Page 33 of Hot Winter Nights (Bear Mountain Rescue 1)

Running a hand over his face, he made the decision that was going to piss her off the most.

Taking Kermit from her, he ignored her protests. “If you want to freeze to death, fine, but he’s coming with me.”

He marched toward the door as she hurled curses at his back.

“You’re a jackass, you know that?”

Pausing at the door, he tossed her an exasperated look over his shoulder. “I’m not the one sitting in a dark, cold room because she doesn’t want to accept help. I hope you and your wounded pride are happy together.”

He stormed out of the cabin, waiting for a moment to see if she would follow, but she didn’t.

To hell with her, then. He’d tried to be a good guy, and she’d thrown it back in his face.

He was done.

Chapter 20

Several hours later, Allie lay huddled in her bed, shivering under four blankets. Her hooded sweatshirt was pulled up over her head and she’d lost all feeling in her nose. She’d nearly gotten out of bed several times and crossed the hundred yards to bang on Dex’s door, but had been worried he wouldn’t answer. Then she’d have been even more humiliated and cold than she already was.

Besides, he’d been a jerk, anyway, throwing that line about “wounded pride” at her. Just because she didn’t want to accept his help more than she needed to didn’t mean she was too proud.

At this point, though, she wasn’t feeling terribly concerned with owing him anything. Especially since she couldn’t seem to get her toes warm.

A noise coming from the kitchen brought her head up, and her stomach tightened in fear. Had the raccoons found a way back in?

Her bedroom door opened and the dark form in her doorway shone a flashlight in her face, blinding her.

“Ah, what the hell?” she cried.

“You are the biggest pain in the ass I have ever met, you know that?” Dex’s deep voice growled. He came around the side of the bed, and without waiting for her to say anything, he picked her up, swaddled in the blankets, and headed for the door.

“You don’t have to carry me. I give in. You were right.”

“I’m not taking any chances that you’ll change your mind. I almost left you here all night to teach you a lesson.”

“Why didn’t you?”

She silently begged him to say something. If Dex had been worried about her, it meant he had to care for her, even if only a little bit.

Right?

“Because I’m a bigger idiot than you.”

Well, that wasn’t terribly flattering.

“Get the door for me, will you?” he asked.

She reached down to turn the knob and, once they were through, pulled it behind them. His porch light was like a beacon in the storm and she snuggled her face into the front of his jacket, trying to warm her nose.

“Are you nuzzling me?”

“No, my nose is cold. I’m trying to rub the feeling back.”

“Well, try not to get snot on my jacket.”

Allie stopped and sniffed. She couldn’t tell if her nose was running or not, but why take the chance?

On second thought, after what a jerk he’d been, a little snot was the least he deserved.

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