Riiiiight. I didn’t need to wonder what Jade might be doing tonight after the bar closed, most definitely not.
I returned to the booth where I’d stopped to catch a few drinks with the guys on my first responder crew. Dawson, as usual, was cracking jokes. Jade’s brother Lucas was nowhere to be found. Most likely because that man was about as head over heels in love as a man could be with his girlfriend, Valentina.
Slipping into the booth, I took a long drag on my beer, glancing over when I heard my name. “What?”
“Well, look at that. He speaks,” Dawson teased.
I rolled my eyes. “Of course. You’ve heard me speak plenty of times.”
“Well, you were Jade’s savior there. I was commenting that will further the legend,” he said.
“Huh? What legend?” I asked cautiously as I glanced around the table.
Wade waggled his eyebrows. “Ever since you rescued that girl from the climbing accident a few weeks back, she’s been spreading rumors about how hot you are and how you’re the best rescuer.” He added air quotes around the word best.
“What? I was just doing my job. All of y’all have rescued people. This is not just a me thing.”
Jackson winked and shrugged. “She’s got the hots for you. It’ll blow over. Plus, you’re still considered new around here, so you’re more exciting than the rest of us.”
“What the hell? I’ve lived here for six months,” I muttered.
Dawson chuckled. “Six months is nothing. People are nosy. Plus, you’re single.”
“That’s how I like it. I plan to keep it that way,” I replied.
“That’s only going to make you enigmatic,” Wade offered.
“A-plus for vocabulary,” Dawson chimed in with a wink.
“Fuck enigmatic. There’s no mystery about me. I mind my own business,” I countered.
I did, in fact, mind my own business. I also had zero interest in romance. I’d been there, done that, and found it a waste of time. I was all fucking set with romance.
The night meandered along. I decided to cut out early, if only because I was legitimately tired. Between some training that morning on a climbing wall and a hiking rescue that afternoon, I was ready to try to catch some shut-eye.
Stepping out into the cool spring darkness, I paused to stare at the sky for a few beats. Clouds drifted in front of the half moon, stars glittering in between them. The mountain ridge ahead was silhouetted in the darkness with a silver shaft of moonlight angling across part of it.
Lowering my gaze, I began walking toward my truck. A scuffing sound drew my attention. I didn’t see anyone in the parking lot until my eyes landed on the dumpster in the far corner.
The moment I noticed the silhouette of the bottom perched at the top of the dumpster, I knew I was staring at Jade Cole’s luscious ass.
She was kicking her legs. I didn’t know how, but she seemed stuck. My boots moved toward her. My greedy eyes took the moment to absorb the sight of her. Cut the shit, my good angel said. She’s not on display personally for you.
“Jade?” I stopped beside the dumpster, puzzling about how she got herself half stuck in the dumpster.
“Walker?” she returned, her tone slightly surprised.
“Yep, that would be me. Need some help?”
“Does it look like I need help?” she countered swiftly, her annoyance clear.
I bit back a laugh. “I’m not quite sure because I’m guessing you would jump down. But you’re not trying, so something’s up.”
Stepping closer, I peered over the edge of the dumpster to investigate. Nothing was immediately evident. “Uh, I’m not sure how I can help.”
“I got caught,” she muttered, reaching her hand toward her waist.
Tracking her motion, I noticed her belt loop had snagged on a hook sticking out inside the edge of the dumpster.
“Damn. Stop wiggling, Jade. That nail’s rusty and you’re gonna scratch yourself if you’re not careful.”
“Tell me something I don’t know, genius,” she retorted.
“How attached are you to that belt loop?” I asked as I leaned over to peer closer.
Jade turned her head to the side, somehow managing to be sexy as hell even though she was in a decidedly awkward position.
“Not at all. I already tried to tear it, but no luck.”
Sliding my hand in my pocket, I pulled out the small pocket knife I kept on me at all times for no particular reason, except for the fact that it came in handy time and again. Flipping it open, I stepped closer to her hips. “I’m gonna cut it, okay?”
“Of course, cut away. And, of course you have a pocket knife. You’re that kind of guy.”
I chuckled as I pressed my hand against her hip, just enough to lift it slightly so I could get a better view of where her belt loop was hitched on the hook. In another second, I sliced clean through it. She started to wiggle down, beginning to come down sideways.
Dropping the knife, I caught her in the nick of time as she stumbled to the ground when one of her cowboy boots struck the pavement. “Easy,” I murmured as I steadied her.
Jade straightened, lifting a hand and brushing a few locks of hair out of her eyes. She blew a puff of air to send the last errant lock off her forehead. Stepping back, she sighed. “Thank you. I guess I owe you twice now.”
“You don’t owe me. I did what anyone would do.”
Jade’s gaze was considering as
