Falling Fast, Contemporary Romance (Last Frontier Lodge Novels Book 4)

by J. H. Croix

  Her bed was built in against the windows. Whoever originally built the home clearly wanted to capitalize on the phenomenal view. She’d worried the windows would be too cold in the winter, but they were double insulated and she’d hung quilted curtains over them. She’d come to love falling asleep with a view of the moon and stars and the sunrise to greet her when she woke. She nudged the curtain out of the way and looked out over the bay. The winter dawn was slowly coming. The sky above the mountains was barely light with wisps of lavender and pink reaching skyward. The sun had yet to make its appearance. She let the curtain fall and slowly rotated in Cam’s embrace. No matter how much she wanted to laze around in bed this morning, she knew he needed to get back to the lodge before his absence became too obvious. It wasn’t that he couldn’t have a life outside of the lodge, but rather that Ginger preferred not to broadcast his night with her just yet.

  The steady rhythm of Cam’s breath was interrupted when she rolled over to face him. His palm slid from where it had been resting on her hip to her low belly. He shifted his legs and straightened them. She felt the shivering stretch of his body in her core. His eyes opened in the dim light of her bedroom. In the soft quiet, they lay still. After several moments, he cleared his throat. “S’pose I should get up and get going.”

  She lifted her hand and traced it along his collarbone. “You should. What time do you need to get back to the lodge?”

  “I’m usually up and at it before sunrise. Of course, sunrise around here is pretty late in the winter,” he said with a gruff chuckle.

  She kept tracing her fingertip back and forth along his collarbone. A wash of emotion crested inside of her. The wish to stay right here with him was an unfamiliar feeling. She simultaneously wanted to dive into it and run from it. Internally restless, she needed something to do. “How about I make some coffee before you go?” she asked as she kicked the covers free of her legs and sat up.

  Cam pushed himself up on his elbows causing the sheet to fall to his waist. Her mouth went dry. Dear God, the man was just too damn sexy for his own good. His chest and abs were practically carved from stone. She swallowed and tried to slow her pulse, which had taken off at a gallop the moment he sat up.

  “Coffee would be great.”

  “Got it,” she said quickly as she scrambled past him on the bed.

  The hardwood floor was cool under her feet. She scurried to the bathroom just off her bedroom, threw on her warm, fleece robe and stuffed her feet in slippers. She paused when she stepped back into the bedroom and flicked on a small lamp on a table beside the bathroom door. Her bedroom contained the built in bed by the windows, which was piled high with pillows and a fluffy down quilt. Aside from the bed, there were nightstands on either side of the bed, a dresser on the wall across from the bathroom and a large, comfy chair by the closet, which she tended to use as an improvised laundry basket. At the moment, clothes were draped all over it.

  A multi-colored circular rug was on the floor at the foot of the bed. Cam had leaned over to peer through the curtains. “Wow, you can’t beat this view for watching the sunrise.”

  She looked through the small gap between the curtains to see the sun cresting the mountains, its white-gold rays breaking through the colors. “I know. I love waking up here.” When he glanced to her, she gestured to the bathroom. “Feel free to use the shower. I’ll go get some coffee started.”

  The temptation to crawl back in bed was so strong, she had to force her feet to move. Once she got through her bedroom door, she hurried down the spiral staircase. She turned up the thermostat and greeted George who leapt down from his favored morning windowsill and followed her into the kitchen. She started a pot of coffee and then fed George.

  A while later, she looked through the living room windows and watched Cam drive away. Her heart squeezed in her chest. This morning was too easy, hence her mind was running in circles. He’d had a cup of coffee and waved off her offer to make breakfast, saying he needed to get back up to the lodge. The sound of his engine faded, and she turned to look out the back windows. The sun hadn’t quite fully crested the mountains, but the sky was brightening and shimmers of light rippled on the surface of the water.

  Her mind was a jumble of confusion. She’d so thoroughly convinced herself a relationship wasn’t in the cards for her, she didn’t quite know what to do with how she felt. Two nights with Cam and her hopeful heart was clamoring for her to pay attention. With a sigh, she ran upstairs and jumped in the shower.

  Chapter 12

  Cam leaned against the bar and grinned at the sight of Don gingerly cradling Marley and Gage’s daughter, Holly. Babies were cute all by themselves, but put a baby in the arms of a man like Don—rough around the edges with a warm heart—and together they were beyond adorable. It was the quietest time of day at the lodge. Late afternoon was when the lunch rush was over and most of the guests were up on the mountain. The restaurant was close to empty. Gage and Marley had emerged from their private quarters in the lodge with Holly. Cam had returned from a busy morning working with Don to post all the trail signs Marley had ordered.

  Delia had sent him down to Midnight Sun Arts early this morning to pick up the signs. Risa Thomas, the gallery manager, had met him at the door. Once upon a time, Cam might have been drawn to her with her dark hair and flashing brown eyes, but Ginger was all he could think about these days. He’d been relieved at his lack of attraction to Risa when her husband, the local chief of police, had arrived while they were loading the artistically rendered trail signs in the back of Cam’s truck. Cam had enjoyed chatting with Darren and Risa for a few minutes before he raced back up to the lodge. The more time he spent in Diamond Creek, the more he liked it. Anytime he met someone new, they spent time asking about what brought him to the area and were warm and welcoming. He had enough sense to know, in a town this size, he was being assessed as well, but he didn’t mind. Whether he’d expected it or not, Diamond Creek was starting to feel like a place he could call home.

  He glanced around the room. Gage was seated on one of the bar stools, looking more tired than usual likely due to the monumental life change of having a newborn baby to help care for. Marley was beside Don, helping him adjust Holly’s head in the crook of his elbow. Delia was busy wiping down tables while she reviewed the menu with Harry who walked alongside her jotting down notes in a small notepad he kept in his pocket at all times. Cam was coming to love the easy camaraderie here. Ivy’s prodding about settling down somewhere rose in the back of his mind. He wasn’t quite ready to think about that yet.

  The phone behind the bar jangled. At the moment, no one was staffing the bar because there was no need. Harry strode away from Delia and snagged the phone as it rang a second time. After a pause, Harry quickly recited the hours for the restaurant and took a name for reservations before hanging up. He glanced to Gage who was seated at the far end of the bar, talking with Marley and Don. Harry took a few steps until he was across from Cam at the bar. “So, what’s the word on the backcountry course? Is it a go for tomorrow?” he asked, his voice low.

  Cam nodded. “All set. Don gave it the green light. You and Delia can have the front desk start letting guests know.”

  Harry grinned. “Good work. It’s nearly impossible to surprise Gage, so this’ll be fun. Pretty sure he didn’t think the course would be ready for another few weeks.”

  Cam chuckled. “I’ve noticed he’s hard to surprise. He’s a planner.”

  Harry stepped away. “That he is, but Delia said Marley didn’t tell him about ordering the signs, so he still thinks he has to take care of that.” Harry grinned as he headed for the kitchen.

  A while later, Cam returned to his room and peeled off his clothes for a shower. Ginger had been dancing at the edges of his thoughts all day. It had taken all of his discipline to get up and leave her bed this morning. The only thing that drove him was his strong work ethic. He’d never in his life blown off work.

  Whatever was happening with G
inger was unsettling. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, which was a first for him. While he hadn’t had time for serious relationships with his busy travel schedule, he’d dated here and there. No woman had ever gotten to him the way she did. He couldn’t resist her, yet he worried things were moving too far, too fast.

  He considered Don’s comment about her divorce. He couldn’t help but wonder about what happened. He’d meant it when he told Don he wouldn’t make any false promises. The problem was he didn’t know what he wanted, or what she wanted. Meanwhile, the attraction between them was a raging fire that couldn’t be contained.

  After he dried off and changed into a comfortable pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, he decided he’d swing through the kitchen and bring a tray up to his room. He wasn’t sure he was up for company tonight and definitely wasn’t sure he was up for running into Ginger. To be more accurate, he desperately wanted to encounter her, but he had no idea how to contain his feelings to the point it rattled him.

  After a quiet dinner with the news rumbling in the background, he snagged his phone off the coffee table by the couch and called Ivy. She picked up right away.

  “I was just about to call you,” Ivy announced by way of greeting. “I swear I think we have a telepathic connection.”

  Cam grinned. “Maybe so. How’s it going?”

  “Let’s see, I studied, graded papers for a class I’m teaching and wrote another research paper today. That’s basically my life everyday. How’s life on the last frontier?”

  Cam thought for a minute and realized the answer was…good. In the early months after Eric died, he’d worried he’d spend the rest of his life half-lying about how he was doing. His grief was still like a giant bruise on his heart, but its pain was easing bit by bit. Life wasn’t perfect, but he could actually say things were pretty okay.

  “Life on the last frontier is good.”

  “Really?” The hope in Ivy’s voice squeezed his heart.

  “Yes, Ivy. Things are good.”

  Ivy was quiet for a beat and then her next question flew out. “What’s happening with that woman you mentioned?”

  He didn’t even bother to hold back his groan. “Really, Ivy? All I said was I thought she might be interesting. It’s not like we’re about to get married. I’m only committed for this ski season right now.” Ivy’s question bumped up against his own uncertainty. He hadn’t thought beyond this winter and certainly hadn’t considered anything even in the neighborhood of a relationship. He didn’t need his wishful sister to pin her hopes on something he didn’t even know if he wanted, much less if he was ready for.

  “I know you’re only there for this season right now, but that could change. You could use a place to call home. You’re like a rolling stone.”

  He swallowed his sigh and leaned his head back on the couch. “I know you’re worried. How about you let me enjoy the winter? I’m not so sure it’s a great plan to be looking to put roots down this far away from Mom and Dad.” While their parents were still keeping busy and showed no signs of slowing down, ever since Eric died, Cam worried about them and worried he needed to find a way to be closer.

  Ivy didn’t bother to hold back her elaborate sigh. “Mom and Dad will be fine no matter where you are. The flight isn’t too long anyway. They’ve always said they don’t plan to retire in Utah anyway. It’d be silly for you to plan your life around where they are now when that’s probably not where they’re going to be in the next five years or so.”

  “You’ve got a point, but ease up on the pressure, okay? I’m enjoying the work here, and Diamond Creek is beautiful. Did you get a chance to see when you might be able to come up for a visit?”

  Ivy wisely let the topic drop about him settling down somewhere. “Oh right. I checked the semester calendar, and I have a few days free during the March break. I’m not sure if that will be the same time Mom and Dad get up there, but I’m coming either way.”

  “Perfect. Tell me when, and I’ll book your flight.”

  “When are you going to stop trying to pay for everything for me?” she demanded.

  “When you’re not working and trying to finish your graduate degree at the same time. I fully expect you to support me in retirement as payback.”

  He could practically see her rolling her eyes. Ivy worked her tail off to keep her student loans as minimal as possible. Their parents did fine, but they weren’t swimming in cash to cover all of Ivy’s academic expenses. She was brilliant, so she got scholarships both at the undergraduate and graduate level, but those only covered tuition. He and Eric made pretty good money over the years they raced. They also had few expenses beyond travel, so he had plenty saved up.

  Ivy finally laughed. “Fine. You can buy these tickets, but if you stay there, I’m buying the next trip.”

  “Deal. Now it’s your turn. You’ve been on me about dating, so what’s the scoop for you?”

  “There is no scoop. I read, research, write and teach. There is no time in my schedule anywhere to meet anyone, much less to go on a date.”

  “You know, for someone who goes on and on about how important it is for me to find someone special, you’ve got all kinds of excuses for yourself.”

  “I know, but they’re legitimate. I’m not avoiding, I’m seriously too busy.”

  “Fine. But when you’re done with school, we’ll be revisiting this topic unless you back off of me.”

  He hung up to the sound of Ivy’s laugh.

  ***

  Ginger ducked her head down as she walked quickly across the parking lot. Today was clear and bright with a bracing wind whipping off the bay. She was meeting Delia for lunch and coffee at Misty Mountain Café for the coffee date she’d promised her. She had two favorite coffee places, Misty Mountain and Red Truck Coffee, but only Misty Mountain was open in the winter. She appreciated that detail because it allowed her to be loyal to Misty Mountain in the winter and Red Truck Coffee in the summer. Another gust of wind blasted across the parking lot, and she broke into a jog. When she reached the door, a couple conveniently walked out and she slipped right past them into the toasty warm café.

  She pushed her hood back and glanced around. When she didn’t see Delia, she took a few steps to stand at the back of the line. Misty Mountain was rarely anything other than busy. The café was inside a renovated Quonset hut, one of many scattered throughout Alaska and leftover from the days of World War II when Alaska had been used as strategic base. The owners had turned the utilitarian half-circle of corrugated steel into a lovely space. Decorative timber beams crisscrossed the high ceiling with colorful curtains and tablecloths adding warmth to the space. Artwork adorned the walls.

  Ginger pulled her mittens off and tucked them in her coat pocket. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find Delia right behind her. Delia grinned. “Hey! Sorry I’m a few minutes late.”

  Ginger glanced at the clock above the door. “I didn’t even notice,” she replied with a shrug. “You’re the punctual one. I’m the one who’s usually skidding in somewhere late.”

  Delia laughed and nudged her on the shoulder. Ginger turned to see the cluster of customers in front of her had cleared out, and it was her turn to order. She perused the chalkboard menu quickly. “I’ll have the house coffee and a bagel with salmon cream cheese.” She turned to Delia. “I’m buying, so go ahead and order.”

  Delia started to shake her head, so Ginger turned to the young woman at the register. “Just make that two of everything.”

  “Sometimes I forget how stubborn you can be,” Delia grumbled though she graciously gave in to Ginger’s insistence on paying.

  They stepped away from the counter to wait for their coffees. “You cook all day every day, so I figure you shouldn’t be buying food somewhere else. It’s a small treat, so shut up about it,” Ginger said. She scanned the room and noticed a couple getting up from one of the tables by the windows. “You mind grabbing that table?” she asked, gesturing toward it. “I’ll wait for our coffee and b
agels.”

  “Got it,” Delia said over her shoulder as she headed to the table. Delia being Delia, she immediately tidied the table and wiped it down with a napkin. Ginger laughed to herself when she saw one of the waitresses run over and thank Delia when they grabbed the neat stack of dishes to cart away.

  A few moments later, Ginger set their coffee and bagels on the table and slipped into the chair across from Delia. She immediately took a welcome sip of coffee and sighed. “So good. I forgot to pick up coffee beans at the grocery store over the weekend and ran out yesterday. I had to get through the entire morning at school on the shitty coffee from the break room.”

  “If there’s one huge advantage to my job, it’s that there’s always amazing coffee on hand. I ordered a new espresso machine, and it’s insane,” Delia said, her eyes widening for emphasis as she took a bite of her bagel.

  “You’ll have to make me an espresso next time I’m up there, so I can test drive it for you.”

  Delia chuckled. They ate quietly for a few minutes. Ginger considered that she’d been more absentminded than usual the past few days, most likely because Cam was crowding her thoughts. After another few sips of coffee, her brain sharpened enough she felt like she could focus again. Delia set her cup of coffee down and leaned her elbows on the table. “So, I noticed Cam stayed somewhere else the other night,” she said without preamble.

  Ginger felt heat rush into her face. She bit her lip to keep from laughing. The whole thing was so ridiculous. She was deep into Cam, but so skittish about it, she wanted to hide it. “Did you now?” she countered.