She’d been careful not to let the hospital know she had I.D., though, so that they wouldn’t know her real name. At some point, a bill would be sent out to Rachel Evans, a person who didn’t actually exist. Rhythm felt a little guilty, but she told herself she’d find a way eventually to make it right with the hospital. In the meantime, she was more concerned with keeping herself alive.
And with figuring out what to wear tomorrow. She surveyed the pile of clothes on the bed again and frowned. Maybe she should try to get in touch with one of the other woman. They probably had something she could borrow. They just hadn’t sent many dress options along because they didn’t know Rhythm would be attending a funeral tomorrow.
A knock sounded on the door, and Rhythm glanced up in surprise. She hadn’t heard Ben come in, and she hadn’t expected him to be home from work this early. It wasn’t quite three p.m. yet.
“Come in,” she called out, and the door handle turned. Ben stepped in, wearing his Coast Guard uniform, and, as usual, looking so handsome that he took Rhythm’s breath away. She knew staying at his place was going to be torture. Every time she saw him her heart rate accelerated, and a warm, tingling feeling filled her core. She should have avoided the whole issue by just staying with one of the other crew members who already had a wife or girlfriend. But she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be here with Ben, even if the proximity to him tended to drive her to absolute distraction.
Ben surveyed the piles of clothes all over the bed and raised an eyebrow in Rhythm’s direction.
“I was going to ask if you were ready to go, but from the looks of things you haven’t quite finished packing yet,” he said.
Rhythm sighed. “Yeah, sorry. I thought we weren’t leaving until seven, though? You said you didn’t get off work until five-thirty.”
“I got off a few hours early. Things were slow. Not a lot of storms going on, and all the fisherman seem to be keeping themselves out of trouble. They didn’t need as many rescue crews on duty as they had, so they sent me home.”
“Oh,” Rhythm said, then glanced around at the clothes strewn across her bed. “I’m actually not packed because I can’t find anything to pack for Evan’s funeral. Nothing here seems dressy enough for a funeral. Your friends only sent me one dress, and it’s way too small. I was actually just trying to figure out a way to call them and see if one of them might have something else I could borrow in a different size.”
Ben leaned against the doorframe. “You could do that if you want to,” he said. “But, trust me, I don’t think Evan’s family is going to care how you’re dressed. They’re so grateful for what you did for him.”
“I know,” Rhythm said. “But I still want to feel like I’m properly dressed for the occasion. I want to properly honor Evan’s memory, you know?”
Ben nodded. “I understand. What if we ran into town and went shopping? We have a few extra hours before we were planning to leave, anyway. And I’m sure you’d like to have a few outfits of your own.”
Rhythm picked up a navy t-shirt that was crumpled on the bed next to her and started toying with the tag. “I’d love to have some clothes of my own, but I don’t have any way of paying for them right now. I have to wait until I get my debit and credit cards replaced so I can get access to my funds.”
“Can’t you just go to a bank branch and withdraw some cash?” Ben asked, furrowing his brow.”
Rhythm laughed. “I suppose I could, but the nearest bank branch for my bank is pretty far away. I got the account in California, and they don’t have any locations up here. I’ve been meaning to open an account with a local bank, but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“Gotcha,” Ben said. “But it doesn’t matter. Let’s go shopping and I’ll cover the cost of whatever you want to get. It’s the least I can do for you, after you’ve so graciously agreed to help out my crew.”
“No way,” Rhythm said. “I don’t want you to do that. I’d feel bad owing you money.”
“You won’t owe me anything. It’s a gift to you, as a thank you for helping us out. We’re the ones who owe you. I know it’s a big deal for you to stay here instead of hightailing it back to California.”
“I don’t know, Ben. I don’t think I can accept that. You’re already providing me with room and board.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t be ridiculous. Grab a coat and let’s get going before we run out of time,” Ben said, and then turned on his heel and walked down the hallway toward the living room. “We’re leaving in five minutes, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Rhythm watched him go, chewing on her lower lip nervously. She did at least need to get something to wear to the funeral tomorrow. And it would be nice to get a few things that were specifically in her size. She could always pay Ben back later, even though he was insisting he didn’t want her to.
Rhythm stood up and sorted through the pile of clothes until she found a jacket, and then slipped on some boots that fit her reasonably well. She would get some stuff today, and just keep track of how much she was spending. Then, once she had access to her money again, she’d insist that Ben take repayment. She knew he’d resist, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Rhythm stuck her chin out defiantly as she walked toward the living room. He had no idea how stubborn she could be.
Ben smiled when he saw her walk out with her coat and shoes on. No doubt, he thought he’d won this battle. Let him think that, though. He didn’t realize who he was dealing with.
“Ready?” Ben asked, already reaching for his keys from the key ring near the door.
“Yup,” Rhythm said. “All ready. I hope you know some clothing stores, because I’m not sure where anything around here is.”
“Don’t worry,” Ben said. “There’s a shopping center in town that has several clothing stores. I’m sure we can find something to suit your taste.”
Rhythm followed Ben out to his car and hopped into the passenger seat. She suddenly felt shy during the fifteen minute drive to the shopping center, as though Ben could somehow read her thoughts and knew that she was secretly swooning over the way he looked. Rhythm chanced a glance over at him, but he seemed oblivious to her quiet demeanor. He was humming along with the song on the radio while tapping his fingers to the beat of the music, and his gaze was fixed on the road ahead.
Rhythm studied his profile for a moment, admiring the strong edge of his jaw line. Even though his looks were what had initially attracted her to him, she was beginning to realize that it was more than just his physical features that were causing the swooning. He had a sense of duty and loyalty that she admired. He wanted his crew taken care of, and when she had offered her help with locating the scientists, he had taken it upon himself to make sure that she was taken care of as well. She had a feeling that she could make any request within reason, and he would make sure that her wish was fulfilled. He wanted her to feel as comfortable and at home as possible in her new situation.
Ben seemed to feel Rhythm’s eyes on her, because he suddenly glanced over. When he caught her eye, her cheeks turned red and she quickly looked away.
“What?” he asked, brushing at his cheek. “Do I have something on my face?”
“No, I was just staring off into space,” Rhythm replied, hoping that he wouldn’t press further.
He didn’t. He went back to humming, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Rhythm had actually been ogling him moments before. A few minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of Kodiak’s main shopping center, and Rhythm immediately spotted one of her favorite department stores.
“Let’s try in there,” she said. “They should hopefully have something that will work for the funeral.”
Ben nodded, and fell into step beside her, pushing the button to lock his car with a beep as they walked away. Inside the store, Rhythm felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Something about the familiarity of the place made her feel better. Maybe it sounded silly, but the familiar brand logos on display all around her made her feel
like she hadn’t completely lost track of everything in her life.
She stepped into the section where women’s dresses hung, and began quickly browsing through the racks. She chose a few options in shades of black and muted gray, and then grabbed a deep purple dress almost as an afterthought.
“I’m just going to try these on really quickly,” she said to Ben, who nodded and took a seat on one of the plush armchairs right outside the fitting room.
“Let me know if you want an opinion on anything,” he said. “I’m no fashion expert, but I like to think I know what looks good on a woman. Especially a woman as beautiful as you.”
He winked at Rhythm and she felt her cheeks heating up as her heart started racing again. With a nervous giggle, she disappeared into the dressing room. She wasn’t sure if that had been a real attempt at flirtation, or just a friendly tease, but the way her stomach had flip-flopped at his words had been no joke. She needed a moment away from him to catch her breath.
As she quickly slipped out of her borrowed clothes and into the first black dress, she asked herself for the hundredth time what was wrong with her. She wasn’t normally the type to go boy-crazy over a guy, even one as undeniably handsome as Ben. But something about him was drawing her to him. She felt like there was an almost magnetic pull between them, and the more she tried to ignore it, the stronger it became.
Rhythm sighed as she viewed herself in the mirror. The first dress was okay, but kind of boring. She supposed that boring was okay for a funeral. The point was to be respectful, not to be a fashion icon. Still, if she was going to spend some of her limited funds on clothing, she wanted the dress to be something that she would enjoy wearing again on other occasions.
She stripped out of the first dress, and tried on the next three, feeling similarly uninspired by each subsequent outfit. She had just about resigned herself to a boring dress when she saw the purple dress hanging on the wall hook. She eyed it carefully for a moment, and then pulled it off the hanger with a shrug. She might as well try it on, since nothing else had sparked her interest. She pulled it on over her head and struggled with the back zipper for a moment. After finally getting the zipper pulled all the way up, Rhythm eyed herself in the mirror, and her eyes widened.
The dress was perfect on her. It was an elegant, long-sleeved sheath dress, with a hem that hit just above her knees. The neckline was delicately scalloped, adding just a touch of interest to the otherwise conservative design. And the fabric hugged her curves perfectly, putting the emphasis on all the right places. Rhythm turned to the right and then to the left, looking over her shoulder and viewing the outfit from every angle. It was perfect for her, but was it okay for a funeral?
She frowned. She hadn’t been to a funeral in a long time, and she had never been to one in Alaska, let alone one in Alaska for a bear shifter. What were the rules on what you could wear? She didn’t want to offend anyone by not knowing the rules. Would everyone else be wearing strictly black, or something like that? If purple was okay, she definitely wanted this dress.
Despite her resolve not to parade any of her chosen dresses for Ben, Rhythm decided to make an exception and ask him what he thought of this dress. Hopefully, he would be able to honestly tell her if it was the completely wrong kind of thing for a funeral. She padded out of the dressing room in her bare feet and went to stand in front of where Ben was sitting, staring at something on his cell phone.
“Hey,” she said gently. “Do you think this dress is okay? I mean, it’s purple, not black. I just don’t know the protocol for funerals around here, or for shifter funerals in particular. I don’t want to offend anyone if everyone else will be wearing black.”
Ben looked up, and his mouth literally dropped. “Wow,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Rhythm, you have to buy that dress. It looks incredible on you.”
He said it in a tone of voice that clearly implied he would love to take the dress off of her, and Rhythm felt her cheeks heating up again. This time, there was no denying the flirtation in his voice. Whether he meant to or not, he had just revealed his hand. He was definitely attracted to her.
“Thanks,” she said, looking down at the dress because she was unable to meet his eyes at that moment. “But, is it okay? For the funeral I mean?”
Ben stood, and walked around her in a slow circle as he spoke. “It’s perfect. Shifters funerals aren’t any different than normal funerals, when it comes to what people wear. And people around here are laid back about things like that. There aren’t any strict rules about having to wear black, or even about having to dress up. The most important thing is that people show up to honor their friend or loved one who passed away.”
“Okay,” Rhythm said. “Then, if you’re sure it’s okay. I think I’ll get this one.”
“I’m sure. You look lovely,” Ben said, coming to a stop directly in front of her and lifting his finger to gently brush her cheek. When he made contact with her skin. Rhythm felt like fire was shooting from his body into hers. Her breathing became rapid, and when she tilted her head up to look at him, she could see his eyes blazing with desire. They stood there for several long moments, holding each other’s gaze, and both acknowledging with their eyes what they couldn’t bring themselves to say with their mouths yet.
They wanted each other.
Rhythm felt heat growing between her legs, and her heart was beating so loudly that she was sure Ben must be able to hear it. She was the one to break the moment, coughing nervously when she couldn’t take the heat any longer.
“I should get changed,” she said, taking a step backward toward the dressing room. “We don’t want to end up leaving late.”
Ben nodded, but he never took his eyes off of her as she quickly backed into the dressing room and shut the door behind her. As soon as she closed it, she leaned her face against the mirror, willing the cool glass to chill her burning skin.
Her mind was screaming at her that she was insane if she thought getting together with a bear shifter was a good idea—let alone with a bear shifter who was being hunted for his life by a group of crazy scientists who happened to be her former employer.
But her heart was doing happy somersaults, and celebrating the fact that she was about to take a solo trip into the Alaskan wilderness with the strong, handsome man who was waiting for her just on the other side of the fitting room door.
And for once, Rhythm was going to listen to her heart.
Chapter Seven
Rhythm watched with interest as Ben did his routine preflight checks on the Cessna aircraft that would be taking them to Frost Peak. His face was all business, with his eyebrows furrowed and his nose scrunched up as he looked over every square inch of the plane. He had asked Rhythm if she’d ever been on a flight in a plane this small before, and she hadn’t. The Coast Guard helicopter that she’d ridden in after the rescue crew had pulled her out of the water was the smallest aircraft she’d ever been in, and this plane was even smaller. With barely enough room for two adults and Rhythm’s small duffel bag, it looked almost like a toy airplane to her. Ben had assured her that the aircraft was in top shape, and that, although it might feel strange to be in such a small plane, that she was perfectly safe and he would take good care of her.
Rhythm wasn’t worried. If she was going to trust someone to ferry her around in a tiny airplane, a Coast Guard pilot seemed as good a person as any. She felt more embarrassed than anything about the size of the bag she had packed. It wasn’t a large duffel, by any means, but it still took up almost all of the extra space in the aircraft. Although they only planned to be at the Frost Peak Clan’s headquarters for a day, Rhythm had decided to take a few extra outfits so that she had a choice of what to wear. Their shopping trip had continued for an hour after she bought the purple dress, and she had snatched up a new jacket along with new jeans, shirts, underwear, and shoes. Nothing crazy—just some practical basics. But, still, she had been excited to test out her new outfits, and had brought more than enough wit
h her.
When she saw the plane’s size, and apologized for bringing a duffel instead of a small backpack like Ben, he had laughed.
“It’s alright,” he’d said, giving her a wink. “I’m told that women can’t help overpacking.”
This statement had only made Rhythm more frustrated. She didn’t want Ben to lump her in with stereotypes of other women, and assume she was high maintenance. She wasn’t. She normally packed very light, but she had just been excited to try out her new outfits. Rhythm hadn’t protested much at Ben’s, statement, though. She’d found that protesting too much usually made people believe you even less, so she clamped her mouth shut while he finished up his preflight checks. He would see with time that she was an easygoing and practical person.
An Alpha's Tempest (Water Bear Shifters 4) Page 6