Wild Thing (17 page)

Hunter shook his head. “No, I just thought… You know what? Never mind.”

He pulled his shaving stuff out of his ditty bag and sprayed shaving cream into his palm.

“What did you think?”

“Nothing, Toni. Let’s just drop it.”

“Drop what? You may not believe me, but this is the first fight I’ve ever had with a boyfriend. I don’t know how this works.”

He ran his razor down the side of his face and looked at her in the mirror. “It’s not a fight. It’s a disagreement.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what you were doing, but I was fighting.”

He turned and lifted her off her feet and sat her on the counter, making a place for himself between her legs. “I understand we’re in different places. I’m a patient man. I can wait for you to catch up. But babe, I’ve never lied to you, and I never will. When I tell you something, you should at least give me the benefit of the doubt.”

“Okay. But Bianca is so beautiful, why wouldn’t you—”

“Bianca’s beauty is only skin deep. You’re beautiful inside and out. It’s just hard to get through that wall you’ve built around yourself.”

“I don’t have a wall.”

He leaned over her so they were face to face. “Babe, you not only have a wall, you have a damn alligator-infested moat to boot.”

“Right. And you had such a hard time getting past it.”

“I just learned your weakness and took full advantage.”

“What’s my weakness?”

“Coffee, dark Belgian chocolate, and me.”

Okay, so he had her there. Speaking of coffee, she took a sip of hers. “When you’re right, you’re right.” She tugged on the edge of his towel, and it fell to the floor. “You should really shave naked.”

She spread her legs more, grabbed his butt, and pulled him closer.

“Babe, you’re playing with fire.”

She leaned back with her hands behind her and took a deep breath; the towel she had wrapped around her fell away.

“Are you trying to kill me? If I finish shaving now, I’m gonna end up slitting my throat.”

“Then you’d better shave later.”

***

Hunter captained the jet boat across Redfish Lake and then led the party to the base of the large peak Bianca had chosen for the mountain climbing shoot.

Toni was more confident when it came to this shoot. She’d done plenty of climbs—of course, those were in the middle of Manhattan and not the mountains of Idaho. Still, she felt at home with the harnesses and even climbed the face just for shits and giggles. As long as she pretended she was in the city, she didn’t have a problem; and she had to admit, reaching the top was a hell of a lot more fulfilling when she looked at the view spread out before her. It sure beat looking out a window at the cityscape of downtown Manhattan or Brooklyn.

When her feet hit the ground after rappelling down, Hunter gave her a high-five. She could tell he wanted to give her a kiss—heck, it was all she could do not to plant one on him, but when they were working, he was all business, which was the way it should be.

The morning session went well. Toni worked closely with the photographers to get the shots she needed. How they angled each shot changed the look of the degree of difficulty, and since she needed a good mix for the project, she took great pains to make sure she got them.

During the lunch break Hunter, Fisher, and Karma took off on a climb. Hunter told her they were going, but he failed to mention it was the expert climb. She’d never have known if she hadn’t had the map in her bag. Toni ate her lunch and watched the three of them. The higher Hunter went, the more nervous she became. They were all good climbers, but they weren’t using any equipment—just their hands and feet.

James joined her on the rock and shaded his eyes to watch the trio. “We really should get a few shots of them. They’re amazing—especially since the guys have taken off their shirts. Damn, they sure know how to grow ’em here.”

Hunter jumped from one point to another through the air without so much as a hand on the mountain. Toni’s heart raced and then stopped. She closed her eyes tight and waited for the scream. When she heard none, she opened her eyes just in time to see Karma make the same jump, only she looked more like a ballet dancer. “How the hell are we going to get through this shoot if the three of them break their damn necks?”

“Are you worried about Hunter or the shoot?”

“Both. Look at those idiots. Hunter and Fisher look like Tom Cruise in that
Mission
Impossible
movie, and Karma—I don’t even know what she looks like.”

“Darlin’, Hunter and Fisher look far better than Tom Cruise could ever hope to. Besides, Tom’s short. I like my men tall and strapping.”

“I wish you luck with Fisher or Trapper. Hunter’s mine.”

James just raised an eyebrow. “I was wondering how long it would take you to figure that out.”

“Yeah, I’m really slow. It’s only been three days for God’s sake. Give me a break, will you?”

“I don’t know if you were watching, girlfriend, but that man’s been head over heels since the first moment he set eyes on you.”

Toni shook her head. “James, do you really believe in love at first sight?”

“I do as of three days ago—at least on his part. I’m still up in the air when it comes to you though. You’re a tough nut.”

“I’m a nut all right. Oh, and thanks for the heads up about Bianca and Hunter. You should have heard the way she talked about him when I called her this morning. It was as if they’d had a hot affair, and she’s expecting to take up where they left off the next time he’s in town.”

“Bianca certainly wasn’t subtle about what she wanted from Hunter last month, that’s for damn sure. You know Bianca.” James slid his arm around her and gave her a hug. “Hunter pretended to be oblivious. I did my best to run interference, but I could only do so much. Bianca can get downright pissy when she doesn’t get what she wants. Believe me, Hunter is a hunter. He doesn’t like being the prey—especially to a woman like Bianca. He didn’t catch any of her passes if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’m not worried, but you should have told me. What do you think she’s going to do when she finds out about me and Hunter? I could lose my job over this.”

“I like Hunter, Toni. He’s a good man. And to tell you the truth, I didn’t even think about Bianca. But does it really matter?”

“My job? Hell yes, it matters.”

“Don’t borrow trouble. I don’t think your job is in jeopardy, but even if it were, I wouldn’t complain if I were you. You and Hunter seem to have something special.”

“How? He’s here.” She pointed up at the side of the mountain, wishing he would just come down from there already. “And I’m all the way out there.” She pointed her other arm toward the east—at least she thought that was east. “How can this work?”

“So, you’ll move. Just because you’ve never thought of leaving the city doesn’t mean you can’t.”

“Look at me, James.” She plucked her baby doll T-shirt off her chest. It was white with red Gothic print that said, “I’m Disinclined to Acquiesce to Your Request.” “Do I look like I’d fit in here? And Hunter can’t leave. He has his whole family, his businesses—a real life.”

“But he doesn’t have you.”

Toni looked to see where Hunter was—way too high up for her peace of mind. She swallowed hard.

“Honey, you don’t need to be in New York. You can make a statement anywhere. And it’s true Hunter isn’t likely to move to the Big Apple. But there’s nothing keeping you there. You don’t have much of a life to leave. I love you, sweetheart, but you have to admit your social life is a bit anemic.”

“Anemic?”

“I was trying to be nice.”

“If anemic is nice, I’d hate to think what you’d say if you weren’t.”

She and Hunter hadn’t talked any more about the whole relationship thing since she interrupted his shave, and that was just fine with her.

“Well, as much as I love talking to you about my anemic life, I have to call my mother.”

Thinking of her future with or without Hunter and having to call her mother was enough to give her indigestion. The potential damage to her career was already done. She wouldn’t be able to hide their affair from Bianca even if she stopped seeing Hunter now, so what would be the point? The only certainty in Toni’s life at the moment was this seven-day period—anything other than that was the unknown. She’d jump off that bridge when she came to it. What other choice did she have?

James shook his head. “I swear you’re a glutton for punishment. I don’t know why you don’t write off both your parents.”

“You just spent the last five minutes telling me I have no life, and now you want me to cut off my parents too? I’d be the first to admit they aren’t—”

“The type to appreciate that they were blessed with a beautiful, talented, and intelligent daughter like you?”

“James, they’re all I have.”

“No, they’re not. You deserve better, and I think you may have just found him.”

He picked up Toni’s lunch trash and went to check on the others as she dug Hunter’s satellite phone out of her bag and dialed. “Hi, Clarissa, it’s me—Toni.”

“Darling, how are you?”

“I’m fine. You?” Toni heard spritzing. Mother must be spraying her orchids.

“Are you in Iowa?”

“Idaho, and yes, I’m sitting at the base of a ten-thousand-foot mountain.”

“Oh, it sounds lovely. So, have you read the book I sent you?”

“No. I haven’t had a chance. I’ve been busy.”

“With a man?”

“Clarissa—” She strung out her mother’s name. “I’m surrounded by men all the time.”

“I know, darling. I only wish you’d do more than just look. You
are
interested in men, aren’t you, dear?”

“Oh my God, are you asking if I’m gay?”

“Well, the thought has crossed my mind.”

Toni closed her eyes. “Mother, I’m not gay—not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

“Antonia Marie Russo! You know how I feel about you calling me Mother.”

“Fine. Is this better? Clarissa, I’m not gay.”

“Thank God for small favors. You know your Aunt Lucy on your father’s side is gay, and they say it’s genetic.”

“Good to know, but I’m not. Can we talk about something else please?”

“Sure. It wouldn’t kill you to take a man out for a spin every once in a while.”

“I’ve had my share of test-drives. I can’t believe I’m telling you this, but I’m seeing someone.”

“Really? Is he one of your models?”

“No, he’s a guide.”

“Oh…”

“Oh? What’s that supposed to mean? I thought you’d be ecstatic.”

“Darling, it’s fine to play with men from a different social strata, but good looks don’t pay the bills. One must be smart about these things. One must always marry up.”

“Why do I bother? He’s not from a different social stratum. He owns the guide company and a few other businesses in Boise as well.”

“In that case, read the damn book, and figure out how to keep him.”

“Mom—” She stopped herself. “Clarissa, I’ve been here since Sunday. It’s a little early to begin reeling him in, don’t you think?”

“It’s never too early. I only knew your father a week before we moved in together.”

“And we all know how well that worked out.”

“Yes, well, I’d really love to talk more, but I’m going to be late for my tennis lesson. The new pro at the club is just fabulous.”

“I’m sure he is. Have a great time.”

“Call me when you get back to civilization, darling. Bye.”

Toni hit the end button and tried to lie back on the rock, but something or someone stopped her—someone as silent as a ghost. She looked over her shoulder. “Hunter, how long have you been sitting there?”

That crooked Dennis-the-Menace smile covered his face. He looked very pleased with himself. “You call your mother Clarissa?”

“After I hit about fifteen she said I looked too old to call her mom. I have a habit of conveniently forgetting when I want to tick her off.”

He leaned into her, his arm resting on the rock next to her hip. “I thought you weren’t going to talk to your mom about me.”

“I threw mommy dearest a bone when she bugged me about reading that book on landing a man.” Toni scooted around to face him, hugging her knees to her chest. “You want to tell me just what you were doing climbing that high? You could have killed yourself.”

“I’ve done that climb since I was a kid. I know it like the back of my hand, but I’m sorry if I scared you.”

Toni looked up the mountain and then back to him. “Your mother let you climb that? What was she thinking?”

“I don’t know that we even told her, but she knew we were all good climbers. It’s what we’ve always done—although truth be told, I think the first time we climbed it was because Karma had taken off on her own. I swear that girl is part monkey. She can still out-climb us all.” He tipped the lid of Toni’s baseball cap. “How old were you when you took your first subway ride alone?”

“I don’t know, five or six.”

“I wouldn’t let any kid of mine ride the subway alone at that age. Don’t you see? It all has to do with perspective. Kids here start climbing early—not climbs like that one.” He pointed to the mountain he’d just scaled. “But they learn their limits, and they learn by experience what to look for. Just like you did on the subway.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re right.”

Hunter stretched out on the rock beside her, and Toni had the urge to join him and use his shoulder as a pillow. She wished she could spend the afternoon staring at the sky through the trees and listening to his heartbeat.

“Do you have plans tonight?”

She slid her legs down onto the sun-heated rock. “Plans? What do you mean?”

“I mean, do you have plans for dinner?” He rolled onto his side to face her. “I’m trying to ask you out.”

“Like on a date?”

“Exactly. I thought if you wanted to we could head down to Ketchum, have dinner, maybe do a little shopping, and spend some time together away from here.”

“How far away is Ketchum, and what kind of town is it?” She stopped and squinted at him. “It is a town, right?”

Hunter put his backpack under his head and used it as a pillow. “Ketchum is a resort town about an hour and fifteen minutes south of here. Sun Valley is next to Ketchum. It has great restaurants, shops, movie stars, the whole nine yards. We can stop at The Elephant’s Perch and pick up a pair of decent hiking boots for you too.”