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

share quite the same enthusiasm as Dane and Colt for wood smoke fires and catching game for dinner, the time spent roughing it at the cabin had given Grant an interesting idea. A survival business—run by the three of them. Colt and Dane could handle the trainings, and Grant would handle the business. They’d work for themselves and answer to no one. Neither Dane nor Grant needed the money, but the challenge of the business intrigued all three of them.
    Now Dane found himself back in his hometown, and avoiding everyone there. If there was anyone who hadn’t forgotten Casanova Croft, it was the people of Bluebonnet. He’d been leery to return to town, expecting the worst. As far as he knew, he was the only person from town who had ever had fifteen minutes of fame, and he expected harassment. So far, though, so good. He kept a low profile, and for the most part, the usually nosy citizens of Bluebonnet had left him alone. Just as he liked it.
    Well, he wasn’t being totally honest about not wanting to look up anyone. One particular person did spring to mind, but he was pretty sure Miranda Hill wanted nothing to do with him. The last time he’d spoken to her had been in person, and when he’d tried calling her from NHL training camp, she’d ignored his calls—or worse, made her crazy mother answer them.
    After getting chewed out by Mrs. Hill three times in a row, he got the picture. He’d stopped calling, and stopped caring. There were always more girls willing to throw themselves at a hockey player, especially a hotshot up-and-comer.
    He’d eventually forgotten about Miranda Hill, the one thathad gotten away. Well, sort of. And if he’d had a thing for long brown hair and girls with a soft Southern drawl, that was just how it went. Miranda Hill had probably moved away long ago. Maybe she’d gotten married and shot out five kids in five years like his cousin Tara had, and now spent her time chain-smoking and watching daytime TV. Either way, it was best if Miranda Hill remained a memory.
    So, no, he wasn’t going to look her up.
    The business’s only other employee—their coordination assistant, Brenna James—showed up a moment later with her clipboard and a beaming smile on her face. “Guess whose clients are here? Are you two ready?”
    Colt kicked up out of his chair, putting down his game controller. “Soon.”
    Always so chatty, that Colt. “I’m ready,” Dane said, grabbing the two packs. Colt had packed his hours ago in preparation for the trip, but Dane had delayed, waiting until the last moment. Almost as if he was delaying the inevitable.
    Colt gave him a serious look. “Hope so.”
    Irritation surged in Dane and he ignored his friend’s well-meaning look. The guys either trusted him or they didn’t. He could keep his dick in his pants. It wasn’t like he was some oversexed nutjob waiting to jump out of the bushes at the first pretty girl that passed by.
    Not anymore.
    Grant appeared in the room, grinning. He carried a champagne bottle and three glasses. “This is it, boys. Our big inaugural class. You ready?”
    Dane was starting to wish that everyone would quit asking him if he was ready. “Gonna be a good one,” he said, and rubbed his hands together. “You ready to sit on your ass and soak up the profits from Colt’s and my hard work?”
    Grant rolled his eyes and removed the foil from the top of the champagne bottle. “More like, you two get to have a weeklong vacation in the woods and I have to hold down the fort and do all the busywork. There are a million things to be done between now and when you guys get back, and Brenna’s not going to be much help.”
    “You like busywork,” Colt said. “You make more for yourself just so you have shit to do.”
    Grant popped the cork on the champagne. “Time to celebrate.”
    Colt looked at the champagne with distaste. “You shoulda brought beer.”
    “Beer isn’t for celebrating,” Grant said, ignoring Colt’s sour mood. He poured a