Page 13 of Sexy Summer Flings (Bear Mountain Rescue 2)

Penny stared up into Trent’s deep-brown eyes, trying not to laugh at his nickname for Hunter. Hunter wasn’t always straitlaced and stodgy. He could actually be fun when he wanted to be.

Besides, Penny could tell just by looking at Trent that he would be too wild. Is that what she wanted? To get roped into shenanigans with a guy who probably still liked drinking games?

Come on, when was the last time you said yes and had a good time?

Pursing her lips, she folded her arms over her chest seriously. “If I agree to one date with you, I want a real date with a plan. Do not take me down to the river with a six-pack of beer and a bunch of cheesy lines, or you’ll be walking funny for a week.”

“Got it. Anything else?”

Patting his chest, she gave him an evil grin. “Yeah. Don’t bring up Hunter again.”

He covered her hand with his, pressing her palm to his hard pecs. “Believe me, when I’m with you, he’s the last thing I want either of us thinking about.”

Penny was still wondering why in the heck she’d said yes to Trent when she walked out of the Grizzly at nearly three in the morning. Maybe because his line about stress and fun had hit home. It had been a long time since she’d gone out to have fun. She enjoyed hanging out with her friends, but because most of them were either married or in a serious relationship, she hadn’t really cut loose in…

Well, five years, actually.

She was about to turn right and head down the street for home when a couple of guys started hollering at her from the parking lot.

“Hey, bartender! Wanna come party with us?”

Penny would have told them to go straight to hell, but an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist in an iron grip.

“Sorry, guys, she’s taken,” Hunter called back.

The drunk men laughed, and Penny found herself being pulled toward Hunter’s SUV.

“Again, I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah, I know.” He put something in her hand and she realized it was her spare car keys. “I swiped them from the little metal box you keep above your tire and dropped your car up at the shop before work. I got your truck a tune-up and now it’s running perfectly. They even fixed the AC.”

Penny stared at the keys. He had taken her car to be fixed while she was at work.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know that, too.”

She bit the inside of her cheek, her heart pounding.

“I’ll pay you back.”

“No, you won’t. I did this so you would have a safe car.”

“It’s too much—”

“Good God, can’t you ever say thank you?”

Actually, no. That was one of the hardest things for Penny to do. Accepting help, no matter how small, was difficult. She was so used to taking care of herself and everyone around her that she didn’t even know how to let someone take care of her. It made her feel weird. She didn’t like it.

They got into the car and drove to her place in silence, her mind buzzing. What did this mean? She’d told Hunter if he wanted any say in who she dated, he should take the job himself and then he’d shown up tonight to take her home. Did that mean he wanted more than just friendship?

Her heart was slamming in her chest by the time they pulled up to her house. Finally, while she was unbuckling, she managed to speak. “Thank you for driving me home.”

“You’re welcome.”

She grabbed the door handle, pausing. “Why did you do it?”

“What?” He sounded genuinely surprised by her question, but really, he had to have a reason. Some kind of motive.

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