Read Denali Dreams for Free Online Page B

body to adjust to the altitude was imperative. She did
not
want to be one of the poor people who suffered from acute mountain sickness. Now that she knew Zack would be at camp all day, her impatience sputtered to a stop.
    Never had she been so instantly attracted to a man. What drove him? His prickly exterior appeared to cover … something. Cover she knew all too well. But never in a million years did she think a man would be attracted to her after cancer.
    A glance in the mirror earlier that morning had made her pause. For years, she’d avoided her reflection. Today, she’d run her fingers through her short curly locks, stared into the brown eyes, and wondered if a man could love a battle-worn woman like her.
    Karon leaned back on her pillow and prayed. God loved her more than she could ever imagine. She’d leave her attraction to Zack Taylor in His hands.
    A pillow in the face woke her up the next morning. “Rise and shine, sleeping beauty.” Clint’s hair spiked in several directions. “I’m hungry.”
    Grit filled her eyes. She cracked one open. “And what? You expect me to fix it?”
    “Don’t you want to?”
    “No.” She pulled the sleeping bag over her head. “It’s my summer vacation.”
    Clint guffawed. “Like I’m going to believe that. You chose to spend your summer vacation climbing a mountain. What’s a little breakfast?”
    “Get it yourself.”
    “Wow, someone woke up on the wrong side of the slope.” He tapped the top of her head. “It’s okay, because I’m going to be gallant and make breakfast for
you
today.”
    She lowered the bag to below her nose. “Really?”
    “Yep.”
    “This I gotta see.” Karon flung off the sleeping bag and jumped to her feet.

    After her “sumptuous feast” as Clint called it of bagels, omelets, and a protein shake, Karon strolled through the Base Camp enjoying the sounds and activities. A
lot
of people were climbing this mountain. More than she imagined. But the thought comforted her rather than discouraged her. At least she wouldn’t be alone if there were problems.
    For some strange reason that she didn’t want to admit, her gaze searched for a certain ranger. When she spotted him, she felt the smile all the way to her toes. He was so stinkin’ cute. Rugged. And fierce. There really wasn’t a good reason why his somber personality attracted her. But she was drawn. Like a moth to a flame.
    Zack turned. Waved.
    Karon’s heart did a double flip. Man, he was downright gorgeous. Why would he be interested in her? Best not to get her hopes up.
    Heading her way, Zack spoke to another ranger as he walked. Karon took several tentative steps toward him. If there was ever a time to start living her life—it was now. Her steps grew longer, more purpose filled her stride. And she allowed the smile that filled her to flood her face.
    Snow crunched under her boots and in two more strides, she met Zack in the middle of the Kahiltna camp.
    “Hi, Karon.”
    “Ranger Taylor.”
    “You can call me Zack.” One side of his mouth curled up half an inch. “I hear you’re a book buff.”
    Clint. She looked back toward her tent and saw her brother wave. The stinker. “I am.” A laugh bubbled up. “And I can guess how you found that out.”
    Zack gave her a simple nod, started walking to the side, and with a slight move of his hand invited her to join him. “So, do you have any recommended reading? Something a guy like me would enjoy?”
    “Sure, I’ve got lots of ideas. But I only have two books with me because of the weight. I would’ve brought ten in case we got stranded in a blizzard, but AMS set me straight on the norm being two. That and the fact that everyone shares and trades on the mountain.” She was rambling. Stinkin’ nervous jitters. Always brought out the worst of her jabbering. Best to focus on his question. “You need something while you’re on the mountain or for once you get back?”
    “If you’ve got something now, that’d be