by Vella Munn
Shaw couldn’t help but laugh at Daron’s question, which reminded him of when he was the same age and crazy about speed. “Ask Haley.”
“Right on. I’ve got my driver’s license you know.”
He did. In fact that had been one of the first things he’d asked Daron after getting in touch with him last night. When he told the inexperienced waiter he might have a job for him that would take him out of the restaurant, Daron hadn’t said anything for so long Shaw had thought the kid might have hung up. Daron still hadn’t given him much indication of how he felt about the possibility of full-time employment, but Shaw recalled those years when he was feeling his way in the adult world.
The years when he’d believed he could chart his future.
Stop it! Not going there.
Haley watched his vehicle approach. He hadn’t called to let her know he was heading her way or why. He owed her the courtesy of giving her a heads up about his at least temporary solution to her need for assistance, but as usual he was hard-pressed to accomplish everything he needed to today. In fact, he really didn’t have the time to bring Daron here this morning but he’d decided to make bailing Haley out a priority.
The heck he had. The truth was he wanted to see her.
“Dang, some of those machines are old,” Daron said.
“I can’t argue that.” He pulled into the parking lot, careful to leave room for the paying customers. “Plans are to replace the oldest ones.”
“About time.”
“So,” he said as he opened his door, “let’s see what she thinks of the help I’m bringing her.”
“She doesn’t know?”
“Yes and no. It’s complicated.”
The way Daron trailed a step behind him, Shaw surmised the boy lacked self-confidence, which was better than thinking he knew everything. Most everyone learned that. It just took some longer and sometimes it came too late. They wound up behind bars.
Haley stood with her hands on her hips and her attention still fixed on Shaw. She looked surprised but without any of the wariness he occasionally saw on other resort employees. Maybe the time they’d spent together yesterday had settled her mind about him.
“I think you remember Daron,” he said to Haley. Darn that loose hair of hers, it was begging to be touched. “He waited on us the other night.”
“Of course.” Smiling, she held out her hand. The boy looked surprised but shook. “It’s good to see you again.”
Shaw wished she’d tell him the same thing, wished he was holding her hand and their eyes had locked. Wished he understood why he felt this way and knew what to do about it.
“What I’m thinking,” he started, “is that Daron could be the help you need. Not only does he have a driver’s license and isn’t going to school, he isn’t afraid of heights.” He indicated the roof.
“Oh.”
Oh was noncommittal, a way of telling him she needed more information. This morning the sky was so blue that if it hadn’t been for the snow and freezing temperature, he’d think he’d been transported forward to summer. Was there a way to keep Haley at the resort once the snow melted?
“I’ll keep this short,” he said. “You’re probably expecting people to show up any minute.”
When she shook her head, the early morning light drew his attention to the reddish hints in her hair. “No one until nine, thank goodness. Probably the snow we got yesterday has everyone thinking going slow is a good idea. This gives me a little more time to get set up than I usually have.”
She shouldn’t have to do this all on her own, should have come to him earlier and made her case. Either she believed she had something to prove or she wanted to be left alone.
He knew what that felt like.
He indicated Daron, who was heading toward a yellow and black Skidoo. “After I talked to my uncle last night I thought about how to get you the assistance you need without leaving Rey’s crew shorthanded. I remembered a conversation I recently had with Daron’s mother. She’s a single parent with a couple of young boys plus Daron.”
“After the first storm, I hired the younger boys to shovel a path between my place and my vehicle. Mostly they tried to bury each other.”
That sounded like something his brother and he would have done at that age. “It isn’t easy for Daron’s mom.”
“No, it isn’t.” She’d been meeting his gaze. Now she turned her attention to Daron who’d climbed onto the Skidoo. “That’s why I tried to give her boys a job. I still paid them. I don’t know their mom much more than to say hello.”
“I ran into her one day. She was crying.”
“That had to be uncomfortable for both of you.”
“It was.” He hadn’t realized he’d be telling Haley this but now that he’d started, he found it easy to keep talking. “She said I must think she was crazy to be so upset over a car that wouldn’t start. I told her I’d get someone to look at it. She thanked me but explained she was waiting for Daron to do that. Apparently he’d been keeping it running and she was hoping he could work his magic again because she couldn’t afford to replace it.”
Daron had gotten off the Skidoo and was bent over looking at an Arctic Cat. Shaw couldn’t imagine what he found so fascinating, but he wasn’t a grease monkey. More to the point, having a conversation with Haley took priority. Her eyes were clear and bright, her cheeks bearing winter’s impact, sexy despite her sweatshirt and snow pants.
Her body talking to his.
“The next time I saw her she was driving her car,” he told Haley. “She told me Daron had replaced some of the wiring and put in a new belt. She also said that one day when he got off the bus he was lugging a battery. He’d been saving his lunch money to buy it. Apparently he’d skipped school and gone over to the auto parts store. Obviously that was before he stopped attending.”
When Haley’s eyes glittered, it was all he could do not to wrap his arms around her to let her know they were on the same page. “I’m so glad you thought of him.” Her voice was rough. “That’s one kid who deserves a chance.”
“He’s raw, self-taught for the most part. When I talked to his mom first thing this morning she was excited. She’s also concerned he might not take directions like he should.”
Haley went back to studying Daron. “My brother, who has two teenage daughters, says that’s universal. Unfortunately I won’t have a lot of time to show him what needs to be done. Hopefully he doesn’t need a lot of direction.”
“Let me know if he does. I’ll put down the hammer.”
“That’s my job, not yours.”
Daron hadn’t filled out yet, but the boy was about eight inches taller than Haley and probably stronger. He didn’t want Haley to have to confront him, not that he was concerned she couldn’t handle it.
He placed his hands on her shoulders. Technically his hands were on her sweatshirt, but she was under the bulk. Making him thinking thoughts he hadn’t for a long, long time.
Unnerving and exciting thoughts.
“I know it is, but I created the situation,” he said. “Let me know if he gives you any trouble.”
She’d tilted her head up, which made him even more aware of her large, direct eyes and slender body. There wasn’t any warmth to the day and snow was piled all around insulating them from the rest of the world and his crazy to-do list. The morning air smelled newborn and the sky made a lie of the fact that spring was long months away. No manmade sounds reached them. He didn’t care about anything except these moments and the woman he was sharing them with.
As long as she didn’t know what he’d done, something might come to life between them.
What about after she finds out?
“I’ll give Daron chances,” she said softly. She made no attempt to move away. “Lots of chances.”
“All right.”
Her eyes stopped glittering, and he recognized something other than empathy for a teenager trying to find his way in the world, pain maybe. “Shaw, I know what it
’s like to not know what to do with my life, to wonder if it’s worth it.” She pressed her lips together. “I don’t want the same thing happening to him.”
To wonder if it’s worth it. He knew exactly what she was talking about. Wondered if they’d ever share and what the consequences might be.
Damn, too complicated.
*
“So many teenagers are self-absorbed,” she said when Shaw called later in the day. “Daron seems to get the big picture.”
Shaw had already let her know he’d clear his schedule tomorrow if she could join him in mapping out a route for the sled dog competition. Instead of concentrating on what she was saying other than ‘yes’, she’d imagined spending several hours alone in the wilderness with him. Their world would be quiet and remote, isolated. There’d be just the two of them on a single machine with their bodies touching. Sometimes talking. Sometimes just being together.
“I’m not sure that’s good.”
“What isn’t good?” She couldn’t believe she’d already lost track of what they were talking about.
“Growing up fast. I’ve seen too many kids pushing to be adults before they’re ready. They want everything now. Instant gratification. It backfires if they haven’t developed a sense of right or wrong. By then it can be too late.”
“You’ve seen that happen to people you know?”
“Idiots I used to have to deal with. I don’t mean to make a blanket statement. Life knocks all of us.” He paused. “Some more than others. It just shouldn’t happen until we’ve had enough experience to know how to handle the consequences of those knocks.”
“You’re right about life giving some people more hits than it does others.”
Hearing her words stopped her. If she wasn’t careful, she might slip into territory she’d worked hard to escape. She didn’t dare ask where his wisdom had come from because he’d expect the same in return. She looked around hoping to come up with a way to change the subject. However, nothing other than how his voice sounded in her ear came to mind.
“And sometimes there’s one big hit that knocks a person’s life off course,” Shaw said. “That person never fully recovers.”
What are you talking about? You can’t possibly know—
“Sorry.” He sighed. “That was heavy. So what’s your initial take? Do you think Daron has possibilities?”
“I do,” she said when what she wanted was to ask if he’d investigated her background. However, maybe he hadn’t been referring to her when he’d said what he had. Maybe he was speaking from personal experience.
“It’ll be interesting to see if we change our minds about his sense of responsibility once he’s on a snowmobile,” Shaw said. “He could turn out to be a maniac.”
For the first time since he’d called, she relaxed. They could have a casual conversation after all, leave weight behind. It just took work on both their parts. “I don’t think he’ll try on these machines. He’s convinced they’re underpowered pieces of junk. If he had his way, he’d take them to the crusher and replace them with bad machines.”
“You mean ones with lots of power.”
“You understand teen speak.”
“A lot of it. It’s constantly changing and I’m rusty. Did you give him the standard lecture about the liability issue of making sure we don’t hand people machines they could get hurt on.”
“Yes.”
“What’d he do? Roll his eyes?”
“No but I could tell he wanted to. I need to keep reminding myself he’s at that age you talked about when kids believe they know everything.” A growing sound told her another snowmobile was approaching. The temperature hadn’t moved above freezing all day, and she was getting cold standing here, but telling Shaw she couldn’t talk to him any longer would be hard. Instead, she wanted to know what he thought about when his job didn’t demand all of his attention, what he wanted from life, where he saw himself in five, ten, or twenty years.
Whether he envisioned a woman sharing those years with him.
Shaw chuckled. “When he was here, my brother and I agreed that we’ll never be as smart as we believed we were at eighteen and nineteen. Sometimes I wish I could get that innocence back.”
Those years weren’t good for me. She was tempted to tell him but of course she wouldn’t. Even though she was beginning to suspect he’d gone down a similar road.
Chapter Eight
“I have news for you,” Shaw told Haley early the next afternoon.
He could have explained over the phone, but he wanted to see her reaction. Heck, he simply wanted to see her. At the same time feeling this way where she was concerned kept him off balance. Not long ago being in control had defined how he approached his job. Giving that up still wasn’t easy.
The corner of her mouth lifting, she looked up at him though those impossibly bright eyes of hers. “I won the lottery? No, it can’t be that because once again I forgot to buy tickets.”
“Me, too.” They weren’t standing that close together, and Daron was nearby doing something to a large black snowmobile. Because that was the only machine in sight, he assumed it was the one she’d chosen for the two of them to use. Hopefully nothing was wrong with it because they needed to get started. Another storm was predicted for tomorrow, which had factored into his decision to rearrange his schedule today.
“It appears I made our case for decent snow grooming equipment with my uncle,” he continued. “Once he commits to something he insists on getting the best. That’s what he told his people.”
Haley’s smile grew until he felt its warmth throughout him. “I wonder what it’s like to have people you can order to do things for you? Oh, I shouldn’t have said that. You’re in charge here.”
“Yes and no.” He didn’t care what they talked about, just that he could continue to study her ever-changing expressions. She was wearing a snowsuit that covered her curves but was bareheaded, looking both prepared for anything and innately feminine. He imagined yellow or pink bra and panties. What about black? Was that her beneath the surface? “It’s more a case of the buck stopping with me. Also, I don’t have a corner office.”
“Oh?”
“Uncle Robert’s office in Billings has hardwood floors and is large enough to conduct the shareholders’ meeting in. You’ve seen my cubbyhole.”
“Your office is bigger than mine. Also it doesn’t smell like gas and oil.”
“No, it doesn’t.” He waited a heartbeat. “That’s only part of my news. Uncle Robert said to get rid of the three oldest machines. One of his people may be placing an order for new replacements as we speak.”
“Oh.” She looked concerned. “Do you know what he’s getting?”
“No idea.”
“I wish you did. I should be happy with whatever we get, I probably will be but—”
“You wish I’d asked your opinion.”
“Yes.”
“I would have if my uncle hadn’t been in such a hurry. I’ll tell you what. Give me a list. I’ll pass it on.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
He didn’t usually talk about what made his uncle tick but it was important that Haley understood a few things. Besides, talking about his uncle, hopefully, would get in the way of his fixating on her kissable mouth. “He had a heart attack that nearly killed him when he was in his forties. He’s changed his lifestyle to some extent, slowed down a little, although it’s hard for outsiders to tell. He has a thing against wasting time making a decision.”
“That sounds like you.”
“It is.” He didn’t add that his decisiveness had had a lot to do with Uncle Robert’s determination to put him in charge of the resort.
“How’s his health now?”
“Pretty good for a man his age.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
She was giving him her full attention. He could practically touch her concern for his uncle. And because she cared, she wouldn’t let him get away with shrugging through
a brief explanation of what had brought him here. He had to be careful around her, cautious, not let anything slip even though he was tempted to be forthcoming.
When he wanted to make love to her.
“I’ve talked to my aunt and cousins about this,” he somehow continued. “We all agree that nearly dying made him see life as precious. He gets right to whatever it is he has to deal with so he can move onto the next thing.”
He might be wrong but her eyes seemed to have darkened while he was talking. Also there was a vulnerability in her expression that hadn’t been there before. He’d said something to make her react as she had, but he didn’t know what it was.
A lot was off-kilter when it came to how he felt about her. Not being in control unnerved him. Took him back.
Making love to her would be a huge mistake—afterward.
“One thing I’m sure of”—he assured her—“Uncle Robert won’t settle for anything except the best machines he can get his hands on in the shortest amount of time.”
“Don’t you mean what his person can get his or her hands on?” Her smile looked forced.
“I stand corrected.” The longer they stood there the harder it was getting to concentrate on what had brought him here. More to the point, they would soon be the only humans in the part of the forest they were going into.
Go slow. Think before you speak. Stay in control.
“Ah,” she said, “I suggest we get moving. Otherwise we run the risk of being out after dark.”
Dark. Night alone with her. Talking about things that didn’t matter—and those that did.
Before he could take the thought further, the wall he’d forcefully built around himself returned. They’d discuss the care and feeding of sled dogs, options for the retired snowmobiles, maybe debate where to set up the resort’s Christmas tree and who he should get to play Santa. He might ask about her past Christmases but maybe not. After all, if he questioned her about her prior life, she’d conclude she had the right to do the same.
*
Technically, the Yamaha Daron had been checking out was built for a single rider, but it was one of the largest in the so-called fleet. Also, because the others were being used, they had no choice but to double up.
