Love at First Light (Lost Harbor, Alaska Book 6)

by Jennifer Bernard

  Or so it felt, anyway, when that freight train gathered speed and carried him down the tracks. And boom—right off the cliff. His climax just about blew his head off. He pumped into her soft body, eyes closed, dimly sensing the brush of her hair against his chest, her moans.

  He nearly blacked out for a moment—the “little death,” wasn’t that what the French called it? Chalk up another near-death experience, apparently. The kind he didn’t mind.

  He was half-laughing when he came out of it. “I think I just died and went to heaven, isn’t that what they say?”

  “Really? Again? How many times does that make?”

  She raised herself up, freeing his penis from her body. He didn’t want to be free. He wanted to be there, with her, joined with her. He loved the fact that she got his little joke about dying. They were in sync now, in so many ways.

  “Not enough. Can we do that again soon?” His eyes were already heavy with sleep. His little cat nap only went so far.

  “Maybe. We’ll have to ask my crystal.”

  Such a tease. “When did you get so mean? Wait—“ A horrible thought struck him. “Did you come? I thought you came. I tried to wait. You were making that sound.”

  “Yes, I did. Relax.” She patted his shoulder, then stretched her body alongside his with a huge yawn. “Mostly, I came in the shower. Then a little one just now. But it’s sweet of you to be so worried about it.”

  “Just your regular average jaded cynical sweetheart, that’s me.” He had to get his ass off this bed and into the bathroom so he could clean himself up.

  Her eyes fluttered shut and a moment later he heard the snuffling snore he’d gotten familiar with over the past couple of days.

  He rolled himself off the bed and went into the bathroom to remove the condom and clean himself off. When he caught sight of himself in the mirror, he realized that he looked different. What was it? He couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

  When he got back to the sumptuous bed with the copper-haired princess sprawled willy-nilly across it, waiting for her turn in the bathroom, he finally realized what the difference was.

  Happiness. He hadn’t seen a happy expression on his own face in a very long time. Smirks, sure. Laughter. Satisfaction with a job well done, enjoyment of a good movie. That kind of thing. But happiness looked different. It looked like…peace. It was written all over his face.

  He was here, with Jessica, and that made him happy.

  Sleep made him pretty damn happy too. He didn’t wake up until light was pouring into the suite through the picture windows. Jessica was already gone. He sensed immediately that she wasn’t in the suite with him.

  Maybe she was off sharing her recipe with the manager.

  He dragged his tired body into the bathroom and indulged in another hot shower.

  Then he remembered that the lodge probably had cell service. He dug his phone out of his grungy borrowed backpack. Somehow it had made its way to the bottom of his pack, so he had to dislodge everything to find it.

  The battery had drained, so he plugged it in while he got dressed. All of his clothes smelled like wood smoke and spruce needles. He knew that scent would always make him think of Jessica, even once he was back in West Covina staking out some lowlife outside an In-N-Out Burger.

  His phone beeped. He saw that his landlord had texted. Last month he’d given notice that he was ending his lease on his office space. But now his landlord was offering him two hundred dollars off the rent to stick around.

  Pretty good deal. He should take it.

  But there was really no rush.

  He ignored the text and went in search of breakfast.

  The sunshine must have drawn all the guests outside, because he encountered no one on his way to the great room. It too was deserted, but he heard voices floating from down a hallway, so he went that direction.

  In the daylight, the lodge was even more spectacular. Luxurious touches were everywhere—genuine antique cabinets and blown glass vases overflowing with delphiniums and sunflowers. Every surface gleamed with polish and a pleasant scent of beeswax hung in the air.

  He found Jessica in the kitchen, an immense space dominated by an eight-burner commercial oven and other stainless-steel appliances. She was perched on a stool at the long butcher block table that took up the center of the room. An Asian man in a chef’s hat was rolling out dough on the floured surface. He and Jessica were chatting up a storm as he worked. Apparently they had a lot to talk about.

  He pushed back a ridiculous niggle of jealousy. Of course he couldn’t chat with Jessica about baking. The only thing he’d ever baked was chocolate chip cookies from a tube.

  “Good morning.” He included both of them in his greeting, lingering on Jessica’s bright face.

  “Good morning. I saved some breakfast for you.” Jessica reached behind her to a counter and grabbed a covered plate of food. “Coffee’s on the stove. This is Ren, he’s the five-star chef I told you about. I had no idea he was so young.”

  “I’m not as young as I look.” When the chef smiled, Ethan could see it was true; the grooves alongside his mouth indicated he was probably in his thirties.

  “But still, you’re not in your sixties, which was what I imagined a retired chef would look like. This is Ethan.”

  They exchanged nods of greeting, while Jessica handed Ethan the plate. Sausages, potatoes, biscuits, pancakes.

  “I snagged a little bit of everything except the eggs,” she explained. “I just can’t condone eating cold eggs.”

  She and Ren both shivered with repulsion.

  Talk about soul mates…apparently she’d found hers.

  He dug a fork into a crisp potato and popped it into his mouth. He never got jealous. Where was this feeling coming from? He didn’t like it one bit.

  “So Ren was telling me that he’s been working here for three years,” Jessica told him. Her legs were crossed, showing off purple leggings under her hiking boots. Her hair, now that she’d washed all the forest debris from it, shone like bright autumn leaves. “Most of the staff is pretty transient. People work here for a season or maybe two, then they move on.”

  So she’d been investigating while he’d been sleeping in. All those five o’clock mornings had paid off. “Most, but not all?”

  “Right. According to Ren, the only long-term staff members are the head of landscaping—“

  “Big Tom,” Ren inserted. “He runs the greenhouses that grow all our produce.”

  Cross Big Tom off the list. Honestly, to him it was a long shot that S.G.’s mother would still be here. Aurora Lodge had been an exchange location, nothing more.

  “And the other one is Kelsey, the manager.” Jessica shifted on her stool, eyes aglow with excitement. “She’s been working here since she was seventeen, according to Ren.”

  “She started as a waitress,” he confirmed. With lightning-quick movements, he sliced the dough he’d rolled out into long strips of noodles.

  “And then she became the head of housekeeping, and then eventually the manager. So she’s been here a long time, isn’t that wonderful? She’s the perfect interview subject for my book.”

  She sketched a wink at him—as if he wouldn’t pick up on her cover story on his own. Unnecessary, but cute nonetheless.

  “Ren already texted her, and he says she’ll meet us in her office whenever we’re ready. She’s doing accounts.” Jessica rolled her eyes. “Which is always the worst part of my day, so she’ll probably be grateful for a distraction. I was just waiting for you to wake up.”

  Ethan shoveled the rest of his food into his gullet. He was used to eating on the fly. “I’m ready.”

  He looked up to find both of them gazing at him with looks of pure dismay.

  “Ethan, you should take your time with this food. It’s a work of art.”

  He grimaced at the chef. “Sorry, Ren. I tend to get caught up in a—“ He caught himself just in time before he said case. “Project. This book we’re researching
is really fascinating. I promise to savor every mouthful of the next meal.”

  Ren accepted his apology with a dignified nod. Ethan slid off his stool and took his plate to the sink.

  “Leave it,” Ren told him. “Guests don’t do dishes here.”

  “Unless they can’t pay,” Ethan whispered to Jessica as they left the kitchen.

  “Good thing you have me along to pay our way with recipes.” She took his hand and squeezed it lightly.

  “I can think of better reasons than that to have you along.” All those sexy reasons turned his voice into a growl. “Last night—“

  “Shh. Let’s not talk about it.” Flushing, she shook her head. “I don’t want to get distracted. We have a job to do.”

  He cupped her ass. “Then let’s get it done so I can get back into your—“

  “Shh.” Another guest was coming down the hallway toward them. He gave her one last caress, then dropped his hand.

  As soon as the other guest was gone, he dropped a quick kiss onto the top of Jessica’s head. “To be continued,” he murmured. “Again.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Kelsey’s office was situated at the back of the lodge, facing the forest. He knocked on the doorjamb.

  “Enter at your own risk,” she called, with the same bluntness he vaguely remembered from last night. “I had a late night.”

  They stepped into the office. The casement windows were cranked open to let in the midday breeze, which danced in like a flower girl flinging rose petals. Ethan’s nostrils widened at the dizzying scent of peonies and roses and other floral fragrances he couldn’t identify.

  “Sorry for the late night part,” Ethan said.

  Kelsey rose from behind the desk, where she’d been frowning at a desktop computer. “Good morning, you two. How’d you find your suite?”

  He bumped Jessica’s shoulder slightly as he answered, “Outstanding in every way.”

  “Good, good. Ren said you want to interview me for a book.” She looked at Jessica, then back at Ethan. “Or is it both of you?”

  “It’s both of us.” With a quick glance at him, Jessica took charge. It was her cover story, after all. “I’m working on a historical book about unsolved mysteries in Lost Souls Wilderness. Ethan is my research assistant.”

  “I thought you were a baker.”

  “Oh, I am. But I’m also a lifelong resident of Lost Harbor and I like researching its history.”

  Nice save. He had to give her credit.

  But she still didn’t soften. “And I thought Ethan was a private investigator.”

  “Yes. Exactly. With a special interest in, uh, cold cases. I hired him to help on this book.”

  Kelsey perched on the edge of her desk and folded her arms across her chest. She wore a denim overshirt with the sleeves rolled up. “You must have some serious funding. His day rate is…” she whistled. “Sky high.”

  Goosebumps rose on Ethan’s skin. Something didn’t feel right here. Why had she looked into his day rate? “I made a deal with her,” he said lightly. “Recipes in exchange for my services.”

  That explanation went over like…well, like cold eggs. She adjusted her glasses. “Sounds unlikely. But it’s your business, not mine. What unsolved mystery in particular are you interested in?”

  Jessica glanced again at Ethan, but he gestured for her to take the lead. He watched Kelsey closely as Jessica posed her first question. “Were you here about fifteen years ago when a twin-engine plane crashed after taking off from the Aurora Lodge airstrip?”

  “I was. I had just started working here, in fact. So awful. A couple died. The…Berengers, I believe?”

  “Berensons.”

  “Right. The Berensons. Surprised I remember that much, it was so long ago.”

  “What else do you remember?” Ethan asked her.

  “I remember there were helicopters out here searching for the wreckage, but it was never found. Is that the mystery you’re writing about?”

  “Do you remember them at all? The Berensons?”

  Kelsey answered smoothly—maybe too smoothly? Ethan wasn’t sure, but he made note of it. “We get a lot of couples like that here. Wealthy older man, beautiful younger woman. I don’t recall any other details. I do remember that they left me a very generous tip. I was sad when I heard about the crash.”

  “Do you remember the other people working here back then?”

  “Oh no. That’s so long ago. But I can pull the employee records for you. They go back to the first year we were in business.”

  “That would be great,” Jessica said eagerly. “Especially any female employees.”

  Kelsey looked at her sharply. “Why female in particular? What would their gender have to do with the crash?”

  “Oh, well…” Jessica stammered, then glanced at Ethan for help.

  He was in charge of information flow, after all.

  “We understand that the Berensons were here to meet a young woman. We’re hoping to talk to her and see what she remembers.”

  Even though he was watching her closely, he didn’t notice any visible reaction.

  “Are you sure she was a staff member? Perhaps she was a guest.”

  “We were told she worked here.”

  “By who?”

  His mental alarm bells sounded. Why was she interrogating them?

  Kelsey checked her watch. “Sorry, I have to end this. New guests arriving. I’ll pull those employee records when I get back. I doubt they’ll help you much, so don’t get your hopes up.”

  Jessica shot him a disappointed glance. He decided to toss one more question out there before Kelsey left. “What about a drowning? Do you remember a case like that?”

  Finally, a reaction. Her head shot up. “What do you mean?”

  “We heard there was a couple that drowned somewhere in the area. Possibly in one of the lakes. Does that ring a bell?”

  She slowly came off the desk and stood facing them. “Where did you hear about this drowning?”

  Jessica piped up. “From a possible eyewitness.”

  Shit. He would not have shared that. First rule of investigating—never give out more information than absolutely necessary. Kelsey slid her gaze over to Jessica.

  “What did this eyewitness say?”

  Ethan surreptitiously touched Jessica on the arm, hoping she’d get the message to stay quiet. All of his red-alert systems were blaring now, and he didn’t trust Kelsey at all.

  “I’d have to check my notes,” Jessica said vaguely.

  He touched her arm again. Good girl.

  Kelsey studied them for a long moment, as if trying to decide what to do next. “You aren’t being straight with me. I don’t like that.”

  Jessica shot Ethan a pleading glance. He knew she wanted to trust Kelsey, just like she’d trusted Alastair at the cabin. And sure, life would be much easier if you could go around trusting everyone you came across. But that wasn’t reality. At least it wasn’t his reality.

  “What makes you think we have anything to hide?” He spread his hands open.

  “You didn’t mention anything about a book when you showed up last night. And then there’s this.” She reached behind her, into a desk drawer, and pulled out his Ruger. Still holstered, fortunately. “Weapons aren’t permitted inside the lodge.”

  “Did you search our room?” he demanded. “That’s illegal. We didn’t consent to a search.”

  “You aren’t paying guests. I comped you the suite.”

  “That’s a technicality.”

  She shrugged that off. “So sue me. The chambermaid knocked over your backpack and it fell out.”

  He didn’t believe that. Or maybe he did—he’d left his backpack a mess, after all. “I have a concealed carry license. It’s completely legal.”

  “Our policy is that all firearms are supposed to stay in a safe until they’re needed for hunting. And usually, they’re rifles. This—this thing makes me nervous.”

  “We didn’t know
the rules. Feel free to lock my gun up until we leave. It’s standard equipment for a PI, that’s all.”

  “Even one researching a book?”

  When he didn’t answer, she pointed the holster at them. He tensed, ready to snatch it from her hand if things got too weird. “Know something funny?”

  “What’s that?” he asked warily.

  “We have so few people out here in Lost Souls Wilderness that I’ve been deputized by the sheriff. I have the power to detain anyone I deem to be suspicious and hold them until law enforcement can get here.”

  “That’s interesting,” said Jessica, brightly. She didn’t seem to be picking up the same ominous vibe he was getting. “How many times have you had to do that?”

  “This will be the third.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Jessica watched in utter shock as Kelsey pulled a set of old-fashioned steel handcuffs from a desk drawer. “I’ve already alerted the Forest Service, so don’t waste time resisting. They’ll be here in a couple hours. Then you’ll be their problem.”

  “What the hell are you arresting us for?” Ethan demanded. “We have the right to know that. And a right to an attorney, a right to—”

  “I’m not arresting you. I’m detaining you until the forest rangers get here. But if you resist, that’ll change. Fast.”

  She slid one cuff around his wrist. Jessica could tell he was fighting with himself, wanting to object but not make things worse.

  “Why are you doing this? We’re not a threat. All we’ve done is ask questions.”

  Jessica finally found her voice. “We’re just trying to find—❞❞” Ethan kicked her in the ankle. “Ow.”

  “I’ll let law enforcement sort it all out.” She snapped the other cuff around Jessica’s wrist. The cold, impersonal steel pressed against her skin. “It’s like the wild west out here. I have to protect this lodge and my patrons. Sorry.”

  She strode toward a door that opened onto a smaller side room, possibly a storeroom. “Come on. In you go.”