“There’s more to King than river rafting, cabins and tent sites,” Madison said. “Though he has several locations, I don’t think the businesses would generate the kind of money he seems to have. I’ll do more digging and give a full report in the morning.”
“Add another name to the list,” Hunter said. “Remmy Gardner. He works for King. Tall, blond—according to Jodi, he’s good-looking. He wants on Jodi’s good side.”
“Jodi has a good side?” Madison teased.
“I don’t trust him,” Hunter insisted.
“What do you want to know?”
Jodi decided to get a little payback for Hunter’s comment on her panties. “Hunter needs to know if he’s better looking than Remmy.”
“Hang on.” There were a few seconds with only the quiet clicks of Madison typing, and then she replied with firm conviction, “Hunter, by a mile, but yeah, Remmy’s not hard on the eyes.”
As if he couldn’t take it anymore, Memphis crowded closer, one hand on the back of Hunter’s chair, the other on Jodi’s. “Hey, Madison, it’s Memphis.”
“Hey, I was hoping we’d get to talk. How was your trip in?”
“Just fine.”
Jodi lifted her brows. “You two are awfully chummy now.”
“We’re like this.” Memphis crossed his first two fingers. “BFFs, don’t you know?”
Madison said, “And it’s awesome. I’ve never had a BFF techie friend.”
“Same.” Memphis got serious again. “Now that I’m here, I’d like to work with you to shore up the security. Encrypting passwords and all that.”
“Since sleepy little Triple Creek isn’t so sleepy anymore,” Madison replied.
“Most small towns aren’t.” He glanced at Jodi, then gave a longer look at Hunter. “Small towns are a great place for people to hunker down or keep a low profile when necessary.”
“Very true,” Madison agreed. “So in the meantime, Jodi, don’t trust Remmy too much.”
She frowned.
“But, Hunter, seriously, Jodi is a great judge of character, so lighten up.”
Hunter frowned, too.
Memphis snickered. “You have them both riled.”
“Then my work is done. You two can go about your business. Memphis, let’s do a virtual call so we can work through a few scenarios.”
Memphis picked up her phone and carried it to the counter as he looked out the window.
When Hunter continued to appear disgruntled, Jodi put a hand on his thigh. “Leave them to it,” she whispered. “They can catch us up later.” She dropped her gaze to his mouth. “You and I could...discuss those ground rules you mentioned.”
Realizing her intent, Hunter pushed back his chair. “Fine by me.”
Memphis handed back her cell. “Madison said goodbye. I’m going to set up my laptop in the spare bedroom so she and I won’t disturb you.”
“She’s married,” Hunter reminded him.
“And she’s scary as shit, so no problem.” Memphis grinned. “I consider her a colleague, that’s all. It’s nice to talk to another cyberwhiz.”
Jodi said, “I’m heading off to bed. Good night, Memphis.”
He opened his arms. “One hug. Pretty please?”
She hesitated, but this was Hunter’s brother, and he’d been pretty darned accepting so far. Frowning, she took a step toward him—and got hauled in for a gentle embrace. “There you go. It has been a true pleasure to meet you, Jodi. I can’t wait to visit more tomorrow.”
“Yeah, sure.” Awkwardly, she patted his back, but she had to admit, it wasn’t awful being hugged by another Osborn guy. He wasn’t Hunter, he didn’t make her heart trip up or shoot her pulse into the stratosphere, and the scent of him, while nice, didn’t have her stomach doing somersaults. Yet it was still nice. “Tomorrow.” She eased away.
Looking very pleased with himself, Memphis asked, “Does Turbo need anything in the room? A bed? Another trip outside? What if he wants out at night?”
Jodi picked up her gun and left the brothers to work out the logistics of Turbo’s “sleepover” with Memphis. It wasn’t that late yet, but the day was catching up to her.
In Hunter’s bedroom, she put her stuff on the nightstand and then went into the bathroom to clean her teeth and wash up again.
It was a full fifteen minutes before Hunter slipped quietly into the room. Jodi stood at the window, noticing how the security lights had brightened when they took out Turbo.
“Memphis is right. The yard gets crazy-bright when the motion sensors kick on.”
“I don’t have blackout shades,” Hunter explained. “When something moves out there, I like to know it. Usually it’s an animal, or sometimes the wind moves the branches enough to cause the lights to brighten.”
“Either way,” she said, “I want to know, too.”
He stepped up behind her. “Turbo is settled for the night, already snoring. Memphis is set up in his room. I offered him my office, but he didn’t want to confuse Turbo by coming and going. I have a feeling he does a lot of computer work sprawled in his bed.”
Smiling at that image, Jodi turned. “So now it’s just us.”
“You’re ready for bed?”
“Yup.”
He touched her face. “Give me a few minutes.”
“Okay.” She sighed. “But hurry.”
* * *
AS HUNTER BRUSHED his teeth, he noticed that Jodi had left a few things on the counter. Her toothbrush, her birth control pills, a wide-toothed comb. He thought about her uneasiness with the basement, but he wasn’t sure how to fix the problem. Wasn’t like he could fill his basement with dirt, and he was too settled in the house with his garden and chickens to easily uproot.
Somehow, they’d work it out, and until then, he’d just make her as comfortable as possible.
In an unusual way, it seemed that Memphis’s presence had made things easier, giving Jodi a target to focus on other than the massive step of staying with him. She’d faked umbrage a few times, but he knew her well enough to see the difference.
He thought again of how easily she handled most things. The awful reasons behind his move here. King’s threat against her. Worth’s harassment.
Her own past.