Degrees of Passion (23 page)

Kevin went to the shelf and grabbed the camera, slipping the strap over his head. He touched her face briefly before reaching for the doorknob. ‘We should go. Prichard will expect us to check in.’

Peeking outside, he made sure the way was clear before leading the way back down the hall. As they emerged near some paintings, she pushed a piece of damp hair off her forehead. A woman glanced in their direction, her pen pausing over the notepad she carried. Sasha pointedly turned away, not wishing to draw too much attention to herself until she could be sure she didn’t look like she’d just had sex in the janitor’s closet of a big New York museum.

Sasha buttoned her coat as they made their way outside. They came out street side, along Fifth Avenue. Behind the building was Central Park. ‘I love this part of the city. I wish I could afford to live here, but after I graduate I’ll be lucky to split a rundown with five roommates.’

‘Nothing but museums and the park, what’s not to love,’ Kevin agreed.

People ignored them as they passed by, keeping to themselves. The streets were busy, partly due to the break in snowy weather. The sun shone, warming the crisper temperature of winter and the snows melted into fat puddles promising of nicer times to come. Excitement filled the air, the kind of humming, mutual electricity brought on in the earliest days of spring-like weather.

They navigated the crowd, moving in joint purpose. Kevin held her hand, leading through the denser parts of the sidewalk until he could walk beside her once more. She couldn’t help staring at his back, thinking of the secret they shared. The aftermath of his touch glowed within her, warmer than the sun could ever shine. She’d been close to telling him she loved him, but held back, determined not to mess up what they had.

‘Want to walk through the park? The weather’s great and Belvedere Castle is close by. I haven’t been there in a long time.’ Sasha leaned close to his arm, smiling. ‘Or we could stroll aimlessly with no plan and just see where we end up.’

‘Don’t you think we should get back to Project Aztec?’ he asked.

‘Oh, you’re probably right,’ she agreed, sighing loudly. ‘We really should help out the twins. It’s not fair to leave them alone with Prichard. Do you think we should have invited them to work on this project with us?’

‘I thought about that, but we’re supposed to do our own projects. Besides, Jacob mentioned they were working on a live presentation they’ll give as a special lecture at the college. They have permission to use the actual artefacts.’ Kevin offered his arm and Sasha took it, linking her wrist over his elbow. ‘Would you like me to get us a cab?’

‘No.’ Sasha shook her head. ‘Let’s save the cash for our trip this weekend.’

‘It’ll be nice to get out of the city.’ He glanced over the street before stepping down off the curb.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’ Sasha followed, looking more at Kevin’s profile than the street. ‘Which reminds me, what do I need to know about your family?’

‘What do you mean?’ He frowned slightly, glancing back.

‘What will we tell them? We’re just lab partners? We’re friends from school?’ Sasha hopped up on a curb. ‘We should get our story straight. I don’t want to make things uncomfortable for you.’

He gave her a strange look. ‘Story? How about the truth? We’re dating, why keep it a secret? I’m not ashamed.’

‘I’m not ashamed,’ Sasha said, ‘but I know how families can be.’

He stopped walking, a grin spreading over his face. ‘Are you nervous about going?’

‘Well, it’s your family.’ Sasha lifted her arms to the side, trying not to show her panic. ‘What if they don’t like me? What if they hate me?’

‘What if they love you?’ He chuckled, touching her cheek. It was clear by his expression that he thought she overreacted.

‘Then I’d say you’re in trouble,’ Sasha answered, winking. She liked the easiness with which he talked about introducing her – no stories to remember, no hiding or worrying.

‘I knew I was in trouble the first time I saw you.’

Swaying on her feet, she leaned into him. Every nerve reached to be closer to him. Kevin’s eyes stayed on hers, not glancing back and forth to see who watched. People swept by them, laughing in conversation, arguing on cell phones and generally ignoring them.

‘We should get back,’ she said quietly, when he didn’t make a move.

‘Kiss me first,’ he insisted.

Sasha offered her mouth to him, closed her eyes, parted her lips and waited. Nothing happened. Gradually, she opened her eyes. ‘You’re not . . .’

‘Kiss me.’ He tilted his head, not moving.

‘Kiss him already, sweetheart!’ someone yelled obnoxiously.

Sasha pushed up on her toes, brushing her lips along his. She kept the kiss light and teasing. Kevin groaned, pulling her tight. The camera on his neck bumped into her chest and she made a weak noise of protest. He loosened his hold but didn’t let go. His tongue swept into her mouth and she was forced to push him away before her body became too heated to reason with.

‘We need to get back,’ Sasha whispered, panting.

‘I guess that will have to hold me over until after work,’ he said.

‘I should have warned you that this drive can feel like it takes for ever.’ Kevin lifted his soda bottle, taking a sip before recapping it. They’d been driving for nearly three hours in the rental truck. The vehicle cost a little bit more than the cheaper compacts, but was much more sensible for this time of year. One good mountain snowstorm could have them stranded in a drift. ‘At least we got an early start this morning. The traffic will only get worse as the day progresses.’

Sasha gave a short laugh. His words broke the silence that had settled over them for the last hour. ‘Is that your subtle way of telling me you’re bored with my company?’

‘No,’ he quickly defended, looking instantly apologetic. ‘I meant you’re quiet and I thought . . . Oh, you’re joking.’

Sasha laughed harder. ‘Yes, I’m joking, but you are kinda cute when you’re flustered.’

‘Really?’ His eyebrow arched and she did her best to ignore the seductive playfulness in his expression.

‘I don’t mind the drive.’ Sasha gazed out the window, over the dark-mud earth with dirty patches of snow leading up the sides of the forest-covered mountains. They would travel long distances without seeing a town, but the unhampered beauty more than made up for the lack of civilization. ‘The Adirondacks are beautiful this time of year and the smell of pine beats the city air hands down.’

‘Mm, I agree.’

Frequently thought of as part of the Appalachian Mountains, the Adirondacks stretched over northeastern New York between the Mohawk River valley, then north towards Lake Champlain and the St Lawrence River valley. The area was protected by law, leaving it in a very natural state with minimal land development and human interference.

Sasha tilted her head, watching the tall countryside blur through the dirt-streaked glass. ‘Do you think the snowmobile enthusiasts will let us tag along? I’ve never been and it sounds like fun.’

‘It is,’ Kevin affirmed. ‘I’ll have to see about borrowing my brother’s snowmobiles so I can take you out if the weather permits. It’s unseasonably warm. The weatherman said we’re looking at moderate snowfall early in the week and then it should be up in the fifties. I’m afraid the enthusiasts will be disappointed if the snow keeps melting.’

Sasha bit her lip, nervous about meeting his family. She hoped they liked her. After those agonizing meals with Trevor’s parents and Catherine Kingston’s snide comments, she was a little gun-shy when it came to meeting the family. It didn’t help that meeting Kevin’s family was infinitely more important to her.

‘I think you’d like the valley over Christmas. The family hooks up the bobsleds and we all go ice skating on the creek. Then, Christmas Day, my brothers and I have a hockey tournament.’ He reached over, patting her leg. ‘But don’t fret. We’ll have plenty to do. There are ample outdoor activities for nicer weather – hiking, horseback riding, fishing—’

‘You sound like a travel guide. I’m not worried about having something to do. I kind of like the idea of just lounging around and staring at the trees.’ Sasha slid her hand onto his leg, sliding closer to him so she could rest her head on his arm. ‘Besides, this is a working vacation. There is loads to organize for our project and a script to write. Then I have a mountain of reading I have to get done for my classes.’

‘I thought your bags were a little heavy.’ Kevin made a show of rubbing his arm. ‘I should have known they were filled with textbooks.’

‘Oh, you poor thing.’ She kissed his bicep through his shirt.

‘I think you’ll like my family. My mom and grandparents are great. They get along with everyone. My brother Samuel can come off as a bit surly, but it helps if you just think of him as a displaced cowboy from the Wild West. I don’t think the other two will be there.’

‘I’ll admit that I’m a little nervous about meeting your family.’

‘Why would that make you nervous? They’re nice people. Though I can’t promise they won’t tease you if you’re not used to the cold.’ Kevin nudged her good-naturedly.

‘Yes, I’m sure they’re very nice,’ Sasha agreed. ‘It’s just . . . never mind. I’m tired and I think I need something to eat. Any chance a stop is coming up?’

‘I think our choices are going to be gas station sandwiches or hotdogs.’ He lifted his arm, moving it over her shoulders to hold her next to him as he drove with one hand. ‘Maybe if you ask nicely, I’ll throw in some nachos or potato chips.’

Sasha chuckled, closed her eyes and wryly mumbled, ‘I don’t deserve this. You’re too good to me.’

Kevin steered the truck through the overhang of tree limbs, up a muddy incline and over an old wood bridge. A mixture of hardwoods and evergreens created a dense forest growth, so thick it was impossible to see through in places. As they crossed a swollen stream, he saw a couple of teenagers playing along the rocky bank, just as he had with his brothers growing up. He loved the mountains, the wide open spaces of the valleys, the dense forest trails, horseback riding, skiing, hunting and lungfuls of fresh air. Being in school, he’d gotten used to the city over the last several years, but there was definitely something special about coming home.

The narrow road split into three directions and he turned down the left drive. ‘My mother’s house is right up here. It was a nineteenth-century farmhouse we remodelled and updated. The straight road will take you to the old Victorian house that the sawmill’s original owner had built. It’s where my grandparents live and the main Sawmill Pine Inn. There are also the stables. Right takes you to the log cabins.’

Sasha stiffened, moving away from his side. He missed the close contact of her body, but didn’t say anything as she pulled down the visor and began checking her makeup. ‘Shouldn’t we go to a cottage first and freshen up?’

‘You look perfect,’ Kevin assured her. He wasn’t lying. She always looked perfect to him – in the morning with her sleepy mascara-smeared eyes and disorderly hair, in the museum janitor closet with her mouth opened wide in rapture, when she glared at him in anger and he had no idea what he’d done to make her mad. Even now, in the red tonal-striped ribbed-knit sweater with the deep V front that showed off a now coffee-stained white undershirt. ‘We can freshen up inside. My family won’t care if we’re a little road worn.’

‘But that’s after I meet your mother.’ Sasha glanced down. ‘Oh, no.’ Frantically, she swiped her hand over her chest. ‘I spilled something.’

‘It’s coffee,’ Kevin answered. ‘It dribbled out of your cup this morning when you were climbing into the car.’

‘It’s been here all day and you didn’t tell me about it?’ She swiped harder.

Kevin bit back his chuckle, not sure she’d appreciate how adorably frantic she appeared. ‘Your jacket and scarf will cover it. I’ll get us to a room so you can change.’

Sasha wrapped her scarf around her neck, loosely tying the ends so it rested over the coffee stain. ‘Perfect.’

Yes, he thought, you are.

The dense tree-lined road opened up into a wide clearing surrounded by trees and back-dropped by mountains. His mother’s house stood proud against the blue-gray sky, just as he remembered it. The barn’s red wood siding with bright-white accents had been freshly painted to match the patio furniture on the back concrete slab. He could see his grandparents’ house further down the valley next to the stables and corral. Worn trails lead between the two houses, made by the constant horse, three-wheeler and foot traffic.

‘There’s my brother.’ Kevin motioned to the horses in the distance. Samuel’s features were impossible to decipher, but the black of his cowboy hat gave him away. ‘He’ll ride over later. Sam never misses a meal.’

Sasha didn’t say a word. Her chest rose and fell in heavy breaths.

‘Are you all right?’ Kevin asked.

‘Sure.’ She breathed harder. A light flush pinkened her cheeks. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’

Why wouldn’t I be?

Sasha almost laughed at the absurdity of that statement. Of course she wasn’t all right. She was about to meet his mother. Her personal history proved parents didn’t think too highly of her. What if the woman didn’t think she was good enough for her son? Mothers always seemed to think girlfriends weren’t good enough for their sons. And what would Kevin do if his mother didn’t approve? She saw the way he talked about his family. Their opinion of her would matter greatly. Would he end their relationship before Sasha had a chance to convince him he wanted one – exclusively and forever?

Just breathe, Sash, she told herself. Breathe and smile.

Kevin pulled the truck to a stop. Sasha nervously adjusted the scarf around her neck, making sure the stain was hidden. Grabbing her jacket, she worked it over her shoulders. She bet in the late spring, with tall green grasses and mountain flowers, the farmhouse would look like something from a postcard. Right now, dirty patches of mud marred the white of the snow.