by AJ Quinn
She wanted to curl up in a ball, she wanted to get warm, but her body wouldn’t cooperate. She couldn’t remember how to lift her leg, didn’t know how to help get Josie inside, and the pain she’d staved off through sheer will now hit her with a vengeance.
Struggling to maintain her equilibrium, she all but fell over. But she sensed several people running toward her. Removing Josie from the back of the sled. Talking to her, then lifting her and bringing her inside.
Time ceased to matter. She was aware her jacket and boots had been removed, her frozen jeans and thermal long johns were cut off, and she was hooked to an IV with warm saline. A heartbeat later, she was wrapped in a soft, warm blanket.
Faintly disoriented, Kellen was aware of people moving around her, someone taking her temperature while someone else held a warm, sweet liquid to her lips and encouraged her to take a sip. She tried her best to put her game face on, but chills were racking her and her teeth were chattering.
The drink was pulled back, and then a different set of hands took over. Soft, warm fingers wiped her face before placing something in her mouth. She’d know those fingers, that gentle touch anywhere, just as she knew the scent and taste of the chocolate melting in her mouth. She struggled to bring her world back into focus.
And then she saw Dana’s face. Her beautiful, worried face. Hovering over Kellen as if she’d dreamed her. As if she’d wanted and needed her so badly at this moment that she had caused her to materialize.
Kellen blinked.
And Dana was still there.
Dana’s hand was shaking slightly as she brushed wet hair away from her face and stared at Kellen, as if memorizing each of her features. Dana then drew her close to the heart of her, where Kellen knew she’d be safe.
“How’re you doing, sweetheart?”
“F-fine. Not so cold.”
“You’re going to be fine. No sign of frostbite, so we’re going to warm you up nice and slow. Okay?”
“’Kay.”
“As soon as you’re warmer and up to it, there are a number of people waiting to talk to you,” Dana murmured softly. “Cody and Ren need to see you’re really all right. Josie wants to thank you for saving her life. And Meg wants to let you know she’s naming her new baby after you.”
“If you want to warm me up quickly, skin to skin usually works the best,” she said hoarsely, and one corner of her mouth tipped up in her best effort to smile.
Amused bafflement transitioned to a soft smile before Dana pressed her lips to Kellen’s forehead. “Have another piece of chocolate and then we’ll see about letting all your admirers in to see you. After that, we’ll talk about skin to skin.”
Kellen felt a latent spark of sexual heat spread through her chest, and a flame ignited deep in her core, heating up her blood. “Are you going to just make promises, or do you plan to deliver anytime soon?”
Dana laughed, slipped another piece of chocolate between Kellen’s lips, then kissed her on the mouth.
Chapter Twenty-six
The storm system stalled and battered the region for nearly forty-eight hours, before it finally relinquished its hold and moved on. In its wake, the weather turned clear and the sun returned.
Everyone pitched in to clear the streets, digging out buried cars and making way for the plows to come through. The utility trucks followed and worked to restore power. And slowly, the community returned to some semblance of normal.
Once Dana released her from the clinic, Kellen went home and had a long hot shower, then dressed in sweats, wrapped herself in a blanket, and for what seemed like forever, sat in front of the fire, still trying to get warm. A miracle according to Annie. Cody and Ren stayed by her side, helping to look after Bogart and simply keeping her company.
The following morning, Dana left her sleeping when she got up, turned the coffeemaker on, and headed for a shower. But on her return, she saw the bed empty and found the three of them—Kellen, Cody, and Ren—standing in the cold on the front deck, steaming coffees in hand, sharing the birth of a new day. The connection between them was tangible, and Dana was hesitant to intrude.
Cody saw her first, standing just inside the doorway, and motioned for her to come out on the deck with them. But it seemed a special moment, like a bonding ritual, and she didn’t want to disturb them.
Then Kellen turned and reached for her hand, drawing her out onto the deck to stand beside them. She didn’t say anything. No one did. They simply watched the dawn spread over the mountaintops in silent communion.
Afterward, Cody and Ren went back inside, leaving Dana with Kellen alone on the deck. “You should go in,” Dana finally said. “It’s still much too cold.”
“Soon, but not yet. It feels too good being out here.”
They remained side by side for a few minutes longer, Kellen’s hand caressing the back of Dana’s neck in a gentle random pattern before she drew her closer and kissed her. Softly. Sweetly. “Okay. Let’s go in.”
Dana nodded. “You just want more coffee, don’t you?” Her heart warmed as Kellen laughed. A beautiful sound.
“You know me too well,” Kellen said.
“Not yet,” Dana responded, “but I will.”
Several heartbeats went by without Kellen saying anything, but then she softly sighed. “Will you still want me when you know all my secrets?”
“I can’t imagine a time when I won’t want you. Is that going to be a problem for you?”
Kellen smiled. “No, it’s not a problem. Let’s go find that coffee before the girls drink it all.”
*
When her cell phone began to vibrate, Kellen’s chest stilled.
She already knew who was going to be on the other end of the call. They all knew. The three smiling women around her looked up simultaneously and their expressions mirrored each other, smiles fading, expressions becoming fearful. Worried. For her.
Once again, he wasted no time. “Do you know why I’m a happy man, Ryan?”
Kellen turned away from the others. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t identified himself. She’d know his voice anywhere. “No, Mr. Broussard. I have no idea why you’re happy.”
“I’m happy to know you survived the storm,” he said with a laugh. “I can’t have no damn storm taking you out. That pleasure belongs to me alone. It was all I could think about these past few days.”
“I’m glad to hear you survived the storm as well, Mr. Broussard. But winter weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. Mother Nature can be wicked and can turn on you in a flash. You may not be so lucky next time. Don’t you think it’s time you went home?”
“You and I both know that’s not going to happen.”
“What about your sons? What about Declan and Nathan? They’re worried about you.”
There was a momentary silence, as if he was weighing his answer. “This isn’t about them. This is about my youngest boy, and he’s dead. Because of you.”
Kellen squeezed her eyes shut, desperate to remain calm. Desperate to find a way to reach a grieving father. “I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Broussard. Truly I am. Has it not occurred to you that even if you kill me, Tommy Lee will still be dead?”
“I’m not stupid, girl. I know that. But when I’m face to face with my boy, I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing I avenged his death. You’ll be dead as well. At my hands. I want you to think on that because you won’t have much longer to wait.”
He rang off without another word.
When the call ended Kellen remained still, her knuckles white as she strained to hold the phone steady. She tried to slow her heart rate. Tried to gather her composure. Tried not to absorb any more of Broussard’s anger and pain than she already had, afraid if she did she wasn’t going to make it through this.
When she felt a hand touch her arm, she jumped and spun around.
“It’s okay, love. It’s just me,” Dana said. “What did he say?”
“More of the same.” Kellen shrugged tiredly. “He said he’s glad
I survived the storm so he can kill me.”
“That’s twisted,” Cody said as she drew Ren closer.
Kellen nodded. “He won’t stop. He’s really quite mad, you know, and I don’t want anyone else getting hurt. So I’m going to ask that none of you go anywhere alone, that you don’t stray far from a safe place, and that you look out for each other. Watch each other’s back.”
“That goes for you too,” Dana said.
“It goes for all of us.” There was nothing else to say and Kellen was left wanting nothing more than to get lost in the comfort of Dana’s arms. In the feel of her. In the heat and strength of her. Telling her in silence what she continued to struggle to say in words.
As if reading her mind, Dana put her arms around her, reaffirming the bond that had been forged in spite of everything.
*
When they left the cabin a short time later, they didn’t get far before they ran into Grant and several of his team, looking to meet with Kellen. A reminder, if one was needed, that with the storm over, their focus had returned to finding Broussard.
Dana accompanied them as far as Kellen’s office before continuing on her own to the clinic. There were a few patients scheduled, but that didn’t account for the number of people in the waiting room.
The walk-ins turned out to be mostly strains and sprains from people trying to move beyond the storm’s aftermath, and for the next few hours, she was happy to lose herself in the familiar routine.
It was well after six before Dana came up for air, glad there was only one more patient waiting. Her smile widened when she saw it was Meg Waters, bringing in Josie, and young Kelly. It seemed everyone had heard the story by now, and most conversations today seemed to revolve around Kellen and Gabe delivering the baby on Meg’s kitchen floor.
“I know we don’t have an appointment, but Josie said she had to come,” Meg said. “I don’t know if she’s having problems with her hands and she’s not telling me, so I thought it was better to bring her in. Maybe she’ll talk to you.”
“It’s not a problem.” Dana turned and smiled at the girl. “Follow me, and we’ll take a look at how you’re doing.”
She took Josie into an examination room, gently removed the gauze wrapped around her hands, and checked the frostbite, the only visible remainder of the girl’s frightening experience during the storm. “How do your hands feel?”
The girl wriggled her hands a little. “They feel a little stiff.”
Dana smiled. “That’s to be expected. They’ll take a while to heal, but I don’t expect there to be any permanent damage.”
“Is Kellen going to be all right too?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good.” Josie seemed pleased with the answer. “She’s not here, is she?”
One brow lifted. “Kellen? No, I’m afraid not. Did you need to see her?”
Josie stared at the floor for a moment. “I remember she kept talking to me while she was digging me out of the snow. She wouldn’t let me do anything—”
“That’s because when someone has hypothermia, like you did, moving too much causes the cold blood from your arms and legs to move toward your heart and that can be bad,” Dana explained.
“That’s what Kellen said. She also said if I stayed awake and talked to her, she’d take me fishing once summer’s here. Is it true she catches fish with just her hands? No rod or reel? No hooks?”
Dana smiled at the girl’s enthusiasm. “It’s true. She’s already taught Cody and Ren to do it and she’s promised to teach me as well. Maybe we can all go together.”
“That would be great,” Josie said as Dana led her back from the treatment room. “Um…can I ask one more thing?”
“Of course.”
“Is it true what people say?”
“What’s that, Josie?”
“That Kellen used to be homeless? That she used to live on the street?”
Oh shit. Dana stiffened and her smile froze into place before fading. She heard Meg hiss at Josie. Saw the girl hang her head and stare at the floor.
She realized it was the first time she found herself confronted with the question, something Kellen and the girls had no doubt experienced far too many times. And the possibility Meg and Josie somehow thought less of Kellen because she’d lived on the street made her both angry and sad. But she also knew she needed to respond appropriately. In a way that would hopefully help the girl understand.
“Does it bother you to know Kellen lived on the street?”
Josie stared at her newly bandaged hands for a moment and finally shook her head.
“Then why did you ask the question, Josie? What is it you want to know?”
The girl chewed on her bottom lip to the point Meg started to intervene, but Dana shook her head and Meg remained silent.
“Before,” Josie began haltingly. “Before our parents finally agreed to let me leave and come live with Meg, I had thought of running away. I figured I’d be able to handle it. Then after I got lost in the storm the other day, I realized I wouldn’t have survived. But I’ve heard people talk about Kellen. About how she’s the best tracker and if someone’s lost, they better hope it’s Kellen that goes out looking for them. So I guess I just wondered how she learned so much and got to be so smart.”
She wasn’t looking down on Kellen, Dana realized, as relief flooded through her. What she had was a mild case of hero worship. Or possibly a first crush. She was on the verge of responding to Josie’s question when she felt a warm and familiar hand squeeze her shoulder.
“Living on the street doesn’t make you smart, Josie,” Kellen said gently. “It’s hard and rough and dangerous, and you’re cold and wet and hungry a lot of the time.”
Josie studied her through narrowed eyes. “Then how’d you get to be so smart?”
“I don’t know that I am, but whatever I know, I learned by studying and reading books. Every kind of book I could get my hands on. Especially books about nature and how to survive in the wild. About plants that are good to eat and how to build shelters.”
“And how to fish without a fishing rod?” Josie added.
“Yes,” Kellen smiled. “Even how to fish with just my hands, which taught me an even more important skill. Patience.”
“Why patience?”
“It takes an incredible amount of patience to stand perfectly still in a river or stream until dinner swims your way.”
“So you’re saying I should read books and study?”
“Exactly. And the next time I take Cody and Ren into the woods for a real-life lesson, perhaps Meg will let you join us.”
Josie’s eyes widened and her smile could have lit up the room. “That would be so—oh God, Meggie? Can I go with them? Please?”
“As long as you promise not to cause trouble and to do everything Kellen tells you to do.” Several seconds passed and then Meg spoke again. “Kellen, I hope you weren’t upset by Josie’s question. She didn’t mean any harm. You’re all she’s talked about since you saved her. And just so you know, I knew…I’ve known for a long time you’d lived on the street.”
“And to think you still named that beautiful baby girl after me,” Kellen said with a grin.
“Damn right I did,” Meg replied. “When I look at everything you’ve accomplished, and everything you’re doing for our community, it makes me proud to name my baby after you. So thank you. Thanks for saving all of us.”
Maybe not just one case of hero worship, Dana thought wryly, wrapping her arms around Kellen after the others left. “Are you done for the day?”
“Grant and his boys are finished with me for the moment, if that’s what you’re asking. With all this fresh snow, they want to take a chopper up tomorrow and see if they can spot anything that may indicate where Broussard is hiding.”
“What else did they want to talk to you about? You were gone a long time and you seem, I don’t know, on edge, I guess. Tense.”
Kellen shrugged. “They also wanted to discuss securi
ty for the grand opening. They seem to think because I know both the clinic and Haven better than most and by nature am always looking for escape routes, that I might be able to help them. With things like lines of sight and where to post sharpshooters.”
“Oh, shit.” Dana looked at her more closely, looking for signs of fresh damage. “Are you okay with all of this?”
“It wasn’t exactly a comfortable conversation, but it involves everything and everyone I care about, so yeah, I guess I’m willing to try anything.”
“Anything?”
The change was instant. Kellen responded with a devastating smile, having clearly not misunderstood Dana’s tone. “Tell me what you need, and I’ll do my best.”
“I just want you,” Dana said softy. “Let’s go home so I can have my way with you.”
*
Kellen couldn’t remember getting back to the cabin and lighting a fire, let alone getting out of her clothes. All she had was a vivid, visceral recollection of Dana unzipping her own jeans, letting them fall to the floor, and stepping out of them before pulling her sweater off and standing in front of her. Naked and perfect.
The glow from the fire provided just enough light for Kellen to see the gold flecks in Dana’s eyes as she caressed her. She could feel her body respond to Dana’s touch in a way it hadn’t responded to another woman. Ever. She’d never felt so alive.
She reached for Dana’s hand and drew her onto the bed where she could adore her with her hands and mouth. She was surprised by how much she needed her. Something she hadn’t been able to admit to herself. Until now.
It was crazy. Incomprehensible. But her entire life had changed since she’d met Dana.
“I want you, Dana,” she murmured. “More than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my life.” Her kiss this time wasn’t gentle. It was hard and demanding.
She couldn’t get enough of her. Couldn’t touch her enough. Couldn’t taste her enough. Couldn’t kiss or lick her enough. Couldn’t do anything fast enough or deep enough or long enough.