Cabin Fever

by Shani Greene-Dowdell et al.

  ~

  Wearing lighter outerwear, Collin and I approached the door of the bar.

  “Are you sure you’ll be ok on your own?”

  His hand swept over my lower back. “It’s a bar, sweetheart. I’d be surprised if the football game wasn’t airing inside.”

  I rolled my eyes. “True.” I halted in the parking lot, staring up at him. “Yeah, but it’s not swanky. You know, upscale. What you’re used to. I just want to prepare you.”

  He grinned and pulled me close. “All I need is the game, beer, food, and you.” His lips fell upon my forehead.

  My eyes slowly closed and my nerve endings pulsated. “You don’t have to keep kissing me.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Oh, that’s right, I don’t want to set off your fake boyfriend. If he approaches me, I promise we’ll have a problem. You’re mine, my little rugged princess.”

  Butterflies fluttered in my tummy, and heat swept through me. How I wished his words were sincere.

  “Come on.” I tugged his arm.

  We stepped inside. Laughter and chatter encompassed us. All but two pool tables were occupied to our left. Colorful lamps hung from the ceiling throughout. I waved to my friends sitting at a table in the center of the medium sized bar.

  “I’ll introduce you to my friends, then Peter the bartender.”

  “Ok.” Collin slipped his beanie off of his head and stuffed it into his coat pocket. I stood on my tippy toes and tousled his thick brown curls. Why was he walking sin?

  “Sorry, your hair was all over the place.”

  His cheeks reddened. Oh my god, I made him blush.

  “Thanks.”

  We checked into the lodge for the night, which was two doors over. He insisted on paying for our hotel rooms.

  We walked toward my friends. “Chrissy, I’d like to introduce you to my client Collin Daughtry. Michelle, you remember him from this morning.”

  Michelle smiled. “Hello again.”

  Chrissy’s arms crossed her chest. “Since when do you straighten your client’s hair? I’ve never seen you do that before.” Her eyes darkened.

  “I’m not a regular client. But I understand I’m in competition with her fake boyfriend. I’m always up for the challenge.”

  Michelle snickered. “You’re in the running, Collin.”

  My eyes widened. “Michelle, don’t encourage him.”

  “Thank you, Michelle. Dinner and drinks on me.”

  “We appreciate it, Collin.” Michelle winked at me.

  “How long are you here for, Collin?” Chrissy’s dark brow rose.

  She didn’t care for Collin. I knew her better than anyone. She’d probably continue to give him a hard time.

  “For two weeks, maybe longer.”

  I grabbed his arm. “To the bar, Collin.”

  “What did I say wrong?” he asked, as he sat on the bar stool.

  I had to get him away from her. She’d chew him up and spit him out.

  I sat beside him. “Nothing really. It’s just flirting, Collin. It’s nothing but fun to you. Chrissy is my best friend. She’s over protective and has my best interest at heart. You want to get to know me while you’re here, but…”

  “But what?”

  His brown eyes sparkled as he stared into mine.

  “Nothing.” My smile rose and fell.

  “I hate when you do that.”

  My finger traced over the carvings in the old wooden bar. “I know.” The smell of cedar and fresh beer swept up my nose.

  Peeking at the other end of the bar, I waved my hand in the air. “Peter.”

  He walked toward us. “Kara, I haven’t seen you in a little over a week.” His hand ran gruffly over his face.

  “Yeah, I was on a tour. My client, Collin Daughtry, wanted to hang out with us tonight.” I stretched my hands toward him.

  They shook hands.

  “Collin, call me Pete. What can I get for you?”

  “I’d like to start out with a Guinness. And can you be sure I get Kara’s bill?”

  Peter slapped the bar. “Not a problem. Are you watching the game tonight?” he asked, before he glanced at the TV, then back at us.

  Collin smiled from ear to ear. “Absolutely. The San Francisco 49ers are playing.” He winked at me.

  “Yeah, it will be a good game tonight. You didn’t miss much. The game just started.” Peter smiled.

  “Kara, the usual?”

  “Yes.”

  Collin stood and slipped my jacket down my arms. “I’ll hang our coats.”

  “Ok.” I wiggled my fingers through my dark hair. My eyes followed his ass toward the coat rack.

  “Nice ass,” I muttered under my breath.

  “Never seen you drool over your clients like you are with this one.” His gray eyes narrowed as he sat the drinks on the bar.

  I met Peter's gaze and cleared my throat. “That’s hilarious. He’s a big flirt. It’s harmless.”

  “No, I think it may be a little more than that. You know, several guys wanted a chance to date the great Kara. Including me.” He slipped his fingers through his short blond hair.

  I held his gaze a little longer. “Oh, Peter, that’s sweet of you to say.”

  “Sorry it took me so long.” Collin placed his hand on the back of my bar stool.

  Peter stepped away and helped another customer.

  A shiver shot up my spine and I felt a little uneasy. Peter peered at Collin and me while he prepared a drink for a customer. The guys in my hometown wanted a chance to date me. Collin blew into town, and they probably felt he destroyed their chances. In my eyes, he didn’t. I think I was looking for something different. That was why I was interested in driving to Anchorage. Maybe I needed a change of scenery.

  “What happened?” I tried to ignore Peter’s creepy stares.

  “A guy at the pool table closest to the door noticed me earlier today when I arrived. He asked how I was enjoying Talkeetna.”

  I looked down my nose at him. “What did you say?”

  “That the rugged princess shared beautiful highlights of this cool town today.” He sipped his Guinness.

  A huge smile took my lips. “Thank you.”

  His eyes darted to the large TV hanging on the wall over the bar.

  “I’ll let you enjoy the game. If you need me, you know where I’ll be.”

  Possessively, his hand remained firmly on the back of my chair. His big brown eyes fell on mine. “Don’t worry about me, Kara. I’ll have you all to myself later.”

  My eyes widened.

  He chuckled. “No, I just mean, I’ll have the chance to talk to you a little more. We’re walking back to the hotel together.”

  I laughed. “Oh, right.” My fingers massaged the skin between my brows. “Sorry, my mind was in the gutter.” My face twisted.

  “Go enjoy your friends.”

  “Ok.”

  He removed his hand, then pointed it at the screen. “Oh, come on, ref,” Collin growled.

  I strolled over to my friends, drink in hand. I pondered on my interaction with Peter tonight. He was an average looking guy. His heart was always in the right place. But sometimes I felt uncomfortable around him.

  “Head over heels for the city slicker, huh?”

  I sank into the dark wooden chair.

  Christy tugged at her coily locks. They sprang back into place.

  “What are we ordering for dinner?”

  “She was flustered at the store earlier.”

  Michelle’s eyes danced between us.

  “Told the guy she had a boyfriend. He didn’t seem to care.”

  She stared at me. “He wants you bad, girl.” Michelle smiled.

  Chrissy leaned over her drink. “Michelle, a couple of weeks ago I caught our friend here.” She pointed her thumb in my direction before continuing. “She was hovered over the computer, scrolling through pics of her client.”

  “You two know I get a glimpse of everyone before they arrive.”
/>
  “Girl, who you fooling? It definitely ain’t me. Kara, I watched you smirk at the screen several times before I glanced over your shoulder, and saw the cluster of pics you stashed in a folder labeled ‘research’.”

  I rolled my eyes. “What do you want me to say? So what, I find him attractive?” I sucked down the remaining contents in my glass.

  “He likes you, too. But I think his goal is to get you in his bed before he leaves. That will probably make his trip complete.”

  “Chrissy, I don’t know. I’m not saying he doesn’t want to have sex with her. But he may want more.”

  “Where is he from again?” Chrissy stared at me.

  “L.A.”

  She threw her head back in laughter. “Yeah, he won’t leave sunny So-Cal for you.”

  Her words stung, but she was right. I knew a future with Collin was bleak. We barely knew each other and got under each other’s skin already.

  “Ready for another round of drinks, ladies?” Shelly appeared. She was one of the four waitresses who worked at the bar.

  Her long dark hair laid in a single braid over her shoulder.

  “Yes, we’ll take another round and I’ll have butterfly shrimp and a house salad.”

  Chrissy and Michelle rambled off their orders.

  “I’ll return shortly with your meals.” Shelly darted into the kitchen.

  CHAPTER THREE

  KARA

  This bar was our little piece of heaven. My friends and I have frequented this place since we were eighteen. We weren’t old enough to drink, but we could play pool and darts. The rancid smell of cigarette smoke encased our hair and clothes by the end of the night. Still the best place in town to listen to music and talk trash. I peeked across the room. Dressed in a camel-colored sweater, jeans, and expensive rugged boots, Collin fit in. Well, in an upscale sort of way.

  Why didn’t men fare well with rejection? The only reason he gave a shit about me was because I bruised his ego. He probably never experienced a woman tell him she wasn’t interested.

  A wet, sloppy kiss landed upon my cheek. “How’s it going Chrissy, Michelle, Kara?” Eric straddled the chair, resting his arms on the top.

  “Hey, I didn’t hear you sit down.”

  He flashed a crooked grin. “I know. You were deep in your thoughts. You’ve been that way a lot lately.”

  Chrissy stared at us, tapping her red fingernails on her milk chocolate face.

  The three of us had been best friends since we were kids. Chrissy was a Veterinarian, and Michelle worked two jobs to help her parents make ends meet. She didn’t attend college. Nor did I. My father owned his own, so I never had to want for anything. Chrissy was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her parents owned a few of the shops in town and the veterinarian hospital she worked at. We had something in common other than being black women. We were both adopted.

  In my eyes, Eric was a friend. One day he kissed me on the lips. Said he’d had a crush on me forever. I felt awful. His dark hair, green eyes, and tall frame sent all the girls in high school, drooling over him. Michelle said I was crazy not to marry him. The physical attraction wasn’t there. I’d loved him like a friend. It wouldn’t be fair to string him along as my pretend boyfriend. Nope, I’d have to face Collin straight on. Tell him we could get to know each other, but nothing further. My future husband was still out there, waiting for me. A slight smile struck my lips.

  “There’s that smile I love.” Eric wrapped his big strong arm over my shoulder.

  “How was your day?”

  I felt eyes on me. Shit. Hopefully, Collin wouldn’t walk over here.

  “Today went well. I mean my client and I hit a few bumps in the road today.”

  Michelle swiped a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. Chrissy cleared her throat.

  “Guys, what?”

  “You tell Eric or I will.” Chrissy’s perfect brow arched.

  “Eric, isn’t my boyfriend. He’s my friend,” I growled.

  “Whoa, what’s going on?” he squeezed my shoulder.

  “The guy yelling at the TV sitting at the bar straight ahead is my client.”

  “He likes her,” Michelle offered.

  “He doesn’t like her. He wants to fuck her.” Chrissy sipped her drink.

  “What do you think, Kara?” Sadness loomed in Eric’s eyes.

  “Listen, I’m single. And I may like him a little.”

  Shelly returned, placing our food and drinks on the table.

  “Eric, I brought you a beer. I knew you’d ask,” she gleamed.

  Yup, Shelly had it bad for Eric.

  “Thanks, Shelly.” His smile didn’t quite meet his eyes.

  I wondered if he was irritated by the presence of our new tourist or that I was attracted to him.

  “Let me know if you guys need anything else.”

  “Will do, Shelly,” Michelle grinned.

  Eric removed his arm from my shoulder and chugged his beer.

  “So that’s it, we’re moving on. Dating other people?”

  His green-eyed gaze held mine and his jaw ticked.

  “We’ve discussed not developing a relationship many times. I love you as my friend. Don’t end our friendship, Eric.” I gripped his bicep.

  “Don’t look at me with those doe eyes. I love you as more than a friend, Kara.” He stood.

  “You guys have fun. I’m going to shoot pool with Carson.”

  I didn’t know what to say as I watched him stalk across the bar.

  “I’ll need a few of these tonight.”

  Chrissy gripped my hand. “I know I give you a hard time. Sorry, I just want what’s best for you.”

  “I know.”

  “I’ll lighten the mood. How about a crazy animal story?”

  I laughed. “Yeah, I’d love one.” Dipping the shrimp into the cocktail sauce, I held onto Christy’s every word.

  “Why does Ms. Markel not understand you don’t make house calls?”

  Chrissy shrugged. “Ms. Markel opened the three kennel doors, and each of the cats ran around the office. It took thirty minutes to round them up.”

  Michelle and I threw our heads back in laughter.

  “She did that on purpose.” I stared between Michelle and Chrissy.

  “I agree. She’s bitter you won’t make house calls.” Michelle chucked a fry into her mouth.

  Chrissy shook her head. “Next time I will carry the kennels to the exam room. If she keeps pulling little stunts, she can have her pets treated in Anchorage.”

  I nodded. “That’s a good idea. Was it a routine visit?”

  “No, her cats fought with a moose.”

  I shook my head twice, and my eyes widened. “What?”

  “Yeah, the cats had a scuffle with a moose that was in her backyard. The cats won. Only one of them had a scratch on her neck.”

  “I think it was better to treat them at the vet hospital.”

  Michelle sipped her drink. “Me too.”

  Collin peeked at me and shot a few handsome grins my way through the night. There was no shortage of drinks. My friends and I line danced for half an hour. We had the best time. Normally I had a three drink maximum. I was on number five.

  My hands were plastered on my hips as I swung to the left, then to the right. Big, strong hands clenched my waist, pulling me against a tall, muscled frame.

  I peeked up at him. “What are you doing? I was dancing.” I slurred.

  After nine at night, the DJ played music and flipped on the strobe lights.

  “Dog sledding tomorrow, remember?”

  My hand flew over my mouth. “Yes. I need to tell my friends goodbye.”

  His possessive arm was glued to my waist as we walked toward my friends.

  “Chrissy and Michelle, I’m leaving,” I shouted over the music.

  Chrissy glared at Collin. “You better not take advantage of my friend.”

  “I won’t. Her room is next to mine. We have a big day tomorrow. I just want her to
rest.”

  “You may have to start your day late. Kara will need half a day to recover.”

  “I’ll make sure she’s all right. I’ll have her call you both tomorrow so you know she’s fine.”

  Michelle pointed her finger, accompanied by a scowl. “You better Mister. We’ll rip through the Riley tourist files to find your info and we’ll come for you.”

  He held four fingers in the air. “Scouts honor I’ll take care of her. She’s lucky to have good friends like you two.”

  Their eyes narrowed at him.

  “Good night, girls. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I tugged Collin toward the door.

  I couldn’t tell if he drank too much. He was quiet. His eyes were serious. Not playful like they’d been most of the day. He slipped his jacket on, then helped me into mine. Collin zipped my jacket up to my neck, then intertwined our fingers as we walked out of the door.

  I ripped my hand from his. “I’ve been drunk before. I can manage.”

  “Kara, I’m sure you can. I’ll hold your hand until we reach the front door. I don’t want you to slip and fall.”

  I chuckled. “That’s happened before, you know. It was so funny. I slipped and fell, tried to get up, and slipped again. It was better I crawled off the sidewalk and onto the packed snow.”

  Collin bent over laughing. “One time I was so drunk my best friend Bryce placed peanut butter on my hand. He poked a pen against the tip of my nose and I swatted my nose, smearing peanut butter all over my face.”

  I covered my face with my free hand. “Oh my god, that’s hilarious.”

  “Yeah, I was too hung over to beat his ass in that moment.”

  Collin never let my hand go until we were in front of my hotel door.

  “I hope you had a good time.”

  “Talkeetna is an interesting town. I underestimated how fun it could be on a Wednesday night.”

  I smiled.

  “Open the door. I’ll wait until you are safely tucked in bed, then I’ll go to my room through the adjoining door.”

  My hand swept over his chest. “Did you arrange for us to have adjoining rooms?”

  “Yes, just in case you needed me. Like tonight.”

  I chuckled. “Ok.”

  I shoved the key card in the door and flipped on the lights as we stepped inside.

  “I’ll grab a bottle of water out of the fridge.”