If We Dare

2. Walker

Chapter Two

Walker

Jade Cole practically ran past me, and my eyes were like a magnet on her, tracking every step. Her glossy dark hair fell like a river down her back, the long tresses catching the light and swinging as she moved. I couldn’t help but think how it would feel to spin that glorious hair around my fist.

Only Jade—barely up to my chin and maybe a third of the size of the drunk guy she’d taken on—would think it made sense to try to kick him out like that on her own. But then, Jade didn’t strike me as the kind of girl to ever back down.

As I turned to walk away, it didn’t slip my notice that the side of my body where I’d pulled her close felt like it was on fire. Jade was a petite bundle of curves with enough sass and spirit to tempt me beyond all reason.

With a mental shake, I walked away, telling myself to remember all the reasons why I’d avoided spending much time alone with Jade. I had once spent roughly fifteen minutes in the car alone with her when I gave her a ride home. That short span of time had made me question whether I’d previously understood what the concept of chemistry meant. Chemistry between two people, that is. I didn’t quite know how it was possible, but the space in my car during that time felt as if lightning had struck, every particle in the air vibrating from its lingering power.

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.

“f**k 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 f*****g 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 a*s.

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 s**t, 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 she stared at me in the parking lot with moonlight gilding her hair in silver. “Actually, that’s not true. That asshole got going in the bar and you were the only person who even noticed. Plus, not everyone carries a pocket knife everywhere,” she said, her tone dry.

I felt my lips kick up on one side. “I suppose not. Maybe it’s none of my business, but what the hell were you doing climbing into the dumpster anyway?”

“When I threw the trash bag in, one of my bracelets flew off my wrist,” she explained, gesturing to her now bare wrist.

I couldn’t say I’d considered it much, but I was aware she usually wore a wide silver bracelet on her wrist. I shouldn’t have known that detail, but then every detail about Jade appeared to be burned into my brain without any effort on my part.

“Well, then we should find it. Tell me what it looks like.” Without thinking further, I curled a hand on the side of the dumpster and jumped in.

Jade’s usual guarded expression, for once, subsided. Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. “Tell me what it looks like,” I repeated.

She snapped her mouth shut, a wondering laugh escaping. There I stood, in the f*****g dumpster, mind you, and the sound of her throaty laugh elicited a low pull in my gut. Much as I preferred not to want Jade, I did. As much as I needed air to breathe, my body wanted Jade. Which was why I generally avoided her.

“It’s silver,” she finally said. “About this wide.” She held up two fingers to demonstrate.

Glancing down to where my boots were planted amongst garbage bags, I scanned for a glimpse of silver. When the moon and the dim light in the far corner of the parking lot didn’t do me any favors, I slipped my phone out of my pocket and tapped the flashlight button. Once the bright light came on, I moved it in a pattern over the trash bags, my eyes stopping when the light reflected off something.

I walked a few steps over and reached down into the not-so-pleasant smelling trash. “Got it,” I called, holding the bracelet aloft.

When I straightened, Jade, who didn’t smile very often, graced me with a beauty. Her lips curled at the corners as her smile unfurled and her eyes tilted. “Wow! You found it.”

Stepping back to the edge of the dumpster, I handed it to her before resting one hand on the edge and hopping over to land on the pavement beside her. Jade spun the bracelet in a circle in her hands, still smiling. This time when her gaze met mine, it was almost shy. “That was really sweet, Walker.”

Oh hell. “Sweet” was not an adjective I was usually labeled with. I felt an unbidden smile tugging up the corners of my mouth.

“Well, now I owe you three times. Don’t argue the point,” she said quickly when I opened my mouth to do exactly that.

I did the craziest thing next. “Actually, if you insist, I do have a favor I could use some help with.”

“Anything.”

“I have to go to a wedding, and I could use a date.” I couldn’t believe I actually said that, but the words were out, so there was no going back.

For the second time in my experience, Jade’s mouth fell open. After an electrifying moment of silence, she asked, “A date?”

Maybe I hadn’t thought too much about this, or not at all, but I wasn’t one to back down. “Yep. A date.”

She rested a hand on her hip. “Is this a joke?”

I shook my head slowly, a plan materializing in my brain. “Definitely not. Next weekend. A good friend of mine is getting married, and I’d rather not go solo.” Just as I began to think that I didn’t want to have to explain why to Jade, her question sliced through the pause.

“And why not? You’re not exactly the kind of man who can’t handle a wedding on his own.”

I decided right then and there that I was going to dive into this insanity. I had an itch to scratch, a quite specific itch. She could be my date for the weekend, and we could burn this fire between us to ashes.

If I had to explain why, then so be it. “Look, it’s one of my best buds. I was going to go without a date and say f**k it all, but my ex is going to be there.”

“You have an ex?” Jade interjected, arching a brow so high, I was surprised it didn’t fly off her forehead.

“Yes. I have an ex. We broke up because she screwed around on me with my best friend’s brother. I’m not sure what’s up, but she’s been texting and calling lately. I get the idea she wants another chance. I’d rather her not get any ideas,” I said flatly. I didn’t feel much of anything about it and was more than glad to close the door on that whole mess. It was just I preferred not to have any pitying gazes cast my way during the wedding, and I definitely preferred my ex to consider me off-limits. It would be easier to convey that message if she thought I was dating someone.

Several things flashed through Jade’s eyes, ending with them narrowing in anger. “Oh, that’s not cool. I’m guessing the brother will be at the wedding.”

I nodded. “Yeah. It’s his family. I’m well over my ex, before you worry that’s what this is about. But, I’d prefer for her to leave me alone.”

“I’m your girl,” Jade said, nodding vigorously.

“Okay then. Sounds like we have a plan. Can you handle a long weekend out of town—three days?”

“I’ll make sure I can. I’ll be the best date you ever had, and I’ll make her feel like the cheating b***h she is.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Tell me where to pick you up. It’s next weekend.”

“Here, let me give you my number. Just text me the details. I’ll rearrange my schedule and you’ll have me.” When she said it that way, every cell in my body thought having her would be perfect. “By the way,” Jade continued, her voice cutting through my train of thought. “I would’ve done this even if you hadn’t saved my a*s from that fool and then gotten me out of the dumpster and found my bracelet. It’s just the principle, you know?”

“Oh, I do.”

After I entered Jade’s number in my phone, I watched as she strolled back into the bar. Her cowboy boots struck on the gravel with each step and her hair swung at her waist. Electricity sizzled up my spine. Three days with Jade was going to be interesting.