“No.” Tanner shook his head but smiled back. “He earned it, Brianna,” he explained. “He helped me track a man, a real badass, two years ago. The jerk was a multiple killer with a big bounty on his head.” He shot a dry look at Hawk. “I wanted to share the bounty with him. He said no but that he’d accept a particular blanket. You see—”
“Wolfe,” Hawk said, a warning in his tone.
“You don’t scare me, ole son, so save your breath.” Tanner grinned at him.
Hawk narrowed his eyes. Tanner’s grin widened.
Fearing that any second they’d be at each other, fists flying, Bri held a hand in the air in the signal to halt. “Don’t start anything here, you two. This house is too beautiful to wreck it in a free-for-all.” Her voice was soft but stern. “If you’re going to beat up on each other, take it outside.”
Tanner and Hawk stared at each other a moment, then roared with laughter.
Bri placed her hands on her hips, glared at the two of them and tapped one booted foot on the hardwood floor. “I do hope you’re not laughing at me.” Though pleasant, her voice held a sting.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, ma’am.” Hawk was obviously fighting to contain a grin.
“Never gave it a thought, ma’am.” Tanner didn’t bother to hold back a grin. He laughed out loud.
“O-kay. I’ve had enough of your silliness.” Bri was having difficulty maintaining the laughter rising in her throat. “I need a bathroom first, a proper bath and something to eat. Oh, and my pack.”
Hawk slanted a sober look at Tanner. “She always this bossy?”
Tanner nodded, sighing. “’Fraid so. It’s enough to drive a simple man to distraction.”
Bri rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to blast the two of them. She wasn’t fast enough.
“Yeah.” Tanner gave a slow head shake. “I just don’t know what to do with her.”
Bri was torn between amusement and annoyance. She was silent just long enough for Hawk to get in another shot.
“Oh, buddy, I’d know what to do with her.” Teasing laughter danced in his dark eyes.
“Well, yeah, but—”
That’s as far as she let Tanner get. “But you’re going to be too busy getting my gear from the SUV. Right?” Her tone held a definite warning.
“Er, yeah, right, I’m on it.” Softly chuckling, Tanner turned and strode out the door.
“And I’m gonna finish supper.” Hawk headed for the kitchen, clearly visible in the open floor plan, flicking a hand toward a hallway on the far side of the living room. “Bathroom’s the second door to the left.”
“Thank you.” Bri headed for the hallway, hearing Hawk ask Boyo if he was hungry, too.
She was washing her hands, grimacing at her appearance in the mirror, when a soft knock sounded on the door.
“I’ve brought your pack, Brianna. Should I leave it here, outside the door?”
“No.” She opened said door as he finished speaking. “I’ll take it. Thank you.” She rewarded him with her most brilliant smile, took the pack and then closed the door in his face.
“Whoa,” Tanner murmured on an exhaled breath, thinking Brianna had the most beautiful and arousing smile he had ever had aimed at him. His jeans were suddenly tight, chafing him in a delicate part of his body.
The sound of the shower reached him through the door. Tanner imagined her standing under the tingling spray, naked and wet, the water sluicing down her slim body. Not only did his jeans get tighter, his chest grew tight, too.
Damn, get away from the door, Wolfe, before you explode and embarrass yourself by having to listen to McKenna laugh his ass off.
Drawing deep breaths and telling himself he could control his own body, his automatic reactions to a beautiful woman, Tanner gathered up the gear at his feet and headed to the bedrooms. He opened the door just enough to place Brianna’s gear inside the room Hawk had designated as hers, the one Cat stayed in when she visited. From there he went to his room, the one he always used when he stayed at Hawk’s place.
By the time Tanner nonchalantly strolled into the kitchen, he, aided by a cold shower, had worked his mind over matter…at least enough that it didn’t show.
“Your lady friend is something, Wolfe,” Hawk said, leveling a hard look at Tanner. “But why in hell did you bring her along on a hunt?”
“I didn’t have a choice,” he began, but apparently Hawk wasn’t hearing him.
“Are you trying to get that beautiful creature killed?” Hawk demanded.
Tanner sighed. “I told you, I didn’t have a—”
“Choice,” Brianna finished for him in a decisive tone. “I played the trump card.”
“Yeah,” Tanner muttered, turning to look at her. Brianna stood in the entrance to the kitchen area, her still-wet hair hanging straight down her back, her face free of makeup, but glowing from her shower.
“What trump card?” Hawk frowned, glancing between his two guests, who continued to stare at each other.
“Money,” they answered in unison.
Hawk arched his dark brows. “I like money,” he said, his voice laconic. “Though not enough to endanger a beautiful woman—or any woman, for that matter—by taking her along on a manhunt for a killer.” His gaze narrowed on Tanner. “How much money are we talking about?”
Tanner switched his steely stare to Hawk. “An impressive amount of money.”
Hawk smiled—well, almost—and turned his narrowed gaze on Brianna. “How much?” It wasn’t a question so much as an order.
“A million dollars.”
Tanner admired her cool composure. Not many people, men or women, could withstand that particular piercing look from Hawk. In the next few minutes, Brianna ratcheted up his admiration for her even further.
Hawk whistled. “That’s a lot of dollars.”
Flashing her traffic-stopping smile, she nodded in agreement. “Yes, it is.” The smile fled, replaced by a haughty expression. “I take it you disapprove.”
“I don’t disapprove of the money,” Hawk said with a quick shake of his head. “But I do disapprove of Tanner taking along a woman.”
“Yet there are women bounty hunters,” she retorted. “Are there not?”
“She used that same argument on me,” Tanner inserted, just to remind them he was still there.
Hawk flicked a look at him.
Brianna ignored him.
“I don’t approve of women bounty hunters, either. It’s too dangerous for a woman.”
“Indeed.” Brianna’s voice was icy.
“Yeah, indeed.” Hawk matched her tone.
Tanner grinned, not that either one of them noticed. They were too busy trying to stare each other down. This should be interesting, he mused, settling down in a kitchen chair to watch the battle of wills.
No one knew better than he that Hawk was nothing if not tenacious. On the other hand, Tanner had personal knowledge of how stubborn Brianna could be. Yes, indeedy, he thought, controlling an urge to laugh, this should prove very interesting.
Brianna sighed as if sorely tried. “As I pointed out to your friend, I have had excellent training. I am well equipped to take care of myself.”
With