The Snow Bride, page 9
“Need anything?” he asked, slowly emerging from his chair.
“Cooking wine.”
He shrugged. “Any wine I have is for drinking.”
“That will do.”
“How much do you need?”
Jenna checked the recipe. “Just a cup.”
Reid rummaged in the room’s one closet and came out with a bottle of white wine. “It seems a shame to open it, then let it go to waste. Would you like some?”
“Please.” Jenna was far more accustomed to wine than whiskey.
Reid poured them each a glass of the chardonnay and gave her the rest of the bottle.
“I thought we’d have a salad,” she said. “Do you think Pete would have lettuce at his store?”
“Not in the wintertime, unfortunately. Fresh fruit and vegetables are almost unheard of up here for most of the year. Supplies are shipped in once during the summer and other than that, we get everything either canned or frozen with a few exceptions.”
“I found onions and potatoes in the pantry.”
“Those are the exceptions.”
“That’s too bad.” Their meal wouldn’t be quite the same without a Caesar salad.
“Lucy makes a nice salad from frozen veggies. You could ask her when she returns.”
Reid would be flying her back to Fairbanks at the first opportunity, but Jenna sincerely hoped there’d be a chance to meet Lucy.
“You’re looking thoughtful,” Reid commented.
“I was thinking about Lucy and how much I’d like to talk to her.”
“The storm could be over as soon as tomorrow afternoon. Do you want to wait until Lucy and Jim get home before we take off?”
She nodded immediately. “I’d like that.”
“Good, because Lucy would probably have my hide if you left before she got back.”
Jenna sipped her wine and as she did, another thought came to her. “Do you have any rum?”
“Rum? Do you think I run a liquor store here?”
“Sorry, I should’ve asked for it when I requested the wine, but it just occurred to me. My third stepfather liked rum cake and Mom used to bake one or two a month. I thought it would be a real treat for Addy and Palmer. I know the recipe by heart, but it would help if I used real rum.”
Shaking his head, he returned to the closet and ransacked it noisily. Eventually he pulled out a dusty bottle, handing it over.
“I don’t know how old this is,” he muttered. “But it’s the good stuff.”
“Thanks. I’m sure it will do nicely.”
She set about mixing the cake batter, using his supplies of flour, sugar and liquid eggs. Working efficiently, Jenna was surprised by how contented she felt. When she glanced up, she saw Reid watching her with a pad and pencil in his hand.
“What are you drawing?”
“You.”
Jenna wasn’t sure how she felt about that. “Can I see?”
He shook his head. “Not yet.”
“You were supposed to show me your drawings when we were at the pump station,” she reminded him.
“I forgot.” He moved the pencil quickly across the page, then hesitated when he realized she’d stopped her work to stare at him. “Don’t let me distract you.”
“You’re not,” she said, but he had. She wasn’t one who rushed to have her picture taken; in fact, she avoided it whenever possible. A lot of people felt the camera didn’t do them justice, but in Jenna’s case it was true. Photographs seemed to sharpen her features and make her skin look sallow. Every shot ever taken of her was unflattering.
“By the way, what are we having for dinner?” he asked.
“Spaghetti.”
“Addy and Palmer won’t be happy.”
“Seafood spaghetti, with an olive oil and wine base. I use lots of garlic and basil.”
“This is beginning to sound interesting.”
“You’re going to love it.” She brought her fingertips to her lips and gave them a noisy kiss.
His gaze lingered on her lips for an embarrassingly long moment. As though both were aware that this could lead to danger, they studiously ignored each other.
Ten minutes later, Reid said, “Are you ready to look at my drawing? Keep in mind it’s just a quick sketch.”
Jenna set the cake into the preheated oven and walked over to Reid’s chair by the fireplace. She stood behind it and peered over his shoulder.
“Ready?”
“Ready.”
Reid turned the tablet and there she was. Only it wasn’t her. Not the way she saw herself in the mirror, or even the way cameras revealed her. The woman in his drawing was soft and gracious…and beautiful.
“Well?” he asked, watching her expectantly.
“It’s very nice.” She left abruptly and went into the bathroom and closed the door.
As soon as she was alone, she stared at herself in the mirror. Could that really be her in the drawing? She felt like weeping—and that was even more ridiculous than racing out of the room like a frightened rabbit.
Soaking a washcloth, she pressed it to her face and took a few moments to compose herself before she faced Reid again. Heaven only knew what excuse she was going to give him.
With her hand on the doorknob, she inhaled deeply in an effort to appear calm. She’d walk back into the living room, apologize and tell him how talented he was, and indeed that was true.
She didn’t get the chance. Reid was waiting for her on the other side of the door.
“What did I do wrong?” he demanded.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Then why did you turn tail and run?”
“Because I’m an idiot.”
Reid rejected that immediately, shaking his head with vehemence.
She had nothing left to tell him except the truth. “Okay, if you must know, when you sketched me, you made me look the way I’ve always wanted…the way I always hoped to look and never have.”
“You are exactly the way I drew you. I didn’t make this up, you know. I draw what I see.”
Nothing she said would make him understand. She began to walk away.
Reid caught her hand and pulled her back, staring at her intently. “If you want to find fault with my technique, fine, but don’t criticize my eye.”
“You see me as…as soft and feminine?”
“You are soft and feminine,” he countered.
“Oh, Reid.” She only meant to hug him in thanks, and then, without another word on the subject, walk away. But their friendly embrace quickly became more.
Reid’s mouth sought hers and she turned to him, trusting and open. Their exchange the night before was only a foretaste of what awaited them now. Their kisses deepened until Jenna’s head swam and her heart pounded in her ears.
“I thought you said this was a bad idea,” Reid said, dragging his mouth from hers and nibbling on her lower lip.
“It’s a terrible idea,” she moaned as she slipped her arms securely around his neck.
“It’s only going to lead to trouble.” He groaned between kisses.
“Big trouble,” she agreed.
He lowered his head and kissed her jaw while Jenna ran her hands along his back. This was so wonderful. She didn’t want it to stop.
All at once, with an abruptness that left her reeling, Reid pulled away. He braced his hands against the wall on either side of her, and hung his head, his eyes closed. His breathing was ragged.
She reached up to touch her lips to his.
“Jenna, stop…”
“Okay,” she said. “In a minute.” She slid her moist lips across his and seconds later, their mouths and tongues became involved in an erotic foray that was gentle and slow and inexpressibly tender.
“You must enjoy tormenting me,” he said, and his voice was unsteady.
“Do you trust me, Reid?” she whispered, outlining his lips with the tip of her tongue.
“Yes…yes.”
“Then tell me about her.”
Everything ceased. He instantly straightened and nearly lost his balance. “What?”
“You didn’t isolate yourself on the tundra without a reason.”
“Since when did you turn into Sigmund Freud?” His eyes narrowed.
“Come on, I’m not completely naive. There was a woman in your past. One who really hurt you. Otherwise you wouldn’t be living such an isolated life.”
“You’re so far off-base, it’s unbelievable.” With that he marched into the living room.
“Really?” She followed him.
“This is what I don’t understand about women,” Reid said, throwing himself in the chair and grabbing his novel. “One kiss, and you suddenly think you have access to my soul.”
“So she did hurt you?”
“No, Jenna, she didn’t. It was a mutual parting of the ways. And it wasn’t exactly a life-changing relationship. Now that’s all I’m going to say about it. You got that?”
“All right,” she said mildly. “Don’t—”
A knock sounded at the door, interrupting her. “Anyone home?”
Pete let himself in, followed by Addy and Palmer.
“We aren’t too early, are we?” Pete asked anxiously. “I’m gettin’ kind of hungry.”
Jenna checked her watch. It was barely five, and she had yet to start the seafood spaghetti.
“We’ll go ahead and set up our instruments,” Palmer said, placing an antique washboard and wooden spoon alongside his harmonica on the sofa.
“What you got in the oven?” Addy asked. He leaned his saw against the wall.
“Smells like she’s cooking rum to me,” Palmer said. He looked at Jenna and added, “We’ve had liquor for dinner before, and we like food better.”
“So, we too early or not?” Pete persisted.
“Don’t worry about it,” Reid said, glaring at Jenna. “I’d say you arrived in the nick of time.”
Chapter Eleven
Addy slurped up the remains of his seafood spaghetti with a large piece of bread, then wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. He got up to look around the table, but the large bowl was empty and Palmer had already snatched the last slice of buttery French bread.
Sighing loudly, Addy sat down in his chair again, resting his hands on his stomach. They’d rearranged the living room and were seated in a circle. The table held the food, which they’d dished up buffet-style.
“Excellent dinner,” Pete added. “Thanks to both of you.”
“You ever decide to set up shop, you’d put me out of business,” Jake told them. Unlike the others, he’d shown up at the appointed time.
Reid gestured in Jenna’s direction. “The credit all goes to Ms. Campbell. The only thing you should thank me for is my cribbage skills. Otherwise, you’d be eating moose-meat sauce with your spaghetti.”
The men stared at her with something akin to awe. Uncomfortable with their scrutiny, Jenna blushed. “You guys are easy to please.”
Jake scoffed at that. “Well, maybe Addy and Palmer’s tastes aren’t as discerning as mine, but this meal would impress royalty.”
“The company wasn’t bad, either,” Pete added, charming her with his smile. “Snowbound needs more women. Sure wish you’d stay until Christmas. We do it big up here—the whole community gets together. You’d be very welcome.”
“I’ll wash the dishes.” Reid leapt to his feet.
“What’s the matter, Reid? Don’t you agree?” Jake pressed.
“We don’t need any more women in town than the one we’ve already got.”
“Who says?” Pete demanded.
“I do.” Reid carried his plate to the sink.
“What would it take to convince you to stay?” Jake asked, looking at Jenna.
“She’s leaving the minute this storm lets up,” Reid insisted. He jerked Addy’s plate from beneath his nose.
“Let’s not be hasty about flying Jenna out of here,” Pete said. “Let’s listen to what the little lady has to say.”
Jenna was enjoying the conversation. Imagine—four men eagerly seeking her company. If only her mother was there to see it. But Chloe was several thousand miles away in Los Angeles.
“Tell them how fast you want to get out of here,” Reid said, crossing his arms. He seemed mighty confident that she’d set the record straight.
“Well, I was hoping to meet Lucy before I left.”
“She wants to meet Lucy,” Addy repeated, sounding righteous. “That could take a day or two, and there’s no telling what might happen once the women get together. Jenna could be here for a month. Or longer.”
“You think Lucy could convince Jenna to stay?” Palmer asked his friend in a whisper loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Can’t say, but there’s always hope.”
“She’s leaving,” Reid said again, whipping Palmer’s plate away before the older man had a chance to protest. “Remember, she’s off to meet Lover Boy.”
This remark about her meeting Dalton appeared to please Addy and Palmer. “You’ll be back,” Palmer said, nodding vigorously. Addy only grinned.
Jenna stood, prepared to take her wineglass to the kitchen. “What makes you think that?” she asked.
“Dalton’s got a reputation with the ladies,” Jake explained. “A bad reputation.”
Pete looked over his shoulder at Reid and lowered his voice. “He’s the love ’em and leave ’em type. If you do meet up with him, just remember that.”
“I’m sure you’ve confused Dalton with some other man.” She said that to get a rise out of Reid, and it did. He glowered at her and she sensed that he found it a struggle not to comment.
“I think it’s time to start up the music,” Jake said quickly to his friends.
“What about the cake?” Addy’s attention had been on the rum cake from the moment Jenna took it out of the oven.
“I thought we’d save that for later,” she said, still full from dinner.
“How much later?” Palmer asked.
“Soon,” Jenna promised, which seemed to appease the two older men.
It wasn’t long before the small band had assembled. Addy played the saw, with Palmer as backup on washboard with wooden spoon. Pete had a fiddle. Addy started alone, holding the saw between his legs and vibrating it over his knee, creating an eerie sound. He played “Amazing Grace” so hauntingly that it sent chills down Jenna’s spine. Pete’s fiddle joined in, followed by Palmer’s rich melodic voice as he lifted his face toward the heavens, closing his eyes. If she hadn’t seen and heard it for herself, Jenna would never have believed this unusual trio could put on such a stunning performance.
When the hymn was finished, she applauded enthusiastically. “That was lovely.”
“Thank you.” Addy nodded once. He set the saw aside. “Now it’s time for real dancing music. You ready, Pete?”
“Ready.” Pete lifted the fiddle to his chin and began a lively folk tune—music that made her think of hoedowns and barn dances, not that she’d ever been to any.
Addy stepped over to Jenna, and bowed low from the waist. “Might I have the pleasure of this dance?”
Jenna smiled and gave him her hand. Addy led her to the center of the room while Jake, Palmer and Reid pushed back the furniture. When the area was clear, Addy spun her around until she was so dizzy she could barely stand upright.
Palmer stood in one corner, rhythmically stamping his foot while playing his harmonica. Soon he was the one partnering her and then Addy was dancing with Jake. Reid clapped along with the old-time country music.
Jenna found herself passed from one man to the next, until their faces started to blur.
“Enough,” she cried, laughing. Bending over, hands on her knees she labored to catch her breath.
“Are we wearing you out?” Jake asked.
“Only a little.” She rested for a few minutes, and then she was back, kicking up her feet with the rest of them and loving it.
Pete went from one lively song to another with barely a pause in between. Jake and Palmer taught her a country two-step, an Irish jig and several other dances. Jenna picked them up quickly, grateful for her years in ballet class. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed herself this much.
“I’m exhausted,” she finally said.
“Let her take a break.” Reid held her gently by the shoulders and led her to a chair.
“We didn’t overdo it, did we?” Addy asked, looking genuinely concerned.
“No…not at all.” Sitting down, she stretched her legs in front of her.
“You’re a fine dancer,” Addy said.
“Mighty fine,” Palmer agreed.
“How about that cake?” Jake asked. “I’ve worked up an appetite.”
“You sit,” Reid ordered Jenna when she started to get up. “I’ll get it.”
“You’ll need help,” Addy insisted and hurried after him, Jake on his heels.
“You did say that was rum cake, didn’t you?” Palmer asked, and then with only the slightest hesitation, rushed after the other men. That left Jenna and Pete alone in the room.
“You play very well,” Jenna told him.
Pete sat on the sofa across from her and set the fiddle on his lap. “Music’s good for the soul,” he said simply.
Jenna nodded in agreement but her eyes followed Reid in the kitchen. When she looked away, she noticed Pete studying her.
“So you’ve taken a liking to Reid?” Pete didn’t sound surprised by this.
Jenna wasn’t sure how to respond. Reid had kidnapped her, claiming it was for her own good. And yet…maybe he’d done her a favor, strange as that was to admit. There was convincing evidence that Dalton wasn’t what he’d seemed; not only that, she liked Reid. She longed to know more about him. “Reid is an interesting man.”
“Yup,” Pete said. “Sure is.”
“What happened to him?”
“Happened?” Pete asked, frowning.
“Why isn’t Reid married?” It wasn’t any of her business, but she couldn’t help thinking there was heartbreak in his past.
“I don’t think there’s any big reason, if that’s what you mean. In fact, I think Reid has the same problem we all do. He hasn’t met anyone who’s willing to live up here.”
