Wild Men of Alaska Collection - By Helmer, Tiffinie Page 0,94

the roots. He needed to consider that, but the heartache that always followed paralyzed him. “It’s a gamble. I love her. There is nothing without her. I have to go all in.”

A sudden zinging along his spine caught his breath. There. A thread of energy. “Gotta go.”

He shut his eyes and concentrated on that thread as it weaved around him. His spirit reached out and gently gripped the end, letting it wing him across distances so vast he couldn’t comprehend it all.

Gemma.

The only thing in his mind, in his heart, and he followed both like a bullet to its target.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Gemma glanced up as Callista rounded the corner of the bookcase where she and Tern were hiding.

“Hate to interrupt, but Cub is here.” Callista had trouble keeping the delight out of her voice.

“What’s he doing here?” Tern asked, her hands going to her hips.

“They’re dating,” Callista filled her in. “Gemma, he’s waiting for you at the customer service desk. That is one man I sure wouldn’t make wait long.” Callista swiveled on her clogs and headed back to the register.

“You’re dating Cub,” Tern said. “And sleeping with Lucky.”

She made that sound really bad. “Yes. No.” A growl of frustration escaped her.

“You can’t do this to Lucky.”

“What about Cub? You were the one who told me to have sex with Cub.”

That tied Tern’s tongue for a second, but not for long. “That was before. We need to find a way to get Lucky back here.”

“I don’t know the whole story between you two, and I don’t know if I want to. But I’m freaking confused, Tern. Cub’s alive. He’s here.” Oh God, he was here waiting for her, and she was debating whether or not she was cheating on Lucky with him. “I need to go and see what he wants. Most likely he heard how unbalanced I am and is breaking off our date for tomorrow.”

“If he doesn’t, you should.”

She was beginning to think the same thing. She wasn’t any good for him if she didn’t have a clue what she wanted.

Gemma tried to get herself mentally put back together while she walked the short distance from Travel to the customer service desk. A cold breeze blew into the store, and her step faltered. It was strong enough to blow her hair back from her face.

She turned the corner of Mystery, and there was Cub waiting for her, standing tall and golden at the desk. He was in jeans and t-shirt the same color of his ice blue eyes. His unzipped Columbia jacket gave him the look of an Olympic Norwegian cross country skier. A dozen red roses were clutched in his hand.

“Hey,” he greeted, looking uncomfortable as he glanced around the bookstore.

Gemma felt all eyes on them, especially the ones boring into her back from Tern. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. He had come to see her. She owned a business. People came and saw her every day. Bought books, coffee, sometimes just popped in to say hi.

“Hi,” she responded. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I, uh, wanted to bring you these, and let you know—”

Here it came. He was here to break off their date. Relief and regret warred inside her.

“—how much I’m looking forward to our date tomorrow.” Cub held out the flowers to her. “I was passing by Forget-Me-Not and saw these.” He shrugged self-consciously. “And, well, I thought of you.”

Oooh. She slowly took the flowers. A swirl of cold air twisted around her.

Her movements froze, and her heart raced.

Lucky?

She glanced to the side to see if she could pick up any details in her peripheral vision. Nothing. No mirage, no vague outline. Lucky hadn’t answered her mental question either. Was she just imagining him here?

The bell on the door rang as it closed behind a few café customers. Well, that explained the draft.

“I hope you like roses.” Cub stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “I know most women do. They smell nice but are kind of clichéd these days, aren’t they. The flower shop didn’t have a good selection. These were the best of the lot, and I’m talking too much.”

Gemma laughed, pushing aside all the crazy things floating around in her head. “Cub, I love them.” She took the flowers and buried her nose in the center of the bouquet. They smelled sweet and spicy, and while they wouldn’t live long, she’d enjoy them while they did. “Let me put these in some water. Oh, thank you,