“Exactly. We’ve got a lawyer now for the particulars, some ex-boyfriend of hers.”
Hunter stiffened and sat up. “What was that?”
“Calm down, boss man. He’s married to her college roommate. Mal introduced them, so he owes her for life—not a big deal.”
He sat back with a groan of despair and relief, rubbing a hand over his face. “Sorry, it’s not my business anyway. I’m just going crazy over here.”
“Uh-huh. Anyway, we figured you know people that could get her what she needs contract-wise, stuff that will really interest her.”
“You figured right,” he said, leaning his head back and looking at the ceiling. “What do you need me to do?”
Again, the line crackled, louder and longer.
“Dan?” Hunter prodded. “Did I lose you?”
“Sorry, I’m coming back from a shoot, and there’s a lot of dead zones in the canyon. We’re going to send you some pictures we think make a good addition to her existing portfolio. You still have your copy from the negotiations?”
Hunter turned his chair to the bookshelf behind him and pulled the file out. “Yeah, right here.”
“Great, so we’ll send you stuff, and you get it out there, okay?”
Hunter felt more at ease than he had in weeks, and although it wasn’t good by any stretch of his imagination, it was better. “Okay.”
“And don’t go crazy about it, right? You know how Mal is. People need to want to want her. Your name can’t come up at all.”
Hunter snorted and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, I know that, Dan. I’d already figured that out myself.”
“Right, right, that’s why you’re the boss man. Okay, one question, because Taryn will shoot me in the face if I don’t bring back some gossip.”
Hunter looked at his phone in disbelief, then shook his head. “I’m afraid to say yes, but go ahead.”
“Are you dating anyone?”
Was that supposed to be a sign for him? A hint? Were they digging for clues or doing reconnaissance for Mal? He exhaled slowly, willing to take a leap of faith. “No,” he said softly. “No, I am not. Now a question for you, Mr. Brogada.”
“Shoot.”
He exhaled again briefly. “Do I have a chance?”
Dan was smart enough not to ask what he was talking about. “If the amount of ice cream in our freezer at the studio is any indication, I’m gonna say yeah. That and the fact that we’ve started listening to jazz now. I think you’re good, man. Give it time. We just barely got her back to drinking cocoa again.”
Hunter closed his eyes and forced a swallow that actually hurt. “She stopped?”
“Man, girls and their heartbreak is all kinds of messed up. I could write a book, but I’d wind up dead. She’s getting there, I promise. We’re looking out for her, and the more she works, the better she gets.”
“Let’s get her some projects she can really sink her teeth into,” Hunter suggested with a harsh clearing of his throat.
“That’s the plan. Okay, gotta get off before the spies see me talking to you crazy Russians. I’ll be in touch.” Dan didn’t wait for him to say anything else and hung up.
Hunter propped his elbows on the desk and folded his hands in front of his mouth, losing himself in thought and memories. He could give Mal time and space, as much as she needed, but how long would it take? How much could he take?
But as long as those closest to Mal thought there was a chance, he would continue to hope.
His office phone rang, and he answered it after a moment. “McIntyre… Travis, hey, thanks for calling me back. Two questions: Does your brother-in-law still play poker with a VP of the USO, and do you still have your British Columbia properties?”
ChapterEighteen
Another two weeks later.