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“Last night?” She watched him calmly rubbing a hand across his carved abs as he drained his coffee cup.
“We’re going to Canada in the morning.”
“Canada? But I can’t just—”
“Already forgotten your commitment to my event, I guess?” He propped a hand to the waistband of his sleep pants and waited.
Kianti opened her mouth and then closed it.
“Right.” He strolled into the kitchen to start her breakfast. “Besides, you’re out of your mind if you think I’ll leave you alone here after—” He stopped himself, not wanting to remember the fear that had gripped him the night before. “Go to bed, Kia,” he ordered in the softest tone he could muster.
Vernon and Wren Shay’s home was the epitome of Southwestern motif. The beauty of Wren’s previous native Arizona life was apparent in every room of the house in such a way that the warmth of the area radiated from every space.
The two couples enjoyed hot cocoa and coffee from the deck overlooking the Western portion of the expansive property. From there, the group had an unforgettable view of the setting sun at the snowy horizon. The abundance of conversation settled as well. The foursome soaked in the late-afternoon coziness, which was enhanced by the fragrance of the simmering stew and baking bread from indoors.
Therin appreciated solitude as much as anyone but couldn’t for the life of him understand how two city kids could make a life where the market was fifteen miles away.
“Sounds crazy, we know,” Vernon said when the high volume of laughter lowered a few decibels. “But you know things can happen in a person’s life that make one decision appear like the only sane choice.” He settled down deeper into the cushioned wood chair he occupied and smiled as a quick chilly wind ruffled his thick brown hair.
“I can’t speak for Wren—” he gave his wife an adoring wink “—but being out here for the past ten of our sixteen years of marriage, I’ve never felt more able to think and to feel like my thoughts have a clarity.” He warmed his hands about a mug of black coffee and shrugged. “Now, one could argue that those thoughts were there even when we lived in L.A., but I’ll be damned if I could find ’em.”
“I’m guessing Therin can relate to us on that, hon.” Wren spoke to her husband but her wide dark stare was trained on Therin. “There’s a solitary beauty to Vancouver. Sure, it’s a bit more…busy than the Dakotas, but it’s similar.”
Therin was already nodding. His light eyes slid from Wren’s face to the unending view. “There’ve definitely been times in my life when that solitude was what I needed.”
Kianti had been relatively silent while nursing her cocoa. She studied Therin closely, wondering at what he was thinking of. What had those times in his life entailed? She didn’t have long to wonder, for soon Vernon was probing a bit deeper into Therin’s response.
“I guess an ambassador’s life isn’t all fancy parties and glamour, huh?”
Therin laughed, stroking his index finger along a sideburn as he sobered. “Those fancy parties and glamour have their price, man. There’re a lot of sacrifices I had to make during the course of my post.” He frowned a little then. “I guess if I hadn’t taken my duty so seriously, the sacrifices may not have been so costly.” Again, he laughed and put a rather sheepish smile in place.
“Now that I’ve put a cloud over the evening…”
The Shays joined Therin in hearty laughter.
“Well, you know out here we’re used to clouds,” Vern said and leaned over to clink his coffee mug against Therin’s.
New discussion began. Kianti maintained her quiet, preferring to spend her time studying Therin.
Chapter 12
The trip to Vancouver from Neche wasn’t a straight shot. Therin wanted to take his time with the trip. Instead of calling for the plane that brought him to Kianti in North Dakota, he decided on driving part of the way.
They took advantage of that, making frequent stops along the way. There was the International Peace Garden in Manitoba, Canada. Unfortunately, because of the time of year, it was impossible to take a look at the Floral Clock. Still, the time was well spent and the couple enjoyed sharing stories of their past visits to the incredible site.
Later, there was lunch at a greasy spoon café that they both adored. Conversation revolved around Therin’s high-powered friends and Kianti’s fans—what would those folks think if they saw them there?
Despite the informality of the day, Kianti felt a bit taken aback. She grew more silent the closer they came to Vancouver. Therin was being recognized a bit more frequently by then. This posed no problem. Kianti was captivated by the ease with which he greeted the average joes who wanted to talk politics or even hockey. He possessed a definite charm that wasn’t some trick that he’d picked up from the campaign trails he’d traveled as a politician. His charm was natural and easy. Kianti could almost feel it and she relished the warmth.
