Her Alaskan Hero

by Rebecca Thomas

  CHAPTER 14

  After staying with Melody for a couple of weeks and getting her finances in order, Sabrina decided she was ready to talk with Kyle. They met on the playground where they’d played in elementary school.

  Kyle’s tailored beige suit, Italian loafers, and pinstriped tie screamed success. He walked with a swagger Sabrina admired and maybe his confidence was what had attracted her to him in the first place. They sat on opposite ends of a teeter-totter, like they used to as kids. At least his amber eyes squinted in the sunshine and appeared to be somewhat remorseful.

  Sabrina spoke first. “My dad got to you, didn’t he?”

  “I’d been imagining what I’d say to you when I had the balls to see you in person,” he said. “And I’m not going to blame your dad. I’m a grown man and I make my own decisions.”

  “Cut the bull crap, Kyle. This is Sabrina you’re talking to. Hello?” She flung her leg over her end of the teeter-totter, so he hit the ground with a thud. “I’ve known you practically my entire life, so let’s be completely honest. Okay?”

  “Okay. Jeesh.” He stood up and rubbed his tailbone. “Your dad got to me.”

  “What did he promise you? Riches, gold, his first-born? No, that would be Susan. I’m his second-born. So he promised you his second-born, what else?”

  “Shut up, Sabrina.” He glared at her.

  She was glad to see a sliver of the old Kyle. She walked toward the swing set.

  “The truth is, I wanted his political connections. I have aspirations of a life in politics and I knew he could get me where I wanted to be faster than if I was on my own,” he said.

  “Oh my god. You never told me you wanted into politics, but I always wondered. I’d even seen some signs, but I ignored them.” She sat on one of the swings.

  “I didn’t tell you. I should have, but then you’d have thought I was only your friend as a means to get in.” Kyle sat in the swing adjacent to her.

  “Well, no shit Sherlock.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Like a volcano about to blow, heat encompassed her neck and face. “Why couldn’t you trust me? Why couldn’t you just ask me to help you? Hell, I could have helped on your campaign instead of being your flipping wife!”

  “I know. I don’t know why I couldn’t just be honest with you. But I’m being honest now. Would you work on my campaign?”

  “I absolutely will not work on your campaign. However, I will make a public appearance with you just so everyone knows we parted amicably.” Sabrina gripped the cool metal of the chain-linked swing.

  “Would you do that for me, Sabrina?” Kyle sighed. “It’s more than I deserve.”

  “Yes, it is way more than you deserve, but consider that I’m doing it for my family, not you, and when it comes time to advertise for my yoga studio, I’ll be coming to you for help.”

  “You’ve got it, but I never knew you wanted to open a yoga studio.” He twisted in his swing to face her.

  “I guess there were a lot of things we didn’t know about each other,” she said solemnly.

  “I guess not.”

  “Where do you plan on opening this studio?”

  That prickling sensation entered her body. The same one she’d experienced on her wedding day. The same one she experienced when she knew her days were numbered at the lodge. But this premonition was different from the rest. This time she knew she was making a decision that would change the rest of her life. And she knew without a shadow of doubt she was doing the right thing.

  Kyle glanced all around them. “What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.”

  “I know what I’m going to do.”

  “About what?”

  “My yoga studio. You asked where it’s going to be located.”

  “Okay. Where?”

  “Alaska.”

  He gave her a questioning gaze, a look she’d known as a dear friend since childhood. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

  “Nope.” She smiled so hard she swore her cheeks hurt. This is what it felt like to make a decision only for herself, only with her heart, without regard for what her family would think of her. “They need me there.”

  “You’ll make the public appearance with me first though, right?” Kyle asked. “So everyone doesn’t think I ran you out of town?”

  * * *

  ZAK WAS ADJUSTING to life as a new dog owner easier than he would have thought. He decided Sabrina had been placed in his life so he could get used to things being a mess, so by comparison, the dog seemed neat.

  Bunny became his constant companion. He strapped the kennel onto the four-wheeler and took her everywhere with him. He started a weekly Scrabble tournament at the lodge and he even won once. Reminders of Sabrina constantly harangued him, especially at night, but he was adjusting to life without her.

  He couldn’t resist watching the tennis channel when the Bryan Brothers played against Pete Sampras. How she managed to get the event aired on television he could only guess, but considering the way she’d wrapped all the residents of Gold Creek around her finger, it didn’t really surprise him. He admitted he didn’t care about the match, but he hoped for a glimpse of Sabrina in the crowd. He never saw her.

  One night, he invited Vince, Lenny, and Harold to the lodge for a guy’s night to watch Dane’s game against the L.A. Kings.

  They all sat down in front of the big screen with chips, salsa, and beer. Zak flipped through the channels. In one quick moment, he thought he saw Sabrina, but he figured he must have imagined it. Every time he turned around, he felt like he was seeing her.

  “Hey, go back,” Vince said. “Wasn’t that Sabrina?”

  “I think it was,” Ethan replied. “Back up.”

  Damn. It wasn’t his imagination, but a political talk show. Some kind of political analyst was interviewing Kyle Gerringer, and there was a photo of him and Sabrina embracing on the screen behind them.

  “The speculation is that you and Sabrina Tate are back together. At least that’s what the photo implies,” the talk show host said.

  “No, Sabrina and I are just friends. She will be attending my fundraiser tomorrow. And, between you and me, I’m holding out a little hope that maybe we can patch things up at some point in the future.”

  “Well, this photo makes you look extremely close. What are you hoping to accomplish at this event tomorrow?”

  Ethan pulled the remote from Zak’s hand and switched the channel to hockey.

  “You okay?” Ethan asked.

  Zak’s pulse pounded in his ears. He only saw red.

  “Travis, fly me to Fairbanks,” he said.

  “Sure thing, Bro. What do you have in mind?”

  “I’m going to L.A.” He didn’t know what he’d do once he got there, but he just knew he had to go. That guy would never patch anything up, ever. Not with Sabrina.

  Travis jumped off the couch. “Well, of course you are. Let’s go.”

  He followed Travis out of the room and heard Ethan grumble, “It’s about damn time.”

  On the flight to Fairbanks, Zak begrudgingly decided to pose the question to Travis. “Why didn’t you just say ‘go after her and bring her back’? You or Ethan never said a word.”

  Travis adjusted the mic from his head set away from his mouth. “Since when have you ever listened to us?”

  “You could have at least tried.” Then again, he didn’t need his brothers making decisions for him. He had decided to hop on a plane of his own accord.

  “Ethan and I discussed it. We knew you’d come around eventually.”

  “Yeah, well, in the meantime this bozo might have gotten back together with her.” Seeing that photo of her and Kyle together twisted his guts inside. He knew that guy wasn’t right for her, and if nothing else, he was going to tell her that.

  “I doubt that.” Travis gave him a sideways glance. “I wasn’t around Sabrina much, but she doesn’t seem the type.”

  “The type? Do you have any clue what type she is? She
grew up with housekeepers and cooks. She probably lives in a mansion.” Now he was doubting his decision to go after her. What was he really hoping to accomplish?

  “So?”

  “She’s not made for this kind of living. And can you see me living in L.A.?” He knew he could never live in the lower forty-eight states, but would she consider coming to Alaska, just to see if what they shared could stand up to a long cold winter?

  “Did you ever ask her to stay?” Travis said.

  “No.” His pride had never let him ask her, but he was determined to ask her now.

  “Well, then you need to do that.”

  “No, I plan on bringing her back. She needs to give us a chance.” He had to convince her to let them have a chance together.

  “You might consider a different approach.”

  “And what approach is that?”

  “How about blending into her world? Go to the political fundraiser they were just talking about on TV. You know she’ll be there. Charm her into coming back with you.”

  “It’s a thought.”

  “Dane’s in L.A. The timing couldn’t be better. He’s used to dressing the part and playing up to the rich folks. He has to do that shit as part of his contract. I’ll make sure he meets your flight in L.A. when you land. Don’t worry about a thing. Just remember, no caveman heroics, keep it simple.”

  “No caveman heroics. Got it.”

  * * *

  THE SLICK FABRIC of the turquoise silk cocktail dress hugged Sabrina’s body like a glove. The fundraiser for the start of Kyle’s official campaign to run for the California House of Representatives was under way. Each dinner plate cost five hundred dollars. Pretty small potatoes, but it was a start. She promised to help him get started, but then she was moving on with her new life.

  Part of her had to admit she’d miss the fancy dresses and champagne her life had afforded her up until this point. What woman didn’t love a beautiful dress? But she was more than ready to trade all that in for a new life with Zak. A real and genuine life that didn’t involve political favors and small talk, only keeping warm and snuggling by a particular river rock fireplace.

  “This thing is positively boring,” Melody commented.

  “You aren’t even trying to make conversations with anyone,” Sabrina scolded.

  “Well, unless my date was that guy…hubba hubba—will you take a look at him?”

  Sabrina spotted the man across the room and just about dropped her wineglass. Her mouth went dry. A wave of dizziness overcame her. She grabbed Melody’s forearm to steady herself. “That’s him,” she squeaked. “Oh, my god, he’s wearing a tux.”

  “That’s your Alaskan man? That’s Zak?” Melody’s eyes widened.

  She nodded her head. Her breath came out short and quick. Her belly somersaulted three times. “It’s just like Susan says.”

  “What is?” asked Melody.

  “She asked if my stomach did a flip when the man I loved walks into a room.” She sighed. “It does.”

  “Oh my god, no wonder you’re willing to freeze your ass in an igloo. Sign me up, honey, they’re must be more where he came from.” Melody’s gaze seemed pinned on Zak.

  “He’s got three brothers,” Sabrina said absently.

  “You didn’t tell me that! You’ve been holding out on me.”

  “What is he doing here?” Sabrina barely recognized her own voice. Melody was right. Zak looked like he just stepped off the cover of GQ magazine. His hair was slicked back with some kind of gel. Freshly shaven, not one stubble of beard showed. His gray-green eyes surveyed the room like a wolf searching for his mate, willing to pounce on anyone who stood in his way.

  “Looking for you, I imagine. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a set of shoulders like that in a tux. My mouth is positively watering. And you said he has brothers?”

  “Uh-huh. One of them is in L.A. right now. He plays for the Alaska Fury.”

  “What kind of friend are you? You know an NHL hockey player and I’m just now finding out about it? I’m about to crumple up our friendship card.” Melody took the glass out of Sabrina’s hand and set it on the white linen covered table. “He just spotted you. Oh. My. God. Look at how he’s looking at you.”

  “I know. He’s…he’s everything I’ve ever wanted.” Sabrina felt dizzy. She never imagined Zak here—in L.A. “He’s…is that Kyle headed his way to talk to him?”

  “Yes, looks like it. Have they met?”

  “No, but Zak must know who he is. This is a fundraiser for him, after all. They’re talking—Mel—we’ve got to get over there.” Sabrina pulled on Melody’s hand and she maneuvered through the people and tables as best she could without creating a scene.

  She saw Zak’s hand ball into a fist. She started to run.

  “No!” Sabrina called out.

  Zak leaned in close to Kyle.

  “Zak!” Sabrina yelled and grabbed his forearm. “Stop.”

  “Hello, sweetheart,” Zak said as he snaked his arm around her waist. “You look beautiful. I was just telling your friend that I should kick the shit out of him, but there are ladies present.”

  He took another step toward his victim. “And you will most certainly not be patching anything up with Sabrina.”

  Kyle glanced at the crowd forming around them. “Listen, mister…”

  “Forrester, Zak Forrester.”

  Sabrina stood dumbstruck, and from Melody’s expression, her friend was just as surprised by these two men as she was. “Stop. Both of you,” Sabrina said quietly. “You’re both acting like children.”

  The anxious crowd hovered around them. “Please, everyone, go back to your tables,” she called out. “Dinner will be served in ten minutes.” The talk would go on for weeks over this spectacle, but sometimes these kinds of impromptu antics could actually go in the candidate’s favor. “Okay, it’s over,” she said. “Kyle has paid his dues. Zak, please shake his hand.”

  “What the hell? He’s the guy who—”

  She whispered in his ear. “Just make nice for the cameras. Do it now. Please.”

  “I’ll do it, if you’ll come outside with me.” His eyes pleaded with her. “I’ve got something to show you.”

  Whatever she did, she needed to sit down first. Her legs wobbled and her heart raced. “Fine.”

  Zak extended his hand to Kyle and pasted on a brilliant smile. “No need to go outside. Friends?”

  Kyle took his hand and they appeared to grasp a little longer and a little harder than necessary. They moved closer to one another. Zak patted Kyle on the back and Sabrina swore she heard something about kick your ass. They parted and both of them were smiling.

  Publicity, Sabrina realized, could be manipulated in your favor if people handled it right. Hopefully, Kyle had the right people working for him.

  She allowed Zak to escort her outside. The corded muscles of his forearm grounded her among the chaos. “What are you doing here?”

  “Patience, my dear.”

  Outside the hotel, a black stretch limo was curbside with a driver standing in front.

  “You brought me out here to show me a limo?”

  “No.” Zak nodded to the driver, who opened the back door.

  Zak reached inside, then turned around. In his arms, he held her puppy, Bunny.

  Her heart beat so hard her chest hurt. “Bunny.”

  “She misses you. I miss you. We both want you to come home with us,” he said.

  She reached out to the puppy and took a deep gulp of air. “She’s gotten so big.”

  “Please, say you’ll come,” Zak said. “I know we are worlds apart, but I don’t want a world without you in it.”

  Words lodged in her throat and she couldn’t seem to talk.

  “The thing is…” he said, “I don’t want my towels hung up. I don’t want my toothpaste tube undented. Hell, I don’t even care if you beat me at Scrabble. I just want to be with you, beside you, sharing my life with you every day.”

 
Sabrina couldn’t hold back a half-laugh, half-sob. “I couldn’t agree more. I want to share my life with you too.”

  “You do?” Zak asked incredulously. “We need to talk about where we’ll live, because I could give L.A. a try. I’m willing to do that, if you don’t think you can live in Alaska.”

  Sabrina hugged Bunny tightly in her arms, and put her chin on the dog’s head. “You’re like gold hidden in the layers of Alaska’s bedrock, Zak. You’re a part of it. I could never ask you to leave. Not ever.”

  Zak took a step back. “So you’ll come with me?”

  She nodded.

  “Come here,” Zak embraced her with one arm, but not too hard because of Bunny.

  Zak kissed her and Bunny licked both their faces.

  Sabrina laughed. “I still can’t believe you’re wearing a tux and you flew all the way down here with Bunny.”

  “I figured if I couldn’t win you over, she could. She was my insurance policy.”

  Sabrina swallowed hard. “I love you, Zak.”

  Zak wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

  Sabrina leaned back. “I want to keep giving yoga classes and I want to make the lodge more female-friendly. We can talk about ways to bring more business in by creating some ladies-only events. Not during the hunting season, of course.”

  “Of course.” Zak tipped back his head and laughed. “I’m open to negotiations.”

  Zak took Bunny from her arms and set the dog inside the limo. “Should we go back inside, have dinner, and I’ll make nice with your ex fiancé?”

  “Sounds good to me,” Sabrina said. “Do you know I’ve never seen you in anything other than jeans and a tee shirt?”

  “You’ve seen me in my birthday suit.”

  Sabrina rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but I have to say you look so hot in that tux. And my other idea for the lodge is hot yoga. Have you ever heard of hot yoga?”

  Zak placed his hand at the small of her back as they walked back inside. “No, but I like the sound of it. Keep talking.”

  EPILOGUE

  TEN MONTHS LATER