reciprocate.
So although sometimes she thought about moving out again—she wrinkled her nose at the dirty dishes—the independence she’d gain wouldn’t be worth what she’d lose. The others must feel the same, since they’d also returned. Or maybe they were just lazy. With the livestock and erratic schedules, it was easier for everyone to live here.
Good thing her uncle had built a huge house. Whenever one of them had turned eighteen, Harvey added on to the cabin, and eventually each bedroom had transformed into a mini-apartment. It had been the sneaky old man’s way of keeping his children around.
She stared at the brick-colored wall. What would she do when the guys started getting married?
The ringing of the phone saved her from the dismal thought, and she hurried into the dining room to answer it. The noise stopped, so Wyatt must have picked it up. As she stacked the dishes left on the table, she heard him say, “I don’t know, Logan. Morgan and I are booked on Tuesday. Kallie is too.” She stepped into the office.
Wyatt looked up, his hair shoved into angry spikes. He hated doing the accounting.
Serenity Lodge must have some clients for them. She ignored the little voice going, don’t, don’t, don’t . Her desire to avoid Jake didn’t matter. This was business.
She ignored Wyatt’s motion for her not to talk and said loudly, “The women’s group I’m guiding will return Monday, so I’m free on Tuesday.”
“I’ll get back to you, Hunt.” He punched the Off button hard. “You just had to keep talking, didn’t you? I don’t want to book you with anyone from the lodge.”
“That’s what I thought. We’ve been over this, remember?” She glared at him. “Honestly, Wyatt, they can’t be worse than some of the yuppies I’ve taken out—the ones who think a female guide provides sleeping bag services.”
His face went dark, and he shoved to his feet. “Who? Who the hell… Did they touch you?”
Not a good argument to use, stupid girl . “Not for more than a second. Understanding was achieved quickly.” She rolled her eyes. “Cuz, I sleep lightly, I carry a knife, and you guys are the ones who taught me to fight. It’s not a problem. Sit .”
With a grunt, he sank back into his chair. “Okay. But those people from the lodge—that’s something else. Virgil reamed me and Morgan a new one about letting you anywhere near them.” He gingerly fingered a dark purple bruise on his jaw. “He said the Hunts are actually involved in that stuff.”
“Oh?” Involved? If he only knew … God, they’d haul her to a convent. “Who cares? If the guests start swinging from trapezes while they”— screw —“mess around, I’ll just step off the trail and wait until they finish.”
Wyatt scowled.
“They’re probably safer to be around than the clients who think camping means you don’t need deodorant.”
He barked a laugh. “You might have a point.”
“I have several. I’m part of the business. ‘Everyone is equal in this house,’ remember?”
“Pa might have gone overboard with that rule,” Wyatt muttered. When she crossed her arms, he held up his hands. “Fine. You win. We’ll outfit a party of four—two couples—for an overnight next Tuesday.”
For her own comfort, she asked, “Just the four people? Not either of the Hunts?”
“Doubt it. Why would they go?”
Good. That’s good . “Have Logan fax the details.” She shook her head. The Hunts and the Mastersons were doing business together, so she might as well resign herself to it and shut down the part of her that felt hurt. Yeah, when she ran into bastard Hunt, she would act just as “ice cube up the butt” as he had.
“Will do.” Wyatt picked up the phone. “By the way, I invited the Hunts to our party on the Fourth. Logan said they’d come.”
“Oh.” She swallowed her frustrated scream. “How nice.” She made it back into the kitchen before losing it, and then she slammed the counter with