Chapter Four
Cedar watched the white and red helicopter fly away until it was no longer visible, then she settled her gaze on the hunk ‘o man in the orange jumpsuit. She could tell he was tall and broad even through his suit. And his face was chiseled-handsome even with his safety helmet on. But that wasn’t what had her flailing inside, panicked and aware.
His eyes.
They were the specific blue-green of the ocean water around The Maldives. She’d been there once on vacation. When she was ten. But she never forgot that color. It had calmed her all those years ago, and it was the first thing she thought of when she opened the pendant her parents gave her for her birthday. The raven’s eyes were Maldives blue.
And so were the eyes of the man she was now stranded with.
That night after the party, she’d sat on her bed staring at it, lured by the bird’s eyes. Thinking they were the most beautiful color she’d ever seen. And the way they sparkled. Like a light. One that could chase away the darkness she usually endured in the night.
It did that time.
She had stared at the raven’s eyes the entire night, only breaking contact with them when her alarm blared to life the next morning and she dropped the box holding the necklace to the floor.
Lost seven hours looking at those eyes.
But it had been worth it to escape the dark dream.
The Coast Guardsman removed his helmet, and tossed it to the ground, revealing short sand colored hair. Maldives sand. He was a tropical island right here in frozen Alaska.
He dragged a loaded down pack over to her, along with an insulated duffle. Then he pulled on a pair of snow shoes the people from the helicopter had dropped down to him. All the while, not meeting her stare.
“We have to get out of here. Find shelter. Away from the sliding snow. Do you feel pain anywhere? Can you walk? How is your breath—”
“Whoa there, big guy. One question at a time please.”
She had to yell over the whistling wind, but he heard her, because he finally looked at her with that striking blue gaze.
“Start at the top and work your way down,” he huffed.
She couldn’t resist a snappy, “That’s what she said.” She’d murmured, but he must’ve caught it because his jaw went hard.
“You think this is funny?” She didn’t actually. She just relied on inappropriate jokes in times of stress. But he never gave her the chance to answer. “Snow is piling up faster than we can get down to a safe zone. It’ll be dark before then. The chopper might be grounded for the night, which means we are likely stuck here until morning. And you’re going to be all wet when I get done with you.”
His words hit her all funny, bringing a saucy grin to her lips without warning. “Is that a promise?”
Cedar snapped her mouth shut. She hadn’t meant to say that.
He ringed his gloved hands around his hips, narrowing his eyes at her in disbelief. “When I get done digging you out,” he gritted to clarify. “You’re covered in snow. Snow melts. That means you’ll be wet. We’ll have to keep you warm to avoid hypothermia.”
Oh, he didn’t need to worry about that. She was basically Elsa. The cold never bothered her anyway.
And the snow around her was definitely not melting.
“So,” he said, irritation making his voice hard. For some reason, she liked it that way. “Do you feel pain anywhere?”
“No.” She answered quickly and he frowned.
“Because you’re numb?”
“No. I feel fine. Normal.”
“Right, because everyone feels fine after five hundred pounds of snow falls on them.”
She rolled her eyes, deciding not to waste breath answering his second question. She’d just show him.
Kicking the snow free of her buried legs, she reached down to unlatch her skis and when she was free, rolled to a stand. Dusting of her pants and jacket she climbed out of the shallow hole and knelt on the bank to get her skis free.
“So you can walk then,” he muttered, bending to help her.
With some effort, they freed the skis and Cedar stood to face the guardsman with one gloved hand outstretched.
“You have a name, big guy?”
His eyes roamed her body, landing finally on the hand she poked out at him.
“Guardsman Daryn West at your service.” He didn’t shake her hand so she let it fall. And she didn’t bother with her name. “How is your breathing? Are you feeling any tightness? Lightheadedness?”
“I told you, I’m not hurt. Really.”
His eyes roved her again, searching out any injury, but he’d find none.
From the pocket of his pack, he retrieved a flashlight. Clicking it on, he came close until they were face to face. The snow was pelting her skin, but it didn’t hurt. She wondered if it affected him. It must. He was a normal human. And because she’d put herself in danger, he was out here in the elements trying to help her.
Shame hit her center and burned hot.
She’d been selfish, hadn’t she? Not only because of him, but because of her family. What would it do to them if something actually happened to her? How would it affect the people who had raised her, taught her, loved her to the best of their ability?
She already knew. They’d be devastated.
A flash of light in her eyes brought her attention back to Daryn, and she blinked away her regret. It wouldn’t help her now. They’d just have to find a way to survive.
“Pupils are fine,” he murmured, tilting her jaw to tip her head for the other side. The spot where his glove touched her grew hot, but she ignored it.
He let off a heavy sigh and backed away.
“What’s your name?”
She didn’t want to tell him her full name. He might recognize it. Probably not, but she didn’t want to take the chance. He probably had a radio somewhere in all that equipment, and if he told them who she was, they’d likely contact her family.
“My friends call me Cece.”
“Cece, huh?” he asked, one eyebrow cocked. It was pretty damn sexy. She’d like to touch it, so close to those eyes. Or maybe she was just getting desperate for contact. Even from a perfect stranger. “You really think you can walk down the mountain, Cece?”
She grinned, liking the way her nickname sounded in his voice. “If we can find my poles, I’ll do you one better and ski down.”
“Then let’s dig for them. And make it fast.”
“Oooh, I like to go fast.” She was already on her knees, rummaging through the powder that was growing taller by the second.
But she thought she heard Daryn mutter under his breath, “That’s what she said.”