Ten Below Zero(54)

“Where are we going?” I finally asked.

“Picketwire Canyonlands.” He didn’t turn his head in my direction.

“Where’s that?”

“South.”

Well, this was going well. “What are we doing there?”

“We’re going on a guided tour through the canyon.”

“What’s in the canyon?”

“Stuff.”

I clenched my jaw. “You’re an * today.”

“I’ll be one tomorrow too.”

“What is your problem?”

Everett turned into a gas station. “What makes you think I have only one?” he asked as he got out and slammed the door.

Well, angry Everett was better than indifferent Everett.



Everett poured out the ice that had melted in the cooler and dumped in more, along with a bunch of water bottles, fruit, and some deli sandwiches he’d picked up from inside the store. I filled the tank as I watched him. He’d grabbed sun screen and I saw him pull some towels out of his suitcase.

“Did you steal those from the hotel?” I asked, a bit incredulously.

I saw the slightest lift of his lips as he looked at me and held the towels. “Yes.”

“They’re going to charge you, you know.”

“Let them. We need towels for today’s trip.”

“Are you going to tell me anything else? Or am I going to have suffer through your silence for the trip?”

“It’s eight hours long, so I’m sure there will be some conversation.” He put the cooler in the backseat and shut the door, bracing one hand on the door while he rubbed his forehead.

My frustration was growing. “Why the cold shoulder? You were fine until your nightmare.” As I said the last word, his eyes shot up to mine.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Everett opened the driver’s door.

“You don’t seem to want to talk about anything.”

I watched him close the door without getting in. He turned towards me. “You’re one to talk.”

“Is that a pun?”

“No.”

I put the nozzle back and closed the door on the Jeep’s fill spout. “Who are you? Do you regret what happened last night? Because you’re the one who initiated that.” I chewed on my cheek, wishing I could take back the words.

“I don’t regret that.” He finally let some emotion show on his face. “How could I regret that, Parker?”

I leaned against the Jeep, just a handful of feet from him. “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

“I just don’t feel great. My knuckles hurt and my head is pounding and you keep looking at me like a wounded animal.”

I straightened my back. “No I don’t,” I insisted. “You’re just being exceptionally *ry today.”

“Assholery? Is that a word?” A little bit of playful Everett was coming through his voice.

“Yeah, it is. I can’t lie, remember? It’s against the rules.”

Everett’s lips lifted a bit.

“Let me drive,” I said, holding out my hands for the keys.

Everett looked at me like I was insane. “Not going to happen.”

“Come on,” I said, putting my hand closer to him. “Your knuckles are swollen. Let them rest. I can handle it.”

Everett looked at me and then at my hand. A second later, he’d pulled me up against him. “I like my car.”

“I’ll be careful,” I said, my voice soft. “Please.”

Everett eyed me warily. “On one condition.”

“Okay,” I immediately agreed.

“Kiss me.” I leaned in to give him a kiss, but he put his hands on my shoulders, stopping me. “Wait. Kiss me like you mean it.”

“Like I mean what?”

“Like you mean it. I shouldn’t have to explain.” His voice was patient and he stared blandly at me, waiting to see what I would do.

I placed a hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat through the shirt to my palm. I was struck how beautiful its rhythm was, and then instantly saddened to think of its beat stopping one day. Too much, Parker, I scolded myself. He’s dying. Don’t romanticize this.

My hand on his chest moved up to his neck, wrapping around the back to the nape of his neck. I scratched just the tips of my nails into his scalp and then he hummed a sound of pleasure. I felt the vibrations in my fingers and was spurred on by them. With my other hand, I brought it up to cup his chin and brushed my thumb over his lower lip. His mouth opened slightly, releasing a breath, and I took the opportunity to steal the breath he was about to inhale by closing my lips on his.

One of his hands went to my hip while the other dove into my hair. His lips opened and he took from me, kissing me deeply, passionately.

I knew I wouldn’t forget this kiss. In the middle of a parking lot with dust swirling around us, his fingers dug into my hip bone while his other hand cupped the back of my head, holding me tightly, so tightly that I never wanted to let go. All other sound disappeared, and all I could feel and hear was Everett’s body against mine.

Over and over, he pulled away from my lips only to return to them again, as if my lips were his lifeline, his oxygen.