An Alaskan Proposal. Beth Carpenter

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СКАЧАТЬ weird. “No, I’m just reading the instructions.”

      He looked over the pieces she’d set on the ground. “Looks like it sets up just like the old design except they color-coded the poles, shortened the sleeves and used minicarabiners to make setup faster.”

      Minicarabiners. Uh-huh. “Yeah, well, I’m approaching it like a customer who hasn’t ever set up one of these tents,” Sabrina said. “I want to make sure the instructions are clear, even to a novice.”

      “I see.” His lips twitched into a small smile.

      Sabrina couldn’t be sure whether it was a friendly smile or if he was laughing at her, but she suspected the latter. She made a point of turning her back to him while she read, shivering as she did. Maybe he would go away. “Shock cord? What the heck is a shock cord?” she muttered to herself. “Cielos, these pictures are confusing.”

      “What did you say?” He was still there. “Cielos? What does that mean?”

      “Nothing.” Just something her grandmother used to say when she got flustered. Heavens. But he didn’t need Sabrina’s life story.

      “Where’s your jacket?”

      She gave up and turned to look at him. “I’m wearing it.”

      “That’s all you brought?” He shook his head. “Where are you from, anyway?”

      “Arizona. And I’m fine.”

      “Scottsdale?”

      “As a matter of fact, I used to work in Scottsdale.”

      “I figured.” He unzipped his fleece vest and removed it. “Here, wear this.”

      “What? No. I’m okay.”

      “I don’t think you are. Shivering, mumbling, confusion. All symptoms of hypothermia.”

      I’m not mumbling because I’m hypothermic. I’m mumbling because I’m annoyed. She thought the words but managed not to say them. Instead she repeated, “I’m okay.”

      “Are you wet?”

      “No. I was wearing a rain poncho.”

      “Then you’re probably not hypothermic, but you’re obviously cold. Take the vest.”

      It was tempting, but she hated to be in anyone’s debt. Especially someone who seemed to disapprove of her. “Then you’ll be cold.”

      “I have a fleece jacket in the truck.”

      Of course he did. The survival expert would always be prepared. Another cold gust convinced her. “Fine.” She pulled the vest over her sweater and zipped it closed. Still warm from his body heat, it covered her from her shoulders to her thighs. “Thank you.”

      “You’re welcome.” He continued to stand there. She pretended to be studying the instructions, hoping he’d walk away, but he remained where he was. “I’m Leith Jordan.”

      “Sabrina Bell.”

      He nodded. “So, Sabrina. Why are you here?”

      “For the team-builder, obviously.”

      “No, I mean why are you in Alaska? Why didn’t you stay in Arizona?”

      “I came for the job.”

      He raised an eyebrow. “You came all the way to Alaska to work at the Orson Outfitters store?”

      “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m training. Headquarters hired me as a management trainee, and the first part of that is to work in different positions in one of the local stores.”

      “Oh, so Alaska is just a temporary stop for you.”

      “Yes.”

      “That makes more sense. Why are you pretending you know anything about camping?”

      She looked around sharply to see if any of the other employees were within earshot, but it was just the two of them. She picked up one of the metal sticks and examined it as though she intended to do something with it. “I told you. We’re supposed to be testing the products, and part of that testing is to see if the instructions are clear.”

      “If you say so.”

      “I do.” She rattled the paper and tried to concentrate on the instructions. She felt warmer already. Now, if she could just figure out step two.

      He handed her the blue bundle of sticks. “The shock cord is the bungee cord running through the tent poles. It holds the short poles in line while you fit them together to create a long pole, which fits through the sleeve at the crown of the tent.”

      “Well, yeah. That’s what the instructions should have said. I’m going to have to let them know these wouldn’t be clear to a beginner.” Sabrina studied the sticks, and sure enough, they were all threaded onto a stretchy rope. As she unfolded them, they snapped together. Ingenious. Now, if she could just get rid of Mr. Know-It-All, she might have a shot at figuring out this tent. But he showed no signs of leaving.

      Without another word, he lifted the top of the tent and held a blue fabric sleeve that matched the pole so that all she had to do was slip the pole through the sleeve. Okay, that made sense. Once it was in place, Leith arched his end of the pole and secured it through a grommet at the base. Sabrina followed suit with her end of the pole. Suddenly, the tent was standing. She assembled the red sticks and threaded the pole through the red sleeve, again with Leith’s assistance. He began securing the hooks on one side of the tent to the poles. She did the same on her side.

      Leith unrolled the final piece of nylon. She took two corners and helped him center it over the poles. Leith handed her the thin metal pieces. “Now you just need to stake out the corners.”

      “Right. Let me just see if the instructions say that.”

      Leith grinned. “For testing purposes.” Now she was sure he was making fun of her, but she didn’t care.

      “Exactly.” She picked up the instructions and turned the page. “Stake corners.” She pointed at the diagram. “Right here.” She set down the paper and pushed one of the stakes through a grommet into the soft ground, anchoring the corner. Leith did one of the other corners. He wasn’t so bad after all.

      Bang! Sabrina whirled toward the sound of an explosion. Something came whizzing out of the fire and flew several feet before crashing into a rock. Something about the size of a can.

      “Oh, cielos! The beans.” Sabrina rushed toward the fire.

      “I don’t know what happened.” Clara stared wide-eyed at the fire. A silicone-sided pan of beans simmered nearby on the camp stove Sabrina hadn’t been able to figure out.

      “It’s my fault.” Sabrina looked around for the tongs. Before she could grab them, another can exploded and sailed off to the right, knocking over the stove and spilling the beans onto the ground.

      “Get СКАЧАТЬ