Christmas on the Last Frontier (Last Frontier Lodge #1)

by J. H. Croix

  Marley shrugged. “I can ask my mom, but I’m not much help in that area since I just moved back. Any ideas, Ginger?”

  Ginger tapped her finger on her cheek. “Let me think. I know I can some up with some ideas. You need to put some ads in the classified section online for the local paper.” She addressed her last comment to Marley. Gage almost laughed aloud at how quickly Ginger had ascertained he’d be useless in that area.

  Marley’s eyes widened as she looked from Ginger to Gage. “I don’t know…”

  Ginger put her hands on her hips. “If you’re in charge of the online stuff, this is your thing.”

  Gage couldn’t hold back his grin when Marley flushed and nodded. He didn’t plan it this way, but every tiny way she was involved with the lodge notched joy in his heart.

  Don chuckled and turned to walk into the lodge. “Let’s get inside. It’s freezing. You girls can boss Gage around while I go through my old files.”

  A while later, Ginger had left to bring takeout pizza back to the lodge. Once Don located the old records of the companies he used for ordering the lodge equipment, Marley had looked online and set him up to search for what he needed. Gage had busied himself with a few lingering repairs in some of the rooms.

  It was hard to be in the room with Marley and keep his hands off of her. He was meandering in uncharted territory with her and the other night was fresh in his mind and body. He didn’t know how she’d have felt if he did what he wanted to do in front of Don and Ginger, nor did he trust himself to manage the wildfire that simmered between them. So he kept busy and left her to help Don.

  He finished adding oil to the hinges on all the doors in one of the wings of the lodge when he heard his name. He stepped out from behind the door. “Right here.”

  “Oh, there you are. We have pizza,” Ginger said, beckoning for him to follow.

  He grabbed his toolbox, quickly tucking everything away, and began to follow her. Ginger paused in the hall to wait for him. When he reached her side, her eyes coasted over him, her gaze assessing.

  “Did I mention I’m happy you’re opening the lodge again?”

  Gage nodded. “You did.” He sensed she wanted to say something else, but he wasn’t going to prod.

  She took a breath. “I just met you, and my gut tells me you’re a good guy. I have to say this because Marley’s my best friend, so if you take offense, you’ll have to get over it. I’m not sure what your intentions are with Marley, but whatever you do, you’d better be good to her. She’s been through a lot lately. I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

  Gage’s heart tightened. It occurred to him that no one had ever warned him in this way about a woman. He’d gone through most of his adult life focused on his career in the military. It hadn’t been by design, but he’d kept relationships casual. After Matt died and he came home, he hadn’t considered himself decent company and was battling enough of his own demons that he didn’t want to foist them on anyone else. But Marley was something he hadn’t seen coming. He wanted to assure Ginger she didn’t need to worry, but he didn’t even know what his intentions were. He did know he’d do anything in his power to keep her from being hurt. The bare facts Don had reported to him about the night Marley was robbed flashed through his mind.

  He met Ginger’s eyes. “I don’t know what to say other than that I have no intention of hurting Marley. I’m not sure what she told you…”

  Ginger cut him off. “More than enough. Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I will. Marley doesn’t exactly have much experience with men. If you haven’t noticed, she likes to keep her brain busy. Don’t go thinking she gossiped about you two, but I’ve known her long enough, I know when something’s up. I forced it out of her.”

  Gage nodded. “It’s okay. To be honest, I’m glad you said something. Marley’s…special. I’m not sure where things are going with us.” He paused, holding back the questions bubbling up inside. Ginger waited patiently. Gage realized perhaps she could help him. He wanted to know Marley better. He also wanted to know what Ginger knew about the robbery. He was determined to track down who was behind it. Any information Ginger offered, he could pass on to Aidan.

  “Don told me about the robbery. Marley hasn’t mentioned it, and I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, but anything you can tell me would be good. I’ve got a friend in Seattle who’s in touch with the police there. I don’t want the investigation to wither just because she’s not around pressuring them. If she’s talked to you about it, maybe we have some more info to pass on.”

  Ginger’s eyes widened. She studied him for a long moment before nodding slowly. “I’ll be happy to tell you everything she told me, but not now. For what it’s worth, maybe you don’t know where things are going with you and Marley, but you might want to face the reality that she obviously means something to you. You wouldn’t be so concerned about her if she didn’t.”

  Gage nodded tightly. Ginger’s observation wasn’t news to him, but damn if he knew what to do with it. He was used to being in control. Marley was entirely out of his scope of planning, and he felt helpless to control his feelings about her. He shifted on his feet and rolled his shoulders. “Not denying it, but that’s about all I have to add on that. How about I set up a call with my friend in the next few days? I can conference you in. He’s already gotten the entire police file on it.” He held Ginger’s gaze for another moment. “I’m not letting whoever did that to Marley walk away. As for your warning, no worries. It’s good to know Marley has a friend like you.”

  Ginger grinned and began walking again. “Let’s go eat.”

  Chapter 10

  Marley flicked on the lights downstairs in her cabin and quickly put some logs in the woodstove for a fire. November was racing by with Thanksgiving right around the corner. Winter was nipping on the heels of autumn. Ginger had driven away a few minutes ago. Their impromptu pizza dinner with Gage and Don had been more than nice. The simple joy of being home and having dinner with friends was enough to make her day. Adding Gage to the mix only made it better. Though it had been challenging to be near him and keep her hands to herself. All he had to do was exist in space near her and attraction buzzed to life, its current snapping between them.

  Ginger had given him her enthusiastic stamp of approval. On the short drive back to Marley’s cabin where Ginger had left her car, Ginger demanded that Marley promise she wouldn’t get in her own way with Gage. Though Marley didn’t disagree with Ginger, she wasn’t as certain of what Gage may want. Ginger had been adamant that her gut told her good things about Gage, and it was worth it for Marley to throw caution to the wind. Marley only wished she could take that advice and act on it so easily. The depth of her attraction to Gage and the feelings bubbling to life frightened her. It was beyond anything she’d experienced or expected, and she didn’t want to let herself hope for something that couldn’t be.

  She forced her mind off of Gage and to the moment, tucking a few pieces of tinder under the logs and lighting the fire. Once the flames caught, she closed the glass door to the woodstove. She grabbed her laptop off the desk in the corner and sat down on the couch to work on a few things. While she was fiddling with the placement of photos of the lodge website, her email pinged. By habit, she clicked on it to check. Another email from the same general human resources address sat in her inbox. This email again had no name, although it was more specific than the first one, specifically asking if she had retained possession of a flash drive with human resources data on it and warning her she was obligated to return all company property.

  Her fingers sat on her keyboard. She began to type a reply, but again hesitated. Fear flickered inside. She didn’t know why, but this didn’t feel right. She’d never been involved with human resources data at her former job. Her extent of involvement with human resources had revolved solely around her own hiring and resignation. She’d been pleasantly surprised at how friendly her main contact there had been. Something told her that whoever was emailing her likely
didn’t even work in the human resources department. She resisted going there, but her mind kept circling over the night of her robbery and the way the man had torn through her apartment. He’d said little and she’d been so stunned, terrified and hurt. After he’d whipped her across the face with his gun, he’d shoved her in the corner where she’d remained and watched him. She’d noticed that he seemed focused on her computer area, dumping out drawers, stealing all of her flash drives and equipment. He’d also stolen her television and other electronics, but it had appeared to be an afterthought. She didn’t want to think it, but she was afraid these emails had something to do with that night.

  A knock at the door startled her, her heart jumpstarting as fear clogged in her throat. She suddenly couldn’t recall if she’d locked her door. Her eyes swung wildly to the door, a tiny wave of relief rising when she saw the bolt was turned. She looked around and realized there was nowhere to hide here. The cabin windows offered a full view of the living room. She couldn’t think of who would come by at this hour. Her parents were nearby, but they would have called. If Ginger had forgotten something, she would have called as well.

  There was another knock at the door and a muffled voice. Marley finally uncurled her legs and set her laptop on the table beside the couch. She forced herself to stand and walk to the door, her heart battering against her ribcage.

  “Yes?”

  “Marley, it’s Gage.”

  She closed her eyes and fought back tears. The relief was so intense, she needed a moment to pull herself together. She didn’t know why he was here, but she knew he was safe. After a few deep breaths, she turned the bolt and opened the door.

  Gage leaned against the doorframe, one arm hooked above his head, his gray eyes locking with hers immediately. There he stood, his jacket hanging open, his sculpted chest outlined by his fitted t-shirt, and jeans resting low on his hips. Her pulse quickened and heat twisted inside. “Hey, I…” He paused, his eyes coasting over her face. “Are you okay?”

  She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came. The panicky feeling inside was receding, but her chest was tight and her breathing shallow. The combined feelings of frantic fear from the moments before she knew it was Gage and the spark of attraction between them short-circuited her brain. She gulped in air and tried to bring her body under control. Gage’s eyes sharpened. A sharp gust of cold air blew through the door.

  He moved quickly and stepped inside, pulling the door shut behind him. The icy air swirled around them. She couldn’t seem to move and simply stood there and stared at him. His eyes shifted from questioning to concerned. “Marley, talk to me. You look scared. What’s going on?”

  She took a breath, this time managing to breathe more slowly. She took a step away from the door. “I, uh…” She felt tears welling and fought them back. You cannot fall apart in front of Gage. Pull it together. Her stern internal dialogue was no match for her body’s instinctive fear reflex, which had kicked into gear the moment an unexpected knock came at the door. Hugging her arms around her waist, she took another few steps back and bumped against the kitchen counter.

  Gage remained where he stood by the door, appearing to sense she needed the space. His eyes were locked to hers. Unable to bear it, she closed her eyes, a tear splashing on her cheek as she did. She held still and forced herself to breathe in and out slowly, reminding herself over and over that she was in Diamond Creek, safe in her cabin with Gage nearby—nowhere near her old apartment in Seattle. Her heartbeat slowed, and she gained control of her breathing again. As reality sank into her consciousness, a wave of mortification washed through her. Gage would think she was crazy. She had no idea how to explain her reaction to a simple knock on her door. Though she wished she could keep her eyes closed, only opening them after he dissolved into thin air, she knew she had no choice but to face him. So, she opened her eyes. To find him leaning against a stool by the counter, his elbow hooked over it. His eyes were on her. He looked coiled tight, as if he was holding back.

  But when he met her eyes, his gray gaze softened. The room was quiet. Uncertain what to say, she watched him. He started to speak and then stopped. He traced the edge of the counter with his fingertip. Her eyes followed the motion.

  “I’m not sure if I should say this, but Don told me what happened in Seattle.”

  His simple sentence slammed into her. For a moment, she was annoyed Don had told him. But then she was relieved. At some point, he’d have heard from someone. It might as well be sooner, rather than later. And from someone who cared, not from someone being gossipy. His finger traveled back and forth along the corner of the counter. She slowly lifted her eyes to his and nodded. “I’m glad he got that out of the way for me.” She gestured in the direction of the door. “When you knocked, I didn’t know it was you. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to freak out.”

  He shook his head sharply. “Don’t apologize. I should have called. It’s completely reasonable you’d get scared if someone shows up announced.”

  She nodded slowly and shrugged. “I guess so. I just didn’t want you to think it had anything to do with you.” She paused and glanced to the fire in the woodstove. The room looked so warm, cozy and homey. It was hard to believe she could ever be frightened here, but she had been. “Do you want to sit down?” she finally asked.

  He glanced to her, to the woodstove and back again. “I don’t have to stay.”

  Fierce longing raced through her. She didn’t want him to leave. At all. His quiet strength was a balm to her shattered nerves, the soft current between them almost a comfort though it tied her up inside if she tried to think about what it meant. “Please stay. I mean, unless you…”

  “I’ll stay,” he said with alacrity. He pushed away from the stool and followed her to the couch.

  When they sat down, her eyes automatically traveled to her laptop, wondering again who was behind the emails. Gage was more in tune than she’d have liked him to be. He instantly followed her gaze, his eyes meeting hers. He arched a brow. It both comforted her and confused her that he picked up on her feelings.

  “What?” she asked.

  “What was that look for?” he countered.

  Marley considered whether to tell him and figured she might as well. He might think she was crazy, but there was no sense in hiding it. She quickly explained.

  He studied her for a long moment before speaking. “I don’t like it. It doesn’t make sense.”

  “It’s weird. I can’t tell if I’m freaking out over nothing after what happened in Seattle, or if I should be worried.” What she didn’t say was his mere presence soothed her. When he was near, she felt safe and secure. That itself rattled her a little, but she didn’t feel like questioning it now.

  “Would you mind if I asked a friend to trace the emails?”

  “You could do that?”

  “Well, not me specifically. I have a friend who works in private security. This kind of thing is right up his alley. Or maybe you could on your own. Computers are your thing after all.”

  Marley rolled her eyes. “I do coding and development. I’m not a hacker. Maybe I’d have a leg up on some people if I wanted to figure it out, but it’s not the kind of thing I’ve spent much time on. If you have a friend who’d be willing to check it out, that’d be great. Even if we find out I’m just being silly, that’s better than what I’m doing right now.”

  “You got it. I’ll call him tomorrow and see what he needs from us to make it happen.”

  Marley leaned back into the couch, tension starting to ease from her body. She glanced over at Gage. His eyes were intent on her. “You okay now?”

  “Yeah. I’m going to have to get used to the fact that sometimes people will knock on the door unexpectedly and learn how to deal with it.”

  The embers of heat that Gage elicited sparked to life when she looked back at him. The couch was tiny, so even though he was in the opposite corner he was right beside her. He moved swiftly, wrapping his arm around her and tugging her ont
o his lap. His body was all hard muscles and heat. The desire buzzing between them snapped and crackled. He met her eyes, his smoky gaze mesmerizing her.

  “I don’t like seeing you scared like that. No matter what, we’re going to make sure they find whoever hurt you.” His words fell fiercely into the quiet, his voice rough and raw.

  Unable to speak over the thundering of her pulse, she simply nodded. In a flash, his lips were on hers, his kiss hot, wet, and devouring. The twisting heat inside of her tightened and unfurled, spinning through her veins. She couldn’t get close enough. His touch was everywhere. She tumbled into the moment, losing all sense of time. Clothes were torn off. His hard muscles rippled under her hands as she explored him. His lips and hands traced her body. The roughened skin of his palms was flint to her desire. Hot, achy, and burning for him, she scrambled up and pushed him back on the couch. Straddling his legs, she pushed her tangled hair away from her face.

  Gage reached up and stroked a hand through her hair, his palm cupping her cheek and sliding down the side of her neck, coming to rest between her breasts. She couldn’t recall how it had come to be, but they were both bare. Hot, liquid need pulsed through her. He suddenly lifted her, turning her until she rested before him on the couch. His smoky eyes locked with hers. Her breath was shallow, her pulse racing. He slowly slid his palms up her calves, pushing her knees apart as he did. His hands traveled up her thighs, pausing at the juncture where she pulsed with need. He leaned forward and brought his mouth to her.

  Her vision blurred as she fell into the rush of sensation. He took his time, his fingers plunging in and out of her while he dragged his tongue through her folds and over her clit—over and over until she was incoherent with need. Her hips were restless, but he held her firm with one strong hand gripping her in place. He wound her tighter and tighter until he finally drew her clit in his mouth, the sharp spike of sensation pushing her over the edge. Her climax wracked her and left her shaking as he slowly pulled away.