Reaching For Normal Read online

  Her spine stiffened again and he rolled his eyes. “It’s a suggestion, not an insult. Taking care of your body is smart.” He turned his back on her and moved to the side of the truck to give her some space. He pulled out his phone and checked the weather app. They were on the fringe of cell coverage so it was now or never.

  As he already knew, light snow was expected, no wind chill to worry about. A perfect winter day. He closed the app and checked his email. Nothing new.

  “I’m ready to go.” He heard the pout in her voice before he turned to see it on her face.

  Sawyer dragged the snowshoes to the edge of the downed tailgate. He checked its height and the length of Myla’s leg. “Hang on.” He picked her up and sat her on the tailgate before she could protest.

  “Hey. I could have hopped up myself.”

  Sawyer didn’t bother answering that. It would have put stress on her already tender muscles before they even started the hike. He lifted one of her legs and strapped on the snowshoe.

  “These are the modern ones you showed me yesterday.”

  He nodded. “These are the ones most people use. They’re lighter, smaller and you can even jog in them if you want to.”

  Myla snorted out a laugh. “Pretty sure that’s not going to happen any time soon.”

  Once her snowshoes were laced on, Sawyer put on his own and turned to help Myla down. When he moved toward her she shot up a hand and hopped down herself. She took most of her weight on her right foot automatically, confirming his suspicion that her condition wasn’t a recent injury.

  Sawyer headed down the trail without bothering to see if she followed. The stubborn woman wouldn’t let herself do anything but.

  Ma Nature did her thing and it wasn’t long before Sawyer felt his shoulders relax. He was still pissed about Myla’s car, annoyed at being forced on this hike, attracted to a woman he had no intention of pursuing, and a little ticked that Darby’s plan to give Myla some peace was having the same effect on him but he could cope with it.

  Sawyer didn’t bother to turn to check on Myla’s progress. All he had to do was keep his ears open. As she had yesterday, Myla kept up a running commentary. She exclaimed about the beauty around her, complained about the almost non-existent wind and grumbled about not being able to walk as smoothly as Sir Winter-Smarty-Pants.

  Grinning, Sawyer kept the pace steady but slow enough not to tax Myla. The ground was mostly level, so he didn’t have to worry about her going up and down slopes. Her leg made him damn curious but she froze up every time it even looked like the conversation was going near it.

  When the trees grew sparser, Sawyer knew they were close to the ridge and the view that Darby wanted Myla to see. He slowed his pace and waited for her to draw alongside him. “Almost there.”

  His words had her stutter-stepping but she checked her balance almost immediately. Her grin had him smiling in return, which didn’t feel as weird as it had a few days ago.

  Sawyer stepped ahead and led the way for the last few yards. When they broke through the trees, Myla’s gasp was probably audible back in town.

  In front of them, the ridge dropped sharply into a valley. Ledges jutted out and created amazing shapes. Boulders tumbled down the slopes, some covered in snow, others shoving through it. Trees grew in places trees had no business growing.

  “This is incredible. I’ve never imagined anything so beautiful existed. It’s paradise. A perfect fairy-tale paradise.”

  Myla slipped off her mitts and dropped them to the ground to slide her camera out of a pocket. She shuffled around the clearing snapping photo after photo, whispering the whole while about the fairyland she’d discovered.

  Without putting down the camera, she called over her shoulder. “Is there an easy way down the slope? I’d love to take some pictures from a lower angle.”

  “Sure is. It’s called falling.”

  A laugh burst out of her. “That’s too bad. The shadows would be spectacular from down there.” When she shuffled closer to the edge, Sawyer moved and put his hand around her upper arm.

  “Back up.” Her sigh was all about how hard life was treating her because he wouldn’t let her bounce down a ravine. “This ditch wouldn’t be as easy to rescue you from.”

  “That was an anomaly. I’m not typically in need of rescuing.”

  No shit. Even in her brand-new winter gear with a scarf covering half of her face, she radiated determination. He doubted he’d met many people more independent than Myla.

  Maybe she’d be more agreeable to a few rounds of naked fun than he thought. Never hurt to ask. Although he’d wait until they were back in the truck and he was sure she wouldn’t stomp away and get lost. Better yet, he’d wait until they were back in town.

  A gunshot ringing out had his body reacting before his brain had even registered the sound. Sawyer hauled Myla into his chest and slammed her to the ground before covering her with his body.

  The breath whooshed out of Myla and she lay stunned. He reached for his weapon reflexively even as he realized he wasn’t carrying it.

  Myla gasped in a huge breath and another. Before she could speak he covered her mouth with his hand and hushed her. He needed to get her to safety, needed to figure out the direction of the shot.

  It only took seconds to check the area and map out the fastest way to get Myla under cover. Her leg would be tired from the trek and her body would be stiff.

  Sawyer counted off thirty seconds from the initial shot before he spoke directly into Myla’s ear. “Don’t speak. I’m getting us under cover. Don’t fight me. I won’t let you get hurt.”

  Myla opened her mouth but shut it again when he shook his head. Satisfied she would cooperate and desperate to get her to safety, Sawyer bounded to a crouch, scooped her into his arms and hunched over her as he dashed to the trees.

  No other shots followed and he moved until they were under cover. He stood behind a thick pine and listened. Myna squirmed but he shook his head again and she stilled. Without knowing the direction of the shooter, he couldn’t be sure he’d placed the tree between them. His instincts were stale and he hoped his best guess was good enough.

  No other shots. Only a few sounds at all as the forest reawakened after the silence caused by the blast.

  When the noise level reached normal, Sawyer lowered Myla to her feet but motioned her to remain quiet while he decided next steps.

  Run, walk, or hide.

  Run and hide worked if someone was shooting at them.

  Walk was perfectly fine if it was simply a hunter and no one was after them. The longer the silence went on and the forest reacted normally, the more likely that option appeared.

  Meaning he’d overreacted.

  He ran his hands over his face and breathed out a sigh. “I think we’re good.”

  “Was that a gunshot?” Her eyes were wide and her voice trembled.

  He nodded. “Probably a hunter.”

  “Probably? But not definitely.”

  “I didn’t see the shooter, so I don’t know. There’s no other sign anyone is after us.”

  “Why would anyone be after us? Is this related to Freddy? What is with this crazy town? Is this how you treat tourists?”

  Her voice had risen with each question until her shrillness rivaled any of the birds in the trees. “Well, if someone is shooting at us, great job of pinpointing our location.”

  Myla’s eyes widened and her head whipped around to check their surroundings. As if a sniper would have to get that close to take them out.

  When she started to run, he tugged her back to a halt. “We’re going to be careful and it would help if we went in the right direction. Follow in my footsteps and let me know if you need anything. Otherwise, we’ll try to keep talking to a minimum.”

  He waited for her nod and saw the questions forming. Before she could start asking, he turned and moved through the trees. It took her a few moments to start walking but she did it silently. Keeping in the questions had to be killing h
er and the thought almost made him smile. Almost.

  When they reached the trailhead leading directly to the parking lot, Sawyer slowed to a halt. Myla almost bumped into him but stopped before he needed to warn her. Her breathing was elevated but she wasn’t nearing distress yet.

  The parking lot would be wide open and they’d be clear targets. Except this was Bloo Moose and not Afghanistan. Sure someone had vandalized her car but that didn’t mean that someone had shot at them or that anyone was watching them.

  It might mean he was losing his damn mind.

  Birds chatted comfortably in the trees and the wind was still enough for Sawyer to hear any disturbances. Nothing.

  Itchy with the tiny possibility that there was a sniper waiting, Sawyer checked out the best spots and then turned to Myla. Her eyes showed that fierce determination he’d come to expect. “We’ll take off the snowshoes here. Walk on my left and get straight in the truck. Keep low once you’re in.”

  “What—”

  “Let’s get out of here first.” That would leave him another couple of minutes before she realized he might be a complete lunatic.

  He slipped his pack off and strapped his snowshoes to it, then helped Myla off with hers. He tucked them under his arm. She reached for them and started to protest but sighed and let him carry them.

  “If anything gets weird, do exactly as I say. No questions.”

  She rolled her eyes and gave him a salute. Smartass. He turned toward the lot and did another survey before telling her to move.

  When they reached the truck, he shoved her inside, hurried around to his side, threw his pack and snowshoes into the backseat, and started the truck.

  Nothing had moved. No shots. No noises. Not taking any chances, Sawyer spun around in the lot and plowed back through the bank and onto the road. Nothing appeared out of place.

  He drove in a couple of directions to ensure no one followed, then turned into a parking lot for a scenic lookout. A family sat outside their car making snowmen in the lot. Couldn’t get much safer.

  He turned off the truck and turned to face Myla. She deserved an explanation.

  “Do you think someone was shooting at us? Could it have been a random shot? Is someone trying to drive me out of town? Is someone after you?”

  Sawyer shoved off his cap and ran his hands through his hair. “I assume it’s a hunter who didn’t see us.” That sounded better than he’d reacted like a five year old.

  Myla stared back at him, her expression giving nothing away.

  “There was no way to tell, so I took precautions in case it was something different but there were no signs to indicate it was anything other than a random shot.”

  A short nod showed she’d heard him but she didn’t say anything which was not like the woman he’d come to know. “There’s nothing to make me think someone’s after you. You’re safe.”

  Another nod.

  “How long have you been out of the Navy? Were you a SEAL?”

  Shit. Where did those questions come from? Myla Esperanza was too sharp by far.

  His body’s reaction to being on top of her tight little body gave him the perfect way to distract her. He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. He caught her breath of surprise before she leaned in and touched her lips to his. Three gentle touches before she leaned up and locked their mouths together. Her tiny hand wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer while she kissed any remaining sense out of his brain.

  When Sawyer’s hands itched to yank her out of her seatbelt and onto his lap, she eased back. Slowly.

  They remained only an inch or two apart for several heartbeats, staring into each other’s eyes.

  It took mere seconds before he watched her brain kick in past the lust and he let his do the same. Not without regrets. The woman kissed like she was starving for his touch. His body was on fire and he worried she might be the only one who could douse the flames.

  He leaned back into his seat, wondering if he should apologize or ignore it. This proved he was smart not to get involved with anyone. Indecisiveness got you killed on the teams. And made you lame in the real world.

  “So, you don’t think I’m bringing danger to Darby’s door? If I am, I’ll leave. Be honest, Sawyer.”

  He brought his thoughts back under control. “I think this was a random shot by a hunter. Don’t know about the car but that was probably kids being idiots.” His gut screamed differently but it wasn’t reliable.

  “Okay. Can you drop me back at the B&B then? I think I’ve had enough excitement for the day. I see a glass of wine and a bubble bath in my future.”

  Well, hell.

  #thegameisafoot

  Guilt gnawed at Myla’s belly as she drove a cleaned up Freddy closer to Sawyer’s shed in the woods. She should have told him about the skiing lesson she’d booked with Darby. There’d been ample opportunity but she’d chickened out.

  Like she’d chickened out of talking about the kiss.

  And asking him to take it further.

  It wasn’t too late to turn around and head back to town. She could reschedule and let Darby know that it was okay to tell him she was the one booking it.

  Except he was already waiting for a client and she’d screw up another day for him.

  Myla didn’t like the feeling that she was using Sawyer. He’d helped her several times and she wanted to balance the scale. Maybe encouraging him to talk out whatever had created the barriers between him and the world would help.

  He and Darby were so different. Darby was full of energy and open about how much she cared about her brother and the B&B. She’d told Myla several stories about growing up in Bloo Moose and in those stories, Sawyer was just as intense but Darby said he’d changed. Myla hadn’t pried when Darby had closed up but she sensed Sawyer’s heart had been hurt along the way.

  Whatever had happened certainly hadn’t changed his instincts or his nature. He had warrior and protector stamped all over him.

  When that shot had rung through the forest, he’d exposed himself completely in order to protect Myla. Her very own two-hundred-pound blanket of pure testosterone.

  And while she’d been lying there soaking in the sensations of having that delicious body pressing into hers, he’d kept his head in the game and made sure she was safe.

  Then they’d kissed the daylights out of each other and there hadn’t been a whole lot of barriers around.

  Her body had squirmed and danced with joy during the kiss and for a long time afterward. Even the nagging worry about the gun had faded beneath the onslaught of his lips.

  Definitely a perfect candidate to help her eliminate the virginity issue. All she had to do was be brave enough to ask.

  And maybe come clean about the lessons.

  His bravery made her want to do more. To be better.

  Made her want to jump his bones too and see if she survived what she knew would be amazing.

  Clumsy Girl’s Death by Orgasm.

  Myla was smiling when she pulled up to Sawyer’s shed. Before she left Freddy’s warm bubble, she pulled on her scarf and wrapped it around the lower part of her face, leaving only her eyes exposed. She pulled on her mitts and opened the door. Wind slammed into her and tried to sneak past the edges of her jacket. Winter took some getting used to.

  A howl sounded off in the forest and it only took a few seconds for her heart rate to settle. This howl was either Loco or Gunner, not some wolf looking for dinner.

  In less than a minute, the two dogs bounded from the woods and raced up to her, tongues lolling. Gunner slowed to halt right under her hand for a rub down but Loco skidded into her and then jumped up to rest his paws on her shoulder. More prepared for the dog’s weight, Myla managed to keep her feet. No way was she falling on her ass again.

  The snowmachine rumbled to a stop but Myla kept her eyes on the dogs.

  “What are you doing here?” Sawyer’s voice was as welcoming as a troll protecting his hoard.

  “I booked a ski
ing lesson.”

  Chocolate eyes froze over. Sawyer muttered about retribution and his sister, then turned to the shed.

  Squaring her shoulders, Myla took a deep breath and headed for the shed. Before she reached it, Sawyer exited, holding a set of skis and poles. Without sparing her a glance, he walked around the side. She followed to find him placing them into a cart attached to a snowmachine.

  Very cool. She’d driven ATVs before and she knew snowmachines ran on the same principle. She’d have to book a lesson on those. Although, with how annoyed he was, she wondered if she’d be cut off from further lessons.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you’d booked another lesson?” His voice was as bitter as the wind.

  “You didn’t ask.” That sounded weak even to her own ears. “Darby told me you don’t like taking out people who are inexperienced but I want to check out everything that winter has to offer.”

  Sawyer scowled and his eyes narrowed. She managed to maintain eye contact and he finally shook his head and turned back toward the shed. Until he returned carrying two backpacks, she wasn’t sure he was going to actually help her or not.

  Managing to contain a victory jig, Myla joined him beside the snowmachine. He disappeared then returned with helmets. When she took one from him, the weight surprised her and she nearly dropped it on her toes.

  Ignoring Sawyer’s grunt of a laugh, she took off her hat, stuffed it into her pocket, and then slipped on the helmet. He’d probably packed it with lead in another Winter Virgin ritual. When she looked down to see where to put her feet, the helmet slipped a tiny bit forward, blocking some of her vision. Like a giant bobblehead doll, she shuffled to the snowmachine where Sawyer had already seated himself.

  The seat of the machine sat low to the ground. Really low. It was parked close enough to the building that she had to mount from the left, which meant all of her weight would be on her left foot while she lowered to that position.

  Her muscles might not hold.

  Sawyer turned but the shaded glass of his visor prevented her from seeing his expression. “Put your hands on my shoulders. That’ll keep you from falling.”