Page 26 of Hunting Little Hope
“And what about you, Arch?” Troy cut in smoothly. “Since we’re apparently listing desirable traits. What makes you interesting?”
I huffed a quiet laugh. “I wasn’t aware I was being evaluated.”
“Oh, you are,” Hope said brightly. “Thoroughly.”
Troy raised his glass toward her. “I see I should have warned Archie about you, minx.”
I shook my head, amused despite myself. “Fine. I work way too much. I have an unfortunate talent for winning arguments. And I make an excellent full English.”
Her brows lifted. “That’s a very specific brag.”
“It’s a very specific skill.” I shrugged. Pretending to be humble had never been my strong suit.
“She’s judging whether a proper British breakfast is good enough to compete with her stress-baking,” Troy informed me.
Hope gasped softly. “I am not.”
“You absolutely are,” he replied.
She turned to him, mock-offended. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am on your side,” Troy said easily. “But I’m also enjoying this.”
That made her laugh again, and the sound did something warm and unwelcome to my ribs.
“So,” she said, looking between us, “is this how it’s going to be? The two of you ganging up on me?”
“Hardly,” I said. “If we were ganging up on you, you’d know.”
Her eyes flashed. “Is that a threat?”
Troy nearly choked on the chip he’d just dipped into the salsa.
“It’s a promise,” I replied lightly, enjoying that flush rising up her face yet again.
Then Troy leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Alright, new rule,” he said, breaking the sudden sexual tension between the three of us. “If Archie’s going to flirt shamelessly, I get equal time.”
Hope blinked. “Equal time?”
“Yes,” he said, nodding decisively. “I refuse to be outdone on my own date.”
I arched a brow. “I believe it became our date, mate, when you told me to stick around because I just ‘had to meet this amazing girl’.”
Troy shot me a look. “Semantics.”
Hope covered her smile with her hand, but she was glowing now. “Well,” she said, settling back in her chair, “I suppose I’ll allow it.”
“Allow it?” I repeated, delighted by this submissive with a backbone.
She gave me the smallest shrug. “You both seem very eager to impress me.”
Troy grinned. “Oh, we are.”
I didn’t look away from her when I added, “He’s not wrong.”
Hope’s blush deepened, but she laughed, shaking her head at both of us. “You two are ridiculous.”
“True,” Troy agreed easily. “But you’re having fun.”
