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But she wasn’t capable of standing up on her own. At least, not at the moment. Taking another step proved that. Feeling wobbly as well as chagrined, she threw her hand out and braced herself against the side of the Cessna. She regretted it instantly. The metal felt incredibly cold against her fingertips. She shoved her hand in her pocket, praying for the return of equilibrium.
In answer to her prayer, Ike took hold of her elbow as if he were escorting her onto the dance floor of her senior prom. “This happens sometimes with first-time flyers,” he assured her easily. From her pallor and her questions, he took it for granted that this was her first time in a plane this size. “It takes a second or two to get your land legs back.”
Grateful for the momentary respite, Marta tried to understand the strange feeling in her lower body. “I thought that was only with ships.”
He grinned again. She wished he’d stop that.
Ike patted the side of the plane. “This is a ship.” He glanced at Sydney, knowing that she agreed. “A ship of the air, and someday, when I have the time, this fine woman is going to teach me how to navigate it, aren’t you?”
Pulling her parka as close around her as she could, Sydney began to lead the way to her house. It was only three, but it was growing dark already. Though she loved it here, she’d be glad when summer was more than just a distant memory. “You’d be better off having Shayne teach you.”
Still holding firmly onto Marta’s elbow, he hooked his other arm through Sydney’s. He didn’t want to risk having her fall. “You’re underestimating yourself, darlin’. Besides—” his eyes danced “—you’re a lot lovelier to look at than Shayne ever was.”
Sydney knew it was just Ike’s way of talking. Flattery, plain and simple. But there were times when she loved the sound of it. With a shake of her head, she sighed. “How is it that Shayne never learned to talk like you?”
His laugh was deep and hearty. Momentarily letting go of Marta’s elbow, he raised his gloved finger to his lips.
“Sh, we don’t make fun of the slow-witted.” He took hold of Marta’s elbow again without even looking her way. “Besides, he’s the one you married, not me.”
“You never asked,” Sydney deadpanned.
It was his turn to sigh.
“I guess that makes me the slow-witted one then, doesn’t it?” And then he turned his dark eyes toward Marta, the movement so unexpected that it caught her completely off guard. As did the gleam she saw in those eyes. Marta felt as if she’d suddenly been put on notice. “Maybe the fates have decided to give me a second chance by bringing your friend to my doorstep.”
It took Marta a minute to rally, but rally she did. She’d been in this place before, on the receiving end of a charmer’s compliments. Roses with hidden thorns. She wasn’t about to get scratched again.
“I believe we’re approaching Sydney’s doorstep, not yours,” Marta said pointedly.
But rather than be put off the way she’d expected him to be, Ike merely nodded his approval as he glanced toward Sydney. “Beautiful and quick, too. They really do raise wonderful women in the lower forty-nine, don’t they?”
Marta narrowed her eyes again. “Why don’t you go there yourself and see?”
The wind whipped her hair against his cheek, evoking a warm feeling within him. “Maybe I will,” he agreed. “Someday.”
Sydney could only smile and shake her head at the exchange. If Ike had ever had any intention of leaving Hades, or Alaska itself for that matter—the way so many others did as soon as they reached legal age—he wouldn’t have worked so hard to make a life for himself here.
He’d started out in his teens. Behind that devastating smile, Sydney had discovered, was a man with a plan. Ike had worked hard until he could purchase an interest in the local saloon. For some, that would have been enough. For Ike, it had only been a start.
One foothold had led to another until he was the owner, holding the title to the establishment along with the cousin he’d insisted on bringing in with him. Over the years, his holdings had increased. Now he held the deed to more than one piece of real estate, with grand plans of expanding the town. He meant to bring civilization, and the next century, to Hades.
While melting the heart of every woman in Alaska.
“Ike would never leave us,” Sydney told Marta matter-of-factly as they approached her front door. “All the women in the area would rise up in protest. They’d probably take over the airport just to keep him here.” She was only half joking. The men far outnumbered the women here, but there was still a soft spot in each female heart for Ike LeBlanc.
“Ah, now, darlin’, you’re making me blush.”
Making him blush, her foot. Marta frowned. She was well-acquainted with his type. All talk and a few magic tricks, smoke and mirrors, but no substance whatsoever. She’d been there, done that, and had had her heart irrevocably broken. The pieces of it had never been glued together properly.
But that was all right. She had no further use for that organ anyway. She certainly had no intention of ever falling in love again, so her heart’s condition was no longer of any consequence.
Standing before the door, Sydney paused and turned toward Marta. “Okay, I want you to brace yourself.”
“Why?” She wanted to get inside, out of the wind that was beginning to turn raw. And away from the man at her elbow. “Are you planning on taking me on another plane ride?”
“No.” It was suddenly so important to Sydney that Marta like her children. Marta was like family. With Sydney’s father gone, Marta was all the close family she had left, aside from Shayne and the children. “I just want you to be prepared for Sara and Mac.”
Puzzled, Marta looked up at her. “I’m a teacher, same as you, Sydney. Meeting kids isn’t exactly something out of the ordinary for me.”
“No,” Sydney agreed softly, “but these are mine.”
Marta smiled. She understood. “Point well taken,” she said as Sydney pushed open the oak door. Sara and Mac materialized with greetings, with hugs and with questions, surrounding Sydney as only two vital, energetic children under the age of twelve could.
Marta had a nice smile, Ike thought as he followed her in the opened door. He was going to have to see what he could do about bringing it out more often.
Chapter Three
Marta hadn’t expected to feel an ache. Happiness, yes, to be sure. Happiness for her friend and for the life that Sydney had carved out for herself. Perhaps she’d even thought to feel a vicarious sense of sharing since she and Sydney had once shared everything, good times and bad.
But not an ache. Definitely not an ache.
Yet it was there, bittersweet and strangely acute, burrowing into her and hollowing her out before she managed to bank it down and lock it away. There, because what she was witnessing right before her encompassed everything she had always longed for herself, almost from the very first moment she drew breath. A home, a family. And children. They were all here, and all Sydney’s.
A touch of envy raised its head before it, too, was sent away. This was Sydney’s life, and Marta was ecstatic for her.
She just wished…
But there was no point to that. Her judgment as far as who to entrust her heart to was flawed. Best not to go there.
“What d’you bring me?” Sara’s question had Marta focusing on the child.
Mac was on Sydney’s other side, tugging at her arm. Tugging for her attention. “Did you get my CD?”
Sara lifted her head importantly. “She didn’t have time to get your ol’ CD, she was busy picking up the lady.”
Their voices and questions mingled, encircling the mother they had adopted as fiercely as she had adopted them. Amid the noise was their unabashed, wide-eyed scrutiny of the new person dropped into their midst.
Marta felt as if she’d been taken apart and put back together again in an instant. And approved, judging from the expressions on the two upturned faces. Visitors, Sydney had warned her, were rare in Hades, especially this time of year. Any new face was to be evaluated and gone over like a shiny, brand-new possession, to be passed from hand to hand and admired, or criticized.
Abandoning their siege on Sydney, they turned their eyes toward Marta, competing for her attention.
“Are you gonna stay here forever?” Sara wanted to know. “Mommy said she couldn’t wait until you got here.”
Elbowing his sister out of the way, Mac presented himself front and center. At ten, he was already exhibiting the promise of becoming a handsome man, Marta thought.
“Did you know she was our mom now? Did she tell you about us?”
Giving her brother an impatient look, Sara tugged on Marta’s parka sleeve. “Do you have any kids of your own we can play with?”
Mac grabbed her arm. “Can I show you my room?”
Not to be outdone, Sara caught hold of Marta’s other arm and pulled in the opposite direction.
Stunned, tickled, Marta began to laugh. She was used to children, but as Sydney had promised, this was something special.
“Hold it, hold it.” Knowing that if she laughed, she’d only undercut what she was about to say, Sydney bit back the sound. Instead, she raised her hand like a safety-patrol crossing guard. “Mac, Sara, let Marta catch her breath.”
Much to Sara and Mac’s delight, Marta shook her head, siding with them.
“Oh, no, don’t let me catch my breath. This is great.” Half in love with the overwhelming duo already, Marta flashed a smile at Sydney over their heads. “There’re only two instead of thirty. I can manage, really.” Looking down at the pair, she fired back answers to their questions. “No, I’m not going to stay here forever, but I will be here for a couple of weeks.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Sydney’s look of pleasure. “And I couldn’t wait to get here myself.” She thought of the Cessna’s bumpy ride. “Although I wasn’t so sure about the last leg of the trip.”
Wispy bangs caught in tiny furrows as Sara scrooched her brow. “Do trips have legs?”
“That’s just an expression she’s using, darlin’,” Ike interjected.
Marta noticed that the little girl preened at the endearment. Why shouldn’t she? At seven, Sara didn’t know any better. She hadn’t at twenty-four, Marta thought ruefully. But she did now.
“And yes,” Marta continued, running a hand over each silky head, “I know that she’s your mom. Every single letter she’s written to me since she got here has been full of things about you.” The information pleased both children, who puffed up their chests importantly. “I don’t have any kids of my own for you to play with, but I’ll play with you myself if you let me.” The declaration was received with unsuppressed excitement. “And I would love to see your rooms.”
Quicker than her brother, Sara caught Marta’s hand in hers first. “This way.”
Sara might have been quicker, but Mac was stronger and more determined as he took the visitor’s other hand and pulled her in the opposite direction. “No, she said she wanted to see my room.”
Sydney hung her parka on the rack, throwing her blue scarf on top of it. She looked at Marta, her point proven.
“See what I mean by overwhelming?” She got in between the boy and girl. “Kids, let go of Marta, she’s not a pull-toy or a wishbone.” Reluctantly, they each let go of the hand they were holding. “She’s going to be here for a while, so everyone’ll get their turn with her.”
“Does that include me?” Ike was behind her, gently helping her off with her parka before Marta could think to stop him.
Soft and low, his voice moved like a seductive, rich scent along the spring breeze. Surrounding her. The smile on his lips hit her with the force of a lightning bolt when she turned around to face him. Unprepared, she felt the definite crackle of electricity passing over her. Into her.
Gotta watch that, Marta, she warned herself. You know what charmers are like. The man obviously had had a lifetime to hone his skills of seduction, and, like the children, welcomed a new diversion.
Not this time, mister. This time, you’ve met your match. I’ve had my shots.
Like a referee stepping between two contenders to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, Sydney was quick to get between Marta and Ike. She took Marta’s parka and hung it next to hers. “Ike volunteered to show you around when you feel like sightseeing.”
I just bet he did, Marta thought. Because the children were there, she kept the comment that immediately occurred to her to herself. Instead, she smiled broadly at Sara and Mac, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.
“All the sights I came to see are right here in this room.” She cast an offhanded glance in Ike’s direction. “Besides, I’m here as a friend, not a tourist.”
Sara’s pretty face puckered again. “But how are you going to fall in love with Alaska if you don’t see it?”
So, there was a plot afoot. And Sydney looked so innocent, pregnant and all. Marta raised a bemused brow in Sydney’s direction. “I have no intention of falling in love with Alaska.” Her eyes strayed toward Ike. “Or anything else.”
Ike stepped in, the expression on his face one that any poker player would have envied. “Wasn’t that the plan? To show her around and get her to stay?”
It had been what she’d hoped for, but nothing that Sydney had put into so many words. At least, not to anyone but Shayne. Obviously she was going to have to have a word with her husband about what the word secret meant.
“Ike.”
He heard the warning note in Sydney’s voice and grinned. “Let the cat out of the bag, didn’t I?” His glance, all encompassing and appreciative, swept over Marta again before returning to Sydney. “Never mind, if it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen.”
Marta had the very distinct impression that the tall saloon keeper wasn’t talking about a love affair that had to do with frozen rivers and snow-covered mountains. Pointedly, she smiled up into his face. “Just as long as no one is holding their breath.”
It wasn’t his breath he was counting on holding, but a beautiful and quite possibly underappreciated woman, he mused. But for now, it was time to ease out of the range of fire.
“Well, you two ladies have a lot to catch up on, so I’ll leave you—” he looked at Marta before momentarily linking his fingers with Sydney’s and holding her hand up “—in these very capable hands.” Before breaking the connection, he raised Sydney’s hand to his lips and kissed it.
Annoyance pricked at Marta. She wasn’t his to leave anywhere. Why did he just assume he could take possession of her, as if she were some wild strawberry growing in the field, waiting to be picked?
“Very considerate of you,” she said coolly.
If she meant to put him off, she was going to have to do a lot better than that, he thought. Ike merely grinned, tickled by her tone. “Good thing I didn’t take off my parka.”
“Me, next!” Sara held up her hand to Ike to be kissed. She looked at Marta over her shoulder. “Did you know Ike’s French?”
“I knew he was something,” Marta murmured.
The laugh was low, unsettling. When Ike reached for her hand, Marta reflexively pulled it behind her back. He didn’t press the matter. Instead, he inclined his head. “Nice meeting you, darlin’.”
Marta raised her chin, a challenge in her eyes. “My name is Marta.”
The grin grew wider, sexier. “Yes, I know, darlin’. I always pay attention, especially when there’s a pretty woman involved.”
Sydney moved between them again, escorting him the few steps to the front door. Afraid that Marta might say something to spoil her plans. She hooked her arm through Ike’s. “Thanks for coming with me, Ike.”
Genuine affection shone in his eyes when he looked at Sydney. “Always a pleasure spending time with you, you know that.”
Impulse pushed an idea into Sydney’s head. She’d planned on moving slowly, but maybe a full-scale attack would be the better way to go. After all, there were only two weeks with which to work.
“Come for dinner tonight. We’re having your favorite.”
The Kerrigan table already boasted of a dish he was interested in, Ike mused. “Don’t go to any extra trouble for me. I’d come if you were serving shoe leather. It’s the company, not the food, that I look forward to, darlin’. See you tonight.” His eyes took in everyone in the room, resting fleetingly on Marta before he eased himself out the door.
Walking back to the all-terrain vehicle he’d left parked in the garage that he’d helped Shayne renovate six months ago, Ike began whistling softly. The wind stole the melody less than a couple of seconds after it emerged.
He glanced back over his shoulder, smiling. It looked as if things were going to be rather interesting for a little while.
If nothing else, Marta Jensen was certainly very easy on the eye. Seeing her without her parka had only confirmed his suspicions. Beneath it was a petite lady, small-boned and graceful—her wobbly descent from the airplane notwithstanding.
He’d watched her at the airport. There was a certain confidence in her walk, a certain tantalizing rhythm to the way her hips moved. The fact that she regarded him with a wide margin of suspicion and a heavy dose of wariness only made the pot at the end of the game that much more tempting to win.
He loved winning, but more than that, he loved a good challenge. And he loved a woman with a mind. There was no question that Marta Jensen was both.
Yes, indeed, it looked as if the next couple of weeks were going to be highly enjoyable.
The moment she met him, Marta knew why Sydney had elected to remain in Hades even after she’d discovered that the man she’d flown out to marry had run off with his ex-fiancé the day before she’d arrived. Tall, dark and handsome to a fault, Dr. Shayne Kerrigan looked like every woman’s dream. Even better, he exuded strength and intelligence, Marta thought. He was capable of listening without flattering.
