Chapter Thirteen

Victoria

That night and the following nights, Victoria told Clay they needed to take things slow. Partly because of the proximity of the children but for other reasons too. He didn’t push or try to convince her of anything. But he always coaxed her into his bed, telling her that they’d both sleep better beside each other. To that, Victoria had no argument.

Almost a week after the tremendous snow storm and the Polar Bear sighting, Clay took her out to the pine forest, where they worked together, gathering deadwood and piling it on a sled. When they’d first come to the cabin, Clay had kept a fire burning at night and during the day, allowing it to dwindle to nothing more than coals. Now that it was colder, he added wood several times a day. They were going through wood at a quick pace.

After several flirtatious comments and more than a few hungry kisses, Victoria accused him of luring her into the woods with devious intentions. He didn’t argue. Instead, he held her captive in his arms and kissed along her jaw, nipping her gently when he reached her neck.

“I can’t paw you in front of the kids,” he muttered. “It doesn’t seem quite right.”

She closed her eyes and tilted her head back to allow him greater access to the tender length of her neck. “We can’t corrupt them.”

“We won’t,” Clay said. “We’ll take good care of them and bring them back, safe and sound.”

“Both beds squeak.”

He straightened. “Pardon me?”

She blushed. “The beds squeak.”

“You checked?”

“Maybe.”

“Miss Singleton, I’m an employee of your family’s hotel business. What are you suggesting?”

She pushed his shoulder. “Shut up.”

He shook his head with mock dismay. “I feel so cheap. Used.”

“I think you like it.”

“Possibly. I might need to explore the possibilities. Let’s get married.”

She couldn’t help the happy laughter that bubbled up from inside her, but it didn’t change the fact that she had to tell him about her situation. “I like that idea, Clay, but I-”

He shook his head and kissed her softly. “Don’t tell me about children. I just want you. I have from the first time I saw you.”

She smiled and felt her face grow warm again. “I don’t think we should mess around here. With the kids here and all.”

He nodded solemnly. “Squeaky bed?”

“Right.”

“Baby, there are lots of games that won’t make the bed squeak.”

“Right, well, what we did last night is the most I’ve done as far as game playing goes.”

He brushed a kiss over her lips. “I know. Don’t worry. We’ll take our time.” Pulling her into his arms, he held her for a long moment. Hugging someone while they wore a coat and scarf and so many layers was cumbersome, but her heart warmed with contentment despite the awkwardness.

When they went back to collecting firewood, they piled it high on the sled and took it back to the cabin where they dumped it by the step. Clay banged on the door and Sydney came out, buttoning her coat and grumbling about having to stop reading. Charlie stepped out behind her, blinking in the sunshine. Sydney began stacking the logs beside the cabin, where Clay and the children chopped and split the wood.

Clay and Victoria returned to the pine woods, for one last load of wood. The snow collected in the branches overhead, leaving the forest floor with only a few inches of snow. Every so often, snow slipped from the bough and dropped to the ground with a thump. Aside from the falling snow, the forest was quiet, the trees soaring overhead, a piney scent filling the cold air.

When they got back to the forest, she went to a dead tree that had fallen. She worked on the branches, snapping them off and tossing them on a pile. She walked around a large spruce to access more of the dead branches.

A wolf in her path stopped her. The shock brought a soft huff of surprise from her lips. Her feet, rooted to the ground, refused to move. His eyes, a deep amber, held her in their steady gaze, appraising her. A movement in her peripheral vision told her the wolf wasn’t alone. Her mind worked slowly, moving from the awareness that she might be surrounded to the thought that Clay worked some distance away. He had a gun. But had he seen the wolf? The first wolf moved closer. His steps silent.

He stopped ten feet from her. The distance could be closed in a few paces of the animal’s powerful body, or a single leap. Easily twice Charlie’s size, he looked nothing like she would have expected. His expression was cool. Thoughtful. Not monstrous or evil.

A blow from her side knocked her to her back. A wolf, bigger than the first, stood over her, one massive paw on her chest, teeth bared. Fetid breath washed over her. A whimper came from her lips as she kept her arms outstretched into the wolf’s neck to try to keep him away.

Any instant the wolf would sink his fangs into her face or throat. They’d drag her away.

Her heart beat boomed in her ears, drowning out the sound of the wolf’s low growl. She felt the vibration of the growl, rather than heard it. A nearby flash of movement, kicked her instincts into motion. She jerked her hands to her face.

Before she could cover her eyes, Clay loomed over her. He kicked the wolf, bellowing with rage. The animal landed with a startled yelp.

A rifle blast ripped through the forest, followed by Clay’s thundering voice, a string of obscenities and snarls like she’d never heard from any human being. And then it was quiet.

Clay looked down at her. His features twisted with fury. Lowering to his haunches, he set his gun down. He helped her to a sitting position.

They didn’t speak for a few moments as he cupped her face and looked her over. He pressed his lips into a thin line. He ran his hands down her shoulders and let his gaze drift down.

“I’m okay.” Her voice shook. She sounded and felt far from okay, but wanted to say something to ease the fear in his eyes.

“I should have brought Charlie. He would have barked.”

She nodded. While Charlie was still very much a playful puppy, in the weeks since they’d come to the cabin, he’d turned into an excellent watch dog. Vigilant, protective and territorial, he guarded all of them with a mature intensity.

Clay helped her up and brushed the snow from her. “Let’s get you home.”

“Okay,” she said softly.