19
Gunnar forced himself to focus on stirring the pouch of buckwheat porridge. The atmosphere shifted, boomed thick with awareness, as Julie set her mug to the side. He chanced a peek at her, not able to resist discovering why the air had changed.
She’d set her jaw, and her fingers flexed into fists before she scooted closer. It wasn’t a big move. Space to scoot was limited. Yet, with that one movement, she’d erased the distance between them.
Gunnar set the spoon down and leaned his shoulder a little toward her. Man, she was beautiful, even with her hair stuck up wildly from her braid and her eyes still puffy from sleep. The desire to wake up every morning to this blared loud in his mind.
“The coffee’s perfect.” Her voice, barely above a whisper, kicked his pulse to a gallop.
“Good.” He took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart down.
Her gaze darted to his lips. They were so close that he watched in fascination as her eyes dilated.
Holy cow.
Was she really going to kiss him?
All hope of keeping his heart in check flew out the window. She leaned closer, millimeter by millimeter. He stayed where he was, not wanting to break the spell but also knowing he didn’t have the right to make the first move. He did, however, shift his shoulder down and back so his body angled more toward her and he could watch her better.
She was so close her breath tickled his neck below his ear. They weren’t touching, but the heat bouncing between them could catch the tent on fire. He swallowed, but all moisture had evaporated from his throat.
“Do you want peanut butter in it like you used to put in your oatmeal?” He barely recognized his voice and didn’t give a hoot about food.
She smiled, a delicious, radiant smile that tempted him to close the centimeters between them and capture it. He’d buy her gallons of peanut butter if it kept that look on her face. He lifted his hand to cup her cheek and run his thumb across her lips but dropped it to his side before he touched her.
She moved closer, angling her head so their noses almost brushed. His pulse roared in his ears, begging him to close the distance. He’d dreamed of kissing her again for years, yearned to hold her close and never let go. Letting her take the lead tested all his self-control.
“Mmm, I love peanut butter.” Her lips brushed his as she spoke, sending a shiver through him.
He’d never, not in a million years, thought this would happen again. Her hand trailed up his arm, his muscles contracting like she’d pumped them full of electricity. If she didn’t kiss him soon, he’d combust.
“Jules.”
Her name tumbled out low, the tortured sound shouting his agony. She shifted, her body angling even closer. His breaths came in short bursts. He fought the need to close his eyes as she slightly touched the corner of his mouth. It wasn’t a kiss, not really, but the feel of her smile against his skin rushed sparkling joy through his veins.
The zipper to the tent door ripped through the air, shattering the moment. Julie jumped away so fast, the cool air where she’d been jolted Gunnar. He growled as he glared at Sunny crawling in. She couldn’t have waited another minute? Julie glanced at him, her cheeks flushed bright red, then hid her head as she took a drink of her coffee.
“I’m telling you, folks, temps on the Arctic sea ice are no joke.” Sunny closed the door with one hand while holding a camera in the other.
She’d been filming all winter, driving Gunnar nuts with it. After her business partner had split with all their money and gear last spring, she’d taken time off from the climbing community. Mount Denali wasn’t going anywhere, and she wanted adventure on her own. Her social media channel had exploded with each new video she posted about her solo adventures.
“Want to know how you can tell if it’s cold or not?” Sunny leaned into the camera like she was going to tell a secret. “Boogers. That’s how.”
Julie snickered, the sounds cooling the frustration firing through Gunnar. They’d always laughed and joked in the past, especially when Sunny had tagged along. His sister lived up to her name, bringing brightness to those around them.
“Take this lug, for instance.” Sunny turned the camera on him.
“Sunny.” He lifted an eyebrow in caution as he stirred peanut butter into Julie’s breakfast.
“Yesterday was booger-freezing cold, like step outside and in two seconds your boogers are solid. We came up to these pressure ridges where the sea ice buckles up from the movement of the ocean.”
“Coffee?” Gunnar interrupted her, hoping she’d stop her story.
She didn’t—just kept right on talking over him. “When I stopped next to him, he had booger icicles hanging from his nose.” Her words jumped out as she chuckled. “I wasn’t sure if he’d turned into a walrus or what.”
Julie burst out laughing, leaning against his side in her merriment. He shook his head and smiled. He’d take any embarrassment Sunny threw his way if it got Julie belly laughing.
“Let’s eat and get going.” He handed Julie her breakfast, then turned to make Sunny hers.