by Tracy March
While I was kissing Collin.
Besides, she’d pegged him as “temporary” when she’d snapped the picture of him up at the Big Star site, and had been exactly right. He wouldn’t be around long, and she wasn’t ever going to leave Thistle Bend for a man again.
But that kiss…
She wished she could blame it on the truffles, but there was way more to it than that.
Collin trailed his fingers down her cheek and rested his hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”
Ellie blinked a couple of times and nodded, unsure of how long she had zoned out. “I’m good.” She tipped her head toward the chipmunk who sat at the edge of the boulder. “But that little guy’s still hungry.”
Collin pulled one of the last few chips from the bag and tossed it to the chipmunk, who grabbed the chip and scurried away. “He’s got some wheels on him,” Collin said as he picked up the box of truffles and held it out to her. “Want to share the last one?”
No way.
Any more of those truffles and she might be a goner.
She flattened her hand over her belly as if she’d had way too much already—which just might be true. “It’s all yours.”
He grinned and picked up the truffle. “If you’re sure.”
“A hundred percent.”
As he ate it, Ellie checked out the gathering clouds beyond the mountains in the near distance, calculating how long they’d have to get back to the trailhead if they left in the next few minutes. She gestured toward the darkening cloud bank. “Looks like we might be in for some interesting weather, but it’s hard to judge. I mean, those clouds could gather like that all afternoon, and nothing ever come from them. Or they could barrel in and unleash a nasty torrent of thunder and lightning and hail.” She scrunched her face. “Believe me, we don’t want to get caught up here in a lightning storm.”
“I hear you,” Collin said. “We’ve got some badass guys at the site, but when a storm rolls in, we all take cover. Most of us have seen a fireball explode from a lightning strike. No one wants to be anywhere near one.”
“Then let’s shut this thing down and get going.” Ellie balled up the paper wrappers and put them in the empty chip bag, folded the cloth, and stowed it all in her backpack.
Collin stood, held out his hand to help Ellie up, and tugged her to her feet with little effort. He stood tall and proud, silhouetted against the sun.
“I feel like I should salute,” Ellie said. “If I hadn’t seen you at the mine site before we met, I would’ve guessed you were a soldier.”
“Why?” He put on the backpack, and they headed toward the trail.
“Your posture.”
Walking alongside her, Collin drew his head back. He frowned playfully, his brow furrowed below the brim of his hat. “My posture?”
She nodded. “You’re always so straight-backed and broad-shouldered. Then there’s your haircut. And the slightly raised chin. I would’ve totally pegged you as military.”
“Wish I could say I had served,” he said. “But that influence came from my grandpa. He was an army colonel. Talk about a badass. He always told me to stand up straight, do a hundred push-ups every day, and treat a lady like a lady.”
“Good advice.”
“He also taught me how to make up a bed so tight that a quarter will bounce on it.” Collin gave her a sidelong glance.
“So you’re one of those shipshape guys with everything organized and ready for inspection?”
“Some things.” He shrugged. “Definitely not everything.”
Ellie wondered if he was referring to his broken engagement. Maybe he was ready to tell her about it now. After that kiss, she was even more curious about what had happened between him and his ex.
But he didn’t mention it as they hiked back toward the trailhead, following the path over a large flower-dotted meadow and through a shady aspen grove. Ellie gazed up as they emerged from the tree line, finding that the gathering cloud bank had gained on them.
“This isn’t looking good,” she said. “I haven’t heard any thunder, though. Have you?” They could deal with rain, but there was always the possibility of hail.
Collin checked it out, his eyes narrowed, his lips pressed into a tight line.
“There’s a fork in the trail up there.” She pointed to a split in the path, about fifty yards ahead. “Left takes us back to the trailhead and your bike in about a half mile.” She stopped and looked up for a long moment. “I don’t think those clouds are messing around. But we should have time to get to your bike and back to my place. I’m guessing we’ll just make it.”
“You think so?” he asked playfully.
“Questioning my cred?”
He grinned. “Just hoping you’re right.”
Ellie nudged his rock-hard biceps. “I’ve had some experience with this kind of thing.”
“I’m counting on it.” And there was that low drawl that caught her off guard every time, and left her a little unsteady.
The threatening clouds were overhead by the time they made it to the last stretch of meadow before the trailhead, the motorcycle a lone shadow in the dirt parking area. They covered the last hundred yards quickly. Collin passed the backpack to Ellie. They swapped their hats for helmets, and got on the bike. Ellie clutched his waist, their kiss having made her more aware of how his firm body felt beneath her touch.
He revved up the bike, and they drove in the direction she pointed. She clung tightly to him as he sped along the main road toward Narrowleaf Pass, climbing. When they neared the turnoff to Milly and Merri’s property, she gestured for him to veer onto the narrow, twisting access road. He put the motorcycle through its paces, climbing.
Collin slowed as the road turned into a tree-lined, gravel drive that took them the last quarter mile. The trees gave way to the trimmed-grass lawn, and Milly and Merri’s epic Queen Anne Victorian came into view atop a gentle rise, the rugged Rockies in the distance.
Fairy tale.
Ellie was enchanted every time she saw the place. The grounds and gardens were manicured, the house inviting despite the low, dark clouds. Crafted with varying shades of fish-scale shingles—mint green, antique blue, and creamy taupe—it rose three stories beneath a steep slate roof. There was a dominant gable on the house, a massive hexagonal tower, and lots of overhanging eaves with lead-glass windows beneath them.
Numerous planters billowing with flowers accented the welcoming, wraparound front porch, and several mature aspen trees bordered the house on each side, their silvery-green leaves fluttering in the wind.
As they neared a fork in the driveway, Ellie directed Collin to keep right, taking them into a shady aspen grove that bordered another clearing. At the edge of the grove sat her small gingerbread cottage, similar in style and colors to Milly and Merri’s house.
Collin pulled behind Ellie’s white SUV, which was parked near the shed, a short distance from the cottage. He cut the engine, and she reluctantly released her grip on him. Helping her off the bike, he said, “Nice digs.”
“Told you the place was out of a storybook.” She took off her helmet and pulled the pack from her back. As she slid her ponytail holder out of her hair and shook it loose, a fat drop of rain plopped on her head, another on her shoulder. She cut a grinning I-told-you-so look at Collin as he removed his helmet. “Just as I predicted.”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than the rain went from drip-drop to downpour.
Ellie took off running, figuring she had only about twenty yards to get to the cobblestone sidewalk and onto the covered wooden porch. She made it less than ten before Collin caught up with her, gripped her arm, and stopped her.
She laughed, blinking against the raindrops as they pelted down. “We’re getting soaked.”
“Yep.” He gave her a smoldering once-over, his eyes more gray than green.
She gave as good as she got, doing the same to him. “You sure rock a wet T-shirt,” she said, gazing at the outline of his pecs.
He raised his eyebrows. “I’d say you’ve got me beat.”
Ellie’s heart leapt into her throat as she glanced down quickly. Her bra had turned to no coverage since the rain soaked it, and she caught a chill. Before she could cover herself, Collin pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Rain poured down as his tongue sought hers, her defenses weakening with each languid stroke. Ellie squeezed her eyes closed and pulled him closer, eager to feel the hard lines and angles of his body next to hers. He was much taller than Noah, more fit, and undoubtedly more masculine—all new and hot and crazy-attractive to her.
Careful, Ellie.
Despite the chilly rain, heat swept through her as she kissed him. He cradled her head in one hand and splayed the other at the small of her back, pressing her closer. His lips never left hers as he crooked one leg behind hers and eased her back onto the grass. Ellie’s heart raced as he covered her body with his, propping himself on one elbow.
She gripped the nape of his neck and drew him to her. He was wet muscle and firmness, and there was no mistaking that he wanted her. No mistaking his erection straining against the fabric of his hiking pants.
“God, Ellie,” he whispered huskily, his breath warm against her ear. “I didn’t expect—”
The sky lit up bright white, and an earsplitting crack of thunder shook the ground.
Ellie went wide-eyed, and tensed, her heart hammering. High-altitude lightning was nothing to mess around with. In a split second, Collin got to his feet and pulled her up.
“Go around back.” She grabbed her pack, took his hand, ran to the back door, and ducked into her laundry room, where they stood dripping.
“That was crazy.” She set her backpack on the floor, and took off her hiking boots.
Collin shook his head. “Man, that lightning came out of nowhere.”
Ellie could say the same about her attraction to Collin. She’d been minding her own business, hiking and taking pictures. Then there he’d been on Stallion Ridge—hot and unavoidable.
“Damn lightning,” Collin said as he pulled off his hiking boots. “At least these are waterproof.”
It had freaked out Ellie, too, but not near as much as realizing she’d never felt the kind of chemistry with Noah that she was feeling with Collin. It made falling for him even more of a risk—
Because I wouldn’t want to let him go.
She grabbed a couple of clean hand towels from the cabinet above the washer and dryer, and handed one to Collin. He wiped his face, scrubbed the towel over his hair and set it on top of the dryer. Without warning, he whisked his drenched T-shirt over his head, and tossed it into the small utility sink.
Ellie’s systems went on full alert, all her attention on Collin’s naked torso.
Smooth.
Ripped.
Cut.
Her mouth had fallen open. She closed it quickly, and swallowed hard.
Good lord.
She pulled her hair around to the front, wrapped the towel around it, and squeezed, struggling not to stare as he dried his shoulders, his well-defined pecs, and each cut ab. Shifting her gaze, she followed the tempting trail of hair that led to the button of his wet hiking pants hanging low on his hips.
Ellie absently licked her lips. “I’m guessing it takes a lot more than push-ups to stay in shape like that.”
“I use the gym at the EPA,” he said. “It’s a sweet benefit.”
Ellie considered writing them a thank-you note.
He glanced at her tunic with a glint in his eyes. “You gonna take yours off?”
She shook her head as another flash of lightning lit up the outdoors. “I’m still working my way up to a hundred push-ups a day.” She smiled. Thunder cracked and rumbled, shaking the cottage.
He stepped closer to her, and swept a stray tendril of her hair away from her face. “I’m sure I’d like what I’d see.”
Ellie’s stomach fluttered. Heat rushed to her face, and several other parts of her body. “You think so?”
He trailed his fingers beneath her chin, lifted it, and kissed her gently—another killer move that had her legs trembling. “I guarantee it.”
Chapter 7
Ellie tugged in a bolstering breath. Collin was incredibly hard to resist, but she was nowhere near ready to take off her clothes in front of him. She shot him a shy smile, picked up her pack, ducked around him, and went into the kitchen. She set the pack on one of the ladder-back chairs, took out their empty water bottles, and tossed them into the recycling bin.
Collin followed her, and checked out several flyers she had posted on a fabric-and-ribbon memo board. “A pub crawl to raise money for the Thistle Bend Museum?” He nodded. “I like the way their fundraising person thinks.”
“That’s my friend Lindsey Simms. She came to town last year to get the museum up and running.”
And she snagged one of Colorado’s most eligible bachelors.
If only Ellie could get lucky enough to find someone who loved her the way Carden Crenshaw loved Lindsey. Talk about a fairy tale.
She blinked several times. Where had that come from? Hadn’t Noah cured her of thinking about love?
“It’s amazing what she’s done with the museum,” Ellie said, willfully steering her attention back to the conversation.
“Hey,” Collin said. “The pub crawl’s tonight.”
“In a little over an hour—and I volunteered to help. It’s for a good cause, sounds like fun, and I missed it last year.”
Facing away from her, he focused on the flyer. Ellie lost the battle of trying not to stare at him. Taking advantage of the moment, she checked out the definition in his shoulders and back, easing down to his trim waist and the sexy curve of his butt.
“It’ll be great to get together with everyone, have a few drinks, listen to the speakers at the pub stops. There’s supposed to be a little Thistle Bend history, and tales about the town’s wacky traditions. Oh, and they’re having a progressive poker game. I’ll be collecting the money from people who want to play.”
He turned and faced her, all smooth pecs and ripped abs. “A progressive poker game?”
Ellie nodded. “Twenty dollars gets you in. You receive cards at each stop, and the person with the best hand at the end of the night wins the pot.”
Collin drew his head back, grinning. “They’re giving away pot?”
She laughed. “This is Colorado. But actually, the winner splits the money with the museum. Still, it should be a pretty decent haul.”
“Sounds like a good time,” he said.
“Want to come?” she asked, before she could stop herself.
A crease formed between his eyebrows, and he clenched his jaw.
Ellie’s heart lurched from beat to beat as she endured the awkward silence. She’d arranged to see him today, and now she’d invited him to the pub crawl tonight. If she kept asking him places, and spending time around him, her willpower wouldn’t hold.
“I don’t think I have time to go to my place, shower, and get there on time,” he said. “It’s on the other side of town—up Cottonwood Crescent, about a mile on the right.”
Ellie smiled softly and nodded, more disappointed than she thought she would be. But there wasn’t much she could do to hide her embarrassment. The heat rising in her face gave it away. She tugged in a deep breath, wishing she hadn’t asked him to go. They weren’t dating, after all. They’d just kind of made out in the rain, that’s all. He’d avoided telling her his broken-engagement story, and he didn’t want to go to the pub crawl.
Collin pulled at the loose fabric along of the legs of his hiking pants. “But these’ll be dry soon. Maybe I could shower here, and just wear what I’ve got.”
Ellie’s stomach clenched. The fashion scene was pretty casual around Thistle Bend, but the pub crawl crowd was likely to show up in something more presentable than damp hiking clothes.
She glanced at a grass and mud stain on one of the knees of his pants. “We could probab
ly get your clothes washed and dried before it’s time to go.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “I’ll take you up on the pub crawl, and a shower, but we don’t need to worry about the clothes.”
“It’s no problem to wash them,” she said, hoping he’d change his mind.
“Thanks, but I’m good.”
Not nearly as good as you were five minutes ago.
Maybe her willpower wasn’t in as much trouble as she’d thought. She rolled in her lips, rubbed them together, and nodded. “Follow me. I’ll grab you a bigger towel and show you where the bathroom is—as if you’d get lost trying to find it,” she said lightly. “You can jump in the shower, and I’ll go after you.” She led him out of the kitchen and into the living area, where he stopped to check out the thick wooden mantel over the weathered, raised-hearth stone fireplace.
“This is cool.” He smoothed his fingers along the knotty, unfinished wood.
“It’s made from wood from a barn that used to be on this property ‘back in the day,’ as Milly and Merri would say. So is the coffee table.”
Ellie loved this room—light and breezy with everything done in shades of white and ivory, including the shiplap paneling. A fluffy couch was piled with accent pillows in butter yellow and light blue. Filmy drapes covered the large windows, letting in lots of natural light.
Ellie led Collin down the short hall to the linen closet, eager to get him settled in the bathroom so she could change out of her wet clothes—which she wouldn’t be wearing again until they were properly washed and dried. She grabbed a fluffy white towel off the shelf and handed it to him.
“That’ll work,” he said with an appreciative nod.
She gave him a small smile. “Yep.” Maybe she was being too picky with the dirty-clothes thing, but she just couldn’t get past it. She gestured across the hall. “Bathroom’s right there. Thunder’s been quiet, so it should be safe to shower.”
