Awakening Alex Page 13

  “I’ll just bet you do.” She laughed and pushed away. “But right now, you’re going to enjoy some real fun in the outdoors.”

  “Okay.” He grabbed up a pair of gloves and trailed her out the door. “But I’ll bet the fun I had planned is better than yours.”

  “You can show me yours later.”

  That brought a huge grin to his face. “You can count on it.”

  Catching the double meaning, she burst into laughter as she led the way outside, where the porch was piled knee-deep with snow. They trudged through it to the shed, where Alex pointed to a snowblower. “We can use this to make a path to the porch.”

  “This is your idea of fun?”

  “First we work,” she said with a laugh. “Then we play. Besides, this kind of work really is play.”

  “So you say. But this sounds suspiciously like the things my mother used to tell me when I was a kid and she wanted to get the chores done.” In a falsetto he intoned, “Come on, Grant honey. Clean your room and mow the lawn. Take out the garbage, and sweep out the garage, and then you can have some of my home-baked chocolate chip cookies. As long as you help me bake them.”

  Alex was laughing so hard she could hardly speak. Finally, she found her voice. “Okay. You’re wise to me. So let’s get that path to the porch, and then we can play.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?” Though he grumbled, he started the snowblower and began clearing a path through the mounds of snow.

  While Grant finished that chore, Alex shoveled the porch and swept the snow from the woodpiles. Together they hauled logs indoors, setting enough beside each fireplace to last them for several days.

  “Now I suppose you’ll want me to plow the driveway,” Grant teased.

  “It wouldn’t do us any good. With all this snow, we’re not going anywhere.”

  “You mean we’re socked in here? No one from the outside world can disturb us?”

  “That’s right.” She touched a hand to his cheek. “Just you and me, alone together.”

  He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to the palm. “I like the sound of that.”

  “I’ll just bet you do. Come on. Our chores are done.”

  “Really?”

  She nodded. Catching his hand she led him outside. “Time to play.”

  As she started to scoop up snow in her mittens he merely looked at her as though she’d lost her mind. Then, when it dawned on him that she was making a snowman, he joined in, rolling a second huge ball which he placed on top of hers. They added a third, and even a fourth, until he was as tall as a real man.

  “He needs eyes,” Alex called, rummaging through the snow until she found a couple of stones.

  “And a hat.” Grant went inside and returned with a bright red stocking cap and a long woolen scarf which he twisted around and tied in a loop.

  They stood back admiring their handiwork.

  “He needs something.” Alex crossed her arms over her chest, regarding the snowman.

  “A snow-woman,” Grant muttered.

  “Exactly. How did you know?”

  “Because he looks lonely.”

  They bent to their work, rolling more giant snowballs and placing them to one side of the snowman. While Grant hunted a few branches from evergreens and leaves from nearby trees for hair, Alex hurried indoors and returned with a brightly colored shawl, which she securely knotted so that it wouldn’t blow away.

  “That’s better.” Grant added more snow between the two figures, then used a stick to fashion fingers, which appeared to be linked.

  He stepped back, then caught Alex by the hand and linked his fingers with hers. “Yeah. Much better.” He regarded them carefully, then turned to her with a grin. “She’s not bad for a snow-woman. I wonder if she can cook.”

  “You thinking of replacing me?”

  “It’s a possibility.”

  She bent and rolled a snowball, then tossed it, hitting him squarely on the cheek. “You’d better watch what you’re thinking, Captain Malone. I won’t tolerate any two-timing.”

  “Now you’ve done it.” He wiped the snow from his face with his hand, then bent to roll a snowball of his own. “You want to do battle, do you?”

  Alex ducked, and the snowball landed harmlessly beside her. But his second one didn’t miss. Nor the third, which splattered against her neck, then began dripping inside the collar of her parka.

  “Now you’ve done it.” Ducking behind a tree for cover she began frantically scooping up snowballs and tossing them.

  Grant charged, taking several hits to the face and neck before pinning her arms to her sides. Then, still holding her firmly, he dragged her to the ground and grabbed a handful of snow.

  “Now as I see it, you have two choices, Ms. Sullivan. You can admit defeat and declare me the winner, or you’re going to have one very cold, very wet face. Which would be a pity, since it’s such a pretty face.”

  “That’s what they all say.” She writhed and wriggled beneath him, and found that despite her strength, she couldn’t dislodge him. “Grant, you wouldn’t dare.”

  “You’re talking to a man who has never been able to resist a dare.” He lowered his hand until the snow was inches from her face. “Which will it be?”

  She lifted her chin defiantly. “It’s simply not in my nature to admit defeat. Even in the face of overwhelming odds. So…”

  She watched as he brought the snow closer. But instead of smearing it over her face, he suddenly tangled his fingers in her hair and covered her mouth in a searing kiss.

  Alex could taste the heat, the fire, the passion, all wrapped up in a single kiss. She marveled that even now, after a night of lovemaking, there could be so much need inside him. A hunger that spoke to a similar hunger, an aching loneliness, deep inside her.

  “I’m willing to call it a draw,” he whispered against her lips.

  “Only because you realize I was about to trounce you.”

  “Lady, you had me beat the minute I laid eyes on you. Right now, I’d give in to anything you asked for, as long as you let me kiss you like this again.”

  She laughed, but the laugh soon became a sigh as he brought his mouth to hers for another drugging kiss.

  When she managed to catch her breath she rolled aside and caught his hand, helping him to his feet. “Come on.”

  His eyes lit with hope. “Where are we going? Inside to finish this?”

  “Not a chance. We’re going ice skating. I can see that you have a lot of restless energy that needs to be put to good use.”

  “I know a perfect way to put it to use.”

  “I’m wise to you, Malone. Come on.” She caught his hand and led him to the shed, where there were more than a dozen pair of ice skates in various sizes hanging along one wall.

  He studied the skates until he located his size. “You’re prepared for anything, aren’t you?”

  “This is a lodge that caters to its guests’ whims. We’ve been known to get hit with snowstorms in the middle of September. If our guests can’t hunt or fish, they can always go hiking or skating.”

  She tossed him a snow shovel. “Before we can skate, we’ll have to clear away the snow.”

  “Uh-huh. Another chore disguised as fun.”

  Alex merely laughed.

  They carried their skates and shovels to the pond. Using a fallen log for a bench, they laced their skates, then took to the ice and began to shovel the snow until they’d uncovered enough space for a rink. Tossing aside the shovels they began to make slow, lazy circles around the ice.

  Alex watched as Grant smoothly cut across the rink. “This isn’t your first time on skates.”

  “I used to play hockey.”

  “Really? So did I. I was the first girl allowed to play with our men’s team in college.”

  He paused beside her. “Why am I not surprised by that?”

  She shook her head. “If it had to do with the outdoors, I was just naturally attracted. I was willing to let my sisters be che
erleaders. I wanted to be in the thick of the action.”

  Grant caught her hand. “Come on. Let’s see if we can do a couple of turns together.”

  They began to move around the perimeter, and found to their delight that they were able to skate in perfect harmony. After a couple of minutes Grant dropped an arm around her shoulder and drew her close. She leaned into him and they glided across the ice.

  “You’re good, Ms. Sullivan.”

  “You’re not bad yourself, Captain Malone.”

  “Want to try for the Olympics?”

  “We’re not that good.” She laughed. “But it’s fun finding someone who doesn’t have two left feet.”

  “Yeah. I was just thinking the same thing.”

  They slowed their pace until they were standing in the middle of the ice, looking into each other’s laughing eyes. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to come together, arms around each other, mouths mating.

  Suddenly there was no cold. Only heat. And the feeling that they were the only two people in this vast universe.

  Grant drew a little away and caught her hand. “Come on. Time we got in out of the cold. If we stay out here any longer, we may both be as frozen as our snowpeople.”

  They took off their skates and slipped into their boots before picking up the shovels and heading for the shed.

  At the door of the lodge they kicked snow off their boots before stepping inside. As they hung their parkas and set their hats, gloves and scarves on a drying rack, Alex was achingly aware of Grant beside her. As soon as she’d shed her outerwear, he dragged her close for another kiss.

  He lingered over her lips, then buried his face in her hair and crushed her against him. “If you want me to keep my promise to feed you, you’d better let me love you first. Otherwise, I’m afraid I might devour you along with that tenderloin.”

  She gave a shaky laugh. “I wouldn’t want to spoil such a promising dinner. Besides, I don’t think I can wait either.”

  Like two eager children they caught hands and raced to the bedroom.

  “That was amazing.” Alex leaned back into the softness of the sofa and drained her wine.

  “The meal?” He leaned over to refill her glass. “Or what came before?”

  “Are you fishing for compliments?”

  “Of course.” He shot her a dangerous smile. “A man likes to know that he’s superior in…all things.”

  “I was talking about the meal. I don’t know when I’ve tasted tenderloin that perfect.”

  “And how about the…appetizer?”

  She glanced sideways and caught the smug look on his face. “It was fair.”

  “Only fair?”

  She shrugged. “What it lacked in flavor was more than made up for by the chef’s…enthusiasm.”

  “You want flavor?” He reached over and took the glass from her hand.

  Before she realized what he intended he began running nibbling kisses from her cheek to her jaw to her throat. She sighed with pure pleasure. But just as she began to relax, he reached for the buttons of her blouse. With his eyes steady on hers he slid it from her shoulders and parted the silk he knew he’d find beneath. With that last barrier removed, he began to taste, to feast, until she could feel her mind begin to cloud and her bones dissolve.

  “Grant. The dishes…”

  “Will still be here later.”

  “But I…” Her protest died in her throat as he proceeded to slowly drive her mad.

  Later, as they sat by the fire and finished the last of their wine, Alex glanced at the curtain of snow falling past the window.

  “It’s snowing again.”

  Grant saw the way her eyes went all soft and dreamy and couldn’t help smiling. “Does that mean you’ll want to play again tomorrow?”

  “And what if I do?”

  He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss there. “Hey. I’m not complaining. I like the way you play. And I really like the way you warm up afterward. Speaking of which…” He stood and tugged on her hand, bringing her to her feet. “Let’s watch the snow from my bedroom window.”

  “You’re a glutton.”

  “Not at all. I’m just looking out for your comfort.” He led the way down the hall and drew her into his arms as they stepped into his bedroom. “Now we can watch the snow and keep each other warm at the same time.”

  It was, she realized, just about the best way of all to spend a long winter’s night.

  Chapter 13

  Alex hauled down snowshoes hanging on hooks along one wall and tossed a pair to Grant.

  He neatly caught them. “We’re going hiking?”

  “That’s right. To the very top of the hill.”

  They’d spent the morning removing the additional six inches of snow that had fallen overnight. Now, with a clear path from the shed to the lodge, and the porch and woodpile neatly swept, they were ready to play.

  He reached up and removed a toboggan from a shelf. “If we’re hiking up, I intend to take the easy way back down.”

  “That little toy could get pretty heavy by the time we’re halfway up the hill.”

  He laughed. “Yeah. But think how handy it’ll be when we’re ready to come down.”

  She latched the door behind them, then fastened her snowshoes and caught hold of the toboggan rope. Grant did the same, and they began walking toward the distant slope.

  As they rounded the lake Alex pointed. “Isn’t that the prettiest picture you’ve ever seen?”

  Grant paused to study it. Fresh snow had already completely obliterated yesterday’s rink. The limbs of the trees lining the shore were bent to the ground, heavy with snow. A few ducks circled overhead, then left to find open water. The scene was almost too perfect to be believed.

  Alex’s voice was hushed with a sort of reverence. “Do you know what I like best?”

  Grant shook his head.

  “There are no prints except ours.”

  He turned to study the two sets of prints left by their snowshoes and the toboggan that skimmed across the snow, leaving little more than a wide, rough swath.

  “It’s like having a clean slate.” She gave a last look over the vast white countryside, then turned away to continue the upward trek.

  As he moved along beside her, Grant found himself loving the image of a clean slate. That’s how being here with Alex made him feel. As though he’d been given a new start. There were no smudges yet. No mistakes. Only a wide expanse of white, for as far as he could see. He felt as though he’d been reborn. And this time, he was determined to treat his life, and the lives of those around him, with greater care.

  In this isolated place he’d had plenty of time to think. To sort through some of the problems that had plagued him. He still hadn’t decided his future. The idea of returning to the force was much less worrisome than it had been earlier. He would take such decisions one day at a time. But for now, he was finally coming to terms with the guilt he’d been suffering over his part in the shoot-out and death. It seemed so easy for Alex to accept the fact that he’d been forced to make a judgment in the space of an instant. Her casual acceptance had caused him to take a hard look at the situation and decide whether he’d been too tough on himself. Right or wrong, he’d concluded, he would have to live with the decision he’d made, and the consequences of it. He’d been forced to take a life in order to try to save one. The fact that both lives had been lost, one his best friend, the other a youth still in his teens, would probably always remain with him. But he was beginning to hope that in time he could let go of the crippling sense of responsibility.

  It occurred to him that his nightmare hadn’t returned since he’d confided in Alex and had witnessed her calm acceptance of the situation.

  Alex. Just looking at her made him smile. The light of excitement in those sparkling eyes. Her cheeks as red as apples. And those long, long legs eating up the miles with so little effort. It may have been her outward beauty that had first attracted him. He’d nev
er met another woman who was his equal in strength and stamina. But it was her inner beauty that had touched his heart and had unlocked all those doors to his emotions. Maybe that was the real reason that he found her so intriguing. She constantly challenged him, mentally and physically. She was, quite simply, the most amazing woman he’d ever met.

  They trudged uphill for more than an hour, finally stopping at the ridge to gaze at the serene landscape far below.

  “What’re those tracks?” Grant pointed and Alex turned to study the line of marks in the snow.

  “Deer. At least a dozen I’d say.” She bent down, then straightened. “Still fresh. They probably saw us coming and took to those woods. Want to have a look?”

  He nodded and left the toboggan resting against a tree to follow her.

  As they made their way through the stand of trees, their eyes adjusted to the dim light. The snow wasn’t as deep here, and they moved easily into the dense forest. Before long Alex gave a signal to halt. Grant followed her lead and stood perfectly still. Moving toward them was a herd of perhaps a dozen or more deer, with a stag in the lead. As they drew closer the leader paused and sniffed the air. While he stood guard the rest of the herd moved on, passing within feet of Alex and Grant. When the others had moved on, the buck followed, still sniffing the air.

  When they were gone, Alex turned to see a look on Grant’s face that she recognized. “They got to you, didn’t they?”

  He nodded. “I’m a city boy. Most of the deer I’ve seen have been in a zoo. I’ve never been this close to them in the wild before. I had no idea I’d be so shaken by the experience.”

  “I know. It catches you by surprise. Even after all these years, I’m still moved each time I see them.”

  “Then how can you bear to bring hunters here?”

  She shrugged. “You’d be surprised to learn that most of the hunters are also conservationists. They realize the necessity of thinning the herds. They’re careful and selective. And unless they intend to use the meat themselves, they sign an agreement to donate all the meat to a local food bank. Most of the men who’ve been coming here for years have switched from rifles to cameras. Their only interest now is in seeing what you and I just saw. It’s a fantastic experience.”