Page 4 of Hot Winter Nights (Bear Mountain Rescue 1)

“Front porches squeak, I promise. The first thing I did was start on the porch, so I’ve already reinforced and replaced a lot of it.” He stood at the top of the steps and held his hand down to her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Despite the temptation, she ignored his hand and walked past him, her shoulder brushing the front of his shirt. She snuck a glance at the hard outline of his chest, swallowing.

“You were just going to tell me why you left home?”

“I needed a fresh start and figured rural Montana was as good a place as any for a change.”

“What exactly will you be doing here?” he asked, holding the front door open for her.

“I’m running Bear Mountain Memorial Hospital.”

He seemed skeptical. “You’re awfully young to take on such a big job.”

“If I’d wanted to work in a state-of-the-art hospital, I could have, but I wanted to go where I could really help people.” She didn’t want to throw charity events or expensive dinners just to “Save the Otters,” like her parents did. “As for my qualifications, I have a double major in business and nursing, with a master’s degree in hospital administration. I may look young, but I have experience. I know what I’m doing, Mr. Belmont.”

When she turned back toward the door, his arm shot out, blocking her way. He leaned down until their faces were only a few inches apart, and her palms started sweating as her heart thumped.

“Why don’t you just call me Dex?”

Chapter 2

Dex Belmont waited for Allie to hightail it back into her car and take off, but she just stood there, her pretty brown eyes never flickering away. He could tell he affected her, but he didn’t know whether it was because he pissed her off or because she was attracted to him, and he was more than tempted to find out which.

That wouldn’t be a smart move on his part, especially since she would be living next door. She’d get attached, and once she found out he wasn’t the kind of guy for a long-term relationship, drama would ensue.

And he was over drama.

“Are you going to show me the cabin or kiss me, Dex?”

Her question sent a shock wave of awareness through him, and for a second, he thought it was a proposition. Until…

“Fair warning: if you attempt the latter, I know six easy moves that will leave you broken and bleeding on the floor.”

Picturing this short, curvy woman bringing him low made him burst out laughing. He dropped his arm and let her pass. “I like the brass on you, Allie.”

She frowned as she surveyed the kitchen, and he could tell she wasn’t happy with its current state. Hell, he couldn’t blame her one bit. The place did look like shit, but he was supposed to have had more time. She’d called him a week ago and said she wouldn’t be arriving until the first week of November. Then two days ago, she’d called again from Nebraska to let him know she’d be there two weeks ahead of schedule.

“I know it looks bad, but really, there are no leaks and I’ll have it looking brand new in just a few weeks. You know, the few weeks I would have had if you’d given me more notice?”

“Fine, you have a point,” she said. “I shouldn’t have changed the game plan on you like that, but with all the work I have to get done at the hospital and with the weather report saying that it’s supposed to get bad soon, there didn’t seem to be any time to waste. Plus, I have to get to know the doctors and nurses, and judging by some people’s reaction to my age and gender, I can’t imagine all of them will be too welcoming.”

Dex nearly choked as he tried to hold in his laughter. Including his best friend, Hunter, there were four trauma surgeons at the hospital who were all seasoned military vets. He could just imagine how they were going to react to this curvy blonde with just the slightest New York accent walking in there and pointing out everything they were doing wrong.

Actually, he’d pay money to see that…or at least charge admission.

“Yeah, that’s true. If you want to whip that place into shape, you will definitely need a firm hand and a good night’s rest, which won’t be a problem. She might not look like much, but this cabin’s sturdy and safe. I’m putting up the new porch railing this weekend, but like I said, I reinforced the deck, so there’s no problem there.”

Dex saw that she was staring up at the hole in the ceiling and could feel warmth steal up his neck. Okay, so he felt a little guilty for misleading her, but when Heather Dolan at the real estate office had asked him if his cabin was ready to be rented, he’d jumped at the chance to get a little extra scratch during the winter months. Not that he was struggling, but he liked to have a nest egg, something he’d learned from his parents. It was about the only thing he’d inherited from his mathematician father and psychology professor mother. As a child, he’d had to beg his friends’ dads to take him along on their camping trips, while his parents had preferred museums and working on their latest publications.

Of course they had loved him, but they’d never really understood his love of the outdoors. Or his decision to become a search-and-rescue specialist after eight years in the army. He’d stopped trying to explain it years ago, and just let it be. He was happy, financially stable, and doing what he loved. His parents came to visit a couple of times a year and spent most their time doting on his quiet, bookish younger brother. It worked.

That being said, if his mother ever found out he’d been less than forthcoming with his current tenant, he’d be in for a damn long lecture on ethics and honesty.

Maybe that was why he was so defensive with the irritated woman standing before him.

“I’ll be fixing that, too,” he said.

Allie crossed her arms under her breasts and he tried like hell not to look down as she berated him. “I can’t believe you rented this place to me in this condition. Even if I had told you I wouldn’t be here in three months, the amount of work this place needs…”

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