The Girl's Guide to (Man)Hunting Read Online Free

only stoplight. Absently playing with her collar, she thought about her plans for this week. She’d need some camping clothing, should toss out the stuff in the fridge, maybe see if—
    A car honked next to her.
    Miranda glanced over, and immediately wished she hadn’t. Two men sat in the car, both a few years younger than her. She knew their families. Had seen them around town. Both were grinning at her in that way that told her they’d seen her half naked. Seen the photos.
    “Hey, Boobs,” one called with a leer. “I’ve got an overdue library book. Wanna come to my house and get it?”
    Next to him, the passenger began to pump his fist in front of his open mouth, mimicking a blow job.
    Cheeks flaring with heat, she turned away, just in time to hear both men erupt in laughter. The light turned green and she floored the pedal, surging forward and down the street.
    She couldn’t
wait
to be done with this town.
    “Remember, Dane. Hands off the clientele.” Colt said the words with a grin and gave the game controller in his hands a twist,staring at the TV screen. “This is our make-or-break moment, and I need you to have your head in the game.”
    “Thanks, coach,” Dane said sarcastically to his friend, stuffing a pair of spare socks into his bag. “Glad to have you riding my tail.”
    Colt glanced over at Dane, looking away from the TV screen for a brief moment. “I’d better be the
only
thing riding your tail this next week.”
    Ah, friends. If he didn’t like the guy so much, he’d be tempted to deck him. Dane ignored Colt’s gibes and double-checked his survival pack one more time as they waited in the Daughtry Ranch’s rec room before meeting the clients that would be gathering shortly. They were taking a few moments to unwind before being “on” for the rest of the week. And while Colt chose to play a video game to get in the right mind-set for the trip, Dane felt better looking over their gear one more time.
    The sounds of a cheering audience erupted from the television, and Dane’s head snapped up. Sure enough, Colt was playing a hockey video game. It set his nerves on edge, watching the pixelated players skate around the ice. It reminded him of his old life, which he didn’t appreciate as he was trying to start the new one. “Do you have to do that shit right now?”
    Colt didn’t look up from the screen. “Yes.”
    Dane snorted and moved to check his bag again, turning away from the screen. He didn’t need distractions right now; he needed to be ready. This inaugural training needed to go perfectly.
    First he double-checked the survival supplies he’d be bringing for the group: matches, flint, needles and thread, fish hooks andline, a compass, snare wire, a flexible saw, a medical kit, flares, and a utility knife. At Grant’s request, he’d also packed six military MREs and a satellite phone in case the corporate guys couldn’t hack it out in the wild. As the “wild” went, the Daughtry Ranch was pretty tame in comparison to where Dane and Colt had spent their survival missions, or the times that they’d roughed it off the grid, but it was perfect for the business. Hechecked his pack one more time. Dane felt comfortable viewing the small amount of survival gear, the familiar anticipation edging through his body and drowning out any lingering irritation from Colt’s joking.
    He lived for this. He loved it—pitting himself against the wilderness and using his skills to survive. It centered him. When he was out there in the wild, Dane could find peace in himself, no matter what was bothering him. No one but him, nature, the land…and six neophytes looking to him for direction, he added wryly. Still, he doubted they’d be able to take the enjoyment of the experience away from him. This was part of who he was now.
    And it was why he’d lived off the grid ever since he’d left hockey behind. He was a new man, with a new life, and he liked himself now. The challenge of living off the