Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

CHRISTOPHER

W ith his hopes dashed, as the music resumed Chris tried to stand next to Mark’s “spot”— and he thinks I’m “inflexible”? —and lasted all of three minutes before he poked Mark in the shoulder to indicate he would wander again.

Figures she was smart and cute.

He kicked himself in the ass over not doing his due diligence. When she’d mentioned her studies he’d started info dumping about the park, she’d asked questions…

And then the next thing he knew, Mark had clocked her as underaged and there went their chances for a fun, strings-free romp with the woman.

Oh, well .

He found a semi-shielded spot to stand where the music wasn’t blasting him and sank into his thoughts. Maybe it was time they seriously discussed marriage. Truth be told, he really wasn’t that disappointed things didn’t work out with the girl.

Doesn’t that say something?

There was a time early on where they had fun singling out a woman to be their third for a night, like a coordinated wolf hunt.

Uh, only without the creepy-sounding internal dialogue, of course.

Most of the time when they met a woman under those potential circumstances, they enjoyed a pleasant evening of conversation and never so much as hinted at pursuing sexy fun with her.

But on those rare occasions when the stars aligned?

Whew .

Those were hot times.

What are we doing? Really?

From where he stood he watched Mark as he stood at the end of the bar and subconsciously scanned the audience in that sexy, watchful way of his.

One of the things he loved about Mark was that yeah, he was a “cop,” but he wasn’t a cop . He didn’t swagger with small-dick syndrome—literally or metaphorically, thank you very much—throwing his weight around just for kicks. He was the kind of guy who usually kept a situation cool and calm, which was a skill he needed patrolling the backcountry alone. Mark saw himself more a guardian than a law enforcement officer. Of both people and the park, to protect them from each other.

Like tonight. Mark could have stepped outside, placed a call, had the cops show up and arrest the girl and fine the hell out of Jason and the bartender who’d served the girl, and yes, that would be upholding the letter of the law.

But was it justice?

No.

It was best for all involved if it was handled exactly as Mark had. But the night wasn’t exactly over yet, so he held hope they might meet someone.

JESSE

Jesse opted to drive to the bar. She wouldn’t drink alcohol there and she liked having a safe retreat. Whether because she needed a few minutes to pull herself together if she became overstimulated, or because she needed to make a quick escape from some creep and not be followed on foot, the thought of having the car nearby reduced her anxiety, meaning it increased the chances she’d enjoy herself.

For tonight she went with glasses, not contacts. She also threw her laptop bag into the car in case she later drove to a nearby overlook to spend time under the stars reviewing her project plan for the sensor installation.

Okay, technically that was work and not relaxation, but she would feel relaxed working outside under the beautiful blanket of stars she normally didn’t get to enjoy because of city lights, so it still counted as downtime.

Right?

Well, she counted it as downtime.

Her timing was perfect, too, because she pulled into a parking space near the back deck as another car left, giving her a prime spot.

She wasn’t a believer in superstition but she’d accept that as a good omen.

Steeling herself she headed inside, ordered a soda, and found herself a place to stand where she didn’t feel totally self-conscious and wasn’t intruding on anyone’s personal space.

CHRISTOPHER

He spotted the woman when she entered and watched her make her way to the bar. But she didn’t order alcohol.

Interesting .

She wore jeans, hiking boots that looked like they hadn’t seen a trail, and a new puffy vest over a red plaid flannel shirt open over a black cami. He didn’t approach her, wanting to see if she was there with or meeting someone. He’d never seen her before, so she was likely a tourist.

She didn’t appear to be looking for anyone as she wove her way around people with her soda in her hand and finally settled on a high-top toward the back of the space that a couple vacated seconds before her approach.

Nothing ventured, right?

He made his way over. She was several inches shorter than his own 5’11”, and at least a foot shorter than Mark’s 6’3”. Her unruly, curly strawberry blonde hair looked perfect on her, as if it didn’t come from a bottle. It was also pulled back into an adorable messy ponytail. She wasn’t wearing make-up. Or if she was, it was so natural-looking as to not be noticeable.

Either way she was adorable.

Her green eyes looked clear and bright behind her glasses, the light pink frames not quite cat-eye, but not large and retro-round, either.

“Hi,” he said, jumping right in. “Chris.”

She nodded, returning his offered fist-bump without any awkwardness, like she preferred them. “Jesse.” There was something slightly familiar about her but he couldn’t place her.

“Have we met before?” he asked.

She arched an eyebrow. “Is that your best pick-up line?”

“No, my best pick-up line is, ‘Did you know there are more than 1,300 species of plants in Yellowstone National Park?’”

She cocked her head. “How many are native species?”

He blinked, processing her question—because in this scenario literally no one had ever lobbed a question back at him bef?—

Ohhhh . His cock twitched. “Approximately 1,200,” he said.

“Does that include aquatic plants?”

He sucked in a breath. I think I’m in love. “Of course.”

“What about thermophile bacteria and algae?”

Daaaamn! Okay, things were definitely looking up! “No, doesn’t include those. That’s not my specialty.”

“You sound like a botanist.”

He smiled again. “You would be correct.”

“Would be? Or I am correct?”

Ooohhhhhh my god. He didn’t know what freaky frequency her brain was dialed to but it apparently resonated with his in a way that made his cock thicken so much he would soon have to adjust himself if she didn’t stop flirting with him.

Wait, was she flirting with him?

Dammit . He wasn’t sure.

This was usually where he needed Mark, and normally Mark would have already drifted over out of what felt like nowhere, eased himself in, and picked up the conversational threads.

But when he glanced around he realized Mark was engaged in conversation with Jason, and Christopher wasn’t certain if it was official business or not.

Maybe to do with the earlier snafu?

Wait, focus .

Because she stood there, awaiting his answer.

What was the question? Oh, right ?—

“You are correct.”

“Correct that you sound like a botanist? Or you are a botanist?”

Is this what love at first sight feels like? “I am a botanist. Are you here on business or for pleasure?”

JESSE

“Yes,” she said.

She felt…playful. The music wasn’t bad. The bar, while crowded, had a safe vibe to it that didn’t overwhelm her. She’d decided she would try to give it at least twenty minutes.

And now she was talking to a cute guy.

Dad wanted me to have fun, so technically this is his fault.

“Yes…?” Chris asked, his meaning obvious.

“Both.” She was wary about providing details that might put her safety in jeopardy. “I’m only out here until tomorrow. Taking the night off.” Okay, that was a fib, but she hoped to drive to Gardiner tomorrow.

“‘Out here’? Where will your work take you?”

She shrugged and hoped it came off playful. “Around.”

A sudden whine of feedback made her flinch and she cursed that she didn’t have her earplugs—they were stashed in her laptop case in the car. That’s when she noticed Chris wore a style similar to the ones she used.

“Do you mind if we take this outside for a moment?” She pointed to her ear. “I need to get mine out of the car and that was painfully loud.”

“Oh, sure! I completely understand.”

CHRISTOPHER

Wait, follow a strange woman outside without even knowing her full name? Mark’s going to kill me.

Then again, if they hit it off with this cutie maybe he’d kiss him.

Both of them.

Christopher preferred talking outside anyway. Then he could talk without having to scream. The music filtered through the open door at a more acceptable volume, and there was a spillage of customers out onto the covered wooden deck. Not many smokers tonight. While the air felt crisply cool there wasn’t a biting wind. The sky was clear, stars blanketing it from horizon to horizon and threatening to distract him.

Wait, focus. Cute woman.

He followed her at a respectful distance, stopping when she unlocked a brand-new BMW sedan bearing Washington State plates.

Whoa.

Money.

“Nice car,” he noted. “How’s it drive?”

She shrugged. “It’s fine. Smaller than what I wanted, but I settled for it because it was available. It’s starting to grow on me.”

Holy shit. If that was what she considered settling he wondered what she’d wanted to buy.

And how much money that might have cost over and above this pricey ride.

She grabbed her ear plugs, holding up the familiar small, round case his used. “Got them.” She put them in and slipped the case into her back pocket.

That gave him a perfect opening. “Nice hiking boots.”

She looked down at them. “They’re comfy.”

He pointed at his own boots. “And that’s why I wore these tonight, but I was told they’d turn off a woman.”

“Are they comfy?” she asked him.

He nodded. “Very.”

He loved the way her eyes crinkled at the outer edges when she smiled. “Then who cares what anyone else thinks?”

“ Thank you! I’m glad someone agrees with me.” Instead of returning inside he motioned for her to go first up the two steps to the deck. They sat at an outside two-seater high-top and she ordered another soda.

He noticed. “Not drinking?”

“Not much of a drinker.” He must have had a look on his face, because she added, “Why’d I come to a bar in a strange town when I’m not much of a drinker?”

“Exactly. If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone. My father is fond of reminding me that there’s more to life than work.” Despite their ear plugs, both of them winced when the band launched into a new song that opened with a loudly energetic electric guitar lick that soared from lower notes up to somewhere around the stratosphere.

“And,” she added, “I rarely listen to live music. I figured if I’m going to make an idiot out of myself, best to do it in a strange town around strange people so I’m not constantly reliving every cringe thing I say or do. If my father asks if I spent time ‘on vacation,’ I can honestly answer yes. I’ll just leave out how much time.”

Holy shit. Every minute he spent with her he found more to like about her. “I do that, too. Relive my cringe moments, I mean. At least plants don’t make fun of me.”

“Well, thank god for small favors,” she said with a smile before sipping her soda.

That’s when Mark emerged onto the deck, scowling, scanning the space before locking on to them and heading their way.

“And here’s my cringe buffer,” he said as Mark walked up. “Jesse, this is my partner, Mark.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said, fist-bumping with him.

He nodded. “Likewise.”

MARK

It’d irritated him when he realized Christopher wasn’t inside and he’d missed when he’d walked out.

Not that there was anything to worry about at this familiar watering hole. They were in town and Christopher was a grown-assed adult.

But now that he spotted the woman Chris was talking to, a dark and unexpected tendril of something wound through him.

She was cute and he sensed how relaxed Chris appeared talking with her. And for a moment he wondered if maybe the reason they’d moved outside without saying anything was because Christopher wanted to be alone with her.

That had never happened, but his usually predictable guy going off-script raised his antennae.

“She’s here for pleasure and work,” Chris offered.

“What do you do?” Mark asked, trying to flush the irrational thoughts out of his head. He was now also wondering why she looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place her.

“I work for my father’s company.”

Christopher leaned in, nudging him. “Take a look at her ride, dude.” He pointed to a BMW sedan that looked out of place in a parking lot full of trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs of all flavors, conditions, and ages.

That was immediately two strikes against her. Rich princess working for Daddy, who’d probably look down her nose at them.

“Doing what?” Mark asked.

She smiled. “Work.”

Okay, third strike. He didn’t like cagey women.

“That’s why she’s out here,” Christopher said, oblivious to the situation, as usual. “Work, and a little recreation.”

Mark tried to carefully pick his words but there was something humming at the periphery of his senses that struck an odd chord and disquieted him.

“Is it a super-secret government job?” he asked with more snark in his tone than he intended.

“No. I prefer protecting my privacy,” she said. “Especially as a woman traveling alone.”

He realized she wasn’t drinking alcohol, either. “How long have you been in town?”

“Just arrived today.”

“Staying long?”

“No.”

Mark didn’t know what the hell was going on, but now that the buzzing had started it droned in a way he couldn’t ignore. He didn’t usually have to deal with “criminals” but the fact that she wasn’t being at least a little forthcoming meant trouble. Either that, she was a spoiled woman used to getting her way and who might cause problems for them—or at the very least hurt Christopher’s feelings—or she might not be totally above-board and he damned sure didn’t want to get tied up with a swindler.

Or, worse, a drug smuggler.

Because why be cagey about her profession when she obviously had money to buy an expensive car, even if her clothes looked off-the-rack?

Maybe it was the cop in him feeling on-edge about the near-miss earlier, but at least this woman looked older than a teenager. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-three. Why?”

“We don’t date jailbait,” Christopher helpfully added without thinking first.

As usual.

She sat back. “I thought you said you’re partners?” Now Mark felt like they were on the defensive and that damned sure wasn’t a position he preferred.

“Well we are,” Chris started. “But?—”

Mark nudged him. “We sometimes enjoy the company of women,” he said, deciding to blow this up. Then he could take the blame for it. “But yes, he’s mine.” He laid a hand on Christopher’s shoulder.

Her gaze shifted from Mark to Chris and back again. “Chris and I were having a pleasant conversation,” she said, but there was none of the outrage he’d expected, which also set off alarm bells, ironically. “He used an original pick-up line on me that got us talking.”

She stood, picked up her soda, and with her free palm facing Mark waved it in a circle. “I didn’t mean to intrude on your territory. Sorry.” She looked at Christopher. “It was nice chatting with you. Have a pleasant evening.” She turned and walked inside.

Leaving Christopher sitting there stunned and confused. “Mark? Uh, what’d I miss?”

Mark clapped him on the shoulder. “We dodged trouble,” he said. “And our tab’s paid so let’s go home.” He headed for the steps, jingling the truck keys in his hand as he tried not to look at the fancy BMW when he walked past it.

He heard Christopher following him. “Wait, I’m serious. What happened? I was having fun talking to her.”

Mark turned, dropping his voice. “I’ll explain on the way home. Get in.”

JESSE

She struggled to maintain her composure as she stalked inside, her cheeks burning. She didn’t understand why Mark acted so adversarial right off the bat but it was, unfortunately, a reaction she’d experienced too many times to count in the past.

She’d committed a secret, unspoken neurotypical social gaffe, meaning it was better to cut and run before she made an ass of herself.

Which was a shame, because Chris was a cutie and Mark, with his dark blond hair and solid six-three frame wasn’t bad-looking, either.

Too bad he’s a douchebag.

She’d gone from feeling disappointed that what she’d thought was flirting from the brown-haired cutie hadn’t been, to confused because of the over-the-top jealous reaction from Mark because of her talking to Chris. And she was self-aware enough to know it’d triggered her rejection sensitivity dysphoria, meaning an end to the public part of her evening because her thoughts would likely spiral, her brain weasels trying to pick apart every word of the conversation to figure out what she’d done wrong and leaving her humiliated.

And this is exactly why I don’t people.

She left her soda on a table and headed to the restroom to wash her face and regain her composure. When she emerged, she looked around to see if the men were still there but she didn’t spot them.

Good .

She quickly wove her way through the thickening crowd and out the front door, nearly sprinting for her car.

I never should have tried this.

What she should have done was order dinner to-go from a local restaurant, pick up something from a liquor store, take advantage of the hotel’s surprisingly good wi-fi, and chat with her friends on Discord.

Then again, it’s still early enough I can do that.