Page 15

HUNTER

T rixie’s shower left a lot to be desired. Hunter could squeeze into the space, but once he was there, even just rotating was a challenge. Bending down was out of the question, and reaching anywhere was an exercise in flexibility and banged elbows.

He briefly rinsed and dried off on his damp towel to find that Trixie (who had taken the first shower this time) was making food in the little kitchen.

“I hope you like pasta,” she said merrily. She had an easiness to her that she hadn’t before, and Hunter could relate. He didn’t enjoy juvenile will-they-won’t-they drama, and he was happy that Trixie hadn’t been coy or tried to draw things out.

We make her happy , his bear said, as content as Hunter himself was.

Hunter watched her, stirring sausage and chopping zucchini and setting out plates in a little flurry of activity.

He wanted to make her happy. He wanted to always see that little smile of satisfaction at her mouth, that spring to her step. She should always be that joyful .

And it wasn’t just the sex, though he took a certain amount of pride in her reactions to that. He liked working with her. He wanted to support her as a partner and helpmate.

This was the woman he wanted to marry, Hunter realized. He’d never really considered marriage for himself, because he couldn’t imagine a woman he’d want to spend that much time with. Then he met Trixie and he hated not being with her.

Helpmate , his bear agreed. Mate.

“Sorry about the shower,” she said, with a merry sideways glance as Hunter dressed. “It’s a little tight in here.”

Hunter gave a grunt, only thinking afterwards that he ought to say something polite about how it wasn’t.

But Trixie didn’t seem to expect all the conversational lies and fillers that most women did.

Maybe because she worked in a traditionally male field?

Maybe because she was perfect for him, and that was only one of the many ways.

Dressed, he sat down at the table.

Trixie drained the noodles and plated the spaghetti. “I figured you’d be hungry. I certainly got a workout today.” She slipped into the dinette across from him.

“Where would you live if you didn’t have a job site like this?” Hunter asked, once the edge of his hunger was dulled.

“I have an apartment in Fairbanks,” Trixie said with a shrug. “I kind of hate it and resent that I’m paying for it, but it’s my safety net, and I don’t have space for all of my stuff here. It’s mostly books in boxes because I never got around to building shelves.”

“You going to live here in the winter?” Hunter wanted to know. The trailer was cozy right now, but he knew that winters could be bitter and wasn’t sure how well insulated it was .

“Until the house is finished,” Trixie said. Hunter caught a hint of something wistful in her face.

“You ever think about living in a house like that?” Hunter jerked his thumb towards the frame that was looming in the twilight outside.

“That’s way more house than I’d need,” Trixie scoffed.

“If you had a family, though…”

Trixie stopped chewing. “Are we having the family talk?”

“I’m good either way.”

Trixie stared at him. “I never really thought about it,” she said softly. “I never had anyone I’d think about it with .”

“Well, now you do.”

Trixie was adorable when she blushed, but Hunter found her beautiful when she went white and then almost blue because she forgot to breathe. After a moment, she remembered to blink and exhaled slowly. “That’s a lot, Hunter,” she whispered. “I’d need some time.”

“Not suggesting you skip the condom next time,” Hunter said, honestly a little pleased that he’d evoked such a deep response in her. “Just a thing to keep in mind. I’d buy you a house like that if you wanted. I’d buy you that house.”

“That house isn’t even built yet,” Trixie reminded him. “And I’m not in the habit of letting people buy me things.” She stared down at her spaghetti for a moment and Hunter had a moment of worry that he’d overstepped before she looked up, shaking her head and smiling. “You’re really something.”

Hunter shrugged.

What are we? his literal bear wanted to know. Is it a riddle? What are we??

That was what Hunter wanted to know, too.