by Vivian Arend
“I’ve noticed that about your brother,” Kaylee offered dryly. “One danger of living in the pack house. He’s getting more wolflike by the minute.”
Cooper pointed them toward a group of three teenagers who were already waving their hands. Alex and Lara had headed in the opposite direction, hand in hand as they rejoined the wolves who were working with their assigned teams.
“Time you got to work as well,” Grandfather Giles said as he settled Grandmother on one of the two chairs set up like a royal dais, then took the other throne. “Much as I hate to admit it, that Midnight Inc. crew has some talented artists. Borealis Gems needs to put in a good show, or your grandmother and I will have no choice but to award all the prizes to our rivals.”
Cooper ignored the older man for a moment, instead turning to look questioningly at Grandmother Laureen. “I thought you were going to be my partner.”
She sighed heavily. “My arthritis is acting up, so I agreed to judge instead. Don’t worry. I found a replacement. She’ll be here soon.”
An uneasy feeling welled in Cooper’s stomach. “She?”
The answer arrived at that moment. Amber popped out from behind the fence and headed straight for them.
This was not good for so many reasons.
“Grandmother,” Cooper scolded mildly. “Carving tools are dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
One perfect brow arched upward as his grandmother stared him down. Usually it was his grandfather who made Cooper mind his p’s and q’s, but right now it was clear Grandmother Laureen was having none of his nonsense.
She sniffed. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
“It’s just that—”
Disapproval scalded him. “Trust me, Cooper,” his grandmother said mildly. “And be polite. She gave up her day off to replace me.”
Amber waved hello, the other hand occupied with a boxlike carrying case. “Hello. I got here as quick as I could.”
“They’ve just begun,” Grandfather Giles assured her then turned to his wife and spoke quietly, his gaze intent as if they were talking about a thing of vital importance and not to be interrupted.
Cooper glanced at Amber’s bright face. The notebook in his pocket pulsed a warning signal. The list he’d just gone over that said that being alone with her in any capacity was a dangerous thing.
The one that reminded him that the last time they’d been partly alone she’d shivered with fear at a modest display of sexual playfulness between shifters. What was going to happen when he finally did make a move? Would she run from him, and not in a good way?
Her smile faded, and he realized he’d been staring without moving as his brain worked overtime.
“Something wrong?” she asked quietly.
There was no way to deal with this other than bluffing his way through. They were in a public place, wearing five layers of clothing—she was, at least. Of course they could spend time together without him giving in to the animal urges that continued to grow inside.
Heh. Animal inside. Don’t you think that’s a little clichéd?
Cooper wanted to bang his head against the nearest wall, but there wasn’t one readily available. Please don’t start on me today.
You need to learn to relax, his bear taunted. Animals are good at relaxing. Maybe if you curled up with a sweet little thing who smells like heaven—
It wasn’t easy to put a chokehold on his bear and force a smile, but he did it so he could answer Amber without growling. Or jumping her. Jumping would be really bad.
Difference of opinion on that one, his inner beast grumbled a half second before vanishing in a huff.
Smile. Focus on the smile. “The change of plans threw me for a moment, but I’ve got it now.”
She was still examining him with unease, so he focused on all the things she did that made his life easier, instead of how much he was looking forward to being able to share his other feelings with her somewhere down the road. Real warmth had to have reached his expression because the concern on her face faded.
Amber nodded decisively. “Come on, let’s go see who needs help.”
Around them, students donned safety gear then dove into their projects. New shapes appeared as the edges of the blocks were cut off, slivers of ice raining down in miniature snowstorms. With only three hours to work, no one was going to be able to finish anything hugely detailed, and they all knew that.
Creativity and boldness would be rewarded.
Cooper paused beside a table where three girls had turned their block into a triangle-shaped object with a large bulge on one side. Two of the girls were making faces while the third spoke rapidly, her hands moving in an attempt to describe what she thought needed to happen next.
One of the girls shook her head, turning to Cooper and Amber. “It sort of makes sense, but I don’t see how we can do it without ruining the entire piece of ice.”
Cooper hesitated. He wasn’t sure how to help with their idea, either.
Amber placed the box she’d been carrying on the table beside them, listening carefully as the third girl tried again to explain. “I see your problem.”
She flipped open the case and pulled out what looked a lot like an electric knife. It was—and a noticeably powerful one. She hit the on button and quickly moved to the front of the triangle.
A couple cuts later the girls were nodding excitedly, their voices rising with eager suggestions.
But Amber turned off the tool and pointed to what they had to work with. “Now that I’ve got you started, carry on.”
Instead of a vague triangle with a lumpy bump, the clear outline of a necklace lay against a display shelf. A very suitable project for a contest sponsored by two diamond companies.
The girls went to work eagerly, their small tools clinking against the ice as they chattered like a gathering of squirrels stashing away nuts.
Amber strolled beside him toward the next workstation, a satisfied grin on her face.
“I didn’t know you knew how to do that,” Cooper admitted.
She glanced up. “I have many talents.”
“That I already knew. And thank goodness for them.” His tone was dry yet slightly teasing, and her face lit up in a way that sent a thrill through him.
Dammit, this was so unfair. He wanted to do things that made Amber happy. He wanted to put that kind of expression on her face every single day, but he couldn’t. Not yet.
They kept walking, Amber stepping carefully over the uneven ground, her boots sinking into the powdery snow. “I went to a number of ice-carving events with one of my foster families. Mom was a decent artist and always interested in trying new things. Mason and I learned alongside her.”
“Mason. Your brother?” He’d heard parts of this story, but it was good to get extra details.
Amber nodded, but before she could say anything else, they were called to help a group of four who were creating an Inuksuk from their block of ice. The man-shaped structure had tipped slightly when one of them accidentally removed too large of a chunk from one side.
Cooper reached out a hand to help balance the massive ice block as Amber darted forward, and he ended up with his arms on either side of her body.
She was pinned under him, pressed against the ice. Pressed against his front. He eased off instantly, trying to move away from her, but a loud crack sounded, and another section of ice fell away.
The entire sculpture leaned precariously toward them, a second away from toppling and crushing them both under its massive weight.
4
Amber had dreamed of being pinned under Cooper’s sexy body far too many times, but to be perfectly honest, her fantasies had never involved a giant block of ice.
A second later, the arms on either side of her flexed and an urgent command rumbled. “As soon as there’s room, duck away.”
With a Herculean effort from Cooper, the block of ice tilted back toward vertical, the pressure easing enough that she could dart
to safety, twirling to check no one else was in the danger zone.
More people had rushed over to help, and in the end, the ice was placed firmly and safely on the ground.
“There goes that idea,” one of the teenagers complained, kicking his toe against the unrecognizable sculpture.
“We’ll figure something else out,” the girl at his side encouraged, slapping him on the back and quickly pointing out other options.
Amber and Cooper watched for a moment, but it was clear they weren’t needed anymore. Instead, she twisted toward the big bear shifter, looking him over carefully to make sure he hadn’t been hurt.
She dusted off a layer of powdery ice that clung to his arm. “Thank you for making sure I didn’t get crushed.”
“Didn’t think this activity was going to be that dangerous,” Cooper admitted. “Except for the knives—those I knew could be trouble.”
“And the chainsaws. But don’t worry, I’m fully capable of using those as well.” She glanced around the field to see if anybody was trying to catch their attention. “The only thing I don’t seem capable of is juggling massive ice cubes.”
“I promise to do all the ice cube juggling necessary,” Cooper told her with a laugh. “Tell me more about your foster mom. I assume that’s who taught you to use a chainsaw as well as an electric knife.”
“Her and our dad. They were the best family we ever got placed with. Mason and I were five and six when our birth parents died. We were already in our teens and had gone through a dozen placements when the Jordons got us. That’s the stage when most kids in the system only live with their foster families for a brief time then leave as soon as they age out. The Jordons were different. They really wanted us, and daily living turned out to be an education all in itself.” She followed him to one of the benches that had been placed center field so they could easily observe the action. “We lived in a pretty remote cabin in northern Ontario, and everything was off-grid and homegrown.”
Cooper’s big blue eyes danced with curiosity as he examined her. “I didn’t know that.”
She shrugged. “I don’t talk about them a lot. Kaylee knows the story, but it was pretty much just Mason and me for as long as I could remember. The Jordans were amazing after a long line of not-so-spectacular placements. They were the closest thing to a family we ever had. They went missing about four years ago when their ultralight went down somewhere in the north.”
Sudden understanding lit Cooper’s expression. “That’s why your brother came north a couple of years ago. He was trying to find out what happened to them.”
Amber nodded. “Their downed aircraft was found, but there was no sign of either of my parents. The fact Mason later vanished as well made everything harder.”
Someone called at that moment, and Cooper rose, reaching back to help Amber to her feet.
The moment of contact felt so very real. Warm and connected. It was an illusion, though. Amber knew that to her core. No matter how much she admired the big bear, she wasn’t going to ignore the truth when it came to their relationship.
Being with him today, having him listen to her as a friend instead of an employee—it was only the start and not the end point she was aiming at.
But simply getting to spend time with him right now had to be a priority.
She glanced across the field to where James was chasing Kaylee across the snow before they tumbled to the ground in each other’s arms.
Lara stood with an ever-present group of wolves at her side, the ones who needed to stick close to their Alpha to feel safe. Alex was a short distance away, helping Dixon and a group of teenage boys lift a large triangle onto a round platform. But even as he worked with the others, Alex’s gaze slipped back to Lara, and they exchanged a wink and a smile that made Amber’s heart pound hard.
Mates. Fated mates, and they’d found each other this year because the patriarch of Borealis Gems had forced their hands. The boys hadn’t even tried to keep the mating-fever pact a secret from their mates, and what Kaylee and Lara knew, Amber knew.
She glanced at Cooper. She’d bet everything that he had some trick up his sleeve to deal with the ultimatum, but what if…
What if he gave in to the mating fever with another woman? Forget the fact that him getting physical with someone else would make her furious, what if that week of togetherness became the start of a real relationship, like it had for Alex and Lara?
Amber didn’t want to watch him fall in love with someone else. Not because she didn’t want him to be happy, but because she was sure that she could make him happy.
Cooper and Amber paced across the field toward where Alex had waved an arm to get their attention. “I wonder what insults he’s dreamed up in the past thirty minutes?” Cooper drawled.
Amber snorted. “Your brother is competitive.”
“So am I,” Cooper said mildly. “Only I don’t feel the need to announce my superiority at every turn.”
“Naturally. Those who have it don’t need to flaunt it.”
A burst of laughter rang from him. The others glanced their way, but Cooper ignored them, smiling down at her with approval and amusement.
Amber returned his smile.
He was a good man, and while things might be advancing slower than she’d like, she was more determined than ever to make this happen. She knew his methods. She knew how his brain worked, and now she just needed to be ready when it was time to make her move.
They stopped near a project that was progressing nicely. The huge shape that had been lifted into place earlier was a slice of pizza, of all things, resting on a raised serving platter. The entire sculpture was tilted slightly to the side so the surface could be admired.
Slices with pepperoni and olives stuck up from the background, but as Amber slid into position next to Kaylee, she found herself distracted. The team had made the cheese seem to drip off the edge of the one piece near the edge of the platter, and…
Oh no.
Giggles threatened to set in and knock her off her feet.
She leaned toward Kaylee. “There’s… Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?”
A snicker escaped her best friend. “Maybe?”
“Oh my goodness,” Amber whispered as she stared at the long, contoured drips.
On her other side, Lara joined them. She rested her head on Amber’s shoulder and all but whimpered as if in agony. “I can’t say anything. I need to say something, but I just can’t…”
She broke off into hysterical hiccups.
Alex glanced over, alarm rising. He paced around the gathering toward them, James moving quickly as well.
“Are they using the mate connection in your heads to ask why we’re snickering?” Amber got out between sputters. “Because, oh dear, you can’t tell them. But you have to tell them.”
“Can’t. You deal with this,” Kaylee told Lara as firmly as she could before grabbing hold of James and burying her face against his chest so she could cover up her squall of laughter.
Lara pulled herself vertical, took one look at the pizza, then turned back to Amber before collapsing to the ground, clutching her stomach as she gasped for air.
Cooper had joined them now, a frown creasing his face as he took in the situation. “Amber?”
She sealed her lips together and shook her head frantically. He stood between her and the ice sculpture, and one of the thick, dripping icicles was visible behind his shoulder.
Amber closed her eyes and prayed for strength.
Cooper’s soft touch on her shoulder and the warmth of his breath over her face calmed her slightly, but her cheeks were still flaming hot as he spoke softly.
“They put rabbit parts on the pizza, didn’t they?” he asked.
Amber jerked upright, thankful for a good solution that didn’t involve describing the real issue. “A Bunny Special? Well…”
She glanced at the pizza. Turns out the team, aided and abetted by Dixon from the Orion wolf pack had carved what appeared to be a few
sets of bunny ears on the surface. But as she looked over the group, she realized she couldn’t let it go without mentioning what had set her and her friends off.
Amber caught Cooper by the front of the shirt and tugged him close enough so she could whisper in his ear. “The cheese that’s dripping off. It looks less like cheese and more like…other things. Things that’s shouldn’t be hanging out in a public gathering.”
Cooper stayed close but tilted his head to the side to take a peek. “I see them. Drips. I don’t know what—”
“Penises. Many penis. Penii? Cooper, every one of those drips is X-rated.”
He froze. Blinked.
Her cheeks flared hotter as his gaze drifted over the half dozen tube-shaped objects. Melting had caused water to run down toward the bottom of each drip where it had cooled and gathered to create a wider “head.” Veins and ridges were there as well, and if it weren’t so terrible, it would be astonishing how lifelike they were.
Lifelike and very impressive. Ahem.
Cooper cleared his throat. “Oh. Oh, I see.”
So dignified. So mature.
Until he threw back his head and howled with laughter. Which set off Amber and her friends again.
It took a bit until he got himself under control, and his smile was still wide when he offered her a wink. “I’ll deal with this. If you see a chance to fix things, take it.”
She sort of pulled herself together. “Sure.”
Alex had managed to pull Lara to her feet but had yet to get a straight answer out of her about why they were laughing.
Cooper called to his brother. “Nice job, bro. You might want to help the team check the base over here, though. Looks as if there’s a fault line developing.”
“Where?” Alex left Lara’s side and moved toward Cooper quickly.
Amber might have imagined it, but it looked as if Lara shot out a foot and suddenly Alex was flying through the air, his feet slipping out from under him. He was aimed straight at the ice sculpture and disaster seemed imminent.
Cooper caught hold of his sleeve and tugged, changing his direction in midflight. Instead of wiping out the entire piece of pizza, Alex’s head neatly grazed the long line of drips, sending the erotically shaped objects crashing to the ground where most of them shattered into non-pornographic ice cubes.