Page 5 of Mountain Rescue
“Stand by for a minute. I’ll change and go with you. When we get back, maybe you could make us some breakfast.” He palmed his hands together, as if in prayer.
Was he for real? “I’m not your mother, your girlfriend, your wife, or your chef. Make your own damn breakfast.” Lord help her. Even his smirk was sexy.
“Retract your claws, wildcat. It was worth a try.” He winked, then headed down the hall, presumably to change. “Wait for me,” he called over his shoulder.
Nope, not waiting. She needed to put distance between her and the cowboy. Outside, she glanced around and headed for a trail going up the mountain. Ten minutes later, pounding footsteps sounded behind her. She glanced back to make sure it was Dallas and not one of Robert’s men. Seeing it was the man she’d spent half the night thinking about, she picked up her speed. She was used to running on a track, not up a mountain, and already her leg muscles were protesting.
“Learned something new today,” he said, coming up next to her.
Don’t bite. Don’t bite. Don’t bite.Curiosity got the best of her, though, when he didn’t say anything more. “What’s that?”
“Wildcats aren’t so good at following instructions.” He glanced at her, and she could see the amusement in his eyes. “Guess that’s typical of a cat, huh?”
Deciding not to encourage him, she didn’t answer. He seemed content to let her stew in peace for a while as his stride matched hers. The infuriating man wasn’t even breathing hard, while she was doing her best to hide her struggle for air.
It was spring in the mountains and although the air was cool, sweat rolled down her face and back. The only sign that he was expending any energy was the light sheen across his forehead and cheeks, but that was it, and that was even with him wearing sweats and a long-sleeve T-shirt. Who covered up like that to run unless it was freezing?
“Aren’t you hot?” She had on her sports bra, and if a man she both wanted gone and wanted to climb like a tree wasn’t in her personal space, she’d take off her shirt. Of course, he’d like that and have something witty to say that would make her want to laugh.
“I’m good.”
Something in his voice caught her attention, his sharp tone warning her off asking more questions. That made her all the more curious as to why his choice of running clothes was off-limits.
How was it that a man she’d tried to whack upside the head with a tree branch made her feel safe mere hours later? She wouldn’t involve him in her problems, but why couldn’t she have met him when she wasn’t hunted by a man who wanted to kill her?
“You have a job you need to worry about?” he said.
She stopped, bent over, put her hands on her knees, and inhaled air into her lungs. She’d passed the point of talking and trying to breathe at the same time.
“Here. Drink.”
A bottle of water was pushed under her nose, and that made her feel brainless. She should have thought of bringing water, but she was used to her trainer thinking of those kind of things. “Thanks.” She grabbed the bottle and guzzled it.
“Easy there.”
“Hey!” she said when he snatched it away from her.
“I’ll give it back but drink it slowly. You barfing will make me barf, too.”
She laughed, damn him. He was right, so she took a few more slow sips, then handed him the bottle. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. My trainer usually takes care of me.”
“Trainer for what?” He took a sip from the water bottle, then capped the lid.
“For me. I have to stay in shape for my job.”
“And just what is your job?”
“I’m a stunt double.”
“Like in the movies?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, like in the movies.”
“You just get more fascinating by the minute.”
Oh, no. She didn’t want to be fascinating to him, and she didn’t like that calculating gleam in his eyes. “Nothing special about me.”
“Uh-huh.” He grinned as if entirely pleased with himself. “It’s your lucky day. I’ll be your trainer.”
