“Is it true?”
“Yeah, I suppose it is.”
“What did I do? Why would people talk about me?”
How was Eric going to explain this? He didn’t want her to think he was hitting on her, especially not after what he’d overheard this afternoon. “I hate to break it to you, Victoria, but you’re an incredibly beautiful woman.”
That hadn’t been creepy, had it? He hoped not. He considered it a feat of self-control that he’d managed to stop with that and hadn’t raved on.
She stared at him, disbelief on her face. “Thatis what people talked about?”
“Yeah. Is that so strange? ‘Hey, have you seen Lexi’s friend, Victoria? She’s gorgeous.’ You know—that sort of thing.” When she said nothing, he doubled down. “Come on. You know you’re above average in the looks department.”
He expected her to blush or smile or look at him from beneath those long, sooty lashes and say something flirty.
Instead, she looked away. “Thanks, I guess. A lot of good it’s ever done me.”
What the hell did she mean by that?
* * *
They got backto Scarlet Springs to find the group hanging out at Austin and Lexi’s place. Vic had seen it last year before Lexi had moved in. A large two-story log home, it had floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, a sleek kitchen, and an enormous back deck with a hot tub.
Lexi met Vic in the driveway with a big hug, Mack, Austin’s black lab, bounding at her heels. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Vic shrugged. “I thought it was the margarita.”
Eric came around the front of his pickup. “She needs to rest and drink lots of water. No alcohol—at least not tonight. And speak up if that headache comes back.”
Lexi hugged him, too. “Thanks for realizing what was happening.”
“That’s my job.” He headed for the back of the house, leaving Vic with Lexi.
Lexi turned to Vic again. “I saw him carry you to his SUV. Is something going on between you two?”
First Eric’s mother, and now Lexi.
“Of course not! I’m done with men.” Vic must have been flustered because her mouth took off without her. “The last thing I want right now is to hook up with some sexy, handsome, strong, single firefighter who carries women with altitude sickness off mountains and mows his mother’s lawn.”
One red eyebrow arched. “If you were trying to convince me, you blew it.”
On the back deck, Austin was grilling steaks on a big gas grill, a large cooler full of beer and soda nearby. “You made it just in time. How are you feeling?”
“I’m much better. Thank you.” She inhaled, the scent of sizzling beef making her mouth water. “That smells so good.”
Britta stepped out of the kitchen followed by Winona Belcourt, both women carrying large salads. They set the salads on a long wooden picnic table that was already laden with food, bowls covered with cellophane to keep out bugs.
“Hey, Victoria.” Winona reached to hug her, her dark hair hanging around her shoulders. “I heard the altitude got you. How are you?”
Winona was a veterinarian who ran a sanctuary for injured wildlife and the daughter of a hereditary Sun Dance chief. She had come to Colorado on the heels of her older brother, Chaska, who was also a Team member and one of Austin’s groomsmen—and perhaps the most handsome man Vic had ever met. Brother and sister had both fallen in love with the mountains and stayed. Lexi had volunteered for the sanctuary for about a year now, and she and Winona had become good friends. Lexi even got along with Winona’s big pet wolf, Shota.
“I’m better now. Thanks.”
Voices came from above, jerking Vic’s gaze toward the roof.
Eric stood up there, together with Chaska and Jesse.
“They climbed the chimney.” Lexi said this as if it were the sort of thing one did at a cookout. “Chaska’s testing a new self-belaying device he designed.”