Dakota placed her feet where he directed, and he tightened the straps to fit snugly over and around her boots. Then, as if as an afterthought, he raised the pant leg of her ski pants and checked her boot laces.
“Very good. You’ve hiked before I see.”
She laughed. “I might be a city girl, but I do leave the house once in a while.”
He stood up laughing. “And I’ve been put in my place. Let’s see you walk now.”
She went to take a step with the snowshoe. It wasn’t heavy, but the strange…bigness…of the thing had her lifting her foot higher than normal, which put her off balance, and she started tipping. She tried to pull herself back the other way, but overcompensated.
Waving her arms, she tried to save her balance and dignity. It was futile. She was going down.
She prepared for the impact of her ass on the ground, but it didn’t come. Instead, she hit something soft that gave a little grunt.
Meow.
“Oh, God.” Dakota scrambled as best she could to get off the cat, but with the snowshoes it was nearly impossible. “Sorry! Sorry.” She couldn’t get on her knees, so she slid along on her butt, glad for the slippery material of the ski pants.
Then big, strong arms were lifting her. “Easy,” Axel said, but the word was laced with amusement, and she had the urge to slug his shoulder. Her face burned with embarrassment, and when she was once again on her feet, she refused to look in his eyes. Instead, she cautiously eyed the big cat, glad to see it didn’t appear ready to attack her. She shuddered to think of how many stories she’d heard of animals snapping because someone stepped on their tail or paw.
“Falke is not going to hurt you, Dakota,” Axel said, his warm breath brushing her cheek, which made her scalp tingle.
For a moment, she forgot about the cat and wanted to turn her lips toward his. His nearness warmed her.
What would his mouth taste like?
He cleared his throat, shifted to put some space between them, and the intimate moment was gone.
“Falke just kept you from bruising your backside. The ground here is frozen and packed pretty solid. He’s here for protection, yours as well as mine.”
She nodded, a bit less jittery and somewhat soothed by his statement.
“Okay, I think we need some snowshoe lessons before we head into the snow with them. Yes?”
She huffed out a frustrated breath and brushed the back of her glove over her face. “Yes.” The sky was getting lighter, and it was easier to see both Axel and the cat. “Sorry.” She looked at Falke, who once again sat on his haunches staring at her with those penetrating eyes. “Sorry.”
He purred, and she would swear, if a cat could smirk, it just did. At her. Probably thinks I’m a moron.
She hoped she didn’t hurt the big guy.
“Ready? Lesson one was the stretching. This is a workout you’ve never had before, and you’re going to feel it. Some of the sheltered parts of the trail you’ll be able to take them off and walk, but this first stretch-about a mile or so—is in the open, and the snow this time of year is probably about seven feet deep. No snowshoes, you’re not going anywhere.”
She nodded and adjusted her knit cap, tucking in a few strands of hair that had fallen out in her tumble.
As he spoke, Axel stepped into the other pair of snowshoes and fastened the bindings. “Okay, lesson two. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and try to think of the snowshoe as an extension of your body, just as you do your shoes or boots, but a lot wider and longer.”
She adjusted her stance a little, putting a bit of distance between the two webbed snowshoes. They were made out of lightweight aluminum and, other than the fact they seemed cumbersome because of size, they weighed almost nothing.
“Good,” Axel said. “Lesson three. You don’t walk straight, as you do normally. Watch me.” He took a few rather awkward steps. “You have to swing your foot out and forward, and make sure you clear your other ankle or you’ll bruise yourself. You’re not crosscountry skiing or pushing straight forward, and you have to make sure you lift your foot up out of the snow. You’ll know what I mean when we get onto the fresh stuff, not this packed down snow on the road.”
Dakota tried a few careful, tentative steps, using her arms for balance. She made a full circle around the turnaround area and was pretty proud she stayed on her feet.
“That’s great!” Axel said, with a little too much enthusiasm. Then she reminded herself she probably wasn’t the first klutz he’d ever had to train. “Try to step with the pressure landing on the balls of your feet.
It’ll be easier on your muscles in the long run. Why don’t you practice a little more here, and then we’ll head up the mountain?”
“’Kay.” She did a couple of more circuits around the clearing, swinging her leg as he’d shown her, concentrating on keeping her feet apart and stepping on the balls of her feet. It felt weird, but by the third time around, she had her balance.
“Ready?”
“Yep.” She grinned. As ready as she’d ever be.
The sky was even lighter now, and Axel’s grin was so handsome it made her sigh. She wondered what his company’s policy might be on getting involved with a client. Not that she wanted to be “involved.” She’d be heading back to Vegas in less than a week. But Dakota wouldn’t mind adding a nice vacation fling to her Adventure List.
He picked up the smaller of the two packs and stepped behind her. “Arms back,” he instructed. Axel put the pack on her and reached around her sides to fasten the straps below her breasts.
Oh, damn, did he smell good. She closed her eyes and inhaled. His arm brushed the side of her breast.
Too bad layer upon layer of winter clothing kept her from really enjoying the light graze.
Falke’s purr changed to a deeper growl, which made her blink and stiffen. As soon as her gaze met the cat’s, the growl quit and it meowed, making her snicker.
“You don’t fool me,” she muttered. “Pussy cat, indeed.”
Axel chuckled and tugged on the pack lightly, adjusting a strap here and another there, but no longer reaching around her to do so. “Okay, Dakota. Let’s go.”
Her name sounded really good in his deep voice.
“You did eat a hearty breakfast this morning?”
She nodded. “I had room service send up eggs and ham and orange juice.”
“Good. We’ll stop often to rest. I’m carrying the canteens. Anytime you’re thirsty, let me know. And I want you to eat the power bars in this pocket—” he patted the side of her pack, “—at least one an hour. If you start to sweat, you need to peel off a layer of clothing. You need to stay dry but warm.” He moved to her side and waited until she looked up into his eyes. “If something’s wrong, tell me. You signed your life into my hands, and I really don’t relish the thought of hauling a body down the mountain.”
She sobered at that visual. “Right. Will do.”
“And, the most important thing of all…”
She waited as he paused.
“I tell you to jump, your only question better be, ‘How high?’ Got it?”
“Yes, sir,” she said seriously. Her life really was in his hands, and she trusted him. However, Dakota knew dangers lurked in the wilderness, especially when the temperature hung around ten degrees Fahrenheit.
“That’s a good girl.” He winked. “Falke, take the tail.”
“What?” Dakota asked.
“Falke will watch our backsides for any danger. I’ll lead.”
“What kind of danger?” She’d been thinking hypothermia and frostbite.
Axel shrugged. “We’re in bear country, though they should be hibernating. Elk, moose, deer. They mostly take off when they hear humans, especially since it’s not mating season, but you can’t be too careful. Falke will make sure nothing sneaks up on us at any rate.”
He hefted his pack and snapped the fastenings into place over his chest. “Call out if you have any problems. We’ll take it slow.”
She nodded at him. “Okay. Thanks.” And then they were off.
Dakota didn’t care for the cat being behind her. She kept envisioning him getting bored and using her as a chew toy, but if he’d ward off things with big antlers that could impale her, she’d put up with it. Every deer or elk she’d seen in the woods pretty much either ignored her or took off when they heard her, so she couldn’t imagine they’d be any different here.
“Damn,” she whispered.
Axel instantly stopped and turned to look at her.
“What’s wrong?” They hadn’t even reached the trail yet.
“I don’t have a camera.”
Axel chuckled. “In your pack, next to the power bars. It’s just a disposable, but we supply them too, just in case.”
She grinned. “Thanks. Let’s go!”
It might have been fifteen minutes according to her watch, but it felt like five hours before they reached a clearing and Axel stopped in front of her. Already she felt the strain, in her thighs especially and in her shoulders from carrying the pack.
“How you doin’?” he asked.
“Good.” She wasn’t about to start complaining less than an hour into the trip. She held in a little groan thinking she had six hours to go, and smiled.
“Turn around.” He motioned behind her with his chin. “Take a look.”
She looked down at her feet to carefully maneuver the snowshoes so she didn’t topple on her butt, and did a one-eighty. When she looked up again, she gasped in awe.
The sun was just below the mountains opposite where they stood, a bright yellow glow over the tips of the snowcaps. The sky was a brilliant pink that bled into lavender and purple as she looked up above her.
“Oh, wow.” She sighed. A crunch on the dry snow and a tug on her pack had her turning her head to look at Axel. He’d pulled one glove off with his teeth, where he still held it clamped between them, and reached into the side pocket of her pack. He came out with a yellow disposable camera.
He grinned around the finger of his glove then backed up and held the camera up to his face.
“Cheese,” he teased as she twisted around to see him.
Dakota grinned as he clicked the camera, the flash bright and quick. The sunrise would be behind her. She couldn’t wait to see that shot. Axel held the camera out toward her. “Beautiful,” he whispered. But he wasn’t looking at the sky.
Dakota melted a little and sure didn’t feel the cold air, even though little plumes of white escaped with every breath she exhaled. “Thanks,” she murmured, tugging off one glove and reaching for the camera.
He clung to it, placing his other hand over hers. Her gaze collided with his. Her lungs froze as they stared at each other. Pinned between his hands, her fingers brushed over his warm skin.
After a pause, he released her hand and the camera, and said, “Might want to tuck this next to your body instead of in the pack so the batteries don’t freeze.”
“’Kay.” She took the camera and found the inside pocket of her down jacket. “Thanks.” Searching for something to say next, she glanced around. “Where’s the cat?”
“Just checking out the area. Probably marking territory.” He shrugged and pulled his glove back on.
“You doing okay, though? Your breathing’s a bit heavy.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Could maybe use a sip of water, though. But I’ll make it.” She bared her teeth in a grin.
“I’m tougher than I look.”
Axel handed her an open canteen, and she sipped a couple of times. He made no comment about her claim of being tough, just took the canteen back when she was done, capped it and put it back on the hook at his hip. “Ready then?”
“Yep.” She looked around for Falke.
“He’ll find us. Don’t worry.”
Dakota did the concentration thing as she turned her snowshoes and her body back up the path.
“Another forty minutes or so, and we’ll stop for a real break. By then we’ll be in the trees where the snow’s not as deep, and we can take off the snowshoes for a while.”
Dakota nodded at Axel’s back and followed as he led her up the sloping hillside.
Chapter Three
This woman is impressing the hell out of me.
Gunnar’s thoughts entered his mind telepathically, and Axel nodded. They’d just reached the deeper, denser part of the forest where he promised Dakota they’d stop for another rest. After this break, they’d have about two hours to go before reaching the cabin.
They were making much better time than he’d expected.
Her breathing was only slightly labored from the trek. She’d stopped him several times for a drink of water, following directions well and taking care not to get dehydrated. Of course, if she hadn’t stopped him, he’d have forced her to drink, but that hadn’t been necessary. They’d had a longer break around noon to eat the sandwiches Heidi packed for them.
Axel unfastened his snowshoes and stepped out of them, going up on tiptoe a couple of times to stretch his calves. Then he went to Dakota, who stood still, watching Gunnar with a wary eye.
“He’s harmless,” Axel said for the tenth time that day as he reached for the buckles holding her pack around her chest. “Let’s get you out of this for a few minutes.”
“He’s a wild animal,” she said. “They go crazy all the time. I read the newspapers. Heck, dogs go feral too, and they’re house pets.”
Humph. Maybe just a little bite…
Axel narrowed his eyes at Gunnar. Don’t even think about it, buddy.
Because she might like it and you’re claiming her as yours?
She’s a client, Axel reminded his brother, though he had a hard time remembering that very fact.
He bent to loosen the straps on Dakota’s snowshoes. She was as impressive as hell. There were signs that she was wearing down. The last half hour had been slower than the rest of the day, and he’d seen her stumble a couple of times. He hadn’t been able to keep from pushing her limits, though, just to see where they were, how much she could take. She took it all, even grinning at him when he could tell she was starting to tire. Not a single word of complaint the whole day. Not one. Her biggest worry seemed to be Gunnar.
If she’s a client, why are you staring at her as if she’s a feast?
Shut up, pussy.
The puma hissed at him. Dakota flinched.
Knock it off, Axel warned . She’s nervous enough around you already.
“I have to…umm…” She pointed a thumb over her shoulder at the trees.
Axel shrugged out of his pack and then drew out a roll of earth-friendly toilet paper. She’d used the bushes twice already during their earlier breaks, so she knew the routine. Another good sign that she wasn’t dehydrated.
She grinned at him. “Thanks. Be right back.”
She walked a little stiffly, stopping a couple of times to stretch her lower back, before she disappeared behind a few trees.
“You need to behave yourself,” Axel whispered to Gunnar when he was sure she was out of earshot.
“She’s a client. A damn sexy one, but a client nonetheless. Look all you want, but there will be no touching.”
I’m just a big fucking pussy, remember? Gunnar’s tone was full of pissed off attitude. I’m not the one who needs to remember she’s paid for your company.
We’ve known each other our whole lives. I know when you’re hot for a piece of tail.
“Look, Gun, it’s—” Gunnar let out a savage hiss and dashed into the woods in the direction Dakota had gone.
Axel took off after him. “What is it?” he called to his brother, but Gunnar was already out of sight, too distant to maintain a connection with Axel in human form. “Fuck!” He ran faster.
Dakota screamed.
Axel crashed through the close-together evergreens, taking a swipe to his cheek from one spiky limb.
Gunnar made the cry of a panther on attack, and then snarls erupted. Axel cleared the trees to
see Dakota on her back, frantically trying to pull up her pants, with Gunnar a few feet from her, on the other side of the small clearing, in an all-out brawl with the biggest damn gray wolf he’d ever seen.
The two predators tumbled in the snow amid a cacophony of fierce hisses and growls. Bared fangs and sharp claws. Then they broke apart as the wolf yelped like a beaten puppy and ran off into the woods.
Gunnar went after it, but Axel knew it was over. If the wolf was on the run, Gunnar would just make sure it kept running, not hurt it unnecessarily.
Dakota scrambled to her feet, her jeans up but unbuttoned, the ski pants around her ankles. She stared at the trees in the direction Gunnar and the wolf had disappeared, shaking as hard as a leaf in a hurricane.
“Hey,” he said softly as he approached her. “You okay?”
She nodded but didn’t turn toward him.
She raised her bare hand to her face.
He came around her and bent his knees to look her in the eye. Her hand was red where it covered her mouth. Her cheeks stark white except for the apples rosy from the cold. “Falke’s taken care of it. That wolf won’t be back.”
A hard shudder went through her, and she finally made eye contact with him. “I was…squatting…and heard a rustle. I turned my head and it was just…there.”
Axel gripped her arms. She looked like she needed the anchor.
No tears though.
Amazing. Most women would be blubbering messes by now. Maybe that would come after the shock wore off.
“It was probably just checking you out. Probably wouldn’t have hurt you anyway. Odd smells in the woods is all.” He knew better. Wolves avoided human smells when in the woods, unless they were hungry.
But Dakota needed reassurance right now that she was safe.
“You think?” she asked with quite a bit of hope in those two words, which made him smile.
“It’s possible.”
“Or I was lunch with my pants down.” She pulled back then and turned away to fasten her jeans and yank up her ski pants. While she collected herself, Axel picked up her gloves and the roll of toilet paper, shaking the loose snow off of them.
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