bank.
The minute iceberg drifted past them, slowly spiraling on the lazy current of the wide river.
Her mate wasn’t simply a shiftless bum after all. Something inside warmed that had nothing to do with her wolf and the way it kept nudging her to touch him. “That sounds like a very noble occupation.” The mischievous grin was back, the dark centers of his eyes like magnets, catching her and refusing to let her go. “Yeah. And the pay is good too. Additional benefits because of the danger, you know.” One word nabbed her attention. “Danger?”
He grunted lightly. “If you have a mechanical breakdown that far back in the bush, and you don’t find shelter quick, you can pretty much kiss your ass goodbye.”
Gem deliberately ignored his swearing. “But you’re a wolf, so that reduces some of the risk.”
“Even wolves can freeze when it’s minus sixty, love.”
In spite of the sun’s warmth, Gem shivered. “The estate stays above freezing all winter, and for much of the year, flowers bloom everywhere over the grounds. There’s a pool for the hot summer days as well, but my favourite thing has always been going to the beach.”
“Really?” His surprise was genuine. “You…”
She waited.
He stopped at the base of a bridge. “I was going to say you don’t strike me as the beach type.” Gem had to give him that one. “I don’t enjoy getting sand everywhere, but there’s something about the waves I love. And how big and free the ocean is—it moves me.”
“Hmm.” Shaun stared at her for a moment, then gestured over the bridge. “Want to see the fish ladder?”
“I’d love to.” She’d read about it. Checked the online information. Getting to see it in person—even better. That’s what she needed more of. To expand what she’d only witnessed in books and research into life experiences.
Shaun caught her hand again and tugged her across the gently curved footbridge. “Building the hydro-dam caused Miles Canyon to flood and back up to form Schwatka Lake. Of course the dam not only
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Vivian Arend
stopped the water, it blocked the salmon from their traditional spawning grounds, and so the city installed the ladder.”
He took her to the viewing house, and they peered through the glass at the running water. The slope of the wooden trough appeared gentle enough the fish would be able to fight the current and swim the extension waterway all the way from the base of the falls to the top of the dam.
“There’s nothing here now, but in the fall the salmon arrive by the thousands, and the fish and wildlife dudes count them as they go up the chute.” Shaun hopped over the security fence to dig in a wooden box.
He picked up a plastic salmon and displayed it to her. “They’re about this size by the time they get here.” Gem glanced around, hoping she wouldn’t spot anyone official coming to clap them in irons. “Put it down. Oh, dear.”
“You want to touch it?”
She must have looked like Spock. She felt her one brow rise way, way up in the air. “Why?” He dropped the plastic prop back in the box, grinning the entire time.
Then he hauled her up the hill to what he called the best viewpoint in town. Shaun pointed out landmark buildings, shared history tidbits and some of his own personal escapades. Somehow his arm snuck around her waist without her even noticing. Leaning into his side felt very right. Brand new and at the same time as if she was coming home.
Maybe…this relationship wasn’t going to be as difficult as she had first feared.
An hour later, they were back on Main Street, strolling past all those quaint little places she’d seen on the drive in. The scent of coffee in the air nearly made her mouth hang open.
“Could we stop for a moment?”
Shaun smiled his agreement. “How about lunch?”
He guided her through a massive set of wood doors, and warm air laced with fresh-baked bread filled her nostrils, followed by another
The minute iceberg drifted past them, slowly spiraling on the lazy current of the wide river.
Her mate wasn’t simply a shiftless bum after all. Something inside warmed that had nothing to do with her wolf and the way it kept nudging her to touch him. “That sounds like a very noble occupation.” The mischievous grin was back, the dark centers of his eyes like magnets, catching her and refusing to let her go. “Yeah. And the pay is good too. Additional benefits because of the danger, you know.” One word nabbed her attention. “Danger?”
He grunted lightly. “If you have a mechanical breakdown that far back in the bush, and you don’t find shelter quick, you can pretty much kiss your ass goodbye.”
Gem deliberately ignored his swearing. “But you’re a wolf, so that reduces some of the risk.”
“Even wolves can freeze when it’s minus sixty, love.”
In spite of the sun’s warmth, Gem shivered. “The estate stays above freezing all winter, and for much of the year, flowers bloom everywhere over the grounds. There’s a pool for the hot summer days as well, but my favourite thing has always been going to the beach.”
“Really?” His surprise was genuine. “You…”
She waited.
He stopped at the base of a bridge. “I was going to say you don’t strike me as the beach type.” Gem had to give him that one. “I don’t enjoy getting sand everywhere, but there’s something about the waves I love. And how big and free the ocean is—it moves me.”
“Hmm.” Shaun stared at her for a moment, then gestured over the bridge. “Want to see the fish ladder?”
“I’d love to.” She’d read about it. Checked the online information. Getting to see it in person—even better. That’s what she needed more of. To expand what she’d only witnessed in books and research into life experiences.
Shaun caught her hand again and tugged her across the gently curved footbridge. “Building the hydro-dam caused Miles Canyon to flood and back up to form Schwatka Lake. Of course the dam not only
www.samhainpublishing.com
59
Vivian Arend
stopped the water, it blocked the salmon from their traditional spawning grounds, and so the city installed the ladder.”
He took her to the viewing house, and they peered through the glass at the running water. The slope of the wooden trough appeared gentle enough the fish would be able to fight the current and swim the extension waterway all the way from the base of the falls to the top of the dam.
“There’s nothing here now, but in the fall the salmon arrive by the thousands, and the fish and wildlife dudes count them as they go up the chute.” Shaun hopped over the security fence to dig in a wooden box.
He picked up a plastic salmon and displayed it to her. “They’re about this size by the time they get here.” Gem glanced around, hoping she wouldn’t spot anyone official coming to clap them in irons. “Put it down. Oh, dear.”
“You want to touch it?”
She must have looked like Spock. She felt her one brow rise way, way up in the air. “Why?” He dropped the plastic prop back in the box, grinning the entire time.
Then he hauled her up the hill to what he called the best viewpoint in town. Shaun pointed out landmark buildings, shared history tidbits and some of his own personal escapades. Somehow his arm snuck around her waist without her even noticing. Leaning into his side felt very right. Brand new and at the same time as if she was coming home.
Maybe…this relationship wasn’t going to be as difficult as she had first feared.
An hour later, they were back on Main Street, strolling past all those quaint little places she’d seen on the drive in. The scent of coffee in the air nearly made her mouth hang open.
“Could we stop for a moment?”
Shaun smiled his agreement. “How about lunch?”
He guided her through a massive set of wood doors, and warm air laced with fresh-baked bread filled her nostrils, followed by another
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