Vic was done with men.
You’re attracted to him.
Okay, yes. She was. And thatright therewas proof positive that he was bad news. Her ovaries always got her into trouble.
Firemen are my favorite color.
Her own words came back to her, making her cringe inside. She’d only said that because she’d thought she’d never see him again—and, well, because he was smoking hot. What an idiot she’d been!
She would never say anything like that now. She knew firsthand how much ugliness a handsome face and sexy smile could hide.
Her feelings must have shown on her face, because Eric laughed. “Sorry you’re stuck with me, but Lexi’s dad started having palpitations while he was mowing the lawn. She and Kendra took him to the ER.”
“Oh, no.” Vic slid her phone into her handbag and got to her feet. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine—just dehydrated.”
“Thank goodness!”
Lexi would be crushed if anything happened to her father, especially the week of her wedding. The two of them were just getting to know each other.
“That’s what happens when you have whiskey for breakfast.” Eric’s gaze moved over her luggage—a garment bag and three suitcases. “Exactly how long are you planning to stay?”
With all the arrangements for their wedding under control, Lexi and Austin had decided they wanted to spend the week before the ceremony having a good time with their friends—rafting, hiking, swimming, and horseback riding. Vic had never done most of those things, so she’d had to go shopping. Uncertain what she’d need, she’d brought an entire Athleta shop with her.
She slipped on her sunglasses. “Lexi told me to be ready for anything.”
“You sure did take her seriously.” He reached for her bags, hesitated. “Are we going to fight about who carries these this time?”
She picked up the garment bag, leaving the others for him. “Knock yourself out—and thanks.”
She followed him out the automatic doors into a cool and breezy Saturday morning, not a cloud in the blue sky, the mountains purple in the distance. She couldn’t wait to be up there again, to smell the fresh air, to look up at the white summits of the high peaks. Scarlet Springs might exist in a different reality than the rest of the world, but it was beautiful.
Eric’s pickup was parked at the far end of the center row, its bumper sporting yet another sticker.
Feel safe at night. Sleep with a fireman.
Had she mentioned arrogant? Because, oh, yes, he was arrogant.
While he settled her bags in the truck’s bed, she climbed into the passenger seat and laid her garment bag over the narrow bench seat in the back of the cab. By the time she had her seatbelt on, he had the keys in the ignition.
He turned toward her and held out his hand. “Hey, Victoria, I know we didn’t get off to the best start last time, but I hope that’s behind us. I thought you were here to pressure Lexi. You thought I was doing the same thing. We were both trying to protect her. As it turns out, she managed just fine without us. I hope we can be friends.”
She supposed he was right. She could respect his loyalty. Besides, he was the best man, and she was the maid of honor. For Lexi and Austin’s sake, the two of them needed to get along.
“Sure.” She took his hand.
Heat arced between them at the contact, unexpected and startling, and she had to fight not to jerk her hand away. But then his lips curved into a devastating smile, and she felt her ovaries begin to purr.
Oh, no. No way.
In that moment, she made herself a promise. No matter what Eric said, no matter how nice he seemed, no matter how good he looked without his shirt, she wasnotgoing to sleep with him.
* * *
Eric Hawke drovedown the E-470, Joe Walsh playing on the radio. He glanced over at the woman beside him. He’d had the same visceral reaction when he’d seen her today that he’d had a year ago, because …
Damn.