“This one is shaped like a butterfly,” he said.
“Great... Aren’t oddly shaped brown spots potentially skin cancer?”
“Not this one,” he said.
“You’re probably right. I’ve been back and forth to medical facilities, seeing different doctors for so long, they’ve examined every inch of me. I’m sure they would have discovered something serious by now. So far, it’s just my brain that’s broken. Other than that, I’m in top shape.”
Eddie touched her cheek. “No part of you is broken. You’re exactly as you are because you’re perfect this way.” He knew she’d been through a lot in the last ten years, and now her journey to recovery was just another thing drawing him to her. If she’d made her way back, made amazing medical progress when it wasn’t guaranteed or expected, maybe he could make bigger strides toward recovery as well.
Either way, she was a source of inspiration and hope—along with so much more.
He’d always been attracted to her and the last few weeks had challenged him and forced him to acknowledge that his life might never be the same. She’d been here, despite his attempt to push her away.
He could easily fall for a woman like Montana, but feeling her attraction for him had him quickly in trouble. There was no turning back, but she could so easily break him. And right now, he wasn’t sure he’d recover from that.
“I’m not sure I actually thanked you for the skydiving experience,” he said. “It was incredible.”
“So, you’d do it again?”
“Naked? No. But fully clothed? Maybe.”
She laughed. “I made you go naked so that you’d stress about that and the jumping itself wouldn’t seem so scary.”
“Oh, was that the reason? I thought you wanted to check out the goods before you decided whether or not to sleep with me.”
“Oh, believe me, I checked out the goods. But as you quickly learned, there is nothing sexy about naked skydiving,” she said.
“Obviously this wasn’t your first naked adventure.” He wasn’t jealous, just completely in awe of her. Nothing scared her, and she backed down from nothing.
“Nope. My first time was when I participated in a world-record attempt with twelve other skydivers. I’d always said I wouldn’t do it. It was kinda my own worst fear, I guess, but when they asked me to join for the record-breaking attempt, the challenge of it won out over my insecurities.”
“Did you break the record?”
“We didn’t that year. Missed it by six seconds, but the group did eventually beat it. I’d moved on to BASE jumping by then.”
He heard the dull longing in her voice—the same as whenever she mentioned her passion. “You really miss it, huh?”
She nodded. “Yep.”
“Is it just the high or the challenge? Or something else?” He wanted to understand her better. He totally understood wanting to do something with every fiber of his being and struggling to get there, but he wondered what drove Montana. What motivated her.
“I used to think that’s all it was, but I’m starting to realize it was so much more than that. Growing up, I was a bit awkward. Shy and kept to myself. I was into science and sports, but mostly individual activities. I wasn’t exactly popular.” She paused. “Finding a community of like-minded people, first with skydiving and then BASE jumping, I finally felt connected to others, and my identity was wrapped up in the sport for a long time. I trained with other jumpers. I hung out with other jumpers. And while everyone was so different, we had that shared passion in common, and it really felt like a family...”
“I get that.” It was similar on the force. The men and women he worked with on a daily basis shared his commitment to serving and protecting the community. They’d trained for the worst together, and they were a family.
“After my injury took me out of the game, I lost that. I mean, I still spoke to some of them, but I wasn’t really one of them anymore. It felt different, and not only did I lose the community I’d come to depend on, I lost my identity. If I wasn’t Montana Banks, expert BASE-jumping daredevil anymore, who was I? Who am I?”
Eddie swallowed hard. He had so many answers to that, but the words stuck in his throat. Telling her exactly who he saw when he looked at her would send her packing. “Who do you want to be?” he asked instead.
“A good mom to Kaia, a successful business owner...” Her voice trailed, and he knew those answers were the ones she knew she was supposed to say, but deep down she was still struggling to find herself and find that sense of family and community that she’d relied on for her self-worth and identity before.
“Well, you’re doing both,” he said. “And maybe someday you’ll get back to BASE jumping.”
“I’ve given up on that hope.”
Had she really, though? “How are the new trial drugs working?” he asked.
“Good,” she said but there was hesitancy in her voice.
“But?”
“But not well enough.”
“How do you know? I thought you weren’t due for a new scan for another month. Erika wanted to let the drugs do their thing for at least eight weeks, right?”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“What? I listen,” he said with a laugh. Since the night she’d gone missing in the woods, she’d been open with him about her diagnosis. It was her way of reassuring him that she was fine and didn’t need a babysitter, but he’d liked the updates. Since his injury, he’d been too focused on himself. “Are you feeling okay? Any recent memory lapses?”
“Yeah. No, I’m feeling fine. It’s just...my sister hasn’t disappeared.”
He frowned. “Your sister?” She’d never really discussed her family before. He knew she was originally from Denver and her parents didn’t approve of her being here in Wild River. She barely spoke about them, but he knew from something Tank had said that Montana’s sister had died.
“She died in a swimming accident at sixteen, but she’s...lingered ever since my accident.”
“You see her ghost?”
“I see her, I talk to her, I fight with her, I laugh with her...” Her voice trailed again. “Am I crazy, Eddie? I am, right?”
He laughed, pulling her tighter. “While that might explain what you’re doing here in bed with me, you’re not crazy for seeing your sister’s spirit.”
She propped herself up on an elbow to look at him. “You believe in ghosts?”
He hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. “I don’t think we know everything that’s out there or what’s possible. What our senses can pick up on. You’re obviously experiencing something. Whether that’s a real spirit visiting from the afterlife or your own subconscious talking to you, who knows? But I’m not one to judge or rule out the possibility that maybe you are still connected to your sister in some subconscious way.” After his father died, he used to sit in his old truck for hours, listening to the old CDs they’d listened to together, chewing the tobacco his father had hidden in the glove compartment so his mother wouldn’t find it. While his sisters had shared their own bonds with their dad, he’d felt closer to him in that truck than anywhere else.
Montana cuddled closer. “You have two sisters, right?”
“Yes. PITA 1 and PITA 2.”
“Oh, come on. I met one of them when she and your mom were here doing the renovations to the apartment. She seemed...nice.”
He laughed. “Love how you hesitated. That’s exactly how I’d describe her.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “She’s actually blunt and intense, but she means well. She’s never been great with emotion or feelings, but she’s always been there for me. When/if I needed or wanted her help or not.” He wouldn’t describe his relationship with either sister as super close. Their father had been the one that really tied them all together, and once he was gone, they all kinda lived independently in the same hous
e. But they were there for one another when it mattered.
“What about your other sister?”
“She works personal-security detail in LA.”
“A bodyguard? Impressive.”
“She’s a beast in a five-foot-six, hundred-pound body. She had to work hard to prove that her size didn’t mean she couldn’t protect someone effectively. But she’s not only a genius and security-hack wizard, which makes her valuable to any company, she’s also a black belt in karate and jujitsu and military-trained with a weapon. She’s kick-ass, but never tell her I said that.”
“I hear it runs in the family. Your mom was a state trooper as well, right?”
“Wow. You’ve been listening, too.” He’d only mentioned these things to her in passing. The fact that she’d paid attention meant something to him and gave him hope that the spark and connection between them went beyond the physical for her as well. “Yes. She was Alaska’s second female state trooper.”
“So you grew up with all women but no traditional feminine role model?”
“My grandmother is very much the domestic, stay-at-home, typical-of-her-era kind of woman, so it took her a long time to come to terms with the fact that she had three daughters—and two granddaughters—all of whom chose masculine careers, as she calls them.”
“Obviously she raised very strong women. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Oh, she’s proud—now. Actually, I think she likes being the only real girly-girl in the family. She gets all the attention that way. We dote on her and put up with her demands.” He smiled. “Like attending an elaborate wedding.”
“She’s getting married? At her age?”
“It’s actually marriage number three, if she goes through with it, and wedding number five.”
“How...?”
“She left two at the altar.”
“Like, literally?”
“She broke one engagement off on the plane to Hawaii, but because everyone was flying to a destination wedding, they still threw the party on the beach for all the guests and just skipped the ceremony and vows. And the other, instead of saying her vows, she called the guy out for cheating right there in church.” His grandmother was nothing if not ballsy.
Montana laughed. “I think I love her.”
“I think she’d really like you.” He paused, clearing his throat. She’d cued him up for the perfect opportunity. Still, he hesitated. They hadn’t really defined this thing between them. It could be a casual one-night stand for her. He wanted it to be more, but meeting his family—his entire family at a big event—might be too much, too soon. He didn’t want to scare her off.
She was quiet, as though sensing he was holding something back. He wanted to invite her, but he was nervous. He didn’t want to get rejected or put her on the spot, where she might feel obligated, but the woman was in his bed, naked. She might say yes to be his date for a wedding. “Hey, I was wondering, if you’re not busy...”
“I’m not,” she said quickly.
He grinned, relief flowing through him. She’d been waiting for him to ask. She wasn’t scared off by the idea of being seen with him at a family function, and her actual eagerness warmed him to the core. She was a special woman. “I haven’t even told you what day it is yet,” he said.
“Doesn’t matter,” she said, snuggling closer. “Whenever it is, I’m free.”
Eddie smiled as his eyes got heavy. He wrapped his arms tight around Montana as they drifted off to sleep.
He had a date for his grandmother’s wedding. And not just any date but the woman of his most fantastic dreams.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MAIN STREET WAS in full Halloween mode the next day as Montana jogged her usual route to work. It seemed overnight the storefronts had transformed their back to school promotions into haunting, spooky displays. Orange and white lights, black tarps as backdrops for gruesome and scary decorations, and Halloween favorites playing on the outdoor speakers definitely reminded patrons that the event was fast approaching. Wild River really got into the spirit of things. The small town seemed to go big for all kinds of activities and events in an effort to appeal to tourists.
Montana passed the small local theatre house and saw costumes for sale in the window. Sexy Witch, Sexy Bunny, Sexy Superhero... Pass.
Halloween had never been something she’d celebrated as a kid. Her parents weren’t into it, and therefore she and Dani had never dressed up or done the trick or treating thing...
Kaia would probably want to participate in the local events, though, so Montana would make an effort for her.
She stopped outside SnowTrek Tours and stretched. When she turned around, Cassie was standing in a partially decorated window with a werewolf mask on her face. Montana jumped, then laughed. Obviously Cass was into this whole spooktacular thing. Not a huge surprise, really.
She opened the door and went inside. “Hey. I guess we’re decorating for Halloween?”
“Of course. The business association hands out awards for the best window displays each year. There’s different categories,” Cassie said, standing on a ladder to hang a strand of pumpkin lights along the top of the window. “And on Halloween, the stores usually stay open late to hand out treats to the kids.”
“Sounds fun,” she said as Tank appeared outside, carrying a box of what looked like severed body parts. Montana shook her head. Nope. She didn’t get the appeal of this holiday at all, but she opened the door for him.
“Thanks,” he said, setting the box down near the window.
“Ohh! Severed limbs—awesome!”
Montana laughed at Cassie’s excitement over the grotesque decorations. “I assume we’re entering the Terrifying category?”
“Yep, but not too gory. Don’t want to scare the kids away.”
“So, I guess Kaia’s into all of this too, huh?” she asked Tank. She’d seen photos of Kaia in Halloween costumes over the years, but she wasn’t sure at what age kids grew out of it.
“She lives for Halloween,” Tank said. “She’s been practicing her zombie makeup application for weeks.” Tank’s cell phone rang, and he moved away to answer. “It’s the school. Just a sec.”
“A zombie. Great.” Montana just hoped it wasn’t Sexy Zombie. “What can I help with?” she asked Cassie.
“You can start spraying the fake blood on the window,” she said.
“No. I meant actual SnowTrek Tours work. I’ll leave the decorating to you two,” Montana said as Tank rejoined them. He looked pissed as he tucked the phone away. “What’s wrong?”
“Kaia was caught skipping school.”
Cassie nearly fell off the ladder as she swung to face Tank. “She what?”
“Yeah, apparently Principal Lee caught her at the mall when she popped over there before lunch to pick up some Halloween supplies for the school dance.”
“At the mall? That’s twenty blocks from the school. How did she get there?” Cassie asked.
“Public bus, apparently,” Tank sighed.
Montana looked back and forth between their annoyed expressions. “So, this is a big deal?” She’d cut class all the time in junior high and high school. Cassie and Tank surely must have as well. All kids did it.
“You bet it is,” Tank said.
“Oh. Okay.”
He stared at her. “Seriously? You don’t think so?”
The right answer was Yes, of course I think so. Unfortunately, that would be a lie. “Well, not really. This is the first time, right? And we’ve all done it. It’s part of growing up,” Montana said with a shrug.
“She had a math test this morning,” Cassie said. “It was ten percent of her grade.”
Okay, so that made it a little worse. “Can she retake it?”
“That’s not the point,” Tank said. “This isn’t like her. Her behavior lately is not at al
l like her.” His expression suggested Kaia’s new behavior was somehow Montana’s fault.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m waiting for you to see that this is a problem.”
“I do see that her behavior is strange lately...” Though, admittedly she hadn’t spent a lot time with Kaia before the past six months, and she honestly believed maybe it was natural preteen hormones and drama. Tank was making too big a deal over it, and blaming her wasn’t cool. “I’m just saying that cutting class isn’t a major offense. She wasn’t shoplifting at the mall or anything.”
Cassie even looked slightly disappointed in her take on it as she climbed down from the ladder. “You’re right. It’s not the worst thing she could do...but we need to address this as though it was. Otherwise, what’s next?”
Oh, come on. Skipping class wasn’t a gateway to criminal activity. Tank and Cassie needed to settle down a little. “Kaia’s a good kid. She made an arguably bad choice today.”
“Arguably?” Tank said, eyebrow raised.
“Put the accusing eyebrow away. I didn’t tell her cutting class was okay. And I won’t, if that’s how we’re playing it. I’m just saying that I don’t agree that it’s as big a deal as you two are making it out to be.”
Tank sighed. “Well, I guess we disagree on that. Either way, she’s grounded.”
Cassie nodded.
“For how long?” Montana asked, annoyed that this was the first parenting thing they weren’t really agreeing on and yet Cassie and Tank had majority vote on how to deal with it. They needed a fourth to balance things out.
An image of Eddie appeared in her mind, but she sighed. He’d side with Tank and Cassie on this. So maybe she was the one who was wrong about it.
“A month and no Halloween,” he said.
A month? Was her ex serious right now?
Even Cassie looked like she wanted to argue that point, but she reluctantly nodded. “That will definitely make her stop and consider her actions next time.”
A Sweet Alaskan Fall Page 16