Page 20 of Bear In A Boutique
But he couldn’t. He wasn’t staying in Estes Park. Nothing about his future was certain and Olive… she wanted to stay here.
Slowly, he released her and set her on her feet. “It was just a taste.”
“Oh.” Her hands slid from his body, leaving him empty.
Wiping her fingers across her lips, she stepped back and turned away.
“Hey, what’s this over here?”
Just like that, she crossed the room, leaving him standing there cursing himself.
He should have known better than to bring her here. What the hell did he think was going to happen?
Being alone with Olive would only lead to one thing, and it was the one thing he couldn’t offer her.
For both their sakes.
Chapter Seven
It would be impossible to declare they didn’t like each other after this.
Her body was so tightly strung, she was about to come out of her skin. Rubbing her arms with her hands, Olive focused on the amazing scenery and willed the lust to cool. She’d had a taste, all right. A taste of the fantasy she’d had for the past year and a half—a sampling of the only man she desired with such ferocity. She’d barely looked at another man since meeting Ryker, and sure as hell hadn’t desired anyone else.
It was only him.
It was always him.
And she still couldn’t have him.
He’d brought her to this amazing place so she could enjoy nature safely. She was touched by the gesture and didn’t suspect that he had an ulterior motive, like trying to seduce her. If he had, he would have kept the flame going instead of letting herwalk away. No, what had just happened had been spontaneous and wild.
Ryker’s boots sounded lightly on the floor as he walked over to her. The back of her neck prickled, her skin aching for his touch.
“Look at this.”
He opened a door that led to a metal catwalk encircling the fire tower. A damp breeze fluttered in, ruffling her hair, and bringing the heavy scent of rain. Taking a pair of binoculars from a hook near the door, he went onto the catwalk and motioned for her to join him.
She wasn’t afraid to take risks, but the rusted metal floor and sketchy chain link safety barrier around the walkway didn’t instill a lot of confidence. Bracing her hands against the door frame, she shook her head as the wind tossed her hair around.
“No thanks. I’m staying in here.”
Why did she have to be able to still taste him? Her lips felt bruised in the best way.
“The floor is fine. See?” He pounded his foot against the metal and jumped up and down. The metal shook and groaned, and shockingly, held.
“You’re crazy. I’m not coming out there now.”
“What’s the matter?”
Crossing her arms, she stepped back into the room a little more. “It’s called self-preservation, an instinct you clearly lack.”
Undeterred, he held out his hand. “How much self-preservation did you have when you decided to go hiking in bear country this morning?”
“I have bear spray! What I don’t have is a body harness and a tether to keep me from falling to my death.”
He wagged his fingers, gesturing for her to take his hand. “I won’t let you fall.”
She looked at his hand and vigorously shook her head.
