“Wow, he’s beautiful,” she said. “His antlersarehuge.”
“You know what they say about a man with bigantlers…”
“No.” She chuckled. “Please,educateme.”
“Well… I don’t knoweither.”
“It’s not the size that counts,” shequipped.
“That’s what small men like to say to make themselves feel better.” Hegrinned.
“And I suppose you know nothing about that?” She archedabrow.
“What, Madison didn’t send you a dick pic?” he askedsarcastically.
“Nope.”
“I thought that was the whole point of online hookups,”hesaid.
“Maybe for some people, but not me. I was actually looking for a nice man, not a big dick,”shesaid.
He blanched and then burst outlaughing.
“What?” sheasked.
“I… you just…” He couldn’t stop snickering long enough to finish hissentence.
“I’m not all white doilies and innocence,”shesaid.
“I’m starting toseethat.”
“Too bad you’re not interested in a relationship,” sheteased.
“Hmm,” he said noncommittally. Before they went too far, he needed to put an end to this conversation. “Readytogo?”
“Sure.”
She cocked her head as if trying to read him. The crinkles around the edges of her eyes slowly dissipated. He had no doubt she’d been smiling under the helmet, but his sudden change in attitude had quashed her joy. Too bad. He didn’t want to give her the wrong impression. Although he liked talking to her, he wouldn’t trade a lifetime of solitary contentment for someone he’djustmet.
After climbing back on the snowmobile, he waited for her to get settled before pushing the throttle. His stomach rumbled, but not for food. His damn bear clawed at his guts in frustration. He understood the beast’s need to escape and promised him that he’d shift later tonight. If nothing else, he needed to expel the desire she’dawakened.
They reached Mammoth a few minutes after noon. On the left side of the road, stepped platforms of steaming white rock rose up to create the Minerva Terraces. Cascading milky water glistened as it trickled across thesurface.
He drove past the geothermal feature and parked in the ranger station’s parking lot. After they’d had a chance to stretch their legs, he opened the compartment at the back of the snowmobile. He pulled out bags of cut meat, cheese, crackers, and grapes. A large bag of chocolate chip cookies followed. He handed everything to her before reaching in for the Thermos of hotcocoa.
“Are you warm enough?” he asked. “We could go sit inside whileweeat.”
“I’m fine. I’m actually pretty hot in these snowpants.”
“Yes, you are,” he blurted.Crap.He hadn’t meant to hit on her again. He needed to keep his damnmouthshut.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “I never thought I’d be the snowbunnytype.”
“You could put most of them toshame.”
“You’re such a smooth talker when you want to be,”shesaid.
“I suppose,” he said. “But I just tell it like Iseeit.”
