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Chapter 99: Loose Ends
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Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 100: Winter
Chapter 100: WinterBOOK 2 LOST & BOUNDThe full January moon reflected brilliantly off the crust of snow covering the frozen lake. The frosty topping crunched beneath each footfall, but the lone man was the only soul around to hear it. The walk across the lake took him the better part of an hour. He could have driven the snowmobile but had opted against it. It wasn't that he didn't want to wake anyone. He simply appreciated the pre-dawn quiet.Reaching the far shore, he headed up the hill in the direction of the trail he knew by heart, covered by snow or not. He wore a head-lamp but the moonlight made it unnecessary. He didn't stop until he reached a fork in the trail. He knew there was an old cabin at the end of the left fork, but he shifted the shotgun slung over his shoulder and followed the fork to the right.He wasn't a hunter. The gun was just a precaution. Most of the bears would be asleep in their dens until spring. But there might be moose or wolves. The shotgun w
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 101: Summer
Chapter 101: SummerSunlight glinted through the first-class window of the 777, momentarily blinding Shasta Pyke as the oversized tin can banked towards the west on its final approach to Toronto Pearson International Airport. She frowned, lowering her tortoise shell Prada cat eye sunglasses, then pulled down the shade out of spite. She had no desire to see Toronto. It wasn't her final destination anyway.She huffed and glanced to her right. Eddie grinned at her like a used car salesman at a discount lot. "How ya doin', kiddo?"She hated when he called her that. Eddie had been a fixture in her life for as long as she could remember, a sort of surrogate father, if your father were a shark in a designer suit who lived for martini lunches and killer deals. It was he who had arranged this little adventure, which, in all honesty, beat the hell out of the alternative. That didn't prevent her from hating him at the moment."How do you think I'm doing?" she snapped."Now, doll, you know
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 102: Preparing for the New Guest
Chapter 102: Preparing for the New GuestPreparations at Lake Miranda Lodge outside of Eliot Lake had shifted into high gear three days previously. Jackie Walker had had to cancel the existing reservations for the next six weeks, finding alternative arrangements for her displaced guests. The entire property was being booked to accommodate a VIP guest who would be paying three times what her regular guests would have paid, even had the entire place been booked. Which it hadn't.This, she gleefully informed her brother Blake, would allow her to take her two young children on their dream vacation to Disneyworld. Of course, they'd also be spending time with Jackie and Blake's parents, who'd run the lodge until they had retired to Florida three years earlier.It would be up to Blake to see to their sole guest. How much trouble could one guest be? He could even see to some renovations and upgrades she'd been wanting to do."Blake," Jackie called from the reception desk as she heard the
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 103: Fish Out of Water
Chapter 103: Fish Out of WaterCuriosity got the better of Shasta as the black Lincoln pulled up to the red-painted clapboard lodge. The trip down the unpaved drive from the highway had taken a good fifteen minutes. A friend of a friend of someone Eddie knew had told him about the place.Shasta had checked it out on her phone. The website wasn't kidding when they said 'remote.' The tree-shrouded driveway opened up onto a clearing to reveal the large main lodge and a sprinkling of small cabins, all painted the same warm red. A sparkling lake was visible beyond the buildings and Shasta could see a small plane at the end of a long dock.She climbed out of the back of the car and took a few steps to stretch her legs. Still wearing the outfit she'd worn to court, she realized that stilettos were probably not the way to go on the soft ground.Eddie looked at her across the top of the car. "Well, kiddo, are you ready?"She flipped her red hair in annoyance and followed him up the front
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 104: First Impressions
Chapter 104: First ImpressionsBlake had heard the car pull up. He dawdled, swiping at imaginary smudges on the passenger door of the de Havilland Beaver that rested at the end of the dock. He had no desire to get caught up in whatever celebrity fanfare accompanied their new guest's arrival.The voices faded after everyone went inside and still Blake waited a few minutes longer before making his way back up the dock toward the front of the lodge. He was surprised to see a young woman standing alone in the clearing in the center of the cabins. Her back was to him and he took a moment to watch her.His first impression was that she was sexy as hell. Her shoulder-length hair was bright red, and expensive-looking sunglasses sat perched on top of her head. She was wearing a white halter blouse with a very short black skirt. Her high-heeled shoes were bright pink suede and they wobbled precariously as she marched around holding her mobile phone in front of her like a divining rod.Whe
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 105: A Few Housekeeping Items
Chapter 105: A Few Housekeeping ItemsBlake unlocked the door and held it open for her to enter the cabin. She stepped into an open room featuring a seating area in front of a fireplace immediately to her right. Further into the room, a kitchen was arranged in the back left quarter of the space with a cast iron stove on the back wall and a kitchen table pushed against the right wall down from the fireplace. Between the fireplace and the kitchen table was a small desk that held some sort of radio equipment. Shasta peered into an alcove to her left and saw that it was a tiny bedroom."Now," Blake was saying, "the lights run on propane. You turn this little lever, and you can light them with a lighter. Both the fridge and the cooktop run on propane. Same thing, you turn the knob and then light it with the lighter. I already lit the pilot on the fridge, and it should be fine." He indicated a small metal box beneath the kitchen counter.Wordlessly, Shasta followed him around the ro
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 106: Alone in the Wilderness
Chapter 106: Alone in the WildernessRefusing to give in to her threatening tears, Shasta kicked off her fuchsia Manolos and dug through one of her bags until she found a pair of running shoes. These she put on before she started lugging her bags up the hill and into the cabin. She piled them on the small sofa in the seating area, retrieving the last one just as the sun sank behind the mountains to the north of the lake. She glanced across the lake and saw lights flickering on inside the lodge.I hope he's happy. Asshole!Her stomach rumbled and she realized she hadn't eaten since the lousy chicken cordon bleu she'd had on the flight from LA. But when she perused the contents kitchen cabinets, nothing appealed to her. Instead, she felt a wave of exhaustion.Giving up on the idea of dinner, she headed into the tiny bedroom, stripped off her clothes, dropped them on the floor, and crawled into bed. She was asleep in no time."So how did it go?" Jackie asked, passing the garlic bre
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 107: That Familiar Nightmare
Chapter 107: That Familiar NightmareShasta awoke with a start, gasping, her eyes tearing madly around the room. Mid-afternoon sunlight was streaming in through a crack in the curtains. She was in the little cabin in the woods.Shit. I hoped it was a nightmare. It hadn't been, though. The nightmare that had actually awakened her was familiar enough now. It was always the same nearly every night."I'm serious, Jeremy. Two blue lines. See for yourself."He shakes his head, exhaling heavily. "Wow, babe, that's some kind of news." He doesn't meet her eyes. "You know, Shasta, it's not that I'm not up for parenthood. It's just bad timing, that's all.""Bad timing?""You know… What with my divorce and everything, it would just give Lisa more ammunition. Plus," he adds as the voice of reason, "you're starting that action movie next month. You can't be running and jumping and shit with a baby bump." He hugs her reassuringly. "We don't need to tell Eddie or anybody else. This i
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Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 328: Epilogue
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
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 327: No Time Like the Present
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
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 326: Dream Versus Reality
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
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 325: Warrior Princess
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
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 324: From Bad to Worse
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
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 323: Who's Missing?
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
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 322: Everyone Shelter at the Lodge
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
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 321: Blizzard Warning
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
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 320: Winter Session
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
