She took it, electricity flashing along her tired arm. There was no reason they couldn’t try to be friends. “What is it?”

“This way.” He drew her toward the heavily barricaded door leading to another porch. He turned her. “See?”

She sighed, pleasure already easing her aches. “You have a hot tub?”

“Yep. First thing I did when I decided to move out here was fill that sucker and make sure it works. It’s hot, it’s on, and we’re both getting in.” He released her and walked forward to push the top off the Jacuzzi. “Roscoe?”

The dog padded out, yawning widely.

Angus pointed to the darkness of the forested land beyond the porch. “Scout.”

Roscoe sighed. It really seemed he sighed. Then he bounded off the porch and ran into the trees. When he didn’t bark, Angus moved back toward her. “I’ll grab a drink and two towels and we’ll get in.”

She hesitated. “I didn’t bring a suit.”

His throaty chuckle did unmentionable things to her insides. “Baby? You don’t wear anything to hot tub in the middle of nowhere.”

Baby. He’d called her that before. The soft word sent butterflies whirling through her abdomen. There was too much risk here for both of them. The safety of just one night together had fled and her heart wasn’t up for the crushing it would take when he left. “Angus, I am not in the mood.”

“Me either. We’re going to ease our aches and then go to bed. That’s all.” He brushed the hair from her shoulder and leaned in to look closely at her pupils. “You’re not dilated and you ate a decent dinner, so I don’t think the concussion is that bad.”

She swallowed. Angus in a sweet mood was too much to handle. “You just want to check out all my bruises, then.”

His eyes glowed. “Honey, I’ve been watching you all night. I know what hurts.” He turned her toward the hot tub. “Hang your clothes on the pegs beneath the overhang so they don’t get wet. I’ll give you a minute.” Then he went back inside.

She shivered, and not from the cold. Well, the hot tub would help ease her pain, and it was big enough for both of them to sit in without touching. Plus, it was dark outside. She removed her clothes and hung them on the pegs before easing herself into the heated water.

It felt delicious. Her toes tingled and she wiggled them to get used to the heat. Warmth surrounded her, digging into her aching muscles. The door opened, and she slid to the far side, sitting in a deeper area where the water reached her neck.

Angus walked out, set his glass on the edge, and stripped off his shirt. The wide span of his muscled torso bunched and moved as he did.