Wild Thing Read Free Page A

his cynicism ticked her off. She pulled her pillow onto her lap, hugging it to her chest. “What?”
    “Maybe our definition of normal is different. I can’t see you going out with anyone boring enough to be defined as normal.”
    She sat up a little straighter. The guy certainly knew how to get under her skin, and not in a good way. “You don’t know anything about me.”
    His low, sexy chuckle grated on her nerves. “Toni, I’ve learned more about you in the last half hour than I know about most of my best friends.”
    “You don’t know much about your friends then, do you?”
    “I know how long their skis are, how much they weigh, their favorite beer, what kind of flies they tie, and who they’re married to or dating—all the important stuff. Now why don’t you tell me what’s got you so spooked you almost passed out at the thought of taking a raft down a lazy river?”
    “No.”
    “Afraid of the water?”
    Damn, the man could have been a cop. All he was missing was the bare lightbulb. “Not particularly.”
    “Then what is it?”
    “None of your business.”
    “That’s where you’re wrong. I own River Runners, which makes you one of my guests. Everything about you that affects the quality of your experience is my business.”
    “Nice try, but no cigar. The only thing you’re responsible for is following the schedule I emailed you last week and keeping my models safe. The rest is my business and mine alone.”
    He stood and inspected the living area of the small cabin as if he expected to see something more than the rustic couch, coffee table, chair, TV, desk, and a few lamps. He returned to the bedroom section against the far wall, peeked into the bathroom, and then opened the closet, which served as a partition separating the two spaces. “Did you get everything on the packing list?”
    “Yeah, why?”
    “Because you can’t wear a getup like that on the raft tomorrow.” He reached into her closet and pulled out her checkerboard, slip-on, canvas Vans.
    He was going through her closet? She got off the bed and pulled her sneakers from his huge hands. “Do you always invade everyone’s personal space and property, or am I just special?”
    “These will work fine. You might want to put on a bathing suit or at least swap that skirt for a pair of shorts. Oh, and don’t forget your sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat tomorrow. I’ll be here at 9:00 a.m. sharp.” He grabbed a hoodie out of her closet. “Everyone’s meeting up by the lodge for the barbecue. You might think about changing into a pair of jeans. And I’m sure you’ll need this.” He tossed the hoodie to her; she caught it with one hand. “Once the sun ducks behind the mountains, the temperature drops. I’ll wait outside for you to change.”
    “You ignored my question.”
    Hunter turned and looked her up and down again. “I didn’t ignore it. I don’t know the answer yet.”
    “You don’t know if you invade everyone’s personal space?”
    “No, I don’t know if you’re special, but I’m looking forward to finding out.”
    ***
    Hunter stepped outside. He leaned against the closest tree, pulled his sat-phone off his belt, and dialed his sister. God, this was going to kill him.
    “Speak.”
    “Great phone manners, Karma.”
    “Ha, you’re just jealous you can’t answer the same way, Mr. Businessman.”
    “Yeah, you’re probably right. I need a favor.” He could almost hear her deciding how to make him pay. “I need you to buy me a book and bring it up here tomorrow.”
    “Oooh, this is gonna cost you. What book and where?”
    “You have a pen handy?”
    “Do I need one? It’s not one of those boring treatises on history or literature you’re so fond of, is it? If it is, I’m going to charge you twenty bucks a pound to lug it all the way up there. And why the urgency?”
    “It’s a paperback, and no, it’s nothing like my usual reading material. You have to promise you’ll keep this a secret.” Man, he