She knew all right. And in the span of the few seconds it took Curt to tell her the name, she realized exactly why Geri had gone about it the way she had. She didn’t want to let them in on the fact this asswipe it was her ex. The one who had nearly beaten her to death and swore to kill her. Not without giving Britt a heads up first.
God, she loved her friend.
Turning from putting away some of the non-perishables, she inhaled sharply for Curt was directly behind her. Now, in front of her. Her sharp inhale wiped away the remnants of her sanity, replacing it with pure, unadulterated want.
Curt smelled like every dream she’d ever had that made her happy. A masculine scent that sank deep into her and reminded her with explicit detail about their time together. A time she’d been even more uninhibited than usual—which for her was saying a lot—for the pure fact she didn’t think she would ever be seeing him again.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
She blinked as she stared up at him. Beyond him, wind swirled the snow around the small window. The fire crackled and hissed, alerting her to the fact she had to check her wood amount. It was a daily habit and one she typically did when she got back from a trip. Today she’d not as he waited for her and she’d not been sure who was here.
“Why do you assume I’m not telling you something?” Pushing against his chest, she had to run a mantra of ‘let him go’ through her mind to remove her hands when he didn’t budge from her encouragement.
“Because I’m not stupid. Your reaction was to composed.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “There a playbook on how someone is supposed to act when told someone is out to kill them?”
“Shock. Denial. Oh yeah, and fear.”
She shrugged and maneuvered around him, careful not to touch him once more. Britt wasn’t sure about how much self-control she had left.
“Is this where you want me to apologize for not being like all the other people who’ve had the pleasure of you delivering such stellar news to?”
A smile kicked up the corners of that kissable mouth. “There’s the Britt I remember. Full of sass and vinegar.”
“You sweet talker you. Still doesn’t change anything. I don’t need you here.”
“Yes you do. And I’m not leaving until you do.”
“How does this happen?”
“Simple.” He swaggered closer. It wasn’t intentional, he just had this way about him. This inherent movement that made her panties wet and breathing become a chore. “I was hired to keep you safe. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“Geri?” I’m more willing to be nice if this was her idea.
“I got the assignment from Hank at Brotherhood Protectors, but as it was Geri who brought it to Hank’s attention, I’ll go with a yes on that.”
“And what did you bring?” She crossed her arms, for the mere point of having something to do other than reaching out and touching him. An act she longed to do more than she craved her next breath of air.
“Food. Supplies. Me.”
“I’m guessing I have no say in this then. You and Geri took the decision from me.”
The amusement in his expression sobered. “I realize this is hard for you to hear, but she’s worried and death threats aren’t anything to take lightly.”
“I’ve had them before and I’m sure I’ll have them again.”
“I didn’t know environmental information was so dangerous.”
“As you well know there are many who claim that global warming is nothing more than a myth.”
“Tell me a bit more about what you’re doing out here.”
As she talked, she began the afternoon meal. Her stomach was rumbling and she wanted it satisfied. Curt asked intelligent questions and listened intently to what she told him. As they sat on her couch, bowls of soup on their laps, he asked a question she didn’t want to answer.
“So who’s Grubler?”
She ate a spoonful of vegetable caribou soup before rubbing a hand against her eyes. “My ex.”
“Your ex is trying to kill you?”
“Like I said, it’s not the first time.”
“And the police did what exactly?”
“Nothing. He’s a rich man. Amazing what money can do to have people look the other way in a situation.”
“I’m not looking the other way.”
“We used to work together. I was at his company.”
“You slept with the boss?”
She flashed a grin. “Did a lot of things with the boss I shouldn’t have. But I digress. Even so, he had a completely different personality than what the public saw. Then again, maybe it wasn’t all that different. He was standoffish and cold. At his place he was violent.”
Curt became still as the ice outside. “He hit you?”
“Yes. I got out when he broke two of my ribs by shoving me down the stairs.” A shudder overtook her. “I stayed with Geri for a while, in fact that’s where I met Simon. When he came after her. Anyway, I love the field I’m in so I take these type of assignments to keep myself away from people. I do better on my own. Well, me and Henson.”
He peeked at her dog who lay away from the fire, watching them both.
“Is he a husky?”
“No. Canadian Eskimo Dog. I was up, well down from here, in Canada on work and a family gave him to me. He’s been at my side ever since. This is his kind of weather. And he can pull a sled, and isn’t scared of bears, wolves, or anything else we may encounter up here.”
He dipped his bread in the soup before eating it. “Good protection to have.”
After they finished eating, she took his dishes and washed them quickly. “Let’s go. I have to check my wood stash and bring more in for the next few days. There’s a storm coming and it’s not going to be a nice one.”
He slipped on his coat beside her. “Because there are nice storms up here in the Arctic?”
“You’d be surprised. There are some that are worse than others. This one isn’t going to be a good one.”
While she didn’t really want someone else in her place, he didn’t fill up the time with needless chatter. She appreciated that. Then there was the fact he worked hard beside her, carrying in wood. When the wall had been covered and a rope tied to the outhouse she had she closed up the house and shut the window coverings. Within the next few minutes, the wind began howling and rattling the small building.
αβ
Curt stretched against the warmth of the bedding covering him. Outside the wind howled and he could hear the ice and snow being whipped around out there, slamming into the wood. This wasn’t his type of place at all.
As Britt had said the sun had gone. It was dark all the time and he wasn’t sure when it was day anymore. She had light boxes to combat depression that she turned on during the day. Most times, she was in her lab, hunched over a microscope, doing whatever it was she had to find out.
Swinging out of the bed, he dressed and padded out to the small kitchen. The coffee was already on and he gratefully poured himself a mug.
“Pretty nice setup for being out in the middle of nowhere in winter.”
It gnawed at him. He wanted to open a window and look out it, even if it was pitch black out there. He rubbed the back of his neck and strode to one of the windows that had been covered by wood on both sides to keep it safe and help keep the cold out.
“You doing okay?”
He whirled around found her leaning against the couch, watching him. Eyes serious.
“No. I’ve never thought of myself as claustrophobic but not being able to open a window and see out, this is crazy.”
“So I guess this rules out you being a submariner.”
Her statement was deadpanned, and he couldn’t help but laugh. Grateful for the distraction.
Curt quirked an eyebrow. “What gave it away, my height?”
She’d braided her hair today in two sections and he wanted to tug on them, drawing her closer.
Her lips twitched. “Yes, that’s exactly what it was.”
“I figured, I got a lot of crap about being so tall in school.”
Her laugh was soft and gentle as she neared him. Without stopping, she slipped her arms around him and tipped her head back to ensure eye contact.
“You know, it happens to all of us. If you need to go outside to feel the air on your face, do. Just don’t be out long.”
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the tip of her nose. “Are you concerned for me?”
“I am. You’re my protection, I need you at the top of your game.”
Instant attitude sprung with her comment, but he bit it back. She wasn’t the kind of person who did things like that. At least he didn’t believe so.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, Britt.”
“Between you and Henson, I’m perfectly safe. Right now, I’m worried about you. Why don’t you sit near the lamp.”
“Do they work?”
“Yes they do. Go on, I’ll get you some more coffee.”
She plucked the mug from his hand and stepped away before he could say anything. Taking her advice, he plunked himself in the chair nearest the lamp and reached for a magazine there. As he flipped through, he found a crossword and with a shrug, picked up the pen and got to work. Something to take his mind off this.
When he glanced around later, he had a new mug of java by him, but she was gone and he recognized exactly where she’d vanished to, her lab. His company was the dog, Henson. He got back to work on the puzzle.
Tapping the pen on the end of the magazine, he wondered aloud after another hour had passed. “Why did she name you Henson?”
“She didn’t,” Britt said. “He came that way, from the family who gave him to me.”
“Did they say why they picked that name?”
“Said it was because he was the bravest of the litter and was up for anything, much like the explorer Matthew Henson. The elders had met him and spoke very highly of him.”
“I don’t think your dog likes me.”
“He doesn’t care one way or the other. He lives to pull a sled or hunt. Don’t take it personally.”
“What about you?”
She neared and bent over him to look at the puzzle he’d nearly completed. “That’s cantankerous. What about me what?”
“Do you like me?”
She turned her head and kissed his cheek. “More than I should, Curt Blackwell. I’m making supper. More soup and cornbread.”
“What can I do to help?” He closed the magazine and got to his feet.
They worked well together in the small area, her dog stayed out of the way and didn’t even move when he placed down the food for Henson.
“Isn’t he hungry?”
“He’s trained not to approach until you’ve backed away. I didn’t want to get run over by an overzealous pup.”
Sure enough, the moment he stepped back, Henson rose and padded to the dish. He sniffed around where Curt had held the dish, he looked to his mistress before beginning to eat the food.
“Storm’s abating. We can go out tomorrow. We’ll go sledding. Henson could use a good run as well.”
He wasn’t about to tell her how excited that made him. To be able to get out of the cabin for longer than the short time it took him to freeze his ass off in the outhouse sounded like heaven. And an opportunity he wasn’t going to turn down.
Their evening meal was nice and soon enough they were snuggled together in the bed, body heat mingling as she curled into him and crashed. Lord help him it must be nice to drop into the world of Morpheus like that. He was awake for longer, needing to touch her, feel her, caress her skin and go from there. But he restrained himself, allowing her to sleep. He understood she got up at all hours to check on her projects.
The following morning, he walked outside with her to the sled she’d already hooked Henson up to, rifle in hand. Britt had one on her back.
“In you get,” she said, gesturing to the sled and the bag.
“What about you?”
“I’m driving.”
Henson began yipping and barking as he shifted from foot to foot, his impatience obvious to all who looked at him. This was a dog who was ready to head out. As if the canine could read his mind, he turned his head back and looked at him, the lantern light gleaming off his eyes.
Climbing in, he zipped up making sure he still had access to the rifle in his hand.
“Ready?”
He wasn’t positive but he was ready to find out if he was or not. So he answered in the affirmative and with a shot they were off.