Chapter 21
21
Logan thought about Vivian asking him how long it took him to become a SEAL. Her face had held such interest, unlike the SEAL bunnies that always asked questions, pretending to want to know about their lives when all they really wanted was either a quick tumble with a SEAL or a ring on their finger, assuming that would grant them a ticket out of whatever shithole they were in.
Now, he found himself wanting to know more about her, and he couldn’t remember the last time that curiosity had sparked. “Tell me about your family,” Logan encouraged as Viv observed the vista before them, her eyes bright with interest.
Looking over, she tilted her head to the side, her lips curving. “My grandparents were from Tanana descended from the original inhabitants of the Tanana River…Tanana Athabaskans. They grew up together and married as soon as they could. My mom was born there but left for college in Fairbanks, where she met my dad. We’d visit when I was a kid, and I thought it was a great place to spend my vacation. Long walks in the woods, boat rides on the river, fishing in the lakes. And, when I was really little, my grandfather would let me sit with him in the post office, talking to everyone in town who came in.” Laughing, she added, “There were only about three hundred residents, and they used the post office as a gathering place, so I got to know everyone.”
“You mentioned your grandfather to Farrah?—”
“Oh, that.” She blushed. “You said it is best to stick to partial truths when making up a cover, so I figured they would believe that. Remember…I was chosen because of my heritage.”
He glanced to the side, seeing a tinge of sadness fill her eyes. “I take it your grandparents are…”
Nodding, she said, “Yes. They passed away about five years ago. Within a month of each other.” She held his gaze with her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I think it’s sweet. To be so in love that you can’t live without the other.”
Thinking of his own parents and grandparents, he could imagine that kind of love, having seen it as he grew up.
Twisting to look at him, she continued, “Hollywood is making some kind of reality TV show about men in Alaska from that area, and most of it’s fake. The show made it sound like there were only a few days worth of food in the local store, but they failed to mention that the store is actually fully stocked, and there’s a café with great burgers just down the street.”
“Sounds nice.” His smile was warm as her happy recollections bubbled forth.
“The funny thing is, though, I really hate the little daylight part of the year. I’m someone who can handle cold and snow, but I need sunshine!”
At her words, a thought flashed through his mind—the idea of Viv at his place in Montana, where cold and snow certainly occurred, but the sun never ceased beaming down on the plains around his home. Blinking rapidly, he forced the thought from his mind. Instead, he said, “Well, how about a trip down memory lane?”
She grinned while crinkling her brow. As realization seemed to dawn, she clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Oh my God, Logan! You’ll fly over Tanana?”
“Let’s follow the Tanana River and see where it takes us.”
It didn’t take long for them to circle over the tiny town, the brown dirt roads and old wooden buildings making a small, inhabited square in the middle of the deep green of the trees. Pointing out the post office and café, she grinned as they turned back toward Ester.
“It’s a little bigger than I remembered, but I bet the new TV show based out of there has brought in new businesses and visitors.”
Once they’d landed back at the airfield near Ester, she reached over and placed her hand on his arm, squeezing lightly. “Thank you so much. This was such a fabulous day.”
He leaned forward until his face was a whisper away from hers. “Yeah, it was.” He wondered if she would take the chance to kiss him again. Wishing her lips would land on his, he held his breath. Her gaze never wavered, and he could feel the emotional pull between them. But he hesitated, then simply moved his hand toward her chest to unbuckle her harness.
A tiny gasp slipped from her lips when her body, no longer restrained, shifted. Now, their lips were perilously close to each other. Time stood still, hanging in the balance between need and want. But he didn’t move any closer, and she jerked back, blushing as she slid the harnesses off her shoulders.
Realizing the moment passed, he opened his door. “I’ll come around and help you.” Returning to the land of reality and not fantasy, he said, “We can unload the boxes and then head for some lunch at the bar.”
It took twice as long to unload the boxes as it did to load them since he insisted on carrying them himself. But, in what he had come to expect, Viv refused to stand idly by. She crawled into the helicopter and pushed the heavy boxes toward the door to make it easier for him to pick them up. Lifting the last box, he winked as he turned to take it to his truck.
He sensed her gaze upon him as sure as a caress. His mind roamed to the kiss from the evening before, the passion igniting a fire within. Turning, he caught sight of her fingers lifted to her lips and wondered if she also thought of the kiss. He could still feel the touch. Though the kiss may have been staged for the benefit of the neighbors, its authenticity resonated deep within him. Blowing out a long breath, he called out, “Are you ready to eat?”
Startled, she looked up, her eyes meeting his, and beamed a wide grin. Perched in the doorway, she dangled her legs, swinging them back and forth as though carefree instead of worried about the dangers of living next door to terrorists.
Matching his grin with one of her own, she allowed him to assist her down before he secured the helicopter. Walking to his truck, he slung one arm casually over her shoulders. She relaxed as their steps aligned with one another. He could kid himself that the maneuver was for their cover, but it felt natural the way her body fit next to his.
“So…uh…we’re going to the bar?”
“Yeah,” he said, looking down at her, his eyes bright. “I went yesterday and met the owners. And that’s where I got the hamburgers from the day before.”
Within a few minutes, they pulled into the gravel parking lot next to the large, wooden plank building. A sign hung over the front, with the name Goldmine Saloon painted in reds and yellows. Logan watched Vivian’s eyes light up as they walked up the front steps and entered the dark, cool interior.
“Preacher!” Iggie hollered in greeting. His eyes moved to Vivian, and he grinned. “Hey, Sally, come meet Preacher’s wife.”
He had entered the bar behind Vivian with his hands on her shoulders. At Iggie’s yell, she stiffened, and her back hit his front just as Sally came barreling from behind the bar, skidding to a stop directly in front of her.
“Hi! Oh, aren’t you a beauty,” Sally declared, grabbing Vivian’s hand and shaking it profusely. Standing back, she narrowed her eyes and said, “Damn, Preacher, you didn’t tell us your wife was Inuit!”
With Vivian’s back still plastered to his front, he wrapped his arm around her chest and rested his chin on her head, feeling the tension leave her body.
“This is Vivian. I thought we’d get something to eat. We missed lunch and know it’s kind of early for dinner. Can you set us up?”
Vivian’s hand went to his arm, her fingers wrapping around his muscular forearm. Trying to remind himself they were only playacting for a cover, he knew the tingle from her touch was, once again, more than just pretend.
“Well, Vivian, I’m Sally, and that old coot back there is my husband, Iggie. We’ll get the best burger you’ve ever eaten out here in just a few minutes.”
He gave Vivian a little nudge, and they moved forward toward the bar. He gave her a boost onto the barstool, and they ordered beers from Iggie.
Soon, they were joined when Sally brought out the burgers and fries. Logan grinned as Vivian quickly learned there was no privacy at the Goldmine Saloon. Sally plopped down next to her, and Iggie stayed planted behind the bar just in front of them.
“Tell me about your family,” Sally asked.
After swallowing her bite, she explained about her grandparents, including how she had been raised in California.
“Oh, Alaska never leaves your blood,” Iggie claimed, a wide smile gleaming against his tanned skin.
“Maybe so,” she replied, laughing. “I like my sunshine, and I can’t drive in the snow!”
Sally grinned as she waved her hand dismissively. “You’ll get the hang of it if you two stay here. That’s what you’re planning, right, Preacher?”
Viv slid her glance toward Logan, silently handing the question to him. He nodded slowly before replying, “We’ll see. Gotta go where the work is. Right now, the airfield here can pay me enough to make it worth our while, but if work comes from somewhere else, then I figure that’s where we’ll head.”
The foursome continued to chat for another hour as they finished eating. “Sally, you’re right,” Vivian said. “You do make the best burgers.”
As the dinner crowd increased, Sally and Iggie moved on to serve other customers. Someone put money in the jukebox, and Viv stood, taking Logan’s hand. As she pulled him gently from the barstool, he looked at her in confusion. She led him to the back, where a few tables were cleared away, and another couple swayed to the music.
Halting, he tugged on her hand and glanced around before muttering, “Viv, I don’t dance.”
She grinned, moving in closer, wrapping her free hand around his waist. Standing on her tiptoes, she whispered, “All you gotta do is hold on to me and rock back and forth.”
Not wanting her to let go, Logan pulled her body tightly to his. He placed one hand on her back and pressed their clasped hands over his heart between their bodies. Moving as one with the music swirling about them, their gazes locked on each other, they began to sway to the music. His heart thudded so loudly in his chest that he was sure she could hear the beat over the music.
Her hair hung gracefully down her back, the ends brushing against his arm, making him want to run his fingers through the thick, sleek tresses. As he stared into her eyes, he felt as though he could drown in their depths…and be found again. His fingers flexed on her lower waist as the warmth traveled up his arm. This makes no sense…I’ve known her for less than a week. But his heart warred with his mind. He wanted her. Maybe that’s it…this is just sex I need. Me…a pretty girl…yeah, maybe a fling is what we both need. But as those thoughts moved through his mind, he knew a fling was not what he wanted.
Bending down, he nuzzled her nose before sliding his lips over hers—just a taste…just a touch. A soft gasp from her lips brushed warm breath across his lips, and he took the kiss deeper.
“Viv…” he groaned into her mouth, no longer caring what his head said as long as he listened to what his heart demanded.
It had been a while since he’d experienced a kiss just for the experience itself. His arms banded tighter around her as her hands slid upward to encircle his neck. His wide chest pressed against her breasts, and each curve seemed made just for him. He took the lead, angling his head as his tongue delved inside. Stealing her breath, he plundered and teased.
As the music ended, their bodies continued to sway. He lifted his head slightly to see her eyes hooded and felt her breath warm against his face. She stared into his eyes, their gazes locked.
Letting out a long breath, she whispered, “Is that part of our cover?”
Logan hesitated, but the truth won out. “No,” he replied softly. His heart pounded, and his body stiffened in preparation for her response.
Her lips curved into a wide smile as she moved in closer so their lips were once more a whisper apart. “Good.”
His heart leaped as he pulled away, staring down into her beautiful face. Without a word, he led her toward the bar, his arm around her shoulders, firmly pulling her next to him. Tossing enough bills onto the bar to cover dinner, drinks, and a hefty tip, he waved at a grinning Sally and Iggie. When they stepped outside, the afternoon sun surrounded them as they headed home.