Page 39 of Meet Me Under the Northern Lights

AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, THIRTY MINUTES’ DRIVE FROM REYKJAVIK

The journey in Gunnar’s truck to the location for the dog sledding had been peppered with nothing but small talk.

It was not at all like the rapport they’d built up, the flirtatious banter Chloe had also started to get accustomed to.

Ordinarily, having him go off piste and make the beginning of her meeting with Kirstin super difficult and potentially business-destroying, would have made her cross, but, from his behaviour at this moment, she knew there was far more to it.

And now, here they were, about to meet Alaskan husky dogs who were going to drive them over the snowy terrain.

She knew she had sold the idea as research for Sinclairz Chairs, however she couldn’t deny the thought of it being a date had been appealing. But now…

‘Chloe, I am sorry for what happened at the hotel,’ Gunnar said once they had got out of the truck and planted feet on snow-covered ground. ‘I let my shock about Kirstin being here distract me from the whole reason I was there in the first place. To help you.’

‘It’s OK,’ she answered.

‘No, it is not OK,’ Gunnar responded, putting his woollen hat over his head then locking the car door. ‘You will accept my apology and you will let me make it up to you with this dog sledding experience. I will use all my negotiating skills to get the best price for your event.’

‘You don’t need to do that. I can negotiate in English.’

‘Come on, you know that I have charm for this work,’ he said. ‘How I talk about all the folklore on my coach tours.’

‘Hmm,’ Chloe said. ‘I don’t think more lying is going to help anything.’ She stepped towards the small gathering of people a few metres away but then he crossed her path, moved in front of her, blocking the way.

He inhaled like he was in shock. ‘Your faith in the huldufólk has been rocked? But you talked so passionately about them before.’

Chloe sighed. ‘To get you out of a difficult situation with your microphone. And I had far more success helping you with that than you did with helping me with my meeting.’

He nodded. ‘And that is why you will let me help you again now. In fact, there is no more conversation to be had. I insist on it.’

And before she could say anything else to the contrary, Gunnar was striding ahead towards what looked like their guides for the experience.

* * *

Chloe was taking photos. She didn’t wholly believe that these dogs were going to be able to pull their sled.

Yes, she had seen the videos, but they were dogs, not horses.

They also looked way too cute to be able to be strong.

However, they were leaping around now, getting ready to be fixed into formation at the front of the large wooden sledge.

‘You think the people from Sinclairz Chairs will like this mode of transport?’ Gunnar asked her.

‘I don’t know yet,’ she said. ‘It will depend on how covered with snow we get and how cold it is.’

‘They do not like the cold?’ Gunnar asked. ‘And they want to come to Iceland?’

‘Well, Kirstin did say the focus should be “classy” and “classic”.’

‘What does that even mean?’

‘It means if I can arrange for the dogs to wear cute festive outfits and there to be a smorgasbord of fine cheeses or something traditionally Icelandic, yet not gross, at the end of the trip it may be something they would like to do but…’

‘But?’ Gunnar asked.

‘I don’t know,’ Chloe said, sighing. ‘I get the impression that maybe I’ve been trying too hard.’

‘No,’ Gunnar said, shaking his head. ‘Do not say that. That is how you are with the job that means so much to you. And that is absolutely the way to be.’

‘But what if I’m trying too hard for the wrong reasons?’ she asked him as much as she was asking herself. ‘What if all the things I’m doing are not really with the client in mind, but with my career aspirations leading the way?’

‘Chloe,’ Gunnar said seriously. ‘This is not the time for doubt.’

‘No?’

‘No,’ he said even more firmly. ‘We are here.’ He spread his arms and, even in the darkness, you could make out the incredible views of snow-capped mountains, crisp white terrain and all the dogs raring to take them on a winterland adventure.

‘In this magnificent place that is so wonderful because of the simplicity, it is unenhanced by anything but nature.’

Chloe swallowed, her gaze going to the view as she took in Gunnar’s words.

Glitz and glamour, classic and classy wasn’t what she thought of when she thought about Iceland.

She thought about the power of Mother Earth, the rugged beauty of the landscape, the dramatic waterfalls, the lava fields and the horses, the black sand beach and rock formations.

Cocktails and expensive cheese could take place anywhere.

‘You’re right,’ she said. ‘If Sinclairz Chairs have chosen Iceland then Iceland needs to be celebrated as much as the chair company’s anniversary.’ She took a breath. ‘And if they don’t approve of my vision then…’

‘Then?’ Gunnar asked.

‘Then I will… convince them of my vision,’ she stated with utter confidence.

‘Yes, krúttio mitt .’

‘And, if that does not work, I will… reconsider my future at Michelle’s firm.’

She gasped, putting her hands to her mouth in shock.

What was she saying? The piece of the partnership was her goal.

It was all she had been fixated on for so long.

Maybe too long? Because shouldn’t Michelle have already asked her to step up?

Hadn’t she proved her worth enough? There was nothing she hadn’t done, nothing she hadn’t given 100 per cent to.

But, perhaps it wasn’t partnership with Michelle’s firm she wanted, perhaps what she really truly desired was personal career success.

Maybe even career success formed by all her own ideas singlehanded…

‘New adventures are waiting,’ Gunnar told her.

Were they? She looked into his bright eyes and felt solidarity, the thought that she could tell him anything and he would categorically be on her side. It was the strangest feeling when she hadn’t known him that long.

Happy barking punctured the air and it brought Chloe back to the moment.

‘Come on, krúttio mitt , let us ride with the huskies.’