Hot as Hell Read Online Free PDF Page B

hitting.
    “Funny but you’d think the word ‘good-bye’ would have been clear,” Lexy mumbled.
    “As you can see, we’re still working on those issues,” Noah added.
    Tate nodded. “That explains the two rooms.”
    “You keep track of the sleeping arrangements of all your guests?” As far as Noah was concerned, some things were private or damn well should be.
    Noah pulled out the chair next to him for Lexy. When she refrained from stomping off or sitting at another table, he breathed easy again.
    Tate kept right on nodding. “Of course.”
    Did not even deny it. “Kind of nosy, aren’t you?”
    “Noah.” The warning tone in Lexy’s tone came through loud and clear.
    “Just having a conversation with our host Tate here.”
    “You were picking a fight.” She opened her napkin with a snap. “Stop.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “So, Noah, if you are not here for the food and exercise, then why are you here?” Tate picked up a glass of something burnt orange in front of him and took a long swallow.
    As far as Noah was concerned, there was not enough beer in all of Utah to make up for drinking something that color. “For Lexy.”
    “I see.” Tate forced out a small smile. “Alexa, how was the hike this morning?”
    “Invigorating.”
    “Happy to hear it.”
    “You’re both insane,” Noah grumbled under his breath before finishing off his beer.
    “Tomorrow’s planned hike is even more strenuous.” Tate made that pronouncement with an eager gleam in his blue eyes.
    Noah had the opposite reaction. He stared into his bottle, hoping more beer would appear. Getting through a long hike on nothing more than alcohol fumes did not sound like his idea of a good time.
    “Any hike that starts at six sounds pretty shi—”
    Lexy tramped on Noah’s foot before he could finish and then turned her attention to Tate. “What makes it so tough, Tate?”
    “That hurt,” Noah muttered.
    “Good,” she muttered right back.
    Tate ignored the byplay and kept selling the hike. “It’s all off-trail. There’s some slick places and steep ledges. Inclines over red rock. That sort of thing.”
    The good news just kept coming . Noah cut to the important information before he said something that made Lexy take out his other foot. Hard to hike without feet.
    “How long?” he asked.
    Tate’s eyebrows snapped together in a look of confusion. “Excuse me?”
    “How many miles?”
    “Well, I don’t—”
    “Round numbers are fine. Preferably lower ones.”
    “Noah,” Lexy warned again.
    He pulled his foot back before Lexy could take aim. “Don’t even try it.”
    “Then stop badgering Tate.”
    “I asked a simple question about mileage.”
    “Eight,” Tate said the number with a smile as if climbing uphill for hours was not a big deal.
    “Wouldn’t it be faster for you guys to run around the complex a few times and call it a day?” Noah asked.
    Lexy skipped the next round of violence and went right to staring. Tate wore the same “what the hell?” expression.
    “What?” Noah asked. “What did I say?”
    Tate broke his glare to focus on Lexy. “I know you will want to rest this evening, but—”
    Noah looked at his watch. “It’s not even seven thirty.”
    “As I was saying, you’ll probably want to go to bed early, but I’d stick around for a few minutes of fun if I were you.”
    Noah could think of fun things to do in the dark and none of them included Tate. “Why should she stay here with you?”
    “We’re going to have a social gathering on the porch. Throw open the doors and enjoy the lovely evening.”
    “It’s about a hundred degrees on that patio.”
    “Noah.” Each time Lexy said his name her voice grew a touch more menacing.
    “We do not have streetlights and other intrusions here, so you can see the clear night sky. It is quite something,” Tate said.
    “We have sky in San Diego.” Noah did a double take when Lexy started grumbling. “Well, we do.”
    “There will be music