“Not unusual for newly married couples.” He couldn’t resist the joke. “It’s only temporary, and you wouldn’t even have to pay me.”
“I would insist on paying you.”
“You already are—in room and board.”
Her eyes narrowed with caution. “How temporary?”
“Only until I pull out at the beginning of the year.”
Now her eyes snapped wide. “Where are you going?”
Oops.“Uh, Stowe Mountain Rescue.”
“In Vermont?” she screeched. “Why?”
“I was offered a job doing back-country rescue there.”
“Isn’t moving to Vermont a little drastic?” she spluttered. “You’re a Colorado boy. Why would you want to move to the East Coast?”
He shrugged. “Opportunity?”
“Who knows?”
“You, Shane, and my brothers, and I’d appreciate it staying that way.”
“One more secret,” she puffed. “Wait. You haven’t told your parents?” He shook his head. “And you’re serious.” He nodded. “You can’t findanyopportunity anywhere in Colorado? What about Summit County? I hear they pay really well.”
“It’s too hoity-toity there. I don’t want to live someplace where I have to wear bedazzled jeans to fit in.”
She barked a mirthless laugh. “I think the bedazzled stuff’s mostly for women, but you go with that. Actually, don’t. When have you ever been concerned about fitting in? I thought you marched to your own drummer.” When he didn’t respond, she came toward him until she was right under his nose. Her perfume or shampoo or whatever that fragrance was wreathed him in a heady cloud. “Know what I think, Reece Hunnicutt?”
“Nope, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“You bet I am. I think you’re running.”
“From what?” he scoffed.
“You tell me.” They had a stare down that lasted one, two, three beats. He broke first.
She let out a long-suffering sigh. “You leaving is going to make our situation that much more complicated.”
Christ, she was right! How had he overlooked that part? He seemed to throw up a mental block whenever it came to ending their not-so-fake marriage. “Maybe. You might have to do the heavy lifting to get things rolling, and I’m sorry about that, but I’ll do whatever I can to smooth the way.” Why did saying that leave a bad taste in his mouth?
She had a smudge of dirt on her left cheek, and he absently brushed it with his thumb before tucking a strand of spun gold behind her delicate ear. His hand lingered. She blinked several times and stiffened, as if she might pull away, but she stayed rooted where she was and stared up at him, her big eyes searching. Eyes that could see all the way inside him. Through him. That didn’t flinch, even though she knew exactly who and what he was.
“Neve, I …” His mind fogged, and he leaned down, irresistibly drawn toward her mouth like metal to a magnet. One taste to remember what kissing her had felt like. Just one. Her lids fluttered closed.
A throat cleared, and Reece jerked back.
“I’m all done in back if you want to take a look, Doc,” announced the electrician.
Neve’s cheeks pinkened, and her eyes darted away before darting back. “I’ll be right there.” She placed her hand over Reece’s heart. “You’re hired, but if I find someone before you leave, I’m letting you go.”
As he watched her walk toward the back of the clinic, he couldn’t help but wonder exactly what she had packed into her final words.
Chapter 19
Habitating Can Lead to Acclimating
