Page 41 of Sexy Summer Flings (Bear Mountain Rescue 2)

“Be right back.”

Penny sat back, watching him cross the bar. He was wearing jeans and a green-and-black plaid button-down, and he was completely unaware of the fact that every unattached woman’s eye was on him. An old feeling of inadequacy crept up when Trish sidled up next to him at the bar.

Penny didn’t know what was said, but she was tempted to see how far she could toss the glass salt shaker.

When Hunter ambled back toward their booth, she was more than a little surprised when he slid in next to her, his arm going around her shoulders and pulling her close.

“What are you doing?”

“Sitting across from you felt too far.”

His other hand came up to cup her cheek and when he kissed her, she pulled away. “People are watching.”

“Really? ’Cause all I see is you.”

And this time, when his mouth closed over hers, she let herself melt into him and forgot about everyone else.

Chapter 23

Two weeks later, most of the town crowded into the Grizzly to celebrate Trent’s recovery. Although he still had to wear a cast for another three weeks, his burns were healing nicely and everyone, especially Virginia Dorman, was calling him a hero.

Penny wrapped her arms around Trent, who was sitting at the bar surrounded by Darynda, Mike, and several other firefighters.

“I am so happy to see you up and mobile,” Penny said.

Trent put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed her close. “And how happy? Happy enough to dump the doc and sneak out back with me?”

Hunter, who was standing next to Penny, glared at Trent. “Careful, Bush. Don’t make me regret patching you up.”

Penny ducked out from under Trent’s arm and went to stand next to her boyfriend. Boyfriend. The last three weeks had sped by. She’d been busy getting used to her new job, saying good-bye to the Grizzly, and sneaking in time with Hunter. She knew that he was still a little jealous of Trent, but hoped that time would bring him around. Especially when he realized that Trent was such a good friend.

“Hey, as long as you treat her well, Doc, you don’t have anything to worry about.”

Penny felt Hunter tense next to her, so she rolled her eyes and said, “Okay, both of you need to zip up your pants. I appreciate the support, but I’m a person. You don’t need to mark your territory.”

“But I—”

Penny ruffled Trent’s hair and said, “Glad you’re feeling better. I can’t wait until I can hurt you without feeling guilty.”

Before Trent could reply, Penny led Hunter away, kissing his neck. “He’s only messing with you.”

“And someday it won’t bother me, but right now, every time he flirts with you—”

Penny grabbed his face between her hands. “Every time he flirts with me, I’m not flirting back. I am thinking about you and how soon we can say good-bye to everyone else so I can have you all to myself.”

Hunter wrapped his arms around her waist and dipped his head to kiss her. “I fully support that plan. Any chance we could do that now?”

“We’ve only been here ten minutes. We need to stay at least an hour.”

“Twenty minutes.”

“Forty-five.”

“Half an hour and when we get back to my place, I’ll do that thing you really, really like.”

Penny shivered just thinking about it. “Deal.”

“It’s not official until we seal it.” Hunter kissed her again, and Penny wrapped her arms around his shoulders, forgetting where they were. She had a habit of doing that when Hunter touched her.

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