Page 14 of Bear In A Boutique
His brother’s eyes shone with a flicker of apprehension. There was a waver in his voice that caught Ryker’s full attention.
“What’s up?”
Fox fidgeted with a napkin. “You don’t normally stay and drink your coffee.”
Momentarily confused by the subject change, Ryker sat straighter and took another drink. Was his brother stalling? “That’s what you wanted to talk to me about?”
“No. I’m just curious why you’re still here.”
“I’m taking inventory at the Boulin Pass fire tower later this morning. The snow’s gone early this year so the forest service is starting fire watch rotations at the end of the week. It’s going to be a casual day, so I’ve got time to get a full dose of caffeine before heading out.”
He enjoyed his job with the forest service because he could work outdoors, and it was flexible enough that he could respond to emergency calls. His position was temporary, though, and would soon come to an end. A newly created full-time position was coming open at the end of the month and his boss was encouraging him to take it. It was a solid job offer but the email he still hadn’t read in his inbox offered something potentially better.
Fox leaned back in his chair, obviously not in a hurry to get to the point.
“What did you want to talk about, Fox?”
His brother paused, then plucked another roll from the plate. “Before I forget, I have all the materials to finish the pergola for Mom’s wedding. You coming over tonight to help?”
“I’ll be there.”
Their mom Bunny and their uncle Rowan Mitchell were getting married. It had felt weird at first—their mother marrying their father’s brother—but Ryker and Fox were happy for her. Their uncle was a good man, and their father just wasn’t. He’d abused his family and dishonored his role as a husband and father, two things held sacred by their pack.
“We’ll make sure that she has the perfect day.”
“Yeah,” Fox put the roll back on the plate, untouched. “So, I have some news—"
Movement caught Ryker’s eye. “Hold that thought.”
Purely on impulse, Ryker burst from his chair and wove through the morning crowd to sidle up to the petite womanwho’d kept him awake far too long last night pondering why she’d ditched their date.
“You bailed on me.” He blurted.
She didn’t miss a beat. “Good morning to you, too. Yes. I apologize. Things got a little crazy at the store.”
Damn, she smelled good, like vanilla and coconut and tropical flowers. It reminded him of suntan lotion and his mind slid into an image of Olive stretched out on a lounge chair in a tiny red bikini while he slathered the luscious-smelling lotion all over her body…
“I figured you didn’t want to go out with me.”
Olive smiled noncommittally, suggesting that might have been the reason.
Lowering her voice conspiratorially, she leaned closer. “Listen, as far as anyone knows, wedidgo on a date yesterday. If anyone asks, we’ll tell them we went out of town for privacy. There, obligation over.”
She looked at him as if waiting for him to agree. But…he wasn’t completely on board with that idea. It was a cop-out. If she didn’t want to go out with him, he wanted to hear her say it.
He was about to say as much when he noticed she was dressed in a dark green hoodie, canvas hiking pants, and well-worn hiking boots. Her glossy blonde curls were pulled into a ponytail, and she had a backpack slung over one shoulder.
“Is it outdoor adventure day at the boutique?”
“Haha. The computer system is being updated today so Cara closed the boutique. I’m going to grab my coffee, walk to the Thunder Mount trailhead outside of town, and take myself for a hike.”
“Absolutely not.” The compulsion to shield her from danger pulsed through him. He stepped closer, blocking her from this stupid decision with his body. “You can’t go hiking. It’s too risky.”
She drew back, her eyes landing on his chest and staying there. “Too risky?”
“It’s spring. Bears are coming out of hibernation and the trails aren’t safe.”
Her gaze roamed lazily over his chest, his neck, back to his chest. Was she even listening? Warmth spread through his body at the appreciation on her face.
