“Let’s get you back to the resort,” Carrie said, wrapping her arm around Dakota and acting like an overprotective mother hen. “We can change to an earlier flight. Let’s leave tomorrow. I’m sure you’re not up to skiing or anything. And we should call your parents back.”
That woke her up. “You called my parents?”
Carrie frowned. “Well, yes. They had a right to know their only daughter might be buried alive on a mountain. I mean, I would want to know.”
Dakota groaned and held out her hand. “Give me your phone.” Knowing her parents, they’d be on the first plane out of Boulder headed for Washington. She flipped open the phone Carrie handed her and punched in the number to her mother’s cell.
Heidi got in the driver’s seat and turned to look back. “All set?”
The phone rang once. “Hello! Carrie? Is that you?
How’s Dakota? Do you know anything yet?” Her mother sounded distraught, which made Dakota want to flog her friend.
“Mom, it’s me.”
“Oh, thank God. Dakota, Carrie said—”
“I know, Mom. I’m fine. No, not a scratch. What?
You’re where? The airport!” Just as she’d thought. She glared at Carrie, who cringed and mouthed I’m sorry.
“Guess so,” Heidi muttered good-naturedly and turned to crank the engine.
“No, tell Dad you don’t have to fly here. I’m fine. I promise.” She glanced out the window as they started to move and saw Axel and Falke staring at the vehicle in which she sat. She swallowed hard and let out a slow breath. It was time to go back to the real world.
“We’re leaving first thing in the morning.”
Chapter Eight
Gunnar pulled the Grand Cherokee up in front of the resort, threw it into Park and jumped out. Axel, riding shotgun, was practically on his heels. The doorman opened the glass and chrome door as they approached.
Heidi told them this morning that she’d overheard Dakota on the phone with her parents, telling them she’d be leaving first thing in the morning. It was almost ten. Dakota might be gone. His heart thundered in his chest as he approached the front counter to inquire about her.
Axel grabbed his arm, pulling him up short. “She’s there,” he said, his voice a low growl of relief as he tipped his chin toward the coffee shop just off the lobby.
The breath whooshed out of Gunnar, and the churning in his gut eased a bit. She hadn’t left yet. The brothers headed through the arched opening into the bustling cafe. As they approached her table, Dakota had her head down searching for something in a massive purse. Her hair was pulled back in a bun, her clothes stylish and reserved, less like the free-spirited hiking beauty he knew and more like the businesswoman she was. She sat with her friend Carrie and Carrie’s boyfriend. Gunnar couldn’t remember the guy’s name. It didn’t matter. Only Dakota mattered.
Dakota looked up from her bag when they stopped next to the table, but Carrie spoke first. “Hey, how you doin’?”
Dakota’s eyes widened a bit. Eyes outlined in dusky makeup. Her lips were painted with a soft rose color. She almost didn’t look like the same woman.
“Wh-what’re you doing here?” she asked, her voice soft and sweet, her chocolate eyes deep, soulful. Yes, definitely the same woman. The one he loved.
Axel pulled a slip of paper from his inside jacket pocket. “You didn’t get your receipt. I thought you might need it for your records…or something.”
God, that sounded lame, Gunnar thought.
Dakota took the receipt from Axel’s fingers and unfolded it. This time when she looked back at them, temper sparked in those gorgeous eyes. “That’s…quite a discount.”
Axel shrugged. “With the avalanche and all—”
“And all?” she asked, her voice rising. “And all, huh?” Her eyes narrowed on Axel, and she stood up, picking up that big, leather purse and slinging the straps over her shoulder. The pale pink sweater she wore looked soft and hugged every curve. “If you think that you owe me for—” She stopped, glancing at Carrie and the boyfriend. “Excuse us,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Yeah,” the guy said. “We’ll get the breakfast bill and meet you in the car. But don’t take too long.
We’ve got to get on the road.”
Dakota stalked off.
“Nice meeting you,” Carrie called after Gunnar and Axel as they followed Dakota out of the coffee shop.
They went through the lobby and around a corner leading to the first-floor rooms. She stopped and whirled on them. “You two are not paying me for sex,” she hissed and waved the receipt in their faces. “What the hell do you take me for?”
“What? No, that’s not—” Axel stuttered a few more uhs and ahs, but Gunnar had a better idea. He stepped forward, pulled her hard against his body and dropped his mouth to hers. She shoved at his shoulder for the briefest moment, the paper receipt crinkling, but then her entire body melded with his, and she opened her mouth on a soft moan, giving him access. He sank his tongue inside to taste her. His cock hardened against her belly, and it took all of his willpower not to grind against her and push her up against the wall.
“No,” she moaned as she pulled back and dropped her forehead to his shoulder. “No, Gunnar.”
“We’re not paying for sex, sweetheart,” he murmured in her ear. “I swear. The markdown was because of the avalanche, the wolf and the fear you suffered when you paid for and expected fun, safety, and relaxation. We’d never think of y—”
“Gun,” Axel said softly.
Gunnar was loath to let go of her, but he passed her over to Axel, who wrapped his arms around her and gently kissed her lips.
“Dakota,” Axel whispered. “Don’t go.”
She jerked back and stared at him, a look of disbelief on her face. “What?”
“We don’t want you to go,” Gunnar answered.
She turned her head and looked at him, her eyebrows pulling together. “I have to.”
Gunnar shook his head. “Stay here. With us. Don’t leave. We’ll take care of you.”
“You’ll—” She shoved away from Axel, crammed the wrinkled receipt into her purse, and crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t need anyone to ‘take care of me.’ I’m a big girl. And I’m not going to stand here and…God!”
“Maybe he said that wrong,” Axel said, reaching out to her.
She stepped back, out of reach. “I have my career, my condo, my… Everything is in Vegas. I can’t stay here. And I’m sure not going to rely on some man-men—to take care of me. I don’t belong here. This isn’t my home.”
“It could be,” Gunnar said.
She shook her head. “Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. My parents are on their way to Vegas right now. They’re meeting me at the airport.”
If? Gunnar tried another way. “Then promise to come back.”
Her expression softened for an instant then turned to…sadness? Regret? Slowly she shook her head.
“We want you,” Axel said, and Gunnar knew the kind of courage it took for his brother to admit that.
“Only you.”
“You don’t even know me!” She threw up her hands in a sign of frustration.
Gunnar’s gut tightened, and his heart seemed to shrivel up in his chest.
“Look, guys,” she said, her voice softer as she stepped closer to them, reached out and took Gunnar’s hand in hers, then reached for one of Axel’s. “You two showed me a wonderful time. I’ll never forget it or you. Everything about this week was…magical. But it’s time for me to go back to the real world.”
“We’re real,” Axel said, and Gunnar heard the strain in his voice.