Wild Men of Alaska Collection - By Helmer, Tiffinie Page 0,35

kiss her, shut up that mouth of hers, he might be able to apologize.

Instead, he turned and stomped off her porch, tore open the box of chocolate and ate all of them on the short walk to his place. He liked chocolate just fine. And he’d done a great job picking them out. They tasted rich and dark with all manner of nuts. No creams for the lady he was lusting after.

Hell, he’d failed on the chocolate and didn’t even know enough about her to know if she liked nuts. And he wanted to know.

It wasn’t just lust he was feeling or he wouldn’t care. She fascinated him, and not just sexually, though that did occupy a large part of his day. He wanted to know little things too. Like why she moved to Alaska. Did she have family? Did she want a family?

Whoa. This was getting serious if he was thinking kids.

Yeah, he loved kids. Loved his nephew Fox and wanted a bunch of rug rats running around. He’d always thought that would be for someday. Could someday be here?

Could Eva be his someone?

His stomach churned. He shouldn’t have eaten so many chocolates. The sugar overload wouldn’t help him with all he needed to think about.

He’d cut through the trees and came out of the woods into his backyard. He could see that a path would be worn between her house and his before whatever was between them was resolved. He climbed up on the back deck and found Fox with the ever present puppy, Kiski.

He rubbed Kiski’s ear and let her gnaw on his hand for a bit before taking a seat next to Fox.

Fox indicated the empty box of chocolates. “I take it they weren’t a hit?”

“Turns out she doesn’t like chocolate.” He tossed the empty box aside. Kiski scrambled out of Fox’s arms to attack it.

“Hmm, well that’s a new one.”

Lynx harrumphed in agreement.

They sat quietly watching the puppy destroy the box. At least one female enjoyed the box of chocolates. And this one a real bitch.

“What’s your next step?” Fox asked.

Next step? He was at a loss on how to deal with Eva. Alaskan women loved him. A few international ones had too. But this spitfire from the Midwest left him stumped.

“I don’t have a clue what to do with Eva.” And he shouldn’t be confiding in his ten-year-old nephew. But it was either that or the woodland creatures.

“Have you told her how pretty her hair is?”

“Uh...no.”

Fox made a tsking sound. “Women like to be complimented, to know they are thought of.”

“So then what do you suggest I do? I can’t get her to keep her door open long enough to tell her how pretty she is.”

“Take her some flowers. How hard is this?”

Hell, no. “I’d have to drive back to Fairbanks to buy her flowers.” With his luck she’d hate roses. Would she prefer daisies? Lilies? Ugh, too many choices. Flowers were way more difficult than chocolate. He’d never survive it.

Fox pointed to the field of wildflowers that made up Lynx’s backyard. “Pick her some flowers.”

“Huh, would you look at that.” He reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair. “How’d you get so smart anyway?”

Fox shrugged. “Mom watches a lot of chick flicks.”

CHAPTER NINE

Eva felt a ping of guilt for not letting Lynx in earlier. She could have been nicer. Not yelled at him as much. Maybe not slam the door as hard as she had. But damn it, she was still mad. A part of her realized the mad came from being scared, and he was to blame for that too. She liked control, and he’d left her in a situation where she’d had none. Granted, she might have driven him to leave her.

Seemed she was good at that too.

Hadn’t she driven Davis into Jeremy’s arms? Or was it the other way around? Not that she’d wanted to keep Davis, but she sure missed Jeremy. He’d know what to do about Lynx. He’d want to know what the hell held her back from partaking of such a beautiful man.

A bittersweet smile played at the corners of her mouth. Maybe she should pick up the phone and check in with Jeremy?

She reached for her cell and then set it down. No, that part of her life was over. She was on to new and better things.

New, yes. Better? That still remained to be seen.

Though she had to admit, she’d been happier in the short time since arriving here in Alaska than she’d been in