Page 43 of The Rescuer

“Yeah, you look great.”

“The hair’s not too wild? I tried to put it up in a ponytail, but my head hurt too much.”

Two strides, and he faced her. He smoothed a few silky strands away from her face, though they didn’t need it. “Perfect. Ready to face the music and find out what happened last night?”

“Sounds like a search and rescue mission.”

“It kinda is. And we’re a team.” He cocked his eyebrow in question.

She nodded her agreement. Then, with a sigh, she straightened her spine as though shoving a steel rod into it. “Let’s do this, Mr. Hunnicutt.”

He held on to the urge to add, “Roger that, Mrs. Hunnicutt.”

Chapter 11

Couple Number Three

Reece led Neve towardthe sound of chatter and clinking dishes. When they reached the dining room, daylight streamed in from windows whose curtains had been pulled back. The brightness made it hard for Reece to see, but he managed to catch Noah glancing up and grinning.

“Well, if it isn’t Couple Number Three. Glad you could pry yourselves away and join us, Mr. and Mrs. Reece Hunnicutt.”

Reece felt more than saw Neve flinch beside him. “Yeah, about that,” she posed in a soft voice—so soft no one but Reece heard her.

“Coffee?” Hailey chirped, all happy smiles.

How the hell could everyone function, much less act so damn chipper, while he felt—and looked—as though he’d been run over by a fire truck? Hadn’t they consumed as much alcohol as heevidently had?

“Reece would love some,” Neve offered. He glanced down at her, and she met his gaze. “What? That’s what you just said back in our room. I mean,theroom.Myroom.” A becoming pink flushed her pretty face. Neve didn’t embarrass easily, but when she did, her blush always gave her away. It was no different now than when they’d been in elementary school.

“Or did you change your mind?” she prompted.

What’s the question? Oh, right. Coffee.He had mentioned coffee in Neve’s room, but he hadn’t expected her to speak up on his behalf. That—and her rose-petal cheeks—had thrown him off balance. He’d been responsible for himself since he’d been ten years old. Not that hemindedher interjecting.

“Thank you,” came his lame reply.

Hailey filled and passed a steaming-hot cup to Neve, who doctored it with cream the way he liked, and handed it to him.

She knew how he took his coffee? How did she takehers?

Befuddled, he thanked her again and pulled out her chair under the weight of four pairs of curious eyes. What the hell was everyone expecting? For him tonotact like a gentleman simply because he was married now? Wait. Had heeverpulled out a chair for her before? Maybe this was a first too.

Shit! Shouldn’t he ask Hailey to pour a cup for Neve while he was being all polite? Except then he’d need to guess how, or if, to prepare it.

Hailey pointed toward a large silver tray in the middle of the massive table. “Neve, there’s hot water and a great selection of teas. They even left us fresh lemons.”

“Perfect. Thank you, Hailey.” Neve riffled through a large leather box filled with tea bags neatly packed in colorful paper envelopes.

Tea. Neve likes tea. I knew that. Didn’t I?His context these days was limited to the Miners Tavern, where her drink of choice was a margarita … or red wine.

Joy held out her palm. “Neve, let me see your ring again.” She shifted her hawk’s eyes to Reece. “You’re full of surprises, big guy. When you decide to go big, you go all the way.”

“Yeah, thanks for one-upping us, big bro,” Charlie snorted. “I ended up dropping a little more than I planned because of you.” He rushed to add, “My girl is totally worth it.”

Joy whacked him playfully. “Good recovery, and thank you. I love my ring.”

Neve dunked her tea bag … over and over and over. “So you two getting married is … legal?”

Charlie nodded. “Oh yeah. We’re totally legit. Just like Noah and Hailey and you and Reece.” He sent Joy a wink. “Won’t be easy getting rid of me now. You’ll have to go to court, and no judge in his or her right mind is going to say we’re incompatible.”

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