Unruly Norse: Love Without Limits

by Love, Frankie

  “What call are you avoiding?”

  “It’s just my job. Or a job. I mean, it’s my agent. He says I’ve been hired for an ad campaign with Martiallo, which means a six-week gig in New York. And probably another month in LA.”

  “What?” I sit up in bed, confused. “What is Martiallo?”

  “The clothing designer?”

  I’m lost. “And what do you do for them?”

  Sofie’s eyebrows lift, then I see when it dawns on her, as if realizing for the first time I have no clue what she’s going on about. “I’m a model, Erik. A fashion model.”

  “A what?” I say, even though I know exactly what she means. But it’s hard to process. I mean, of course she’s the most beautiful woman in the world. Still...a fucking model?

  “You know...a model. I pose in pretty clothes for magazines.” She seems irritated, but before I can reply, there’s scampering of feet on the stairs and Lars and Astrid arguing over breakfast cereals.

  I get out of bed and pull on my jeans. “So you’re leaving, for a job,” I say. It’s not a question, because of course she’s going to take it.

  “I don’t know.” She ties a robe around herself. We stand, staring one another down. “I feel like you’re mad at me for telling you what I do for a living.”

  “I thought you were a nanny for a living.”

  “I am...sort of. I mean, my friends decided to sign up with the agency and I jumped on board, I didn’t have a job lined up for the summer and so I thought—”

  “You thought this would be a fun way to escape reality.”

  Sofie looks at me with stony eyes. “Yeah, Erik. That is what I thought.”

  “And what do you think now?”

  She moves past me. “I think I need to make the kids breakfast.”

  * * *

  By the time I’ve dressed, I’ve calmed down some. At least the cold shower I took helped with clarity.

  What the Helvete am I thinking?

  As if a fashion model would really want a life with me. I told her I was falling for her, and here she is, with a fancy job in a big city, as far from the simple country life as a girl could get.

  She’s nothing like me. Like my family. Yes, we’ve both experienced heartache and loneliness, but she’s from a different world. One I can’t compete with.

  And maybe it makes me seem small to not want to make a scene about it. But I know how precious life is. So before I leave the house for the docks, as the kids are out tossing a ball to Odin, I tell it to her straight. The sky is turning gray and a sprinkling of rain has the kids running for the fort in the woods.

  “You need to go,” I say. “As soon as you can.”

  “What?” Tears fill her eyes as the shock of my words hit her. “Why?”

  “I was going to tell you anyway, I can’t afford to keep you on once the kids are in school. And honestly, the last thing I would ever want is to make your world small when you’re made for bigger things than me. I won't be the man who holds you back.”

  “You think you know what I need?”

  “I think you’re a supermodel, not a nanny.”

  “What if I don’t want to be either of those things?” she asks.

  “What does that mean?”

  Sofie shakes her head, wiping the tears from her eyes. “If you don’t know what that means I guess I was wrong about you. About everything.”

  The phone rings from inside and she tells me I should get it. I don’t want to - I want to stay here and finish this, fix it - something - but I know it could be Filip calling about a new problem with the boats. I’m not wrong.

  “I have to go,” I tell her after I end the call. “A boat’s gone missing and there’s a storm coming in.”

  She nods numbly, already in the kitchen, cleaning up breakfast. As I leave, she doesn’t look up, doesn’t even say goodbye.

  And I know I’m walking away from the best woman I’ve ever known - a woman much too good for an unruly fool like me.

  Chapter Eight

  Sofie

  Dark, threatening clouds fill the sky, and I shiver as a cold gust of wind whips around me. Waves crash on the shore and even the hills look dark and ominous.

  I hate that Erik is out there, in the middle of the ocean, only a small ship to protect him from the storm that’s coming in.

  And I hate it even more that I let him leave this morning without a real goodbye. My heart is still so torn up about our last conversation, each time I think about it, fresh tears spring to my eyes. I didn’t call my agent back - couldn’t bear to.

  Not when what I really want is right here, in front of me.

  “Sofie,” Astrid says from the doorway. “I’m scared.”

  I turn and give her as reassuring of a smile that I can manage. “It’s just a storm, sweetheart.” I take her hand and walk in the house, closing the door behind us, just as a crash of thunder rattles the windows.

  Astrid wraps her arms around my waist and Lars comes flying down the stairs, eyes wide with fright. Even Odin whimpers and crawls under the table.

  “It’s just a little wind and rain,” I tell them. “Nothing to be afraid of.”

  But just as I start getting them settled, the power goes out.

  I bite my tongue in the curses I want to say.

  “It’s dark,” Astrid says.

  “I’m hungry.” Lars pouts.

  “Do you have any candles?” I ask, moving to the fireplace and putting a log in.

  Finn comes around the corner, his little face pinched with worry, but he’s carrying a box and places it beside me. “There are candles and flashlights in here.”

  “Thank you.”

  He gives a stiff nod, but when another crash of thunder sounds, his eyes widen.

  I take his hand and give a squeeze. “Don’t be scared. It’s just a—”

  He pulls his hand back and yells, “I’m not scared.” Before turning and racing to his room, slamming the door behind him.

  With a sigh, I finish starting the fire, then set a few candles around the room.

  “I’m hungry,” Lars says again.

  “I know.” I ruffle the four-year-old’s hair and tell him and Astrid to sit at the table while I prepare sandwiches.

  The wind continues to pick up, causing the window shutters to rattle, and the sky turns darker. Thankfully, my phone is fully charged, and I put on some music and pull out a board game.

  I rub my arms when I glance out the window and wonder where Erik is. The waves are even higher now.

  “Will you play with us, Sofie?” Astrid asks as she puts the pieces of the game on the board.

  “Of course. I just have to take Finn his lunch.” I pick up the plate and walk down the hall, giving a small knock before opening his door.

  Finn is on his bed, arms wrapped around his legs, chin resting on his knees, staring out the window.

  “Hey, buddy. I thought you might be hungry.”

  He shakes his head and doesn’t look at me.

  I set the plate on the bedside table and sit down on the end of the bed. “I know how brave you are—”

  “I’m not brave,” he says, swiping away a tear that falls down his cheek. “I...I lied. I am scared. Not of the storm...but...”

  I place my hand on his foot and give it a squeeze. “You’re worried about your uncle?”

  He nods.

  “Yeah. Me too.” I glance out the window and sigh, knowing that it’s fear that has held me back from giving my heart fully to the man.

  Fear of losing him.

  Fear of the unknown.

  Fear that he’ll be taken from me like my mom was.

  “You know one thing I’ve realized about being afraid?”

  “What?”

  “That everyone is at some point.”

  “Not Onkel Erik.”

  I give a small smile. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I bet you even he gets scared sometimes.”

  Finn looks back out the window.

 
“You know what else I know about being scared? That it can make you miss some pretty amazing things if you let it.”

  “Like what?”

  I chuckle and nod to his plate. “Like the best ham and cheese sandwich you’ve ever had.”

  He rolls his eyes, but a small smile tugs at his lips.

  “Come on,” I say, holding out my hand. “Astrid challenged me to a game of Hnefatafl and I have no idea what it is or how to play it. Maybe you can teach me.”

  “Okay.” He slides off the bed and takes my hand.

  We’re both laughing as he explains the rules when we walk back toward the kitchen.

  It’s the cold gust of wind that draws my attention to the open door. And I see Astrid standing there, her blonde hair whipping around her.

  “Astrid, shut the door,” I say, taking a few long strides toward her.

  “But Odin is out there.” She points toward the edge of the sea, where the waves are now splashing against the rocks and sending sprays of water six feet in the air.

  But it’s not the dog I see, it’s a small blond head that scurries over the rocks, dangerously close to the water.

  “Lars,” I scream his name, fear filling me. But the wind overpowers my voice, and the four-year-old is clearly set on one thing - getting his dog back. “Stay here,” I say to Astrid and Finn. “And shut the door.”

  They both nod, and then I’m racing down the hill, rain and wind blinding me.

  “Lars,” I shout again, and this time he hears me.

  He stops and turns his head. “Odin,” he says, pointing toward where the dog is barking at something in the distance.

  I reach the boy and pull him into my arms. “You can’t be out here. Do you know how dangerous it is?”

  Tears fill his eyes and he sticks his bottom lip out. “Odin...”

  I let out a sigh, not sure how the damn dog even got out, but having an idea that Lars was most likely involved. And in any other situation, I’d probably leave the hound on the beach. But I know if anything happens to the dog, I’ll never forgive myself. The kids have already lost so much.

  “Listen,” I tell Lars, raising my voice over the wind. “Go back to the house.”

  “But I have—”

  “I’ll get Odin and bring him back. I promise.”

  Lars looks back to where Odin has disappeared and his bottom lip quivers.

  “Go,” I tell him, this time more sternly.

  He runs back to the house, and I watch him until I know he’s safely inside, then turn and start down to the water’s edge, following the sound of barking.

  “Odin.” I whistle and clap my hands, but the dog doesn’t come. “Odin, come here, boy.” I crawl over a large rock and curse when I slip and bang my elbow.

  A crack of thunder rumbles, and it feels so close that I swear it echoes inside my chest. And then I see the dog. Wagging his tail, and yapping, he runs toward me when I call his name again.

  “You’re a bad dog,” I mutter, but he licks my face when I bend down to take him by the collar.

  But another crack of thunder has Odin yelping and jumping away from me.

  “Damn it.” I start to rush after him, but without any warning a cold wave hits me. I’m pushed forward with the initial impact. On my hands and knees, I try to brace myself, but then the water is pulling me back. Like giant hands the wave embraces me, tugging me into its cold, icy clutches and dragging me under.

  Chapter Nine

  Erik

  It took fourteen hours and a hell of a lot of manpower, but we managed to get both ships back to the harbor without any injuries. My men are exhausted and spent, and so am I, but even though my muscles ache, and I’m cold straight to my bones, all I can think about is Sofie’s soft body snuggled next to mine. And how this morning I told her she needed to go.

  I’ve done some stupid things before, but telling the woman who has captured my heart to leave is the stupidest thing yet.

  Yes, she is too good for me - too sweet and pure and true - but hell, I can at least lay it out for her. Let her choose for herself.

  The way I felt this morning as I drove off without kissing her goodbye, caused an ache in my heart like I’ve never known before.

  It was then that I realized the truth: I love her.

  But as I pull to a stop in front of the house, something feels painfully wrong. The wind is brutal, and the rain is sharp like sleet. The storm isn’t about to give up anytime soon. But I feel the storm inside of me as I open the front door and see the kids huddled together.

  Lars is soaked through, his blond hair plastered against his head, and there’s something that looks like guilt in his eyes.

  “Where’s Sofie?” I bite out, that initial feeling building, stirring panic inside me.

  “Lars let Odin out and she went to find him,” Finn says.

  “Stay here,” I order before slamming the front door and racing down to the hill, scanning the area for any sign of Sophie or the damn dog.

  It’s Odin’s barking that leads me to the water’s edge.

  Waves crash against the rocks, strong, powerful waves that could carry a person out to sea in minutes.

  “Where is she, boy?” I ask Odin when I reach him.

  He keeps barking, and I follow where he looks. I see nothing but dark, threatening waves...and then something bobs in the water.

  Sofie.

  “Faen,” I curse, kicking off my shoes before racing into the sea, and diving beneath the waves, using all my strength to push against the power of Aegir, but the waves are strong, and the Norse god of the sea is unforgiving.

  “Sofie,” I yell, treading water and trying to get a bearing on where she is.

  For a terrifying moment, I fear that Aegir has taken her, but then I see her head re-emerge and hear her gasping for breath.

  I dive under the waves again, and I feel her icy hand, just as the sea pulls her under again. She struggles against me until I get her to the surface. There’s pure panic in her eyes, and she starts to cling to me.

  “You’re going to drown us both if you don’t relax,” I tell her roughly. This isn’t the time for soft words. It’s still very possible that neither of us will get back to shore alive.

  She whimpers, but I feel her body go limp, even though I know it goes against her natural instinct. “I...I can’t...so tired...”

  “Good,” I tell her. It’ll make it easier for me if she yields to me. I turn her so that her back is against my chest and place my arm under hers, tilting her head up. “Rest against me, and don’t struggle.”

  “Erik...”

  “I know you’re scared, but do you trust me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then relax. I’ll get us back to the shore safe. Okay?”

  She nods and her body goes listless against mine, even when a wave covers us, and we both suck in a mouthful of seawater.

  I don’t know how long it takes, but it feels like hours before I feel the rocks beneath my feet. Odin is still barking as I pull Sophie to land. And she lets out the first real cry when we stumble onto the shore.

  She tries to stand, but her legs give out on her. My own feel like jelly too, but I manage to pick her up, and carry her toward the house, the mutt following behind.

  The kids are in the same place they were when I left them, and I bark orders for them to get towels and blankets.

  I sit Sofie down by the fire and start wrapping her in the blankets the kids bring. “What were you thinking?” My voice is rougher than I intended, but I still haven’t recovered from thinking I may have lost her.

  “Odin,” she says through a coughing fit.

  “You put your life in danger for a damn dog?”

  “It was my fault,” Lars says, sniffling. “I...I let him out...and...” He wraps his arms around Sofie. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” She gives him a small smile and takes his hand. “Everyone’s okay. But promise me you’ll never run off like that again.”

  He nod
s.

  I stand, a million emotions racing through me, especially when she explains what happened. That it could have been Lars who’d been pulled out to the sea. The boy is a good swimmer for his age, but he’d never have survived.

  “I could use a hot bath,” Sofie says.

  “I’ll start it,” Astrid says, racing off.

  “I can make you hot cocoa,” Finn says, each child trying their best to help, and not show how shaken up they are.

  I feel the same way.

  It’s Sofie who eases all of our concerns with her smiles, and soft words, her laughter, and ability to ease the tension of what could have been another tragedy.

  That fear that I’ve been carrying around with me since Nora and Daniel were killed came to a peak today.

  I grab towels and dry off Odin, and I stoke the fire. Everyone scurries around finding wool socks and thick blankets to warm up with.

  Later, we sit on the couch, the five of us, plus the dog, and sip our hot cocoa, trying to catch our breath from the emotional toll of the day.

  “I like being together,” Finn says, a sweetness to his voice that causes my chest to tighten. How I wish his mother could be here, but I’m more than grateful that he is opening his heart to this new life.

  “Me too,” Astrid says, Lars nodding in agreement. Astrid snuggles up against Sofie, her eyes closing as the warmth of the fire fills the room. “I could stay like this forever.”

  * * *

  Sofie comes into my bedroom once the children are tucked into their beds. She has a soft pink robe wrapped around her. Her hair is still slightly damp from her bath, and her cheeks are flushed from the heat.

  “Are you okay?” she asks.

  I let out a rough breath. “Nei.”

  She sits beside me and takes my hand. Despite her height, her hands are so damn delicate next to mine.

  “I thought for a moment...” I swallow hard. “I thought I lost you.”