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Oh. It was Eliot. My frustration crept back to its dark corner.

You’re not at home or at work. You doing okay?

Aw, hell. I didn’t tell him I was leaving town. I didn’t tell anyone.Had to get away for a while. Figured you weren’t counting on me.

Eliot: I never plan on you.

I frowned, staring at his message. The words lacked context. Was he kidding? Was he being serious? On call or not, I had gotten called away a lot when I helped him.

Eliot: You good?

If only he knew how good I was.

Wilder: I’m fine. Doingsome hiking before winter hits.

Eliot: When the hell do you hike?

Wilder: When I’m hiking to kick your ass.

Eliot: I run faster than you, but I’d win anyway.

Wilder: Would not.

Eliot: Would too.

I rolled my eyes. Fucking Eliot. Oreo whined at a bird in a tree.

Eliot: Are you getting a dog to hike with?

My pulse jumped. Then I realized Eliot couldn’t have heard. So why the question?

Wilder: People with dogs are everywhere on these trails.

Eliot: You should get a cat instead.

Wilder: Why?

Eliot: So you can say you got some pussy.

Cocksucker. I exchanged a glance with Oreo as if he was in on the conversation. “Brothers, am I right?”

I couldn’t resist.I got somelast night.

Eliot: No ducking way.

Eliot: *fucking

Wilder: Duck yeah.That wasn’t a typo.

Eliot: Where’d you go? I struck out last night.

Shit. I’d gotten cocky. I’d never been one to kiss and tell, and Sutton was a whole different level of privacy. She always had been.

Wilder: A gentleman never tells.

Eliot: You didn’t get any. You’re lying.

I saw my out and took it.You got me.