Shelter (Heroes of Big Sky 2)

Rather than deepen the kiss and strip her out of her clothes, I pull her to me and offer her a hug.

“I’ll help you get settled.”

“Thanks. I’ll run out and grab a few things from the van.”

She stands, shoves her feet into her shoes, and hurries outside.

I walk back to the guest room and make sure everything is in order.

When I hear the front door open, I walk out to greet Remi and smile when I see her carrying her pillow and a few odds and ends in her arms.

“The sheets are clean,” I assure her as she follows me down the hall. “I had a college buddy stay a few weeks ago and washed everything after he left, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“I’m so tired, I could sleep in the bathtub.”

“Do you sleep in bathtubs often?”

“I did once, in college.” She tosses the pillow onto the bed, sets her things on a chair, and turns to me. “It wasn’t a nice big copper one, though. Can I be honest?”

“Always.”

“I thought for sure you’d try to get in my pants, especially after last night up at the chalet.”

I reach out and brush my thumb over the apple of her cheek. “You’re staying through the winter, Remi. I don’t have to rush it or hurry. I like the idea of taking my time, getting to know you. Unless you’re so hot for me, you can’t stand it and need me to scratch an itch for you.”

She smirks, then looks me up and down in a way that makes me want to lick her all over. “You wish.”

“Oh, so you’re not as attracted to me as I am to you?”

“I didn’t say that.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “I can hold out. Probably longer than you can.”

I bite my lip and watch her, enthralled by her. “You think so?”

“Sure.”

“Wanna put a wager on that?”

She narrows those gorgeous eyes at me. “What kind of wager?”

“If you beg first—”

“I never beg.”

“—you have to take me out for ice cream.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “That’s it? That’s all you want? Ice cream?”

I nod slowly.

“Fine. And if you beg?”

“What do you want?”

She swallows, glances down, then looks up as if she’s really thinking it over. “You have to hike up to the glacier with me.”

I blink at her. “Remi, it’s closed for the season. As you found out, hiking up there isn’t safe.”

“In the spring,” she clarifies. “When it’s safe. I want to see that damn glacier, Seth.”

Win or lose, I’ll go with her. Without hesitation.

But she doesn’t have to know that.

I nod grimly. “Okay. Yeah, okay, I can do that.”

She holds out her hand for mine. “Deal.”

I wrap my fingers around hers and shake, then pull her knuckles up to my lips. “Deal.”

“Now you have to leave this room,” she says primly and pulls her hand out of mine. “I don’t know why I’m so damn tired, but I feel like I could sleep for a week.”

“We had quite the adventure,” I reply, already regretting the stupid bet. What was I thinking? I want nothing more than to climb into that bed with her. “It was a long hike, a shitty night’s sleep in the chalet, you ran into a grizzly, and then we hiked down.”

“And I got a job today.”

“You’ve been busy.” I smile at her. “Get some rest, Remi. If you need anything, let me know. Make yourself at home.”

I close the door behind me, then walk out to the kitchen to clean up from dinner. She offered to do it after we ate, but I saw how heavy her eyes were, how worn out she was, and I insisted that she sit with me on the couch instead.

I don’t mind the clean-up. I’ve done more than my share of dishes over the years, and it’s the perfect time to unwind, think about the day, and go over what’s on tap for tomorrow.

It doesn’t take long to load the dishwasher, handwash a few things, and wipe down the counter. I leave a light on over the stove in case Remi wakes up and wants something from the kitchen.

To be honest, I’m exhausted myself. I was scared out of my mind yesterday before finding Remi on that trail. My heart was in my throat as I rushed up the mountainside, worried that the storm had already killed her or that she’d gotten lost. So, now that the adventure is over and the adrenaline is gone, I’m ready to crash, too.

I don’t have to go up to work tomorrow. Instead, I promised my dad and Uncle Josh that I’d help out in the barn, maybe ride the fence and make some repairs before winter sets in.

But they know that Remi’s here, so I don’t have to be at the barn at the butt crack of dawn. They’ll razz me, but they would anyway, no matter what. It’s just what we do.