Finding Paradise

by Barbara Dunlop

  “In a few minutes,” Marnie said.

  “We’re slowing down,” John said, moving in beside her and firmly removing the flipper from her hand.

  “Those are ready,” she told him, and pointed.

  “You’re telling me how to do my job now?”

  “No, no.” She didn’t want to insult him, but he only grinned at her.

  “Over here,” Mia said, motioning to a picnic table where Raven had already sat down.

  “I’ll be right there.” Marnie untied her apron and dropped it on the back of a chair.

  “Thanks for the help,” John said.

  “Call me back if you need me.”

  “It’s under control.”

  Marnie made up her own bun, got a burger from Fredo and joined Mia and Raven at the picnic table with Scarlett and Xavier.

  “You need wine,” Mia said to her, and immediately hopped up.

  “I can get my own—” Marnie started, but Mia was already on her way, so she gave up, settled in and took a bite of her juicy burger. It was delicious—a soft, dense bun, crisp tomato, perfectly grilled meat patty and slightly melted tangy cheddar cheese. She swallowed. “Yum.”

  “Aren’t these buns to die for?” Scarlett asked her as she took another bite.

  “Home-baked daily at the Bear and Bar,” Xavier said to Scarlett. “The best in the whole country.”

  Raven nodded approvingly at him. “Way to wave the town flag there, Xavier.”

  Xavier smiled slyly. “I got the memo.”

  “T-Two’s got a good patter going too,” Marnie said.

  Raven looked surprised. “You’ve been hanging out with T-Two?”

  “He was with Cobra.”

  “Cobra again?” Raven asked, looking curious.

  Marnie kept her focus on the table, fighting the urge to scan the crowd for him. She’d spotted him early on, off in the distance chopping firewood. Even from far away, he looked distractingly sexy.

  Luckily, tending the grill had kept her occupied.

  Mia had arrived with Marnie’s wine. “What’s this about Cobra?” she asked as she settled back down on the bench.

  “We were talking about T-Two,” Marnie answered. “When I first got here, he came to Cobra’s room.”

  “Because?” Mia prompted.

  “Because he needed Cobra to do the brake shoes on a half-ton at the airstrip. What I was saying is T-Two spouted a list of the five best things about living in Alaska.” Marnie took a breath followed by a drink of her wine, discovering it was very good too. “Nice,” she said holding up her glass to check out the rich color in the waning light.

  “We should have thought to put the five best things on a wallet card,” Raven said to Mia, sounding like she was serious.

  “What were they?” Mia asked Marnie.

  Marnie searched her memory. “Fresh air, long daylight, great vistas, wildlife, cute foxes.”

  “Cute foxes?” Mia asked.

  “I countered with fierce grizzly bears.”

  “Countered?” Scarlett asked, looking puzzled.

  “Grizzly bears aren’t so bad,” Mia said with a self-satisfied grin. “You just have to show them who’s boss.”

  Everyone chuckled, since they all knew the story of how Mia had fended off a grizzly and two cubs with a can of bear spray.

  She tapped the red canister strapped to her belt. “Never leave home without it.”

  “Should we all have one of those?” Marnie asked, wondering for the first time about animal safety.

  “We’re all in town or in large groups, so I think it’s okay,” Raven said.

  “But it’s not a bad idea,” Mia said.

  “I can set it up,” Xavier offered.

  Scarlett sent a surreptitious but admiring smile his way.

  Marnie realized the Finding Paradise project at least had a toehold on success with those two. It was a surprise—a happy surprise.

  Marnie’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She set down her burger to check and saw it was Bexley from her office. She worried a client might have a problem and quickly accepted the call.

  “My assistant,” she said to the others at the table as she rose to step away. “Hi, Bexley.”

  “Hi, yourself.” Bexley sounded cheerful, and Marnie’s worry level dropped. “A super-rush package came for you.”

  “You’re in the office?” It was unusual but not unheard of for Bexley to work on a Saturday.

  “Just for a couple of hours. I thought it might be important.”

  Marnie wasn’t expecting anything specific, but disclosure files might have arrived on any number of cases. She moved a few feet away to keep from disturbing everyone else. “Who’s it from?”

  “Bingalo Rodeo Drive.”

  That didn’t make any sense. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m reading the label right now.”

  “I didn’t order anything from them.” Bingalo was a highly exclusive shop.

  “It’s got your name on it. Want me to open it and see?”

  “I guess. You’ll probably have to send it back.”

  “Maybe they got the name wrong.” Bexley’s voice changed as she switched to hands-free.

  “Maybe.” But that didn’t make much sense. It wasn’t as though Marnie’s name and address were in their customer database.

  While Bexley opened the package, Marnie went to snag the last bite of her burger, popping it into her mouth before she picked up her wine.

  “Wow,” Bexley said.

  Marnie stepped back from the table again, quickly swallowing. “Wow, what?”

  “It’s gorgeous.”

  “What is it?”

  “A blouse. Do you ever have good taste.”

  “I didn’t pick it. I didn’t buy it.”

  “It’s silk, a band collar, little peek-a-boo vee with flat lace at the front, cap sleeves, and so, so soft. Pale pink, a blush or maybe a crepe. I’ll shoot you a picture.”

  The word pink broke through Marnie’s confusion. “Oh no.”

  “What?” Bexley asked. “Is it bad? What’s wrong?”

  Marnie scanned the crowd for Cobra now. “He didn’t.”

  “Who? Didn’t what?”

  “There was an accident,” Marnie told her. “My pink blouse got stained yesterday morning. But it was only yesterday . . .” She didn’t see how it was possible for Cobra to pull it off so fast, or even shop for anything beyond steel-toed boots and dungarees.

  She looked at Mia, wondering if she might have helped him. But if Mia knew what was going on, she’d be watching Marnie right now, waiting for her reaction. Plus, Cobra had been embarrassed by the kiss. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who’d share what had happened with Mia or anyone else.

  “Was it somebody’s fault?”

  “No, but he thought it was.” The picture pinged in her phone, and Marnie took a quick look. The blouse was exquisite.

  “Who’s he?” Bexley asked.

  “Not important.” Marnie’s stomach clenched at the thought of the cost. “Thanks. Really, thanks, Bexley. I hope you’re headed home now.”

  “In about five minutes. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”

  “You too. I’ll see you Tuesday.”

  “Bye.” Bexley ended the call, and Marnie pocketed her phone.

  Overwhelmed by the magnitude of the gesture, she scanned the crowd for Cobra again while she removed her used paper plate from the table.

  “Everything okay?” Mia asked, looking quizzically at Marnie’s expression.

  “Good.” Marnie gave an unconcerned smile. “Just routine stuff. I’m going to toss this.”

  “No more cooking for you,” Mia admonished with a wag of her finger.

  “Promise. I’m going to take a wander around, maybe me
et a few people.”

  “Really?” Mia looked surprised.

  Marnie spotted Cobra in the distance then. “I’ll catch up later.”

  * * *

  * * *

  Cobra had planned to be long gone by now. But he’d stayed for a couple of burgers, and then work had started on laying the wood for the bonfires.

  “Cobra?” The sound of Marnie’s voice broke through his concentration, obliterating hours of his effort to focus on other things. “Cobra?” she repeated, drawing closer behind him.

  He took a beat before turning, preparing himself for the sight of her close-up and hoping it didn’t flatline his brain the way he worried it might.

  It did. But only for a second, and then he found his voice. “Hi.”

  Her skin seemed to glow in the twilight. Loose strands of her hair shimmered pale copper around her face, lifting ever so slightly in the light breeze. Her eyes were emerald-bright, fringed with dark lashes. Her lips were full. And her supple form was outlined against a soft, clingy sweater and jeans that molded along the curves of her thighs and calves.

  “I can’t believe you did it,” she said.

  He glanced reflexively back at the bonfire setup, seeing nothing out of place. “Did what?”

  “The blouse,” she said on a note of exasperation.

  “Oh, that.”

  “Yes, that.”

  “I didn’t think it would ship so soon.”

  “That’s your excuse?”

  “I thought you’d get it when you were back in LA.”

  “I bought the first one at the Butterfly Boutique. You went to Bingalo?”

  Apprehension hit him. Had he screwed this up? “Is there something wrong with Bingalo?”

  Their website had looked great, classy, top-rated by whoever it was that rated those things—lots of gold stars and glowing words. And the woman he’d spoken with on the phone seemed to know exactly what she was doing.

  He’d admit, he hadn’t spent a whole lot of time shopping. He hadn’t had a whole lot of time to blow on it.

  “Hey, Cobra,” Brodie called loudly from across the field. He made a circular motion with his arm. “Light it up.”

  Cobra made his way to the fire.

  “It’s expensive,” Marnie said, following. “Like, really expensive.”

  He struck a match to the kindling and watched as the flames curled into the wood. “I owed you.”

  “You didn’t—”

  “I ruined your blouse, my fault.” He turned from the fire to look at her. The yellow light flickered against the side of her face.

  Every second, every nuance, every feeling of their kiss bloomed viscerally through his mind, his body, his very bones.

  As he stared, her gaze softened to moss and her lips parted.

  Before he could stop himself, his hand moved her way.

  The fire gave a loud pop, and he reflexively wrapped an arm around her waist, twisting to shelter her and pushing her away from the shower of sparks. He stopped a few feet farther from the fire, keeping his hold on her in case she was off-balance, also because he couldn’t bear to let her go.

  “This keeps up,” he tried for a joke, “it’s going to cost me a fortune.”

  “Huh?” She tipped her chin upward, looking straight up at him, looking gorgeous from this angle, sinfully sexy.

  “The sparks can burn holes in your clothes. You shouldn’t sit around a bonfire in anything you care about.”

  A voice called out, “Nice,” as those nearby gravitated to the fire.

  Cobra reluctantly let her go and eased back.

  People began moving lawn chairs into the circle of warmth. The cooking staff arrived, erecting tables and setting up a working area to serve cookies, marshmallows and hot chocolate.

  “I can get you a chair,” Cobra offered, at war with himself over whether to let her go or keep her as close as he possibly could.

  “Hey, Marnie.” John approached them with a hearty greeting. “Does your offer still hold?”

  “Of course,” she was quick to answer.

  “Just for half an hour or so.”

  “Happy to help out.” She sounded genuinely happy.

  Cobra looked back and forth between the two, gauging their expressions, wondering if there was anything between them. John was sure to be attracted to Marnie, any man would. But he was on the old side for her. Plus, Marnie had made it clear she wasn’t looking for a relationship.

  Still, Cobra couldn’t quite squelch his jealousy at their easy conversation.

  “We’ve been split into three teams,” John said. “And I was hoping to give Fredo a bit of time with his kids.”

  “No problem. Where do you need me?”

  “Hot chocolate station?”

  “I can do that.” She gave Cobra a parting glance. “Thanks for saving me from the sparks.”

  “Sure.”

  “And thanks for the blouse, even though—”

  “Stop,” he said. “It’s done.”

  She frowned. “I hope you at least asked the price before you ordered it.”

  “No need.” He paused. “I just told the woman to send you the best one she had.”

  Marnie rolled her eyes then. “Now I’m afraid to wear it.”

  “Wear it.” His tone was insistent, and he held her gaze for good measure. “Wear it.”

  She gave him a shy smile but then turned away without answering one way or the other.

  “Are you planning to sit here?” Carrying an armload of lawn chairs with his wife and three young kids, Badger was clearly looking for a spot in the rapidly filling area around the fire.

  “All yours,” Cobra said, stepping out of the way.

  He worked his way to the back of the crowd, leaving the choice spots to the families but finding a spot where he had a clear view of Marnie. She’d wrapped herself in a big white apron and was smiling and chatting as she ladled hot chocolate into mugs for the children and adults lining up for dessert.

  The kids who’d been chasing soccer balls and racing around the forest edge all afternoon would roast a marshmallow or two, eat a cookie, drink the creamy hot chocolate and eventually be bundled off to bed. The adults would then sweeten their mugs of hot chocolate with liquor, and the event would move to a different phase.

  What made it different tonight was the presence of all those LA women. Cobra might have been set against them coming, but right now they were certainly energizing the evening. Maybe Raven and Mia weren’t so misguided after all.

  Brodie appeared beside him with a beer in his hand. His voice was dire and laden with unease. “Xavier, Dean, AJ, Jackson.”

  Cobra raised his brow in a question.

  “All of them. They’re going to be moping around for the whole of next week. Why are we the only ones who can see how this game ends?”

  Cobra scanned the crowd and saw each of the men Brodie mentioned in lively or intense conversations with one of the LA women. “They’re big boys. They’ll shake it off.”

  Brodie eyed him with skepticism. “Aren’t you the optimist today.”

  Cobra let his gaze rest on Marnie again. “No reason it can’t be fleeting.”

  He was talking to himself more than to Brodie. She might have been an unexpected breath of fresh air in his world, but he could keep his head on straight. He had no intention of moping around next week after she was gone.

  “It won’t be fleeting,” Brodie said.

  “Voice of experience?” Cobra was certain now of Brodie’s attraction to Raven, and he kept his tone casual. “You know you can talk about it.”

  “I am talking about it.”

  “I mean about Raven.”

  Brodie’s tone darkened. “There’s nothing going on between me and Raven.”

  “I know.”


  “So, why bring it up?”

  “Because I know what it’s like to want someone you can’t have.” The experience was in Cobra’s past, and just a little bit in his present too.

  Brodie opened his mouth, looking like he was warming up to a serious rant.

  “Look.” Cobra checked around them to make sure nobody was close enough to overhear. Then he leaned in for good measure. “Tell me, don’t tell me. I just want you to know you can.”

  Brodie snapped his jaw shut.

  “Holding that all inside? You’re gonna blow, man. Watching these other guys go after who they want is obviously killing you.”

  “I’m not dead,” Brodie ground out.

  Cobra gave a dark chuckle. “Might be easier if you were.”

  “She’s . . .” Brodie clenched his jaw tight, obviously fighting the urge to speak up.

  Cobra waited a moment then looked at Marnie again. “I know.”

  Chapter Seven

  Marnie’s WSA room was right next door to Raven’s. So, as the picnic ended, the two women walked across the field toward the lights on Red Avenue. The dark sky above was chock-full of stars, layers of them, bright and twinkling in a three-dimensional vista that Marnie remembered from the open plains of Kansas. The wind was crisp now, and the mountains had disappeared into blackness.

  “You want to come inside?” Raven asked as they mounted the short staircase that led to their shared porch.

  “Sure.” Marnie wasn’t tired. She was still jazzed from all the activity.

  She hadn’t talked to Cobra again, only seen him from afar. But even watching him was energizing. She’d played their conversation over and over inside her head, deciding he’d showed a lot of class by replacing her blouse. She wasn’t annoyed about it anymore. In fact, she was looking forward to wearing it.

  Raven’s room was a mirror image of Marnie’s. It was more cluttered and lived-in than über-squared-away Cobra’s, but that seemed only natural.

  “I smuggled something back for us,” Raven said, reaching under her jacket and producing a stainless-steel thermos.

  Guessing it was hot chocolate, Marnie unzipped her newly purchased black jacket and shrugged it off in the close, warm air of the bedroom.