“Wow, Reece, does she realize how close she came to freezing to death?” someone piped up. “Good thing you were there to save her ass.”
Charlie glanced over his shoulder. “Did I mention she’s a New Yorker? Not from around here,” he drawled. “Good thing for her Mr. Super Search and Rescue himself was Johnny-on-the-spot.”
Reece rolled his eyes and sidled back over. “Believe me, there were no heroics involved. And give the credit to Cade. He heard her. I didn’t. He also hustled to pull together our gear so we could take the lady to the closest emergency clinic.”
Charlie arched an eyebrow. “But you had to perform some kind of medical aid and get her to urgent care, right?”
“I freed her from some underbrush, taped up her ankle after making sure it wasn’t broken, and helped her to my truck. That’s the extent of it.” He flicked his eyes at Neve and held them for a beat. “I thought about bringing her to your clinic to save myself the two hours’ driving time to Durango.”
“Why didn’t you?” Neve shot back. She held back the urge to prod him about his “sore knee,” but hey, he had confirmed what she already knew, which was that he had lied about it earlier. She didn’t see a need to expose him in front of everyone—Reece always had a reason for doing what he did, even if it made no sense to her. Her silence gave her the opportunity to play protective older sibling too.
Swiveling his head toward her, Leo interjected, “I thought you only worked on dogs and cats.”
“And bunnies and hamsters and birds and God knows what else,” Charlie threw in. “So why not humans too?”
Neve tossed out a casual hand, explaining, “People stop by sometimes to get a quick look at this or that so they can determine whether they need to make the long drive for more medical attention. It’s not something I do on a daily or even monthly basis, but it happens from time to time. If it’s in my wheelhouse and I can save someone in my community the trouble and expense of going to urgent care, then I’m happy to help.” She returned her gaze to Reece, who now leaned against the back of the bar, arms crossed over his chest. He leveled her with a look that—if she didn’t know better—bordered on admiration.
“What?” she protested. “You do the same thing. Case in point, you drove that clueless woman all the way to Durango, even though—and thisis only a guess, but I know you, Reece Hunnicutt—you had way better things to do with your time.”
Luanne placed a tray on the bar top. “Cade says they were supposed to finish up some trail work and get started on the town’s holiday lights afterward.”
Neve gave Reece a triumphant smirk. “Nailed it.”
He wagged his head back and forth. He was wearing a Henley the same sage green as his eyes. The fabric clung to his pecs and biceps, showcasing them in a way that would have made a men’s clothing catalog model envious. “So why didn’t you bring her by and save yourself the trouble?”
His chiseled cheekbones blazed red. “You weren’t too happy to see me when I was at the clinic earlier.” His eyes did a sly slide from her to Leo and back again. “So I figured it would be best if I didn’t bother you a second—”
“Third.” Neve held up three fingers. She was half teasing, though he didn’t seem to tune in to her humor.
“Right. A third time. Anyway, I decided it would be easier on everyone if I took her to urgent care.” He shrugged. “Less liability that way too. Transfers her care to qualified professionals.”
“Was the boyfriend going to pick her up?”
“No idea. Not my problem. I was irritated enough at having to skip the trail maintenance, and Germaine was plenty irate withmefor standing her up.”
Neve’s radar went on high alert. “Standing her up? Did you have a date with her?” she yelped.Oh dear God, say it isn’t so!
Joy chimed in. “Germaine is set on landing herself a Hunnicutt hunk—her words, not mine—and Reece is the last available Hunnicutt standing. So I think that answers that.”
His relaxed pose evaporated, and he brought himself upright, his spine like a steel rod. He shook his head. Vigorously. “No, it’s not like that. She’s got the decorations over at the visitor’s center, where she works. I was supposed to pick them up from her there. She stayed late, waiting on me, but I didn’t have cell service, so I could let her know I was running late. By the time I remembered to text her, I was back in the mountains with no reception, and I couldn’t reach her. Pretty sure I earned top spot on her shit list.”
“Not if she’s gunning for the ‘last available Hunnicutt,’” Neve scoffed. God, Germaine was a pain in the ass—and a hussy! She always had been. First Noah had been her target. When he and Hailey had gotten together, she had set her sights on Charlie. Now thathewas taken, it sounded like she was trying to get her claws into Reece. Neve fumed at the notion.
“And I’m probably on the barkeep’s too after showing up twenty minutes late for my shift.” He pointed at Noah, who was filling a pitcher of beer.
“Nah,” Noah drawled. “You’re wound too tight to just blow off your commitments without an explanation, so I figured you had a good reason.” He looked at Reece and grinned. “And don’t worry. I’m docking your pay.”
“I wouldn’t expect any less.” Reece chucked a coaster at his head.
“Anyone who didn’t already know could easily guess you’re brothers,” Leo said dryly.
Oops.Neve had nearly forgotten he was seated right next to her … and that she was on a date with him. “Do you have any siblings, Leo?” They hadn’t covered families over dinner.
“Brother and sister, both younger.”
An awkward beat passed as all eyes riveted on them. Neve felt like one of those movie characters who had just been captured and stood surrounded by pointy spears or sword tips aimed right at her chest.
Leo broke the ice. “So back to this woman in the woods, Reece. What ended up being wrong with her?” He poked his thumb in Neve’s direction. “Could Neve have helped her?”
