by AJ Quinn
Haven lay before her in the gathering gloom. It was a postcard-perfect scene, the town blanketed by the now softly falling snow and framed by towering snow-draped pines and the dark looming mountains.
Could I live here?
The scent of a wood fire hung in the air, mingling with the sharp, clean scent of snow and pines, and Dana could see golden welcoming lights spilling from windows as she rolled the idea around in her head. The thought held even more appeal now that she could see the town more clearly.
She asked again. Could I live here?
Definitely. There was no question.
She sensed rather than saw Kellen approaching, with Bogart dancing excitedly at her heels. Dana lowered her window and waited until Kellen drew up beside her.
“So what do you think?”
Dana sighed contentedly. “It’s perfect.”
“Glad you think so. As you’ve probably surmised, that’s Haven straight ahead. You’ll find it’s a town that likes to stay up late and wake up early. People will tell you it’s especially so during ski season, but really, it’s like that all year around.”
“It doesn’t sound all that different from New York, so it shouldn’t be a hard adjustment for me to make.” The irony amused her.
“I think you might find a few differences.” Kellen laughed. “For example, Main Street is the only street in town that’s end-to-end shops, bars, restaurants, art galleries, and spas. But the good news is if you want or need something and can’t find it on Main Street, someone will be happy to order it in for you. It’s that kind of town.”
“I think I love it already.”
“I’d like to see you still feel that way a couple of days from now.”
Dana grinned. “I’m open to suggestion.”
“Well, you said you’ve come from New York, and maybe you already know this, but we’re pretty high up in the Rockies. Actually, we’re among some of the state’s highest peaks. So, I’d like to suggest you try to take it easy for a day or so.” She paused and pushed up her sunglasses. “The altitude can affect people differently, so you should try to stay hydrated, eat carbs, and let your body get used to being at this elevation.”
“I will. And thank you.” Dana’s breath caught as she stared up into Kellen’s eyes. She licked her lips. “Not just for the advice, but for everything you’ve done. Introducing me to Bogart, changing my flat tire, providing incredible coffee, then leading me here and making sure I made it in one piece. I really can’t thank you enough.”
“Not a problem. Bogart and I enjoyed meeting you and helping you out.”
“I enjoyed meeting you both as well.” Uncharacteristically at a loss for words, Dana looked down at her hands before meeting Kellen’s gaze once again. “Um, so I was wondering. I—I plan on being around for a while. Possibly even for good. So maybe I could buy you a drink sometime, as a way to say thanks. Or even dinner?”
Kellen silently studied her before giving a slow nod. “Sounds nice,” she said and started to ease away.
“Wait. Kellen? I don’t know how to get in touch with you.”
“That’s a problem with an easy resolution.” As Kellen spoke, a ghost of a smile appeared. “Do you have your cell phone handy?”
Dana passed Kellen her cell phone and watched her input a number. “That’s not going to connect me to the local pizza place, is it?”
Kellen’s laugh was soft and low. Sexy. “Not to say Up the Creek doesn’t make some of the best pizza in town, but that would be mean. I believe a woman should be honest if she’s interested. Besides, Haven is a small town and you’ll discover pretty quickly I’m easy to find.”
Dana watched Kellen’s retreat as her long strides took her back to her Jeep. She saw her hold the door open letting Bogart scamper in, then slip into the driver’s seat. A moment later, the Jeep eased back onto the road, heading for Haven.
*
By the time Dana restarted her engine and slipped back into gear, Kellen was gone. She’d somehow managed to disappear in a small town with one main street and what appeared to be a warren of side streets. Driving slowly through town, Dana briefly admired the old-fashioned light posts before turning her attention to each side street that she passed. But she saw only historic buildings, quaint low-rise hotels, and high-end condos.
There were plenty of SUVs and four-wheel-drive vehicles in sight. Plenty of people carrying skis or shopping bags, strolling in and out of the shops and restaurants. But there was no sign of Kellen or her bright green Jeep.
Shrugging off a sense of disappointment, Dana pulled over and found herself staring at her phone. On impulse, she reached for it and, with her heart beating faster, dialed the number Kellen had entered.
“Were you testing to make sure the number I gave you was real?” Amusement laced Kellen’s voice.
Dana felt her face grow hot and she released a resigned breath. “I’m sorry. I just—I don’t know what I was thinking. How did you know it was me?”
“Call it instinct. Or caller ID.” Kellen laughed softly, warm and amused. “It’s all right, Dana. You don’t know me well enough yet to know you can believe what I say.”
Dana wasn’t sure what else was said. But by the time she hung up, she was feeling better and able to focus on following the simple directions Annie had given her, determined to make it to her destination.
Drive straight through town…you’ll come to a Y…left takes you higher up into the mountains. You want to stay right, and when you can’t go any farther, you’ll be here.
Annie had been correct. The road ended at a driveway and a sign that read: Alpine Search-and-Rescue.
Parking her car near the front door by a sign that identified the main office, Dana took a deep, satisfied breath and looked up with pleasure at what would be her home for the foreseeable future. The rustic construction—natural woodwork, stone, and glass—made the buildings seem as if they had sprung from the hillside fully formed.
Like the mountains surrounding them, the buildings were a fitting part of the whole. When she stepped inside, she found the same sense of rightness and, more surprisingly, felt a sense of belonging.
The large front office featured beamed ceilings and smooth plank floors, and was filled with obviously handcrafted furniture. One wall promised incredible vistas from floor-to-ceiling windows, while in another a fire burned in a large stone fireplace, filling the office with a welcoming warmth.
The girl at the desk, tall and in her late teens or early twenties with dark blue eyes and nearly black hair, looked up as Dana approached. “Dr. Kingston?”
“That’s me, but I’d prefer to be called Dana, if that’s all right.”
The girl smiled shyly and for an instant an image of Kellen flashed in Dana’s mind. A sister?
“Dana works. I’m Cody. Annie asked me to let her know as soon as you got here. I think she was starting to get worried, but we told her you’d probably just been delayed by the weather. If you leave me your car keys, I’ll bring your bags to your cabin and make sure you’ve got enough firewood.”
My cabin? Dana handed her keys to Cody. An instant later she was gone, disappearing through a doorway with only the echo of footsteps to mark her passing.
For a moment, Dana stared at where the girl had been. But with no idea how long she might have to wait, she shrugged and walked over to the windows, using whatever time she’d been granted to acquaint herself with her surroundings.
Much as she expected, the building housing the front office indeed provided spectacular views of both the town and the towering mountains. The snow had all but stopped, and she suddenly understood why Annie had said she would quickly fall in love with this place. With her eyes fixed on a distant mountain peak, Dana couldn’t imagine a more incredible sight.
The landscape spread out before her—fields of endless white, forests of snow-draped trees with their branches hanging low to the ground, and the dark, jagged peaks of the mountains, outlined against the pewter sky.
It was perfect. Tranquil. And exactly what she needed to counter the chaos her life had been for the last few years. She sighed contentedly and, almost of their own accord, the knotted muscles in the back of her neck began to relax.
As she stared at the panorama, she tried to recall what Annie had said about housing. Somehow Dana had imagined it would end up being a tiny apartment in town, and after sharing a small flat in New York with two other doctors, just having a space to call her own would have been fine. But having a cabin to herself? That sounded unbelievable.
“Dana?”
She turned to find Annie standing directly behind her. Her dark hair was pulled up in a loose knot, there was a warm smile on her face, and she was casually dressed in jeans and a bright red sweatshirt that read: The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes a little longer.
Dana liked the sentiment. She grinned widely, and as she moved toward her, she extended her hand. Annie took it, then drew her into a welcoming hug.
“I’m so glad you’re finally here. I’ve spent the better part of the day trying to picture the little girl I hired from the East Coast driving through these mountains in a snowstorm, and I have to tell you, it wasn’t a pretty picture.”
Dana laughed. “I’m fairly certain I don’t qualify as a little girl anymore.”
“I don’t know about that.” The corners of Annie’s eyes crinkled as she gently smiled. “But if you don’t mind me asking, what have you been doing with yourself since I last saw you? What the devil did you do to your hand?”
Dana stared for a moment at the cast on her right hand, feeling unreleased emotions burning her throat. She remembered the commotion in the ER as a wounded and bleeding prisoner got away from his police escort. She remembered the crazed look in his eyes as he grabbed her and demanded she give him drugs for his pain. And she remembered finding herself on the bottom of a scrum with two police officers, a couple of hospital security guards, and her would-be patient on top of her.
When she looked up, Annie was studying her with quiet concern. “A small accident during my last shift at the hospital,” Dana murmured. “The good news is the cast can come off in a couple of days.”
“So that’s your story and you’re sticking to it?” Annie chuckled, but a hint of real sympathy softened her tone.
“Yup. Mm-hmm.”
“Well, all right for now,” Annie conceded. “But as soon as you’re settled in, I want you to make an appointment to see Gabe. He’s one of our paramedics and also serves as our resident physical therapist. He’s young but he’s good and we have great expectations for those hands of yours. He’ll make sure you’re in top working order in no time.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Annie’s smile slowly faded as she continued to study Dana’s face. “You really were much later than I thought you’d be. Late enough that I was getting worried. Did you have any problems on the road?”
Dana attempted a casual shrug, but only half succeeded. “A bit. My front tire blew about an hour or so out of town.”
“I know that stretch of road.” Annie’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “Not exactly the place I’d choose for a blow-out at the best of times, let alone in a snowstorm. And you with a broken wing. How on earth did you manage to deal with that?”
“An angel came to my rescue.”
“Pardon me?”
Dana’s smile widened. “You won’t believe this, but an amazing, gorgeous woman appeared out of nowhere. She served me the most incredible chocolate-infused coffee I’ve ever tasted and changed my tire for me while I stayed warm and dry in her vehicle. And if that wasn’t enough, she drove in front of me all the way into town to make sure I didn’t have any more problems.”
“That sounds wonderful. I’m so glad you were able to get help. And you sound slightly smitten. How did you let this paragon get away from you?”
“Yes. Me too. Maybe. And actually, I didn’t let her get away. Not completely, anyway.” Dana’s mouth twisted into a wry grin. “Before she went on her way, I told her I’d like to buy her a drink—or dinner—to thank her for helping me out. And I’m happy to say she said yes.”
“And you hadn’t even gotten here yet? You New Yorkers certainly move fast. But I had a feeling about you and I’m pleased if it gives you yet another reason to want to stay here. So you’re going to call her?”
Dana started to laugh. “Of course. I just think I should wait until I get a bit settled. In any case, she did say she’d be pretty easy for me to find, so I assume that means she’s a local.”
“Even better. What’s her name? Maybe I know her.”
“Her name’s Kellen. Nice, don’t you think?” She paused and couldn’t help but notice the state change in Annie’s expression. “Annie? Is something wrong? Is there a problem?”
“Dana?” Annie’s voice sounded rational and calm. “What did Kellen look like? Can you describe her for me?”
“Of course.” Dana was surprised by the question, but she could read nothing in Annie’s expression. “She’s a little taller than me. Long, lean body. Has dark hair down to her shoulders, an amazing face, and killer blue eyes. Actually, she looks a lot like Cody, the young woman I met at the front desk. And she had a dog with her. A—”
“A black and silver long-haired German shepherd named Bogart.”
“You do know her.” Dana swallowed.
Annie nodded and a smile reappeared on her face. “I would hope so. Her full name is Kellen Ryan and you’re right. She is local and she is gorgeous. She also happens to be my dearest friend as well as the managing partner here at Alpine Search-and-Rescue.”
“Annie?” Oh, shit. I’m so screwed. Concern and embarrassment edged Dana’s voice. “Annie, please tell me I didn’t just hit on my new boss and ask her out for drinks.”
Annie started to laugh and once she started, she couldn’t seem to stop.
“Annie, damn it, please. This isn’t funny.”
“Oh yes, it is,” Annie replied, still laughing. “But it’s not you I’m laughing at, Dana. It’s Kellen. More to the point, it’s the fact that she said yes. You have no idea how happy knowing that just made me.”
Dana inwardly groaned. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
“I am, believe me.” Annie paused and tried to take a calming breath. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve been worried about Kellen for too long. And technically, just so you know, she’s not really your boss.”
“She’s not really my boss?”
“I know you’re confused, but I promise I’ll explain everything. For now, why don’t we go into town for dinner? My treat. Everything sounds so much better over a glass of wine. And once you’re settled, I’ll make a point to have you over for dinner so you can meet my partner, Lesley.”
“Lesley?”
Annie nodded. “Lesley Marlow. She’s a writer.”
“Oh God. Are you kidding? I think I have every book she’s published. I think she’s wonderful.”
“I think so too.” Annie paused then grinned. “Maybe we can invite Kellen as well.”
*
When Kellen pulled in to the main parking area at Alpine, the first thing she saw was a sleek black BMW 650i. She smiled as she drove past, heading behind the main building and past the recreation center before turning right onto a winding lane. It was narrow and sheltered, with towering trees on both sides, their branches bent under the weight of the recent snowfall. But it was wide enough for her Jeep to get through, which meant the girls—Cody and Ren—had done a great job of clearing it for her.
She’d have to do something special for them as a way to say thank you. Maybe plan a training session on the climbing wall they loved so much. Fun with ropes, followed by a night out at Up the Creek. Pizza, music, and a few games of pool. The longer she thought about it, the more it sounded like a plan.
Bogart started to bark as she reached the secluded cabins they’d had built on the property. She’d been pleased with the end result, glad they’
d managed to maintain as natural a setting as possible, leaving each cabin shielded from the others by a wall of trees. It made for a perfect place to relax and enjoy the wraparound deck at each cabin, with nothing more than birdsong and the occasional chipmunk to break the silence.
Or dogs.
No sooner had she pulled in front of the last cabin and let him out than the cabin door opened and Cody and Ren raced out, their laughter as Bogart greeted them sounding like music to Kellen’s ears.
Ren, with auburn hair and moss-green eyes, was growing more lovely with each passing day as she gained confidence. She was also the more openly affectionate of the two, evidenced by the bone-crushing hug she gave Kellen.
“I missed you. Next time, just so you know, I’m going with you. That way, I don’t have to miss you. Now, what did Doc Susan say? Is Bogart going to be okay?”
Cody, whose dark hair and blue eyes were enough of a mirror image of Kellen that they were often mistaken for sisters, hung back a little. But only a little. “It’s good to have you home, Kel.”
“I’m glad to be home.” Kellen smiled. “And Bogart’s going to be fine. You know I only took him to Denver because he behaves better for Susan when he’s getting checked out than he does for Jen here in town.”
Cody and Ren nodded, and on the surface, they seemed happy enough. But Kellen instinctively felt something was off—with both girls. “Okay,” she said as they entered her cabin, leaving Bogart to burn up some of his boundless energy outside. “Which one of you is going to tell me what’s wrong?”
The two girls looked at each other and immediately busied themselves, bringing in firewood from the deck and building a fire to warm up the cabin. Finally, Cody looked up. “How do you do that?”
“You should know by now I can read your minds.” Kellen grinned before conceding, “But only to a point. Now tell me what’s going on. What’s got the two of you upset? Did something happen while I was gone?”
Another prolonged silence followed, during which neither girl would make eye contact with her. Kellen’s nerves began to twitch before Cody spoke once again. “A cop came by yesterday. He was asking for you.”