Power Drilled (Roommates, #8)(38)

Comprehension crossed his face as he reached for the door. “Right. And I’m Reid, so I should open the door and walk like I have a stick up my butt.”

I laughed and went through the door as Jackson held it open.

He shook his head once we were in the hallway. “I know Reid fancies himself a gentleman, but I’ve always assumed that the average woman knows how to operate a door.” He glanced sideways at me, his gaze sweeping over my body. “Not that you’re average.”

“Wait a second. You were the one who told me about Reid always opening doors, right?”

His forehead wrinkled. “I don’t think so.”

A sinking feeling filled my stomach. “Hunter?”

“Yes?”

If I had been a person who used swear words, this would’ve been a good time for it. “Jackson was supposed to be here today.”

“He’s working on the loft. What’s the big deal? We’re identical, as you may have noticed.”

“You should have told me!”

“Why?” He looked honestly puzzled at my reaction. “Whether it’s me or him, we’re both supposed to be pretending to be Reid, anyway. So what’s the big deal?”

I turned and continued down the hallway, pulling my keycard out of my purse.

Hunter caught up with me in two bounds. “Penny?”

“I wish you would have told me.”

His trademark smirk was nowhere to be seen. “Okay, I will next time.”

Angrily, I jammed the keycard into the receptacle on the door, but the light flashed red. After two more tries, I turned to Hunter. “It’s just… a lot. Every time I’m here, I’m afraid my family will figure out that I don’t really have a boyfriend. You three barely know me. It would be nice if I at least knew which one of you I’m with.”

“Fair point. If we ever have to switch up the schedule again, we’ll let you know right away.”

“Thanks.” I let out a shaky breath. My anger was fading, but I still couldn’t quite wrap my head around the fact that it was Hunter who’d been so good with my little cousins.

Hunter was watching me closely. Then he held out his hand. “Let’s start over. I’m Hunter.” I shook his hand, and he continued on. “I’m known as the youngest brother, even though the doctor pulled me out first.”

“He did?”

“Yep. But I said, ‘five more minutes’ so he put me back and grabbed Reid instead.”

I smiled at that, and Hunter noted my softening expression.

“And because I’m Hunter, I know exactly what happened in this spot the other night. Right outside this very room.”

My face flushed as I remembered how good it had felt to be held by him. To be kissed by him.

He smirked as he watched me. “Want to wait out here until one of your relatives passes by so we can do it again?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his cocky question. “Maybe next time.”





15





PENNY





“He really surprised me today,” I told Lila later that same night. It was dark, but when she’d called, I’d headed out back to the patio to get some privacy.

“Hunter’s the bad boy, right?”

“Yeah, pretty much. But is it possible to be a bad boy who’s good with kids?”

“Apparently. Did it work all your lady parts into a frenzy?” she asked.

I laughed. “Something like that. But then he was different at the mechanic, too.”

Lila cut in. “I wish you’d let me send Gideon over to look at it.”

“He’s done enough,” I said truthfully. “Besides, my car’s kind of on life support.”

“But it works, right?”

“For now. Hunter followed me home in his car to make sure.”

“That’s good.”

“He also got them to knock twenty-five percent off the bill.” I shook my head slowly, still amazed by that.

“How?”

“I’m not really sure, and I was there. He was charming one moment, and stern the next. And stubborn throughout. And somehow it worked.”

“Well, mechanics listen to men more than they listen to women.”

“Yeah, sometimes.” But it felt like it was more than that. I’d really been impressed by Hunter today.

“By the way, you said home.”

“What?”

“You said that Hunter followed you home.”

“I meant here, to the house they’re renovating. Not to my place.”

“Yeah, but you called it home. A few days ago, you acted like it was a prison you’d been sentenced to stay in.”

I frowned. She had a point. “I guess I just know them better now.”

“And you like them more now, too.”

She said it as a fact, and I didn’t deny it. We weren’t in grade school, gossiping about boys. I could admit I liked the triplets without her thinking I was falling head over heels for them. Hopefully. “They’re good guys. And guess what? Reid said that views are up on the videos I’ve been posting. And they’re getting new followers faster than usual, too.”