Chapter 313: EngagedBack in their new house, Jackie opened the door to the bedroom to find a fire in the fireplace. Red rose petals littered the floor and the bed, and an entire bouquet sat on the nightstand alongside a bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket.She turned to Scott. "How did you… When…"He just winked at her. "I have my ways." He crossed the room, loosening his black silk tie and sliding it off. "It's a good thing you said, yes, though. I'd have had to rush over here like a crazy person to clean all this up."Jackie laughed lightly. "Were you worried?""Nah," he grinned. "I was pretty sure you're into me.""Did you really talk to the kids?"He nodded solemnly. "I did. This impacts them, and I wanted to make sure they know I intend to make a commitment to them, too. That was after I talked to your mom and dad, of course. And Blake.""Everybody knew?" Jackie grimaced. "I hate to think we stole Blake and Amy's thunder. I mean, it was their day.""Have you
Chapter 314: I'm Going to Be an AuntLife at the new and improved Lake Miranda Lodge settled into a routine. Scott's early sessions were highly successful, generating positive reviews that helped fill his schedule for the foreseeable future. Walker's on the Lake opened its doors to the public the weekend after the wedding. As Jackie had hoped, locals joined lodge guests for the grand opening, and word spread throughout the surrounding area that there was a new date-night destination.With Trina's expertise, the lodge was also enjoying record bookings. With a crack team in place, Jackie found it easier than she thought to release much of the day-to-day duties.In the mornings, after sending Emma and Grant off to school, she headed to the lodge office to meet with Trina and the staff. If Scott's guests were arriving that day, she managed the Nielsen Outdoors desk. Otherwise, she spent the remainder of the day in her home office overlooking the lake, where she began to make headway
Chapter 315: Look Who Showed UpAs Jackie had hoped, after Amy's television interview aired, reservation requests were up at the lodge. But also up were the number of lookie-loos who wandered to Lake Miranda without plans of staying, just hoping to catch a glimpse of Shasta Pyke. Jackie had even intercepted a pair of tourists with cameras attempting to climb over the locked gate that separated Blake and Amy's house from the rest of the property. At that point, she'd stopped trying to be nice about it, lambasting them with an expletive-laced discourse on the meaning of the 'Private Property' designation. With Blake and Amy having returned to California to finalize the purchase of a beach home, Jackie discussed with Scott the idea of installing security cameras around the property and possibly even a guard gate at the entrance.Late one morning, after she finished looking over business with Trina, Jackie stopped by Scott's new office across from hers on the first floor of the lodge
Chapter 316: His PrincessJackie shivered in anticipation as she gently tugged on the black Velcro cuffs that restrained her wrists and ankles to the four posts of the bed in the play cabin. After Scott had bound her, naked and spread eagle, he'd headed outside to bring in more firewood on the cold early December morning.Scott had a couple days' break in his schedule, and he and Jackie had headed to the cabin as soon as Grant and Emma left for school, planning to spend the entire day enjoying each other.The cabin door opened, admitting a swirling gust of cold air along with a dusting of snow, raising goosebumps over Jackie's body, her nipples tightening into sharp peaks. Scott came in carrying an armload of wood.He leered at her appreciatively. "Such a beautiful sight. My Princess all tied up and ready to be used for my pleasure."At his words, a renewed waved of desire washed over her and she felt a rush of moisture at her core. He knelt beside the fireplace, adding a log to
Chapter 317: Christmas at Lake MirandaWhen Blake and Amy returned to Lake Miranda the week before Christmas, snow blanketed the compound. After the lake froze solid, and Scott's students either hiked to the island or were shuttled by snowmobile. His last session before the holidays ended just before Blake and Amy came home, but the lodge had guests scheduled throughout Christmas and New Year's. Trina and the restaurant staff came up with a festive holiday menu, and Walker's on the Lake was completely booked for both holidays. When Jackie called her parents to ask about their holiday plans, she was surprised to find out that the elder Walkers had reservations for a Christmas cruise to the Caribbean. "Your father just couldn't stand the thought of all that snow," Ann laughed. "You all have a wonderful holiday!"Blake and Amy agreed to spend Christmas at Jackie and Scott's house, the better to enjoy the kids' excitement on Christmas morning. The day after they returned, Scott an
Chapter 318: Leaving Toronto For GoodScott set down the cardboard box he'd been carrying and took the one from Jackie's hands. It was the last one, the last of his things from the studio apartment in Toronto. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jackie shiver. Inside the building's parking garage, the wind was blocked, but it was still cold.A few days after Christmas, Blake and Amy volunteered to keep an eye on Grant and Emma while Scott took Jackie to the city for New Year's Eve, which also happened to be his birthday. Ready to let go of his apartment, it was the perfect time to retrieve the few things he had there worth keeping.Odd as it seemed to him, given the fact that he was ending his lease, he was excited to show her the place he'd considered home for the past ten years. He planned on showing her some of his favorite haunts, too, even driving past the BDSM club on their way to the apartment."They'll have a big masked ball for New Year's Eve," he'd commented, thinking o
Chapter 319: Emergency Trip Back to the LodgeImpatiently, Jackie paced the length of the lodge's front porch. A pair of guests who were staying in one of the cabins hurried past, bundled against the biting cold of early March. Jackie forced a cheerful smile as she greeted them, but her thoughts were on the middle-of-the-night conversation she'd had with Blake three days earlier."Amy started having contractions, so I rushed her to the hospital.""But it's too early, isn't it? How far along is she?""Thirty-three weeks," he answered miserably. "They gave her medication to stop the contractions, but they want to keep her for a while to make sure everything's okay."Even more than two thousand miles away, she heard his anguish. "Jackie, I'm terrified I'm going to lose her. Lose them both. It's so out of my fucking control!"Jackie's heart clenched, remembering when Blake had lost his college girlfriend to a senseless act of violence so many years earlier. She gripped her phone ti
Chapter 320: Winter SessionPulling the hood of his black parka lower over his head, Scott ducked behind the windscreen of his snowmobile and headed back to the lodge. At the bunkhouse cabin, he'd just welcomed Tom and Patty Payton, the only married couple he'd had thus far in his wilderness school.Having checked in with Jackie in the reception area of the lodge, the pair had made their way on foot across the ice to the island where they joined fellow survival students Justin Sapp, a stocky young man with an infectious sense of humor, and Paula Martinez, an attractive thirty-something Latina who wrote a Spanish-language adventure blog.Everyone in this session had broad outdoor survival experience, including the Paytons, who had once spent a year in the Amazon cataloging wildlife. They'd told Scott they were excited to learn winter survival skills in the wilderness of Ontario.That leaves four more clients yet to arrive, Scott mused as he pulled up the slope to park beneath the lodg
Chapter 328: Epilogue"Just one more push, you're doing great," the doctor said."How are you holding up, Dad?"Bleary-eyed, he nodded to the pink scrubs-clad nurse. He was ready for this long night to be over.He felt her starting to squeeze his hand again. "You've got this, babe," he murmured, kissing her forehead.Eyes closed and teeth clenched, she bore down, releasing a grunting squeal with the effort."Stop! There we are, Mom. The head is out. Now don't push, just breathe for a moment."Still holding her hand, he leaned over to see the back of the baby's head. His heart was in his throat and tears streamed down his face."Now this is it. On the next contraction, go ahead and push."He turned back to her. Eyes wide, she panted, gripping his hand for dear life."Oh, God, here it comes," she cried."You're doing great, I'm so proud of you," he murmured, turning to watch as their child was born.Fifteen minutes later, he strode down the hospital corridor to the family waiting
Chapter 327: No Time Like the Present"You should go home and get some rest, Jackie."Without taking her eyes off Scott, asleep in his hospital bed, she reached for Blake's hand. "I can't. I need to be here when he wakes up.""You're sure?"She nodded, then looked to her brother. "Can you take care of the kids? I hate to impose, but…""No worries, Jackie. Now that the storm's over, we'll take them back to our house. Amy's more comfortable there, anyway. We'll have a sleepover party."Jackie sighed. "I know they're ready to be back in their own beds. But I'll be home tomorrow, for sure, at least overnight.""Okay, sis." He kissed Jackie on the cheek. "Keep us posted."In the quiet of the hospital room, Jackie pulled a chair beside Scott's bed. As soon as they'd arrived back at the lodge, Blake and some of the others had carried Scott to the battered Suburban, laying him on the back seat.At Amy's insistence, Blake had driven Jackie and Scott to town. By the time they reache
Chapter 326: Dream Versus RealityHe was staring up at an azure sky. A warm summer breeze caressed his face. He turned his head and Jackie smiled at him, her deep blue eyes sparkling. "Where were you?" she asked.Scott shrugged. "I don't know.""Well, you're back now. That's what counts." She took his hand and led him to a bed in the middle of a sun-drenched field full of flowers. The bed's sheer white canopy billowed in the breeze. Kissing his hand, she released it, reaching up to slide first one, then the other spaghetti strap of her filmy white dress, allowing it to slide down her body and pool at her bare feet. His gaze slid from her sapphire eyes to her succulent lips. Then it traveled over the firm globes of her breasts with their pert pink nipples, to the flair of her hips, to the junction between her thighs where tight black curls were neatly trimmed. When he met her eyes again, she smiled knowingly and sank to her knees, bowing her head and resting her hands palm
Chapter 325: Warrior Princess"Jacks, you can't go out there." Blake's face twisted with concern."He won't come back until he finds Pierce. But he won't find Pierce, because Pierce is here. You can't leave Amy. I'd never even ask. And if Ned Hart won't go out there, I have no other choice." Her voice was deadly calm.She grabbed her grey coat, then put it back on its hook, heading into the dining room. Blake followed. "Jackie, seriously, I don't want you going out there." He grabbed her hand, stopping her. "Scott wouldn't want you going out there.""He can tell me that when I find him. Can I borrow Amy's pink parka? It's brighter than mine, easier to see."Blake exhaled sharply, his tone resigned. "I've known you long enough to know that once you've set your mind on something, that's it. At least let me put together a pack for you."While Blake scavenged from the survival students, Jackie put on Amy's parka and spoke to Grant and Emma. "I'm going out to let Scott know
Chapter 324: From Bad to WorseAway from the wide-open expanse of the lake, the trees blocked a certain amount of the wind, but plenty of snow filtered down. Try as he might, Scott couldn't make out any tracks left by Pierce. He continued up the trail, slipping and sliding as he made his way up a steep ridge. The designated campsite was the clearing at the top, but once he arrived, the area was empty. Even the snow was thin, having been blown into drifts against the bases of the trees surrounding the clearing. Where are you, you little shit? Scott turned in a circle, considering the most likely way Pierce might have gone. The clearing was exposed. He'd have wanted to find a spot that afforded more shelter. Which meant he would have gone lower. But in which direction?Rolling the dice, Scott headed west, where the clearing dropped off in a bluff about thirty meters above a ravine created by a now-frozen creek. He peered down into the gully, willing Pierce not to be there at
Chapter 323: Who's Missing?An hour later, Scott sipped his coffee and gazed out over the room. A handful of his campers had volunteered to help with lunch, and they'd all enjoyed potato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Now, a group of guests was working on chili for dinner.Out of habit, he mentally counted his group. Tom and Patty Payton, who'd headed up lunch, were playing cards with Justin Sapp and Paula Martinez. Dan Spinelli was talking fishing with the father and sons from Cherub Lake. Not finding Pierce, Adams, or Bennet, he frowned slightly. A trip to the restaurant kitchen revealed Brian Bennett and Keely Adams working on cornbread to go with the chili.That leaves one. Scott returned to the dining room. Jackie was across the room checking on Amy. He cruised by the table where Dan was swapping fish stories. "Sorry to interrupt, but have you seen Pierce?"The younger man frowned. "Not since we ate. But you know, now that you mention it, his backpack is gone." H
Chapter 322: Everyone Shelter at the LodgeAs Jackie and the children hiked toward the main lodge, they heard the snowmobile returning from the island. Jackie sent Emma and Grant ahead with their backpacks, Max galumphing along behind them, while she waited for Scott to secure the snowmobile."How'd it go?"Scott's lips were a grim line. "About how you'd expect. There's nothing we can do about it with the storm coming. Everybody understood, really. Except for Pierce. He's such an asswipe."Jackie's eyes widened but her lips curled impishly. "Oh my, Sire. Language."He popped her ass lightly. "And now my Princess requests a spanking. My day is complete."They both laughed as the entered the lodge. Trina had a huge fire going in the dining room's fireplace, and she'd already been to the cabins to invite guests to gather in the main lodge, where there would be food and heat."Hi, guys," she greeted Jackie and Scott. "I called the crew to let them know to stay home today. Then
Chapter 321: Blizzard WarningFrowning, Scott watched the latest weather report on the early morning local news, his mouth set in a grim line. Beside him, Jackie stirred. "What is it?" she murmured."It's alright," he answered softly. "Go back to sleep. It's not even 5:00 yet."She sniffed loudly and yawned. "I'm awake now. What's the matter?" She pushed up on an elbow and rested her head against his shoulder.He shook his head derisively. "The blizzard. They're predicting the storm to hit by this afternoon.""I thought it was supposed to skirt us to the south.""I hoped it would. But now we're under a blizzard warning." He kissed her temple and slid out of bed."What are you going to do?"He stepped into a pair of fleece-lined jeans and shrugged into a grey thermal Henley. "I'm heading to the island to let the campers know. Obviously, we're postponing the solo outings. I'll offer them the chance to return for free to finish their second week of this session." He glanced
Chapter 320: Winter SessionPulling the hood of his black parka lower over his head, Scott ducked behind the windscreen of his snowmobile and headed back to the lodge. At the bunkhouse cabin, he'd just welcomed Tom and Patty Payton, the only married couple he'd had thus far in his wilderness school.Having checked in with Jackie in the reception area of the lodge, the pair had made their way on foot across the ice to the island where they joined fellow survival students Justin Sapp, a stocky young man with an infectious sense of humor, and Paula Martinez, an attractive thirty-something Latina who wrote a Spanish-language adventure blog.Everyone in this session had broad outdoor survival experience, including the Paytons, who had once spent a year in the Amazon cataloging wildlife. They'd told Scott they were excited to learn winter survival skills in the wilderness of Ontario.That leaves four more clients yet to arrive, Scott mused as he pulled up the slope to park beneath the lodg