by Diana Downey
I let out a sigh. “No, I like these, and I don’t need your help.”
“If your feet get wet, you’ll be miserable.” He’s only trying to help.
“Shane’s right,” the salesman says. “These are better boots for hiking and the outdoors.”
I hate it that he’s right. I eye the pink and purple boots one last time and with an even heavier sigh let them go.
“I don’t like those,” I say.
“Quit arguing with me, Princess.”
I don’t want to be cold and wet. “Whatever,” I growl out, slumping into the chair.
The salesman helps me with the boots Shane suggested. My goodness, he’s right. They’re really comfy. “What else do I need?” I really don’t want to freeze, and he grew up in this icebox.
“Where’s your husband?” Shane asks.
“Looking for fishing poles.”
Shane picks out foul weather gear for me. When I reach for a pretty teal color jacket, he throws me a purple and black North Face. He picks out a couple Patagonia pullovers and a sturdy light-framed backpack.
“We’re supposed to be in a cabin the whole time,” I say. “This is overkill.”
“It’s not.” Shane leans down to whisper in my ear. “You don’t seem to have that sex afterglow.”
My cheeks catch fire. “It’s not your concern, Shane.”
He yawns as if bored. “You’re right. Your unhappiness in bed is not my concern.”
How could he possibly know? I refrain from digging for my compact to check my coloring.
He doesn’t know. He’s just messing with me, like I do to him. “What else do I need?” I walk around the store, stuffing my shopping cart with power breakfast bars and food packs. I pick up a bottle of bear strength pepper spray. “Does this work?”
Shane shrugs. “I’ve heard it does.”
I take two of them. I’ve loaded up with warm gloves and wool and cotton socks, long silk underwear, wool sweaters. I don’t know where Blake has disappeared to, so I head to the counter with my purchases.
Shane hovers over me. He’s powerful, and I hate the fact he gets under my skin, like poison oak, irritating, yet he’s mind-blowingly sensual, but he’s flat broke. No, he’s in the hole with the amount of taxes probably due.
And I’m married to the sexiest, most charming man on the planet. Shane is rude and has the manners of a carnie in the circus, though he helped me out today.
“Thank you,” I mutter.
“You’re welcome, Princess.”
It’s frustrating that his sloppy grin sends alert signals to my girl parts. “I hate you.”
He gives me one of those highly annoying grins that works under my skin like nails on a chalkboard. “I can live with that.”
The cashier takes my credit card to swipe it. He passes it through the card reader again. “Your card’s been rejected.”
“Try again.” The magnetic strip must be going or does it use the chip?
“It’s not working,” the man at the register says.
What is wrong? “It has to. Dad pays it off every month.”
Shane quirks one corner of his mouth. “Why would that happen? Do you have another card?”
“Yes.” I hand it to the cashier, and he slides it through.
“It’s not working either,” he says.
“How can that be?” Maybe someone hacked my account, like they did Shane’s. I should call the bank.
Shane rests his hand on my shoulder, and I hate that it affects me and that he’s giving me that unsettling look of concern. “Cyn, I have frequent flyer miles you can have to go home.” His hand presses heavily. “This doesn’t feel right. Just take them.”
“I’ll be fine.” I won’t be without all this gear though.
What could possibly have happened?
“After what happened to your mom, I’d feel better if I knew you were back home, instead of here,” he says. “This isn’t a good time of year for you to be up at the cabins.”
“How do you know?” I don’t want to cry, but a few tears pool in my eyes.
Shane gathers me in his arms. “Go home. I couldn’t bear to see you hurt.”
Blake comes up from behind. “Is there something wrong? Why are you holding my wife?”
Shane doesn’t let go, even though I try to push him off. “Why the hell did you bring her here? She doesn’t want to rough it for her honeymoon.” He stabs his finger at Blake’s chest.
Blake tries to shove Shane’s hand away, but Shane is like one massive stonewall. “It’s not your concern.”
I finally break free, push myself between them, and my gaze seeks Blake’s reassurance. What if Shane is right? “For some reason, my credit cards aren’t working, and Shane’s overly concerned. He’s just a friend. Honest.”
“We can call the banks later.” Blake hands the cashier his credit card. “I’ll take care of this. I love you, Cyn.” He kisses my neck, inciting pleasurable shivers in my shoulders.
I know Blake loves me. Shane is so wrong about him. He has to be. “Thank you, honey.”
Blake’s arm coils around my waist while he nuzzles my neck in ownership. “Not a problem. Anything for my lady.”
He pokes Shane’s chest, and from the look in Shane’s eyes, I worry Shane may go postal. “Stay the hell away from my wife.”
Shane grabs Blake’s finger, bending it backward. I hear the distinct snapping sound of a bone breaking. Blake curls up his fist and swings it. Shane stops the incoming hit by simply wrapping his much larger hand around Blake’s fist.
“You wouldn’t want to mess up that pretty boy face for your honeymoon, would you?” Shane gives me a hard look. “You should come with me, Cyn.”
“I’ll be fine, Shane,” I say, laying my palm flatly on his solid chest so he’ll back down.
“It’s your choice,” Shane says, glaring at Blake.
I lean into Blake, smelling his clean skin scented with cologne while Shane carries the scent of the wild outdoors.
Eyeing me in Blake’s arms, Shane snorts out a laugh. “See you folks tomorrow.”
What is he talking about? Before I can ask him, he turns away and swaggers over to the gun counter where he asks for ammunition. What is he hunting?
“Why will he see us tomorrow?” Blake asks, anger raging in his blue eyes.
My gaze follows the solidly built frame of Shane. “I don’t know.”
Chapter Ten
Shane
The light wind ripples the water, and a fine mist curls around the small lake where the seaplane rocks gently against the dock. The sun has just popped over the horizon, leaving a pink afterglow while Oki preps the seaplane and I fill it with gas. It’s perfect weather for flying.
“Do you want me to register your flight plan?” I ask, capping the tank.
“Already done.” Oki checks his instrument panel and writes into his log. His long dark braid of hair reaches the middle of his back. “A squall is rolling through in another couple days. It may bring snow and sleet.”
“That’ll send the bears into the high country for berries and ground squirrel. The honeymooners may have to hole up in the cabin though.” Probably for the best. After the plane ride, I’ll head up into the interior. “Where’s Fang?”
“Not enough room this time. Apparently the couple has a lot of luggage, so my neighbor will check on him.”
It’s no surprise that Cyn packed for a month—for the beach that is. A chuckle lightens my mood. Blake bought her all the gear she needs, and he has enough money that there would be no point in hurting her, unless he’s the serial killer I believe he is. Otherwise, she should be fine, though a lingering nagging feeling chips away at me.
“Sure you can hold me?” I joke.
“Yes. You never take up much space.” Oki climbs out of the plane. “If you don’t mind, I’ll drop you off first.”
“You can drop me off at the cabins. It’s only a short hike from there to my first campsite.” The last place
I saw my grizzly was twenty miles north of the lake where my dad, older brother, and I used to fish. My bear has a range of a hundred miles, which makes him harder to track.
Cyn and Blake amble down to the dock, his arm around her waist. He seems attentive.
“What’s he doing here?” Blake says with irritation. His broken finger is in a cast.
“You should’ve prepared her for this trip,” I say, lowering my brow.
He gathers Cyn closer, and she grins up at him. “I told her to dress warm.”
“He did,” Cyn says. “I just…” Disappointment briefly shadows those smoky dark eyes.
I wish I didn’t care about her.
Oki curls up one corner of his mouth. “I’m dropping Shane off at the cabins. He hunts there every year.”
“This is a private charter,” Blake says, “and all the cabins are booked.”
Cyn gives him an odd look, like he’s lost all his charisma. This could be another fight, so I’m all ears. “It’s okay, Blake.”
“I setup camp a few miles north of there,” I say. “Don’t worry your pretty little head, Blaine.”
He gives me a dirty look while tugging Cyn closer. He must plan on using her as a shield.
“It’s Blake,” Cyn mouths to me.
“It’s my plane,” Oki says, barely glancing up from the instrument panel. “My rules.” He walks over to them, and I help him stow their luggage in the cargo hold of the plane. Even Blake packed for a month, giving me a good chuckle.
Rubbing Blake’s bicep, Cyn closes her eyes while inhaling the crisp morning air. “What a beautiful day. I’ve never been on a seaplane. I can’t wait.”
The princess turns on her charm. She does know how to handle men. She had me licking her boots at one time.
“The area you’re going to is some of the best fishing around,” Oki says, smiling. “You’ll love it.”
“I will.” She locks onto Blake to pull him down and kiss him on the mouth. “Thank you. This is really fun. I’m looking forward to our getaway.”
That’s definitely a change of heart. Perhaps a princess like her can enjoy the outdoors, but there’s no hot tub or spa where she’s going.
Since the cargo is full, I take the new backpack she bought and shove it into the seat beside her.
“Thank you,” she says, all smiles. She must’ve gotten hers this morning. I certainly didn’t.
Blake checks the readings on the plane, in particular the gas gauge.
“Do you fly?” I ask.
He flinches. “Ah, no.”
“Are you going to be okay?” I say in a low voice for her ears only while Blake leans into the cockpit.
“It’s going to be fun.” She pats her backpack. “I’ve got my survival kit, so I’m good to go.”
“For the first day or two, I’ll only be a couple miles north of you. If you need me, follow the path along the lake and you’ll run into my camp.”
A smile lights up her pretty face. “We’ll be fine. Blake hired a fishing guide. We’ll fish for a week or two then come back to visit Fairbanks and see the local sites.”
“If you say so.” I wait until they crawl into the backseat before untying the plane from the dock. I push the plane further out into the water and climb into the front beside Oki.
The fog lifts off the lake and opens to the clear sky above us. Quite different from yesterday’s bumpy ride. Today will be smooth sailing.
“Fairbanks Oki Radio on 122.2,” Oki says into his mic.
“Roger that,” a gruff voice says. “McKenna Radio.”
I take the handheld from Oki. “Hey, McKenna. What the hell are you up to?”
“Goddamn, O’Flannery, you must be chasing that damn bear again.”
It’s good to hear McKenna’s voice. He’s ten years older, my half brother’s age. “Where are you headed?”
“Close to you. A little farther up river. Setting traps for winter.”
“Maybe we’ll meet up for a drink at Sally’s Saloon.”
“In Tonakwa it is. I’ll catch up to you.”
“Roger,” I say. It’ll be good to drink with the old gang again. “Over and out.”
“Is that a friend of yours?” Cyn asks, her face peering through the window at the lush green pine.
“A guy my older brother went to high school with. He’s the best trapper in the interior.”
“Where’s Tonakwa?” She looks at me expectantly, those pretty coffee-bean eyes sparkling from the bright sun rising.
“North of here.”
“How many people?”
“Less than 200 and that’s during hunting season, and not big enough for a princess to sparkle in.” But neither is where she’s going.
She glances my way and rolls her eyes. “They have schools? It might explain your lack of manners.”
I laugh. She really does think I’m backward. “Not really, Princess.”
Blake doesn’t even come to her defense. I think he’s surly from me showing him who’s the top dog, though he did get the girl.
She puckers those perfect lips of hers and then continues staring out the window. “Oh my gosh. Is that a moose? Look, darling.”
“It’s a little small for me to tell,” Blake says, leaning into her.
She squeezes his thigh, and he grins. He’s faking that. He has to be.
Oki takes a pass over the glacier. The sky blue of the ice penetrates deep into the crevasses. The deep cracks splinter across the surface. Acres of ice cover the valley the glacier cut out.
“It’s beautiful,” Cyn says, running her fingers up Blake’s thigh, and I don’t really like it.
He kisses her neck. “Not as beautiful as you.”
Oh brother. A smirk entertains my lips.
Oki circles around to give the couple a good view of the glacier. He tips the wing and banks toward the small clearing nestled into a crook in the lake.
She clutches Blake’s thigh with excitement as the seaplane descends toward the cabins. Three cabins are nestled into the woods, close to a small waterfall that feeds a fern-laden inlet. A black bear prowls around the rocks. His massive paw reaches into the water and pulls out a fish.
“Look,” she says. “Let’s fish tonight.”
Blake presses his forehead against hers. “If we have time. I have lots of surprises for you.”
Unlike Blake, I’ve known her long enough to know she’s faking that smile, and I wonder why.
Oki lands the plane, gliding it over the flat water toward the floating dock jutting out from the clearing. The late day sun casts an orange glow on the glacier lake. Oki motors the seaplane to the dock. When he bumps against it, I jump out and tie the plane to a cleat.
Oki leaves the engine idling. “I’ll be back by Tonakwa in a couple weeks,” he says over the engine roar.
“I should roll into town by then. I could use a ride back.” Then I’ll need to face the feds and the IRS upon my return. I tug out my backpack and rifle. “Have fun on your honeymoon,” I say to Cyn and Blake snuggling together. They can get their own luggage.
“We will,” Cyn says, all giddy.
“Most definitely.” Blake doesn’t even glance my way while his hands grapple her waist.
He hops out of the plane then extends his hand to help the princess.
“You’re such a gentleman,” Cyn says, grabbing her backpack. “Oh, I hope a bottle of champagne is waiting for us.”
“Could be,” Blake says, winking.
Cyn peers around me. “Great, we have valet to carry our luggage.”
I holster my 10mm Glock, and just as I shoulder my pack, Loki limps toward me. A wounded caribou trampled him, breaking his leg.
My jaw clenches, and every muscle in my shoulders knots. Loki picks up one of Cyn’s many bags.
“What are you doing here?” I don’t mean for my voice to sound rough, to give him any indication of my concern, but it does.
Loki gives me a lopsided grin where a couple teeth are blackened from
lack of dentistry. He runs his hand under his cap and over his balding head. “Teaching these nice folks to fish, and Blake wants to do a little hunting. Why are you here? Hunting the stupid bear?”
“Yes.” I shouldn’t let him think otherwise because now I know I have to return and check on Cyn.
His blond nephew Julian trundles over to the plane to fetch some bags. He’s had a tough time finding and keeping a job, so he works for his uncle sometimes. He comes to Austin with his sister Lindsey, my ex-girlfriend, to hook up with other gay men, not much of a selection here.
“How did you get up here so quickly?” I ask Julian. “I saw you waiting tables at the wedding.”
He gives Cyn a sideways glance. “Took a plane like you.”
She studies Julian, and it could be my imagination, but she shudders.
Given Loki’s rap sheet, this keeps getting worse—a princess in the Alaskan Interior with a convicted felon and two questionable men. Once I’m off the dock, I slip the pack off my shoulders and set it up against a tree along with my unloaded Ruger 375 Hawkeye rifle. It’s a helluva gun.
Following me off the dock, Cyn is grinning, spinning around while enjoying the view. “It’s beautiful here. I love it.”
I take her aside while Blake speaks to Oki. “I would suggest you come with me, Princess. These are not the kind of people you should be hanging out with. We’ll go back with Oki.”
She laughs. “And you are someone I should be with?”
“Trust me, Princess. You should fly back. I won’t ask you again.”
“Good.” Her eyes shoot upward. “Worry about yourself, Shane. You don’t have to worry about me. I can handle myself. I’m a big girl, and I’ve got Blake.”
This is really screwed up. “I’ll be back in a couple days to check on you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Oh, but I do.” I should stuff her back on the plane and send her home. It would cause me a lot less headaches.
But if I make a scene, that could set off the fireworks with Loki.
I walk back toward Oki. “Hey, watch these guys.”
“I know. Not a fan of Loki. As soon as I get paid, I’ll take off.”
I eye Loki suspiciously while he picks up a bag. “Do you want me to stay?” I ask Oki.
