Marriage on Her Mind

“Nights can be cold here into the summer,” Max said. He put his arm around her and pulled her close in a hug. “Let me warm you up.”

It was a friendly gesture, but an intimate one, too. It felt good, his strong arm encircling her, the warmth from his body radiating to hers. She raised her eyes to meet his and found him studying her intently. “What is it?” she asked.

“You’re not like most of the women I’ve met up here,” he said, his voice soft and low.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No. I like it. I mean, I like you. You’re…your own person.” Their eyes remained locked and she wondered if he would kiss her. Part of her thought she wouldn’t be able to stand it if he didn’t—and part of her wanted to run away if he did.

But after a moment, he withdrew his arms. “Here comes the bus,” he said.

They found a seat on the bus and he avoided looking at her again. Instead, he directed his attention out the window. “There are some great trails up there,” he said, indicating a snowy forest-service road. “Good fishing in the lakes, too.”

“I don’t fish,” she said. “But I suppose some of the people who come into the chamber do. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“That paved path you can barely see is the Hike and Bike trail,” he said, indicating a trail on their left. “It goes all the way from Crested Butte up to the resort.”

“I’ll have to try it sometime.” She kept her eyes on him, but he continued to avoid her gaze. She wondered if that moment of intimacy back at the bus stop had unnerved him even more than it had unsettled her.

When they reached Crested Butte, they climbed off the bus and walked up the street in silence. Neither said anything until they were in the hallway to their apartments. “Thanks for showing me around tonight,” she said.

“Anytime.” His earlier easiness had returned. “And if you need anything in your apartment or whatever, let me know.”

“The apartment’s fine,” she said. “Very nice.”

“Good night.” He nodded and turned toward his door.

She stared after him, amusement warring with confusion. For someone Trish swore was a ladies’ man, Max certainly hadn’t made any moves tonight. He’d been exactly what she needed—a good friend.

Of course, she thought, as she unlocked her door and went inside, what she needed and what she wanted weren’t necessarily the same thing. She’d have to be careful to not let her suddenly-wide-awake libido get the better of her common sense. Better to get a handle on this new life she was creating for herself before she wandered off into the dangerous territory of a new love interest.

Though when she was ready to head off into that particular wilderness, a mountain man like Max might be the perfect guide.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.