13. Mia
Chapter thirteen
Mia
I wrap a quilt around my shoulders, feeling the soft warmth against my skin. The cabin is small and dimly lit, but the fire crackles in the wood stove, filling the air with its pleasant heat. I can’t believe how comfortable I am after feeling like I was going to die. I am certainly not going to say it to Noah, but I had all but given up out there.
Washing dishes while wearing a blanket is difficult, but I’m not as confident as he is. But I don’t mind looking at his naked glory—mostly naked. I want to ask if he works out, but that feels just a little cheesy.
I finish cleaning up, using the water sparingly, and go to the bathroom, which is really just a tiny closet with a toilet and a sink. Showers are not an option. I was prepared for that when I packed. Unfortunately, my suitcase is back on the plane. I hope Eric gets back soon or the weather warms up, and we can walk back to the plane. Although, I’m not excited about that .
On the way out of the bathroom, I notice something on the floor. It’s a Post-it note. Curious, I pick it up.
Dear Mia,
Bad storm. I’ll check on you in a few days.
Eric
Relief washes over me. Eric had been here, and he plans to return. I sigh with relief, knowing I’m not completely abandoned out here with Noah. Not that being trapped in this cabin with him is all that terrible. Now that I know help is coming, I can relax a little. However, I can’t shake my unease after having sex with a stranger. It is definitely not my style, but it isn’t the worst thing. I look at the note again. It’s kind of short for Eric. He’s usually a wordy guy. He must have been in a hurry.
I take the note back to our makeshift bed where Noah is sitting. I like the fact that he is waiting for me. I didn’t want to come right out and tell him I wanted him to sleep with me, but I liked the feel of him beside me. It was soothing. After everything we have been through, I need that reassurance. Knowing my ex is out there wanting to kill me, it feels even better having a man like Noah at my back. I’ve been running for so long that I forgot how comforting it was to be in a man’s arms.
I hand him the Post-it note.
“What’s this?” he asks.
He takes it from me, his fingers grazing mine as he does. The slight touch sends a ripple of desire through me, stirring something that should be sated.
“Eric was here,” I tell him, though it’s unnecessary. “He says he’ll be back in a few days.”
Noah nods, handing the note back to me. “Good. Then we’ll ride it out unless the weather is decent enough, and I can get back to the plane.”
I sit down opposite him, pulling the blanket tighter around me. We both stare at the fire, allowing ourselves to be hypnotized by the flames.
“We should sleep,” he says with a sigh.
“I know.”
But neither of us makes a move.
“Tell me about yourself,” I say with a sigh. “It seems like I probably should have asked these questions before I got naked with you.”
He chuckles. “We got naked to stay alive. We were both hypothermic. ”
“I don’t think the other part of what we did had anything to do with body temperature.”
He grins. “But it was a lot more fun. Physical activity saved us. Got our blood pumping.”
“Oh, yeah, it did.
“How did you end up flying planes in Alaska?”
Noah smiles faintly. “Well, I grew up in Fairbanks. I thought I would go into the Navy or the Air Force and be a fighter pilot. Turns out you have to do a lot more than jump in a cockpit. And they have a lot of rules.”
“You don’t like rules?” I tease.
“Not so much. And I may have a couple of unpleasant oopsies on my record. The recruiter I talked to told me there was no way I would ever be a fighter pilot, but he was happy to sign me up for the infantry.”
“You didn’t want to do that?”
“No,” he laughs. “I was almost willing to walk the straight and narrow if it meant I got to fly. When he said I couldn’t be a pilot, I knew that was not for me.”
“You were that serious about flying?”
“If there were a way to surgically implant wings on my back, I would do it. ”
I laugh at his comment, finding comfort in the easy friendship that was forming between us. The sound of it surprises me. It felt strange, yet liberating, to allow myself a moment of joy in this situation.
“I guess it’s safe to say you’re living your dream then?” I ask. Even in the dim glow of the dying fire, I see his eyes light up.
“Yeah,” he nods slowly, seemingly deep in thought. “I guess you could say that. I’m my own boss. I get paid to fly when I would do it for free.”
“I’ll keep that in mind when it comes time to pay your fee,” I grin. “So you’ve been doing this for a while.”
“Yes and no. I knew I wanted my own plane, but I also knew it would cost more than I could make at any other job. So, I went fishing.”
“Fishing?” I ask with confusion.
“After high school, I worked on a crabbing boat for a couple of years. It was tough work, but I managed to save enough to buy my own plane.”
I nod, impressed. “That must have been quite an experience. How long have you been flying?”
He scratches his chin, thinking. “Over ten years now. ”
“You make a lot of money on those crabbing boats, don’t you? I’ve seen some of the documentaries on TV. That is some very dangerous work.”
“It’s not so bad once you get the hang of it and don’t do anything stupid,” he shrugs.
I have a feeling it is a little more than that. “It sounds crazy to me. And scary. But I guess it can’t be any scarier than flying one of those little planes into some pretty isolated territories.”
“I’ve had my fair share of emergency landings, but nothing quite like last night. That storm came out of nowhere.”
I shiver involuntarily, remembering the terror of being caught in the blizzard. I can hear the seriousness in his voice. “Yeah, it was intense. I’m just glad we made it here in one piece.”
“I’ve flown around storms, through them, but none of them were that bad. It’s part of the job out here, though. You never know what Mother Nature’s going to throw at you.”
“Sounds like your life is quite the adventure,” I comment, trying to keep my voice steady. There’s a pause as we stare into the flickering flames, lost in our thoughts .
“Sometimes it is,” he admits with a quiet sigh. “Other times, it can be pretty lonely.”
His confession surprises me. I turn to look at him. His face is half-lit in the firelight, shadows dancing across his rugged features. He seems far away, so deep in thought that I almost don’t want to break the silence.
“But you’re used to being alone?” I venture, hoping I haven’t crossed a line. He glances at me, a strange vulnerability in his eyes. “Yeah, you could say that.”
I hear a story there, but I don’t press. He’ll talk if he wants to. We’re not pouring out our souls. We each have our secrets.
A heavy silence hangs between us, thick and ponderous. I’m not sure what to say to fill it. Instead of trying to find a response, I find myself studying him. His rough exterior hides a gentle and lonely soul, one that has found comfort in the solitude of the Alaskan wilderness. I wonder if it’s an old heartbreak that’s making him sad.
“I guess we sit and wait,” I smile.
“Is that the worst thing?”
“Not so much. ”
“Unfortunately, that’s all we can do for now,” he shrugs. We’re better off staying put until help arrives. Honestly, we’re pretty lucky to have made it here.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mia, grizzly bears are no joke,” he says. “Every bear out there is awake and hungry, looking for that first real meal after a long winter. I imagine we looked pretty damn tasty. I’m surprised it didn’t come after us.”
My eyes widen. “I’m really glad you didn’t tell me that at the moment.”
“I didn’t think that was the kind of thing you wanted to hear,” he jokes.
“Trust me, it wasn’t,” I retort, gently pushing him. He flashes an amused chuckle.
“We should probably get some sleep,” he suggests. “Long day tomorrow.”
“Yeah, we should,” I agree, though I’m not sure how much sleep I’ll actually get.
With all the craziness of the day finally sinking in, I realized just how close we had come to dying. Like really dying. Not just injured, but dead. With the remoteness of where we are, I’m not even sure our bodies would have been found before the wildlife feasted on us. I shudder, my stomach turning at the thought.
“Okay?” Noah asks, putting his arm around me and gently rubbing up and down.
“Yeah, fine. I am just thinking.”
“You’re replaying today,” he nods. “And last night.”
“More like imagining what could have happened—what should have happened. You are a very capable man. I can’t say I’m hoping to be involved in another plane crash, but if I am, I hope you’re my pilot.”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” he laughs. “And we didn’t crash. We landed.”
“In the middle of nowhere,” I correct.
“Go to sleep before you offend me,” he replies, pushing the blankets back.
“Offend you?” I feign innocence, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Never.”
He grins back before settling down, pulling the heavy blanket over himself. He seems so at ease here in this barren wilderness.
“Are you going to wear that blanket to bed?” he asks. “Rolled up like a burrito?”
“No,” I scoff. “Avert your eyes. ”
“You’re serious?”
“I am. The first time was, well, it happened. Just turn your head until I can get under the blanket.”
“Why don’t I just sleep on the couch,” he suggests.
“That isn’t necessary.”
“Okay, so I can’t see your body, but you don’t mind snuggling that fine ass against me?” His cocky grin is nearly my undoing. I know I’m being ridiculous, but I am a little embarrassed. I’m shy. I don’t get naked with strangers.
But, because he’s a good man, he rolls over and gives me his back. I quickly shed the blanket and slide under the covers, pressing against his back.
“All good,” I tell him.
“Awesome. I would hate for you to be found in an inappropriate state.”
“You’re terrible,” I chuckle, feeling my cheeks flush in the dim light. He laughs, his back shaking against me.
“I know.”
The silence of the cabin settles around us again, only broken by the occasional snap from the burning logs. I lay awake, staring at his broad back and listening to his steady breaths. I want him to hold me. Can I ask?
“What are you thinking?” I ask him after a while.
“Goodnight, Mia,” he mumbles, half asleep.
“Goodnight, Noah.”
I know I should be exhausted, but I can’t seem to fall asleep. My mind is racing. Everything is on a loop in my brain from the moment I found Dawn in my bed to the moment I lost myself in his arms.