On a Snowy Night: The Christmas BasketThe Snow Bride Read online

  The isolation was a shock. Dalton hadn’t prepared her for that aspect of life in the forty-ninth state—the isolation and the vastness.

  All her dreams of Alaska had been wrapped up in her fantasies about Dalton. They’d exchanged messages every day, and she’d let herself believe he was everything he’d claimed to be. She was beginning to suspect he wasn’t, but she refused to admit that to Reid. This was what she got for being so desperate for—what? for love—that she was willing to risk her whole future, just like that. Could she have been any more naive?

  “You ready to go back?” Reid asked.

  Jenna nodded.

  Reid gave her his arm and they headed into the storm. The wind and the snow stung her face. Jenna closed her eyes and allowed Reid to lead her to the hangar, where he’d parked the snowmobile. It wasn’t until she was safely inside that Reid broached the subject of her former boss.

  “When you said you had trouble attracting men, you were talking about your old boss, weren’t you?”

  She stared outside at the swirling snow and didn’t answer.

  “It’s fairly obvious.”

  “Listen, Reid, it isn’t the middle of the night and we aren’t sitting in the dark, drinking Scotch and sharing secrets.”

  “Now look who’s testy.”

  “I have a right,” she flared.

  “Okay, okay, sorry I asked.”

  He should be.

  They rode in silence all the way back to Reid’s cabin. As soon as they’d pulled into the enclosure, he got off and plugged the snowmobile into the heating element. As if by magic, Addy and Palmer appeared. They were both dressed in heavy coats and hats with earflaps hanging loose.

  “’Morning, Jenna,” Addy said as he helped her climb off the snowmobile.

  Palmer stood directly behind him. “You cooking tonight or is Reid?”

  “I am,” Reid barked.

  “Spaghetti for sure,” Addy said with a disgruntled expression. “It’s the only thing he knows how to cook.”

  “Are you makin’ it with moose meat again?”

  “I’ll cook with whatever is in the freezer.”

  “Moose,” Addy and Palmer said simultaneously.

  Jenna wouldn’t have minded cooking for the guys, but she didn’t want Reid to assume she’d willingly take over all domestic tasks.

  “I’ll play you a game of cribbage,” she told Reid. “Loser does the cooking.”

  “If I win, you cook?”

  Jenna nodded.

  He grinned, and without his mustache and beard blocking the view, she realized he had a very nice smile. “You’re on.”

  Addy and Palmer instantly crowded around Reid, leaving Jenna to trudge to the house alone. Reid hurried around to meet her, Addy and Palmer close behind.

  “There are ways to cheat so she won’t know what you’re doing,” Addy murmured under his breath.

  “Boys.” Reid whirled around to face them. “Dinner’s at six. We’ll see you then. Understand?”

  Addy’s and Palmer’s mouths gaped open. “You saying you don’t want us around?” Palmer asked.

  “You might need our help. We watched last month when Pete beat you at cribbage. This is too important, Reid! You can’t lose this time.”

  “Yeah, Reid,” Palmer said in a pleading voice. “This is important. You can’t lose.”

  Reid slapped them each on the back in a good-natured way. “I’m saying let Jenna and me work this out for ourselves. Whatever happens, you’re going to be served a mighty fine dinner.”

  This seemed to appease the two men. “Can’t ask for more than that,” Addy told his friend.

  “You want us to tell Pete and Jake to come here at six?”

  “Good idea.”

  On a mission now, both men hightailed it over to the café.

  Reid helped Jenna through the snowdrifts to the cabin door. “The guys don’t mean any harm,” he said as soon as they were inside.

  “I know. They must be tired of their own cooking.”

  “I don’t think either of them knows how. They eat everything out of tin cans,” he explained.

  The image that took shape in Jenna’s mind produced an instant smile. She found Reid watching her, grinning, too. She wanted to be angry with him for ruining her plans, but she’d discovered it was impossible to maintain her irritation for very long.

  Once they’d removed their coats, hats and gloves, Reid set up the cribbage board while Jenna made fresh coffee and poured it.

  “Everything’s ready,” he said when she brought their coffee to the table.

  Jenna pulled out a chair and sat down, sipping from her mug as she surveyed the board. “Are you planning to cheat?”

  “Don’t need to. I beat the socks off you the last time we played.”

  Jenna scoffed at him. “Nothing but a fluke, my friend.”

  Reid pushed the cards to her side of the table. “Deal ’em and weep.”

  She wasn’t sure how Reid managed it, but she had one terrible hand after another. He was well on his way to winning before she’d rounded the last turn.

  He didn’t say anything as he triumphantly planted his peg over the finish line.

  Jenna muttered under her breath. “Want to play two out of three?”

  “That wasn’t our bargain.”

  “What if I said I’m not all that great a cook?”

  Reid leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “I wouldn’t believe you.”

  “And why not?”

  He didn’t hesitate. “I may only have known you a short while, but in that time I’ve learned something about you.”

  This Jenna wanted to hear. “What’s that?”

  Reid wore a smug look, the same look that had annoyed her earlier but now amused her. “You’d never offer to do something you weren’t qualified for.”

  He was right.

  “Do you want to check out the freezer?” he asked.

  “Looks like I don’t have any choice.” She pretended to be disgruntled about this turn of events, but she wasn’t. In truth, cooking the evening meal for practically the entire Snowbound community gave her a genuine sense of purpose.

  Reid settled down with his novel while she flipped through the only cookbook he had on the shelf. It must have belonged to his mother because it was nearly thirty years old. Sorting through the recipes, she found several that looked appetizing.

  The freezer had an abundant supply of seafood, and she took out clams, shrimp, crab and scallops, plus several loaves of frozen French bread. She laid everything out on the kitchen counter to thaw.

  “What are you making, or is that another one of your secrets?” He lowered his book.

  “Dinner,” she said.

  “Very funny.”

  “I’m glad you’re amused.”

  He raised his book again. “You really do have to have the last word, don’t you?” he muttered.

  Jenna had never realized that about herself, but suspected he was right. From this point forward, she determined that she’d make an effort to respond to any unpleasant or teasing conversation with dignity.

  That decided, she set to work. She tucked a dish towel into the waist of her jeans and rolled up her shirtsleeves. She collected the rest of the ingredients, impressed by Reid’s well-stocked cupboards. Onions, chopped garlic in a jar, a choice of pastas, dried herbs…The next time she looked up, she found him napping.

  What a complex person Reid Jamison was, Jenna mused, studying him. Rarely had any man made her so angry. Nor had anyone ever frustrated her more. He could be arrested for what he’d done, but she’d never press charges. Despite her frequent annoyance with him, she actually liked Reid and enjoyed his company.

  Unfortunately, his companionship wasn’t the only thing she enjoyed, but she absolutely refused to dwell on their kisses. They were both eager to admit it had been a mistake, something best ignored. And forgotten. Jenna, however, had been unable to put it out of her mind. Try as she m
ight, the memory resurfaced at the most inappropriate times.

  Concentrating on dinner, Jenna had everything cut up and ready to go, plus she’d cleaned up the cabin a bit. Nothing major. As she’d explained to Reid, she wasn’t about to become his maid, but his friends were arriving and pride demanded that there be a degree of order and cleanliness. When she’d finished, it was late afternoon.

  Reid watched her bustle about, which unsettled Jenna when she noticed.

  “Need anything?” he asked, slowly emerging from his chair.

  “Cooking wine.”

  He shrugged. “Any wine I have is for drinking.”

  “That will do.”

  “How much do you need?”

  Jenna checked the recipe. “Just a cup.”

  Reid rummaged in the room’s one closet and came out with a bottle of white wine. “It seems a shame to open it, then let it go to waste. Would you like some?”

  “Please.” Jenna was far more accustomed to wine than whiskey.

  Reid poured them each a glass of the chardonnay and gave her the rest of the bottle.

  “I thought we’d have a salad,” she said. “Do you think Pete would have lettuce at his store?”

  “Not in the wintertime, unfortunately. Fresh fruit and vegetables are almost unheard of up here for most of the year. Supplies are shipped in once during the summer and other than that, we get everything either canned or frozen with a few exceptions.”

  “I found onions and potatoes in the pantry.”

  “Those are the exceptions.”

  “That’s too bad.” Their meal wouldn’t be quite the same without a Caesar salad.

  “Lucy makes a nice salad from frozen veggies. You could ask her when she returns.”

  Reid would be flying her back to Fairbanks at the first opportunity, but Jenna sincerely hoped there’d be a chance to meet Lucy.

  “You’re looking thoughtful,” Reid commented.

  “I was thinking about Lucy and how much I’d like to talk to her.”

  “The storm could be over as soon as tomorrow afternoon. Do you want to wait until Lucy and Jim get home before we take off?”

  She nodded immediately. “I’d like that.”

  “Good, because Lucy would probably have my hide if you left before she got back.”

  Jenna sipped her wine and as she did, another thought came to her. “Do you have any rum?”

  “Rum? Do you think I run a liquor store here?”

  “Sorry, I should’ve asked for it when I requested the wine, but it just occurred to me. My third stepfather liked rum cake and Mom used to bake one or two a month. I thought it would be a real treat for Addy and Palmer. I know the recipe by heart, but it would help if I used real rum.”

  Shaking his head, he returned to the closet and ransacked it noisily. Eventually he pulled out a dusty bottle, handing it over.

  “I don’t know how old this is,” he muttered. “But it’s the good stuff.”

  “Thanks. I’m sure it will do nicely.”

  She set about mixing the cake batter, using his supplies of flour, sugar and liquid eggs. Working efficiently, Jenna was surprised by how contented she felt. When she glanced up, she saw Reid watching her with a pad and pencil in his hand.

  “What are you drawing?”

  “You.”

  Jenna wasn’t sure how she felt about that. “Can I see?”

  He shook his head. “Not yet.”

  “You were supposed to show me your drawings when we were at the pump station,” she reminded him.

  “I forgot.” He moved the pencil quickly across the page, then hesitated when he realized she’d stopped her work to stare at him. “Don’t let me distract you.”

  “You’re not,” she said, but he had. She wasn’t one who rushed to have her picture taken; in fact, she avoided it whenever possible. A lot of people felt the camera didn’t do them justice, but in Jenna’s case it was true. Photographs seemed to sharpen her features and make her skin look sallow. Every shot ever taken of her was unflattering.

  “By the way, what are we having for dinner?” he asked.

  “Spaghetti.”

  “Addy and Palmer won’t be happy.”

  “Seafood spaghetti, with an olive oil and wine base. I use lots of garlic and basil.”

  “This is beginning to sound interesting.”

  “You’re going to love it.” She brought her fingertips to her lips and gave them a noisy kiss.

  His gaze lingered on her lips for an embarrassingly long moment. As though both were aware that this could lead to danger, they studiously ignored each other.

  Ten minutes later, Reid said, “Are you ready to look at my drawing? Keep in mind it’s just a quick sketch.”

  Jenna set the cake into the preheated oven and walked over to Reid’s chair by the fireplace. She stood behind it and peered over his shoulder.

  “Ready?”

  “Ready.”

  Reid turned the tablet and there she was. Only it wasn’t her. Not the way she saw herself in the mirror, or even the way cameras revealed her. The woman in his drawing was soft and gracious…and beautiful.

  “Well?” he asked, watching her expectantly.

  “It’s very nice.” She left abruptly and went into the bathroom and closed the door.

  As soon as she was alone, she stared at herself in the mirror. Could that really be her in the drawing? She felt like weeping—and that was even more ridiculous than racing out of the room like a frightened rabbit.

  Soaking a washcloth, she pressed it to her face and took a few moments to compose herself before she faced Reid again. Heaven only knew what excuse she was going to give him.

  With her hand on the doorknob, she inhaled deeply in an effort to appear calm. She’d walk back into the living room, apologize and tell him how talented he was, and indeed that was true.

  She didn’t get the chance. Reid was waiting for her on the other side of the door.

  “What did I do wrong?” he demanded.

  “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Then why did you turn tail and run?”

  “Because I’m an idiot.”

  Reid rejected that immediately, shaking his head with vehemence.

  She had nothing left to tell him except the truth. “Okay, if you must know, when you sketched me, you made me look the way I’ve always wanted…the way I always hoped to look and never have.”

  “You are exactly the way I drew you. I didn’t make this up, you know. I draw what I see.”

  Nothing she said would make him understand. She began to walk away.

  Reid caught her hand and pulled her back, staring at her intently. “If you want to find fault with my technique, fine, but don’t criticize my eye.”

  “You see me as…as soft and feminine?”

  “You are soft and feminine,” he countered.

  “Oh, Reid.” She only meant to hug him in thanks, and then, without another word on the subject, walk away. But their friendly embrace quickly became more.

  Reid’s mouth sought hers and she turned to him, trusting and open. Their exchange the night before was only a foretaste of what awaited them now. Their kisses deepened until Jenna’s head swam and her heart pounded in her ears.

  “I thought you said this was a bad idea,” Reid said, dragging his mouth from hers and nibbling on her lower lip.

  “It’s a terrible idea,” she moaned as she slipped her arms securely around his neck.

  “It’s only going to lead to trouble.” He groaned between kisses.

  “Big trouble,” she agreed.

  He lowered his head and kissed her jaw while Jenna ran her hands along his back. This was so wonderful. She didn’t want it to stop.

  All at once, with an abruptness that left her reeling, Reid pulled away. He braced his hands against the wall on either side of her, and hung his head, his eyes closed. His breathing was ragged.

  She reached up to touch her lips to his.

  “Jenna, stop…
”

  “Okay,” she said. “In a minute.” She slid her moist lips across his and seconds later, their mouths and tongues became involved in an erotic foray that was gentle and slow and inexpressibly tender.

  “You must enjoy tormenting me,” he said, and his voice was unsteady.

  “Do you trust me, Reid?” she whispered, outlining his lips with the tip of her tongue.

  “Yes…yes.”

  “Then tell me about her.”

  Everything ceased. He instantly straightened and nearly lost his balance. “What?”

  “You didn’t isolate yourself on the tundra without a reason.”

  “Since when did you turn into Sigmund Freud?” His eyes narrowed.

  “Come on, I’m not completely naive. There was a woman in your past. One who really hurt you. Otherwise you wouldn’t be living such an isolated life.”

  “You’re so far off-base, it’s unbelievable.” With that he marched into the living room.

  “Really?” She followed him.

  “This is what I don’t understand about women,” Reid said, throwing himself in the chair and grabbing his novel. “One kiss, and you suddenly think you have access to my soul.”

  “So she did hurt you?”

  “No, Jenna, she didn’t. It was a mutual parting of the ways. And it wasn’t exactly a life-changing relationship. Now that’s all I’m going to say about it. You got that?”

  “All right,” she said mildly. “Don’t—”

  A knock sounded at the door, interrupting her. “Anyone home?”

  Pete let himself in, followed by Addy and Palmer.

  “We aren’t too early, are we?” Pete asked anxiously. “I’m gettin’ kind of hungry.”

  Jenna checked her watch. It was barely five, and she had yet to start the seafood spaghetti.

  “We’ll go ahead and set up our instruments,” Palmer said, placing an antique washboard and wooden spoon alongside his harmonica on the sofa.

  “What you got in the oven?” Addy asked. He leaned his saw against the wall.