Page 74 of Beastly Mountain Man

Lucky said, “You’re negotiating with a dog.”

“I negotiate professionally. He should be honored.”

“He’s holding out for cheese.”

“He’s going to be disappointed.”

Bear remained exactly where he was.

“His strategy lacks flexibility.”

“His strategy usually works.”

I looked at Lucky. “Do you give him cheese?”

“No.”

“Then whose weakness is he exploiting?”

Lucky took another drink of cocoa and declined to answer.

By the time we were ready to leave, my own leggings and sweater were dry, and the resort gear had lost most of the dampness from our snow battle. I changed out of Lucky’s clothes reluctantly, which seemed unreasonable considering I had known the sweatpants for only a few hours and spent half that time unconscious.

I folded them anyway.

Lucky saw the stack on the bed.

“You can leave those there.”

“I assumed they were still legally yours.”

“I’m not wearing them again.”

“That doesn’t automatically transfer ownership.”

He leaned against the doorway. “Do you want them?”

The question should not have felt intimate.

They were badly shrunken sweatpants.

“Yes.”

“Then they’re yours.”

I picked up the soft charcoal shirt too.

Lucky’s mouth curved.

“That as well?”

“I haven’t completed my assessment.”

“Take your time.”

I packed both into a canvas bag he loaned me.

Outside, the cold returned quickly, but the storm had stopped. Our earlier tracks were still visible along the short wooded route, softened around the edges by a light dusting that had fallen while we slept. Lucky kept Bear leashed, and we walked single file where the path narrowed between the pines.