Denali Dreams (24 page)

Briefing and equipment check done, Logan started for his truck.

“Heading to Tsosie’s for dinner?”

The taunt in that question didn’t even deserve a response. He climbed in.

David laughed and caught up to him, holding the door open. “C’mon, man.”

“Do I need to remind you of how disgustingly lovesick you were over Jolie?”

“No.” Waving a hand, David shook his head. “No way. Point taken.” He sobered. “Hey, seriously. If you’re looking for her, she’s not at the café.”

Logan frowned. “Dude, it’s not like I’m going to stalk her.”

David closed the door then tapped the window ledge.

“Her dad’s release is today”—he glanced at his watch—“two o’clock.”

How on earth did David know something like that?

“Jolie offered to go in and help cover so Deline could run down to Mat-Su.”

It was nearly noon. The regional medical center was nearly two hours away. A strange compulsion to be there with her swirled through Logan’s gut. The thought of her petite form caring for that large, Athabascan man made him tense. If Mr. Tsosie pitched forward, no way could Deline hold him up. Not that she was weak. “Let’s see if she needs help.”

David blinked. “Help? You do remember this is Miss Independence herself, right?”

“Which is exactly why we should just show up.”

After a slow nod, David gave a firmer nod. “Two for two.”

“Huh?”

“Points.” He jogged backward toward his truck. “I’ll meet you there.”

Logan stuffed the irritation. Why hadn’t Deline told him? It’d been a week since Zack humiliated him in front of her. All but exposed his attraction to her. She hadn’t really talked to him since.

He smoothed a hand over his face, noting the stubble. Probably should’ve gone home, showered, and shaved. Maybe he should.

He checked the in-dash clock. Not enough time. Might be okay.

He sniffed his armpit. And groaned. Great. Sasquatch probably smelled better.

Why? Why could things not be easy or go right so he could just have a chance …

At the hospital, he parked then hustled toward the entrance, searching the area for David. Where had he gone?

After checking with the front desk, Logan headed to the third floor and inquired about the room. The nurse pointed him down the hall and to the right.

Logan slowed his walk. Didn’t want to
look
as nasty as he smelled. He smoothed his hand over his short crop.

“You can’t do it by yourself, Dee.”

“Dad, there is no one else. Who do you want me to call?” Deline sounded a year past frustrated.

“How do I know? But you can’t do it all. You’re cracking—I can see it. Ask David.”

“He’s getting married. He’s a bit distracted.”

Logan eased forward a bit and peered in, staying back just enough to be concealed. Deline knelt in front of her father, who sat on the edge of the bed. From the right, she lifted his other boot and guided his foot into it.

“What about that Logan boy?”

Logan’s chest thumped against his ribs, pushing him back, out of sight.

“Dad, please.” Deline moved back on her haunches and looked up at her father. “It’s just you and me.”

“He seems to have taken a likin’ to you.”

An avalanche couldn’t compete with the roar of Logan’s heart. Did
everyone
know he liked her?

“No, Dad. Logan’s just a nice guy.”

“Oh
pffft.
“

“Dad, Logan would no sooner want to date me than he would a coyote.” She stood and dragged the wheelchair closer. “I’m too mean for someone like him.”

“I suppose that’s my fault,” her father groused as he heaved himself up—with Deline’s small arms wrapped around his upper torso—and plunked into the chair with a hefty exhale. “Man, that hurt.”

“You need to do it slower.”

“You need to get more help.”

A firm slap on the back threw Logan forward. In the shock of the moment, he registered David parading past him and into the room with a boisterous, “Help has arrived!”

Logan stepped in, willing away his thoughts of killing David Whiteeagle.

Deline’s lips parted as she met his gaze. Hesitation and question hung in her rich, dark eyes. It did something weird to his stomach. She finally blinked and looked at David. “What are you two doing here?”

“Jolie said you were down here. I figured this guy”—he clapped a hand on Mr. Tsosie’s shoulder—“might be giving you a hard time.”

“Me?” Mr. Tsosie bellowed. “It’s her. She’s too hardheaded.”

“You taught her well.” Logan warmed at the guffaw from Deline’s father then froze beneath her icy glare.

Stumping downstairs, Deline noticed the telltale exhaustion plucking at every fiber of her being even over the hollering of her father. Daddy said she’d wear herself out. So had everyone else. But nobody seemed to realize there
wasn’t
anyone to help. This town might be the mecca for tourists but it was the escape-from mecca of locals. She trudged around the stairs, down the hall and into the kitchen. At the fridge, she reached for the glass pitcher of lemonade, Daddy’s favorite. Lydia couldn’t come for another month—when it was convenient for her—and her brother, Enli, was out of the country. Mom and Daddy had plenty of friends, but they were just as old as him.

She’d let the rangers help, but the thing of it was …

Deline sighed. She didn’t know what objection she had. Maybe it was pride. She’d inherited that in buckets from both parents. They’d taken care of themselves all these years….

But she had to admit it was nice—real nice—to have Logan and David here. And Jolie covering for her. It’d worked out this time. But Jolie split her time between here and Anchorage, and with all the wedding planning, Deline knew she couldn’t count on her and David long term.

Another ache wormed through her. She longed for what Jolie and David had. Up here with the mountains, the snow, and the wilderness, they’d found something rare.

Thumping boots sounded behind her. “I’d better get moving. Jolie’s going to string me up if I’m late,” David said.

“Thanks for your help.”

He planted a quick kiss on her forehead. “You bet. Don’t let him get on your nerves.”

“Oh, I know how to handle Daddy.”

David grinned as he opened the back door. “I meant Logan.” The clatter of the door signaled his departure and drew her attention. She should lock it. Deline took a glass from the shelf, set it on the counter, and lifted the pitcher. A shadow flitted behind the lacy curtain that hung over the door. Had David forgotten something?

“He’s asleep.”

Startled, she gripped the pitcher tight. Her arm flexed. Lemonade splashed over her hand. She sighed, her mind finally processing Logan’s words and presence that pervaded the room “Sorry,” Logan said, lifting a towel and passing it to her. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No.”
“He seems to have taken a likin’ to you.”
The words rang in her ears as she wiped off her hand. “No, it’s okay. I’m just tired.”

“There’s a surprise. You’re carrying the world on your shoulders.”

“It’s not like I have a choice.”

“Hey.” A soft touch to her shoulder drew her gaze to his mesmerizing blue eyes. “Give yourself a break.”

“Yeah? Exactly how am I supposed to do that?” Why was she being so unreasonable? “I have the café responsibilities, my flying, along with the merger, and now my father to take care of. And what do you know of my life, Logan? Nothing. So just back off!”

The words had tumbled out and barreled into the thick air without her permission. Frightened at the volley of anger she felt, Deline swallowed. Hard. Saw the shock on Logan’s face. The disappointment. Hurt.

Unable to bear that expression, she shifted to the counter and whispered through a raw throat, “I’m … I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”

“No worries.” His casual pardoning did not have the lightheartedness that normally defined Logan. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and backed up. “I’ll get out of your hair.”

Stop him. Apologize. Ask him to stay.

But the walls inside her were shifting and colliding. Freezing Deline to her spot. Why couldn’t she just let a guy in? Because. She’d seen what letting guys in had done to her sister. She wasn’t going to embarrass and shame their family like that. Besides, Daddy needed her. The café needed her. The business needed her. She didn’t have time for a man to need her, too.

She looked up at the window, framed by the daisy-embroidered yellow curtains Mama had always loved. Deline saw her own reflection, strangely like her mother’s, in the window. But something seemed a bit … off.

The eyes. They weren’t quite … right. Just a little too—

They moved!

She drew back. Had she moved her eyes? She hadn’t. The face seemed to blur into two. Warmth squirted through her belly. A chill scarped down her back.

The images divided.

Only then did it hit her.
Someone’s out there!

She shoved herself backward and screamed.

D
eline!” Logan plowed through the living room. Lunged around the corner and into the kitchen. Glass shards lay amid a yellow puddle of lemonade. The back door sat open. He darted for it. Heady scents of pine and dirt pressed in on him. The darkness suffocated his vision.

Deline came toward him.

“You okay?”

She frowned. “Yeah. I saw someone—something. Just startled me.” She pushed past him and stepped back into the kitchen and stopped short.

Logan nearly collided with her.

She cursed. Kicked the kitchen cabinet.

“Hey.”

She spun around, her face twisted in rage.

Logan yanked backward. “Whoa. Hey.”

“What? Are you going to say I need you now that someone tried to break in? Let me tell you, I’ve done fine by myself for years. And I’ll be fine now.”

Heart tromping over her words, Logan tilted his head. “Did someone—someone tried to break in?”

“Yes!” She squeezed her eyes. “No. I don’t know. I saw someone staring back at me, but when I went outside … nothing.” Her eyes glossed. She jerked away and started for the stairs.

Without thinking, Logan lunged after her. Gently caught her arm. Pulled her back. He braced for a fist in the face. Or the gut. Instead, Deline flung into his arms. Buried her face in his chest. He felt his shirt tightened against his pecs—she must be fisting. Instinct wrapped his arms around her.

But seconds later, she pried out of his hold. Kept her chin tucked. “I’m sorry, Logan. I can’t … can’t do this.” She looked at up him, eyes glossy, apologized once more, then hurried up the stairs.

Heart thundering, Logan stood there. Stunned. What had he done wrong? Why wouldn’t she let him in? Who’d been outside her window? Maybe he should take a look around, make sure she and her father weren’t in any danger. Silly idea, but he couldn’t shake it.

He strode back into the kitchen and secured the dead bolt and chain. As he let himself out the front, he made sure it locked behind him. Logan took the flashlight from his truck’s glove box and walked the perimeter. Several boot impressions remained around the dirt, but he was no investigator. Could’ve been David or even Deline, though she had small feet to match her petite frame.

Back in his truck, he tried to shake off the adrenaline dump. He would never forget hearing her scream. But … she didn’t get paralyzed. She took action.
Proof positive that she doesn’t need you. And doesn’t want you either.

“… I can’t do this …”

Logan banged the steering wheel. He started the engine, but … Breathing hard, he sat there. Stared at the house. Thought of Deline, the fire in her eyes, the single moment of perfection, then the icy facade.

“God,” he began, unsure of where he was going or what he should pray for. He huffed and closed his eyes. “If I need to let go of her, help me. Take away what I feel for her.
Please.
Because I can’t take much more of her rejection.”

Two Weeks Later
Kahiltna Base Camp

“You make me proud.”

Logan frowned. “How’s that?”

“You just don’t give up.” David shook his head. “Deline practically shoved you off a cliff, and here you are planning a party for her dad.”