“Yep,” we both said in unison.
I stole a quick glance at Bishop. He was staring at me, and I wasn’t sure how to read his expression.
“Why don’t you wait until spring?” Bishop asked.
I drew my head back. “Why wait until spring?”
“It would be safer, for one thing,” Hunter answered, a touch of frustration in his voice.
Kyle rolled his eyes.
With a smile as big and bright as I could muster, I said, “I’m not the least bit worried. Kyle wouldn’t let anything happen to us.”
“And isn’t that part of his job?” Arabella asked in a sarcastic voice, which wasn’t normal for her. “I mean, if he goes in and finds lost hikers, I’m pretty sure we’ll be fine.”
Everyone turned and looked at her. I mouthed the word bravo and winked.
Kyle took a small bow. “Thank you, Arabella. That was exactly what I told these two idiots when they insisted it was a bad idea.”
I snapped my head over to look at Hunter and Bishop. Before I could even utter a word, Arabella said, “Well, thank you for your concern, gentlemen, but seeing as our welfare and safety is none of your responsibility, I don’t think we need your opinion on the matter.”
I was positive my mouth wasn’t the only one hanging open in shock as all eyes went to Arabella.
Kyle let out a roar of laughter. He walked up to Bella and cupped her face with his hands. “I always knew there was feisty spirit in there somewhere.”
He went to kiss her on the forehead, but Hunter grabbed him and pulled him away. He stepped closer to Arabella. “Bella, when was the last time you even went hiking?”
She shrugged.
“Exactly. Sweetheart, I just don’t think this is a good idea.”
Something moved across Arabella’s face, and she let go of my arm. Lifting her chin, she stood as tall as she could. “I’m not your sweetheart. You must have confused me with Brighton there for a moment, Hunter.”
Hunter’s head jerked back as if Arabella had slapped him across the face.
She turned on her heels and headed back into her place, calling over her shoulder, “See you tomorrow morning, Abby and Kyle.”
I stared at her, then looked back at Hunter. “What did she mean by that?”
Hunter’s eyes were locked on Arabella as she retreated.
Kyle cleared his throat. “Um, Hunter and Brighton kind of hooked up a few times last year.”
My eyes went wide. “Brighton Rogers? The lawyer? Doesn’t she live in Boston?”
Kyle leaned in closer to me and whispered, “It’s a long story, Abs. I’ll fill you in tomorrow.”
I was slightly taken aback by Kyle calling me Abs. Only Bishop, Greer, and Arabella had ever called me that.
Bishop shot him a displeased look and then hit Hunter on the arm. “Come on, let’s go.” Before he turned, he gave me one more expressionless glance.
Kyle watched the two of them walk into the softly falling snow.
I shook my head to clear it. “What was that all about?”
Kyle chuckled. “They both freaked the fuck out when they found out you two wanted to go hiking. I might have egged them on a bit, I’ll admit it. It’s fun watching them both get so damn worked up.”
“Why do they care?” I asked.
Kyle’s face turned serious, and he regarded me for a moment. Then, without answering my question, he flashed me that brilliant smile of his and winked. “See you in the morning, Abby.”
Bishop
“Is there a reason you’re chopping that wood like it took your last dime?”
I raised the ax and slammed it onto the piece of firewood. When the pieces fell to the ground, I reached for another one and ignored Hunter.
“Okay, so you don’t want to talk. I get it. You keep chopping wood, and I’ll talk.”
“Don’t you have a job, Hunter? You know—” I turned and looked at him—“protecting the city and shit.”
Jack came running up to Hunter and dropped his ball. Hunter picked it up and threw it again. It landed in a snow drift. I watched as Jack ran and dove into the snow.
“Jesus Christ, your dog is just as crazy as you are.”
He laughed. “I’m on a lunch break. Have you heard from Kyle?”
I let the ax fall again. “No.”
Hunter walked around me and started to pick up the wood pieces, tossing them into the back of the truck. “Getting ready for some firepit action, I see.”
“Yep,” I said with a grunt as I swung the ax again.
“You know, last time I checked, you had a machine that split firewood for you. Is it broken?”
“No.”
He picked up more wood and tossed it into the truck, then threw the ball for Jack again.
I stopped and wiped the sweat from my brow. Exhaling, I walked over and jumped up onto the tailgate of the truck, reached for my water, and took a drink.
“What do you make of Arabella’s little outburst yesterday?” I asked while Hunter watched Jack search for the ball.
Shrugging, he replied, “I’m not sure.”
“The day Abby stopped by to talk, Arabella called and left me a message. She was looking for Abby. I called her back because I was curious about what was going on. She did the same thing on the phone to me.”
Hunter threw the ball again and turned. “What do you mean?”
“Spoke her mind. She went right for the jugular.”
The corner of Hunter’s mouth twitched with a hidden smile. “What did she say?”
“That I’ve spent the last two years drowning my heart in whiskey and women.”
His brows lifted. “I’ll be damned.”
I smiled softly, then let it fade away. “Yeah, well, her sucker punch caused me to throw one of my own.”
His mood changed in a flash, and I saw an instant look of anger on his face. “What did you say to her?”
I rubbed my temples in an attempt to rid myself of the headache I felt like I’d had for the last week. “I might have said she was one to talk. Then I might have said something about her hiding out with bees, pretending she hadn’t broken your heart.”
Hunter closed his eyes. “Son of a bitch, Bishop.”
“Dude, I felt like a dick as soon as it came out. Don’t worry, though, she made sure to tell me I was an asshole before she ended the call. I was so pissed at myself for taking my anger out on her, I threw my phone at the wall.”
Hunter’s gaze snapped to mine. “That’s how you broke your phone?”
I nodded. “I’m telling you, women are going to be the death of me.”
“Amen to that, brother.”
Hunter’s phone beeped, and he pulled it out of his pocket. “It’s from Kyle.”
That piqued my interest. “What did he say?”
“He just says all is fine. Girls are enjoying themselves, and they’re almost to the top.”
We both looked over toward the mountain ridge Kyle had taken the girls. It was a clear day and I knew he wouldn’t put them in any danger.
“He knows what he’s doing,” Hunter said, breaking our silence.
“Yeah, I know. Why do you think they both wanted to go hiking?”