He had a great laugh, warm, deep, and a little tired. Living loud might not require permission, but in this case is did require an apology.
“It’s not an offer, just an apology,” she clarified, giving her most apologetic look, which was completely wasted on him since he was too busy staring at her ass to notice.
“And just what does one need to do to receive that kind of apology?” When she went back to looking for the lipstick, he added, “You know, so I can be prepared.”
“Underestimate me,” she said, then smiled over her shoulder. “Or keep staring at my ass.”
Mountain Man grinned. Slow and sexy and completely annoying. “I was staring at your harness. It’s really wedged up there. Looks painful.”
Avery was well aware that she was sporting the biggest wedgie known to man, and yes it was not a comfortable experience, but she’d rather die than admit that to him. The man looked smug, capable, and like the kind of guy who could spot weakness a mountain away. And this wasn’t her finest moment. “I’m fine.”
“You sure?” He stepped even closer, turning his ball cap around to get a closer look and—sweet baby Jesus—Mountain Man was seriously sexy. Rugged sexy with a strong jaw, piercing lake-blue eyes, which were currently sparking in her direction, and a confidence that said he was prepared and ready.
For anything.
And why that made her stomach flutter she had no idea. Avery was on a flutter-free solo adventure, damn it. No fluttering allowed, sexy stranger or not.
“Yes, just part of my job.”
“As what? A window washer?”
Shrugging off the little voice reminding her she was on the hood of a truck in a pair of strappy sandals, pressed capris, and a safety harness, she said, “As an adventure coordinator.”
She had to give him credit, he didn’t laugh. But he wanted to, she could tell. Why was it so hard for people to understand that she was perfect for this job?
Sure, she might have been hesitant at first too, but after settling in she realized that she had all of the skills required to be awesome at her job. She just needed time to gain her bearings, then she would be proficient. And, as Avery had learned over the years, with proficiency came respect. And confidence.
Something she needed a shot of right then. Fully embracing her new mantra, live like you aren’t afraid, she said, “So as you can imagine, this is nothing I can’t handle.”
She lay flat on her belly and held on to the windshield wiper, annoyed that she was going to have to scoot to the end, since her legs were too short to reach the ground. Something he seemed to notice because before she’d even reached the grille, one big hand closed around her waist, the other on the back of the harness, and suddenly she was airborne.
“Put me down,” she ordered, her legs flailing as she tried to spin herself to face him. It didn’t work. “What part of I got this did you not understand?”
“The part where you got it.” He placed her on the ground, and she spun to look at him and felt her heart stutter. The man was bigger than she’d originally thought, so tall in fact that she had to take a step back just to glare up at him. He was grinning, the big jerk.
“Yes, well, I would have had it.” At least she hoped that she would have, but she wasn’t entirely sure. That little flight had her a bit off-kilter.
That he was staring at her made it even worse, so she channeled her inner awesomeness, the same way Brie had taught her to do when facing down unexpected outcomes, and stared back, not noticing how well he filled out his fitted tee or how her belly quivered when he smiled. Hard to do when her body revved every time he so much as breathed.
“Interesting,” he finally said. “Your eyes are dilated and you’re breathing hard. Admit it, you like me.”
“Not possible.” Only it was. Go figure that the first time she had a reaction to a man in three years, and it had to a lodge guest. Which meant that it was time for her to leave.
“Then you’re apologize again. Even better. Does this mean I’m on your IOU list?”
She rolled her eyes, not amused.
“No?” He studied her for a long minute, then leaned in and whispered, “How about now?”
Both of those big hands, strong enough to break granite, wrapped around the front of her safety harness—bringing his fingers right within grazing range of her nipples, and they noticed—then tugged her close. So close she could feel the afternoon’s heat roll off his skin. He smelled like fresh mountain air, pine trees, and sex—not the kind of sex that could be penciled in between meetings, but the kind that lasted for days on end with only body heat for sustenance.