Chapter 3

Making Choices

She was spending the day with Trev who had settled into a friendly relationship with her, no longer seeking to make things intimate. They would go to the village, they were even eating lunch with one of the families they would visit. Naqi had come by early in the morning which had surprised her as much as receiving the roses had. That man seemed to run hot then cold keeping her off balance and uncertain of how to deal with him. She wasn't sure what he really wanted or if he even knew.

Just that morning, she had spoken to Mel who had threatened to visit if she didn't keep in touch more frequently. Mel could be a real bitch when she wanted to be. It made her a good assistant manager and a good friend. Unfortunately, sometimes, it made her stick her nose in where it didn't belong. She also had a sixth sense about other people's love lives. Her assistant manager just knew when something was going on that you didn't feel like sharing. Everything going on here in Wilde was something she didn't want to share.

As Trev drove, he went over what she could expect once they reached the village. He told her Naqi was a leader in the village even though he didn't stay there most of the time. Instead, he stayed in the area that was more of a modern town a few miles from the village area. It was nice to have the modern supplies nearby, but the traditionalists of the village didn't want them too close. Naqi lived with one foot in both worlds. He had his businesses, which were construction as well as some small tourist related businesses like the dog sledding, and he had an apartment over his main building. He also kept a place to live at in the village where he stayed when he was needed. It was anyone's guess where he would live if he ever had a family of his own. Trev let her know that Naqi always said he'd marry when he was an old man just to carry on the family line.

She wasn't sure if Trev meant to discourage her or merely inform her. It could be hard to tell where a man, male, was concerned. Trev had been so helpful, it was hard not to wonder why. Was he simply a nice guy or was he working toward some end only he knew about?

"You know Inuit means the people?" Trev asked.

"I've heard that before. I also heard that Eskimo was considered an offensive term."

"It is to some so it's better to forget that word."

"Why are you taking me here?"

"Duh, because you wanted to go?"

"Come on. You're not just doing this out of the goodness of your heart."

Trev laughed. "You've got me there. I do like you and I wouldn't mind if you were interested in me, but I know Naqi is the only one you're interested in." She started to deny it. "No, don't bother, lie to yourself, but don't lie to me. Let's just say I think he's been fighting his interest in you because he has an aversion to mating and I don't mind that he's almost out of his mind with jealousy because I'm here with you and he's not."

"That actually makes sense. You two have some kind of weird competition going on that I can't make sense of. Wanna let me in on it?"

"Let's just say I came here to get to know my family, but I haven't revealed it to them yet. The second Naqi saw me, he tried to get me to leave. Hate at first sight, I guess."

Or maybe fear of the unknown? "Does he know who you are to him?"

"Not just another pretty face, are you? No, he has no clue."

"Can I be there when you tell him?"