In the Firelight (11 page)

She was so messed up. She barely knew this man, and he had way too much power over her. His report could quite possibly ruin or save her town. She had to play nice. She had to be polite and watch her temper, no matter how much he might draw out her passion.

But even more than that, her internal struggle was beginning to overshadow the reality of Snowcreek’s future. In such a short time, the way he affected her was beginning to become frightening. In one moment, she was irrational and frustrated, then oddly comforted by his strength. Then she was suddenly frenzied with a painful need. And through it all, she felt sexy and feminine for the first time in a
long
time. Never before had someone really gotten to her this way. Not even Gavin. Not even remotely.

At any rate, she knew she desperately had to get out of this room before he woke up. The vulnerability he instilled in her was beginning to chink her armor, and, regardless of who he was and why he was here, regardless of the push and pull between them, he was going to leave.

She had to keep level-headed. She didn’t want to be lonely. Not again. It was so much easier to just be alone, without the specter of loss looming all around her.

Shea slid carefully from underneath his arm and off the bed. Quietly, she pulled on her boots and coat over the long johns, and grabbed her clothes, freezing at every pause in his breathing.

Keys… where were her keys?

She spotted his coat and reached her hand in the pocket.

Thank God! There they were.

With one last quick glance at Rhys, Shea softly crept to the door and escaped into the cold predawn air.

Shea’s fingers were painfully freezing in the frigid, biting breeze as she filled her pickup with gas.
Damn… why wasn’t she wearing her gloves?
That man had her so scattered. She was having a hell of a time focusing on anything, completely perturbed by thoughts of Rhys.

She glanced just down and across the street at the rental cabins that sat at the edge of town. The sun was only just starting to peek over the mountains, glimmering off his replacement rental Jeep that was still parked out in front. At least he’d gotten rid of the Prius with its little tiny not-made-for-snow tires.

Trinity pulled up on the other side of the pumps. Getting out of her little Subaru, she eyed Shea curiously.

“Morning, Shea,” she said. “You’re in town awful early.”

Trinity’s gaze flitted over Shea’s garb. Snow boots, a coat, and Rhys’ thermals. Shea desperately wished she had pulled on her jeans before leaving his cabin, but had been in such a hurry to leave before he woke up that she hadn’t wanted to risk it. At least the coat was zipped up tightly. Maybe Trinity wouldn’t find the long johns odd. It was a small town, and most people didn’t really dress to impress here.

“I heard there was another heavy snowfall coming,” Shea responded with a bored calm that she didn’t really feel. “I needed to get some groceries so I can just hole up at home and work for a few days.”

That wasn’t even a little white lie. That was full on truth. She was so ready to get the hell out of town, to get back to her cabin and away from anyone and everyone. After leaving Rhys, she had sat in her truck for a good hour in front of the Snowcreek Mercantile waiting for Linda to open so she could pick up yesterday’s groceries. Having gotten the necessary items, she was all set to avoid any and all communication with that man who was entirely too delicious, too aggravating, and too tempting.

She turned her back to Trinity and watched the little digital numbers on the gas pump in a bit of a daze. She was a little hungover and a lot preoccupied. She didn’t even want to think about him. Even if something were to happen, it wouldn’t end well, and it
would
end.

It always did.

“Hey, sweetheart,” she heard Rhys softly say, and her eyes slammed shut at the sound.

Fuck!

A flicker of excitement coursed through her at the deep husky sound of his voice. She bit her lip, trying to get control of herself before she turned to look up at him. A fruitless effort, though. It didn’t help at all. Not even a little bit.

Goosebumps rose all over her skin as she turned towards him. He hadn’t shaved since he’d been in town, and, somehow, that shadow of growth on his jaw made him even more appealing. She steeled herself to stay in control, to not be affected by him.

“Hey,” she murmured, desperately hoping she was coming off nonchalant and almost annoyed.

Shea fought the urge to see if Trinity was still standing there, close enough to hear even the slightest exchange. If she was, it was a sure bet that she was all over this conversation. Shea swallowed hard and purposefully looked back at the gas pump that was still zipping along.

Her tank was likely only half full.

Fuck. Why didn’t she get a hybrid again?

“So, what’s up?” she asked, and her words came out more breathless, lacking any of the serenity she was trying for.

“I just walked over to the gas station here to get a cup of coffee. Was thinking I might drive up to your place to see how you were feeling? I didn’t even realize you left this morning until you were gone,” he smiled.

Shea’s mouth dropped open. He did
not
just say that, right here and right now.
Oh God.
With Trinity standing five feet away.

“What the hell, Rhys?” she gritted out as her eyes darted around for anyone else. And, yes, Trinity was frozen in the midst of washing the grime off her windshield, gaping mouth and stunned features.

Shit!

“Why do you keep saying shit like that? Especially in front of her!” Shea ground out under her breath at Rhys. “My God, this is a small town, and rumors are already flying, thanks to your little display in the store yesterday.”

“I don’t know,” Rhys smirked with a naughty grin at her discomfort. “I just kind of like to see your eyes get all sparkly when you’re ticked.”

“Well, you’re pretty fucking good at pissing me off!” she grumbled back.

He only smiled, melting her insides and making her even angrier. “You should go out to dinner with me.”

“I’m busy,” Shea responded.

“I didn’t even say when,” he smiled.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m a busy person.” Finally, the gas pump clicked off, and Shea finished up.

“Wait, Shea…” Rhys started, and she stopped in her tracks, back to him, but listening. “I’m curious to know why you are so opposed to the hill…”

Unable to repress the urge to seize this opportunity, no matter how much she really wanted to just drive off and leave him in the snow, Shea turned slowly. She had to take this opportunity. It was so very important to the future of her little town. But she didn’t trust him, and she glared at him suspiciously to let him know it.

Rhys smiled widely. “So, I’d like to take you to dinner. Discuss it. Maybe you can help make sure things work out all right.”

Shea took a deep breath. “How about we go for a quick drive before the snow hits. Get in the truck.”

“Okay. Now you can look,” Shea softly said as she brought the pickup to a stop.

Rhys cracked his eyes open and took the scenery before him. Opening the passenger side pickup door, he stepped out into the deep snow, taking a few steps away to look over the panorama before him. The gorge ahead really was stunning. The wide valley, gouged out by glaciers so long ago. Large chunks of granite arose, giving the whole area a completely wild and rough terrain.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” She whispered as she came to stand beside him. “Serene. Picturesque. All that shit.”

Rhys smiled at her words before he looked over at her and nodded. “It is, sweetheart.”

“Now, imagine it with that whole mountainside,” she pointed off to the center mountain, with all its stature and awe, “a bunch of the trees gone, cut out in big strips. Imagine a big, gaudy, brightly lit lodge over there.” She pointed off to the right. “And, on that side, a golf course with a phony lake, and over there a bunch of condos, hotels, stores.” Shea sighed heavily. “Before long, the road between here and town would be littered with giant log mansions and privacy gates. Everything would start to change. The funky little town I adore will morph into a posh ski village with overpriced clothing stores and trendy art galleries. And, worst of all, the people here will lose their sense of community as they start to fade away.”

He thought of the meeting the night before. The way the town kids all played like a big family in the garage. The oldest of Michelle and Robert’s young brood, introduced to him as Sam aka Darth Vader, was chasing what could only be a hoard of screaming Rebels around the firetruck. The sound effects of imaginary light sabers and blasters filled the air, and even little Joey, who looked to be emulating Jedi Master Yoda, was in on the action with his attempts to levitate objects to hurtle them at Darth.

As the adults discussed the future of their town, the sense of community was overwhelming. Light-hearted banter and teasing. The social vibe of togetherness, comfort, neighborly acceptance, and concern. Looking over the stunning view before him, his gut twisted a little at the thought of that going away.

“I love this place, Rhys. I grew up back in these mountains. I’ve never known anyplace else quite like it.”

Rhys looked down at her, the solemn cast to her gaze. “But, in this one valley, would it really be so bad? The town would still be there. Nobody has to change that.”

Shea smiled sadly. “All that would change. I wasn’t blowing shit out of my ass when I said that in the meeting yesterday. Some of us locals, the ones who weren’t driven out by the traffic and the hordes of rich people, would maybe have five years or so before the property taxes would hit the roof. We already have to pay more than normal because we don’t have a state sales tax. Where some states bring in revenue that way, Montana has to make up for that somewhere… so the landowners foot the bill.”

Rhys’ brow knitted as he contemplated her words.

“I can afford it now, doing my transcription, because I do live cheaply,” she said, and she looked back out over the valley. “But being a medical transcriptionist isn’t really as proliferative as it was a few years ago. When the economy crashed, a lot of places started making cuts, and it is easier and much cheaper for hospitals to cut the expensive transcription companies than to cut their own employees. A couple hikes in tax rates, and I won’t be able to stay. A lot of people around here won’t.”

The wind began to pick up, blowing a chilly dusting of snow and ice through the air from the trees behind them. The sound echoed through the hills, a lonely tone that made Shea shiver as she spoke again.

“And, even if it didn’t tax people out, all the money and traffic, all the new blood… this community would never be the same.”

Quietly, almost to himself, Rhys whispered. “I’m not sure anything I can say will change it, sweetheart.” He turned back to her, and for a split-second, his heart beat with an indiscriminate emotion. Hollow and almost…
guilty
. He shook his head slowly. “This place won’t be untouched forever,” he said softly.

Shea ducked her head, her determined hazel eyes looking back over the valley. “Maybe not, but I have to do what I can to preserve it.”