Wild Thing Read Online Free Page A

Trapper to give up on the idea of an inquisition. Hunter wasn’t about to say anything that might incriminate himself. He knew better.
    ***
    James knocked on the screen door to Toni’s cabin with his foot. “Toni, it’s James.”
    “Come on in. Everyone else does.”
    His girl sounded disappointed. She must have expected Hunter. “I can’t get the door. My hands are full.”
    The door opened a crack, and Toni looked out before opening it fully.
    “Did you think I’d bring the paparazzi?”
    “As if, I was just making sure Hunter wasn’t lurking.” She moved aside to let James in. “Hunter just walked right in here earlier as if he owned the place. I thought he was you. I was shocked when I found out who it was.”
    James handed her a plate. “Oh, so I was right. You are disappointed.”
    Poor Toni was completely flummoxed. “Now or then?”
    “Both.” But she was definitely disappointed now.
    Toni gave him a confused look, and avoiding both the table and the subject, took her meal to her bed and crawled up, sitting cross-legged in her vintage cabbage rose, blue, and white cotton pajamas. She’d taken off the collar and wristbands. With her hair down, she looked like every other pretty twenty-six-year-old woman. Unfortunately, he was the only one who ever saw the softer side of Toni. She wore her Goth clothes like armor. James understood why. He just wished she did.
    Toni took a bite of a barbecued chicken leg. “Thanks for bringing me dinner. I was getting hungry. I tried to go…” She licked her finger and then waved her hand. “I just couldn’t.”
    “You’re welcome.” James sat at the end of the bed and leaned against the footboard facing her. “I’m sure if I hadn’t thought of it first, Hunter would have brought you something. He’s a good guy, not to mention single and gorgeous.”
    “He makes me nervous. He looks at me as if he’s trying to read my mind.”
    “Maybe he can. I hear he’s great with troubled youths—he has a way with them.”
    “I’m hardly a troubled kid.”
    James gave her his “get real” look. “You used to be. Hunter’s observant—maybe too observant.” He held a chicken leg and pointed it at her. “You’re going to be working closely together. He’s smart. He’s going to figure you out on his own, so you might as well just tell him why you’re afraid and get it out in the open. It’ll save us all time and trouble.”
    The expression on Toni’s face said she wasn’t buying it—her and her damn walls.
    “I spent a week with him, Toni. Believe me, he’ll understand and help you out.”
    “James.” She nudged him with her foot. “You swore you wouldn’t say anything.”
    “And I won’t, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think you should. You should give him a chance.”
    “Why?”
    “Because for some reason, he seems to have taken a shine to you.” James ignored Toni’s eye roll, moved over to sit beside her, and smiled when she leaned back against him. “He went after you, didn’t he?”
    “To my eternal embarrassment. He found me with my face buried in a pillow trying not to hyperventilate. I’m sure I made a real strong impression—just not the kind that makes a man want to peel my clothes off.”
    “I guess that depends upon just how much of your butt was showing when your head was buried in that pillow. You were wearing a really short skirt.”
    Toni laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. “Thanks so much for pointing that out. As if I didn’t have enough to be embarrassed about.”
    James threw his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “I live to serve.”
    “Even if Hunter is understanding, how am I supposed to get the models’ respect if I’m falling apart?”
    “Exactly. The only way they’re going to respect you is if you do your job, and you can’t do your job if you don’t figure out a way to deal with your phobia. All I’m asking is to let me and Hunter help you.”
    “I’ll try, but you’re the only one