Northern Renegade

by Jennifer Labrecque

  She reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card. “My cell number is on there. You can search me on Google. I’m legit.”

  He took her card but didn’t look at it. “I get final editing say-so.”

  “No.” She shook her head as she delivered her immediate, firm denial. “That’s censorship and I won’t be censored. I suggest you check out my work online.”

  He felt a grudging admiration. She was ballsy and she wasn’t backing down on her brave front.

  He would think about it. He held her card up between two fingers. “I’ve got your number.” He opened the door and stepped inside. “I expect you to be gone when I come back out.”

  She smiled. “I’m already on my way.” She walked down the two steps. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

  Liam closed the door on her without replying. He had a lot to think about.

  9

  TANSY TURNED ONTO THE ROAD leading to Shadow Lake and was taken aback when she met another vehicle. Secluded and off-the-beaten-path in an area that was already remote, Shadow Lake got virtually no traffic. Mallory Kincaid waved from behind the wheel of a pickup truck.

  Tansy returned the wave even though her gut somersaulted, a sense of betrayal washing over her. And then she realized it was a response that came from her experience with Bradley and this wasn’t Bradley. This was Liam and she knew in her gut, deep inside her, that whatever business Mallory Kincaid had had with Liam it hadn’t been monkey business. Liam had been in bed with Tansy last night and now Mallory had been out here, but she knew as surely as she knew her name he wouldn’t have gone there. Some men just enjoyed the chase and once the hunt was over, it was on to other prey. She didn’t have that sense with Liam. He might be abrupt and abrasive at times but he was a man who reeked of integrity.

  And even though they were two ships passing in the night, Tansy expected to be the only ship sharing docking space with him, even though they were short-term. The fact that she was so sure she was the only one docking with him was either a testimony to Liam or an indication that she was in fact recovering from Bradley’s betrayal.

  She’d seen Liam as a rebound, as a recovery from Bradley, but her feelings about Bradley were still all tangled up. She still hadn’t really let go of the notion of them as a couple. She still had this little fantasy going in the back of her mind where Bradley showed up, full of contrition, vowing undying love and begging her to come back home to live happily ever after.

  She parked and was walking toward her stairs when Liam stepped out onto the porch next door. “Did you see the Kincaid woman?”

  Tansy hoped she managed to keep her expression neutral as she nodded. “I did.”

  He crossed the small yard to where she stood and rubbed his hand over his face. “She was waiting on my doorstep when I got home.”

  Well, hell. Tansy wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. “Oh. Uh...that’s different.” She had struck Tansy as bold and well, that was bold. And she’d been right—Mallory was interested in him. Showing up on his doorstep was definitely interested. And all of that aside, there was something about the other woman that just raised the hair on the back of Tansy’s neck. Tansy just got a weird vibe from Mallory.

  “She wants an interview,” Liam said.

  That was so not what she’d expected. It took her a hot second to assimilate what he’d said. “An interview?”

  “Yeah. She’s a military historian and she wants to interview me about my time in the service.”

  Tansy’s level of relief verged on the ridiculous. She couldn’t stop the smile that bloomed on her face. “That’s cool.” Although why she’d had to fly all the way to Alaska and then into the backwoods for an interview was a question that begged asking. But hey...

  Liam’s scowl, however, clearly said he didn’t find it cool. “I told her I’d think about it.”

  “Why not just say yes?”

  He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression set. “Because it’s done.”

  Together, they wandered up to her porch.

  “Well, that’s why it’s history,” she said. “I’m not sure I get your point.”

  “No, you wouldn’t, would you?” He was as controlled as ever but the air practically vibrated with his frustration. “I’m a has-been. I didn’t retire. I was medically discharged because of a faulty heart valve.”

  “Hold on a second. You run every morning and swim like that every evening and you’ve got a faulty heart valve?”

  “I’m fine. It’s fine. The doc said it wouldn’t keep me from doing my job but since it’s on record, it does technically keep me from doing my job, hence my discharge. Is that some bullshit or what?”

  “Wow.” She didn’t even know what else to say.

  “All I ever wanted to do was be in the military and now I don’t have a damned thing to do.” He squared his shoulders. “The only reason I’m thinking about letting her interview me is she said she would write about me one way or another.”

  “I don’t see that you’re a has-been. That implies that you’re all washed up.” Tansy was just sort of thinking aloud.

  “Do you see me in active service? Do you see me doing my thing? No. I’m carrying Sheetrock instead of a rifle. Do you have any idea how that feels?”

  He wasn’t the only one who found himself floundering professionally. “I hate to rain on your pity party but yeah, I kind of do have an idea of how that feels. I write a column that is carried all over the world, giving advice on love and relationships, and I’m working on my first book on finding your fairy-tale ending. Then I find out my fiancé was cheating on me. Do you have any idea how bogus that makes me feel? You haven’t exactly cornered the market on professional and personal disappointment.”

  “It’s not the same. No one took your column away from you.”

  “True, but then again, no one took your skills away from you. Just because you aren’t in the service anymore doesn’t mean you don’t know your way around a rifle. Put it to use otherwise. There have to be other outlets.”

  “I’m not going to be a gun for hire.”

  “Who says you have to?” An idea popped into her head. “You’re up here in Alaska. Why don’t you do some wilderness training thing? You know, one of those survival camp deals? That would appeal to the kind of people who make Alaska their holiday destination.”

  Liam all but sneered at her idea. “Those that can, do. Those that can’t, teach.”

  His outlook exasperated her. “Oh, really? Then it’s a good thing that there are plenty that can’t and teach what they can’t do. That’s some jackass thinking there, Reinhardt.”

  “What, Wellington? Are you thinking you’ll change to career counseling since you’re not doing so hot these days in the love department?”

  She flinched inside, but remained outwardly poised. She knew enough about people to know he was striking out because he was so frustrated with his situation. It did not, however, mean she had to be his whipping boy. “That was uncalled for, Liam.”

  She used his first name deliberately, bringing the interaction back to a more personal level.

  He looked somewhat contrite. “Yeah, I guess it was. Sorry.”

  It wasn’t much in the way of an apology, but it was actually more than she’d expected from him. He obviously wasn’t in a good place, which she fully recognized as she was sharing that same not-in-a-good-place designation. “No worries. But for the record, I think you should talk to Mallory—” even though Tansy still didn’t much care for the woman “—and think about a survivalist skills camp.”

  “I’ll think about it.” And she had the impression that he would. “You keep writing your column and your book.”

  It felt like a peace offering for his earlier churlishness. She took it. “I will.” She grinned. “It’s how I pay my bills.”

  “Do you have any dinner plans?”

  “No...” Was he actually asking her out?

  “Want to make some dinner while I
get my swim in?”

  Really? He was serious. No teasing glimmer shone in his eyes. Yeah, she could make some dinner all right. “I can make dinner plans—as in I can change clothes so you can take me to dinner at Gus’s when you finish your swim.”

  He considered it for a couple of moments and then laughed. “Okay. You want to drive or you want to go on my bike?”

  “I like your bike, but maybe I should drive.”

  He grinned. “Then I’ll stop by in about an hour and a half. Does that work for you?”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  She had a date. It was a nice change.

  Bradley who?

  * * *

  DAMN. NONE OF THIS WAS going according to plan. First, the Kincaid woman had been parked on his doorstep and then Tansy threw out the career idea and now they were going out to dinner. What had happened to his quiet home-cooked meal and hot sex afterward? Hell, he’d even sought out Bull after lunch to track down condoms. Thus was life in a town the size of a gnat on a map.

  He supposed it was all good, except the Kincaid woman. Didn’t anyone understand he didn’t want his life delved into, that he simply wanted some privacy to lick his wounds? Apparently not. Although, it had been kind of nice to talk to Tansy about his situation. While she hadn’t been particularly sympathetic, she had given him a different perspective. And, while they weren’t in exactly the same situation, she did seem to understand.

  The thought came out of left field that she at least got it in a way that Natalie wouldn’t have. He and Natalie got along well and he’d loved and respected her and she’d seemed to feel the same about him, but he didn’t think they’d ever really understood each other. Hindsight was twenty-twenty, but they would’ve been far better off just remaining friends than trying the

  husband-wife thing.

  He knocked on Tansy’s door. “Be there in a minute,” she called out.

  He waited, hearing her moving around inside. Finally she opened the door, looking fresh. A slight flush colored her face. She wore the same dress she’d had on at Gus’s on Thursday evening. It looked as good on her now as it did then. “You look nice.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. Her skin was soft beneath his lips.

  “Thanks. So do you.”

  He laughed at her handing it back to him. “Thanks.”

  She tilted her head to one side, perplexed. “What’s so funny?”

  “That you think I look nice. I trimmed my hair but my clothes choices were limited to my least worn jeans and T-shirt.” He looked down at his jeans and boots. “I only brought what I could carry on the back of my bike. That’s one thing you learn in the military—just take what you can’t live without and pack light.”

  Her chin took on a stubborn tilt. “Well, I still maintain you look nice.”

  He grinned. “If you say so.” He caught her hand in his. “Ready to head out? I’m starving.”

  Fifteen minutes later they walked into Gus’s, Liam opening the door for Tansy and then ushering her to a booth with his hand resting slightly in the small of her back. More than a few looks came their way, some speculating, some smug. Merilee and Bull waved from across the room, where they sat at a full table.

  He and Tansy had just placed their drink orders when Mallory Kincaid approached their booth, speculation and perhaps a bit of consternation in her eyes. “Evening. Mind if I join you?”

  Liam spoke up before Tansy could. In fact, he didn’t even glance at Tansy. “Yes, we do mind.”

  Even the fairly unflappable Mallory Kincaid appeared somewhat taken aback. Her smile faltered and then she firmly pasted it back in place. “Uh, okay. See you later. Enjoy your dinner.”

  Tansy eyed him across the table as Mallory retreated. “That was blunt.”

  And her point was? “I am blunt. What? Did you want to have dinner with her?”

  “Well, no.”

  “Okay. Neither did I. What’s the problem?”

  “You didn’t even bother to ask me. Would it have mattered if I did?”

  “Let me lay this out for you, Wellington. All day I’ve wanted to have dinner with you and then move beyond where we left off last night. Now, if I’d looked over to you for approval on her joining us for dinner, your sense of common courtesy would’ve kept you from saying you didn’t want her to eat with us. So, then my and your private dinner would’ve been ruined. The only one at the table who would be happy with the situation would be her and I’m much more concerned with you getting what you want and me getting what I want. Dinner would’ve been spoiled and there was just no point in spoiling dinner for the sake of being polite. Somebody had to be in charge and I decided it was me. If you did want to eat with her, then you could always make arrangements to share a meal with her some other time, couldn’t you?”

  “That’s true. However, next time I get to be in charge.”

  Liam laughed. “Fair enough.” From the bar area, Dirk caught Liam’s eye and pushed away, heading toward them. “Have at it. You’re in charge.”

  It was a repeat of the Kincaid woman scenario. “Hey, slide over and I’ll eat with you,” Dirk said.

  Liam kept his mouth shut and looked at Tansy.

  She flashed Dirk such a warm, sunny smile that a twinge of jealousy bit Liam in the ass. “Maybe some other time. I want him all to myself tonight.”

  “Well, damn.” Dirk looked at Liam. “You need to give me lessons, tiger.”

  Tansy laughed. She was damn sexy when she laughed. Actually, she was just flat-out sexy. “I think Ms. Kincaid was looking for a dinner companion.”

  “I’ll see you later, then.” Dirk headed toward the blonde.

  “See?” She was cute even when she was smug. And he was suddenly extremely glad that she was being smug with him and not some other man. “There’s blunt and then there’s finesse.”

  Liam laughed. “That was well executed, but this was why I suggested you cook...unless you particularly want to have dinner with someone else. This place is like Grand Central.”

  Tansy shook her head, her dark hair swinging against her cheek. “It is Grand Central for Good Riddance. Why don’t we have an appetizer here and get dinner to go?”

  He trusted she’d meant it when she’d told Dirk she wanted him all to herself for the evening because he was damn sure finding himself unwilling to share her with anyone else. A bite or two would tide him over. The woman across from him had main course...and dessert...written all over her. “That sounds like a plan.”

  * * *

  “COME HERE,” LIAM SAID, as she locked the front door and he placed the take-out containers on her kitchen counter.

  A shiver ran through her. The glimmer in his eyes echoed how she felt.

  “Are you in charge again?” she said. She actually found it pretty darn sexy.

  “What do you think?” He leaned against the counter, looking hard, sexy, commanding.

  “I think I might let you think you’re in charge,” she said as she slowly approached him.

  “Are you trying to outmaneuver me with mind games?”

  “Perish the thought.” She stopped a foot away from him.

  “Come here, woman.” He pulled her to him.

  “Hmm. I think I like it when you’re in charge.” She nuzzled against his neck. “It turns me on.”

  And it did.

  “Keep your dress on. I wanted you the first time I saw you in it. Does that offend you?”

  “No. It turns me on.”

  She felt as if she was on fire for him. It was as if all the other times, with Bradley, they’d had to build up to it. But with Liam, there was just this chemistry, as if when she was around him something crazy but real happened inside her. Him simply being him turned her on.

  She ran her hand down the front of his pants and cupped the ridge of his erection. She rubbed her palm against the prize. “Unzip your pants. Does that offend you?”

  “Not in the least.” He unzipped.

  She knelt in front of him and he groaned aloud. �
��It turns me on to have you on your knees in front of me.”

  Tansy licked the length of him from base to top and then took him in her mouth. She swirled her tongue around his shaft. The taste of him, the fullness of him in her mouth, excited her. Liam tangled his hands in her hair. She was so wet, so hot for him.

  He gasped. “Enough.”

  He didn’t have to say any more. She knew he was reaching his limit and he wanted the same thing she wanted. She wanted to feel his lovely cock inside her.

  She rose and took his hand. “Bedroom.” She’d left the bedside lamp on.

  Liam quickly stripped out of his clothes, pushed her onto the bed, pulled her panties down and off and leaned back. “You’re beautiful,” he said as he rolled on a condom he took from his pocket. “Open yourself for me.”

  She touched herself and he shuddered. She spread herself for him and he entered her slowly. She savored the feel of him, inch by delicious inch. He was seated deep inside her and she tightened around him.

  “Oh...” he gasped.

  She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him deeper, harder into her. “Yes,” she said.

  He set up a slow rhythm of out and in and out and in. Tansy closed her eyes, letting herself go into the motion, the sensation. Liam pulled out of her and rolled to his back. “Your turn.”

  Tansy smiled and climbed on top. She settled onto his erection and sighed in pure pleasure, grinding down and around on him. She rode him facing him for a few minutes and then she turned her back to him and set up a thrust-and-retreat rhythm. Something in that hit just the right spot and she began to gasp as the beginning wave of an orgasm rolled through her. It seemed to resonate from somewhere deep inside her, with an intensity that left her spent and light-headed.

  * * *

  LIAM LAY ON HIS BACK and let the aftershocks quiver through him. Last night had been a relief and a release after a long period of celibacy, but tonight, this, her... She was incredible, felt incredible. He’d always enjoyed sex, but he’d never known it could be this good.

  He drew her down to his chest to lie on top of him and pulled the cover over both of them. “Hmm.” She snuggled in contentment against him, her head tucked in his shoulder, beneath his chin.