Chapter 20
20
Vivian slipped under the covers, her flannel pajamas giving warmth when cold slithered throughout her body. Still feeling foolish from her conversations with Logan after the events of the day, she sucked in a deep breath before letting it out slowly.
Sakari hopped up on her bed and began to paw her way to a comfortable position. Vivian smiled as her fingers trailed along the soft fur, the movement calming her tumultuous thoughts.
Clearing her mind, she began to focus on the next day. No more Miss Investigator. No more trying to help beyond what I was assigned. I’ll take some things to the shed and get them ready. I’ll watch out the window and take notes. That’s it. That’s all.
Satisfied she had her mind re-centered on what she needed to do, she rolled over, careful of the now slumbering cat before slipping into a restless slumber, thoughts of the earlier shared kiss dancing in her mind.
Shuffling down the hall the following morning, Vivian assumed Logan had already left for work. Her plan was to sit at the laptop and log the activities next door all day, doing nothing but that, no matter her inclinations.
Her gaze landed on Sakari sitting in the middle of the living room, licking her whiskers, giving evidence of having had a meal. She came to a sudden halt at the sight of Logan in the kitchen.
He turned, blasting an unexpected early morning grin her way as his gaze roamed from her head to her toes and back again, landing on her wide-yawning mouth. Without speaking, he pushed a cup of coffee toward her, and she wrapped her hands around it, mumbling her thanks.
After tucking her hair behind her ear and taking a fortifying sip, she peered up at him. “What are you doing here?”
Another grin slipped out as he replied, “I live here, remember?”
She snorted. “Okay, smart-ass. I mean, why haven’t you left for work?”
“Staying here today. Got some things I want to do and?—”
Frustration spread through her. Setting the mug down on the counter harder than she meant to, she said, “Look, Logan. I get it. I fucked up yesterday. It won’t happen again, so you don’t have to stay here and babysit me. I’ll watch next door and get my lab equipment ready. Nothing else, I promise?—”
Logan leaned over the counter, pressing his fingers over her lips, stilling her protest. “Viv. Hush.”
The feel of his rough fingers against the softness of her lips sent a tingle throughout her body. She stared into his eyes, drowning in their sea-stormy midsts. His eyes widened almost imperceptibly, and she could have sworn they held lust. He pulled his fingers away, dragging them gently over her lips like the touch of a kiss. She sucked in a ragged breath, still not speaking, but her gaze remained locked on his face.
Swallowing deeply, he cleared his throat. “We’re fine, Viv. You and me. I want you safe, and this kind of setup should have never happened. You should be safely ensconced in a lab somewhere, waiting for me to send you samples. Not here, in the middle of Alaska, next door to more danger than you could ever imagine. Not here, in a dumpy little house, sharing it with a grumpy-ass man.”
She didn’t protest his description, but her lips quirked as she kept her gaze steady.
“But we are here. Together. And I need to make this right. I need to make sure you’re safe. And we’ll figure out how to work together as a team…not as individuals.”
Her head moved in a slow nod, still quiet as she took in his words. “What do you have planned?” Hesitation coated her words.
“I have a delivery to pick up today.”
“Okay.”
“And I want you to go with me to pick it up. It’ll get you out of the house. You’ve been cooped up here, only going to the grocery. You need a break. We’ll pick up my delivery and have lunch somewhere.”
“Okay,” she repeated.
He leaned back, his weight resting on his hands planted on the counter, a smile still on his face. “You gonna keep being this agreeable?”
Taking another sip of the fortifying coffee, Vivian nodded. “Yes. No more making any decisions without you.”
He sighed, and his smile slipped. She watched his eyes change color, getting darker. The idea that the color changed almost every time she looked at him fascinated her. Blinking, she realized he was staring back.
“What?” she asked.
“I just want to keep you safe,” he replied, his warm gaze not leaving hers. “And that’s what I’m going to do.” Standing to his full height, he turned back to the stove and plated eggs and bacon for them both. Grinning over his shoulder, he said, “But first, we gotta eat so I don’t have to drag zombie Viv to town.”
Energized by breakfast and coffee, Vivian sat in the cab of the old pickup truck and listened to the classic rock music blaring from the radio. Tapping her foot on the floorboard, she watched the scenery roll by as she lip-synched to the song.
Logan glanced her way, and she caught his grin from the corner of her eye. He seemed less grumpy, and her heart felt lighter than it had in days now that the two of them finally seemed to be on the same page. The desire to know more about the enigmatic man she was with filled her.
“How long did it take to become a SEAL?”
His head swung around, surprise filling his eyes as his brows snapped together. “Uh?—”
“I know you can’t tell me a lot, but I was just wondering how long it took for your team to become a team.”
His hands relaxed on the steering wheel. “Well, the easiest answer would be that it can take close to three years.”
“Holy moly,” she breathed. She sat silent for another moment, thinking of all the training he would have gone through. “No wonder you can’t stand working with me.”
He reached over and grabbed her hand, then squeezed her fingers. “Viv, that’s not true. Yeah, I was thrown for a loop when I first got here, but shit, SEALs are trained to think on their feet and adapt to any contingency. I fucked up. Guess the years I’ve been out have made me rusty, but considering I’m running a security company now, I need to adapt more quickly to other people. We’re in this, and we’re in this together.”
She remained silent, thinking about the new company he now ran, but didn’t want to pry too much.
“You with me, Viv?”
Nodding, she slowly curved her lips up. “Yeah, I’m with you.”
“Good. First stop is the airfield, and when we get back, I’ll take you to the Goldmine Saloon for food.”
For the next few miles, Vivian noted he kept her hand in his, resting on his thigh. Instead of feeling odd or presumptuous, she smiled at the warmth spreading from her fingers to the rest of her body. As they pulled into the airstrip and he came to a stop, his hand let go of hers, and she regretfully felt the cold where his warmth had been.
“Come on,” he called out, walking toward a helicopter.
She joined him, admiring the way he walked around the aircraft, taking note of various parts. He climbed inside and, again, began to go through the motions of checking things out. She took the opportunity to look around at the small airfield, barely more than a large barn and runway. A couple of small planes sat near the building, but other than that, the place appeared vacant.
Hearing a noise behind her, Logan said, “I’ll be right back.”
Nodding, she watched as he jogged toward the barn-like hangar and walked back toward her a few minutes later. For a man so large, she loved the way he moved. He walked like a man in charge—not with an in-your-face attitude but with a confidence that bespoke his character.
He grinned as he neared, and she returned his smile. “All right. We’re ready.”
Cocking her head to the side, she looked at his empty arms, asking, “Did you get what you came for?”
“Nope. We’re on our way to get it now.”
“Oh, okay.” Turning, she started toward the truck, but he called her back.
“Hey, Viv. This way.”
She stared at him wide-eyed as he nodded toward the helicopter. “That? We’re going in that?” Her voice rose with each word until squeaking by the end.
“Come on,” Logan said, reaching over to take her hand and giving a little pull. She didn’t refuse, but her hesitation poured off her. He stepped closer until he was directly in front of her, barely an inch separating their bodies. Peering down, he said, “Are you afraid? I would never let anything hurt you. Believe me?”
Sucking in her lips, she slid her eyes sideways toward the helicopter before returning her gaze to him. She believed him when he said he wouldn’t let anything hurt her. With her head leaned back, her former nervousness was replaced with determination, and she nodded slowly. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
A few minutes later, Vivian was buckled in and watched with interest as he handled the controls. Before she knew it, they were airborne. Her stomach took a few dips but soon settled so that as she looked out the windows, the beautiful Alaskan landscape was the only thing on her mind.
“Where are we going?” she asked, as her courage allowed her to lean forward, taking in more scenery. Thick forests, with slim roads, occasionally cutting through them, stretched as far as the eye could see. She was awed as she leaned over to peer down farther. Crystal-blue lakes, surfaces as flat as a mirror, came into view. Leaning back in her seat, she looked out the front, snow-capped mountains in the distance, standing like sentinels over the water.
“To an airstrip on the east of Fairbanks that has something I ordered. It’s in an undisclosed location, so that’s why we’re not going somewhere more populated.”
She smiled and looked down, understanding she had been given all the information needed. About twenty minutes later, they began their descent. Impressed with his piloting abilities, she turned to him, her voice full of admiration. “This was absolutely amazing, Logan. Thank you!” She impulsively repeated the action he had instigated earlier and reached for his hand, squeezing his fingers.
He deftly turned his palm up so that his fingers linked with hers. They sat, entranced, and stared at each other for a moment before a man alighted from a hangar where a small plane sat.
“Hang on, Viv. Just stay here. I’ll only be a minute.”
With that, he squeezed her fingers before unlinking their hands to climb out, and once again, she immediately missed his touch.
She watched as he approached the man, who greeted him heartily. Dressed in pants and a shirt with sunglasses on, the only thing she could tell from a distance was that he was big—just as big as Logan.
The two men spoke briefly before they walked to the plane, pulled out several boxes, and walked to the back door of the helicopter to set them inside. Glancing behind her, she smiled at the stranger, but he didn’t look her way. Sucking in her lips, she turned to face the front again.
They made a few more trips, each time carrying cardboard boxes to the helicopter and stowing them in the back. She wondered what they contained but had learned enough of Logan in the past few days to know that he would tell her if she needed to know. Few days. Is that all it’s been?
The door closing startled her, and she realized she had been lost in thought over the changes happening in her life so quickly. Twisting around, she watched as Logan shook hands with the mystery man again. Opening her door, he said, “Let me introduce you to one of my Keepers. This is Cole. He flew down some equipment I needed and the supplies for your lab. Cole, this is Vivian.”
Cole smiled up at her and offered his hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Ms. Sanders. I hope I brought everything you’ll need.”
“Thank you for making the trip,” she said, thrilled to meet one of Logan’s friends, shaking his hand.
Cole stepped away, and Logan shook his hand again before closing her door and rounding the helicopter. He quickly climbed back into the cockpit. He settled the headset over his ears, and in a few minutes, they took flight once more.
Once in the air, he said, “Thanks for coming with me, Viv. How about we take a little detour on the way back, and you can see some more scenery?”
Her wide grin was her answer, and when he smiled in return, her heart beat faster. She was sure it had nothing to do with the dips of the helicopter as they headed back toward Ester. Leaning forward, she stared down at the beauty of the Alaskan wilds. Mountains in the background. Thick forests of evergreen trees. Snow in the distance. What towns they came across were few and far between, containing nothing more than a few streets of buildings.
Looking to the side, she viewed his profile. Strong. Handsome. And just as in charge in his helicopter as he was planning their work. Relaxing in her seat, she felt his hand reach across and take hers, once more linking fingers with her.