Page 4 of Sexy Summer Flings (Bear Mountain Rescue 2)

“You heard me.” Trish turned, and actually had the nerve to run her finger down Hunter’s chest. “Call me sometime.”

Penny was tempted to vault over the bar and grab that hussy by her hair, but Hunter seemed to read her mind.

“She’s not worth it. Trust me.”

Still, the fact that Trish had spoken damn near the truth about Penny—and in front of Hunter—smarted. Penny knew she was nice to look at, but since she’d grown up here, the men around her age had seemed to forget she was a woman. All of them treated her like one of the guys. To have that fact drilled home by a woman who was confident and sexy without even trying pissed her the hell off.

“Vince!” she called out to the other bartender. “I’m taking a break.”

Without waiting on a reply, she headed out back, ignoring Hunter’s concerned look. She didn’t need him feeling sorry for her. She could get a man. No problem.

But she couldn’t get the one she wanted.

Leaning against the back wall of the Grizzly, she pulled out her cell phone, scrolling through her apps. When she clicked on the Gmail widget, she was a little surprised to find two new e-mails, and opened the first one with a tap of her thumb.

“Dear Ms. Davis,

We are pleased to offer you a position at our facility…”

Penny blinked. It was from the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in Red Lodge. She’d sent them an application six months ago, never expecting a position to open. Red Lodge was about thirty minutes from Bear Mountain, so she wouldn’t have a terrible commute. It was a fantastic opportunity, and her brothers would still have a home to come back to when they were on leave.

She closed the e-mail and clicked on the second. It started off the same way and her heart started pounding when she noticed who the sender was.

The San Diego Zoo.

It was her dream job. Ever since her mom had passed, Penny had dreamed about leaving this town and setting up somewhere new. Somewhere with more opportunities and fewer beards and less flannel.

This was her ticket out of Bear Mountain.

The back door opened, and still smiling, she glanced over.

“Now, that’s the kind of smile a guy likes to see on his future wife.”

Chapter 2

Penny’s smile transformed into a scowl as Trent leaned against the wall next to her, his wide shoulders blocking her view of the door. She was tall, just shy of five ten, but Trent had a good head on her. Alone in the dim light, she noticed.

“I came out here to be alone.”

That boyish grin flashed. “I know. But being alone is never a good thing.”

“I disagree. Sometimes being alone gives a person a chance to think.”

“What do you need to think about?”

God, he was persistent. “About all the ways I could hurt you?”

“Now, now, I come to you under a white flag of peace. You looked upset back there and I thought you could use a shoulder to cry on.” He tapped his muscular left shoulder with a grin. “Right here.”

Penny could feel her cheeks burning. It must have been obvious that Trish had gotten to her, because even Trent had noticed. Crap.

“I’m not crying anywhere. I was pissed off, but I’m fine now.”

“Aw, are you pissed because your boyfriend was flirting with Trish the Dish?” he asked.

Penny made a face. “Ugh, do not call her that. And no, Hunter Gracin is not my boyfriend.”

One of Trent’s dark eyebrows went up, as if he didn’t believe her. “Really? Because whenever he’s around, you ignore every other available guy.”

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