Page 17 of Hot Winter Nights (Bear Mountain Rescue 1)

“I told you, I’m not looking for anything right now. Hunter and I are just friends.”

He stood up with his hands in the air. “Whoa, don’t jump all over me, sweetheart. I was making conversation. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

“I wasn’t explaining myself, I was emphasizing the fact that there is nothing going on with Hunter!”

“Gotcha.”

Allie violently tackled the rest of the cleanup, sanitizing the counter. Finally, she announced, “I’m going to take a shower.”

The jerk had the nerve to leer at her. “You telling me ’cause you want some company?”

That was enough. Grabbing an apple from the bowl, she hurled it at Dex’s head. He barely ducked out of the way in time, but when the edge of the apple skimmed his shoulder, she felt marginally better.

Until she reached the door to the bedroom and she heard him shout, “You’ve got some weird ideas about foreplay, darling.”

Slamming the door closed and locking it with a click, Allie threw herself across the bed and buried her head in the pillow before releasing a frustrated scream.

Chapter 11

Hunter climbed the steps to Allie’s cabin and knocked on the door. It was five minutes to nine, and he was really hoping that she wasn’t one of those women who are chronically late.

The door swung open and Dex stared out at him, a hammer in his hand.

“What’s up, buddy?”

Hunter arched a brow at him as he stepped inside. “It’s awfully early to be working on repairs, isn’t it?”

“There was a raccoon invasion last night, so I am being a good landlord and dealing with the issue.”

“I thought she wasn’t paying you.”

“She’s not, but she will be soon.”

“Hi,” Allie said, coming into the kitchen with a puppy in her arms. She was decked out in leather boots, tight blue jeans, and a blue long-sleeved top. Her golden-blond hair fell around her shoulders in loose waves and he was struck again by how pretty she was.

For some reason, Hunter glanced toward Dex, and he stiffened as he recognized his friend’s expression.

Hunger.

Dex had been adamant about having no interest in Allie, but…as Hunter took a long time to process everything that was happening around him, he decided that Dex was simply looking at Allie the way he did every beautiful woman.

Relaxing, Hunter stepped forward and kissed Allie’s cheek. “You look amazing.” Taking the puppy from her arms, he held him up until he was at eye level. “And who’s this handsome dude?”

“This is Kermit. Dex found him yesterday and I am keeping him. Isn’t he adorable?”

“Real men don’t say adorable,” Dex grumbled, but Hunter heard him.

“Oh, he’s definitely adorable.” He waited for Dex to give him shit, but his friend silently climbed the ladder under the hole in the ceiling, ignoring him. “I figured we’d start off by taking a drive around town, and I can show you all the places I love around here. Then we’ll stop for a picnic.

“Then I was thinking later we’d go by the Grizzly and have dinner,” Hunter said. “So is it all right if we put Kermit in his cage tonight? You’re not really living until you’ve had a pulled pork sandwich and a frothy mug of BearFaced Brown.”

“I’m afraid to ask what that is,” Allie said.

“It’s this awesome potato ale made in Idaho, by the Bear Island Brewing Company. It’s tasty, you’ll like it.”

“I’m in.”

“Is it cool if you watch Allie’s pup for now, Dex?”

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