Where the hell were you two last night?” Heidi and Scott said together as Adam and Andrew walked into the main foyer of the lodge. Panic flashed in each of their eyes and Adam almost burst out laughing.

Youngsters. They did have a knack for getting into trouble.

“What’s up?” He kept his voice casual. Experience had taught him to remain cool even under the most extreme of cases. Unfortunately, he’d hadn’t been calm last night when Paisley had called for help.

“A bear got into the garbage,” Heidi said. “And it is such a mess I just don’t have the time to clean it up. We’ve got a group of artists coming this morning, and I still need to get their rooms ready.”

“Where’s your mom?” Andrew asked.

Heidi’s mother was the head housekeeper and it was her responsibility to keep the rooms clean on a daily basis.

“She’s in bed. She says she has the flu. She said I can’t stay in our room because she doesn’t want me or anyone else getting sick. I had to sleep on the couch in the lounge. She says I’m in charge. How can I be in charge? I can’t do everything and be the backup desk clerk and dinner waitress all at the same time.” Heidi threw up her hands in a flurry of nervousness.

Oh great. The flu was the last thing they needed to circulate around the lodge.

Adam turned his attention to Scott, who was nibbling on his lower lip and watching Heidi with interest.

Crap. He didn’t need his handyman going after the housekeeper’s temperamental daughter.

“What about you? What’s your beef?” he asked Scotty.

Scott pointed to Heidi. “Her. She screwed up and left the back gate open last night. It’s why the bear got in. Why the bear is now sleeping in the corner of the empty swimming pool on the pile of leaves that she was supposed to rake out weeks ago.”

Shoot.

Adam followed Scotty and Andrew over to a window in the far corner. Adam gazed out and his gut twisted.

Sure enough, a big black bear was curled up like a caterpillar in the deep end corner of the empty pool.

“Shit,” he said softly.

“You can say that again,” Andrew said from beside him.

“It’s bullshit, that’s what it is.” Heidi growled as she stomped up behind them. Adam turned to see anger flash in the young woman’s eyes. Her cheeks went a bright red to match the color of her hair. He’d had enough experience with her to know she was pissed off.

“It’s not my job to remove those leaves. I have enough things to do around here,” she stated firmly.

“If you would stop making moon eyes at Tad, then maybe you would get your work done,” Scott shot back.

“Okay, who is Tad?” He didn’t remember hiring anyone named Tad.

“Starving artist in Cabin Two,” Scotty replied. “He’s paid up until the end of the year. He sits on his patio and stares out across the lake like some zombie. She keeps finding excuses to go to his cabin.”

“Hmmm,” Adam replied. Interesting.

“He’s a nerd. I am not interested in him,” she shot back. “I bring him food because he orders it in. Delivery of food is a fringe benefit at this lodge, remember?”

Scotty clenched his hands and stared at her. Fire shot from his eyes.

“Okay, enough!” Adam snapped. If he didn’t stop this argument, he had the feeling the two would come to blows. Both stopped arguing and looked at him with surprise. He never raised his voice to his employees. Today, he’d make an exception.

“I’ll take over the desk for the morning,” Adam said, forcing his voice to lower. “Heidi, get the rooms ready. Scott, lock the gate so the bear stays put. Don’t go near the pool. Stand guard outside and make sure no one goes near the bear. I’ll call the officials to send us help.”

Adam doubted anyone would get here today. The nearest office was hours away. They’d have to figure out a way to deal with the bear themselves.

“I’ll get a call into them to get a bear trap here,” Andrew said and dug his cell phone out of his back pocket.

Heidi and Scotty nodded and left.

Behind him, Adam heard someone giggling and turned to find Paisley standing there, watching the two of them.

“Hey, you managed to sneak out this morning. We missed you. How long have you been standing there?” Adam asked.

“Long enough to see that Scotty has the hots for Heidi and Heidi likes Scotty,” Paisley answered with a chuckle.

“That’s all we need around here, a romance,” Adam growled.

“And you have something against romance?” Paisley asked with wide eyes. Man, she sure was pretty when she was in a teasing mood. He was glad she had recuperated from last night’s scare.

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with work,” Adam said. He settled himself behind the courtesy desk and quickly checked the book to see how many more tourists would be arriving.

Twenty today? Wow. No wonder Heidi was freaking out. Another three people tomorrow and then six the day after.

“No signal. I’ll have to use the landline. What’s wrong?” Andrew asked as he pocketed his cell and caught Adam frowning.

“Business is picking up. Big time. We need to get rid of that bear and now,” Adam answered. He knew he should be excited at having a pickup in business this late in the season, but that bear was going to put a big kink in the tourist fun around here.

“How the hell do we get rid of a bear?” Andrew asked. Now it was his friend’s turn to frown. “He got into the garbage, probably ate his fill and then decided to hibernate right there in the pool. I sure as hell don’t want to wake a sleeping bear. They are dangerous enough when awake.”

Adam nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, they are grumpy at this time of the year. They’re filling up on food so they can hibernate through the winter.” Damn, how would they get rid of the animal?

“I think I have an idea,” Paisley said and motioned for them to follow her to the kitchen.

“Oh man, what a waste of a blueberry pie,” Scotty complained from beside Paisley as she tossed a piece of pie into the swimming pool, missing the bear’s black nose by a few inches.

It continued to sleep. Sunshine streamed onto the animal enhancing its black fur.

“Good shot. I think that will catch his attention,” Andrew complimented.

He held a rifle and it was pointed directly at the bear. If the large animal so much as moved the wrong way, Andrew had said he would have to shoot him.

Guilt roared through her. If she hadn’t left food out on her picnic table, the bear might not have come around the lodge in the first place and found the open gate and then the food in the unlocked dumpster.

“Considering it’s the last piece of this pie,” she chuckled and gazed at the other pieces scattered near the sleeping bear. The four of them had taken turns tossing chunks of pie near the bear and Paisley’s had come closest.

“Just like playing horseshoes,” Andrew chuckled.

“Here’s another pie,” Adam said as he joined them at the open gate.

“Paisley’s the best shot by far. Give her the pie,” Scotty beamed at her.

Adam handed the pie and a knife to Paisley, and she quickly cut the delicacy into quarters. She tossed the items near the bear. The last one nudged its paw.

“I’ve led a trail of pieces down toward the lake,” Adam whispered. “The bear will find some semi-fresh trout down there too. Then I’ve left slices of honey-covered bread leading a trail away from the lodge. By the time the bear is finished eating everything, he’ll be so full he’ll want to find a quieter place to sleep.”

“You realize the bear is going to come back because he found food here in the first place,” Scotty argued.

“I’ve got a call into the officials,” Adam said. “They’re hauling in a live trap. They’ll be here tomorrow. Hopefully, the bear will be caught quickly and relocated before it gets much colder for it.”

“Shit! It’s moving,” Scotty squealed and jumped back.

Paisley gazed at the large animal. Sure enough it was lifting his head and a black nose twitched as he sniffed the air. In an instant, its eyes were open and he was on four big feet. Paisley gasped at the sight of some very long claws. The bear gave a loud growl that raised the hairs on the nape of her neck.

“Shhh, come on, let’s everyone move away. Bears don’t like to be cornered. Give him a clear way to escape,” Andrew said in a soft voice.

Before they could move, the animal suddenly stood on two hind legs and watched them.

Oh dear. The bear was huge.

“It’s a male. And a big one,” Scotty said from beside them. There was a tremor in his voice and Paisley could feel his fear sift through the air and embrace her.

She shivered and Andrew quickly pulled Paisley away from the open gate.

She yelped as the bear growled again.

“Okay, everyone walk fast and get inside the building,” Adam ordered.

Paisley didn’t have to be told twice as Andrew pushed her ahead of him. She couldn’t get up the steep incline outside the lodge fast enough and they moved quickly into the safety of the building. She was surprised to find the lobby full of people who had gathered around the windows that gave a perfect view of the bear, who was now munching on a piece of blueberry pie. When it finished eating, its long pink tongue slurped its lips as it meandered to the next piece.

The excited group took pictures with their cameras and cell phones and some clapped as the bear lumbered out of the swimming pool area. The crowd clapped harder when a few minutes later Scotty appeared and locked the gate, preventing the bear from reentry. By now the big animal had ambled down to the lake and was munching on the several trout that Adam had laid out for it. Eventually it sniffed the air, most likely catching the scent of the honey-covered bread slices Adam had left for it, and then the creature disappeared into the surrounding wilderness.

The crowd cheered.

“All right, everyone. It might be best if you stay indoors just for the next hour or so, in case the bear comes back,” Adam called out.

The crowd booed.

Paisley frowned. Didn’t everyone realize he was concerned for their safety?

“We have officials on the way with a live bear trap, but they won’t make it until tomorrow,” Adam continued in a loud-enough voice to show authority and to make sure everyone heard.

His face was stern and he looked serious. Paisley heart fluttered. He looked sexy as sin when he was being firm.

“In the meantime, make sure you make a lot of noise when you go out on the hiking trails. And pick up the free welcome package in the lobby before heading outdoors. It’s full of information about what you may encounter in the wilderness. There’s a pamphlet in there about bears and wolves and also a whistle. Read the warnings and the booklet on how to protect yourself. Don’t hesitate to use the whistle to help frighten away any bears.”

Paisley liked how he took charge and how everyone now watched and listened to his every word. Excitement shivered through her. Wow, she really enjoyed seeing him in charge.

She realized that a lot of people came all the way out here into the Northern Ontario wilderness to actually interact with nature and to see the wildlife. Today they’d gotten a great look at one of the occupants who lived here year-round.

“Remember, stay indoors for at least an hour,” Adam warned.

Paisley bristled with anger as the crowd once again booed.

“Breakfast and lunch are on the house today,” he called out.

The crowd cheered again and the people moved quickly toward the restaurant area where a couple of waitresses grinned and ushered the tourists into the large room.

“Impressive,” Paisley smiled at Adam.

“Oh, he’s quick on his feet,” Heidi said as she suddenly appeared beside them. She held an armful of cleaning items. Her shoulder-length red hair was now bound by a green scarf and her cheeks were flushed just as red as her hair.

“Both these guys are quick. Early this spring, one night we had a pack of wolves who took up residence right in front of the lodge. They howled and howled for hours, disturbing the guests, until Andrew and Adam went after them with a couple of water hoses, despite the wolves snarling at them. They could have ripped to shreds,” Heidi gushed.

“Hey, I was there too. I could have been killed too,” Scotty grumbled.

Heidi smiled.

“Well, I am glad you didn’t get killed. I wouldn’t have access to your handyman skills. How about helping me? Since you’re just standing around.”

Scotty frowned. It appeared as if he might say no, but then he smiled and quickly grabbed the cleaning items from Heidi.

“Come on, let’s get some work done,” Scotty said. He turned and sauntered toward the stairs that led to the second-floor sleeping quarters.

Heidi winked at them and rushed after him, a happy skip to her walk.

“She appears to have him wrapped around her little finger,” Paisley laughed.

“I don’t know with those two. One minute they’re at each other’s throats, and the next they’re getting along. It’s a love-hate relationship, that’s for sure,” Adam said as he shook his head.

“A fine line between love and hate,” Paisley pointed out.

Andrew grinned. “They work pretty good as a team as long as they don’t talk to each other. How about you two head in for breakfast, and I’ll secure the rifle and man the desk until Heidi is finished?”

Paisley nodded.

Andrew left. When Adam held out his hand to Paisley, she didn’t hesitate to place her palm against his. He squeezed her hand gently and his eyes sparkled, giving her lower half a nice little flip feeling.

“Thanks for coming up with the idea of giving the bear blueberry pie. You saved the day,” he said as he led her toward the noisy dining lounge.

“Bears and blueberries have always been a great combination,” Paisley replied, feeling quite happy at his compliment.

“Just like the three of us. A great combination.” Adam spoke in a soft voice that made her heart pound with maddening speed.

Wow, this was the first time since he’d kissed her that one night after they’d rescued her from the island that he was showing her some serious affection. Maybe she had been reading things all wrong. Maybe Andrew and Adam were still interested in her? For sure, Andrew’s kiss last night must have meant something.

She nodded jerkily, her legs feeling all jittery and her heart bursting with joy.

Oh boy, she wasn’t sure if she should be ecstatic or if she should be scared of reigniting a relationship with both men. She decided it might be best if she just let things happen naturally as they had all those years ago.

* * *

Three weeks later…

Paisley couldn’t stop grinning as she stared at the total sales amount on the computer screen and hit send. Tatianna and Selena would be pleased.

The Art House had been open for almost three weeks, every day for twelve hours. To her surprise, business had been brisk even without advertising. She’d planned on keeping the shop open until the end of October, but the walls were now bare of paintings and so she’d closed a few days early. She’d reopen again when she got more inventory from artists as well as paint some more herself.

When she opened shop again, it would be with shorter winter hours, which would allow her more time to paint as well as concentrating on creating a website for online sales. She’d reach out to the artists who’d sold well during her soft opening and she’d also utilize the winter to create tons of paintings using the photos she’d taken of the area.

But before she started in on all that, she was going to take full advantage of Indian summer. The day was young and with no more sightings of that pesky bear—despite the cage that had been delivered to catch it, and the unusually warm and sunny weather predicted to last for a week—she meant to take advantage and do some more exploring.

Unfortunately, because she’d moved away from the lodge cabin and into the upstairs apartment, she’d had limited time to spend with Andrew and Adam. They’d dropped by each night after she closed the Art House, and had brought along food and fun companionship.

Paisley also realized that she was aching for a physical relationship with both of them, yet they hadn’t been affectionate with her over the last three weeks, aside from some warm brotherly hugs. Masturbating could only take her so far.

Paisley sighed and shut down her computer. Perhaps it was better this way. A serious sexual relationship with two guys would only make her world more complicated. She didn’t need complications.

With that last thought firmly in place, she wandered into her cozy kitchen, packed a sandwich and a drink and placed them into her knapsack. Next came her painting supplies, her portable lightweight easel and chair. She carried everything outside, locked up the Art House and then headed down the trail that took her to the rickety dock where she stored the red canoe that the guys had loaned her from their lodge.

Before long, Indian summer would be gone, the lake would freeze, and there would be no more canoeing until spring. Paisley’s thoughts of her ex-husband had been pushed to the back of her mind and she’d been feeling quite calm lately. Strange sounds in the building at night spooked her and she’d been afraid that Paul had come to finish her off, but she’d managed to keep herself from freaking out and calling Andrew and Adam.

This too shall pass, she thought as she tipped the canoe over and then pushed it into the water. She settled the items, plus the paddle, onto the floor of the canoe and then slipped on her lifejacket. Cautiously, she crouched and stepped into the boat.

Paisley grabbed the paddle and set off on the lake. Warm sunshine and mild air whispered against her face. She inhaled the pine scent from the nearby trees and smiled at a loon who swam leisurely by a hundred feet away. It didn’t appear to have a care in the world. The bird headed south toward the far end of the lake.

Suddenly Paisley knew exactly where she was going in order to start on her next painting.

* * *

“Huh, she’s not home, I guess,” Andrew said as he stepped away from the front door of the Art House and peeked around the corner to gaze along the outside veranda where Paisley sometimes set up her easel to paint views of the lake.

“Her canoe is gone. She’s taking advantage of the weather. Good for her,” Adam said as he nodded past the stand of pine trees toward the empty dock.

Andrew frowned. He didn’t like it when Paisley took off without leaving a note or at least calling and telling someone where she was going. He realized she was an adult, but if something happened to her, they wouldn’t know where to look.

Beside him, Adam inhaled deeply and nodded out toward the lake. White sparkles glistened off the late-morning waves and several canoeists leisurely paddled toward the lodge.

“It looks like we’ve got a good day off for trout fishing. Let’s head back to the lodge, grab a boat and give our clients what’s on the menu for supper tonight. Cook is expecting some work this afternoon. Let’s not disappoint him or the guests.”

Andrew nodded, although his heart just wasn’t in it. He would prefer to have had Paisley along for the afternoon of fishing. He hadn’t told Adam, but he was ready to drop their so-called friendship with her and move right on to showing her exactly how he felt about her.

“Come on, my man. Let’s get our asses in gear! The fish are waiting!” Adam chuckled as he stomped down the stairs toward the car.

“Yeah, right behind you,” he muttered and reluctantly followed Adam.

Paisley’s heart pounded as she meandered up the barely visible trail on a steep slope from where she’d pulled the canoe up onto the sandy beach. As she hiked, she hummed to herself, quite content with how life was turning out. Sometimes she still couldn’t believe she was back here. It was crazy and oh so beautiful at the same time.

A group of chickadees chirped, their tiny gray wings flapping as they followed her while she ascended. Far off, somewhere out on the lake, the loon wailed a lonesome tune. Wind whispered through the trees and a woodpecker rattled noisily on a nearby trunk.

A few minutes later she reached the top of the incline and stopped. Her heart swelled with excitement.

It was still here, and silhouetted against a bright-blue sky and partially hidden behind a cloud of golden-leaved trembling aspens.

The little gray-planked cabin. Their cabin.

She laughed out loud. The cabin was smaller than she remembered. And it was cuter too. Sunlight splashed over the dark-green shingled roof. Waist-high yellowing weeds surrounded the building and red-colored vines covered most of the front veranda.

As she walked closer, she noted the dark-green paint peeling off the shutters that embraced the two front windows. The front door was also peeling green paint. Spiders hung in spider webs across the stairs.

Paisley grabbed a stick from the ground and gently broke the webs, allowing the spiders to quickly crawl away to safety. As she ascended the stairs, she tested them with her body weight, not wanting a repeat performance of what had happened the first day she’d come to the Art House.

Thankfully, the stairs were sturdy, and so was the old wooden porch. The windows were smeared with dirt and she grimaced at the several dead flies that littered the inside window ledges.

A gust of wind blew up from the lake, curling around her and pummeling the wall, making the wood sidings crackle.

“Wow, I forgot how noisy you can be, old house,” she muttered. She reached out and grabbed the old rusty metal doorknob. It creaked as she twisted. The door opened without a problem and it also creaked eerily as she pushed inward.

The door had never had a lock when they’d lived here, and it appeared none had been put on since. Dust covered the furniture. It seemed as if no one else had used it since. Maybe no one else knew it existed?

The cabin was hard to see from the lake, as it was set back on the steep hill.

The interior smelled musty. Paisley grinned as she stepped inside and immediately began opening all the windows, allowing fresh air to blow inside.

The same potbellied black cast-iron stove was there. They’d used to stoke it full of firewood so they could cook their meager dinners of scrambled eggs, bacon and devour the fresh loaves of breads that they sliced and liberally spread with marmalade from the tiny packages she’d swipe from the lodge kitchen when the cook wasn’t watching.

Suddenly, Paisley felt as if she’d stepped back in time. The rustic cherrywood table still sat in front of the living area window with its four matching chairs. Evenings were spent eating at the table and then playing card games of strip poker with Andrew and Adam.

Oh, she loved losing those games. On purpose, many times. Just so she could sit there topless and have the fiery heat of excitement roar through her as the guys stared at her bare breasts as they bounced and jiggled while she dealt the cards.

Hanging from a chain on the ceiling was the same gas lantern. The floor was a worn yellowish linoleum, and the walls and ceiling were planked with knotty pine.

She’d been told by someone that this cabin had been built by the original owners of the lodge that Andrew and Adam now owned. The couple would paddle out onto the lake and come here during the summer evenings to get away from the duties of the lodge and relax. Later, they’d abandoned the cabin when the lodge had turned into a busy business.

Paisley had been the first one to move in here, after finding it quite by accident one afternoon when she’d spied a buck on the lakeshore drinking water. She’d wanted to get a picture of the huge antlered animal, but it had loped away up the hill. She’d followed it with her camera, naively hoping the animal wouldn’t go far. But it was long gone and when she’d reached the top of the incline and seen the cabin, it had called to her inner artist.

It still did. The urge to paint swept through her like flames of desire. Suddenly, she remembered the single room attached at the rear of the cabin where the late-afternoon sun would shine through the windows and gave an incredible view of a lush wilderness gorge out back.

She crept forward and walked through the open door into the room. The view was still breathtaking, but she realized she’d been wrong.

Someone had set up shop here at one point. Several sheets covered many items. Gingerly, she lifted a corner of the dust-covered sheet closest to her.

“Oh,” she whispered as a wave of surprise washed over her.

* * *

A grumble of thunder in the distance made Andrew and Adam paddle faster. Waves lashed the sides of their canoe and water splashed inside. From the front seat, Adam cursed as his fisherman’s hat blew off his head and landed in the bottom of the canoe. Andrew grabbed it and tossed it beneath the extra lifejacket he kept under his seat.

“Didn’t you check the weather for today?” Andrew had to shout so he could be heard above the shrieking wind.

“What?” Adam yelled.

“Never mind! Keep paddling!”

“What?” he shouted.

Shit! They weren’t going to make it back to the lodge. Hell, they were still two miles away. The sky was already dark blue with sinister clouds in the direction they were heading, and blades of white lightning zigzagged here and there.

Drops of rain began to pelt his face.

Crap, it was time to get to shore and out of the canoe or they would end up in the cold water or as lightning rods.

Andrew lifted his paddle and tapped Adam on the shoulder. Once he had his friend’s attention, he pointed the paddle toward the shoreline, where tree branches whipped around in a frenzied dance.

Adam nodded, and Andrew began to steer them inland.

What a bummer. Their day of fishing had been cut short, and as he looked north, Andrew spied sheets of rain pummeling the other side of the lake. Waves continued to crash into the left side of the canoe, making it difficult to stay on course. Rain dripped into Andrew’s eyes, blinding him.

Shit! He wasn’t even sure they would make it to shore.

* * *

“Wow,” Paisley muttered beneath her breath as she gazed out the back room window, where she’d taken up residence until moments ago on a small stool in the warm sunshine that had streamed through the windows. She’d been so deep inside her painting she hadn’t noticed the wind had picked up.

Colorful leaves flew into the air like mini-tornadoes and wind buffeted against the windows, making them creak ominously. A tinge of anxiety snapped through Paisley, and then she relaxed. This sturdy little cabin had been standing here on top of the hill for so long; through violent summer storms and waist-high snow in the winter, it had never collapsed. She was safe here.

She opted to return to her work and dipped her paint brush into the mint-colored paint and dabbed the edges of the dark-green pine trees, giving them a bit more color. She loved mixing colors and coming up with awesome combinations. Her favorite areas of this painting where the pine trees. Already, she’d dabbled with five different shades of green, bringing the pine boughs to life.

A rumble of thunder made her pause in lifting the brush. In an instant, she realized what was happening. A storm.

This sucks. She hadn’t told anyone where she was going.

She gazed out the windows again realizing it was getting darker. Shoot! She’d expected another three hours of daylight.

Paisley’s heart picked up speed as she spied the nearby saplings writhing in the wind and the afternoon sun vanishing behind a bunch of ominous-looking dark clouds. Rain began to tap against the glass panes.

A wave of anxiety lashed her and she stood. Maybe if she packed quickly and hoofed it down to the canoe she could paddle like hell back to the lodge? But even as she began gathering her supplies, Paisley knew it was too late.

Lightning flashed at the windows making her jump. Thunder rumbled nearby.

Well, it appeared she wasn’t going anywhere. At least not until the storm passed and the wind died down.

She hoped that the guys didn’t get too worried about her if they came looking for her at the Art House tonight. She hadn’t even thought to bring along her cell phone. Not that it would have done much good with her being in a dead zone.

She remembered that in the past they’d had to walk up another hill about a quarter of a mile from the cabin, where they’d gotten sporadic reception at best years ago. She doubted if the area had been upgraded with cell towers, especially when she rarely even got reception at the Art House unless she went outside on the porch.

She forced herself to inhale several deep calming breaths. She was probably stuck here so she might as well finish the painting. If she had to spend the night, she’d be fine. She’d already done some snooping earlier and discovered blankets had been wrapped in plastic and placed into a cupboard. As for food…there were plenty of blackberries she could grab off the vines on the front porch. The rainwater was clean, so she could grab some water in a pot to boil some peppermint. She’d spied some peppermint growing along the edge of a little pond out back. She still hadn’t eaten her lunch, so she would save that food for supper.

Yeah, she was good for the night. She’d worry about tomorrow when it came. If the storm didn’t go away first. No need to worry about something that may never happen anyway.

Feeling a bit less anxious, Paisley set about humming and dipped the brush back into the mint-colored paint. The picture was going to be a beauty. She’d captured the puffy white clouds that had drifted like cotton along the pristine blue sky. A dash of color here and there with the foliage brightened the green pine trees and the black gorge.

Straw-yellow leaves on the lone white birch sapling, perched precariously close to the cliff thirty feet away. The cliff dropped several hundred feet into the dark gorge below. Crimson red and orange mingled together in the clump of maple trees that stood in one corner of the painting. After finishing the background, she planned on framing the foreground with the paint curling white windowpanes, giving the viewer the impression they were gazing out the windows.

She might even keep this painting for herself. It had sentimental value as it reminded her of living here with the guys.

Just thinking about them brought a mixture of emotions. Anger at herself for not letting them know where she was going. Worry that they would be upset when they didn’t find her. Yet also happiness that she had decided to come here today. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have this pretty painting.

A noise from the front area of the cabin made Paisley tense. Footsteps across the veranda? Was someone here? Had she been followed? Had Paul been stalking her all this time and now he finally had her?

Panic gutted her into feeling paralyzed. She sat frozen on the stool and listened. Wind slapped against the sides of the cabin. Rain lashed the windows. The front door creaked open.

Oh damn!

From her back jean pocket, Paisley withdrew and snapped open the switchblade that Selena had once given to her. Sure, those types of knives were illegal in Canada, but hell, it sure did come in handy when a woman was in a hurry to protect herself.

Her mouth went dry as a floorboard creaked.

Someone was inside! Why the hell had she stayed in this building without any locks? Was she crazy?

She tiptoed across the room and edged up beside the open doorway. She dared not look. She’d wait until Paul walked through the door, and then she would knife him in the gut. Then she’d run!

Heavy breathing. Yes, someone was breathing. Another floorboard creaked. The breathing grew louder. She caught sight of blue. She didn’t hesitate. In a fast upward motion, she swept the knife and hit something hard.

“What the fuck?” a guy shouted. He fell backward. Simultaneously, she recognized his voice, and saw surprise on Andrew’s face as he sat on the floor, the cooler he’d been carrying still in his arms. The switchblade was stuck right into the front of the plastic.

“Oh my God! Why didn’t you say it was you?” She screamed at Andrew. She was going to lose her mind. She’d almost gutted him. Had he not been carrying that cooler…

“I cannot believe it,” Paisley cried out. She was shaking so hard, she almost crumpled to the floor right beside Andrew.

To her amazement, Andrew began to laugh. Sweet laugh lines popped out at the sides of his eyes and on the sides of his mouth.

“We saw your boat on the shore, and I wanted to surprise you with dinner,” Andrew answered and nodded at the cooler.

“I almost killed you, Andrew.” Paisley wanted to cry.

“Well, you didn’t.” He gazed at the knife protruding from the cooler. “So look on the bright side. At least the knife will come in handy to prepare the fish.”

“You’re insane, Andrew. Totally freaking nuts.”

“And that’s why you love me,” he grinned.

He was so right. She did love him. With all her heart. Why had it taken her so long to admit she loved him?

She reached down and tried to remove the knife. It didn’t budge. She took the cooler from him and set it on the floor.

“Are you all right?” she asked as she helped him up.

“I’m getting too old for dropping my ass onto the floor,” he chuckled. He grimaced and smoothed his hands over his back end. “It appears I don’t have to worry about you. You can take care of yourself.”

Guilt assailed her.

“I am so sorry,” Paisley said. She made a move toward him but he held up his hands in a stop motion.

“No, really. I’m fine.”

Paisley frowned. “Where’s Adam? Don’t you two usually do your trout trip together?”

“I left him down by the lake. He was turning over the canoes and grabbing our gear. Unfortunately, I forgot to pack my rain gear, so I took off.”

Oh. So she was trapped in the cabin with Andrew and Adam. A wild giddiness swept through her.

“Just like old times,” Andrew whispered, repeating what she’d just been thinking.

A flash of lightning and a crack of thunder roared overhead, making Paisley jump and Andrew swear.

Suddenly, the front door burst inward and Adam—wearing green rain gear and laden with a knapsack and another blue cooler—rushed in with a blast of wind and flashes of lightning blinking behind him.

“You made it!” Andrew laughed. He rushed forward and slammed the door behind Adam.

Adam shivered as cold water dripped onto the nape of his neck and he grimaced as droplets weaved their way down his back.

Thankfully, Paisley grabbed the cooler from him and Adam quickly removed the rain hat. He noted the rip he’d made moments earlier in it as he’d hastily tried to duck a branch along the trail. The hat would have to be replaced.

Oh well, shit happened.

“I can tell you, its pissing cats and dogs out there,” Adam warned as he shrugged off his raincoat. A sudden chill snapped through him as thunder rocked the cabin. The floorboards beneath their feet trembled.

Andrew cursed and Paisley cried out, her eyes round with surprise. Her gaze darted to the windows as lightning flashed.

“Hey, everything is okay. We’re safe,” Adam said in as soft voice as he could muster. He wished he could reach out to her and hug her and comfort her, but he didn’t. If he did, he knew he would never be able to let her go.

He didn’t want to undo everything that Andrew and he had been working on to regain Paisley’s trust.

“We should get a fire started. The temperature is dropping like a stone,” Adam warned as he shrugged out of his raincoat. He hung the rain gear on a hook just inside the doorway.

“Anyone got matches?” he asked as he rubbed his cold hands together and gazed around the small room.

Wow, it was as if he’d stepped right back in time. Everything appeared the same. A good-sized pile of split logs, kindling and old newspapers were set against a wall near the old cast-iron stove that was huddled between the kitchen and living room area.

White dishes and cups were still stacked in the glass-doored kitchen cupboards. The place still had the nicked dark-green wood countertop and the same single stainless-steel sink. He grinned as he remembered the plastic pipe that went out the back wall and angled drainage water into a small pond out back.

The same old flowery green-and-yellow curtains billowed at the sides of the several open windows and the lone table pushed up against those windows that Paisley was now closing.

A warm bubbly feeling sifted into his heart. Yeah, they’d had a lot of fun here, the three of them. Until now, he hadn’t realized how bad he’d missed this place. Truth be told, he hadn’t wanted to come back here. Hadn’t wanted to remember the good times, but when they’d spotted Paisley’s red canoe pulled up on the sandy beach, they’d paddled like hell through the stormy waters to get to shore and to Paisley.

Adam frowned and his gut twisted with surprise as his gaze snapped to the knife protruding from the cooler that Andrew had carried up.

Okay. Should he ask?

“Shit, no matches. I forgot them in the other jacket I wore during last week’s fishing trip,” Andrew swore as he rummaged through his shirt pockets.

“Here,” Paisley said. She’d opened a glass door to one of the cupboards in the kitchen area and withdrew a glass jar filled with wooden matches.

She appeared flustered and damned pretty as she held out the jar to Andrew.

She wore a red kerchief over her blonde hair. The head garment matched her red flannel shirt and he noted that her smile was wobbly.

“Okay, I’ll bite. What’s with the knife stuck in the cooler?” he finally asked.

Andrew grinned in a weird way at his question, but didn’t answer as he ripped up some old newspapers and stuck them in the cast-iron stove along with some dry sticks and a couple of split logs.

Suddenly, Paisley explained what had happened. By the time she was finished, she was in tears and Adam felt bad for even asking.

“She knows how to take care of herself,” Andrew said with a wink. He grabbed a match from the jar and seconds later, a fire was roaring.

Losing his self control and the promise both and he and Andrew had made about not getting physical with Paisley, Adam wrapped his arms around Paisley to comfort her. She shivered against him and he lifted a hand to wipe away the warm tears that dripped down her cheeks.

“Hey, he’s safe. We’re all safe,” Adam whispered. His heart thumped like crazy and his protective instincts just about overwhelmed him.

Her eyes were bright and her lush mouth trembled. He ran his thumb over the warm curve of her lower lip, and to his surprise, the tip of her pretty tongue protruded to lick a callus on his skin.

The dewy feel of Paisley’s tongue against his flesh sent shockwaves through him. Automatically Adam’s cock stiffened and his breath quickened.

Her eyes sparkled with tears and…invitation?

Oh, shit. He shouldn’t have touched her. He should’ve soothed her with words.

Adam’s cock pressed boldly against his pants. Nervousness shifted through him. He didn’t want to scare Paisley away. Didn’t want to fuck with the good thing they had going now, with her friendship and her trust.

Adam cleared his throat and reluctantly moved away from Paisley. His breath caught as he spied lust flaring in Andrew’s gaze.

He could read his friend’s thoughts.

Let’s take her here. Now.

It hurt like hell to break his gaze, but Paisley deserved better than to be bedded here in the old cabin from their past.

Adam rubbed his hands and strolled toward the cooler that contained their trout.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I am starved for supper. I’ll get the fish ready. You two can decide on what else there is around here to eat with the fish.”

“I take dibs on washing the dishes. Andrew can cook,” Paisley said quickly. Her voice sounded throaty, damned sexy. She smiled as Andrew rolled his eyes.

“We all know how Paisley hates to cook fish,” Andrew chuckled. “And that’s because I am the best cook out of the three of us.”

Adam laughed as Paisley smacked Andrew’s shoulder. Andrew grinned and moved toward the kitchen where he picked up a small pot and then headed toward the door.