“What are you two doing out here? You shouldn’t be in the open.” Joel stopped right by her feet. The scowl stayed as he scanned the area around them.
“We were waiting for you to wander back in,” Cam said.
“I walked out a few hundred feet and did a perimeter check.” Joel turned in a semicircle as his hand traced the trail through the air.
He acted like leaving was no big deal if he was the one doing it. He wasn’t wearing a jacket and his shirt was soaked clear through. Never mind the fact there was some guy sitting out there waiting to shoot at them again. “Good thing a bullet can’t reach that far.”
“I was fine.”
She rolled her eyes as she wondered how he would react if the roles were reversed. “This time.”
Shuffling started behind her, then she heard footsteps and the low mumble of male voices. Following Joel’s gaze, she watched Lance and Jeff walk out to the fire pit area. Apparently no one wanted to stay inside where it was safer.
It wasn’t exactly easy to take the two businessmen seriously with the drawstrings pulled tight on their hoods so only a fraction of their faces stood out. They acted as if acid fell from the sky.
She bit back a joke as she stood up, doubting Jeff would appreciate the humor. He’d dragged designer gear with him, most of which was more suitable for Himalayan climbing than camping in cabins.
Amateurs.
Joel nodded to the new members of the group. “Good morning.”
“Where’s Charlie?” she asked.
He popped up in the distance over Jeff’s shoulder a second later carrying a steaming mug of something. “Breakfast is almost ready.”
“Forget that.” Jeff frowned at all of them. “What’s the plan?”
Joel didn’t move. “Survival.”
One second he stood there alone. The next, Cam got up and took the place beside Joel. Together they formed a wall of lethal males.
Not that everyone got the message or understood the peril. Jeff sent Joel a withering look, one that probably worked when he tried intimidating his assistants. “I’m serious.”
“So am I,” Joel shot back.
Jeff dragged a foot through the mud before balancing it on the edge of the log. Never mind that people sat there. “Your timing is interesting.”
Hope felt the conversation sliding sideways. Whatever point Jeff was trying to make had tension pounding harder than last night’s thunder. He kept poking the bear and sooner or later, Joel would unleash. He had the skills to make Jeff look like an idiot, and she feared that showdown inched ever closer.
“What are you talking about?” Joel asked as he spread his stance and folded his arms behind him.
“You two show up and Mark disappears. Now you claim to have heard gunfire.”
Joel’s eyebrow lifted. “Claim?”
Enough testosterone-fueled nonsense. She stepped in. “It happened. I was there.”
Jeff didn’t even spare her a glance. “I’m just saying there are easier ways to get a woman into bed.”
Joel took a threatening step forward. “That’s enough.” Only Cam’s arm held him back.
“You’re out of line, Jeff. Apologize,” Charlie said at the same time.
But Jeff wasn’t done. Clearly warming up to his theory, he stood taller and crossed his arms in front of him. “Maybe Mark snuck up on you? Maybe he was in the way? After all, the fight between Mark and Hope was explosive. Made me wonder if there was something behind all that anger.”
She was two seconds from kicking the guy in the shin. “You should stop talking.”
Joel nodded. “Listen to the lady.”
Jeff threw his arms wide. “You going to make me?”
“Damn, you’re stupid.” Cam shook his head as he mumbled.
“Oh, really?”
Before Jeff could move, Charlie clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Sit.”
Jeff shirked it off. “Why should I listen to you?”
“Because it’s obvious Joel could take you out in a second, and I know the truth.” Charlie took a long sip, drawing out the moment. “You and Mark had quite the argument after the gun incident.”
Now, there was news that would have been helpful yesterday. Could have lessened some of her guilt, too. Confiscating the weapon had been the right answer, but doubts had bombarded her ever since. Maybe she could have been less firm about it or taken him aside. She’d always found that a show of strength cut down on some idiocy, but maybe she’d miscalculated this time.
“About what?” she asked, not trying to keep the seething anger out of her voice.
“Nothing you need to worry about.” Jeff stepped back, separating himself from the group as he glanced around like a cornered animal. “This is insane. Charlie is just protecting her.”