Page 20 of Hot Winter Nights (Bear Mountain Rescue 1)

Penny’s guarded expression flashed into one of outrage. “God, I hate people! Is the puppy okay?”

“Yeah, except he’s got a lucky fin, like Nemo.”

Penny’s whole face melted into a soft, sweet smile. “Aw, poor sweetheart.”

“You know, I need to find a pet sitter for him. I’m at the hospital during the day and I don’t want him to get lonely or backtrack on his house-training. I was going to put a flyer up at the vet’s office, but maybe—”

“I’ll totally watch him,” Penny said.

Hunter stared between the two women as they went back and forth, totally ignoring him as they ironed out the details of Kermit’s new schedule. His gaze wandered to where Dex was, talking to a few bikers playing pool. Hunter shook his head and stood up. “I’ll be right back. I’m gonna go say hi to Dex.”

He noted Allie’s dark look as she glanced toward his friend. “Okay.”

If things continued between Allie and him, he was going to have to deal with the dislike between the two. He couldn’t have his girl and his best friend hating each other.

Stopping beside the pool table, Hunter saw that Dex was concentrating hard on his next shot. It wasn’t as if Dex couldn’t handle himself when it came to hustling pool, but Hunter could already tell he’d had a bit to drink. And these guys didn’t look like the type to take losing or Dex’s good-natured ribbing well.

“Hey, buddy, what are you doing?”

Dex looked up from his shot. “What does it look like? I’m about to kick this guy’s ass at pool.”

Iris giggled nervously while the biker holding the pool cue didn’t appear amused.

Dex took his shot, knocking two into the pockets, and stood up. Pulling his wallet out and holding some money out to Iris, he said, “Why don’t you get us a few more drinks, honey? This won’t take long.”

Hunter shook his head and moved next to Dex. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? You don’t know these guys and—”

“Dude, I’m fine. Why don’t you go back to your date and see if you can pull that stick out of her ass?”

It took everything in Hunter not to slam his fist in Dex’s jaw. “You’re being a real asshole, man.”

Dex lined up another shot, not even bothering to look at Hunter again. “Then maybe you should walk away.”

Hunter did just that, heading back over to where Allie was watching him, her face a mask of concern as he sat down. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. He’s like that sometimes. Whatever it is, he’ll get over it.”

Drunk or not, Dex was kicking the biker’s ass, all right, and the dude did not look happy about it. Neither did his scruffy friend who was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and bulging.

“Eight ball, corner pocket.”

Dex took his shot, and as the ball sank in, both men cursed a blue streak while Iris, who had started to look a little bored two games ago, cheered loudly.

Dex grabbed the money off the side of the pool table, now a couple hundred deep, and slipped it into his pocket.

“I want to thank you, gentlemen, for such a splendid night—”

The biker who had lost, a mean-looking son of a bitch with a shaved head and a long, bushy beard, grabbed the front of Dex’s shirt and pulled him forward. His face mere inches from Dex, he snarled. The dude’s breath made Dex’s stomach turn. “Where the hell do you think you’re going? You aren’t leaving until we have a chance to win our money back.”

Dex smirked, too buzzed to recognize the danger he was in. Or maybe he’d just been spoiling for a fight. “I gave you three chances to win it back. Really, man, you oughta quit before I really clean you out.”

Baldy didn’t like that. He pulled back his burly arm to swing.

Dex ducked, ripping his shirt, and swung, nailing the guy in the gut with his fist. Dex weaved a bit, off-balance, as Baldy stumbled back

against a table.

Suddenly, Baldy’s friend was there, shoving Dex. He fell backward, hitting the floor so hard it knocked the wind out of him.

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