Kate Hoffmann - Dodging Cupid's Arrow

As they made their way through the room, she had to stop time and time again while the townsfolk congratulated her on her win. Finally, when she met up with the brides, Joe disentangled their fingers and continued walking toward the bar.

"He looks positively besotted," Allison said, envy filling her voice. "I don't know how you do it. You weren't even looking for a man when you came here and you end up snagging the cutest bachelor in town."

"I haven't snagged him," Perrie said, uncomfortable with the notion. It wasn't as if she wanted to marry him… although the thought might have crossed her mind once or twice.

Didn't every woman think about marriage, about a husband and children at least once in her life? So what was it about Joe that summoned such ridiculous thoughts? She'd dated men much more suitable-stable, trustworthy men with good careers and monogamous personalities.

Boring men, she thought to herself. Safe men. That was one characteristic that she could never apply to Joe Brennan. He was the most dangerous man she'd ever met. Maybe that's what she found so alluring, the danger that he might just break her heart. She'd been throwing herself in harm's way her entire career, and now she'd moved the danger from her professional life to her personal life.

"Well, you sure proved you fit in up here," Linda said, giving her a hug. "I can't believe you won the dog-sled race. I fell off three times. And Mary Ellen didn't even get on. The sled ran off without her."

"I had good training," Perrie said, glancing over at Joe and Hawk as they leaned against the bar. She distractedly listened to the brides' conversation, adding a comment here and there to appear interested. But all she was really thinking about was how long it would take before she and Joe were alone.

She caught his eye and gave him a little wave. With a grin, Joe turned to take a bottle from the bar, then made his way back to her. When he finally stood by her side, he wove his fingers through hers. The contact made her heart skip and start again.

"Come on," he said, leaning close. "There's an empty table over there."

He nodded to the brides, then led her away. When they reached a table in a dark corner, he pulled out her chair with unexpected gallantry, then produced a bottle of champagne from behind his back. Two wineglasses appeared from his jacket pockets and he placed them on the center of the table.

"Champagne?" she asked as she tugged off her jacket.

"We're celebrating," he said, sitting down across from her and tossing his own jacket across the back of a chair. He worked at the cork for a moment, then it popped off, champagne bubbling out of the bottle. "It's not Cristal, but it's the best Paddy has to offer."

He poured her a glass and then filled his halfway. "To the most determined woman I've ever met," he said, touching his glass to hers.

She smiled, then sipped at the champagne as she scanned the crowd. Everywhere she looked, she found men staring back. At first she smiled, but then she started to feel a bit uneasy. She took a gulp of champagne. "Why are they all looking at me?"

Joe leaned back in his chair. "They're wondering if they should come over and ask you to dance."

"But they asked me to dance the night I arrived here. What are they afraid of?"

"Now they think you're with me."

The bubbles from her champagne went down the wrong way and she coughed. "Am-am I with you, Brennan?" she asked, her eyes watering.

"You could call me Joe," he teased. "I mink we know each other well enough, don't you, Perrie?"

"Am I with you, Joe?"

He gazed into her eyes for a long time, his devilish smile sending her back for another gulp of champagne. "Yeah, you are." He laughed. "You were amazing today, Perrie. I really didn't mink you could do it, but you did."

"I guess you underestimated me," Perrie said, tipping her chin up stubbornly.

"I have a nasty habit of doing mat," he replied. "In more ways man one." Joe reached over and took her empty glass from her hand. "Would you like to dance?"

Perrie nodded, wondering what he meant by his comment. How had he underestimated her? Was he still afraid that she'd plan an escape while she was in Cooper? Cooper Hot Springs was only a short distance from Fairbanks. Surely she could find a pilot to fly her to the airport One phone call to her mother and a promise to appear at Sunday dinner would secure her a plane ticket.

Although, if her mother knew she'd met a man in Alaska, the plane ticket would not be forthcoming. Her mother's fondest wish was for a son-in-law. A doctor or dentist. She'd probably even settle for a pilot, as long as he was capable of fathering her grandchildren.

The dance floor was crowded, but Joe found them a small spot and pulled her close. A country-and-western tune wailed in the background and he pressed his body along hers and began to move with the music.

He really was a good dancer. The first time she'd danced with him she'd been surprised. But now, he held her differently, more intimately, and dancing with Joe took on a whole new meaning.

She wanted to seduce him, to tease and taunt him with her body, to lead him where she wanted him to go. The glass of champagne she'd guzzled emboldened her and she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her hips into his.

Perrie had never tried to deliberately seduce a man. She wasn't even certain she knew how. But instinct overcame insecurity and she simply moved with the music, nuzzling her face into the soft flannel of his shirt.

A soft groan rumbled in his throat and she felt his heartbeat, strong and sure, as she let her hand drift over the hard contours of his chest. They made a slow circle around the dance floor, yet she didn't notice any of the other dancers. The music and the noise and the people seemed to recede into the distance and all she could hear was Joe's gentle breathing against her ear.

Her fingers clutched at the front of his shirt and she pressed her forehead into his chest. Why was there always flannel between them? Why couldn't she have met Joe on some tropical island where the men barely wore clothes? Then she'd be free to touch him in all the ways she wanted.

The music stopped, but they kept on dancing, ignoring the silence between the songs. Somewhere during the long string of records, their dance became more intimate, a prelude to something new and exciting. She wished them to a different place where only silence would accompany their movements, but the jukebox still played and the people still shouted.

Perrie risked a glance up at him and their gazes locked. The passion in his eyes caused her heart to lurch. He pulled her hips tight against his, and his desire, hard and hot, branded her flesh through the fabric of her jeans. His meaning was clear. He wanted her as much as she wanted him, and nothing would stand in their way.

"So what's going to happen tonight, Perrie?"

"I don't know. But whatever it is, it's not going to happen here."

He grinned. "Then I think we'd better leave."

Before she could say another word, he left her on the dance floor, weaving his way to their table. An instant later, he was back with their jackets. He helped her slip into hers, then took her hand and led her to the door.

As soon as they got outside, he grabbed her around the waist and pressed her up against the brick wall near the door. His mouth ravaged hers, his hands desperately searching for soft, warm flesh beneath her sweater. He pulled her leg up against his hip and rocked against her until she could imagine him above her and inside of her.

"I want to love you, Perrie," he murmured, biting the tender skin in the curve of her neck.

She furrowed her fingers through his hair and pulled his head back. "Then take me home," she challenged.

With a curse, Joe frantically rummaged through the junk in his bedside table at the lodge. Why hadn't he planned ahead? The instant he'd opened the front door of Perrie's cabin, he knew he'd forgotten something. And now, the first time he was making love to a woman he truly loved, he hadn't come prepared. He froze, stunned by his thoughts. No, it couldn't be.