He reached into his pack for some of the rabbit jerky they had made together midweek. It would have to do for the night. With Rick nearby, he was in no mood to forage or track down food, and the savory hickory smoked jerky was a welcome treat. He handed Nadia and Lincoln their portions and nibbled a morsel, taking it down with water from the canteen. “Well, we’ve got nothing better to do. Let’s talk,” Perry sighed.
“Have we sunk to the new low of needing to make small talk to get through the night?” Lincoln grumbled.
“Humph! You’re lucky we can do that, with Rick Feldman and crew are out there. I don’t want to do anything…incriminating…So, what’s your upcoming movie about?”
Lincoln lifted his brows and shrugged lethargically, “Mitch Trepan, the director who filmed my last movie, told me this famous screenwriter named Landon Ashville created the role just for me…”
“You don’t seem too enthusiastic about it,” Perry noted. Lincoln wore a studied frown, and the jovial atmosphere that had been in place before Rick Feldman had paid a visit was now well and truly gone.
Lincoln finally set aside his charcoal and looked at him. “That’s because, rumor has it, another actor has been given the part. Here I am, wasting my time at a stupid survival training camp, and Jasper Kent is taking my place in LA.”
“That’s terrible, Lincoln! I can’t believe they did that to you,” Nadia empathized.
“It is what it is,” Lincoln muttered.
Perry shifted uncomfortably. Would the bad news have any bearing on how the actor judged his course? Perry had been looking forward to the publicity, knowing Lincoln would mention his experience with Survive Anything in behind-the-scenes interviews. It was all Lincoln had talked about during the previous week. Now, he looked as if the wind had left his sails.
Perry tried to cheer him up. “There will be other roles. I know that’s not what you want to hear right now, but I think you’re forgetting that you’re a talented, driven young man. I mean, playwrights are writing roles tailor-made for you...” He trailed off, peering into the underbrush on the outskirts of the camp.
“Yeah,” Nadia picked up, “don’t let this get you—”
“Shh!” Perry slashed a hand through the air, suddenly on high alert. He squinted at the yellow eyes glowing back at him. He heard the unmistakable snarl of a wolf, and Nadia gasped and turned to him with wide eyes. “Don’t turn your back on it!”
“Oh, my God!” she gasped.
“Calm down. Absolutely no need for panic.”
“What is it doing?” Lincoln asked as he woodenly turned his head to watch the rangy wolf loping past him. By Perry’s count, there were three of four of them, and they moved soundlessly around the camp, looking for a point of weakness. He slowly reached for his weapon as he calculated how much time he had before the beasts pounced on them.
His students looked to him for answers, and he hated to tell them this threat had caught him with his pants down. He had been so consumed with the Rick Feldman situation and Lincoln’s unexpected news that he had not given this scenario a thought.
One of the wolves bayed, and an answering howl came from roughly a mile to the east. The haunting sound raised the hair on the back of Perry’s neck.
“The pack must have circled around. I heard them hunting in the distance earlier this evening.”
“Well, don’t just sit there. Kill it!” Nadia squeaked hoarsely.
“The problem with that plan, sweetheart,” Perry chuckled, “is there’s more than one wolf out there, and there’s only one way we’re gonna get out of this without getting attacked by the whole pack. On the count of three…One…two…three!”
“Do what?” Lincoln asked desperately.
“Make all the noise you can!”
Chapter 10
Perry lurched to his feet and fired his gun three times in the air. The deafening blasts made Nadia jump and scream at the top of her lungs and Lincoln jumped up and waved his arms maniacally. The three of them turned the peaceful, quiet night into a madhouse, but it was not enough.
One of the bolder wolves lunged toward Nadia, and its wicked jaws snapped at her pantleg. “Oh, my God! Perry!” she screamed as the wolf started dragging her.
“Perry, do something!” Lincoln yelled.
“I’m trying!”
His eyes widened and his heart rate skyrocketed as he aimed at the beast. Nadia kicked wildly at the wolf’s snout. Perry swore anxiously, afraid a bullet would strike her. And the feral glint in the wolf’s eyes indicated zero fear.
“Perry! Help me! Please!” Nadia shrieked. Another wolf moved from the side but skipped away when the pack leader growled threateningly. Perry fired in the air again. Another animal attacked her from the other side and dragged at her jacket.
“No! No!” Perry shouted over her screams of panic. He picked up a stone and threw it at the animal while trying to drag her away. Taking a cue from him, Lincoln scrabbled for stuff to throw. The aggressive wolf thrashed his head from side to side, trying to sink his teeth deeper into Nadia’s boot, but one of her kicks connected, and the animal let out a blood curdling yelp.
With her leg free, she whipped her hunting knife out of her boot and slashed at the wolf tugging her jacket. “Get away from me!” she growled. The blade cut through thick fur, and the animal howled.
Perry dove toward her, wrestling a branch from the fire. He waved it threateningly in the wolf’s face. The straggler finally raced after his peers, and the underbrush shook as the wolves distanced themselves from the scene.
“Oh, my fucking God!” Nadia exclaimed, shaking.
“Let me see. Let me see!” Perry checked her ankle. The boot was scarred from teeth marks, but the leather was unbroken. He checked her arm and pushed a finger through a jagged tear in the fabric of her sleeve, but her skin was unbroken. Her throat was probably raw, but she was otherwise unharmed. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
Nadia whispered shakily. “What in the holy fucking hell!”
“Why did they come and how do we keep them away?” Lincoln asked, struggling to keep his voice even.
“Someone must have fed them at some point. Once wolves associate humans with food, they’ll approach other humans, looking for more of the same. I’ve never had wolves this close to my camp, but it’s a wake-up call. We should put our cooking fire further away from camp and keep food out of our sleeping area.”
“Will that be enough?” Nadia stared into the darkness, her heart still racing from the terrifying encounter. Perry placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“They’ll stay away. They were probably just curious. By kicking up such a fuss, we showed them humans are more trouble than they’re worth. But, if it makes you more comfortable, I’ll stay up and keep watch. Why don’t you guys get some sleep? We’ll get up early in the morning and try the hot springs again.”
“I’ll keep watch with you,” Lincoln mumbled.
“We can take turns,” Nadia offered. “How do you expect me to sleep if I’m in the lodge worried about you two? Wake me up when it’s my shift.”
She made herself as comfortable as possible on her bough bed. The campfire made the round lodge downright cozy, but Nadia was too ramped up from the encounter with the wolves. Not for the first time, she wondered why she was subjecting herself to this nightmare.
It did not help that her phone call with her father was a reminder of everything she was missing while here in the woods. Wilson Marson was at a fundraising gala in south Florida, chumming it up with other wealthy CEOs and socialites. Nadia closed her eyes and pictured the clothes, the food, the accommodations. She distanced herself from the dark, scary woods, but it was not enough.
With two weeks to go, she was not sure she could keep up her enthusiasm for wilderness living. She understood Lincoln’s disillusionment with this whole affair. After all, how much of her own life was passing her by while she played survivalist with her two sexy companions?
As fo
r Perry, he was careful not to make a fuss about hosting an actor and a billionaire as students, but she knew his business would benefit from their patronage. Less so now though, as Lincoln would not be in high demand if he didn’t get the part he was in training for.
She wanted to help Perry out too, but she had no idea how. Nadia had chosen Survive Anything precisely because it was underrated. Every other place she called boasted much bigger class sizes. She was sold when she called to inquire about the course and Clyde MacAskill told her Perry averaged two or three students per class.
“Are you asleep?” Lincoln whispered as he slipped into the lodge.
She shook her head drowsily. “Too much on my mind.”
“Same here, I’m thinking about going back, Nadia. There’s no reason for me to stick this out now.”
She held out her slender hand, and after a slight pause, Lincoln took it and moved closer to her. She swept his wavy hair back from his face. “Stick it out for me,” she suggested. “Perry and I need you. I’m sure he’s banking on an endorsement. I know you don’t think you’re getting much out of this, but the training might come in handy in the future.”
“Get some rest.” He kissed her fingertips and wrapped an arm around her, closing his eyes, signaling that he no longer wanted to talk. Nadia sighed and snuggled closer. There was no real way she could help either Lincoln or Perry. Just as they could not help her. It seemed this trip was a placeholder between what they wanted and what they would ultimately get.
Lincoln would likely not get the role and, as a result, Perry would not get the publicity. And she would not get to choose what she did with the rest of her life. Fate had already picked their paths out of the wilderness, and the only thing left to do was cherish what little time they had together.
Early the next morning, Lincoln stepped out of the tree line and into a picture postcard. Nestled among lush greenery, a trickling stream made its way down the mountainside to tiered pools of bright blue. Steam rose from the tranquil water, and he concluded that he had never seen anything so inviting.
Perry stood at the edge of the springs with hands on hips and a jaunty grin. “Welcome to the most exciting lesson of your three-week stay,” he announced. “This week we’ll focus on survival health and wellbeing. People have touted the healing powers of geothermal springs for generations, and your first assignment will be to test out the theory. Does this water feel fantastic, or what?”
“Ooh! Good humor and wit! I like this new you,” Nadia laughed. She whipped her shirt over her head and threw her pants aside. Lincoln chuckled and shed his own clothes a little more slowly.
Nadia and Perry seemed both rested and exuberant, despite a third of the night spent keeping watch. Lincoln had not slept well though. He had nightmares of fading into obscurity. He kept hearing Mitch Trepan’s voice in his head. It’s a lot of character to carry. In the end, Mitch would likely choose to go with a less experienced actor, forcing Lincoln to contemplate what that meant. He thought he was past cold calls and waiting patiently in line for his opportunity.
It was doubly disappointing because so much of his true personality was sacrificed to make the man Hollywood demanded of him—assertive, cavalier, unfeeling. A Neanderthal version of himself he suddenly questioned. Not only did he feel the survival training course was in vain, but his whole life was a series of steps further and further away from his true nature.
Fate seemed to be saying, “Not yet,” just when he thought his opportunity to show himself worthy was at hand. Landon Ashville’s script was more than lots of running around, posing with guns, and minimal dialogue. It was an in-depth look at how the will to survive could shape and mold a man into a better version of himself.
Lincoln eased into the water, and he winced at the unexpected heat. The steamy pool was cooled by surface water, but it was like sinking into a hot tub. When Nadia swam toward him, she managed to make him smile. Her lithe body took his mind off his problems and forced him back into the moment.
“This is unbelievable, Perry,” she murmured dreamily.
“Was it worth the wait?” Perry asked. Lincoln tilted his head to the side and watched Nadia flow into Perry’s arms.
“It reminds me of why I don’t want to take the job my father has for me back home.”
“What’s the job?” Lincoln asked.
“He wants me to work in one of our labs, but we don’t see eye to eye on environmental concerns,” she said with a shrug. “Now, it seems he’s worn me down. When I leave from here, I belong to big oil. I become a part of the problem, whether I want to or not.”
“Why don’t you stand up to him?”
“I’ve tried! But, Dad’s right. If I don’t do my part, someone else will. At least if I manage to get into the company, I may be able to do some good from the inside.” Nadia did not sound convinced by her own line of reasoning, and Lincoln shook his head.
“You struck me as stronger than that,” he said.
“Don’t add to the pressure. Sounds like she’s got enough on her plate,” said Perry.
“Hey, I’m just pointing out that, if she truly doesn’t want to be a part of the problem, she’ll walk away from the job offer, join Greenpeace or something. Sounds to me like she’s taking the line of least resistance. I can’t imagine anyone being in a beautiful place like this and then shrugging off our obligation to protect our environment.”
“Don’t pretend you have me all figured out, Lincoln Easley,” Nadia said. “The only reason you came here was to get a part in a movie. You can’t even enjoy this experience because you’re too busy feeling sorry for yourself because you have some unexpected competition.”
“At least I’m making my own decisions about what to do with my future.”
“Oh, that’s low, Lincoln! Even for a self-absorbed Hollywood prick like—”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Perry interrupted the heated exchange. “We’re supposed to be relaxing. Look, I get it. Lincoln, you’re upset about not being cast in the role you wanted; and, Nadia, you’re at odds with your dad about a job you don’t want. But we’re still stuck together for the next couple of weeks. So, I suggest you guys take a break from your problems.”
“You know what. I can’t do that. I’ve done that enough, and that’s what got me into this situation. Had I been home, I may have been able to talk some sense into Mitch about not hiring Jasper Kent.”
“Where are you going?”
Lincoln ignored Perry’s question and snatched up his clothes, quickly dressing to ward off the cold. “I can find my own way back to the cabin, thanks. I’m sure there’s a Lyft or Uber driver willing to make this trip for the right dollar amount.” Before Perry could stop him, he set off for camp to pack his belongings. His companions made no effort to follow him.
When he arrived at the round lodge, Lincoln stared back the way he had come. He wished that one or both of his companions would show up. Apparently they were unconcerned that he may get attacked by wolves or could fall off a cliff. Grumbling bitterly, Lincoln rummaged through Perry’s pack and found the survival instructor’s emergency cellphone.
He grabbed his sketchbook, and it fell open on one of his favorite pictures. He had drawn Perry whittling something while Nadia sat at his knee. Not only did it show his modest artistic skills, it captured a memory he was loathe to leave behind.
But he had dallied in the woods long enough. Sticking around to continue the charade was not worth the risks to his career. He turned north and hiked down the mountain in search of civilization, wondering if Nadia’s sweet plea for him to stay last night had been sincere. Apparently not. She had not tried to stop him from leaving this time. And that was okay. He was used to pretenders.
“Aren’t you going after him?” Nadia asked.
“He’s not going anywhere. He just needs to let off steam. He’ll be waiting at camp when we get there. Besides, don’t tell me you’re worried about him. You’re the one who ran him off.”
“I didn’t run him
off, but nobody talks to me like that. And maybe if you had let on how much you need him, he would have stuck around.”
Perry chuckled in amusement. “What the hell are you talking about? How much I need him?”
“I’m not daft, Perry. You forget, I’m a businesswoman. When you found out Lincoln was an actor and I was an heiress, you knew you hit the client jackpot. Just one peachy review from either one of us would put Survive Anything on the map. Unfortunately, your radical self-reliance philosophy means that needing another human being represents failure.”
“Well, since we’re being candid, Lincoln was right,” Perry rejoined. “You’d do well to stand up to your dad and tell him how you really feel, even if you risk disappointing him. If you really don’t want the job, you should tell him.”
“How can you take Lincoln’s side over mine? You’re the one who told me to challenge myself, and that’s what I’m doing. I’m challenging myself to take on the biggest career break of my life and make it work for me!”
“No, you’re bowing out and letting someone else build the fire. And, I’m not taking Lincoln’s side. He has his flaws, too. Hell, he’s so lost in character that he wouldn’t recognize himself in the mirror, but that’s neither here nor there.
“I’m not afraid to tell people I need them, I just don’t need others. My business was limping along just fine without your endorsements, and I’ll continue to run Survive Anything without you two,” he fumed, suddenly upset.
“Oh, thank you!” she yelled. “Thank you for permission to ditch your miserable, sadomasochistic survival course. Lincoln had the right idea. I can think of a hundred things I’d rather do than spend two more weeks with you. If he’s waiting back at camp, I’ll be more than happy to join him getting the hell out of here!”
She launched to her feet, splashed out of the pool and lurched toward her clothes. Perry did not move as he watched her get dressed. “Fine! You can both sit at camp in time-out like misbehaving toddlers. I intend to enjoy the goddamned hot springs.”
Survival for Three: MMF Bisexual Romance Page 10