Chapter 6
SIX
JUDE
The next morning, I’m stirred awake by Lucy’s backside rubbing against my groin. Gritting my teeth, I grasp her hip to stop the motion. Not that this isn’t a perfectly good way to wake up.
Actually, as I glance around the hut, which is still warm, everything about last night and this moment is pretty perfect. Waking up next to this gorgeous woman was the icing on the cake.
Or—I smirk to myself—more like whipped cream on a mug of cocoa.
Wrapping my arm more tightly around her, I can’t imagine anything ruining this reverie.
“Hey, Jude?” Lucy sleepily asks.
I nuzzle her neck. “Yeah?”
“I’m realizing I probably should’ve asked this last night but it didn’t come up.”
I still and lift my head. My heart pounds in my ears. “What?”
“Where’s the bathroom?”
I chuckle in response and loosen my hold on her. I guess my thoughts of foreplay will have to wait.
I help Lucy find her clothes. Once we’re both dressed, I direct her to a hut that isn’t far from us. While she’s gone, I tidy up the hut. I’d like us to get back to the lodge. I hadn’t planned on us staying out here the whole night.
Not that I’m complaining, I grin to myself. But I didn’t bring anything for breakfast. After our mini whipped cream fight, we could probably both use a shower.
I might suggest we take one together. You know, because it’s good for the environment and saves water.
When she returns, she gives me a shy smile. My heart swells.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I call out.
“Hey, yourself.”
I hold out an arm to her and she buries her face against my chest. This feels good. It feels right. It’s like I’m holding a piece of my heart that I didn’t know was missing. But now that it’s here, I never want to let it go.
Only, I’m going to have to at some point. Her life is back in Chicago.
And my life is here.
She leans back to glance up at me. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her to stay. To ask her to be with me.
But I don’t.
I’ll just have to make her want to stay. I don’t even know how long she’s booked to be here. But I plan to use every moment I can showing her that she can have a life here in Alaska. With me.
And if she doesn’t see that, well, hell. I’ve moved my practice once. I’d do it again for her.
I give her a parting squeeze then take her hand. “Let’s head back to the lodge.”
We make good time on the snowmobile. As we cover the territory, I point out a few notable sights.
“It really is beautiful here,” she shouts over the motor.
I can’t help but grin at that. Maybe this won’t be so hard after all. She’s already half-way in love with this place. Just like I’m pretty much all the way in love with her.
I frown as we reach a downed branch in the path we took last night. Pulling the snowmobile to a stop I hop off. Lucy glances at me in confusion.
“I just need to move this branch. Otherwise, we’ll have to backtrack a mile.”
Because I can’t seem to help myself, I press my lips to hers before I leave.
Reaching the branch, I grab it with both hands. As I start to tug, I’m given pause by the sound of rumbling in the distance. Turning on my heel, I see the wave of snow only a second before it crashes over me.