Whitewater Rendezvous Page 22

  “Great!” Justine said. “So I see it went very well, in fact, from the smile on your face and that nice shade of crimson you’re sporting.”

  “Well, we did hit it off,” Chaz managed finally. Despite the third degree, Chaz developed an immediate respect for Justine. She was direct, and outspoken, and she obviously had nothing but Megan’s welfare uppermost in her mind. Chaz felt okay about talking to her. “I really don’t…get involved with clients generally, but—”

  “I’m glad you made an exception in this case,” Justine said. “Are you two planning to keep in touch, I hope?”

  “We exchanged addresses and e-mails, phone numbers.” Chaz finished the dishes and sat down beside Justine. She missed Megan already far more than she even imagined she would. Here was her best friend—a potential font of information about the woman who had captured her attention, and she apparently wanted to talk about Megan so Chaz was certainly going to let her. “So was it that obvious that we’re attracted to each other?”

  “Maybe not to everyone. But Megan confides in me more than most.”

  “You’re lucky, then,” Chaz said.

  “Yes. She’s not close to a lot of people. Doesn’t volunteer much and doesn’t trust easily.”

  “Do you mind if I ask you a question that I’m curious about? You don’t have to answer.”

  “Shoot.”

  “How did this Royal Ice Bitch thing come to be?”

  Justine laughed. “Well, Megan does have an intensity about her when she’s in the newsroom during a big story…calling the shots and directing coverage. No nonsense, for sure. But she got the nickname from a bunch of malcontents she inherited.”

  “Inherited?”

  “There’s a running joke at WNC that you have to do something notoriously bad to get fired. The company is so afraid of lawsuits—for age discrimination or whatever—that they make it almost impossible to just fire someone because they do a half-assed job. You pretty much have to be a complete and certifiable psycho, and even then you get two warnings before they let you go.” Justine laughed. “Well, before Megan took over, the newsroom ran totally on seniority. The best shifts and perks went to the people who had been there the longest. Megan put everything on a merit-based system.”

  “And made some enemies,” Chaz concluded.

  “Exactly. The people who had the primo, nine-to-five shift but who were only skating along and just showing up—suddenly found themselves working overnights. People who worked hard, had great attitudes and innovative ideas…they got raises, better hours, and first shot at being the one chosen to go overseas when a plum assignment opened up. I’m a reporter because of her—I was a writer with on-air ambitions, and she provided me with the opportunity to show what I could do.”

  “She’s good at her job, isn’t she?”

  “The best. Corporate loves her because ratings across the board are up every year since she took over. And most of the people in the newsroom love her, because hard work and creativity are recognized and rewarded. She’s got high standards, sure, but she doesn’t ask for anything she won’t do herself. She genuinely cares about her staff and feels a responsibility for them. If you need anything—time off for an emergency, a change of jobs, she makes it happen. She’s always available to her staff.”

  “She told me she puts in a lot of hours,” Chaz said.

  “Workaholic personified,” Justine agreed. “Way too much so. I’ve been worried about her. That’s why I think coming here and meeting you was the best thing that’s happened to her in a very long while.”

  “You do?”

  “I haven’t seen her really come up for air—and take a vacation, where she really relaxed—since Rita. She just goes out once in a while to blow off steam. Did she tell you about Rita?”

  “No. She did tell me she hadn’t had a vacation in five years.”

  “I’m not real surprised she didn’t tell you about her, but I’d hoped she would. You’d understand some things a lot better.”

  Chaz’s heartbeat picked up. From Justine’s tone, it was obvious that this Rita was very important to Megan. Rita. Then it hit her. Clients had occasionally told her she looked like a reporter named Rita Thompson. So she’d looked her up on the Internet and had noted the resemblance. That was a couple of years ago; she’d forgotten all about it because she couldn’t get WNC on her TV.

  Intrigued, she asked, “Will you tell me about her?”

  “They were together for five years. Married, at least as far as Megan was concerned—they said vows to each other. She was sure it was forever, until Rita cheated on her and left her for someone else.”

  Chaz remembered Megan’s explanation for why she’d been so cold when she arrived in Alaska. You reminded her of someone she liked very much, once upon a time. But not at the end. “I look like Rita?”

  “Very much.”

  “She wasn’t attracted to me because I look like her ex, was she?” The possibility depressed her after the evening they’d had.

  “Just the opposite. She kind of despises Rita now, I think. Megan likes you despite the fact you look like her,” Justine said.

  “From…well, from something I overheard, I got the impression that Megan doesn’t stick with anyone very long. That she isn’t into commitments. Kind of surprises me to hear that she was married.”

  “She’s been running from any real emotional involvement ever since Rita was such a shit to her,” Justine said. “But something tells me she may have stopped running when she met you. I think you mean a lot to her.”

  Chaz shrugged. “Well, even if that’s true, I don’t see how we can have any kind of future. I can’t even bear the thought of leaving Alaska. Could you imagine Megan leaving her job?”

  Justine shrugged. “Maybe not.”

  “How do you have a relationship when you live hundreds of miles apart?”

  “I don’t know, Chaz. I don’t have any answers for you on that. I just wanted you to be aware that Megan does have feelings for you. Pretty powerful ones, I think, even if she’s not ready to admit them.” Justine got to her feet. “I hope you two can find a way to be together. She’s a keeper, and so are you. I think you could be very good for each other.”

  She walked away and left Chaz contemplating all that she had said. She could think of little else the rest of the trip.

  *

  Before she knew it, she and Sally were back at the airfield in Winterwolf saying good-bye to the Broads in Broadcasting. Chaz pulled Justine aside as they waited for the plane to arrive to fly them back to Fairbanks. “I presume you’ll see Megan pretty soon after you get back?”

  “Sure,” Justine said.

  “Would you give her this for me?” Chaz held out the envelope containing the letter she’d written the night before. She could have mailed it, or even e-mailed it, but sending it through Justine just seemed more personal, more intimate. She hoped Megan would think so too.

  “Of course.” Justine took the letter and gave Chaz an impromptu hug. “Thanks for everything—it was the adventure of a lifetime. And think about what I said. Chicago is a great city to visit.”

  Chaz didn’t doubt that, but something told her that if she ever did make it to Chicago, she’d see very little of the place.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chicago, Illinois

  Megan was only in the fourth hour of her first day back at work, and already she missed Chaz, and Alaska, with an intensity that took her completely by surprise.

  Her experience had changed her perceptions about nearly everything in her well-ordered routine. She noticed for the first time as she flew into O’Hare that the air over Chicago was a dirty yellow-gray, in no way resembling the vivid blue of the Arctic sky. The bumper-to-bumper traffic from the airport was no different than any other day, but it frustrated and rankled her ten times worse than normal. The noise level in the city was nearly unbearable after ten days of birdsongs.

  It was as if she now saw her environment anew through Ch
az’s eyes. She was amazed to discover she could count the trees in her neighborhood on one hand, and there was hardly a patch of green to be seen in the crowded urban landscape. Nearly every person she saw on the street looked stressed and in a hurry. She really would hate it here.

  Her condo was claustrophobic after the vast landscape of Alaska, and so was her office, with two weeks’ worth of accumulated work piled high on her desk and credenza. She had a list of people who wanted to see her. Her phone rang nonstop—always with something that demanded her urgent attention—and hundreds of e-mails were waiting in her inbox.

  I must have been insane to think I could take two weeks off.

  Despite the hundreds of distractions, her eyes kept returning to the photo on her desk. Chaz on the hilltop where they’d watched the caribou herd, windblown hair and rosy-cheeked complexion accentuating her rugged good looks. Megan had copied it to her computer and printed it out as soon as she’d gotten home. God, you’re beautiful.

  She’d had no contact with Chaz since their separation nine days earlier. She tried to catch her between trips, but the first time she called the lodge, Chaz had been at the airstrip seeing Megan’s friends off. And by the time she called back, Chaz was off on another ten-day trip into the wilderness.

  A knock at the door forced her eyes reluctantly away from the photo.

  “Bet I know who’s in that picture you’re staring at. How’s the shoulder?” Justine stood leaning against the doorway, a big smile on her face.

  Megan got up and gave her a hug, then shut the door so they wouldn’t be disturbed. “Shoulder’s fine. Kind of stiff. So how was the rest of the trip?”

  “Fabulous.” Justine took a seat. “Sorry you had to leave early, but everybody took lots of pictures so you’ll see what you missed. Speaking of which, we’re all getting together at the Cool Breeze Friday night to share photos.”

  “I’ll be there,” Megan said. The chance to relive the trip and see new photos of Chaz was something she’d look forward to all week. And she had already decided she’d been working too hard and needed to make sure she made time for her friends.

  “Wow, no fight at all? Have you finally learned to relax, or is it the prospect of seeing a bunch of pictures of Chaz, all gorgeous and buff?

  Megan couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face at the mental image that sprang to mind—Chaz sunbathing on the rock.

  “Ah, I see,” Justine said.

  “It was amazing being with her. I miss her like crazy,” Megan admitted.

  “No kidding,” Justine deadpanned. “I think the feeling is mutual, by the way.”

  “Did she talk about me? Ask about me?”

  “You sound like you’re back in high school. But yes, she did. And I won’t keep you in suspense any more.” She pulled Chaz’s envelope out of the pocket of her blazer. “She asked me to deliver this.”

  Megan ran her hand over the envelope reverently, fingertips caressing where Chaz had written her name. “Thanks.” She looked up at her friend, anxious to read but mindful of her manners.

  “Go ahead, I know you can’t wait.” Justine got to her feet and headed for the door. “I’ll tell Grace to hold your calls for a few minutes and come back later so we can catch up.”

  “Thanks, Justine.”

  As soon as Justine had closed the door behind her, Megan carefully opened the envelope and took out a two-page letter written in Chaz’s precise penmanship. It began

  Hello, Megan. I miss you more than I can say.

  Seeing those words first, right off the bat, made her heart flutter in her chest. She ached for reassurance that their time together had meant as much to Chaz as it had to her.

  She glanced at the photo again, before returning to the letter.

  And it’s not just because you are incredible in bed (though you most certainly are, and thank God for your stamina).

  That line not only produced a big smile, it started up a slide show in her mind of some of things they’d done to each other during that long, incredible night. She had never been more grateful for her ability to recall events in absolutely perfect, vivid detail, down to the accompanying tastes and smells. No telling what might happen when we get together and I don’t have a bum shoulder to work around. She glanced at the photo again. Damn. I’ve got it real bad for you, don’t I? She returned to the letter.

  It didn’t take me long after you left, to realize that you already mean more to me than perhaps any woman ever has.

  Her heartbeat kicked into high gear at that line.

  Megan, I don’t know how or when, but I want to see you at the very earliest opportunity. And at every opportunity thereafter. I hope you meant what you said about those million frequent flier miles because I miss you fiercely.

  Oh, God. Chaz. You have to have a way with words, too. An ache of longing blossomed in her chest. It was going to be absolute hell not to be able to communicate with Chaz for at least another week.

  I’ve fallen for you. In a big way. I guess there are many who would say that after only one night together, telling you how I feel is jumping the gun. That it’s too much, too fast, too soon. But I know how I feel. I just pray to God you feel the same.

  I know that making a relationship work when we have such radically different lives, so far apart, seems impossible. Maybe it is. But I want to see where this might lead.

  Her heart was thumping hard in her chest now, and it was getting more difficult to read as tears welled up in Megan’s eyes. Oh, yes. She feels it, too.

  I can’t stop thinking about our night together, Megan, the next line read. I miss you, and I need to feel your body.

  Oh, shit, Megan thought. Perhaps I shouldn’t be reading this at work. The memory of Chaz’s hands on her, burned vividly in her mind, flared to life. Oh, hell. Her nipples were instantly hard, and she felt a sudden urge to press her thighs firmly together.

  I would certainly run out of superlatives if I tried to describe what it was like for me to make love with you. Incredible. Exquisite. Unbelievable. It’s like you awakened a part of me I didn’t know existed. No one has ever made me feel more alive than I felt that night, Megan. You stir my blood.

  More memories flashed through her mind. She could feel herself getting more and more aroused. Shit. Shit. Shit. This is definitely not appropriate at work.

  I’m sorry it’s going to be so hard for us to communicate with each other while I’m leading trips the rest of the summer. I’m especially anxious, of course, to hear how you’ll react to this letter. I hate it that it’ll be several more days before I can try to reach you. I will call as soon as I can. Know that you are never far from my thoughts.

  Chaz.

  The second page of the letter was Chaz’s itinerary for the rest of the summer. For the next month and a half, Megan would be able to talk to her only every seven to ten days.

  Something tells me these are going to be the longest weeks of my life.

  She pulled out a piece of her business stationary, a heavy bond of ecru with her name and title in embossed letters. Everything else could wait. She wanted Chaz to have a letter waiting for her when she got back from her trip.

  *

  Megan buried herself in work all week to try to make time move faster. Not that she had any choice; so much had piled up in her absence that she worked twelve-hour days and still wasn’t caught up by Friday night.

  But she was not about to miss seeing new photos of Chaz. So she locked up her office and actually beat all the others to their regular booth in the back of the Cool Breeze.

  “Oh, my God!” Justine exclaimed when she arrived. “You’re the first one here? You really are smitten, aren’t you?”

  “Shut up and pull out your pictures,” Megan grumbled good-naturedly. “I can’t believe you wouldn’t spring for one-hour photo processing. I’m buying you a digital camera for Christmas.”

  “Hey, there she is!” Pat hailed them as she and Linda approached, Elise not far behind. “How you doin
g, Megan? No sling, I see.”

  “I’m fine. They kept me overnight for observation in the hospital, but I flew home the next day and had the sling off not long after.”

  “Anybody talk to Yancey?” Elise asked. “She coming?”

  “Would I miss this?” Yancey said from behind her. “May I see a show of hands of who wants to go back to Alaska tomorrow?”

  All hands shot up, Megan’s a fraction faster than anyone else’s.

  “So who wants to go first?” Linda asked, as everyone settled into a seat in the big circular booth.

  “I’ll start,” Elise said, pulling out a thick stack of four-by-six color snapshots, the colors so vivid and the landscape so picturesque that each one could have been a postcard.

  “Ah, the one that got away,” Elise lamented when she got to the first one of Chaz. She had captured Chaz the day of the rolling lesson, her formfitting wet suit paying sexy tribute to her excellent physique.

  You wish, Megan thought smugly as she took the photo from Elise.

  “I don’t think she got away from everyone,” Linda said, looking pointedly at Megan with a grin.

  Megan shot a look at Justine that said, You didn’t!

  But Justine shrugged innocently. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t say anything.”

  “I’m just perceptive,” Linda said.

  “What am I missing here?” Yancey asked.

  “You’re not the only one,” Elise said. “Did you and Chaz get something going, Megan?”

  Hell, what’s the problem? You got the gorgeous woman that everyone wants. And she’s crazy about you.

  “Well, as a matter of fact,” Megan said, “we did get something going. Something pretty great. I think I’m going to be seeing a lot of Alaska.”