Too soon, she put her coat on, hiding the view. Zach bit back a protest. Maybe, even if Teri didn’t want to fall into bed right away—which was fine, Zach would never think badly of a woman for being cautious about that—she’d want to spend some time on more PG-13-rated activities. Zach was aching to feel those lush curves under his hands.
But he’d wait as long as Teri wanted. Even if it was hard.
His inner fourteen-year-old snickered at that—it was good he was wearing a coat, too, he had to give the fourteen-year-old that—and Zach pulled himself together and led the way out to his car.
The drive out to his place wasn’t too long, and before he knew it, they were pulling into the driveway. Teri hopped out of the car right away. She wasn’t the sort of woman who wanted doors opened for her, Zach had figured that out pretty fast, and he liked it. Her drive for self-sufficiency and independence was something he admired.
And identified with. He’d had to struggle to be self-sufficient ever since he’d become an adult, and he knew how hard it could be to make it work.
He unlocked the house and stepped inside, calling, “Joel?” and motioning Teri in after him.
“Yeah?” Joel appeared at the top of the stairs, buttoning up his uniform jacket. His eyebrows went up when he saw Teri.
“Joel, this is Teri Lowell,” Zach said, as Teri closed the door behind her and smiled up at his brother.
It was a warm smile, but it seemed like it was more...friendly, less sparkling, than the smiles she’d been giving him. Was he just making that up? It was possible that he was just making that up. Wishful thinking, maybe.
“Nice to meet you,” Joel said, coming down the stairs to shake Teri’s hand. “I’m Zach’s brother Joel.”
“Hi.” Teri gave as good as she got on the handshake. “Sorry for invading your home like this. And sorry in advance for eating your ice cream, but Zach made me a promise and I’m going to call it in.”
“Nah,” Joel said, “all we have left is Rocky Road, and I can’t stand that stuff. Eat it all so he’ll buy something else.”
“I swear sometimes it’s like we’re not even related,” Zach said sadly.
“Nuts,” Joel said. “They’re the worst. What’s wrong with chocolate? Just get chocolate.”
“Here’s an idea,” Zach said. “Buy your own ice cream if you feel so strongly about it.”
“Sure, that’ll happen,” Joel said. “Eat the Rocky Road,” he stage-whispered to Teri, and she laughed her sweet, musical laugh.
“I’ll do my best,” she assured him.
“You heading out?” Zach asked Joel, finally processing the uniform.
Joel nodded. “Want to check out the east ridge, make sure everyone’s all right overnight up there.”
“Oh, people are camping up there already?” Teri asked eagerly. “I used to hike up there all the time. It’d be a cold place to spend the night this early in the year.”
Joel turned to her, nodding. “Yeah, for some reason everyone’s out in force already, and some of them have kids. I’m going to be running some patrols, camp out myself, make sure no one’s in trouble or in danger of hypothermia. Can’t be too careful.”
“Absolutely,” Teri said. “Where are you planning to camp? Just so I know the place a ranger would choose.”
And somehow, to Zach’s surprise, she ended up in a whole discussion with Joel about what the best mountain-camping spots were in the Park. Joel had the advantage of extensive camping experience and professional training, but it turned out Teri actually knew Glacier terrain better than Joel did, since she’d been coming to the place her entire life.
Zach eventually decamped to get them bowls of ice cream, and when he came back, they were still talking about campsites. “Isn’t it about time for you to get going?” Zach asked, nudging his brother.
“I like her,” Joel told Zach.
“Go to work,” Zach said.
“Going.” Joel grinned at him, said, “Very nice to meet you,” to Ter
i, and was out the door.
Teri turned to him, smiling. “I like your brother.”
“Good.” It was more than good—Joel didn’t always warm up to people very quickly, so seeing him talking easily with Teri right after they met was a great sign. “There’s ice cream in the kitchen.”