“I didn’twrestlehim.” Chance’s lips curve into a slight smirk. “Although, that does sound better than what really happened. I just had a stare-off with him. Luckily, one of the rangers was with us and he managed to scare it off.”
“And all of this really happened over at the Morrison cabin?” she asks, her eyes wide. “Like, between the truck and the front freaking door?”
Boone cuts in before Chance scares her into staying with us permanently. “It was out back. In the woods. Some trees fell over in a storm, and we went to help clear them. Again, it’s in our interest to make sure the area around that property is well-maintained. And because there’s never been anyone there until you arrived, it’s been up to us to keep an eye on it.”
She nods, stifling a yawn as she burrows deeper into the blankets. “It’s a whole different world out here, isn’t it?”
“Depends where you’re from,” I reply. “Over the years, we’ve run into some folks from Oregon and a few other places who don’t think it’s too different. I suppose you’re not from any of those places, then?”
“No,” she says quickly, but doesn’t’ elaborate. “I’ve only ever lived in the city. No bears or coyotes for miles except maybe at the zoo.”
I bite my tongue to keep from asking which city, glancing at Chance and sensing that he’s wondering the same thing. Boone sighs, but he doesn’t take the bait either. We’re all aware that people were entitled to their privacy, especially all the way out here.
“No zoo here,” Boone says finally. “Unless you count Dillon. He should definitely be in a cage.”
I laugh and shrug when she glances at me. “They’re just jealous because I’m the one who keeps things fun.”
“Speaking of fun, what—” The question cuts off when she stifles another yawn and gives her head a quick shake. “Sorry. I was about to ask what there is to do around here.”
“All sorts of outdoorsy stuff,” Chance replies, gently scratching the side of his neck as he thinks it over. “Hiking. Fishing. Amazing winter sports if you’re into that kind of thing. There’s also a bar in town, but I think the closest movie theater is probably in Bozeman.”
Her eyebrow lifted. “That’s over a hundred miles away.”
“Welcome to Montana,” I joke. “If you wanted to go to the movies, you’ve come to the wrong place.”
“Darn it,” she says, snapping her fingers with amusement lighting her eyes. “Why didn’t they putthatin the brochure?”
“We’ll have to speak to the tourism board,” Chance replies solemnly. “Get them to clear it up right away.”
She chuckles, but when she emits her third yawn, I realize it’s time to pack it in. As much as I’m enjoying this, the mountain air always hits newcomers hard. City lungs and the thinner oxygen, all that good stuff out here, don’t always play well with newbies.
“How about we call it a night?” I drain my beer before I stand up. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
She hesitates for half a second before nodding. “Thanks. I guess I’m a lot more beat than I thought I was.”
“Goodnight, Roxie.” Chance tips his beer toward her. “Remember what I said about closing both eyes.”
Boone frowns at him but then manages a rare smile when he looks at her. “Key’s in the door if you want to lock it.”
She returns his smile. “Thanks. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he mutters, eyes already fluttering shut as he leans back in his chair and adjusts his boots on the railing.
I sweep a hand out ahead of me, and Roxie goes one step ahead as we climb the stairs. I can’t even try to deny that I stare at her ass all the way up, the way it curves into her shapely thighs. For such a petite girl, five-and-a-bit feet at most, she has more curves than the road leading up to our house.
By the time we reach the guestroom, I nearly groaned out loud at least a dozen times and I was half hard.Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Boone and Chance are to blame for this, them and their stupid rule about not bringing women home anymore unless they werethe one. It’s left me balancing on a knife’s edge, and my balance has never been great.
Roxie turns to face me at her door, a lock of dark hair falling across her ear in a way that makes me itch to push it back, but I keep my hands firmly in the pockets of my jeans. “Thanks for walking me up.”
“No problem,” I say. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad you almost burned down the cabin.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met you.”
Her answering laugh is soft and tired, completely unfair to my heart rate. Before I can talk myself out of it, I lean in, brace one hand on the doorframe, and kiss her. It wasn’t deep. Just a test.
