Page 10 of Sexy Summer Flings (Bear Mountain Rescue 2)

Penny stiffened. “There you go, acting as though you can tell me what to do again.”

Hunter sighed heavily, shoving his hands in his hair. “I’m not telling you what to do. I’m saying that this town is packed with a bunch of strangers. It isn’t safe for you to walk home at two thirty in the morning while the drunk tourists are roaming the streets.”

Penny’s first inclination was to make some smart-ass comment, but she thought about what he’d said to her about being nice. She didn’t need to be snarky all the time, especially when someone was trying to help her.

And despite his rather abrasive way of handling it, Hunter was looking out for her. He cared that she was safe.

He took a deep breath and then held his hand out before she came up with something nasty to say. “Let me start over. Can I just give you a ride? Please?”

Okay, so it was kind of nice to see him concerned. Slipping her hand in his, she smiled. “Thanks. That would be nice. It’s hot out here.”

He led her to the passenger side of his car, her heart thudding at the little zing that ran through her body in reaction to his grip on her arm.

“When did you get this car?” she asked.

“Last week.” He released her hand and opened the door on the passenger’s side.

“It’s nice.”

He shut the door without saying anything, and she leaned her head back, letting the air-conditioning cool her skin. When he hopped in, she sighed.

“This feels amazing. My truck hasn’t had AC in over a year.”

“Why don’t you get it fixed?”

“Because not all of us make over a hundo thundo a year.”

Hunter pulled out onto the road, scoffing. “You work all the time. You should be able to afford basic car maintenance.”

“Not when you bury a parent,” she said, softly.

She thought she saw him wince out of the corner of her eye. “I’m sorry. I know it was hard losing your dad.”

Penny didn’t want to tell him that her dad had been gone long before he’d had his heart attack. It seemed as though after her mom died, he’d gone to work at night and come home to sleep the day away. He didn’t care what his kids were doing, or what kind of trouble they got into. Penny had tried to keep her brothers out of any real danger, but they’d still gotten a reputation.

But Penny had worked hard in school and gotten good grades. She couldn’t go away to college and leave her brothers, so she’d taken online courses while she worked to pay for them. When her brothers had decided to enlist, it had just been her and her dad. She’d made meals for him and kept the house clean; but otherwise, they’d been like strangers, hardly seeing each other.

When he’d died, he’d left the house to her, but between the medical deductibles and the funeral costs, she’d had to sell anything and everything of value. She was still trying to get out of the hole he left behind.

Hunter’s hand covered hers, drawing her out of her thoughts.

“I am sorry for giving you a hard time about your car.”

“It’s okay. I should get it fixed. Or trade it in for something more reliable.”

Hunter cleared his throat. “Speaking of reliable…the offer still stands for me to tell that Trent guy to take a hike.”

Penny smil

ed, enjoying the feel of his hand still on hers. “I told you I could handle Trent.”

“Yeah, but guys like him will use their charm to wear a girl down. Then they break her heart. You deserve better.”

I deserve you.

Suddenly, she was angry with him. Who was he to act so concerned about who she dated, when he had to know that she only wanted him?

When he pulled into the parking lot of the Grizzly, Penny got out, and stood in the door of his SUV, staring at him. Finally mustering up her nerve, she said, “Hunter, if you really want a say in who I date, then you should ask me out yourself.”

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