“Welcome to survival training. Can anyone tell me what is one thing you need to know about your surroundings in any situation?”
It was silent for a solid three seconds, then a sweet voice rang out, “You need to know how to use your surroundings to your advantage.”
Dex’s head snapped up. He turned around and saw Michelle sitting dead center, her little notebook and fuzzy pen in hand and looking beautiful and all the classy woman she was and always would be.
He wanted to jump through the crowd and snatch her up right there. But that challenging brow she gave made him want to play back just as much as the hope that she’d give him a second chance.
“That’s right, ma’am,” he said, and she tried to hide a blush, but he saw it. “But you need to be careful. Sometimes the wilderness is brutal, and you have to choose your tools carefully.”
“Is there a terrain that is truly unforgiving? Surely even the rocky cliffs and dangerous peaks have an upside in exploring them.”
“They do,” he agreed. “And they provide an endless adventure. If that’s what you’re interested in.”
She raised her chin. “I’m more interested in holding on to a certain tool. The adventure is just a bonus.”
He smiled, and his chest did a flip. She wanted him for him, and she was claiming him.
“That tool is lucky to have you then, princess. More than lucky.”
“I hope so,” she said and stood to walk toward him. “Because I’m staying to make this work with him, and I sort of love that tool.”
He damn near knocked over one of the desks to get to her. He wrapped her up in his arms. “That tool loves you. And I’m so sorry for being such an idiot.”
“I’m sorry, too,” she whispered, then planted those sweet lips on his. “But…I need your help…” She leaned in and whispered for his ears only, “And it involves my panties.”
He smiled. “I’m happy to help you out with that anytime.”
A woman like her loved a man like him, and he’d never thought he’d see the day when he could be holding the finest thing ever created.
He glanced over and saw East with his arms crossed, his eyes saying WTF? but his smile saying he was pleased with what he saw.
“You guys need to step outside,” East said. “I have a class to teach.”
Once they were outside, Dex pulled her to him and kissed her again.
“We can make the boutique a success,” he promised her.
“I was hoping you’d say that, because I’m going to launch my lingerie line. And I had a marketing idea I was hoping you could help me with.”
“Yes. Whatever it is, especially involving your panties, the answer is yes.”
She smiled. “Well, I was thinking you could use your skills and reputation to gather some of your hot search and rescue friends to pick a ‘Look of the Month.’”
“First off, you’re not allowed to think my friends are hot,” he said and nipped her bottom lip.
“I don’t,” she defended. “I was just told you SAR guys are a big deal around here.”
Well, he couldn’t fault her for knowing the truth.
“I was hoping each of you would endorse your favorite item in the boutique. That would be my display for the month. You know, tying a hot guy with his ‘lingerie of choice’ could make for a lot of sales. Since this is all based on fantasy.”
He nodded. She was smart. “I love the idea. So long as I get to pick next month.” He ran his palms down her sides. “My choice is that black lace number you had on when you were at my place.”
She smiled. “So it’s settled. SAR officer Dex Young officially endorses the Black Magic set.”
“Oooh, Black Magic, huh? I like it!”
For a man that loved his adventure one night at a time, he couldn’t give up the one woman who made him want more. Turned out, she was the adventure he’d been searching for. And now that he had her in his arms, there was no way he’d let her go.