by Sabrina York
“I can’t believe you just said that,” he said shaking his head. “And the only person I want gripping any of my extremities, is you.”
“Play your cards right, it just might happen,” she said with a sweet drawl that reminded him of hot chocolate syrup melting some vanilla bean ice cream.
“I’m going to hold you to that. Now, go get warmed up.” He patted her shoulder. “Lisa. Are you ready to learn to be a musher?”
“Oh, hell yes.” Lisa pressed her palm against Colton’s chest “I’m all yours.”
“You’re in excellent hands.” Flynn wanted to laugh, but she refrained.
“I wouldn’t encourage her,” Erica said as she held open the door.
“If I were you, I’d watch out for my cousin. I love her to pieces, but she’s a known man stealer.” Erica rolled down her face mask and brought a mug of coffee to her nose. “She’s never gone after my boyfriends, but she did sleep with her neighbor’s boyfriend. She has no shame when it comes to sex and men.”
“Colton’s not my anything.” Flynn shed her hat, face gear, and mittens before mixing some coffee with hot cocoa. She’d never really been a fan of coffee, other than the caffeine and the smell. The bitter taste was too much, so she never had black coffee, unless that was all that was around.
“No way,” Erica said. “He looks at you like he’s head over heels in love. And I saw the way he helped you from the sled. He didn’t give that kind of attention to Lisa, which is why she’s coming on so strong.”
Flynn coughed on the hot liquid as it burned her esophagus. “You’re totally misreading him. I’m accident prone when it comes to outdoorsy kind of stuff, and he knows it.”
“I don’t know about that.” Erica waggled her finger. “I get paid to read people, and that man has a thing for you.”
Turning her gaze out the window, Flynn watched as Lisa held the harness and leaned into Colton. “How does one flirt with all that gear on? He can’t even see her face.”
“Doesn’t matter. That woman could turn a gay man straight with a batting of her eyes. But no matter who she lands, it never lasts. She has no substance when it comes to relationships.” Erica joined Flynn at the window. “Don’t get me wrong, my cousin is a great woman, except for when it comes to men. I warn everyone to keep their boyfriends and husbands under lock and key.”
“That doesn’t say much for men in general if they can’t resist a woman’s charm when they are with someone else.” Flynn sipped her hot concoction, focusing on the chocolate and ignoring the coffee. “If I did have a boyfriend, and I had to worry, that would be on him, not a chick who flirted with him, and in that case, I’d dump his sorry ass. I don’t deal with wondering eyes.”
“I like the way you think.” Erica tapped her Styrofoam mug against Flynn’s. “Now, Joan out there, she’d give up her boyfriend if made her girlfriends happy.”
“That’s just as stupid for different reasons.” Flynn watched Joan manage the sled with the ease of a professional.
Lisa, on the other hand, spent more time trying to grope Colton than actually driving the sled. As a matter of fact, Joan took her sled down the trail while Lisa wouldn’t even let Colton get theirs moving. Flynn half expected Lisa to pull down her mask, rip his off, and plant an icicle kiss on his mouth right there. Maybe their tongues would freeze together.
Oh. That’s a horrible a thought.
“Would you like to spend the rest of this trip with me? Because I like everything about you, and those two are driving me batshit crazy.”
“I thought they were your best friends?” Flynn should really learn to stop saying exactly what she was thinking. That’s what got her in trouble with Ashlea at the office in the first place. Perhaps, had she not been honest with Ashlea, then maybe Ashlea wouldn’t have inputted the wrong résumés into the portal, making Flynn look bad. Worst part was that Flynn couldn’t prove it, and Ashlea ended up saving the day and landing one of the biggest clients the firm had.
“I was being sarcastic when I said that, but it was lost on everyone,” Erica said with a laugh. “My parents set this trip up. What was I going to do? Say no? My sister and I are very close, but we’re very different. And Lisa? Well, my folks raised her, so we’re like sisters, and that’s a weird dynamic.”
“I’m an only child, so I wouldn’t know.”
“I can’t decide if you’re the lucky one, or I am. Both have their shortcomings and both, I suspect, are totally freaking awesome.”
Flynn wanted to enjoy Erica. She seemed nice enough, but currently, Flynn’s focus was on the woman gripping Colton’s biceps and dropping her forehead to his chest. A pang of jealousy stirred deep in her gut. It swirled, building slowly, until she could no longer ignore the desire to make a claim on someone she had no right to, but she didn’t want Lisa to be the object of his attention at all.
Ever.
Colton held Lisa’s shoulders but took a step back.
Flynn set her mug down and pulled her face mask up over her nose. Time to take a lesson in mushing.
She’d lost her ever-loving mind.
“You go get your man,” Erica said.
“He’s not my man,” Flynn said under her breath. But she decided that while she was in Alaska, he wasn’t going to be with anyone else.
Might as well make the best of a weird situation.
“Well, hello there,” Colton said, holding out his arms.
Flynn walked right into them, giving him a big hug. “I’m ready for my lesson.”
“I didn’t realize mine was over.” Lisa jutted out her hip, planting her hand on it. “I haven’t even had the chance to ride down the trail.”
That’s because she was too busy feeling up his pecs, but Flynn kept that thought to herself.
“We don’t have much time before we have to leave for our final destination, so it’s time to switch it up.” Colton kept his arm wrapped tightly around Flynn’s waist. “Why don’t you go inside and get some coffee, and I think there are snacks inside.”
If she wasn’t mistaken, she thought he might have slipped his hand under her coat, but she couldn’t be sure because there were so many thick layers.
“Can I bring you out anything?” Lisa asked with a sweet as pie voice. “Hot coffee?”
“I’m good, thanks.” He gave Flynn a good shove. “Hop on the back.”
“What?” She dug her heels into the snow. “I just came out here to save you from her,” she said quietly as Lisa stepped into the small cabin. The door slammed shut behind her with a loud thud.
He moved behind Flynn, pressing his body against her back. “I’ve been dealing with women like her since I started as a tour guide. I almost never take them up on their offers.”
“Almost never?” She glanced over her shoulder.
“Only once did I ever hook up with a guest. Second biggest mistake of my life.” He lifted the reins and put them in her hands.
“What was your first?” she asked.
“Letting you blow me off.”
“Damn, Colton, that’s a really good line. Now why don’t we just get everyone and head to the next stop? I really don’t need to learn anything about mooching—”
“Mushing.”
“Whatever. I’ll just end up getting one of us hurt. Or worse. One of the dogs.”
The lead dog turned his head and growled.
“See, he agrees,” she said.
“He’s just ready to get moving. Now I’m going to use my right leg and pedal.”
“What’s that?” she asked, gripping the harness so tight her hands had to be white.
“Just helping the dogs get started. Now do you remember the commands we discussed?”
“I think so.” She took in a deep breath, focusing on the dogs and snow in front of her, not the warm body holding her steady.
“Alright. Let’s go down the trail we just came from, and we’ll circle around at the turnoff where we saw the eagle. Okay?”
She nodded. “Hike,�
�� she said softly.
“A little louder.”
“Hike. Hike,” she repeated.
The dogs took off at what could be called a trot, jerking her backward. Thank God, Colton was there to make sure she didn’t fall off, because had she been forced to do this by herself, she’d be on her back making snow angels.
A fork in the trail appeared. “Haw,” she yelled.
“Gee. Gee.” Colton took ahold of the harness and pulled to the right. He pressed his cheek against hers. “Haw is left. Gee is right,” he whispered.
“Will you just take over and I’ll stand here looking…well, not pretty, because who the hell looks hot in this shit.”
“You’re the sexiest snow bunny in all of Alaska.”
“Right. I’m all covered—whoa! Whoa!”
The dogs came to an abrupt stop.
Flynn’s body flung forward before being propelled backward into Colton, tossing them both to the snow covered path.
“Oh shit,” he mumbled, circling his arms around her body.
She landed on top of him with a thud.
He groaned. “Fuck, that hurt.” He rolled to the side. The lead dog strolled by and sniffed at his head. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Just concerned about what was poking into my backside. Seriously? I can’t believe you just did that.”
“You mean right here?” He pressed his hand against the small of her back. “I’m tall, but not that tall. What you felt was my weapon. As in gun. As in metal. Besides, it’s a little too cold out here for me to get an erection, but now that I’m thinking about it, things are, well, growing.”
She elbowed him in the gut. “You’re a pig.”
“I’m just a guy with a sexy warm body pressed against my manhood.”
She burst out laughing. “Did you seriously just say that?”
“Not one of my more shining moments, that’s for sure.” He jumped to his feet and stretched out his arms. “Thankfully, the dogs didn’t take off.”
“Yeah. That would have sucked.” She rested her hands on his shoulders and stared at his shiny thick goggles, wishing she could see his ocean-like eyes.
He must have read her mind because he lifted her goggles to her forehead and then his own. Gently, he pulled down his mask.
Her heart tightened, and her breath caught in her throat. She tried to swallow three times before she succeeded.
“I’m going to kiss you.”
Before she could protest, he’d pulled her mask to her neck pressed his cold lips against hers. His hot tongue darted into her mouth, swirling around, gently stroking every crevice. Her muscles went weak, and she leaned into his strong body. The first time he’d kissed her, she thought she’d died and gone to heaven. No one kissed like he did. It wasn’t too tender, but did he leave her lips bruised. His touch would linger over her skin for hours to come. She knew he would enter her dreams, making her toss and turn, needing to feel his arms holding her tight, just like he’d been doing for the last three years. Her mind had a horrible habit of thinking about him at the most inopportune times. She suspected that would get worse when she returned to New York City.
The price she’d have to pay to have him one more time.
Quickly, he covered her face. “We should get back.”
She nodded, climbing on the back of the sled. Her heart hammered so fast in her chest, she thought it might punch through her ribcage. The thumping echoed in her ears.
“Hike,” Flynn commanded. Once again, the dogs took off down the path, heading back toward the small cabin. “You don’t ever have to be jealous of a woman like Lisa.”
“I’m not jealous. If you want to go after her, go for it. Hell. Feel free to have an entire haram if you want.”
He laughed. “I felt every muscle in your body tense when you said those words. You want to be the only woman in my bed and—”
“I’d stop talking before I knock you off this sled again.”
“Promise, promises.”
She bit her tongue. Based on past experiences with Colton, when he got this cocky, he wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.
And she knew she’d cave.
It was inevitable.
5
Flynn twisted her hair into a ponytail. Talk about a bad hair day. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to get a brush through it later. She might have to get into Colton’s big bathtub and soak in an entire bottle of conditioner while enjoying a nice glass of red wine.
Maybe some cheese and crackers.
And of course, she hoped a naked Colton would join her in a bubble bath of bliss.
Of course, that would have to wait until she dealt with the fifteen emails from her boss that had come over while she’d been out in the wilderness. Even if she had service out there, her fingers would have frozen off had she answered them. Besides, she was on vacation, something she never took, but was allowed. She should be able to enjoy herself for a week and her boss should have let her team handle her clients, but noooo, he demanded she do it all herself. Other project managers took time off on a regular basis and were never penalized for it. Why would she be different?
Because her boss hated her, that’s why.
If it wasn’t the best firm in the city, she would have left years ago, or at the very least, be looking for a new job now.
That thought gave her pause. She was killing herself over a position that only wrecked havoc on her life.
The bathroom door swung open. “You might want to go out there and save Colton,” Erica said. “Not only is Lisa hanging all over him, but Joan decided to join in, and the waitress is practically drooling.”
“And you’re not?” Flynn puckered her lips and dabbed them with Chapstick.
“Oh. He’s hot alright. But did you see the bartender? Holy smokes. Now that’s my kind of man.”
Flynn laughed. “You like those long beards?”
“Long beards and man buns. Yummo.”
“I prefer my men to be clean cut, but I will admit the guy behind the bar is pretty sexy, especially his eyes.” Flynn adjusted her ponytail a little higher on her head, remembering the lunch she had with Colton in Central Park. He’d made fun of her the entire time, telling her that a stroll in a park in the middle of the busiest city in the world was not really the great outdoors. He’d balked at her idea of a picnic lunch, but the entire day he’d constantly told her how naturally pretty she was with her hair in a high, messy bun, and no makeup.
Shit.
She reached up and twisted her hair, tucking it through the elastic, allowing a few stray curly strands to fan her face.
“Too bad I live in Seattle; otherwise, I might be making a fool of myself by throwing myself at him,” Erica said.
“To quote my mother, you only live once,” Flynn said. Her Apple Watch vibrated against her wrist. Another email from her boss, labeled urgent.
“You’re saying I should go for it? Have a one-night stand?”
Flynn shrugged. “If that’s what you want, why not?”
“I’ve never had one before, so maybe I will.” Erica leaned over the sink and fiddled with her makeup. “I mean, Lisa has them all the time; however, Joan doesn’t think she does that on purpose. She thinks the men realize she’s a little nuts and run for the hills.”
“She does come on strong.”
“Too strong and I’m afraid if I go for this guy, she’ll either say something stupid about me, or she’ll decide Colton isn’t sexy enough anymore.”
“If you need a wingman, let me know.” Flynn stepped out of the ladies’ room into the main dining room of the brewery looking for Colton.
It was a quaint place with a rustic vibe to it. A large chalkboard behind the bar highlighted the daily specials. An old-fashioned popcorn machine rattled, filling the room with a hint of oil and corn mixing together, creating a mouthwatering scent. The uneven wood floor only added to the ambiance. Surprisingly, there weren’t very many open tables left.
She eyed Colton on
the other side of the bar. He sat on a stool, sipping a dark beer in a frosted mug. Lisa sat on one side, Joan on the other.
A tall, skinny blonde with big boobs and a black shirt stood in front of Colton, her lips moving a mile a minute and her hands flapping in the air. She looked to be about twenty-five or thirty.
Young.
Too young for Colton.
He held up a glass of red wine and smiled.
Flynn smiled back. Her taste buds went wild in anticipation of the full-bodied liquid. “Hi. I’m Flynn. And you are?” she asked the waitress as she took the glass. She inhaled sharply, enjoying the rich aroma.
“The name’s Casey, and I’ll be your waitress. Let me know when you want to be seated.”
“Why don’t you do that now?” Colton stood, but Casey didn’t move herself or her obnoxious boobies out of the way. Instead, she leaned closer, pressing them against his forearm.
“Right this way.” Casey curled her possessive little fingers around Colton’s biceps. “We haven’t seen you in the brewery for a few weeks. Everything okay with your folks?”
Flynn stared at Casey’s ass as she bounced it from side to side. It was like staring at an accident on the side of the road. She couldn’t turn away if she tried.
“They’re fine,” Colton said.
“Good. Give them my best. You know, we have a really great band here this weekend, and I happen to be off on Friday night. I was hoping we could pick up where we left off the last time.”
“I’m going to be pretty busy all weekend, so I doubt it.”
One of the floorboards came up from nowhere and took a hold of Flynn’s toe, hurling her forward. “Shit,” she whispered. Her drink went flying, landing on Casey’s neck. Red wine drenched her hair and the back of her off white shirt.
Colton’s strong arm circled Flynn’s midsection, keeping her from faceplanting.
“What the hell?” Casey turned and glared. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry. I tripped,” Flynn said, thankful the liquid didn’t soak the front of Casey’s shirt. No one needed a wet T-shirt contest.
“She’s klutzy like that.” Colton stood behind her, his arms firmly wrapped around her stomach and his chin on her shoulder.