In the Doctor's Arms Page 15

  “Yes, handwoven. A woman in Nepal gave it to me and I borrowed a needle to sew it. The needle was carved from a piece of bone.”

  “Do you know how charming that sounds? I wish I could tell that story.”

  Hazel gave her an encouraging shrug. “You can. I don’t care. I’ve never written about it. No one would know.”

  “No, I mean, I wish it was my story to tell.” Iris hugged her. “But thank you. And thank you for letting me use one of your backpacks. This should help avert suspicion.” Iris knew from her time at Copper Crossing that nothing said “inexperienced outdoorsperson” like a shiny new backpack.

  Hazel grinned. “Lucky for you I keep all my old packs, huh?”

  “Beyond lucky. Which is how I’m feeling for the first time in like...ever.”

  “I’m guessing that’s not due entirely to this worn-out pack.”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “To me, it is. So, are you guys finally...?”

  “I think so. He kissed me. For real this time.” Saying the words aloud made it feel real, too. Tangible and a little terrifying at the same time. “And we agreed that we’re more than friends.”

  Hazel chuckled. “Congratulations!”

  That’s when the reality of the situation sank in. How could this possibly work out? Her legs felt funny. She needed to sit down.

  “Oh, no. I can see in your face that you’re freaking out.”

  Iris backed up and sank down onto the edge of the bed. “Flynn said we’d work out the details later, but I don’t see how... I haven’t had time to think it through yet but now that we’re talking about it, I’m...” Anxiety churned inside of her. “Geographically, we couldn’t get much farther apart and still be in the same country. He’s committed here with his residency and he’s made a deal with Doc to take over his practice when he finishes. But I can’t stay here, Hazel.” Her apprehension rose several notches at the thought.

  Sure, things were better. She felt like she’d finally carved out a place within her family. Muddling through this Alaskan adventure was proceeding better than she anticipated, but it wasn’t really her. Her dream was in Washington, DC. Not Rankins. She could never be as successful, as important, here as she knew she could be there. Not to mention that she didn’t relish the thought of running into Ashley and Faith and company on a regular basis. Then there was Sonya, whom she couldn’t begin to figure out.

  “I can’t.”

  “All right, Trippa.” Hazel stepped closer and lightly gripped her shoulders. “I can see all those gears and wheels that make up your complicated brain spinning at light speed. Stop it! You can’t think everything through all of the time. Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut.”

  “Now you sound like Flynn.”

  “It’s possible that Flynn is brighter than I thought. He fell for you, didn’t he? Love has a way of sorting these details.”

  Love? Did she love Flynn? Yes, of course she did. She always had. And she knew that in a lot of cases what Hazel said about love was true. She’d known it in the depths of her soul when she was offering advice to Tag and Ally. The problem was, she didn’t know if it was right for her. She did know the stats on divorce. She’d read the anonymous polls about how much people, especially women, sacrificed for love—and regretted it later. She’d worked so hard to earn this career. And yet, being with Flynn felt so right...

  Hazel gave Iris’s shoulders a little shake. “I said stop.”

  “Okay.”

  “Besides, maybe you’ll realize you don’t like him as much as you think.”

  “Really? That would actually be great!”

  “No, silly. That was a joke.” Hazel shook her head. “You two have been dancing around this thing since high school. I know the timing isn’t ideal but name a time in life when it is. You need to relax and see where this goes. And right now, no more talking about it. Just enjoy it. Meanwhile, we’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

  Hazel held up an object. “Do you remember what this is called?”

  “Personal locator beacon.”

  “That’s right.” She added a proud, approving nod and pointed at the backpack. “Now, stuff it.”

  * * *

  “SO, WHAT DO you think? Isn’t this magnificent?” Hazel swept an arm toward the landscape behind her as Iris approached. Five hours into the hike, Hazel had stopped to wait for her at the end of a switchback in the trail. There was a stunning forested view, where a creek cut through a lush, green meadow below.

  Iris joined her and planted her good hand on her hip. Her wrist ached, one heel burned where a blister was forming, her lips were dry and her shoulders felt bruised from the straps of her pack. Beads of sweat snaked uncomfortably between her shoulder blades, and her forehead was saturated with more perspiration, which, mixed with sunscreen and mosquito repellent, trickled down and burned her eyes. At least she hadn’t had to use her inhaler.

  “Do you want me to be honest?”

  “Yes.”

  Iris glanced around to make sure none of their fellow hikers was nearby. The group included Bering, Cricket, Hazel, Iris, Flynn and the Frieze Group employees, including Sebastien. They’d started out together but as the hours wore on, differing speeds, points of interest and varying fitness levels had them splitting up into pairs and threesomes. Bering had reiterated the importance of the buddy system.

  Flynn, bless him, had joined Cricket and Sebastien. Iris assumed it was to keep her future boss occupied so he’d be less likely to pick up on her inexperience. She was extra appreciative.

  Because this sucked.

  She opted for more diplomacy in an effort to not hurt her sister’s feelings. “It is very pretty. And I am eternally grateful that you prepared me. I am trying to enjoy it, I swear. But in addition to being uncomfortable, I feel like a sitting duck. I’m trudging uphill with a heavy pack strapped on my back like I’m not already at a disadvantage where bears are concerned. Not only am I weighted down, I’m also carrying bait and I’m on their turf.”

  Hazel chuckled and patted the bear spray hanging from the holster around her waist. “That’s what this is for.”

  Iris frowned. “If you say so. I’ve watched YouTube videos of bears charging. You know they can run like thirty miles an hour? I’d never have time to use that.”

  “Remember when Gareth used it on a bear?”

  “Gareth saw the bear coming and he has reflexes as fast as Hannah’s. And not even a fire hose blasting pepper spray would save me from an angry moose if I got between her and her calves.”

  “Maybe.” Hazel laughed. “I am proud of you, though. No one would know that you weren’t enjoying this.”

  Iris grinned. “Thanks to you and Flynn. It’s nice how he and Sebastien are hitting it off.”

  Hazel flashed her a look of surprise and then burst out laughing. “You think that’s what’s going on here? That they’re hitting it off?”

  “Um, yeah, don’t you?”

  “I don’t understand how you can be the smartest, most perceptive person I know, and still be rather dense when it comes to the matters of your own heart.”

  * * *

  FLYNN’S STRATEGY WAS definitely intended to keep Sebastien away from Iris. Pretending to befriend the guy seemed like the logical way to go about it.

  He, Sebastien and Cricket finished the hike and had arrived at the campsite before the rest of the party. Bering and one of his guides, Tony, were already there. The five of them made short work of setting up camp.

  When they finished, Flynn suggested, “How about if Sebastien and I head upstream so he can try out his new fly rod? When the rest of the party gets here, Tony can bring whoever else wants to fish.”

  Bering agreed. “Excellent idea, Flynn.”

  A satisfied Flynn headed off with Sebastien. Not only would this make Iris happy, but it was also less t
ime the guy would be able to spend with her.

  * * *

  BY THE TIME Iris and Hazel made it to camp, Iris knew she’d made a terrible mistake. She was officially miserable but resolved to keep it from Hazel.

  Hazel helped her remove her pack. “You all right?”

  “Great,” she lied. Hazel had worked hard to get her this far and there was no way she was going to wimp out on her now. She could get through this.

  “Let’s set up our tent and grab a bite to eat. I smell food and I’m starving,” Hazel said.

  “Sounds good.”

  Iris was relieved to learn that half their party had continued on to do some fishing, Flynn and Sebastien included. She needed a few minutes to regroup.

  Tent in place, Hazel wandered off to eat dinner. Iris took a hand towel from her pack and headed toward the narrow brush-lined stream that ran along one edge of the campsite. She soaked the cloth in the cool water and rinsed the sweat off her face and neck.

  A flat rock a few yards upstream beckoned. She sat and decided to remove her boot to inspect the hot spot on her heel. Wincing, she probed at the puffy blister. She’d ask Flynn what to do when he returned. Leaning back on her hands, she closed her eyes and tipped her face toward the sky. The cool air drifting up from the glacier-fed ripples felt amazing.

  Relaxed for the first time all day, she never even heard a buzzing sound, but the telltale sting below her right eye was unmistakable.

  * * *

  WHEN FLYNN AND Sebastien returned from fishing, Flynn left a content Sebastien to tell fish stories around the campfire while he went in search of Iris. He found her inside the bright blue tent she was sharing with Hazel. At least he assumed the rustling sound inside was her.

  He kneeled before the zipped enclosure and softly called to her, “Iris?”

  The flap moved to reveal Iris’s face, green eyes flashing with what looked like panic. “Flynn, where have you been?” she whispered. “Can you please come in here?”

  “Fishing with your boss,” he answered, crawling inside the tent. “Correction, out-fishing your boss.” Flynn could handle a fly rod and he’d enjoyed showing Sebastien a few moves.

  The rustling sound he’d heard was obviously her. She was at it again, frantically rummaging through her pack.

  “What are you looking for? Why do you only have one boot on?”

  “I got bit.”

  “On your foot?” What could have gotten into her boot? “By what?”

  “No, I have a blister on my foot. I got bit on my face by a mosquito. I have to treat it, and I don’t—”

  He barked out a laugh. “Iris, sweetheart, I know you don’t like them, but a mosquito bite is not going to kill you.”

  “Flynn, you don’t understand! There’s a reason why I hate them so much—I have Skeeter Syndrome.”

  “You’re allergic to mosquitoes?”

  “Yes. I’ve never had an anaphylactic reaction, but I will swell up like a puffer fish, and sometimes I get a fever. This one bit me right under the eye and I can guarantee you it will be blistered and swollen shut if I can’t find...”

  “How do I not know this?”

  “It’s embarrassing! That’s why I’m always running around armed with mosquito repellent. I had it on today, but I was sweaty, so I cooled off in the creek. Between that and the sweating, I must have washed it all off. Two minutes without my diethyltoluamide perfume and this is what happens! Just one more reason why I hate this place.”

  “But there are mosquitoes everywhere, all over the world.”

  “That is not true, they are not everywhere, and they are not all like these pterodactyl-sized, voracious, Alaskan vampire mosquitoes,” she muttered and went back to burrowing. Flynn noted that her belongings were scattered around and figured there couldn’t be much left inside her pack by now.

  “What are you looking for?”

  “Antihistamine. I thought it was in a side pocket, but maybe I forgot to transfer it—”

  “Hey.” Flynn reached out and placed a hand over hers. “Look at me for a sec.”

  She did. He liked how his touch seemed to calm her. “I’m a doctor, remember?”

  She nodded.

  “I have a first-aid kit that will blow your mind.”

  “Really?” she squeaked. “Please tell me this magic pack includes an antihistamine.”

  “Oral and topical.”

  “Oh, my...” She slumped to one side. “Thank you. Can you get it, please? Hurry.”

  “My pack is right outside.” He crawled to the entrance, lifted his pack inside and quickly fished out the kit. He removed two pills and handed her his bottle of water. She swallowed them. He dabbed the topical on her bite.

  “How does it look? My eye feels funny.”

  “As predicted, it’s swelling and blistering a bit, but the meds will kick in. And we’ll give you another dose later. I have plenty.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Now, let me see that blister.”

  She reclined to rest on her elbows, taking care to lean on the side that didn’t have a sprained wrist. She exhaled sharply to blow a lock of wayward hair away from her face. Flynn tried not to laugh as the movement rendered her momentarily cross-eyed.

  “Just for the record, I hate backpacking. There is nothing good or fun about this. I don’t know how Hazel does it. I will admit that fishing and kayaking both have redeeming qualities, especially kayaking with you. But this, out here in the middle of nowhere with nothing but what you can pack on your back? This is...” She paused to dredge up the right word and finally exclaimed, “Foolishness!”

  Flynn knew he needed to reassure her. “Iris—”

  But she was just getting started. She sat up. “I love hot running water and refrigerators and cars. Cars are awesome. And...beds! I love my bed. Why would a person purposely hike away from their bed to deliberately sleep on the ground with bugs and bears? Why, Flynn, why? Can you answer that? I can’t even—”

  He cut her off before she could rile herself further. “Lean back and let me look at your blister.”

  She scowled. “You’re bossy when you’re doctoring, are you aware of that?” But it seemed to work. She followed his suggestion and produced her foot.

  Crossing his legs, he placed her foot on his lap and examined the area. “Ouch, that looks sore.”

  When she didn’t respond he looked at her and felt his heart squeeze hard inside his chest.

  Fat tears pooled in her eyes. She blinked and one escaped. Head shaking, her voice came out a raspy whisper. “I don’t know what I was thinking when I thought I could do this... Look at me, I’m a mess.”

  One foot was bare, her opposite hand sported a brace, there was a smudge of dirt on her cheek, tendrils of hair hung loosely around her face and her lips were chapped. Another tear followed.

  “Yes, you are. But—”

  “Thanks a lot. You—”

  “Shh,” he said, and lowered her foot. “I was going to say that you are a mess but at least you’re a hot mess...”

  “That’s not—”

  “A very, very hot one.”

  “Oh, well, um,” she stammered, almost smiling and looking pleased by the compliment. “That’s...”

  He furrowed his brow and pretended to study her face. “Is that a blush or a sunburn? I should probably get the aloe vera next.”

  “What? No!” Touching a hand to her face, she said, “I’m wearing SPF fifty, waterproof. It’s—”

  “Iris, I’m joking. It’s not a sunburn...”

  “Oh.” The pink intensified as the gist of his comment sank in. She smacked him on the shoulder. “Very funny.”

  But she laughed, and that had been his goal.

  Flynn chuckled and resumed his task. He applied a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to the area and secured a
piece of moleskin on top of that.

  “There, that should hold.”

  “Thank you.” He tried not to chuckle at her dramatic sigh.

  “This is fun.” His hand slid up her pant leg while his eyes roamed over her. “Anyplace else I need to play doctor?”

  She barked out a laugh. “Not at the moment, but I am going to need you to be on call...”

  “Maybe we should do a more thorough exam,” he whispered. “Or possibly I should kiss you and make it all better.”

  Her eyes closed as her lips welcomed his for a scorching kiss. And then a few more.

  “Hey! You two,” Hazel called a few minutes later from outside. “We’re making s’mores out here.”

  Flynn watched Iris’s eyes flutter open. “Did she say s’mores?”

  She shifted like she was going to get up. Flynn shook his head, and said in a teasing tone, “Yes, but you hate all this, remember? There’s nothing good about backpacking. So you should probably just stay here and rest.”

  “Fine.” Mouth wrestling a smile, she said, “There might possibly be one good thing about this trip.”

  “Only one thing?” Flynn glared playfully and kissed her again.

  Grin firmly in place, she conceded, “Fine, two things. There are exactly two good things about this trip.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “IRIS, THANK YOU so much for everything. Your family rocks.” Sebastien and company were gathered in the Faraway Inn for a farewell dinner. They were departing first thing in the morning after having had a fun-filled week that could only be described as an unqualified success. Sebastien was talking about making it an annual event.

  Flynn watched Iris smile at her new boss and felt a measure of pride. Despite his frustration and the possible threat level Sebastien presented, Flynn admired the lengths she’d gone to in order to impress the guy. Regardless of her “motivation,” she’d knocked it out of the park as far as Flynn was concerned.

  “Thank you,” she said. “I have to agree. My family is pretty special. I’m so glad everything worked out.”