Cotton Grass Lodge
Page 20
Duncan was on her in three long steps and when Hanna turned to flee he grabbed her and held her close. Tears slashed down her hot cheeks and as she twisted to free herself she continued to scream each disjointed thought as it came into her mind. “Let me go. You jerk, I hate you. I hate you.”
“No, you don’t,” Duncan said. His voice reverberated calm and low against her body. “I love you, Hanna.”
“Don’t say it.” She sobbed, “I loved you and you lied. You never intended to stay. You lied about all if it. I fell in love with you and you lied.” Hanna’s knees went out from under her, and Duncan’s arms held her close as he lowered her. He settled with her on the damp lichen-covered ground in a tangle of arms and legs.
Hanna’s anger collapsed into wounded sobs, “You didn’t come and get me.”
Duncan rocked gently while her emotions ebbed. “I love you, Hanna, but you hid from me.”
“I needed you.” Hanna sucked a gasp and choked.
“We have communication skills to work on, babe.” Duncan patted her on the back. “I couldn’t find you if you wouldn’t answer your phone.”
“But—” a fresh wave of tears choked her words. “Carl said you were going to leave.”
Duncan continued to rock her. “I’ll admit buying and selling was the original plan. I didn’t know I was gonna fall in love with a dragon of the air. I didn’t know I was gonna fall in love with this crazy place and all these crazy people.” Duncan stroked loose hair away from her face and kissed her throbbing temple. His lips lingered.
Hanna turned her face, and he dropped another slow kiss, this time on her lips. The prickle of his unshaven chin touched her cheek. His lips gentled the raw hurt she’d been carrying for weeks or had it been years? She hadn’t given him a chance to help her and he’d just waited. He’d been here waiting. Trust began to bud where the sparklers of pain sat behind her eyes and anticipation bloomed into desire.
At long last Duncan broke away from the kiss. He stared deep into her eyes. “Say it, Hanna, I need to hear you say it.”
Hanna’s chin trembled. “I love you, Duncan. Please don’t let me be alone anymore.” Her voice cracked as she tried to control the tears leaking again from her eyes.
His face broke into a soft smile. “In the perfect world, this is the point in the story where I would sweep you up into my arms and carry you into the cabin and up the stairs to your bed. We would make love for hours. In the perfect world.” He used a thumb to wipe the tears from her cheek. “But we don’t live in the perfect world. If you don’t get up, I’m gonna have to crawl into the cabin. My leg has cramped up.”
Hanna carefully untangled from his arms and stood. She used both hands to wipe the moisture from her cheeks and watched as he rolled over onto all fours, then she steadied his lurch upright.
“I like the sound of making love for hours,” Duncan said. He draped his arm over her shoulders and leaned heavily. “But could I get you to carry yourself up the stairs?”
“Absolutely.” Hanna couldn’t help grinning when she looped her arm around his waist. They moved as one toward the cabin door. “Duncan? Do you know if there are any peaches at the lodge?”
Duncan frowned. “I’m having a little trouble thinking about peaches right now, but yeah, I think there’s part of a case in the pantry.”
“Can I have them?”
“Sure.” Duncan kissed the tip of her nose. “Why?”
“I have a past due bill.”
A word about the author...
DeNise started writing as a reader. During life, Parts One and Two, she kept notes. In 1993 she had an opportunity to go to Alaska for a year—she loves a road trip—so she drove the Alcan and spent some time learning to speak Alaskan.
She joined a writers group. Then she met Mr. Wonderful in the village of McCarthy. Life, Part Three, is in progress—life is good. She lives in Knik, Alaska, with Mr. Wonderful, the cat from hell, a big garden, and too many jobs.
She would love to hear from readers at denise@dwoodbury.com
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