Page 15

Since the minute I’d arrived, calmness seemed to wrap around the cabin as if we were in a bubble that was safe and happy. It had been years since I felt any sense of peace, and there was a gripping panic at the thought of losing it…of losing her.

Her hands slipped under my shirt as those ocean eyes pulled me in. “We have a little time before anyone gets here. Right?”

I brushed my lips over hers. “A little.”

“I want to make the most of this weekend pass.” She giggled. “Who knows how long it’ll be before I get any action again.”

Her words turned my blood to tar. I inhaled deeply, realizing that knowing her and experiencing her might end up cutting me in a way I hadn’t anticipated a few days ago.

She reached up and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I lifted her, and those amazing legs wrapped around my waist. It was becoming our thing. So perfect and so effing hot.

My hand slid into her hair, the other wrapped around her waist, as I set her on the counter. My lips held hers while I pulled her even closer. She broke the kiss and tugged my shirt off over my head before repeating the act with her own, whipping it into the air.

Our kisses were so filled with electricity they were testing my sanity. I pulled her chest to mine while her fingers ran across my back. I made sure she felt my whiskers which seemed to light her up. Sure enough, a sigh escaped her that nearly undid me.

“I could become addicted to you,” she muttered.

Yes, be addicted, and never leave.

Her breath was ragged as my lips kissed her neck. She ran one hand through my hair while the other yanked at the button of my jeans. Just as I reached around to unclasp her bra, we jumped as a car horn blew from outside.

“Crap!” Fern squirmed her way out of my arms. It was a shit show as she grabbed her shirt from the floor and pulled it on only to see it was actually my shirt. She frantically yanked it off and threw it at me before whisper-yelling. “Where the hell is my shirt?”

I pointed to the ceiling fan as it dangled above us. I tossed it to her at the same time we heard the front door open.

Once dressed, she gave my chest an unexpected forceful push, and I toppled over the open dishwasher door behind me, landing on my rear.

A snort laugh popped out of her. “Get up!” She took my hand, and I got to my feet just as Dave and his girlfriend Liv walked in.

Fern dropped my hand and flashed a tense smile. “Hey.”

My enormous six-foot-five friend Dave, or soon to be murderer, stood before us wearing jeans, a red and black plaid flannel shirt with his thick head of black hair, and trimmed beard. His eyes were the same blue as Fern’s, and they narrowed and stuck to Fern like glue.

While I’d known Dave since our college days, I hadn’t seen him up close and personal in the role of brother although I’d heard him on the phone with her and knew they were close. No secrets were kept. Well, at least until now.

I suddenly wondered if I’d remembered to button my jeans. Casually, ever so slowly, I turned toward the sink and flipped on the water while I peeked down at my jeans. Thank God, I was good.

“What the fuck happened here?” I watched out of the corner of my eye as his arms crossed over his chest. Fern’s eyes shot around the room, and I quickly turned on the garbage disposal. No clue why but seemed like a good idea.

Fern shrugged. “Uh, nothing. What do you mean?”

He took a swift step toward her, and I wondered if I should do some quick stretches so when I flung myself through the window, I could disappear into the forest without any leg cramping.

“What happened, Fern?” His expression softened as he took her face in his hands. “Oh my God, are you okay? There’s a huge bruise on your face. Oh, honey.”

“I’m fine. It’s a bruise around some cuts?—”

“You have cuts? Cuts ?” His distraught voice rang out.

“It’s okay. I was in a, um, little fender bender.”

I nearly jumped through the roof as he released her and started pacing the room. “Somebody did this to you? Some jackass ran into my sister and left you with cuts and bruises?”

I froze, not certain if I was supposed to answer or not. Quiet, yes, quiet was the best way to be.

“Where is this guy?” He threw his arms in the air. “ Anyone who hurts you or touches you answers to me. I’ll kill the motherfucker! Qualcuno morira!”

Dave sometimes threw Italian words out there, and while I didn’t speak Italian, I was certain the phrase still hanging in the air had death in it somewhere.

I ran my hand over my forehead, suddenly sweating bullets. I turned off the garbage disposal and decided to wash a plate on the counter. Seemed natural.

Fern let out an odd little laugh. “No, Dave, it was me. I hit some ice, went off the road, and my car ran into a tree.” She pointed to me. “But Gabe happened to drive by and got me off.” She gasped. “I mean out…he got me out.”

Dave suddenly took two giant steps and grabbed my arms. This was it.

This was how I was going to die. Instead, he gave me a bear hug.

“Wolkowski, my best friend! I’m so glad you found her.

” His hug nearly squeezed the oxygen from my lungs, but I was grateful I might live to see another day.

Might was the key word as the day wasn’t over yet.

He pulled back as Liv, his tall brunette girlfriend of a couple years, walked over and gave me a hug. “Hi, Gabe. Thanks again for having the weekend wedding party at your cabin. I know Tawnee and Ed are thrilled.” She took a good look at my face and gasped.

Dave pointed to me. “Now, who in the hell gave you a shiner and scratches?”

“Funny story.” Oh, how I needed a beer. “It was Fern.”

His jaw clenched slightly, as oh fuck entered my bloodstream.

“ Fern did this to you? Why would Fern do this to you?” He took a breath.

“When I got here, I startled her, and she thought I was an intruder.” Gulp.

He wore a straight face before he clapped his hands together as Fern and I both jumped. “My sister kicked your ass?” His thunderous laugh filled the room. “You must’ve felt like a complete pussy!”

“No, I’m not a pussy.”

Liv covered her mouth, attempting to conceal her smile.

I pointed at Dave. “I would never fight a girl!”

Voices from the living room grew louder. “Whatever, bro.” Dave turned and yelled into the living room. “Yo, guys! My sister kicked Wolkowski’s ass!”

I threw my arms in the air. “Nobody kicked my ass.”

Fern and I followed Dave and Liv into the living room where Dan, Andrew, and Ed stood. They were my hockey teammates from the Minnesota Wild and the best bunch of friends I could ever hope for. They were my family now.

After Amy’s death, they literally carried me through.

When my thoughts went dark, Dave took all my guns and stayed in my apartment for weeks.

When I drank too much, they’d find me and get me home and would be right back there in the morning to drag my ass to practice, ensuring I didn’t lose my career.

They literally saved me from myself. I owed them everything.

So yes, it was hockey hair and beards everywhere. If you go by Pulltab Hockey, my crew would consist of a mash up of the Vintage Mullet, Butter Lettuce, and the Hoppenheimer.

Ed was marrying Tawnee, Fern’s cousin, who was a little gal with chestnut hair and chocolate eyes that twinkled when she laughed. Ed was committed to no commitments when it came to our group, but the minute he met Tawnee, he was hooked.

Tawnee pointed to Fern’s face. “Girl, are you okay?”

She waved. “Yes, I’m fine really.”

Tawnee nodded and pointed to me. “You look like shit.”

I spoke through gritted teeth. “Thanks.”

“Now Fern, let me introduce you to the bridesmaids. This is Pam Bolden. She’s dating Andrew. And this other beauty is Katie Loradams who has been brave enough to claim Dan as her own.”

Pam was a tall, blonde bombshell who instantly pulled Fern in for a hug. “So great to meet you.”

Katie was petite with dark hair, and eyes that screamed I like to party . “Glad we’ll get to know each other this weekend.”

“Me too. Thanks.” Fern’s smile lit up the room.

Tawnee’s gasp nearly sucked the photos off the wall as she grabbed Fern by the hand and pointed to the glass towers and floral backdrop that sat in the corner of the room. “Fern, did you freaking do all of this? They’re beautiful! You’re the best Maid of Honor ever!”

Fern spun around with pride on her face as she pointed at me. “Actually, Gabe is the best Maid of Honor ever. I would’ve never been able to finish these without his help.”

Laughter boomed, and I looked at her while she shrugged her shoulders. “Fern, what are you doing to me?”

Dave pointed to Andrew. “You grab the hairbrush so we can braid Wolkowski’s hair and play paddy cakes.”

Before I knew what I was doing, I dove for Dave’s legs and tackled him to the ground. I got him in a headlock as he chuckled.

“You’re still a puss!”

I looked up to see everyone standing there, looking down at us, before Liv cleared her throat. “Okay, for the grownups in the room, how about we whip up some Bloody Marys?”

Everyone walked into the kitchen as Novots suddenly reached around and grabbed me by the face as I squeezed his neck harder.

“I’ve got you where I want you, Wolkowski.”

At the moment, I had him where I wanted him, contained, but I also had a lingering concern that one way or another, the weekend pass might just be the end of me.