Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99399 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99399 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
I knew better than to get involved in Wolfe’s friendships, but I still didn’t like this guy. My own jealousy aside, Wolfe had only been in Hush for a few days. Whatever territorial claim this guy thought he had on Wolfe was inappropriate and lightning-fast.
Wolfe’s cheeks turned a deeper pink as he introduced Jake to the people around him. Brennan looked happy to see Jake, and the two older men by the grill seemed pleased also.
Great. Everyone is happy. Excellent.
I forced myself to remain seated. To not do exactly what I was annoyed at Jake for doing by going over there to piss in a circle around my… around Wolfe.
Instead, I turned to the woman sitting next to me and struck up a conversation. Claudia Reynoso turned out to be a lovely woman, happily telling me about juggling homeschooling with running an accounting firm with her husband from the road.
It was easy to lose myself in the interesting story of their lives as digital nomads, prioritizing adventures and travel with their kids over the comfort and stability of living in one place.
By the time she was called away to help one of her kids with their hamburger, Wolfe was standing in front of me with a plate in an outstretched hand. “Hope you don’t mind. I made you a plate.”
I glanced up at him, touched at the gesture. “Thanks, ba—Will. I appreciate it.”
He shot me a soft smile and nodded. “Be right back.”
After he headed back to the food table, Jake walked up with his own camp chair and unfolded it right between mine and Wolfe’s. I had to lurch sideways to keep the corner of the chair from knocking my elbow and spilling my food. “Hope you don’t mind me joining. Wolfe invited me.”
I opened my mouth to mutter something when his word choice caught me off guard. “Wolfe?”
He nodded and then looked around to make sure no one else had heard. “Oh, sorry. I forget he doesn’t want anyone else to know.” He tossed me a wink.
Something about his ridiculous posturing suddenly relaxed me. There was no way Wolfe would fall for someone like this.
All of Jude and Derek’s kids had been through years of good therapy, and I knew without a doubt that Wolfe would recognize a control freak when faced with one.
Jake was manipulative and territorial, and I’d bet it wouldn’t be long before he did or said something controlling that made Wolfe feel like a child.
Been there, done that.
I decided to sit back and watch it happen.
Jake settled into his chair as I took the first bite of food. Eduardo Reynoso had made a giant vat of spicy mac ’n’ cheese, which everyone had been raving about, so I started with that.
Just as I was enjoying the flavor, Jake spoke up. “So, I hear you’re headed out in the morning. Where is it you live?”
“Montana,” I said between bites.
“Oh. I… oh. I thought you and Will were from the same place.”
I wanted to ask if he knew where that place was, exactly.
Instead, I shrugged. “Originally. But I moved away a few years ago.”
“Ah. What do you do for a living?”
“Wilderness emergency rescue,” I said, not wanting to give more specific details than that.
His eyebrows lifted as if I’d surprised him, and maybe he was impressed against his will. “Must be interesting. I’ll bet you have plenty of stories.”
I nodded and took another bite. I noticed Wolfe glancing worriedly at us as he approached, so I shot him a reassuring smile.
“Hey,” he said, taking his seat on the other side of Jake. I felt a little sorry for him having to juggle the two of us together.
“Eduardo’s mac is amazing,” I said. “I might need to ask him for the recipe.”
He snorted softly. “As if you cook.”
I grinned at him. “Hey, I cook. There’s no DoorDash in the backcountry.”
He leaned around Jake, who seemed to be leaning forward just to make it more difficult for Wolfe and me to speak to each other.
“Your version of trail pasta includes orange powder,” Wolfe accused with a knowing grin. “Tell me things have changed in the past ten years.”
“Now I add spices,” I said with a wink. “And I don’t see why I can’t swap those out for these ones.” I took another bite of the mac and groaned appreciatively.
Wolfe’s eyes widened, and his cheeks once again turned pink. At this rate, he was going to have blood pressure problems from how many times he’d gotten flush-faced tonight.
“I don’t think it’s just the spices, Trace. He uses a combination of cheeses and probably adds—”
Jake cut him off when he reached over and ran his fingers through the back of Wolfe’s hair. “Are you going to play for us tonight?” he asked with an affectionate smile. “Shay couldn’t stop talking about how well you play. I told her I’d take a video and send it to her at her friend’s house.”