by J. H. Croix
Elias, Cammi’s boyfriend, approached. He appeared to hear the tail end of our conversation. “That’s the only thing I miss.”
Glancing to him, Diego flashed a grin, sending butterflies into flight in my belly, even though he wasn’t grinning at me. “Of course, you do. But you know you miss me more,” he teased.
“No, he misses losing to me and cards,” Gabriel, another pilot there, offered when he stopped beside us.
The guys lapsed into an easygoing and teasing conversation, and I wondered what it was like to have that kind of friendship. Although, I had friends where I grew up, Portland was a big city, and my struggles in school tended to leave me feeling insecure most of the time. My closest friends were from softball, and we’d all been splintered by what happened with our coach. I still stayed in touch with a few of them, but the tension from that episode lingered. Several of us shared the uneasy bond of being the target of his attention, while others didn’t. That dynamic created a strange fracture in our relationships. I hated how the situation continued to ripple through my life.
Nora, another pilot and Flynn’s sister who I’d met at yoga classes with Daphne, wandered over and cast a smile. “How is yoga going? I need to come to more classes,” she said apologetically.
“I’m actually pretty busy. I’m finding ways to cater to the tourists for the summer.”
“Oh, you should give us your flyers. We’ll hand them out to our guests. We have a running list of things that we tell them about, so if anyone wants a yoga class, we’ll send them to you.” Nora’s eyes brightened. “Would you do classes out at the resort? Maybe once a week.”
I pondered that for a moment. “I could certainly do that. We would need to make sure there’s space. Once a week would work.”
Just then, Flynn and Daphne meandered over. “Those little pastries you made are incredible,” I said.
She flashed a smile in return, smoothing her hand over her auburn hair, which was pulled back in a twist. “I’m glad you like them.”
Nora nudged Flynn in the side. “I have an idea. Why don’t we pay Gemma to come out and do a yoga class once a week for guests? Maybe one evening a week?”
Flynn glanced to me. “If you think it’s worthwhile, it’s fine with me.”
Daphne clapped her hands together. “I love this idea.” She looked between Flynn and Nora. “We should schedule it on one of the nights we don’t serve guests dinner. Gemma can stay after and have dinner with us.”
“Oh, well, it’s a done deal if you’re cooking,” I interjected.
The night passed quickly, complete with a few prizes given away in a raffle for fishing trips and the like. Nora also convinced me that I needed to go dipnetting for salmon with her. I wasn’t sure I completely understood what it was, but she promised me it would be fun and that I could watch since I hadn’t been a resident for a full year yet. Although I hadn’t been in Alaska too long, I’d quickly discovered there were strict regulations around fishing and hunting and that one wasn’t considered a resident until they’d lived here for a full year. Not that I did much of either, but there were signs aplenty warning tourists to be aware of the laws. Nora explained dipnetting was exactly as it sounded—dipping a net in the water to catch salmon.
I was acutely aware of Diego the entire evening. He wasn’t always at my side, but my eyes searched him out again and again and again. It didn’t help that he was so easy on the eyes. My girl parts also thought the view was excellent, but I managed to keep my cool. I ended up offering to help Cammi clean up afterwards.
Daphne, Nora, and the guys from the resort also helped. Daphne effectively bossed all of them around. The sun was slipping down behind the horizon by the time I walked out to the parking lot. Cammi called goodbye from the door, and I waved over my shoulder. When I got to my small car, I found Diego’s truck parked right beside it.
I even recognized the back of him now. He was leaning over to put something in the back of his truck, and I took the moment to admire his muscled ass. The man had one fine ass. Every inch of him was fine. He straightened and closed his truck cap, turning just as I stopped near my car and hit the key fob to unlock it.
We didn’t speak and simply looked at each other for a moment. The air felt lit with a charge. “Need some help,” Diego finally asked, a grin teasing at the corners of his mouth.
Startled, I looked down at the paper plate I held in my hand. Cammi had given me a few of the leftover pastries. “I think I can handle it,” I managed when I looked back up into his teasing eyes.
Opening the passenger door, I set the plate on the seat and placed my purse beside it. When I closed the door, I pressed my hands against it, as if it could somehow anchor me while this intense and inconvenient desire for Diego did cartwheels through my body.
I hadn’t noticed that he had walked between our vehicles and was standing only a foot or so away from me. My pulse rioted, and butterflies tickled my belly.
There didn’t happen to be anyone else in the parking lot at the moment, and we were shielded by Diego’s truck from the view of the coffee shop.
“I wanted to kiss you the other day,” he said, his low voice sending a hot shiver over my skin as it prickled with goosebumps.
“You did?” I squeaked.
This was shocking to me, and I didn’t know why. I was always surprised to think anyone might want me. The reasons behind that were something I didn’t like to ponder.
He nodded slowly. “I’d like to kiss you now.”
He stepped a little closer, and air was suddenly hard to come by as my pulse went absolutely wild. I could suddenly think of nothing other than kissing him.
“What do you think about that?” The mere sound of his voice sent sparks pinwheeling through me.
I realized he was giving me an out, but also pushing me to tell him what I wanted. And, oh, how I wanted to kiss him!
I took something like a breath, although it wasn’t much use with my lungs doing a poor job. “I’d like that,” I finally replied in a breathy whisper.
I wasn’t a breathy girl. I was practical and logical and carved my own path in life. I didn’t get all fluttery over a sexy guy who wanted to kiss me. Except, apparently, I did with Diego.
“Let’s test that theory then,” he murmured, taking another step until he was right there in front of me, every masculine, muscled inch of him.
Diego’s presence was a potent force. I could feel all of him, the power and strength contained inside his strong body. He moved, almost lazily. In a corner of my mind, I marveled at him, thinking he must have way more experience at this than me. It was just a kiss.
And we hadn’t even gotten to the kiss yet. The mere anticipation of it had me feeling as if I were leaning on the edge of something, about to topple over. He lifted his hand, his thumb tracing along my jaw and then around my lips. His eyes searched mine as my insides turned molten.
He said something, but my brain couldn’t absorb it, right before dipping his head and brushing his lips across mine. That subtle touch was like lightning in my body, sizzling hot and sending fire licking through my veins.
My breath was followed by a shameless moan escaping from my lips. He brushed his lips over mine once more, sending another bolt of lightning through my system. My brain cells scattered, and I curled my arms around his shoulders, flexing into him just as his hand slid around to cup my nape. He angled my head and took command of our kiss.
I felt the heated path of his palm slide down the center of my spine, coming to rest above my bottom, his fingers splaying. He emitted a soft growl right before his tongue swept into my mouth.
Diego obliterated all memories of prior kisses. His mouth was deliciously teasing as his tongue glided against mine before he drew back and dropped kisses on each corner of my lips. I was already in danger of melting as rapidly as ice under hot sunlight. When he did that, I whimpered, my fingers digging into the corded muscles along his spine as I pressed closer.
Along with that fier
y heat dancing through my veins, there was a tug low in my belly, and my pulse thundered through my body. He played with my mouth with lazy teases of his tongue and lingering kisses.
I could hardly believe it as I plastered myself against him, my nipples tight and achy, and wet heat slick between my thighs. His lips blazed a path away from my mouth, pressing hot, open kisses along the underside of my jaw, his teeth grazing the side of my neck.
“Diego,” I pleaded, rocking my hips restlessly against him.
The sound of a car door in the distance punctured the haze of fierce need clouding my mind. Diego lifted his head, but he didn’t step away, keeping me held in a full body clench against him.
Sweet hell. I wanted to stay in this singular spot in the universe for the rest of my life, held tight against his strong body.
Chapter Six
Diego
Gemma stared up at me, her eyes glazed, her cheeks pink, and her lips kiss-swollen. Meanwhile, every beat of my heart was like flint against stone and sent sparks flying through me.
I was almost shaken. I had control, but just barely. It had been over five years since any girl got to me like this. I thought it wasn’t even possible anymore. That I’d been burned enough that it left skid marks on my heart as a reminder of what not to do.
I knew I wanted Gemma, but with desire there was never a guarantee emotion would tangle inside of it. With her, a rush of emotion and a sense of protectiveness twined like vines within my need for her.
I managed to breathe, and another car door slammed nearby. It took all the discipline I had to ease my hold on Gemma’s sweet curves and take a step back.
If anyone happened to walk by our vehicles now, they would see us standing at a respectable distance apart. A gust of wind blew, sending a loose curl across her cheek. Without thinking, I lifted my hand and brushed it away from her eyes, tucking it behind her ear. I almost kissed her again when she bit her lip, and I felt the subtle tremor run through her.
“It sounds like I might see you for a yoga class at the resort. Maybe I could take you to dinner at the lodge soon,” I commented.
She licked her lips, and my already aching cock suffered through another jolt of fiery pressure.
“Maybe?” There was a lilt in her voice at the end of the word.
“Let me clarify. Let me take you to dinner there. Just for the food.”
Gemma’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, and she let out a husky laugh. “Just the food? I might hold you to that.”
“Well now, I’m not promising only the food. Maybe another kiss.”
At that moment, the sound of footsteps crossing the gravel parking lot carried to us. Reaching around Gemma, I pushed the passenger door closed because she hadn’t shut it completely earlier. At the sound of the click, I said, “I’ll wait until you go. Text me your choice: a plane ride, or dinner.”
Gemma bit her lip and nodded quickly before hurrying around her car to climb in. I watched when she drove away and waved good night to Elias and Cammi who were locking up the coffee shop.
One week later
“Dude, I can’t believe you don’t have a whole passel of kids,” Flynn commented as he leaned back in his chair at the table in the main kitchen at the resort.
It was staff night only, and we were all lounging around the table. Flynn’s comment came on the heels of a speaker phone call with my twin nieces who needed help with math homework. I was pretty good at math, but I’d enlisted some group assistance with one of the algebra equations.
I shrugged. “Not yet. We’ll see if it ever happens.”
Once upon a time, I’d wanted to tie the knot and have kids fast. Young love was stupid sometimes.
“You were engaged before, right?” Gabriel chimed in.
I nodded slowly. “Oh, yeah. I was engaged the first year I was in the Air Force. I was supposed to go home and get married that summer. That’s not how it worked out.”
Tucker’s sharp gaze lifted to mine. “You were fucking cranky as hell when you came back, but you never did tell us what happened. Want to fill us in?”
These guys were my best friends, and for the most part they weren’t too nosy. I couldn’t even hold it against them if they had questions because I sure as hell didn’t shy away from offering my opinion on their private lives.
I lifted my pint glass of beer and took a long swallow. Setting it down, I replied, “I learned that I was too young and didn’t know any better yet.”
“Man, you’re always telling us how in love your parents were. I don’t see you just dumping some girl because you decided you were too young. That’s not how being young and stupid works,” Gabriel commented.
“It wasn’t that simple. She was the accountant for my father’s business and one of my sister’s best friends in college. That’s how we knew each other. She was a good enough accountant that she knew how to steal from my parents’ business and cover her tracks, at least for a year. That was a deal breaker for me. It would’ve sat better if she tried to steal my money rather than my parents.”
Flynn looked suitably horrified, his brows flying up. “Fuck. That’s bullshit.”
“Exactly. Don’t worry, she didn’t break my heart too bad. Like I said, we were young. It burned, but there was no way we were going to be able to work things out after that.”
Cat came in from the main room, her ponytail bouncing as she approached the table.
“Looks like you’re about to ask Flynn something,” I said with a grin.
Cat narrowed her eyes at me. “Don’t ruin it for me.”
Flynn glanced up. “What is it?”
“Can I spend the night at Shannon’s house?”
Flynn’s eyes flicked up to the clock mounted on the wall above the doorway. “How are you going to get there?”
“Nora said she’s going to town. She can bring me,” Cat replied swiftly.
Flynn nodded. “All right, then. I’ll call her mom and confirm. How you gonna get home tomorrow?”
Cat let out an aggrieved sigh. “I figured somebody would be going out to fly tomorrow and could pick me up. Wouldn’t want to put you out,” she said sarcastically.
That rolled off Flynn’s shoulders easy. He chuckled. “Of course, somebody will be flying. I’d be happy to pick you up, but I didn’t know if you already had a plan.”
Cat rolled her eyes and smiled before leaning over to kiss her older brother’s cheek. Nora came in from the back hallway at that moment, and Cat called over, “Flynn said yes. I’ll go get my bag.”
Nora stopped beside the table, and Elias added, “Cat can hitch a ride with me.”
“I was already going,” Nora replied. “Just need to see some live music and relax.”
Flynn was distracted by something Daphne was saying, but I didn’t miss Gabriel standing and commenting, “I might go with you if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” Nora said quickly. Her cheeks flushed pink, and I wondered when those two we’re going to stop trying to sneak around.
That answer remained firmly in the column of topics that were none of my damn business. At least, according to Gabriel. One time, only once, Tucker teased him about it, and I’d chimed in as well. Gabriel got all pissy and denied it six ways to Sunday.
Our dinner group gradually filtered apart. We were back at the other house when my cell phone buzzed in my pocket. Sliding it out, I smiled the moment I saw Hot Yoga Teacher on the banner.
Hot Yoga Teacher: What about both?
Diego: A plane ride and dinner?
Hot Yoga Teacher: Yes, please.
Diego: You got it, sugar. Tell me what day works for you?
Hot Yoga Teacher: What day works for you? You’ll be the one flying me. I only teach yoga Monday through Friday.
Diego: Sunday?
I knew my Sunday was open, and that was the one day we never had any delivery trips unless there was a random emergency. That meant there would definitely be a plane available.
Hot Yoga
Teacher: Sunday is perfect.
Diego: I’ll text you the time.
Chapter Seven
Gemma
“Oh, wow,” I breathed as I peered out the window of the small plane.
Diego had given me a set of headphones, so we could talk easily over the sound of the engine. I could still hear the rumble of it, but we didn’t have to shout over the noise.
“Incredible, right?” came his reply.
“Definitely.”
Kachemak Bay stretched out to one side under the plane as Diego hugged the shoreline on the far side of the bay across from Diamond Creek. Lush evergreen trees filled the lower flanks of the mountains, giving way to rocks and a glacier that glowed an otherworldly blue under the sunshine. We’d seen a grizzly bear grazing in an open field only moments ago. Diego was confident the bear was enjoying some berries, although we weren’t low enough for him to say what kind. We’d also seen several moose chewing on alder trees, and even a sea lion swimming in the shallows of the water, its form massive and blurry under the water.
“It feels like I could reach out and touch the mountains,” I commented.
“I think that every time I fly here,” he replied with a chuckle.
He’d filled me in on his job—scenic trips for tourists interspersed with deliveries of groceries and mail to several towns and villages scattered along the shores. Sometimes they flew far enough North that they needed to stop and refuel on the way back. They also took trips over to the famed Katmai National Park for the world-famous viewing of the massive brown bears who caught salmon in the river. I was all set with seeing bears from a distance. It had been enough of a shocker to see the ones mounted in the airport, standing over twelve feet tall. It looked as if humans would be nothing more than a plaything if they swatted them with their giant paws and those long claws.
“Going to head back now. Sound good?”
I experienced a full body shiver at the sound of Diego’s voice right in my ears. There was something so intimate about it.
