Risking It All (12 page)

“A natural hot spring?” Memphis winked at Kennedy. “Put us down for that tour, huh, beautiful?”

“Isn’t it a little dangerous with the wildlife around?” Kennedy looked at the brochure and ignored his comment.

“All our trails are marked, and we encourage guests to stay on them, but yes, there is still wildlife out there that you have to be aware of,” Blondie answered. She turned her attention back to Memphis. “I’m sure you’ll find your cabin to be more than accommodating.”

“I hope so.” Memphis gave her a tight smile and looked at Kennedy. “Ready?”

Kennedy nodded, her stomach once again alive with those blasted butterflies at the thought of going to the
one-
bedroom cabin with him.

“Thanks for the tour,” he told Blondie. “If you could inform Mr. Bradley I arrived and would like to speak to him, I’d appreciate it.”

“Of course. I hope you enjoy your stay, Mr. Adams.” She gave Kennedy a curt nod and returned to her desk.

Memphis kept his arm around her as they quickly made their way to the truck. It had grown colder while they had been inside and Kennedy shivered while Memphis started the engine and slowly drove to their space in front of cabin D.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this arrangement?” Memphis asked as he unlocked the cabin door.

“Right now I’m cold and so tired that I’d sleep with anyone,” she said with a teasing grin.

Memphis laughed and ushered her inside, slamming the door on the cold air. Kennedy rubbed her hands up and down her arms as she looked around the cabin. There was a small kitchenette and an even smaller island in the middle with two barstools, and a sitting room set up like the lounge back at the main building. Someone had started a fire, presumably the person who had brought their bags in for them.

Kennedy kicked off her shoes and wandered into the living room, squatting down by the fireplace to warm her hands. She heard Memphis in the kitchen opening cupboard doors and checking out the fridge.

“They’ve stocked us pretty good in here,” he told her.

She straightened up and turned to where he stood, his head buried in the fridge, and laughed.

“I would be grateful since that means we’re not going to starve tonight with having missed dinner and the kitchen closed, but I’m too tired to eat.” She tilted her head in the direction of the bedroom. “Wanna check out our room?”

He grinned at her and closed the fridge as she went down the hallway. She opened the only door, ran her hand along the wall until her fingers brushed the light switch, and flicked it on.

A king-size, four-poster bed filled the space along with a closet and small dresser. There was a fireplace as well as a sitting area. Kennedy almost felt disappointed by the normalcy of the room.

She checked out the adjoining bathroom, swooning at the size of the tub and shower stall. The wall above the sinks was all mirrors, catching you at every angle whether you liked it or not. Big fluffy bathrobes in the same blue that Blondie had been wearing hung on the back of the door, and Kennedy couldn’t wait to pull one on after a warm bath.

Memphis’s low whistle sounded behind her.

“Nice.”

“I’ll say,” she said. She ran her hand over the counter, enjoying the feel of the smooth marble beneath her fingers. “How much does it cost to stay here?”

“You don’t want to know. And honestly, I’m not sure yet if it’s worth it.”

Kennedy turned to look at him with surprise.

“Why do you say that?”

He pulled open one of the counter drawers, examined what was inside, and slid it closed again before answering.

“Guess I’m just not impressed yet.”

“Oh, I dunno,” Kennedy mused as she walked over to him. “You seemed pretty impressed with the idea of the hot springs.”

“Mmm, I was.” He flicked her hair off her face. “We’ll definitely have to put that on our to-do list.”

An image of Memphis wading around naked in hot water, surrounded by snow and trees filled Kennedy’s head with such lustful hunger she had to swallow back a moan.

Hot springs were definitely not a good idea.

She cleared her throat before asking, “What else is on that to-do list?”

“Well, I’m going to need to get as many pictures as I can. So, that means doing everything they offer here, or finding someone who doesn’t mind me photographing them doing it.”

“That just sounds like an excuse to get in the hot water.” 

Memphis grinned, not denying the accusation or her teasing.

“Come,” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the bathroom, “you should eat something.”

“Really, Memphis, I’m not hungry.” Kennedy was insistent, eyeing the big bed as he pulled her past it. “I really just want to go to bed. It’s after midnight.”

“All I’ve seen you eat since five o’clock is a crappy-looking muffin at the airport.” He tugged her to the kitchen. “Take a look at what they shoved in the cupboards,” he told her.

Kennedy pouted like a baby, but pulled open the cupboard doors as requested. Her stomach immediately growled at the sight of food.

“Okay, now I’m hungry,” she said, making Memphis laugh. “Why stock the cabins with all of this if they have a dining room?”

 “For those who miss the strictly scheduled meal times, I guess. Even the fridge has everything you need. Including this.” Memphis grinned and pulled out his favorite beer.

“Okay, that’s just weird.” She leaned against the cupboard door and looked at him suspiciously. “They ask you what you like, don’t they?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Kennedy pushed off the cupboard and yanked open the door again, pulling out
her
favorite box of cereal.

“I’m sure they stock Lucky Charms in all the cabins, huh?”

Memphis popped the tab on the beer and winked at her as he took a long pull from the can.

“They seriously ask you what kind of food you like?” She looked from the box of cereal to him.

“Yep. The questionnaire is sent with the package. It’s not like the place is stocked with real meals; they still want you to go to the lodge for that. But snack foods, beverages, and small things like cereals are all part of the deal.”

“Unbelievable.”

“And the best part?” Kennedy looked up at him and raised her eyebrows. “Whatever is left over you get to take home.”

“Are you serious?” Kennedy was blown away at the sheer awesomeness, looking back at the full shelves.

“What are they going to do with it? It’s catered to each individual’s taste, and obviously you’re paying for it in your stay, so it’s the least they can do.”

“And you’re honestly not impressed by this?” She looked back at him and smirked. “Liar.”

Memphis grabbed a bowl and thrust it at her.

“Eat.” 

He was so demanding.

Kennedy took the bowl from him, filling it to the top with Lucky Charms and pouring just enough milk to make the little bits of cereal wet. She sat down at the island, munching on her cereal as she watched Memphis read through the brochure.

“Aren’t you going to eat, bossy man?” she asked.

He held up his beer, and she snorted but didn’t comment further. She polished off her food and rinsed the bowl in the sink, yawning as she caught a glimpse of the time on the microwave.

“It’s past my bedtime, Adams,” she told him.

Memphis dropped the brochure on the island and frowned.

“Listen, Kennedy, I’m sorry about the mix-up with the rooms.” He nodded at the couch, saying, “I’ll just crash out here.”

“No, Memphis, that’s stupid,” she argued, even though she knew she should just accept it and go to bed. “Have you seen that bed? You could fit Santa and all his elves in it.”

Memphis chuckled and met her eyes.

“I don’t feel right about you sleeping on the couch.” She dropped her eyes to the floor.

“All things considered, I don’t think it’s . . . right we share a bed.”

“Do you mean Brooks?” She hated herself for hating her boyfriend in that minute.

“Partly.”

Kennedy lifted her eyes back to his face, seeing dark and dangerous back in his eyes.

“What other things then?” she asked just above a whisper.

Memphis stared at her, silent for a minute before cautiously reaching out and cupping her cheek, brushing his thumb along her chin and then her lips. She closed her eyes, tilting her face into his palm, and sighed.

“You really have no idea, do you?” he said below his breath.

Kennedy’s eyes snapped open and she stared up at him. He quickly dropped his hand and took a step back.

“I really have no idea about what?”

“Nothing.” 

“Memphis.” She reached for him when he turned away from her. When he refused to turn around she stepped around to face him, holding onto his arms so he wouldn’t move away again. “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Talk in riddles and expect me to follow.”

He flashed a smile that brought out his dimples and reached for her jeans. Hooking his fingers through the belt loops, he gave her hips a gentle shake.

“Are you saying you can’t keep up with me, Kennedy?” 

His voice was low and husky and sent a tingle down her spine as he whispered the words. 

She swallowed and shook her head.

“Don’t do that, either.”

“Do what?”

“That!” She pointed her finger at him accusingly. “You change the subject and use that raspy, sexy tone and—”

“Raspy, sexy tone?” His grin widened.

She mentally kicked herself while trying to look at him sternly.

“Tell me.”

Memphis lost the grin, and he turned serious.

“I can’t. Not right now.”

“Why not?”

“It’s not the right time.” He released her belt loops and pulled out of her grasp. “It’s late and we’re both tired. We’ve been on a plane for most of the evening. Let’s just go to bed and talk about it later, okay?”

“Memphis—”

“Go to bed, Kennedy. I’ll see you in the morning.”

She wanted to argue, to refuse to go to bed or let him sleep until he spilled his guts and stopped dancing around the subject. She wanted to tell him he was being a complete idiot for sleeping on the couch when there was more than enough room for both of them in the bed, but his tone made her swallow back her words.

She nodded, whispering a quick good night and fled the kitchen. She closed the bedroom door and leaned against it, closing her eyes as her heart hammered in her chest.

“You really have no idea, do you?”

The words made her heart pound faster, and she felt like she was going to break out into a cold sweat.

What the fuck?

She pushed away from the door and grabbed her suitcase, hauling it onto the bed to fish out her pajamas. She tore off her clothes, leaving them in a pile by the bed as she quickly changed, dropped the bag back to the floor in frustration, and crawled into bed.

She stared at the ceiling, her eyes unwilling to close no matter how badly she wanted them to. She looked over at the empty side of the bed, imaging Memphis in there with her.

“You really have no idea, do you?”

No idea about what?

Chapter 7

Kennedy woke the next morning to the sound of Memphis rummaging around in the bedroom. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and sat up, squinting at him in the still-dark room.

    “What are you doing?” She sounded like a frog, sleep making her voice hoarse.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you,” he said, pausing in his search.

“S’okay.” She reached over to turn on the little nightstand light. The light was bright, and she blinked, trying to make the spots disappear from her vision.

“I was looking for my bag so I could shower before I went out to get some shots of the sunrise.”

“What time is it?” she asked, glancing to her left where her clock at home sat. She frowned when she remembered she wasn’t at home.

“Seven-thirty,” Memphis said, grabbing his duffle bag off the floor.

She blinked at him, positive she had heard him wrong.

“You said you were going out to get shots of the sunrise,” she said.

“Yep.”

“But it’s seven-thirty.”

He chuckled and threw a grin her way before heading to the bathroom.

“Sun doesn’t rise until after nine. Welcome to Alaska, Miss Monroe,” he called to her before shutting the bathroom door.

Nine?

Kennedy groaned and fell back onto the bed, throwing the covers over her head. If it didn’t rise until nine, what the hell time did it set?

She uncovered her head, intending to yell the question to Memphis, but the sound of the shower turning on distracted her from all thoughts of the sun and was replaced by one of her best friend naked.

Kennedy swallowed, craning her neck to listen to anything that might signal he was getting undressed. Impossible, of course, considering the running water blocked all sounds out. She shook her head, appalled at herself and her thoughts. She had to contain the sexual attraction she was feeling for him. Had it been so strong all along? No, not until . . .
not until that kiss.

Yes, that damn kiss was the root of her current obsession—fantasizing about doing wickedly dirty things to him in many bendy positions. The
one
man she had avoided doing anything sexual with was now the
only
man she wanted lying on top of her, below her, behind her . . .

She frowned, remembering there was already a man waiting for her at home who was supposed to be the only man she fantasized about and needed.

But he’s not waiting for you, is he?
whispered her devilish subconscious voice.
He failed you, fought with you, accused you of having an affair with Memphis, and then left you. What kind of man would do that?

A man you still love,
her logical side reminded her.
If you didn’t then you would have already ended things. He deserves the same commitment he’s giving you, flawed or not.

He’s not giving you all you need, though. He’s ignoring your needs, your wants. He makes you feel as if you don’t matter. Memphis would never do that.