Page 7 of New Year, New Guy
A touch of water?he thought to himself incredulously. ‘I’m game if you are. At least I’ve got a resident nurse on hand if I catch pneumonia.’ Hunter eased into the passenger seat and bumped his knees on the dash before tucking his legs out of the way. ‘Your reindeer ears are drooping, Rudolph.’
* * *
Laura tossed the damp hat on the back seat and cringed at her reflection. Her unremarkable brown hair was squashed flat on the top before frizzing out around the edges like an overcooked fried egg. She didn’t wear the bed-head look well.
‘I could mess mine up too if it’ll make you feel better.’
Why couldn’t she laugh along with him?Because letting down your guard is dangerous. Much better he took her for a humourless prig. ‘Have you heard of Dartmoor?’ She noticed Hunter’s eyes shade to a dark, unreadable shade of indigo.
‘Vaguely, but give me the tourist spiel. I expect you’ve been practising.’
Laura ignored the gibe and rattled off all she knew about the national park on her doorstep. ‘It takes its name from the River Dart that runs through it and it’s extremely beautiful in a stark uncompromising way. That’s probably why I love it. I’m not one for soft and pretty.’ She threw him a half-smile. ‘No argument? You’re slacking.’
‘I’m trying to be “cordial”.’
Another driver cut her up and she barely slammed on her brakes in time to avoid ramming into the back of a flashy Mercedes.
‘I guess we’d better stick to the tourist commentary. The weather’s too bad for . . . sparring.’
She was certain he almost said flirting. ‘If you’re into ancient history there are Neolithic tombs, Bronze Age circles and abandoned medieval farmhouses. Anyone keen on geology heads towards the tors. They’re big rock formations dotted all over the place and seriously impressive. My plan for the day included a hike, the visitor centre in Princetown and checking out the nearby prison. Most people have a morbid curiosity about the place because it was constructed during the Napoleonic Wars and is still in use.’
‘I’m happy to give the prison a miss, but a hike would be good.’
Laura forced herself to be realistic. ‘I know what I said about the rain but it is getting worse.’
‘I sure love that British understatement.’
‘I suggest we head straight for the visitor centre then have lunch in one of the pubs. The weather might improve later.’
‘I guess livin’ here you’ve gotta be optimistic.’
‘It helps.’
Hunter grinned. ‘Remember to please Polly we’ve got to track down one of these cream tea things at some point.’
‘Don’t worry, the Wayside Café in Widdicombe will solve that problem later this afternoon.’
‘I’m guessin’ she’s been extra good to you somewhere along the line to make you so keen to please her?’
Laura exhaled a heavy sigh. ‘Are you always this persistent?’
‘I’ve been called worse.’
‘Why doesn’t that surprise me?’
‘No clue.’
‘I’m going to concentrate on driving now while you admire the scenery.’
Hunter pressed his face against the window. ‘Admiring the scenery. Happy?’
Laura’s stubborn silence set off another of his deep, rumbling laughs.
* * *
Stark and uncompromising. The description suited the woman next to him as well as the bleak landscape. Perhaps on a bright sunny day both would soften.
Laura stopped the car in front of a large impressive building.
