She’d been able to sleep, and function, and think.
But as her brain engaged, thoughts about Treat consumed most of it.
Where did he live? Why was he staying away? What would she do when she finally did see him again?
She was no closer to an answer on that one than she had been the night they’d slept together. But she had to admit, she missed him.
Luckily work kept her busy enough not to seek him out.
Mina sat across from her as they consumed lunch in her office. It had become the norm for them to conspire over sandwiches. “Word is that someone is buying a lot of thermoses.” Mina pointed to the thermoses lined up along the wall.
“Yeah, well, if I knew where Treat lived, I’d return them.”
Mina laughed. “Seriously?” She grabbed her sides as she rolled in laughter. “He’s your neighbor.”
“Excuse me?”
“He’s living on his drift boat, Miss Julie II, which is moored in the neighboring slip to Reel Dreamin’.”
Treat had been living next to her all this time. That close? Which explained how he knew when to deliver her coffee every morning hot and ready. All he had to do was watch when she turned on her light. “I thought he was on his crab boat.”
“He was until Chaz took the Sea Wolf off to Kodiak. Those big boats have to work all year around to help pay for themselves. Treat usually takes the boat to Kodiak, but he didn’t this year. Want to know why?” The gleam in her eyes said there was no way Seana was going to stop her. “You’re keeping him here. Isn’t that romantic?”
So much so that Seana didn’t know what to do about it. But something had to be done, and sooner rather than later.
Treat returned to the Miss Julie II later that afternoon and found a note tucked into the cabin’s doorframe. It was a simple white piece of paper that looked ripped from a notepad.
My turn to cook for you, 7:00 tonight, Reel Dreamin’,
Seana
A grin spilt his face, and his chest swelled with anticipation. It had been a long week giving Seana time. Best trait of a fisherman was patience. He hoped that was about to pay off, because staying away from her was killing him.
He glanced at his watch. He had to hurry if he was to shower and shave and be there on time. Forget shaving, it might make him look like he was trying too hard. Then again, maybe he should shave so she knew he was serious about her? Oh hell.
No, don’t shave. She’d said something about liking his rough look. He didn’t think he’d been this nervous over a date in a long time, if not ever. Should he bring something? Flowers, chocolate? Right, where was he going to get either of those this late?
Wine. He had wine. He could bring that. Maybe he should have a few glasses to relax before he showed?
If he didn’t get a move on and get in the shower, he’d be late. No way in hell was he going to be late. He’d waited this long to see her, he didn’t want to wait one minute more.
Chapter Seventeen
Seana checked her hair again. This was ridiculous. She hadn’t paid this much attention to her appearance since…well, maybe college? She couldn’t remember. She’d left her hair down, and it swung around her shoulders in a dark wave. Her makeup was heavier than usual. She’d done it all, eye shadow, mascara, blush, and lipstick. And now she was rethinking everything. It was too much. She looked ready for a night on the town rather than a quiet dinner in. She grabbed a tissue to wipe it off when there was a knock on the cabin door.
Oh no, he was here. Now what should she do?
Open the damn door.
She dropped the tissue and smoothed down her fitted blue sweater over her jeans. She hadn’t dressed up too much, so that was good, but she’d added earrings and perfume. Ugh. She felt too exposed without her uniform.
Tonight she was just a woman. Not the Deputy Chief. Aaron was on call, more than happy to take the night for her when Mina told him that Seana was cooking dinner for Treat. It would take a lot of getting used to the way everyone in town knew her business.
She opened the door and her breath caught. She had to swallow in order to speak. Treat was dressed similar to her, in jeans and a cable knit sweater in a soft, dark, mossy green. He looked like an Irish seaman in his XtraTufs, which he slipped out of when he entered the cabin.
“Something sure smells delicious.” His voice created goosebumps on her arms.
“I cooked halibut,” she said, wishing her voice wasn’t so breathless.
“I wasn’t talking about the food, though it does smell tasty in here.” He looked at her with such longing that her heart lodged itself in her throat. He held out a bottle of wine when the silence stretched. “I brought some wine.”
“Good idea.” She stared at him. “No, bad idea.”
“Do you have something against wine?”
“No? Why would you think that?”
“Last time I suggested wine, you said no too.”
“That was because…I needed to think then. Need to think now.” She threw her hands up in the air and then let them drop in frustration. “I can’t think around you.”
Treat set the bottle on the counter. “You think too much.” He took her by the shoulders, hauled her into his arms, and kissed her.
She sighed into him, all the doubt sliding out of her, making her boneless. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she molded herself to him. He took her weight, hitched her up, and sat her bottom down on the counter. Standing between her spread legs, he slid his hands up under her sweater, unsnapping her bra and covering her breasts with those rough hands. She gasped and wrapped her legs around his hips.
The timer on the oven went off, and they both froze.
“How hungry are you?” Treat rasped out.
“So hungry.” She pulled his mouth back down to hers and showed him how very starved for him she was.
He growled and yanked her off the counter, into his arms, and carried her to the bedroom.
“Wait,” she said, her mind clearing enough to at least save the food for later. “It’s fish. It’ll overcook.”
He groaned. “You’re killing me here.”
“No, just take the halibut out of the oven. It’ll be good later.”
“Great idea.” He set her down on her feet and returned to the oven. Reaching in, he grabbed the pan with his bare hand. “Shit, that’s hot.” He dropped the pan on the stovetop and turned back to her, shaking his hand.
“Did you burn yourself?”
“Not yet, but I think I’m about to.” He pulled her back into his arms. “We can talk later, but tell me that this is more than one night?”
“It’s more than one night.”
“Thank you, Jesus.” He kissed her again, stripping her of her sweater and bra before he had her in the bedroom. Laying her down on the bed, he shed her jeans and underwear just as efficiently. She scooted up on the bed as he whipped off his sweater and lost his pants. Condom already fished out of his pocket, he sheathed himself. Then he crawled onto the bed. “Next time, we’ll go slower. It’s been a really long week, and I’ve missed you.”
Then he was there, spreading her legs, entering her with one hard thrust. She was more than ready for him, didn’t need any foreplay even though she badly wanted to explore his magnificent body.
Next time. There would be a next time.
He began to move, ebbing and surging inside her body. Her hips matched the rhythm of his. Hooking her thighs, he lifted her legs onto his shoulders, and his body pinned hers to the mattress. His thrusts increased. She couldn’t move like this, could barely breathe, and was forced to take his thrusts as heavy and hard as he delivered them. It was thrilling, and a little scary, being completely at his mercy. And mercy was one thing he refused to give her.
A sound of torment vibrated up his throat. “Seana, honey, I’m not going to last.” He positioned his hand between their joined bodies and stroked the rough pad of his thumb over her clitoris. She screamed and came hard. He didn’t let up, making her rid
e out her orgasm as he drove into her again and again, until he hollered. The sound was harsh and guttural, and he shuddered from the force of his climax.
“I’m falling in love with you.”
She caught her breath. Who said that? She hadn’t. She couldn’t have. She wasn’t ready to say something like that.
“Come again?” Treat’s voice rumbled with satisfaction.
“Oh good God, forget I said that. I didn’t mean to.” If only she could just disappear right now.
Treat gathered her into his arms, moving them to their sides so he wasn’t crushing her. “Heat of the moment?”
“Yeah, something like that.” She hoped.
“You know what I think?”
She was afraid to know what he thought. She was dying to get up, grab her clothes, and slink out of here. But he was holding her too tight as if he knew that was what she wanted to do.
“I think part of you said that because it was the heat of the moment.”
“You do?” She risked a peek at him, divided by her relief and a bit of disappointment.
“Sure. But the part that thrills me is the one I want to address. You have a hard time expressing how you feel, right?”
“No, I don’t.”
“You do when it involves what’s in your heart.”
He had her there.
“Your heart was speaking right then, telling me what it felt while the one who is usually in charge floated somewhere overhead in a euphoric coma.”
“Euphoric?”
“Yeah.” He huffed out a satisfied breath. “That was pretty fucking euphoric.”
She giggled. The sound caused her to cover her mouth. She never giggled. But there was this pressure building up in her chest, and if she didn’t let it out she was afraid she’d start to cry. That was much worse than giggling. But it was too late. Once the giggles started the tears came along for the ride. Treat held her, caressing her back and murmuring words that didn’t make any sense but were comforting none the less.
“I’m a bitch to live with,” She admitted once she calmed down.
“It’ll be good that I’m at sea most of the time then.”
She giggled again and wiped away a few more rogue tears. “I’m controlling, domineering, and while I can cook, I don’t like to. I’m also a workaholic. It’s important for me to do well as Deputy Chief.”
“I don’t think you need to worry about that. You’re good at your job. Everyone has taken notice. Especially the naysayers.”
“Morehouse?” She grimaced.
“Getting him and Courtney back together worked well in your favor.”
“All men are more manageable when they’re sexually satisfied.”
“Lot of truth in that statement.” His tone turned more serious as his arms tightened around her. “Seana, I’ve never found a woman who had enough power to pull me back from the sea. I usually last only a few days before I start needing to set sail again. With you, every time I thought about leaving it felt like I was dying inside. All this time I’ve been looking for a woman like you. One who’s strong enough to take care of herself while I’m out at sea. I need to know you’ll be fine without me.”
“We don’t know each other that well.”
“Sometimes the heart just knows.” He leaned down and kissed her.
She felt the truth in his kiss, in the way he held her like she was everything to him. She didn’t want this to ever end. He was right, sometimes the heart just knew. “So tell me.” She traced her finger over his raspy jaw, glad he hadn’t shaved. “What does it means when you play John Denver?”
He buried his face in her neck and groaned. “Aaron’s an asshole.”
She laughed. “Not really going to debate that one, he’s growing on me though. He’s passionate about his job and the people he cares about. I can appreciate that. So, are you going to tell me about this thing you have about John Denver?”
“My dad used to play his songs when I was a kid. He’d be in port for a short time, working on his boat with me, and tell me stories of how he was going to win my mom’s heart. He believed that someday she’d come around and make an honest man out of him. Sometimes when I get melancholy, I go old school and play his songs. Helps me think, I guess.”
“So are you going to play John Denver for me?”
A teasing glint entered his eyes. “I don’t play John Denver for just anybody.”
“I’m not just anyone. I’m yours, you’re mine. And pity goes to anyone who says different.”
He cocked a smile. “I’ve never been so turned on before by a woman laying claim to me, and you’re not even wielding a deadly fish.”
“Oh, you’re going to pay for that.” Her hand wrapped around his very aroused shaft. “Already?”
“Constantly. Been hard since the moment I saw you.”
“And yet the moment I saw you, I knew you were trouble.” She just hadn’t realized how much trouble he was going to be on that first sighting.
“Haven’t you heard?” He flipped her over onto her back and covered her body with his, taking control. “I’m not trouble, I’m reel trouble.”
THE END
BUSHWHACKED
Tiffinie Helmer
Chapter One
Today would be the last day she’d have to do this supply run until ice covered the landscape. She’d be granted a month or two breather until she’d have to make another delivery to Erich Sloan—recluse author, asshole, and the hottest man Jesse Bohen had ever met. Six feet of hard muscle with long walnut-colored hair that he kept secured in a ponytail, and a dark, thick beard with hints of fire. Warm amber eyes reflected torment as though he couldn’t catalog all that he’d seen in his thirty-some years. Too bad he lacked a personality, because every time she looked at him she wanted to enfold him within her arms.
Luckily, since she’d made that huge mistake four months ago and saved his sorry ass, he’d been scarce whenever she landed in front of his hovel. Well, not quite a hovel if she was honest. A pristine cobalt lake, fed from underground springs, was surrounded by lush forest and the snow-topped mountains that Alaska was famous for. His charming, rustic cabin was stocked with a surprising amount of amenities like indoor plumbing and electricity, which she didn’t know how he’d achieved this far from civilization. She’d say this much for Sloan, he was handy. He had to be, in order to survive living in Alaska’s bush for so long. She had to respect him for that if for nothing else.
Jesse ran JB’s Air Delivery, and it was her job to transport life-giving supplies to her ever growing list of customers. She never missed a supply run unless weather was a factor. Her customers understood and knew she would be there as soon as the clouds lifted. She ran a healthy business and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. It not only paid the bills, but it kept her in the sky, soaring with the birds.
In another lifetime she was probably an eagle. Living life on the wing, regal and free. A predator to be respected and sometimes feared.
Sloan was at the end of her route, and then her weekend started. Her friend and business manager, Cin, would have a blender of margaritas waiting for her when she returned. She just had to get through this dreaded stop.
As she began her approach to Whisper Lake, there was a sudden cough and sluggishness in the engine. She glanced at her control panel. Everything read fine until the engine died. Quick, she went through the motions of trying to get the engine restarted.
No luck. Well, that wasn’t good. She tried again. Still nothing. Keeping a clear and even head, while her heart hammered in her chest, she radioed home.
“Cin, come in. Engine isn’t responding. Attempting a crash landing on Whisper Lake, over.”
“What?”
“Engine quit. Going in silent.” She relayed her coordinates to Cin.
“Jesse, I’ll never forgive you if you don’t get your ass safely on the ground.”
“Giving it my best shot.” She paused a second. “If—”
“No ifs about
it. I don’t want to hear talk like that. Yes, I will take care of everything. Just—fuck—do your job. Nobody’s a better pilot than you.”
“Love you, Cin. Call you back on the sat phone after I land.” She signed off and went through her crash landing scenario. The plane was too heavy and too low to glide her in nicely. She was coming in too fast, with not enough time to slow it down. She’d had touch and go landings before, but this was first time on water. Her life jacket was within reaching distance. She’d be good as long as she landed her baby without taking a dive.
“Come on, we can do this. Just think of the stories we’ll be able to tell.” With prayers sent to the heavens, she dropped out of the sky.
Sloan glanced up from his old-fashioned typewriter. The words still weren’t coming. Another wasted attempt, and his deadline was fast approaching. This was getting critical. He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced out the window. Jesse should be here soon, and he needed to make tracks.
He wasn’t hiding. Just retreating until he could figure out why she bothered him so much. Whatever it was had nothing to do with his attraction to her.
For the last four months it just worked better to be gone when she showed with his deliveries. His years in the military had taught him the best defense was a strong offense. That was all he was doing. He’d covertly watch as Jesse unloaded his supplies and then return after she took off.
He should have heard her plane by now. Usually he heard the buzz of the engine in plenty of time to fade into the woods.
So where the hell is she?
He gathered his prepared note for the supplies he’d need on the next delivery, which would be longer in coming as it was almost October and winter would be settling in soon. Until ice covered the lake in a thick sheet, Jesse wouldn’t be able to land, and he’d be completely on his own.
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