Page 35 of Hot Winter Nights (Bear Mountain Rescue 1)

He actually turned

on the couch to face her, pulling her gaze to his with those intense green eyes. “And now?”

“We’re just friends.” Clearing her throat, she asked, “Why are you asking? It’s not like you’re interested. You said I was just casual, right?”

“About that—” he started to say, but she couldn’t bear to hear his excuses.

“No, you don’t need to apologize again. Not after all this time. I get it. You’re one of those guys who has to tap every woman he comes in contact with.”

“Not every woman. In fact, I haven’t tapped anyone, as you say, since you showed up.”

Allie’s gut clenched. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Being honest?” he said.

How dare he?

Flinging off the blankets, she stood up angrily. “Whatever game you’re playing with me, it’s not funny or fair. I appreciate you letting me stay here and helping me out tonight, but you were more than clear about what your endgame was with me. And I’m not interested in that. Backpedaling or acting like there’s something more going on here because you’re horny isn’t going to work.”

“Hear me out, because I swear I’m not backpedaling right now.” He grabbed her hand and looked her square in the eye. “I never would have said what I did if I’d known you were there. Hunter had caught me off guard and I was just running my mouth to get him off my back about lying to him. Besides, you weren’t.”

“I wasn’t what?” she asked.

“Casual. I didn’t kiss you because you were just there. I did it because I wanted to.” His voice lowered. “I wanted you. I still do.”

Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. What the hell did she say to that? While the part of her that was still hurt and angry wanted to get up and walk away, she couldn’t deny that the words I still want you, too sat poised on the tip of her tongue.

But he’d had a chance to step in and be with her, and he’d blown it.

“I can’t.” She headed for the hallway, abandoning her coffee and her desires in his living room as she escaped.

“Allie?” he called.

She paused, waiting for him to ask her not to go. To stay up, talk to him, and figure this whole mess out.

“Second door on the left.”

Dex sat on his couch, shooting back another whisky as he stared into the fire.

What the hell had he expected her to say? That she wanted him, too, despite everything? And when had he decided to go all true confessions on her, anyway?

Truth was, he’d caught himself making his way to her place several times over the last few weeks. He wasn’t sure what he would have said when he got there, because he never made it to her door. One thing was for sure, though: Allie Fairchild hadn’t been far from his thoughts.

Which should have been enough to make him stay the hell away from her, except…he didn’t want to. For the first time, he didn’t think of being with a woman as something to avoid. Allie made him want to be better than a jerk who seduced a girl behind his best friend’s back. She was different.

But how the hell could he convey all that to her when he could barely process what it all meant to him? He knew that he wanted her and had feelings for her, but what did that mean? And was it enough to make him keep trying to earn her forgiveness, or would it just end up leaving them both disappointed?

And it didn’t just involve him and Allie. Hunter had just started to forgive him, and despite Allie’s assurance that she wasn’t Hunter’s girl, how would Hunter feel if Dex admitted he had real feelings for Allie? That she actually got him thinking about all the things that used to send him running?

Dex set his glass down with a groan, massaging his aching forehead with his fingers. God, why was this shit so complicated?

Chapter 21

Allie woke up the next morning disoriented and exhausted. She’d tossed and turned half the night before finally drifting off after she’d heard Dex’s steps outside her door. For the briefest moment, she’d imagined him opening it and stepping inside. He’d tell her again how sorry he was and offer to do anything to make it up to her.

The fantasy had been enough to put her to sleep, but it still felt like there was a sledgehammer currently beating inside her head. Getting out of the bed, she tried to straighten the covers and then tiptoed into the hallway. She was hoping Dex was still asleep, so she could grab Kermit and sneak out.

Except she didn’t have any shoes. Crap. Maybe she could slip on a pair of his tennis shoes.

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