything that might incriminate himself. He knew better.

***

James knocked on the screen door to Toni’s cabin with his foot. “Toni, it’s James.”

“Come on in. Everyone else does.”

His girl sounded disappointed. She must have expected Hunter. “I can’t get the door. My hands are full.”

The door opened a crack, and Toni looked out before opening it fully.

“Did you think I’d bring the paparazzi?”

“As if, I was just making sure Hunter wasn’t lurking.” She moved aside to let James in. “Hunter just walked right in here earlier as if he owned the place. I thought he was you. I was shocked when I found out who it was.”

James handed her a plate. “Oh, so I was right. You are disappointed.”

Poor Toni was completely flummoxed. “Now or then?”

“Both.” But she was definitely disappointed now.

Toni gave him a confused look, and avoiding both the table and the subject, took her meal to her bed and crawled up, sitting cross-legged in her vintage cabbage rose, blue, and white cotton pajamas. She’d taken off the collar and wristbands. With her hair down, she looked like every other pretty twenty-six-year-old woman. Unfortunately, he was the only one who ever saw the softer side of Toni. She wore her Goth clothes like armor. James understood why. He just wished
she
did.

Toni took a bite of a barbecued chicken leg. “Thanks for bringing me dinner. I was getting hungry. I tried to go…” She licked her finger and then waved her hand. “I just couldn’t.”

“You’re welcome.” James sat at the end of the bed and leaned against the footboard facing her. “I’m sure if I hadn’t thought of it first, Hunter would have brought you something. He’s a good guy, not to mention single and gorgeous.”

“He makes me nervous. He looks at me as if he’s trying to read my mind.”

“Maybe he can. I hear he’s great with troubled youths—he has a way with them.”

“I’m hardly a troubled kid.”

James gave her his “get real” look. “You used to be. Hunter’s observant—maybe too observant.” He held a chicken leg and pointed it at her. “You’re going to be working closely together. He’s smart. He’s going to figure you out on his own, so you might as well just tell him why you’re afraid and get it out in the open. It’ll save us all time and trouble.”

The expression on Toni’s face said she wasn’t buying it—her and her damn walls.

“I spent a week with him, Toni. Believe me, he’ll understand and help you out.”

“James.” She nudged him with her foot. “You swore you wouldn’t say anything.”

“And I won’t, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think you should. You should give him a chance.”

“Why?”

“Because for some reason, he seems to have taken a shine to you.” James ignored Toni’s eye roll, moved over to sit beside her, and smiled when she leaned back against him. “He went after you, didn’t he?”

“To my eternal embarrassment. He found me with my face buried in a pillow trying not to hyperventilate. I’m sure I made a real strong impression—just not the kind that makes a man want to peel my clothes off.”

“I guess that depends upon just how much of your butt was showing when your head was buried in that pillow. You were wearing a really short skirt.”

Toni laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. “Thanks so much for pointing that out. As if I didn’t have enough to be embarrassed about.”

James threw his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “I live to serve.”

“Even if Hunter is understanding, how am I supposed to get the models’ respect if I’m falling apart?”

“Exactly. The only way they’re going to respect you is if you do your job, and you can’t do your job if you don’t figure out a way to deal with your phobia. All I’m asking is to let me and Hunter help you.”

“I’ll try, but you’re the only one I’ve ever talked to about it, I would never have bored you with my own personal nightmare if you hadn’t been with me when I found out about this trip.”

“Yes, but I was, and there’s no way you’re going to pull the wool over Hunter’s eyes. You don’t have much choice but to accept his help. Everything he gives you beyond that will be a bonus.”

“James, having one mother giving me dating books is bad enough. I don’t need two. Sheesh, you’re turning into a regular yenta.”

James watched Toni toy with her food.

“He found the dating book my mother sent me.” She nodded toward her bedside table. “He was reading it and probably thinks I’m out to hook up with the first man I set eyes on. I was so mortified I babbled like a lunatic.”

“No, he probably thinks you’re quirky. Guys like quirky.”

“Somehow I doubt that—especially when the quirky girl is surrounded by beautiful models. Not that I’m even interested. Could you see me and Survivor Man? I don’t think so.”

***

Hunter didn’t have much of an appetite but took his plate and sat with his brothers.

Trapper moved over to make space at the picnic table. “Thanks for striking out again. You cost me twenty bucks.”

Hunter decided to ignore him. It was Trapper’s own fault for betting. He never seemed to learn. “Have either of you talked to Ben and Gina lately?”

Trapper’s gaze wandered from one beautiful model to the next. “We’re surrounded by gorgeous women, and you want to talk about family?”

Hunter shook his head and picked up a barbecued rib. “I was just wondering if that private detective found out anything more. I’ve been working twenty-four-seven all summer and haven’t had a chance to talk to the newlyweds.”

Their cousin, Ben, his wife, Gina, and the whole family had been searching for Gina’s brother Rafael who’d been put up for private adoption when Gina was six years old. The only thing they had to go on were the memories of a terrified child, which wasn’t much.

Fisher stopped gnawing on his corn-on-the-cob. “I think they’ve found seven possibilities. Dick Sommers is following up on them.”

A red-headed model wearing goose bumps and an oversized bandana disguised as a dress sat next to Hunter. “Hi, I’m Yvette. You must be our fearless leader.”

He wiped his hand on a napkin before shaking hers. “Your fearless leader is Toni. I’m just the guide—Hunter Kincaid.”

“Nice to meet you.” Yvette didn’t let go of his hand. “I thought I’d come over and break the ice.”

Fisher leaned in, practically knocking over Hunter’s beer to shake the woman’s hand. “I’m Fisher. I’m a guide and a doctor.”

Hunter rolled his eyes. “We couldn’t get him to stop watching
ER
when he was a kid.”

Fisher took an awful long time to let go of Yvette’s hand. “Yeah, like you weren’t glued to
Grizzly
Adams
.”

“It was better than those stupid law shows Trapper always watched. Remember the Susan Day poster he hung over his bed?”

Trapper set his beer down with a thunk. “Hey, watch it. She was hot.”

Yvette scooted closer to Hunter. “Who’s Susan Day?”

“Never mind.” Hunter shook his head wondering what planet she was from. “You’re probably too young to remember.”

Trapper kicked him under the table. “I’m Trapper. There’s a bonfire after the barbecue. Are you going?”

“Of course, James said it was a meet and greet.” Yvette touched the inside of Hunter’s leg, and he jumped. “I can’t wait to get better acquainted with you.”

Hunter removed her hand and set it on top of the table as he rose. “I can use another cold one.”

Grinning from ear to ear, Trapper slid into Hunter’s spot. “A beer or a shower?”

When Hunter returned with three more bottles, he made sure to sit next to Fisher. As soon as he settled, a set of twins straddled the bench, sandwiching him between them.

“Hi.” The pair said in stereo.

“I’m Candace, but you can call me Candy.”

Fisher leaned forward and caught Hunter’s eye. “Sweet.”

“And I’m Randy.”

Trapper took a swig of his beer and grinned. “Even better.”

Hunter cleared his throat as he looked from Candy to Randy, feeling like a piece of meat slapped between two slices of Wonder Bread—bleached with no nutritional value. Not that he had a problem with that, but at the moment, all he wanted was to have a private conversation with his brothers. “If you ladies have finished eating, you should go put on some layers. It gets really cold up here at night.”

One of the male models strolled over, sat beside Trapper, and gave him the once-over. “Looks like the party’s here. I’m Ari.” He scooted closer to Trapper. “And who might you be?”

Hunter enjoyed watching Trapper squirm. He wondered how PC his big brother would be if Ari ended up on his lap, which seemed to be the model’s objective.

Trapper stood. “Trapper Kincaid, Judge Trapper Kincaid.” Taking advantage of his full six-foot-four height, he looked down at Ari. “Hate to break it to you, Ari, but we don’t bat for the same team, and I’m not a pinch hitter either.”

“A judge, huh? I always wondered what they wore under their robes.”

Trapper sat his hat on his head and adjusted the angle. “Clothes.”

Fisher snorted beer out of his nose, and Hunter tossed him a napkin. “Don’t mind Fisher. He’s just learning to eat in public.”

Yvette laughed. “I gathered that.” She gestured at Fisher. “You uh… have a little corn stuck in your teeth.”

Ari stood locking in on his second target. “I have dental floss back in my cabin if you need some. It’s Oral-B.”

Fisher laughed. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got some fishing line back in the truck.”

Hunter stood and collected the plates. “It’s getting cold. I’m going to get my jacket. You might want to do the same.”

He moseyed toward the trucks with his brothers. “Finally, before we get interrupted again, tell me what Dick Sommers found out. You said he had seven possibilities?”

Fisher took out his Swiss Army knife, pulled the toothpick from its sheath, and poked it between his teeth.

Trapper took the last swig of his beer and tossed it in a waste barrel. “He’s checking them out.”

“Which sucks.” Fisher ran his tongue over his teeth.

Trapper stopped and looked over. “Why? At least we have something to go on.”

“Sure, but what are we doing? Nothing. I thought this was a family thing.”

Hunter nodded. “Fisher’s right. We should all be more involved. After I finish up the season, I’ll fly to New York and see what I can hunt down. We can’t let Dick Sommers have all the fun.”

Trapper raised an eyebrow to that. “And I don’t suppose this has anything to do with Toni Russo or the models who were just plastered to you, does it?”

Hunter just smiled at Trapper. “Jealous, older brother?”

“Hardly.”

“Trapper, get real. I’m free from September through mid-November, and I want to help Ben and Gina find Rafael.”

Fisher laughed. “Sure, okay. But let me just say, if I were going back to New York anytime soon, I’d sure as hell look up any number of the models at this shindig. Look at them all.”

Trapper chucked him on the arm. “Ari would love that. I’ll make sure he gets your number.”

“No thanks. He went after you first. I don’t like playing second fiddle.”

“But Hunter’s throwbacks are okay?”

“Damn straight—the operative word being
straight
, which, unfortunately for Ari, we both are. Right?”

Trapper laughed. “I know I am, little brother. Is there something you want to tell us?”