by Liv Brywood
“Bummer.”
“Consider it a compromise.”
“Hey, I’ll take what I can get,” he said.
“You don’t seem like the kind of man who needs to beg a woman to join him,” she said.
“I do tend to draw them in like moths to a flame.”
“And so humble too.”
“I try,” he smirked.
“Let me get this clay cleaned up and I’ll be right in,” she said.
“See you soon.”
Ten minutes later, she reappeared in a black-and-pink polka dot halter-top bathing suit. The bottom half consisted of a skirt which was slit up the thigh, giving him a hell of a view. It was sexy without being sleazy, just like her. She sauntered toward the lake and dropped a towel next to his on the shore. She looked like a curvier version of a Bond girl. Feisty too. Exactly the kind of woman he’d love to take to bed.
Arousal rushed through his veins. Oh hell. He backed into the lake to hide his growing erection. His bear flailed and clawed at his chest.
Mate! Mate! Mate!
“Shut up, bear,” he whispered under his breath. Now was not the time to let the beast out. He silently promised the creature that he’d let him out to run off the sexual tension later. Right now he needed to focus on keeping his libido under control.
“Is the water cold?” Sasha yelled from the shore.
“Nope. It’s perfect,” he said.
As she waded into the water, her face screwed up in a grimace. “It’s freezing.”
“You’ll get used to it in a minute.” He waded toward her and she moved deeper into the lake. “It helps if you dunk your head.”
“No way, it’s too cold.” She flashed a wicked smile before splashing him.
“Oh, now it’s on,” he said.
He lunged forward and grabbed her. She shrieked as he hoisted her into the air.
“Hold your breath,” he teased a second before dropping her into the lake.
When she emerged, she pushed her hair away from her face. Rivulets of water cascaded down her body, flowing down her throat and across her full breasts. He wanted to lap up every inch of her.
“You’re so dead.” She splashed him mercilessly until he ducked under the water.
He waited several seconds before returning to the surface. Her laughter rang across the lake as she played and roughhoused with him. When she finally slowed down, he waded beside her.
“You were right,” she said. “I did need this.”
“Sometimes you have to stop being so scared and uptight and just enjoy life,” he said.
“I’m not uptight.”
“Not even a little?” he asked in a teasing tone.
“Okay, maybe a little.”
“I’ll wring it out of you,” he said.
“Really? And how do you plan on doing that?” she asked.
“With my bear hands.” He shifted just enough to reveal a pair of huge furry paws.
She glided closer to him.
“My, what big paws you have.”
After taking his paws into her hands, she ran the pads of her thumbs across his palm. Shivers of delight raced down his spine. His bear fought to finish the shift, but Jack managed to keep him inside. He’d have to be very careful around her. If he lost his concentration for more than a few seconds, the big, hairy beast would burst free and wreak havoc on their budding friendship.
Chapter 3
Sasha sluiced water from her arms as she padded across the shore toward her towel. As the lazy afternoon stretched toward night, contentment calmed the restless hum in her soul. She sat on the towel and turned to watch Jack emerge from the lake. Every inch of his masculinity—every inch—was on display as he prowled toward her. His swim trunks did little to hide the huge bulge in front. She averted her gaze before he caught her.
After settling onto his towel, he shaded his eyes and turned to face her.
“You’re thinking too hard again,” he said. “Are you still worried about your sculpture?”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “The longer I go without creating something new, the more I feel like maybe I’ve already exhausted all of my ideas.”
“Have you ever had a dry spell before?” he asked.
“Never. Usually I have so many ideas flowing that I don’t have time to do all of them. But the last few months have been brutal.”
“Has anything changed in your life recently?” he asked.
“I’ve been plowing through my savings,” she said. “After the economy took a nosedive, I cut back my expenses as much as possible. I shouldn’t even be on this retreat right now, but I had to do something.”
“You’ll be able to create something.”
“You seem so sure about that,” she said. “I wish I had your confidence. It’s hard to know what’s going to happen now that my client base has dried up. I never used to worry about getting new commissions, but now it’s all I do. With all the pacing I’ve been doing, I’ve practically worn a hole through the floorboards in my studio.”
“You need to get out more.” When she laughed, he added, “Maybe you need to explore the world to get more ideas.”
“That takes money,” she said.
“True,” he said. “But it might be worth it in the long run if you’re able to find your muse again. I find that the more I travel, the more I learn about life.”
She nodded. He had a point, but she didn’t have enough time to do any traveling right now. If she could just get one piece done, it would buy her the time she needed to dream up new designs.
“Where have you traveled?” she asked.
“I’ve been to six of the seven continents. I haven’t made it to Antarctica yet, but I’m planning a trip for next summer. Which would actually be Christmastime here. The sun doesn’t set during the summer, so it’s the best time to go.”
“What are you going to do while you’re there? I never thought of it as a place for tourists,” she said.
“I’m going as an electrician.”
“An electrician?”
“A couple of years ago, I spent the summer in London as a mechanic on a private air field. I learned everything I could about how electricity works in planes. Once you have the basic principles down, you can apply it to pretty much any machine,” he said.
“What made you want to learn about the electrical intricacies of an airplane?” she asked. “It seems oddly specific.”
A shadow passed over his features. As he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbed. The sudden change in his demeanor set her on edge.
“I was in a plane crash a few years ago,” he said. “Almost a decade ago now that I think about it.”
“Oh my God.” She placed her hand over her thundering heart. “What happened?”
“I was flying the red eye from Dallas to New York. We took off and everything was fine at first, until the lights flickered in the cabin.” He paused and took a breath. “A few seconds later the power went out completely. We pitched to the right and started falling.”
She reached for his hand and held it. His trembling fingers gripped hers.
“My brother was in the seat next to me,” he continued. “We were on a smaller plane. Two seats on each side of the aisle. He wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, not that it would have mattered much. I was the only survivor. My brother didn’t make it.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I can’t imagine how terrifying that had to have been.”
“I thought I’d known what it felt like to be scared and helpless before that moment, but I was wrong. So wrong…” He interlaced his fingers with hers. “I didn’t know the first thing about fear. The moment we started falling, my brother turned to me. I’ll never forget the expression on his face. Shock, followed by terror, a split second before he flew up from his seat and slammed his head into the ceiling. Sometimes I wonder if he would have lived if he’d had his seatbelt on.”
“You said only two other people survived?”
“Right.”
“Were they seated near you?” she asked.
“No. Both of the other survivors were in the back row of the plane. When we hit the ground, the tail sheared off and they were sucked out. We were in the center over the wings. I always sat there because it’s the most stable part of an airplane. I had the window seat. The impact knocked me unconscious. But the heat from the fire woke me up. My brother—” his voice cracked. “His neck was broken. I knew right away that he hadn’t made it.”
Her heart broke for him. She couldn’t even begin to imagine the level of horror he’d endured. She leaned over and pulled him into her arms. He clung to her, wrapping her in a tight embrace. As she brushed her cheek against his, soft stubble tickled her skin. She sighed as she sensed his inner torment. Pain radiated from him, awakening her bear. The creature clawed at her chest. She longed to shift so she could protect him. It had been years since she’d been this close to another person. She craved his touch, even if it was born of heartbreak.
“I still think about him every day,” Jack whispered. His soft breath slid down the side of her throat. He released her and sat back. A pensive expression crossed his face. “I try not to dwell on it.”
“It would be impossible not to,” she said.
“I spent a month in the hospital recovering from my injuries,” he said. “It gave me a lot of time to think. At first, I didn’t even want to speak to anyone. But a chaplain came in and sat with me for a few minutes every day. We talked about the impermanence of life. He said my brother was in a better place.”
“He is,” she said.
“I know.” He plucked at a blade of grass. “But it doesn’t make it hurt any less. Do you have any siblings?”
“No. I don’t have any family.”
“Everyone has family,” he said.
“My mom was a meth addict,” she said. “The state took me away from her when I was ten years old. I bounced around a few foster homes, but no one adopted me. The day I turned eighteen, they kicked me out with nothing but the clothes on my back. I’ve been on my own ever since.”
“Wow.” He turned to gaze at her. “So you’ve been alone your whole life?”
“Most of the time. But I do have friends. I’m not a total loner.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?” he asked.
“Not at the moment.”
“Good.” He leaned back on his elbows, a grin spreading across his face.
“Good, hmm?” She mimicked his position. Desire fluttered in her belly. She welcomed the change in mood. Although she wanted to know more about him, she didn’t want to pry into his obviously painful past.
“How is it that you managed to stay single?” he asked. “You’re smart and beautiful. Most men would jump at the chance to date you.”
“Well, I—uh, I mean—I date. I get dates.” Flustered by his compliment, she stumbled over her words. “You sure are direct.”
“Almost dying will do that to you.” He flashed a disarming grin before turning serious again. “While I was lying in the hospital I made a decision that would change my entire life. I’d already escaped death, so I vowed to live every day as if it would be my last. Not in a fearful way, but in a celebratory way.”
“Is that why you travel so much?” she asked.
“Absolutely. The day I went back to work, I quit.”
“What kind of job did you have?” she asked.
“Investment banker.”
“You were a banker?” She couldn’t contain her incredulous tone.
“Yep. I spent seven years on Wall Street. I was getting burnt out anyway, but the accident was the final straw. I quit and never looked back.”
“What do you do for work now?” she asked.
“A little of this, a little of that. I don’t really need to work. I was always good at saving money and I still have all of my investments. So now I just work for fun.”
“That sounds amazing. What’s the most interesting job you’ve had?”
“I’ve had some incredible experiences,” he said. “I don’t really know if I can rank them, but the one that really jumps out at me happened last year. I spent October and part of November on a crab boat in the Bering Sea.”
“Oh, like on that TV show?” she asked.
“Yep. I used to watch it and think, eh, it can’t be that hard. Wrong! The deck pitched back and forth in twenty-foot waves making it almost impossible to stand. I had to get my sea legs fast or risk falling overboard.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It’s considered one of the most dangerous jobs in America,” he said.
“And you ran headfirst into it?” she asked.
“I never said I was smart.”
When he winked, liquid heat rushed down to pool in her core. His cocky smile sent her bear into a frenzy of lust. The beast pranced around her chest demanding that she mate with him. Stupid bear. It only ever wanted three things—sex, food, and sleep. Her bear’s obsessive nature would get her into all kinds of trouble if she didn’t rein the beast in.
But could she really blame the creature? Jack’s ab muscles rippled with every breath. A few drops of water still clung to his hair, giving him a wet, carnal appeal. And he wasn’t doing much to hide his interest. If she wanted him, she had no doubt she could have him. But she couldn’t give in to her desire and allow herself to become distracted. If she could just hurry up and design something amazing, then she’d have room to breathe again. But until she produced a clay-constructed miracle, she’d have to keep her paws to herself.
***
Jack scooped a spoonful of caramel apple pie into his mouth. Cinnamon, sugar, and the tart crunch of apples danced across his tongue as he chewed in ecstasy. He’d never tasted anything so magical in his life. Rumors about Madison’s inability to cook seemed completely unfounded. Mack and Logan must have been exaggerating when they were joking about her cooking skills.
Across the dining room table, Sasha’s eyes fluttered closed as she enjoyed the same dessert. A drop of apple pie sauce shimmered at the corner of her mouth. He suppressed the urge to hurl himself over the table to lick it off. Maybe later. Even though they’d spent the entire afternoon together, he wanted more time with her. He planned on whisking her away after dinner. She just didn’t know it yet.
“I hope everyone enjoyed dinner,” Madison said. “I have coffee and hot chocolate in the kitchen for anyone who wants it. As always, feel free to grab a snack if you need one. I know we have some very hungry bears here this week.”
“When I’m painting, I have to stop to let the oils dry,” Mary Margaret said. “My bear appreciates the snacks.”
“I’m glad you like them,” Madison said. “There’s more dessert too if anyone wants any.”
“I’ll have more.” Mack hopped up and strolled into the kitchen.
When he returned with a huge piece of pie, Jack’s bear roared. Even though he was stuffed, the beast wanted more. Typical. He never seemed satiated by anything anymore. He’d traveled the globe and had eaten in some of the finest restaurants, but nothing could compare to a good home-cooked meal.
After another furtive glance at the pie, he promised his bear they could have another bite later tonight. He couldn’t risk a trip into the kitchen when Sasha looked ready to leave. She scraped the last few crumbs off of her plate and licked the fork. That time, she caught him staring.
“Tasty?” he asked.
“This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life,” she said. “I’m going to have to get the recipe before I leave.”
“You’re going to have to pry it out of her cold, dead hands,” Mack said between bites.
“A chef has to guard her secrets.” Madison grinned. “How will I get anyone to come back if they learn all of my culinary tricks?”
“I bet you could write a cookbook,” Jack said.
“I’ve thought about it,” Madison said. “Maybe I’ll write one someday. I have a lot of Mack’s mom’s old recipes.”
“That would be fun, honey,” Mack said as he leaned over to kiss her cheek.
“I couldn’t cook like you even with a recipe to follow,” Sasha said. “If I could burn water, I would.”
“I know a little about burning things,” Madison said. “But you get better with practice.”
“Now I just need someone to practice on.” When Sasha looked directly at Jack, a flicker of desire coiled in his belly. His bear forgot about the food and turned his attention toward her.
“I’m going to start putting the leftovers in the fridge,” Madison said. “But again, eat up. The kitchen’s always open.”
“Thank you,” several people responded in unison.
As Sasha pushed back from the table, Jack scrambled out of his chair. He caught up with her at the base of the staircase.
“Do you have anything planned for tonight?” he asked.
“I have a date with a hard lump of clay.”
“Sounds serious,” he joked.
“We’re in a love-hate relationship.”
“Maybe you should break up.”
She laughed. “What are you up to tonight?”
“I was headed out to take a walk around the lake. Would you like to join me?” His heart beat faster as he waited for her delayed response.
“Well…I should be working on my project…”
“We could work off some of the apple pie so we can have more later.”
“You really know how to tempt me,” she said.
“So?” He held out his arm. “Can I be your date tonight?”
“Well…you are more interesting than a block of clay.” She looped her arm through his. “I guess I can procrastinate a few more minutes.”
“Don’t worry, princess, I’ll get you back before you turn into a pumpkin.”
Her soft laughter warmed his heart. Over the years, he’d spent time with several women, but none had held his attention the way she did. After several weeks, he’d end up bored and ready for a new experience. For the first time in years, he didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world.
After slipping a thick wool jacket over her shoulders, he ushered her into the brisk night. The moon rose over the mountains to cast a silvery glow across the landscape. He’d watched the moon rise over the Taj Mahal, the pyramids of Giza, and the Eiffel Tower, but none of those moments compared to this one.