“Does that mean you’re up for going with me?” Hank asked.
Nina smiled. “Just for a few drinks. A game of pool, maybe.”
“Sure. Sure. Just friends.”
Lily bit back a smile. Scott had to fight back a laugh. Hank was as eager as a puppy.
“Is your car back at the resort?” Scott asked Lily.
“Shelby and I rode the shuttle in this morning.” The free shuttle ran a continuous loop between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. She checked her watch. “I don’t think I’ll make the last bus, though.”
“I’ll take you home then,” he said. “Where do you live?”
“The Ridge condos.”
“No problem. I live there, too.” The Ridge was a big complex, with four sections of buildings.
“Oh. Well, we’ll have to stop by patrol and collect Shelby.”
“We can do that.”
He led the way outside. “I didn’t say that about having to be at work early as some dig at you,” he said. “I don’t care how long you stay out as long as you’re on time in the morning.”
“I didn’t think you did,” she said. “I just didn’t want to go out with them.”
He glanced at her. “Why not?”
She shrugged. “I wasn’t interested. Why didn’t you go out with them?”
“Same reason,” he said. “I wasn’t interested. I did the bar scene in college and when I first got out of the army, but I don’t enjoy it now. I’d rather stay home with my dog. Guess that makes me boring.”
“Then I’m boring, too. I was supposed to babysit tonight and I was actually looking forward to it. Pepperoni pizza, Dr Pepper, and the rom-com of my choice after the kid went to bed. And Shelby on the couch at my feet, snoring.”
“Sounds like the perfect evening.”
She laughed, and he joined in. Her low, husky chuckle set a tremor through his stomach that startled him. Yeah, that was definitely some heat there. No surprise. He liked women, and she was an attractive one. Smart and interesting. But not interested in him. She’d made that pretty clear.
THESCOTTLILYhad seen tonight was different from the Scott she saw at work. Less uptight. Friendlier. He wasn’t her boss after hours—he was just another guy. A good-looking, interesting guy.
And full of surprises. Instead of crossing the street to the parking lot, as she had expected, he stopped at the curb half a block down from the bar. “Here we are.”
She stared at the black, brown and silver motorcycle parked at the curb. Clearly, the bike belonged to Scott—Hunter was standing in the side car, tail wagging. Scott patted the dog, then unlocked a compartment on the rear of the bike, took out a helmet and handed it to her.
“I didn’t know you had a motorcycle,” she said.
“The bike is easier than a car for getting around town. Cheaper, too.” He donned his own helmet and straddled the bike, then looked back at her. “Is something wrong?”
“No. I’m fine.” She shoved the helmet onto her head and fumbled with the latch.
“Come here,” he beckoned, then reached out to fasten the helmet’s strap. A shiver raced through her as his fingertips brushed the sensitive skin beneath her chin. She shook off the sensation and climbed on behind him, while Hunter settled into the sidecar.
“How are we going to get to my place with Shelby?” she asked.
“She can ride in the sidecar with Hunter. There’s plenty of room.”
He started the engine, and she steadied herself with one hand on his shoulder, aware of the hard muscle bunched beneath her palm. She put as much distance between them as possible—a scant two inches—gripped the seat beneath her thighs, and stifled a squeal when the bike rolled forward and into the street.
They sped through the darkened streets of the resort town. Once they turned off the main drag there were few people on the sidewalks. Cold air stung her cheeks, but the sensation of scenery flying by was exhilarating. Too soon, they turned into the ski resort. But instead of heading to the parking garage, Scott steered the bike down a series of alleys and passages and came out on the snow beside ski patrol headquarters. She was pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to have a motorcycle there, but she didn’t say anything. Maybe he wasn’t the total rule-follower she had pegged him for.
