“You think that’s the only reason I bartend?”

She shifted uncomfortably on the stool. “There’s nothing wrong with bartending. I just think there are other careers you’d be suited for.” He’d always been an honors student in school and she remembered hearing him talk about university after graduation. This career choice of his had surprised her, but it had started to make sense after realizing that he wasn’t only a member of the search and rescue crew but one of the team leaders. She knew—after Googling it that afternoon—that the position required a huge time commitment and the ability to drop just about anything when a call came in.

“Better careers you mean?”

Geez, why was he taking this so wrong? She was trying to say that he was smart enough to have a... Shit. She sighed. “Okay, fine, that was a shitty thing to say.”

His shoulders visibly relaxed. “Now we’re even for my equally shitty comment about the ski suit.”

Had they somehow just declared a sort of truce?

“And you’re not entirely wrong,” he said slowly.

Finally, a brief respite from the tension they seemed to keep creating whenever they were alone.

“I do like the flexibility this job provides, and Tank understands where my priorities lie. But it’s more than that. I love the people here in Wild River. The business owners in the community are a team. We take care of the tourists and treat the locals like family. It’s nice. And I make enough to survive and really who needs more than that?”

She did. Or at least she’d been raised to think she did. Cassie’s life was simple, exciting and carefree...and despite her friend’s example of success, Erika didn’t think she could live this way. Surviving paycheck to paycheck and hoping for a good season would stress her out. Erika liked security and that came with a big salary and health benefits.

“I take it you disagree?” he asked in her silence.

“No. I’m just not sure I would feel comfortable...”

“Without a six-figure payday?”

“Now, you’re being offensive again.”

“Don’t mean to be. To each their own, I guess.” He leaned his elbows on the bar and studied her. “But, you know, if you ever consider a career change, we are always looking for new members.”

“On the search and rescue crew?” A volunteer position? Even if she allowed herself to believe for an instant that she could be fulfilled simply by doing something altruistic, to walk away from her career and move to the mountains? She shook her head. “As you said, today’s adventure was a one-time thing.” She meant it. She was there to try her best to relax, to unwind until her two weeks were up, then she was headed back home. Where her clinical trials had been approved. The thought reminded her that she needed to check her email again when she got back to Cassie’s. By now, surely someone—most likely not her father—had notified her.

“What about that kiss?” Reed’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Was that a one-time thing, too?”