Free The Fighter's Stubborn Lover (The Burton Brothers Series Book 2) by Leslie North

water.”
    She shook her head. “Mason, last night was great, but it was just last night. A one-time offer taken up. That’s all. I’m not looking for a relationship here.”
    He stared at her. Weren’t those his lines? Mouth pressed tight, he stood and pulled on his pants. When he looked up he saw Avery’s cheeks had pinked. He gave her a nod and strode closer. “It’s not my habit to bed virgins and dump them.”
    “You’re not dumping. I needed comfort, you offered, I took you up on it. End of story.”
    Mason shook his head. “No, it’s not. But I’m late for my run and there’s a very nice, very warm hot tub outside the training gym. Why don’t I walk you over and get you settled before I hit the trails?”
    “Thank you.” Avery stretched up and placing a chaste kiss on his cheek.
    Mason grabbed her arms. “That is not a kiss, but I’ll allow it for now. If I kiss you like I want to, neither one of us is going to get much else done this morning. Get dressed and I’ll walk you over to the gym.”
    “What about a suit for the hot tub? I didn’t bring one.”
    Mason grinned at her. “You look fine as you are. Just grab a robe. Or are you too much the shy virgin to go skinny dipping?”

Chapter Twelve
    There was something decadent about sitting outside in a hot tub, while a light snow fell around her. Avery soaked for an hour. The steam was great for her lungs, opening them up so she felt as if she could breathe without effort.
    Her muscles relaxed and while she was still aware of her body in ways she hadn’t been before, she felt rejuvenated. When her fingertips started to prune, she climbed out. Mason had made sure to guarantee her privacy by hanging an out of order sign on the gate that led into the fenced around the hot tub room. The redwood fencing gave her some privacy, except from the hawks soaring overhead. She wrapped herself in the large bath towel Mason had left.
    She’d brought jeans and a bulky fisherman’s sweater in a deep red with her. Pulling down her hair, she brushed it out, then pulled on socks and sneakers.
    Heading out into the gym, she stopped when the gym door opened. Dustin walked in. He stopped in front of her, a sheepish grin on his face and his head ducked. With his hair tousled and shorter than she’d ever seen it, he looked even younger than he was.
    She put a fist on her hip and parted her lips, but Dustin held up a hand. “Before you get started, Mason’s already reamed me a new one. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have bailed like that.”
    She lifted her chin. “When did you see Mason?”
    Dustin nodded to door. “Caught up with him on the run—about halfway along the trail. He told me to come in here and apologize, and then I’m supposed to head out and do the trail twice more.”
    A smiled tugged at her. “Punishment?”
    “No—me trying to make up for a missing half a day of training.”
    “Dustin, can we—?“
    “Sorry, sis.” He started to back up, hands in front of him. “I’ve got that run to do. We’ll talk later.”
    “But, Dustin…” She let the words fade into a frustrated sigh as Dustin turned and jogged out of the gym, giving her another wave and a stiff smile.
    Shoulders slumping, Avery shook her head. An apology was better than nothing, but how was she ever going to talk to him if Dustin wasn’t going to stay still?
    Heading outside, she started for the cabin where she was staying, but she heard Mason call out, “Hey, you see Dustin?”
    She threw her arms wide. “For all of two seconds!” She watched Mason walk over to her. Despite the snow on the ground, he had on light sweats and a tight top that outlined his muscles. She was all too aware how those toned arms felt under her touch, how that chest had hovered over her last night. Her mouth dried.
    Mason stopped in front of her, his eyebrows lifted high over his blue-gray eyes. “Forget what you want—you just to listen to him. And tell him how you feel without blame getting into