Wild Men of Alaska 03 - Dreamweaver

you believe it?”
    “How do you mean? Like an endearment in the heat of the moment?”
    “No, more like when a guy calls you babe when he can’t remember your name.”
    “I don’t know. Babe isn’t all bad.”
    “Seriously?”
    “I had someone special who used to call me babe. But it was sweet and so like him, you know?” Tern gave her a bittersweet smile. “I was going to introduce him to you when we returned from . . .” Darkness clouded her features. “Never mind. We’re getting off track.” She cleared her throat. “Okay, let’s plan on what we’re going to do.”
    Tern’s mood shifted so quickly that Gemma had trouble catching up. She knew Tern and Gage had been through hell last summer.
    “What are your plans tonight?” Tern asked. “Gage will be in Poker Flats probably for the next few days. Do you want to crash at my place?”
    “Actually, I kind of have another get-together with Cub.”
    “Ooh, that’s perfect. Sleep with him tonight. I doubt your Dreamweaver will be able to put in an appearance if you’re getting busy with another man. If he does that might be... crowded.”
    “I am not sleeping with Cub.”
    “Why not? What if you’ve brought this on yourself because you’re sexually frustrated? Maybe that’s the reason this Dreamweaver sought you out. Like a succubus.”
    “Ew. No, he said we were destined. That I was his future... that is, you know, before he died.”
    “Hmm.”
    “You have to stop with the hmms. They wig me out.”
    “I need to do some more research. If you don’t want to talk to Siri, my Grandma Coho probably has some insight.”
    “No more people. I don’t want everyone to know that I’m having astral sex with some Dreamweaver.” She sounded nutty enough.
    “Then talk to your mother. If destiny’s involved you could be in real trouble.”

Chapter Six

    Gemma strapped her kayak onto the roof of her car and drove to meet Cub.
    It was technically still winter, even though the calendar said spring was around the corner. But the rivers and lakes were frozen and there was enough snow on the ground to call a snow day in most cities of the lower forty-eight. To keep in kayaking form, and be ready once the ice broke up, Gemma had joined a group of diehards who met one night a week at the Hamme Pool. They paddled and practiced rolls, exercising muscles that wouldn’t get that kind of a workout in a gym.
    It was also where she’d first met Cub.
    He was an avid river kayaker, famous in these parts. He could probably compete on a world stage if he felt so inclined. But as far as she could tell, his biggest competition was himself.
    “Hey, Gemma,” Cub greeted as she climbed out of her Outback Subaru and began unstrapping her neon green river kayak. He made quick work of getting the kayak off the roof of her car. She wasn’t short, more average than tall, but Cub shouted his Viking heritage with Norse God good looks to his big feet and towering six-four foot frame. She’d never believe the man could fit into a whitewater kayak if she hadn’t seen it so herself. And while she plunked, more than slid into her kayak seat, Cub melted into his like butter on toast. There was something admirable about a man who was so comfortable in skin.
    “Thanks, Cub.”
    He handed her the boat one-handed and picked up his own that he’d set on the ice-packed blacktop in order to give her a hand.
    “Hey, I’ve been thinking of that kiss we shared the other day.”
    She flicked a look at him from under her lashes, wondering where he was going with this subject. So out of the blue too. They usually discussed technique, certain rivers they wanted to traverse, or the weather, while walking in to the pool to meet the five to seven other people who took advantage of the “evening kayaking.”
    “Okay, what about the kiss?”
    “I think we should try it again.” Cub stopped, and while he couldn’t really face her with each of them holding a kayak, he did pretty good job of nailing her with a look that had her swallowing a sudden—surprising—kick of curiosity. “I wasn’t really on my game the other night, and I think we should give it another go.”
    She hadn’t thought there was anything between them besides common interests and friendship. But, hey, why not. Cub made a lot more sense than her Dreamweaver.
    “I’d like that.” She shared a smile with him, and they continued into the building, Cub holding the door open for her.
    He was sweet and thoughtful