Page 35 of Just One Chance

"Thank you so much for the boots. Hunter was a great guide," I said as we walked outside into the cold air.

He frowned. "Hunter took you around?"

"You inspired me to get the full guest experience. Not just hot tubs on balconies.”

He opened the truck for me, and I got inside. He seemed upset that Hunter had shown me around, and I wondered why he cared. I thought he hated being my tour guide.

When his door was closed, he turned to me. "I can take you around. Just let me know what you want to do."

I waved a dismissive hand in his direction. "You were working, and Hunter said he didn't have any tours today. It was fine."

"Call me next time you want to go somewhere."

I rolled my eyes, even though he probably couldn't see it in the dark. "I can take care of myself."

He glanced over at me. "You're a city girl. You're not used to the weather or the terrain."

"That may be the case, but I can figure it out."

"I'm sure you can. But you shouldn't have to."

I looked at his profile. "You're the protective type, huh?"

He frowned and glanced over at me. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"My friend, Jodi, has a theory about Miami men. They look great, wear the right clothes, and there's never a hair out of place. But they're also clean shaven and want nothing to do with the outdoors. She said I should find a mountain man while I was here.”

He huffed out a breath. "And I guess I fit the bill? If I chop some wood, I'm a man?"

I leaned forward. "Do you chop wood?"

A crease appeared on his forehead. "I have a woodburning fireplace in my workshop and the apartment above.

"I'm going to take pictures of you chopping wood. You know, to please Jodi," I was quick to add.

"I don't know how I feel about that. I'm starting to feel like a sex object."

I laughed. "You're not the type of man we run into in Miami, and I think I like it."

He shifted in his seat. "How am I different? Other than the clothes and hair."

"All the muscles and your rough hands. The way you handled me, like I weighed nothing."

He parked in a lot behind the Mistletoe Inn. "I'm glad you like it."

"I'm hoping that we can continue what we started. You know, at your place, where no one can see us," I said quickly, a little nervous that I'd said it out loud. Maybe I should have just let the relationship run its course. If we hooked up, great. If not, I'd have to be okay with that. But I wasn't a fan of leaving things to chance. Even if that had been working great so far.

He arched a brow. "You think that's wise?"

"No one ever has to know. We enjoy our time together, and then we go our separate ways. It has nothing to do with why I'm here. We keep everything separate."

"If you think we can do that?"

I wasn't sure of anything but how compatible we were in bed. "I know I want you."

He ran a hand through his hair. "I can't argue with that."

I smiled. "Then it's settled. Now show me Christmas Town."