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“We call it the gold mine down in the plant. Yet the experience of traveling to the last frontier has been life-changing.” She smiled at him.
“You work in the packaging plant?” Cole’s voice had an edge to it.
She chuckled. “You have a problem with that?”
Cole rubbed his chin. “No... I have great respect for you. Damn. I worked in a cannery one summer and it was tough work.”
“Tough work that pays very well,” Sashi countered. “Now it’s my turn.”
“For what?”
“To ask questions.” Sashi walked closer to him. “How does an Alaskan bush doctor know the term ‘prima ballerina’? Have you even been to a ballet?”
“That’s a little harsh. Not all Alaskans are rednecks. And yes, I’ve gone to ballets.” Cole stood up straight.
“Really. Which one is your favorite?”
Cole reached her in two quick strides. The heat of his body mixed with the tangy spice of his cologne began to break down her walls. He lifted his hand to tilt her face up to him. “My favorite is The Sleeping Beauty.”
Sashi stared into his face and gulped. Those eyes were intoxicating. Their color seemed to change constantly. Out here on the bridge it was like honey. At this point she knew she was in way over her head, but at the moment she didn’t care. His lips were full and his jaw had a five o’clock shadow she longed to touch.
Was this love at first sight? Or just pure lust? She knew she was beyond any coherent thought at the moment. Having had such little experience with men, she wished she knew what was going on. She had to go on instinct alone.
* * *
THIS INTENSE ATTRACTION caught Cole off guard. He’d heard his friends talk of love at first sight and he’d never believed them. But as he reached out and pulled her into his arms, it seemed the most natural thing in the world to do. “Have you ever danced in that particular ballet?”
“Yes,” she answered in a whisper, “but never as the prima ballerina.”
Cole bent his head down until their mouths met. At first their kisses were soft and gentle, and Sashi touched her fingers to his jaw. As passion filled his veins, Cole deepened the kiss and pulled her closer, releasing her magnificent hair.
Sashi’s body trembled as Cole kissed her with a new intensity. Every touch was more erotic as his lips and tongue slanted deeply, seeking a closeness only full sexual union could satisfy. He wanted to take her to his bungalow now and make love to her.
Show some control, Cole, he told himself. You can’t just ravage the woman. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on hers. He was sure she could hear his heart pounding.
“Sashi,” he said, panting, “I’m a man who is usually in control of himself. But I’m losing the battle. What would you like to do? I’ll respect your decision.”
He looked into her glowing emerald eyes, awaiting her reply.
Chapter Two
“I...I don’t know,” she said. “I’ve never felt this way before.”
Sashi trembled from pure excitement. She tightened her arms around Cole’s neck and kissed him deeply. He seemed to lose the control he’d been trying so hard to keep. He groaned and pinned her body against the bridge railing, returning her kiss.
Over the years Sashi had heard her friends talk about moments like this. She hadn’t believed they’d actually let a man they didn’t know near them. But now she understood. Tonight out here, she couldn’t imagine not letting him touch her. She never wanted to let him go.
They stayed on the bridge, kissing and caressing, unable to get enough of each other, for the next thirty minutes, until at last Sashi gently pushed him away, saying she had a long day tomorrow. As promised, he accepted her decision.
After leaving him, Sashi could hear music blaring from her bunkhouse before she walked into the bare, A-frame cabin. Kendra must have alerted the four other girls she was absent. They shared the same bunk room.
Damn.
They must all be waiting for her. She touched her fingers to her lips. They felt swollen from all the kissing. Her time with Cole had been so intense, she’d lost track of time.
Reaching for the doorknob, she took a deep breath and walked into the room to face the women she’d come to know over the summer.
“Sashi? Where have you been?” Kendra threw a pillow at her. “Do you know how worried I was?”
Sashi easily evaded the pillow, diverting it to Natalie’s bed. “I’m sorry. I lost track of time.”
Sarah, a busty young blonde who, like all the others, was after Freddy, chimed in. “Somebody looks like they’ve been making out!”
The cabin erupted in shrieks, causing Sashi to turn red.
“I’ve got to see this,” Bridgette declared. She got off her bed and moved in on Sashi for a closer inspection.
Bridgette was tall and curvy with long blond hair. Freddy liked all types of women. He’d hurt Kendra when he’d brought her up here letting her think she was the only woman he cared for. Little did Kendra realize she’d be competing with four others!
“Can you guys just leave me alone?” Sashi said.
“No!” Bridgette declared. “You’ve been Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes all summer and this is pretty exciting.”
“Go back to sleep.” Sashi rolled her eyes and headed over to her bed.
“Hold on just a second!” Blake called out.
Sashi groaned. No. Not Blake Carrey, the beast from Boston with the looks of a movie star and blond hair cut to her chin. Kendra knew that Blake’s perfectly tanned body came out of a spray bottle from France and her personality came straight from hell. Blake had made Kendra’s life miserable up here. She was obsessed with Freddy and convinced he was going to propose to her this summer.
“What do you want, Blake?”
“Who’s the guy? What makes him so special? Come on. Tell us.”
Sashi turned around to face the woman. She didn’t care much for Blake, whose constant complaining over the hard work got on everyone’s nerves.
With a smile she said, “He’s none of your business.”
“Don’t tell me you finally got it on with Mac!” Blake stood in front of her in satin pajamas that seemed so out of place up here in Alaska.
Sashi laughed. “Oh, if you only knew the truth.” At that she turned around and began to get things out of her bag. “Why don’t you go back to bed, Blakey? You need your beauty sleep.”
Sashi left for the latrine/shower house with her bag of toiletries. She needed to brush her teeth and wash her face. It was amazing how the guests got indoor plumbing and every modern amenity, while the workers lived back in time. Mr. Marshall had never gotten around to bringing the workers’ cabins into the twentieth century, never mind the twenty-first.
As she walked the short distance to the latrine, she heard laughter. But a loud bang from the door made her turn around to see who’d followed her. “Kendra! You scared me!”
Her tall friend caught up with her in seconds. “Sashi, what the hell? You’ve never done this before. You’ve got to tell me what happened earlier.”
“I’m sorry. But I met the hottest man ever.”
Kendra stopped walking and stared at Sashi in the moonlight. “Are you drunk? Is this the same Sashi I grew up with?”
Sashi didn’t want to stand out in the dark. This was bear country and she knew the rules, so she continued to walk. “Seriously, Kendra, you have to swear not to tell the girls.”
They reached the smelly outbuilding that serviced the employees’ needs. She headed in and Kendra followed. “Sashi, you and I don’t like any of those girls except Natalie. Who would I tell?”
“You’d tell Freddy!”
“Not true. I can keep secrets.”
“Promise?” Sashi’s heart was pounding as she washed her hands.
Kendra sounded exasperated. “Pinkie-promise.”
“Okay.” Sashi started to change clothes. “There was this hot bush doctor who flew up from Ketchikan today. His name is—”
“Dr. Stevens.” Kendra finished the sentence for her.
She felt a wave of jealously sweep through her. When had Kendra met him? Sashi was only half-dressed in her thermal top. “How do you know him?”
Kendra laughed. “Girl, you look so upset! I was working at the reception desk when he arrived and I took him to Mr. Marshall. He was pretty hot.”
Sashi nodded. “Yeah.”
“I’m not going to tell you anything more until you tell me how far you went.”
“We only kissed. I didn’t want to do more. He’s asked to see me again.” Sashi disappeared back into one of the toilet cubicles.
“How are you guys going to meet again?” Kendra asked.
“He’s a bush doctor, and he’ll fly out here and take us to Ketchikan early on the day we’re supposed to fly home. Then he’s going to take us to lunch. He says he can get us to the airport fast, too.”
“Do you believe him?”
“Of course.”
“Well, you’re going to have to call him and change the plans.”
“Why?”
“Because I broke off with Freddy and have booked us a three-day tour of Prince of Wales Island.”
Sashi emerged from the cubicle ready for bed. “Kendra, I can’t afford a trip like that.”
“I know. That’s why it’s my treat. The tour’s all about the Native Americans who lived here on this island. Our guide is an Native chief who knows amazing sites. It’s going to be incredible.”
Sashi went over and hugged her friend. She felt for her. Kendra had been fighting for Freddy’s attention all summer and finally learned from co-workers in the packing plant that he was just a player who brought his women up here to work. Worse, he put all of them in the same cabin!
“I’m proud of you for the way you’re handling this, Kendra,” Sashi said. “I’ll call Cole in the morning and find out if I can see him some other way before we leave Alaska.”
“I’ve never seen you this keen on a guy before,” Kendra said in a soft tone.
“I know it’s crazy. Cole was talking about flying out to Virginia for a vacation to see me. I didn’t know what to say other than I’d love it.”
“Stranger things have happened. I’m happy for you, Sashi. Now I’ve just got to get over Freddy.”
“I’ll help you.”
* * *
THE RAIN WAS COMING DOWN in sheets as Cole drove his Range Rover. If he hadn’t been on this road over a hundred times before, he didn’t think he’d find his house high on the hill overlooking Ketchikan.
At last he pulled into his driveway. With a push of a button, the garage door swung open and he drove inside. The door immediately closed behind him, locking out the storm. He hoped the weatherman had been right and it would clear up fast. He was looking forward to flying out and seeing Sashi and her friend the day after tomorrow.
Cole rested his head against the steering wheel for a second. He’d never fallen for a woman this fast. His body could still feel her in his arms. What was he getting himself into?
Just then his phone buzzed. He didn’t recognize the number. Maybe it was Sashi. His heart raced at the thought of talking to her. “Dr. Stevens,” he said.
“Cole. It’s Sashi.”
Her voice sounded as sexy on the phone as it did in real life. “Hey there, New York. How are you doing?”
“I’m fine. It’s...good to hear your voice.”
“So what’s going on?”
“Well, there’s been a little change in plans.”
Cole felt his stomach knot. “Like what?”
“Nothing bad. Remember how I told you I came up here with my best friend?”
“Uh-huh.”
“She totally surprised me by offering me a free tour of the island with her. It’ll extend my stay for another three days.”
“Wait—your friend bought you a tour?” Cole was incredulous.
“Okay. I’m not putting you on. Kendra has lots of money, and this trip has been horrible for her. Freddy Marshall lied about his intentions when he brought her up here.”
“Oh, I know all about Freddy Marshall and his lies, but I’m still trying to figure out why you’re evading me.”
“No! That’s not it at all. Kendra has her degree in anthropological studies from George Washington University. She’s trying to salvage this trip by turning the last days into something good. That’s why she paid for me to come along with her on this three-day getaway. She wants to forget Freddy and focus on something positive.”
“What does this trip entail?” Cole was trying to keep his voice calm.
“We’re going to be making a small survey of where the Tlingit and Haida Natives lived on Prince of Wales Island. We’ll head south to Hydaburg to see the totem poles and study some ancient sites in the area. Then we’ll head north to the cave El Capitan, where we’ll go spelunking to find ancient petroglyphs.”
“That sounds amazing.” Cole tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. He was thirty-five, for Pete’s sake, not some schoolboy. “Will you need a flight in from the island, or will the tour end in Ketchikan?”
