Chapter Sixteen
Sadie pulledup to the airstrip the next day, still on a high from her date with Bjørn the night before. Even her dad’s continued resistance to them dating, even after she had talked to him, couldn’t bring her down. She’d just have to keep trying to convince her dad that Bjørn could be trusted.
Who knew dinner and a walk along the trail could be so romantic? They’d walked late into the night, the midnight sun making it seem earlier than it was. When they’d finally gotten back to his place, it had shocked her it was already one in the morning. Time seemed to have no bearing when she was with Bjørn. She rubbed her lips with her fingers. She’d definitely been dating the wrong men.
Turning into the parking spot next to Bjørn’s truck, she chugged the last of her Mexican mocha from The Rez, got out of the Land Cruiser, and motioned for Rowdy to follow. Bjørn came around the front of his helicopter with a clipboard in hand, bending and checking things for preflight. When Rowdy yipped a joyful sound and took off across the asphalt, Bjørn’s head snapped up. Sadie could see his smile across the distance, and the thought that she put it there made her body tingle from head to toe.
She grabbed her pack from the backseat and locked the door. “Keep yourself together, girl.” She muttered through her smile. “No need to run up like Rowdy, body all wiggling, and throw yourself at the man.”
Bjørn tossed his clipboard into the chopper, then sauntered toward her, closing the distance with sure, even strides. His intense gaze never left her face. She wiped her sweaty palms on her pants and resisted the urge to cross her bare arms over her chest. She still wasn’t comfortable with her scars uncovered.
He didn’t stop until he was right up on her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. His lips captured hers with a hunger that zinged electric heat from her scalp to her fingertips. She dropped her pack to the ground and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She never wanted to let go. Prayed reality wouldn’t crash in.
“Hey.” His lips fluttered against hers.
“Hi.” She managed to force the word past the hard pounding of her heart in her throat.
He slid his hands up her back and along her arms. The roughness of his palms against her skin raised the hairs on the back of her neck and raced delicious shivers to her toes. He kissed the inside of her right elbow just at the start of her scars, and her knees threatened to buckle. He smiled like he knew he turned her to mush, pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist, then threaded his fingers through hers.
“You ready for another training episode?” He grabbed her bag from the ground and pulled her toward the chopper.
The honk of a horn behind her startled a squeak from her. She spun to look as Drew pulled the network’s van next to hers. How hadn’t she heard him drive up? She glanced around, wondering what else had happened while Bjørn obliterated her mind. He shook her hand and squeezed. His eyebrow rose in question.
“Huh?” Her forehead scrunched as she tried to remember what he’d asked, and his smile turned cocky. She glared and pushed him away as her face heated, but he held on tight to her hand.
“I like that I rattle you.” He moved their joined hands behind her back and pulled her close. “I missed you.”
She snorted, though her heart leaped with joy like a spastic border collie. “It’s been less than eight hours.”
“Too long.” His kiss was quick but still left her lips tingling. “Looks like Rowdy is ready.”
She followed Bjørn’s gaze to where Rowdy waited in the chopper. When the silly dog saw the two of them looking at him, his ears tucked back and his entire body wiggled. He turned, searching for something in the helicopter, and came back to the edge of the door with a pair of earmuffs in his mouth. She tipped her head back and laughed.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She let out a groan when her dad’s face looked at her from the screen. Her talk with him this morning hadn’t gone any better than the other night at the restaurant. Disappointing him had never been an option for her growing up, and doing so now went against who she’d always been. Violet bucked and challenged their parents, not Sadie… until now.
“Hey, Dad.” She smiled at Bjørn as he squeezed her hand and let go.
“Where are you?” Dad’s voice fired through the phone.
No hello. No apology. Just those curt, three words.
“Getting ready to film another episode.” The nerves flipping like a salmon in her stomach threatened to push the lemon scone and mocha out.
“Denali said you’re with Bjørn.” Her dad’s tone was thick with disapproval. Why did her dad have to make an issue of this?
“Yeah.” She crossed her arms to protect herself from what he’d say next.
“He there?”
“Yeah.” The fish flipped up her esophagus, and she swallowed.
“Put me on speaker.” His order had her sweating.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Dad. I’ve talked to Bjørn about—”
“This isn’t about that.” His voice was still gruff, but she caught his urgency. “I need his—and your—help.”
She pulled the phone away from her ear. With a shaky finger, she pressed the speaker icon as Drew walked up beside them. She inwardly begged her dad not to say anything rude or that would shine a poor light on Bjørn. Bjørn’s eyebrow rose as he looked at her.