Wild Men of Alaska Collection

by Tiffinie Helmer

  He took the one-two-punch like a prize fighter.

  “I’m not ready for this.” She splayed her hands wide. “All of this. It’s too much. I’ve only been in Alaska for a month, and I’ve been chased up a tree by a moose, stabbed by the same tree, swept out of a canoe into a freezing river, eaten by mosquitoes, had my undergarments stolen and paraded around town by the same stalker moose, and held at gunpoint. Now you say you’re falling in love with me. In my book, that means marriage and me agreeing to live here, permanently. It’s too much, Lynx. I might not survive next month.” She paused to breathe. “I need time to decide what I really want. I’m sorry, Lynx, but would you please leave.”

  He swallowed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “It’s my house.”

  “What?”

  “You’re in my house. Let me walk you home.” He couldn’t give her a ride in his truck. The reminder of Pete would probably be that last straw that would send her packing.

  “Oh.” That seemed to take the steam right out of her. She glanced around the log cabin. “Okay, I’ll leave, and I’ll walk myself home. It’s daylight, what can happen?” She laughed, the sound a little hysterical.

  “Eva,” Lynx called her name when she opened the door. “I never figured you for a coward.”

  Her spine shot straight as a broomstick. He’d just thrown down a dare. That’s how he’d gotten her to go canoeing after he’d stood her up. He hadn’t forgotten either.

  “That won’t work with me this time. Not over something this important.” She walked through the door and quietly shut it behind her.

  Eva followed the path to the clinic from Lynx’s cabin. She shouldn’t have crashed at his place. But after Lynx had left her last night with one quick, hard kiss and a, “We’ll talk when I get back,” she hadn’t wanted to wait for him at her place. The clinic wasn’t home, not after being invaded by Pete who’d threatened to rape and kill her. Lynx’s cabin felt more like home. Or was it because Lynx lived there?

  She was so confused.

  What did she do with what he’d told her? Her logical brain was telling her to pack and get the hell out of here, but her heart wanted to believe everything Lynx had said.

  When BW had her trapped, she’d done her best to scare him away and gotten nowhere. All Lynx had done was talk to him, and after what looked like an affectionate nudge, the moose had moseyed off into the woods. She glanced around the dense forest hoping not to come across BW or any other wild animals. She picked up her step.

  Could Lynx be telling the truth?

  And if he was, then what?

  Alaska was like another planet, and she hadn’t even seen a winter yet.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  It had been two days, and Eva hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Lynx. Boy, did that saying have more meaning living in Alaska. Fox and Raven had stopped by to check on her and invited her to go shopping in Fairbanks. She’d enjoyed herself even though she’d figured Lynx had called his sister and asked Raven to keep an eye on her. It made her heart hurt knowing he was thinking of her even though she’d basically called a halt between them.

  Her patient load had been heavy, but a lot of that had been townsfolk wanting to get to know her better now that she’d “proven” herself a member of the community by taking down a bad guy. After half a dozen patients, she’d closed the clinic, taped a note on the door of where she’d be, and showed up at the lodge to tell her story over many Ugly Moose drinks so that they all could get back to business. The sharing had been mutual, and she felt more accepted in the small town.

  One thing she hadn’t been able to ask anyone was if Lynx had been stringing her along or not. She didn’t want to voice it, and she didn’t want to “out” him in case everyone wasn’t privy to his animal talking abilities.

  When she returned to the clinic, she’d found her lavender bra hanging from her doorknob. She picked it up and glanced around. She knew BW hadn’t left it for her. There had been no sign of him the last few days either. Lynx probably told him it was okay to return to the Refuge now that the poachers had been caught.

  What was she saying? She was starting to believe him.

  And if she were to believe Lynx, the return of her bra was a good indication that he could talk to animals. How else would he have gotten her bra off of BW’s antlers? She had been out of her mind trying to cut it off him with a pair of scissors. The bra wasn’t that worse for wear. A good washing and no one would ever know the adventures it had taken.

  When she entered her place, nothing but silence greeted her. She used to like the silence. Not so much anymore. She headed for bed. At least with the many Ugly Moose she’d drunk, sleeping promised to be easier tonight.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  He’d given her three days. Now he was getting his woman back.

  Chocolate hadn’t worked, neither had flowers, but there was no way Eva would be able to turn away a puppy.

  Lynx didn’t care if this wasn’t playing fair as he was way past fair.

  With the cute little pup in his arms, he felt very confident that he’d get inside Eva’s door. That was until Eva opened her door and his heart pounded at the sight of her, and his carefully planned speech floated off into the atmosphere.

  “Hi,” he managed to say.

  “Hi,” she returned.

  The puppy squirmed in his arms, bringing him back to his plan and off how pretty Eva looked in her silky blue blouse and sexy short skirt. He wondered what color her undergarments were today.

  “This is Kiski.” Lynx held up the runt puppy Fox agreed was more suited as a pet than one of the dogs he trained for sledding. “You need someone to help you navigate this country. She’s a good start. I’d be better, but she’d go a long way in helping you with the local wildlife.”

  When Eva didn’t say anything right away, he rushed on. “Dogs come in handy. She’ll make a good companion, and bears don’t like the sound of their barking.”

  “What about moose?” Eva bit her tongue to keep from smiling. How did one resist a big man holding a little puppy? A puppy that wasn’t going to stay little for long. Not with those saucer-size paws.

  “They’re not too fond of them either.”

  She held her hand out to Kiski, who lavished her fingers with her pink tongue. How could she resist the blue and brown-eyed pup with the bandit face? Turned out she didn’t want to. “Okay, I’ll give her a try.”

  “You’ll have to take my word for it, but she likes you and would like us to make a home for her. Together.”

  “She told you this?”

  “Kinda.” He looked down at the puppy in his arms who was currently trying to eat the buttons off his shirt. “So what do you say? Remember, she wants us both as her parents.”

  Eva let the smile spread over her face. The man was too damned adorable. “Depends. Are you house broken?”

  He set the puppy down, who promptly began chewing on the laces of his Timberland boots. “I’m house broken where it counts.” He started to hope. “Do you feel better about what I told you?”

  “I don’t understand why I do, but I believe you. But before we go any further, there’s something you need to know about me. I drive men off.” She lowered her eyes and muttered, “Or drive them gay.”

  “Eva, I’m not going anywhere, and no way in hell will I ever turn gay. I’m willing to prove it over and over and over—”

  “I get the idea.” She huffed a deep breath and tried again. “You haven’t seen me on my bad days.”

  He cocked a brow in jest. “It gets worse than this?”

  She made a startled, insulted sound. “Are you taking me seriously?”

  “No. You’re talking nonsense and on some level you know it. Eva—”

  “Listen, I’m about the only available woman in town who isn’t related to you. I’m convenient.”

  “Fairbanks isn’t that far away. I’m not attracted to you because you’re close. There are easier women to be attracted to.”

  �
�Hey.”

  “Well?”

  “Okay, so that last one might have been a stretch.”

  “Don’t insult us both. You need me. You love me.”

  She sucked in her breath, and he waited her out. “We haven’t known each other long enough.”

  He grabbed her upper arms and pulled her in close for a kiss. Her toes curled in her high-heeled sandals before he was finished.

  “Time means nothing. Sometimes you just know. Forget everything and just tell me what’s in your heart.”

  Eva searched his eyes and saw nothing but love and sincerity. This man really loved her. And she hadn’t shown him the best side of her either. If he could love the worst of her, they were bound to make it.

  “I love you, Lynx. Every crazy thing about you.”

  He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. “Thank you.”

  She pulled back. “Thank you? I just told you I loved you. Reciprocate, mountain man.”

  He swung her up into his arms. “Oh, I plan to, woman.”

  Lynx carried her inside, with Kiski trailing after them trying to attack his boots. Lynx tossed Eva onto the bed, sacrificing his broken-in Timberlands to the pup, and then proceeded to show Eva in detail how very much he loved her.

  THE END

  DREAMWEAVER

  CHAPTER ONE

  Gemma’s lips trembled apart on a moan of pleasure so intense her body shivered with it. Synapses fired behind eyes she dared not open for fear he’d leave her wanting again.

  Last time, he’d taken her right to the brink of release before disappearing, leaving her writhing with hunger. Not this time. This time he’d better take her all the way, damn it.

  Her body came alive under the tutelage of his skillful hands. The way he knew just how to caress her, tease, and torment, until she wept, threatened, and begged for more.

  Her hips arched off the bed, seeking, wishing for more, but once again he strung her out until she was mindless with need.

  Oh, please, please. Quit dinking around and take me, already.

  He chuckled as though able to read her thoughts, while his hands breezed over her breasts, the heat of his mouth hovered over her nipple, until she sunk her teeth into her lower lip to keep in the whimper. Sensations flooded her, tightening her muscles, and her hands clenched the sheets beneath her as little cries escaped her bitten lips, betraying her.

  A growl of satisfaction vibrated from him, pouring into her body, pushing her closer to that delirious edge.

  The alarm blared in her ear, jerking her awake.

  “Nooo,” Gemma groaned. Her sound of distress battered around the empty bedroom. “Not again.” Would her dream man ever truly make love to her?

  She opened her eyes and found herself alone. Of course she was alone. He was just a dream, part of her imagination. Her very creative imagination.

  But he felt like more than that.

  For weeks now he’d been visiting, always in the deepest of night. That magical time where the world slept and passions awoke.

  She threw back the covers, the chill hitting her nakedness.

  What the—?

  She never slept naked.

  A quick glance around the room showed her flannel pajamas tossed to the floor, along with her pink polka dotted cotton underwear.

  Huh? She knew she’d crawled into bed last night fully clothed, including her hand-knitted woolen socks currently hanging off the top of the dresser. Her copy of The Three Musketeers lay face down, where she’d placed it before turning off the light. She’d given up on her love of romance books once the erotic dreams had started, not needing the added stimuli. She’d hoped reading the classics would settle down whatever the heck was going on with her subconscious mind while she slept.

  She grabbed a robe hanging over the back of a chair and slipped into the warm terrycloth. It was springtime in Alaska and just like Johnny Horton was famous for singing, it was currently forty below.

  No one in their right mind slept naked.

  And she was very worried that she was no longer in her right mind.

  He’d almost had her.

  Lucky Leroy Morgan fell back onto the sweet smelling grass, his hands fisted, his jaw clenched, and aching with sexual frustration down to the cellular level. No, that was no longer true.

  Not since he was dead and trapped in this fucking paradise.

  He roared up at the perfectly blue skies, his back arching, and his lungs emptying of pent up emotions, praying the sound reached farther up into the Heavens from where he was currently trapped.

  If he didn’t know better, he’d think this was hell.

  She’d been so close. He’d literally brushed her soft skin this time. Smelled her, and she’d smelled like high mountain Himalayan Impatiens with hints of rich, dark coffee.

  What he wouldn’t give for a cup of coffee.

  He sat up, his hands tearing at the lush grass beneath him, and came to face to face with Hansen.

  “Failed again?”

  Nothing like stating the obvious. “Fuck, yes.”

  Hansen glanced around and lowered his voice, “Reverence, man.”

  “I don’t give a shit. I shouldn’t be here.”

  “You aren’t going anywhere with that attitude.”

  “Fuck you too.”

  “She got to you this time, didn’t she?” Hansen gave him that knowing smile. “You’re starting to care, to fall in love.” Nothing seemed to ruffle the calmness the man radiated. That used to impress him.

  Lucky Leroy Morgan came by the nickname “Lucky” naturally. He loved women. Not just one. Many. And caring this much about one woman freaked him out.

  “You’re running out of time,” Hansen said. “If you can’t get her to accept you before these strong solar storms are over, you’re stuck here, my friend.”

  “Like I don’t know that.” Lucky clawed his fingers through his shaggy, sun-bleached hair. Here wasn’t that bad, for a spirit detention hub so to speak. A lush valley full of sharp-painted wildflowers intermixed with the sweet smelling grass all framed by purple snowcapped mountains jutting into an azure sky. Puffy, porcelain clouds floated by without a care in the Universe. When he’d first arrived, it had been one more adventure. More mountains to climb, a different world to conquer, but the thrill had quickly lost its appeal when he’d realized there was no risk.

  He was already dead. What more could happen to him? The worst had already happened. What he needed was to get back to the land of the living.

  And Gemma Star was his ticket.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Gemma flipped the sign to open and unlocked the doors to Chinook Books. Of course, her mother Siri and her Aunt Rosie were the first ones to breeze in.

  “Did you see the Aurora last night?” Siri asked after Gemma shut the door behind them.

  Siri was garbed in her traditional winter woolen dress pieced together from a variety of rainbow recycled sweaters serged in a haphazard design. Added to the outfit were clashing arm warmers with just her fingers uncovered. Silver rings fitted every finger, and her painted nails shimmered with a glittery crimson today. White bunny boots and a royal purple coat, that was more of a cloak, completed the ensemble. Rosie helped Siri out of her cloak, while Siri stared at Gemma.

  Oh Lord, she hoped her mother wasn’t off her meds.

  “Mom?” Gemma prompted. “You okay?”

  Siri blinked her dark blue eyes rimmed with thick black lashes. Her shocking red hair was long and curly and had yet to fade with age.

  Gemma glanced at Rosie who shrugged. Aunt Rosie was the complete opposite of Siri. Her brunette hair had been left to gray naturally, and cut in a no-nonsense bob. She wore jeans, a man’s flannel shirt and a sensible parka that she shrugged off, along with removing her gloves and knit hat. She resembled Gemma’s father who had died when she was eight that it sometimes hurt to look upon her. Gemma took their coats and hung them up behind the counter.

  She turned back to find Siri’s e
yes burrowing into her, as though trying to see into Gemma’s soul.

  “Gemini Star, what have you been up to?”

  She hated it when her mother looked at her like that. “What do you mean?” She’d better clarify. She’d learned early not to volunteer information.

  “You’ve been touched by a Dreamweaver.” Siri continued her slow sweep, traveling up and down Gemma’s simple brown slacks and cream cable knit sweater. “Tell me you haven’t given yourself to him.”

  “What? No. What are you talking about?” A premonition prickled up Gemma’s spine, and she tried to suppress the sudden need to shudder.

  “You mustn’t do it. Do not invite him in. Your soul will be compromised.”

  “Huh? What? Mom, you’re talking nonsense.” But it didn’t feel like nonsense. Sometimes the things her mother said were downright freaky. Her dream lover was just that, a dream. No more. Unfortunately she knew enough having been raised by her New Age mother not to completely discount the supernatural. There was too much out there left unexplained. But a Dreamweaver? What the hell was that?

  “Siri, let’s get you a cup of tea.” Rosie shared a here-we-go-again glance with Gemma.

  “Yes, tea. Must have tea, and then we’ll consult the cards,” Siri said.

  “Mom—”

  “I’m reading your cards today, Gemini. You can’t stop me. I’ll find out what’s going on.”

  Oh great.

  “Siri, you have a full day of customers scheduled today,” Rosie said. “Let’s concentrate on them first. What do you say?”

  “Fine. You’re right of course. But if there’s time....”

  Gemma mouthed “thank you” as Rosie turned Siri toward the café. Amie, the barista who had been with Gemma for years, already carried a tray with a brewing teapot, along with matching cups and saucers to Siri’s favorite bistro table right in the middle of the room. No disposable coffee cups for her mother. Tea was a ritual and needed to be respected as such with purified water and a specialized Silver Tip White Tea imported from Sri Lanka.