Page 19 of Hero's Prize

“Enter at your own risk,” Colton heard Tony mutter.

Bear just chuckled and walked directly over to Colton. “You look like shit.”

“So everyone keeps telling me.”

Bear’s grin didn’t falter. “What’s the matter, asshole. Nervous?”

Colton took a sip of coffee, forcing it down even though it was lukewarm. He poured the rest into the sink. “Can I ask you a question?”

“As long as it has nothing to do with the trajectory of that mountain you’re about to go down. I know nothing about that.”

“What do you know about Ella O’Conner?”

Bear blinked like he couldn’t quite understand the question. “The woman we’ve both known since we were in diapers? What do you think I know about her that you don’t?”

“I don’t know. I just…” He scrubbed a hand down his face. What info was he trying to get from Bear, exactly? He didn’t want to explain what happened with Ella.

“I saw you talking to her last night. Good for you.”

“Does she…talkwith a lot of guys, do you know?”

“Pretty sure Ella is particularly interested intalkingto just you.” Bear’s eyes narrowed. “Did something happen?”

Yeah, I finally felt like I really connected to a woman, with bonus points because she’s someone I’ve known for years. We had ridiculously fabulous sex, but then she snuck out while I was sleeping, and now, I’m pissed.

“Lincoln mentioned she had a crush on me.”

Bear raised an eyebrow. “You weren’t aware?”

“Were you?”

“I think the whole town of Oak Creek has been aware of it for some time.”

Colton shook his head. “Well, the whole town of Oak Creek may have been mistaken.”

“What makes you say that? Something did happen last night, didn’t it?”

This definitely wasn’t the time to get into it. Maybe in a decade or two. “No. She just let me know in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t interested in anything real with me. Let’s just leave it at that.”

For a moment, Bear looked like he was going to argue the point, then he glanced around before leaning back against the kitchen counter and crossing his arms over his chest.

“So, is this stunt of yours still going down in a couple hours?”

Colton nodded. “Of course. Why wouldn’t it?”

“I’m no expert at stunts, but I am your best friend. Either get your head in the game, or call this thing quits and reschedule. What you’re doing today is too dangerous to be thinking about a woman. Even someone as amazing as Ella—for good or bad reasons.”

“I’m fine.” And even if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t let the situation affect what he was doing today.

Bear took the slightest step closer. “You may be fine, but look around you—your entire team is feeding off your energy, and not in a good way. This stunt is dangerous for you, but it’s also dangerous for them. You need to be the leader they need right now.”

The words were soft enough that nobody else could hear them, but Colton knew his friend spoke the truth. Shit. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll pull it together.”

“Good, because I just talked to my brother, and he says that conditions are damn near perfect out there for the stunt today. He can’t wait.”

Colton pushed off from the kitchenette counter. “You hear that, everyone? Our helo pilot says that it’s looking right as rain out there. Or snow, as is the case. Who’s ready to give everyone the show of a lifetime?”

Cheers erupted throughout the suite, and the tension was broken. Bear had been right—Colton had been bringing the team way down, and he hadn’t even realized it.

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