Page 7 of Sexy Summer Flings (Bear Mountain Rescue 2)

If he’d been in his right mind, he would have walked away right then. But he couldn’t get away from her pretty blue eyes and those adorable freckles. “Buy you a drink?”

“I’d love that.”

Of course, it hadn’t taken too many more before she’d asked him back to her place. The walk they’d taken there had been filled with laughter and banter. By the time they got to her front porch, he’d been aching to kiss her.

When he finally did, the kiss consumed them so thoroughly that it spilled into the house. He’d had his shirt off in seconds and stood over her, staring down at her beautiful body clad only in a lacy bra and panties…

And he’d froze.

To this day, he didn’t know if it had been the way the moonlight had come through the window, making her look so young, or if it was the voice of reason shouting in the back of his head. Hooking up with a young woman in a new town was probably not the most mature thing. And since he’d become some sort of role model for her brothers, he needed to back away.

He’d covered Penny with a blanket, and sat on the edge of the bed with his back to her, taking a deep, shaky breath.

“I’m sorry, I can’t.”

He’d expected her to be pissed and throw his ass out, but instead, she’d sat silently next to him, until finally she said, “Well, I guess if we aren’t going to do this, I should probably make us some coffee.”

Hunter smiled, remembering the awkward exchange that followed, but the next day, when he was sober and thinking clearly, he realized he’d done the right thing. As attractive as Penny was, he was looking for more than a fling. And that was all she could give him.

Five years later, he was still looking.

Because, if he was honest with himself, the pretty bartender with the true-blue eyes kept stepping in his line of vision. She cast a shadow on every other woman in the room.

Vince refilled Hunter’s glass of whiskey without being asked. Maybe he looked like he needed to tie one on.

Downing his drink, he reminded himself that Penny wasn’t for him. That they were better off as friends.

Jax’s voice snapped him out of his heavy thoughts. “Yo, man. I keep losing you tonight. What’s up?”

Hunter shrugged his shoulders, shooting his friend a sheepish grin. “Just spacing out. You know how it is.”

Hunter figured Jax would assume he was talking about their shared military experience and was relieved when Jax nodded. “I hear ya. Although I do have to warn you, I might not be here the next time you space out. There is this sexy redhead in the corner who is giving me the eye.”

Hunter chuckled good-naturedly. Jax was in no hurry to settle down, unlike Hunter, and enjoyed the benefits of being a good-looking doctor in a tourist town.

“Go nuts, man,” Hunter said.

“You know how I do.” Jax got up from the table with a wink and headed across the bar.

Alone, Hunter held up his glass, but Vince was busy handling a couple of young guys in board shorts and ball caps.

His gaze strayed down to Penny, who was filling up a pitcher. He figured if he stared at her long enough, he was bound to get her attention.

Plus, I like the view.

“What are you drinking there, Doc?”

Hunter looked up at Winter Matthews, one of his favorite nurses. Out of her scrubs and in a floral sundress, with her brown hair done in a simple, sleek style, she looked really good.

“Hey, Winter. I like the new do. And this,” he said, raising his glass, “is a whiskey.”

She slid into Jax’s empty seat, her pert nose wrinkled. “Doesn’t that burn a hole in your esophagus?”

“Only the first time. You wanna try it?”

“Sure. I’m down to try new things.”

Finally, Penny noticed them, but when she came over, she didn’t give him her normal, welcoming smile. “Another whiskey?”

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