Wild Men of Alaska 02 - Moosed-Up

for her answer. “Where would we have dinner?”
    He took a step back when her elbow connected with his abs as she buttoned her jeans. “I’d like to suggest here, but maybe the lodge would be a better idea?”
    The Chatanika Lodge was a combination hotel, restaurant, and general store for the little town. Everyone hung out there, including most of his family, since they owned it.
    “Or we could drive into Fairbanks?” he suggested when she didn’t say anything.
    Fairbanks was thirty miles away, but it took an hour to drive the windy, frost-heaved road. She’d be stuck in a car with him, and what if they didn’t have anything to say to each other? What if this ... chemistry was just her over-stimulated hormones or something?
    “The lodge will be fine.” She took a couple of more steps away from him toward the door leading out onto the deck.
    “Six o’clock?”
    “Sure. I’ll meet you there.” Now that she wasn’t standing so close to him, the reality of what could have happened between them flushed through her system in a fiery blush. “Thanks for, uhmm, everything.”
    “You’re welcome. See you tomorrow night.”
    Her heart flipped in her chest at his sexy half smile.
    “Right. Tomorrow.” One last look at all that muscled skin on display and she let herself out of his cabin and into the bright sunlight, softly shutting the screen door behind her. She squinted, trying to focus. Fox sat in a lounge chair, the black bandit-painted puppy asleep on his lap. What did you say to a kid who had caught you in a compromising position? “Hey.”
    “Hey, Ms. Stuart.”
    “Call me Eva.” He’d seen her in her underwear with her tongue in his uncle’s mouth. He could call her Eva.
    He smiled, his dark eyes all-a-twinkle. “Okay, Eva.”
    “What’s your dog’s name?” There, that was a good safe subject.
    “Kiski. She’s the runt of the litter and finally strong enough for her vaccinations.” At her frown, Fox continued. “Uncle Lynx is going to give them to her.”
    Uncle Lynx opened the screen door, and stepped out, having put on a snug-fitting t-shirt in dusty blue. “Okay, I’m ready for my next patient.” He bent down and rubbed Kiski’s ears. She perked up and licked his hand.
    “Eva? Why’d you need stitches?” Fox asked with the tilt of his head, looking a lot like the adorable puppy in his lap.
    “She’s been moosed-up,” Lynx said before she could offer anything.
    Fox nodded as though he actually understood the term and that it was a common occurrence.
    Lynx took pity on her. “Moosed-up is when you’ve been messed-up by a moose. It’s just faster and easier to say moosed-up.”
    “Oh. Well. I’ll let you tend to your patient then.” She followed the steps down from the deck and went to turn left, the way she’d come.
    “Eva.” Lynx leaned over the railing, his elbows taking his weight, making his shoulders seem even wider than they were. “Head right about three hundred yards and you’ll come to a road. You’ll find your way home safe enough in that direction.” He gave her a knowing smile and then disappeared inside the cabin with Fox.
    She traipsed off in the direction he indicated, exiting the forest onto the road that led to the clinic and her small apartment attached to it.
    Well, shit. Lynx Maiski was her next door neighbor.

Chapter Three

    She shouldn’t be here.
    Eva traced the lines of filigree on her silverware. Why had she agreed to have dinner with Lynx? And here, where his family and friends could all keep tabs on their date? Pike, Lynx’s uncle, kept looking at her through the cutout behind the bar where the kitchen must be. He was another good looking man for his age. Tall, thick salt-and-peppered hair, with dark eyes that didn’t miss much. They sure did grow them big and muscled up here in the Arctic. Lynx would probably look a lot like his uncle when he got older.
    Not something she needed to be thinking about. Davis was a handsome man, but more metro-sexual than mountain man. He’d dressed impeccably in suits and designer menswear, which should have given her a clue. He could color-coordinate better than any woman she knew.
    She picked up her water glass and sipped. It was now half empty. She glanced at her watch again.
    Lynx was late.
    How long should she wait for him? Why was she even waiting for him? Because they’d shared spit, and she didn’t want to be one of those easy women. Meeting him tonight did not guarantee that they would