Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

G emma looked over at the window and sighed. From the dimness outside it must be barely past daybreak but they’d had an early night and she was too restless to sleep any longer. Yede had stayed in his workshop for the rest of the day, only reappearing long enough to prepare a quick meal of stir-fried vegetables and meat. He’d placed it on the table, gruffly told them to eat as much as they wanted, then disappeared again.

She sighed again as she remembered how Liam’s face had fallen, but perhaps it was for the best. There was no point in him getting attached to someone when they would only be here for a short time. He was still sleeping peacefully next to her, his cheeks already showing more color. She brushed a quick kiss to his forehead, careful not to wake him, and slipped out of bed.

Even out from beneath the covers, the air in the room was still warm and comfortable. Such a stark difference from the drafty shack at the mining camp where every morning meant fighting off the cold.

She quietly opened the trunk at the end of the bed and ruefully regarded her small collection of clothing. He’d returned her pack and their footwear, but it was still a pitifully small array. It would be nice to have something that wasn’t old or worn or stained. She finally decided on the pants she’d worn the previous day and an oversized shirt. The original green had faded but it still brought out the color of her eyes. She chose not to think too closely about why that mattered to her.

After a quick trip to the sanitary facility she wandered through the quiet house to the living area. Outside, snow whipped past the windows in white sheets. The storm showed no signs of letting up, but rather than feeling trapped, she felt safe. The thought of leaving was far more terrifying.

But we will be leaving , she reminded herself. We can’t get too comfortable.

A knot formed in her stomach. Yede had made them comfortable—and what had she offered in return? She didn’t like the idea of being beholden to anyone, no matter how desperately they needed his help.

She hesitated, then headed towards the workshop. She wouldn’t be violating their contract if she simply knocked on the door, would she?

The workshop door stood ajar and she bit her as she saw he was sitting on a long padded bench, the blanket and pillow making it clear that he had spent the night there. Of course such a solitary person would only have one bedroom.

“You didn’t need to give us your bed.”

He looked up, silver eyes flashing before he shrugged those massive shoulders.

“It’s of no consequence. I frequently sleep here.”

His casual dismissal of her concern only added to her guilt.

“What can I do to help?” she blurted out.

“Help?”

“There must be something I can do around here.”

His eyes remained on her, his expression unreadable. “That wasn’t part of our agreement.”

“I know, but—” This time she shrugged. “I just need to feel useful.”

“You should rest while you can.”

“I’ve rested enough.” The fact that he was already thinking about their departure stung a little and the words came out sharper than she intended. She softened her tone. “Please. Even something small would help.”

“Do you know anything about mechanics?” he asked dryly, gesturing around the workshop.

“No, but I can cook.”

He regarded her thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded and rose. He wasn’t even wearing the open vest he’d worn the previous day and the sight of all those impressive muscles did uncomfortable things to her insides. What would that short dense fur feel like beneath her fingers? Heat rose to her cheeks and she quickly looked away.

As she silently followed him back to the kitchen she realized he was barefoot as well. He only had four toes and they were longer than human toes, but otherwise his feet were the same general shape as human feet, except much bigger. What was that saying about the size of a man’s feet…

The heat in her cheeks increased and when he suddenly looked back over his shoulder she quickly looked away, scolding herself for her foolishness.

“Do you know how to use these appliances?” he asked, his voice rough, when they reached the kitchen.

“The wood stove, yes. The others, I’m not sure.”

He pointed to one of the metal appliances.

“That is a replicator. It is capable of producing almost anything but its capacity is limited. I use it mainly for things like spices and fruit that I cannot obtain from my surroundings. The other one cooks food very quickly but I have little reason to use it.” He opened a door to reveal a huge pantry, noticeably cooler than the kitchen. Open wooden shelves were loaded with containers of food, everything from dried goods to preserved foods. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen so much food in one place.

“Is there anything you don’t want me to use?” she asked, remembering the contract. “Anything that is reserved just for you?”

“If you are going to cook, it will be for all of us.” His tone left no room for argument. “Use anything you want in whatever quantity you choose.”

He turned to leave.

‘“Wait,” she blurted out. “Don’t you want to make sure I can actually cook before trusting me with your supplies?”

He paused mid-step, his broad shoulders tense. For a moment she thought he’d refuse, but then he turned back. His footsteps were surprisingly quiet as he crossed to the kitchen table and settled himself on the bench.

Her cheeks heated when he looked over at her, but she did her best to focus on gathering ingredients. Most of them were familiar enough to give her confidence. She measured them into a bowl, the familiar process comforting despite the unfamiliar kitchen.

When she glanced over at Yede, she found him watching her with a quiet intensity that sent prickles of awareness down her spine.

“I used to cook a lot,” she said, whisking the batter. “But it’s been a long time.”

“Why?”

She shrugged.

“I had to work a lot to provide for Liam. It didn’t leave much time for anything other than quick meals. And at the mining camp we were given an allotment of food.”

A far too small allotment. From the way he looked at her, she suspected he realized that as well. She’d always been thin but now she was verging on gaunt.

“Where is your mate?”

His voice sounded stiff but when she looked over her shoulder, his face was as expressionless as ever.

“If you mean Liam’s father, he died. Two years ago now.”

And for the two years before that he’d been around so rarely he might as well have been dead. But at least he’d sent her money occasionally. It wasn’t until after he died that she realized how much those irregular payments had helped.

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugged again as she started ladling the batter onto the griddle, watching it bubble and spread.

“I’ve learned to make it on my own. The job at the mine was a mistake, but I’ll find a way to take care of Liam and make a life for us.”

Her hands trembled a little, her words sounding false even to herself.

“You do not have any other family?”

“No. My mother died not long after we were married and Tom didn’t have any family.”

He remained silent as she flipped the pancakes, then plated them, adding some dried fruit and sweet syrup from his stores. She found herself holding her breath as she placed the plate in front of him.

He nodded thoughtfully as he took the first bite.

“This is very good.”

Relief flooded through her, and she smiled. The praise shouldn’t have meant so much, but it did. Maybe because he seemed like someone who didn’t give compliments lightly.

Without thinking, she reached across the table and placed her hand over his massive one. His fur felt softer than she’d imagined, silky against her palm.

“Thank you. Not just for the compliment but for everything. For saving us from the storm, for giving us shelter.”

He turned his hand beneath hers, and her breath caught as his fingers curled around her own. The short, dense fur on his palm was even softer, velvet against her skin. Heat bloomed in her cheeks as their eyes met. The kitchen seemed smaller suddenly, more intimate. Her pulse quickened, and she became acutely aware of how his thumb brushed against her wrist, sending tingles up her arm.

Oh. Oh.

The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. She was attracted to him, no matter how different he might be. The knowledge should have frightened her, but instead it felt…right.