“If you know,” Hunter groused, “then why are we driving past again?”
Jodi turned her head to take in his stern frown. “Maybe this is why I should have gone alone.”
“You wanted me to come with you.”
“Before you got all pushy and had your brother invading my privacy.”
“Don’t do that,” he growled, his tone sharp-edged. His alert gaze stayed on the road and their isolated surroundings. “Your family did the same to me, so don’t start looking for stupid excuses to shore up your reasons for being alone. Don’t cut me out.”
Was that what she’d been doing? True, they’d started this little adventure with him smiling, but as she’d moped, he’d turned sour and become mean-eyed. So maybe he was reacting to her, in which case, it wouldn’t be fair to him to keep being snide. “Sorry.”
That earned a double take before he found a spot where he could turn the truck and head back the way they’d come. “Want to tell me the problem?”
Hunter did that a lot, asked what she was thinking and feeling as if he really cared. He didn’t bulldoze her. He was considerate. Does he really care?
Was that even possible?
“I can’t figure out why you’d want me to hang around.”
Easily, as if it wasn’t a stupid question, especially right here, right now, he answered, “Multiple reasons, actually.”
“Like?”
“I’ve been alone for eighteen months. You nosed your way in and now I like it.”
Despite herself, she felt a smile tugging at her mouth. He did that often, too, lightened her darkness and drew her out of her own troubled thoughts. “Pretty sure you could find a woman more agreeable to—”
“No, I can’t.” Clearly offended by the suggestion, he frowned. “You think I’ve walked around wearing earmuffs? Blindfolded? I’ve met women. I’ve been polite. I’ve conversed.” Constantly vigilant, his gaze searched everywhere as they moved along the shadowed road. “All I’d felt was the need to be left alone. Hell, I’d cut out my own family.”
She knew that, and it broke her heart for his poor mama. She thought of Parrish, how he’d react if one of his kids did that to him.
Pretty sure Parrish would have put an end to it, but then, Parrish was an over-the-top personality unlike anyone she’d ever known.
Hunter quietly continued. “Then there was you, and... I don’t know. Maybe it’s like you said back when we first met. You were something different and I was something different than we pretended to be, but we both recognized it, so we clicked.”
The words sank in, leaving Jodi awed. “I’ve never clicked for anyone before.”
“We click.”
“Even though I’m so weird?”
A short laugh escaped him. “You’re not weird.”
“No? What would you call it?”
“Unique. Compelling.” His eyes narrowed. “Fucking extraordinary.”
Wow. That rasped adjective just added major punch to the compliment. No one had ever called her extraordinary before. Around a glow of pleasure, Jodi tried to sound unaffected. “If you say so.” She would have liked to continue the conversation, since it was all complimentary for her, but then they saw the two men standing in the road. “The guy on the right is Remmy.” He stood there, arms folded, feet braced apart, obviously waiting. Next to him was a dude who tried his best to look menacing. His best was pretty good, she had to admit. “No idea about the other one.”
Hunter slowed even more, an almost electric charge of tense anger vibrating off his big frame.
Whoa. Jodi wasn’t quite sure what to make of the transformation. This was a side of Hunter she hadn’t seen before. “Don’t run them over, okay? I’ll ask Remmy what’s up.”
“You’ll stay in the truck.”
An order? Was that where he thought they were relationship-wise? Fat chance. “Here’s a clue, Hunter—extraordinary women don’t take kindly to being bossed around.” She heard his low curse. “Relax, okay? We’re still in control.” She lifted the Glock she’d just taken from her holster to show him she wasn’t unprepared.
He countered that. “You think they aren’t armed, too? Look closer.”
“So?” The other guy, who seemed impatient for trouble, fingered the hilt of a big knife while glaring toward the truck. “I see it.” He had a shaved head, pale blue eyes and a deliberately nasty attitude. “I’ve seen worse. Besides, he’s way over there, and look, Remmy’s giving him shit.”
“Stop saying his name like the two of you are friends.”
Jodi did a double take. Another order? And this one sounded like...disgruntled jealousy? Couldn’t be, except she wasn’t sure what other emotion to pin to it. “Definitely not friends, thank you very much.” She needed to keep an eye on the two men, yet Hunter’s presence kept drawing her attention. If she ever figured him out, it’d be a miracle.
Appalled at herself for being distracted, Jodi forced herself to focus. “Seems the two of them came to a quiet disagreement.” The cue ball relented, taking a step back. He didn’t look happy about it. As Remmy came forward, he didn’t appear too comfortable with the dude at his back either. “Hold on to Turbo.”
“Jodi,” Hunter warned.
“If they try anything, then you can run them over.” She opened the door, badly startling Turbo, who jerked awake with a croak and a howl. “Stay,” she told the dog, who did his utmost to follow her despite the command. It was only the hold Hunter had on his collar that kept him in the truck. To ensure the dog stayed safe, Jodi closed the door behind her and stepped toward the front fender. “What’s up?”
Warily, Remmy eyed the gun that she held casually in her hand, not pointed directly at him but still ready. He eyed Hunter with even more unease. Dumbass. Whether Remmy knew it or not, she was far more of a threat than Hunter.
Directing his attention back to her, Remmy nodded at her weapon. “Is this how you check out a job?”
Lifting a brow, Jodi nodded at his buddy. “Is this how you interview people?”
“At King’s personal residence... Yeah. Sorry. Precautions and all that.” Lower, he said, “I tried to warn you.”
Yes, he had. “So who’s the skinhead and why is he mean-mugging me?”
“He works for King.” Softer, he added, “Steer clear of him.”
“Not sure he’ll let me do that, blocking the road the way he is.”