Page 23 of Load Bearing
“You want to know what happens next,” he guessed.
“I’m pretty transparent,” Trixie said wryly.
“I’d like to take you to Colorado,” he said unexpectedly. “I want my family to meet you.”
“Tostay?”
Hunter was quiet for a moment, looking out over the dark trees at the sky. It was velvety black now, speckled in bright stars. There were a few smudges of paler clouds near the horizon. “I don’t think so,” he said slowly. “I like this place. It feels like home.”
“You should spend a winter here before you decide,” Trixie cautioned. “The cold isn’t so bad, but a lot of people can’t handle the darkness.”
“I could,” Hunter said, with all the confidence of someone who had never experienced a month of 20-hour nights.
“Wait and see,” Trixie chuckled. “Today is fall equinox. The days and nights are equal now, but see how you feel after winter solstice.”
Trixie was watching the clouds, not convinced that was what they were, and gazed at them until she could see their movement. “Those are northern lights,” she said. “Not great ones.”
Hunter’s arm around her tightened, and he stared at them until Trixie worried that his eyeballs would dry up. “Blink,” she reminded him. “They’ll still be there.”
He chuckled, and looked at her instead. “So will I.” He leaned in and kissed her, slowly and firm. “Wherever you choose.”
They weren’t in a particularly safe place to make out more than that, so Trixie didn’t complain when Hunter stood and drew her up with him. “We should take this inside,” he murmured.
“Gladly.” She was also still cold.
He didn’t offer to carry her down the ladder, which was good, because Trixie wasn’t sure that even he could do that without killing both of them.
Trixie’s brief reservations that she must havemisremembered what a good lover he was were washed away the moment they got into the trailer and shut the door behind them.
Hunter knew exactly what he wanted, and Trixie wanted exactly the same thing. Kissing and petting turned to stripping off inconvenient clothing, and then he was crawling over her on the broad bed. His first strokes were careful and gentle, but as she cried out and begged, he slammed harder into her until they were both finally spent and satisfied.
Trixie cuddled into Hunter’s warm side, loving the feel of his flesh under her fingers, and the tickle of his beard. He smelled like wilderness and work, and just a little of whiskey.
“How’d it go out with the crew tonight?” Trixie asked. “Any headway on our case? Are you still sure it’s Keith or Kyle?”
Hunter’s shrug made her head move. “Could be, but I’m not sure. Couldn’t figure out any motivation for them. Just mischief, maybe?”
“Expensive mischief,” Trixie snorted. “And I feel like they’re not bad kids. I don’t want to suspect any of my crew. I worked hard to put them together.”
“You’re good at that,” Hunter said, his voice just a rumble.
“Mischief? Suspicion?”
“Building a crew. You haven’t been here long, and they all respect you. You got them working as a team and that’s not a minor feat. You’re a good teacher. You’re a good leader.”
Trixie felt a wave of warmth roll over her and she squeezed Hunter gratefully. “Thanks,” she said softly. “That’s nice to hear. Maybe I will hire you back tomorrow.”
19
HUNTER
Hunter had not slept overnight with anyone in a very long time. His few overnight stays in previous relationships had been awkward and—he quickly learned—came with baggage of expectations afterwards.
But he didn’t think he’d wake with any regrets to find Trixie in his arms. She snored the smallest amount, a cute, steady little hum that was more comfortable than annoying. Her dark curls splayed across her pillow and she didn’t wake when Hunter brushed them lovingly away from her face.
It took all of Hunter’s self-control to leave, but he had work to do and didn’t want to risk disturbing her to do it.
The truck sounded loud in the silence as it started, but although Hunter looked hopefully back, the lights in Trixie’s didn’t come on and she didn’t come out to call him back.
