Return To Sender (The Hart Brothers #2) - J. S. Cooper Page 0,31
She looked at me sideways. “There was a primal energy and heat in the air, didn’t you feel it?”
“Well, after I saw the flesh and the blood, how could I not?”
“Don’t lie, you wanted him.”
“I did.” I blushed because I wondered if it had been that obvious to him as well? “He’s just so hot and masculine.”
“He’s definitely a man’s man. Nothing metrosexual about him.” She agreed.
“Do you think he was lying? Do you think he was the guy that was spying on me?” I swallowed hard thinking about him watching me as I moved. “That would be so creepy.”
“I don’t think it was him. He sounded so shocked, almost angry.” She shook her head. “I really don’t think it was him.”
“But then he knows who it was.” I sighed. “He knew something.”
“He did know something. Maybe it was his brother, what was his name again, Henry?”
“Maybe.” Though I didn’t think it was him. Henry was cool and fun. He didn’t seem to be the sort of man that would covertly be coming in and out of the house. He seemed the sort of man that would enter confidently and loudly. I just didn’t think it was Henry.
“So are you going to press him for more information when he gets back to the house.”
“You bet I am. Also, why couldn’t he just have left Henry a note? He left me a note when he left. He can’t do the same for Henry?”
“Maybe he’s worried Henry won’t see the note. That cabin was in a bit of a mess.”
“That’s putting it kindly.” I laughed. “It looked like a hot mess.”
“Do you know what I was wondering?” Her expression changed as she approached the house.
“What’s that?”
“Where were the skins?”
“What skins?” I wrinkled my nose in distaste.
“The skins of the animals. He said they were hunting right? So they killed at least one deep and one elk that we know of. You saw the meat in the sink, but where did they put the hides?” She whistled to Jolene to come inside with us as I opened the French Doors. “I didn’t see any hair anyway, which we should have, we saw the blood, we saw the flesh.” She shrugged. “Just something I was wondering.”
“Yeah, I have no idea.” I shook my head. “Do people that hunt normally kill the hide?”
“Depends.” She shrugged. “I mean, let’s be real, I don’t really know the answer to that question. I think hunting is horrific.”
“Me too.” I nodded. “But I suppose it’s good that he’s not just hunting for sport. He’s hunting and eating the meat.”
“Is that really good though? Does he need meat?”
“Well, we’re not exactly vegetarians, Lucy. We can’t be hypocrites.”
“I’m not being a hypocrite. I just have problems killing innocent animals.”
“All animals are innocent.”
“You know what I mean.” She frowned and headed to the fridge. “I’m getting some water, do you want some?”
“Yes, please.” I nodded. “I’ll fill Jolene’s bowls with water and food as well. She must be so thirsty and hungry.”
“She’s always thirsty and hungry.” Lucy laughed. “I swear that dog could eat a horse and still end up begging for more when she was done.”
“You know that’s true. Come on Jolene, it’s dinner time.” Jolene came running into the kitchen, a huge smile on her face. I suppose at least that was one good thing. She was having a fun time on her first adventure out of Manhattan.
“Here you go.” Lucy handed me a glass of water. “I’m going to go and shower now, but we can reconvene in thirty minutes? I’ve a feeling we’re not leaving tonight, are we?”
“No, we’re not leaving tonight.” I gratefully sipped the water down and let out a small yawn. “I’m going to talk to Wade when he gets back. I want some answers and I want them now.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Lucy said. “You demand the truth. And if he doesn’t want to give it to you, we leave.”
“Hopefully, he lets us.” I said under my breath and she frowned.
“I hope that’s a joke, right? Because if that’s not a joke, then we’re leaving now.”
“It’s a joke.” I let out a hollow laugh. It was a joke, but if I was honest with myself, anything was possible. I didn’t really know Wade Hart. As much as I wanted to believe that I did, I knew that what I knew didn’t even scratch the surface.
Chapter 13
Jolene was curled up at the bottom of Wade’s bed, snoring her little heart out and I