He felt the instant she submitted. Her body softened, and her hands found their way into his hair, which sent tingles fanning out over his scalp. He moved his mouth along her jaw to the sensitive spot behind her ear and then down along her neck. She arched into him.

He kissed her again, walking her backward until her back hit the wall. She gasped, but he didn’t stop. He grasped her wrists and pinned them over her head, pressing his body against hers until they both shuddered.

With the aching need in his body, waiting another month to have her fit the definition of cruel and unusual punishment. He released her wrists so he could fondle her body, her breasts. But he’d barely got the feel of her in his hand when she pushed him away.

“Whoa, slow down.” She swallowed hard before meeting his eyes. “I want to see where this leads, but I move slowly. It’s a self-preservation thing, you see.”

He wasn’t sure if she was afraid he’d break her heart because he’d prove to be the player she feared, or because he’d end up forcing her out of her home. Either way, he understood her hesitation. Couldn’t even blame her, really. He’d be wise to follow her lead in that regard or they could both end up in a lot of pain.

“Okay, Bambi. I’m in no rush.” Liar! His raging hard-on protested. “So how about Saturday. Is it a date?”

“It’s a date as long as you promise to be honest about how your knee is feeling.” And there it was again—her concerned scowl.

Between her worry and Trip’s warnings, Grey’s good mood began to tank again. Maybe he did need to brace himself for the possibility of being permanently sidelined by this damned accident.

“I have a question for you, and I want an honest answer.” He stepped back and crossed his arms. “Will I be able to ski again by winter? And I’m not talking about slopes at the resort. I mean my kind of skiing.”

Bambi blinked at him and chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Don’t you think I would make promises if I could, not only for your sake, but so you could also settle things with Andy? No one can know if you’ll be able to put the extreme stress on your knee required for leading hardcore ski tours, let alone know when. But I remain hopeful it can happen.”

No promises. No certainty. She’d hedged with him as he’d hedged with her about the lawsuits. Turnabout was fair play, he supposed.

Hopefully their insidious optimism wouldn’t act like water, slowly undermining the foundation of their relationship.

Chapter Fifteen

By noon on Saturday, Grey and Avery had hiked to a clearing alongside a narrow trail following the river, about one hundred yards from an outcropping of twelve- to twenty-foot-high boulders. Ideal for climbing without ropes and harnesses, and for perfecting specific moves at a safe distance from the ground.

Shaman scampered around the area, barking and sniffing under the brush. Although the sky was virtually cloudless, the shaded area felt cooler than the sixty-four degrees predicted. Grey noticed Avery rub her hands over her biceps for warmth.

He dropped his pack on the ground, unzipped it, and removed a lightweight jacket. “Here.” Smiling, he draped the fleece over her shoulders. “I know it isn’t pink or lime-green or yellow, but it’ll keep you warm.”

“Thanks.” She slipped her arms into its sleeves. He grinned when she then unwittingly held them up to her nose and inhaled. She likes me. “I’m surprised you didn’t make fun of the color of my Merrells, too.”

“A lot of purple.” He handed her a fresh bottle of water.

“Grape! Your favorite flavor.” She stuck one foot out, wiggling it around.

“Careful, Bambi, or I might come over and suck on your toes,” he teased, stepping closer.

She shook her head. “I’m ticklish.”

“Good to know.” He bent over, reaching back in the pack to retrieve a blanket and several small Tupperware containers.

Avery sat cross-legged on the blanket and glanced at the boulders. “So this is where you’ll teach bouldering?”

“Seems so.” Grey quickly surveyed the area. “It’s easy to access. Should be a good training spot, and then when things progress, we could begin heading up that way,” he motioned farther down the canyon, “to access some switchbacks and reach better terrain—good walls with views.”

“Who will sub for you this summer?”

“I can handle bouldering, for God’s sake.” Grey sensed an oncoming lecture, so he cut her off. Plus, he’d hoped to avoid discussing the obstacles between them, like his recovery. “I don’t need you and Trip to babysit me and my knee. I’ve got to be involved with the clients. I can’t build relationships sitting in my office.”

“I’m just looking out for your long-term recuperation. That’s all.”

He drew a deep breath, looking at her with a sheepish grin.

“Sorry for snapping at you.” He popped the lid off a container of fresh berries and set it between them. “I hate being seen as an invalid. I’m already at a disadvantage here, with your being a PhD and my being an undereducated, dyslexic ski bum.”

Avery straightened up, tilting her head slightly. “Do you actually think I look at you that way?”

He shrugged while opening another container filled with a brown rice-cranberry-pine nut-chicken salad, then passing her the last two containers: one with olives, feta, tomatoes, and cucumbers, the other with hummus and pita chips. “I know a girl like you has a lot of options.”

“A girl like me?” Avery began to load up her plate.

“A girl like you.” He stretched himself out on his side, propping his torso up on one arm. “Pretty, smart, ambitious, confident, with a hint of smart-aleck.”

Avery glanced away, appearing embarrassed by his compliments. When she finally looked at him, a shy grin appeared.

“First of all, thank you for this excellent spread. Not at all what I’d expected given your lollipop fetish.” Avery bit into a big strawberry and held up her index finger. “Secondly, thanks for the high praise, but obviously my exes didn’t quite see me as a great catch, so consider yourself warned.”

“Their stupidity is my gain.” He stuffed an olive into his mouth. When he licked the oily dressing off his lips, he saw Avery’s gaze linger on his mouth. Easy, Grey.

“I see you as an entrepreneur, not a ski bum.” She hugged her knees to her chest. “I envy you, actually. I’ve been saving up for four years to start my own clinic, so one day I can be my own boss, too.”

Determined to keep this date light, Grey ignored the reminder of their uncertain financial futures, and teased her. “Like Donner?”

“Only better.” When she winked, Grey chuckled.

“Naturally.” Setting his empty plate aside, he nudged closer to her and brushed his fingers along her thigh. “Did you like growing up here?” He waved his arm over the surroundings.

“I did.” She glanced around at the new grass, budding trees, and river. “I love it here. In fact, my reluctance to leave is part of what came between Matt and me.”

“Huh. Again, his stupidity is my gain.” Grey didn’t really want to hear about her relationship with Matt. “So you want to stay in your hometown. Do you like living with your brother?”

As soon as the words were out, he regretted bringing up Andy and their home. Idiot!

She glanced away, obviously uncomfortable talking about Andy or their home with him. “We get along really well, actually.” She ran her hands up and down her calves. “Although, if I’m being honest, that’s probably because he’s usually happy to go along with whatever I want. He’s more quiet and sensitive than me. In that way, he’s a lot like my mom.”