“Pizza will be here soon,” Mel announced. “Snacks, food, gifts, and entertainment. Everyone grab a drink. Wine, sangria, and if you want something else, the bar is around the corner.” She watched the gift table fill up.
People chatted. Mel turned on the portable radio the men had loaned her for her workroom. Were her men watching strippers? Drinking beer and playing poker? Hell, it was Alaska; they could be doing something odd like hunting for a fresh pair of antlers. The stripper idea bothered her, but she resisted the urge to text them.
Isa marched up to Mel. “Tell me Ryan isn’t going to sneak in to tape this.”
Grinning with confidence, Mel shook her head. “I made it very clear there would be no cameras here. If he tries anything, I’ll go over and delete it.”
“Good. Some mystery is important.” Isa downed a glass of her favorite sangria. “I’m so lucky!”
Bethany jumped into the conversation. “You are. They’re both so cute. How do I snag a group of my own?”
Gretchen rolled her eyes and smacked Bethany’s shoulder. “Stop it, Bethany. It’s not your party. You have no trouble attracting men.”
“But getting more than one for forever. It’s like magic, and they adore her.” Bethany sipped her wine.
Melody grabbed a diet soda; she’d save drinking alcohol until she had food. “They do adore Isa. It’s a nice tradition around here, but finding the right combination must be tricky.”
Bethany shot Mel a catty look. “I think you’re getting along great with those guys you’re always around.”
“I’m invading their space. Of course they’re nice to me. Dale is the best man, and I’m doing the dresses for his future sister-in-law.” Mel hugged Isa to hide behind her for defense.
“Exactly,” Gretchen agreed. “You don’t even know those men, Bethany. Find new ones. They’re clearly only interested in Mel.” She drank a soda in between snacking on the chips.
Isa turned and looked at Mel. “What is going on?”
“Lots of dressmaking. They make boats. We grab lunches and sometimes dinners.” Mel drummed her freshly polished nails on the soda can. “Friends with benefits.”
“I knew it!” Bethany knocked back her wine and refilled the glass.
Isa went to soothe the competitive friend. “Stop it. There are plenty of men around here who’d kill to have you.”
“You have a whole reception to seduce a group. Maybe you’ll get four?” Gretchen added.
“I like leaving it up to fate.” Isa shrugged and surveyed the snacks. “I fell into their arms. You might not believe in fate, but I do now. And Mel wasn’t thrilled to be stuck with those three at first. I looked like a drowned rat the first time I met my men. It’s not always something you plan.”
“Falling for the coast guard heroes that rescued you.” Gretchen beamed. “To Isa!”
A dozen or so women lifted glasses and toasted the bride. Mel ducked away to handle the pizza guy. As he left, her phone buzzed. She glanced at it before opening the pizza boxes. “Dinner is served, ladies. Calories don’t count today!”
She read the message from Ryan: Don’t play with the strippers too much!
She texted a reply warning them not to enjoy their strippers either. She’d just admitted there would be a stripper. Were they shocked or impressed? Didn’t matter. The guy wasn’t for her. Mel hadn’t planned on it, but since Homer had a stripper service, she felt obligated to go traditional for the party.
Two ladies entered. Mel vaguely recognized them. They weren’t from Alaska.
Isa stopped cold before hugging the women. “Eve and Amy. What are you doing here? I can’t believe you came all this way.”
The rest of the party, with plates full of pizza and snacks, settled in around the table to eat. Mel put a few extra sodas and a bottle of wine on the table to make everything accessible as she watched Isa chat.
Eve and Amy were Isa’s cousins. Mel grabbed a couple glasses of wine and headed over. “Welcome!”
Isa threw Melody an uneasy look. “I’m not sure they’re staying.”
“We came because we couldn’t believe it. Word is, there are two grooms,” Eve said.
Amy shook her head. “That’s illegal…and crazy.”
Isa chewed her lower lip and looked down. “So you came all the way up here to tell me that? Are you going to ruin the wedding too?”
“No, of course they’re not.” Melody inched forward. “This sort of relationship is tradition around here. If they ruin the wedding, they’ll be run out of town. Tossed into the freezing water, maybe?”
“Tradition?” Eve scoffed.
“It is.” A couple of women got up from the table and stood behind Isa. “If you don’t like it, leave.”
Gretchen joined in. “They’re just jealous because they each only have one husband.”
Mel pointed to the door. “That’s their problem. We won’t put up with anything that ruins the celebration. If you can’t keep quiet and be nice, don’t come to the wedding.”
“You’re not the bride; you don’t get to decide.” Amy folded her arms.
Melody saw Isa’s resolve building, but tonight Mel was the hostess. “The wedding is up to her. I’m in charge of this event, and you’re officially uninvited. Please leave.”
The two left, muttering to each other. Luckily, as they exited, the stripper, dressed in a coast guard officer’s uniform, entered.
“What did you do?” Isa blushed a deep red.
The other women cheered.
Mel shrugged. “Nothing much. Homer had some better options than Sterling. Forget about the cousins and enjoy the stripper.”
“Wait, first. Before I forget. I want to give you the rings so I don’t lose them.” Isa went over to her purse.
Mel followed. The stripper flirted with the women as they waited for the guest of honor to return to the table. Isa handed over the ring box and exhaled. Mel opened it and saw two bands. “They’re gorgeous. I’ll keep them safe. Go enjoy!”
After she secured the rings in her purse, Mel grabbed some pizza. She was tired of being responsible. She could handle the pressure of making dresses, but people now knew about her and the trio. She had rings to protect and guests to keep an eye out for. She blocked out her worries and focused on pizza. Gretchen lingered with her.
“Three men. Really?” Gretchen asked.
Mel smiled. “It just sort of happened.”
“Good for you.” Gretchen looked around. “Can we talk?”
Finally! Mel had been waiting to hear what was wrong, but forcing information out of Gretchen was impossible. “Sure.”
Gretchen led the way to the hall so the stripper wouldn’t try to lure them into the fun. Mel saw his shirt come off before she left the room. “What’s wrong?”
“I wanted to know when you need the money for tonight. Money is a little tight.” Gretchen refused to look Mel in the eye.
Mel could relate. The cost of living here was much higher. “Things here are more expensive. Don’t worry about it. Whenever you have it.”
Gretchen nodded. “Thanks.”
Then Mel saw the tears in her eyes.
“What? It’s more than the money,” Mel pressed.
“I don’t want to bring down the party. Let’s get back to the dancer.” Gretchen turned for the door.
Mel stood in her way. “No. What happened? The full story. You’ve been acting odd since you got here. I want the whole truth.”
Gretchen sighed, and her sad face turned angry. “I worked my ass off at that place for eight years. From right out of college, and then two years ago, they laid me off. It was out of the blue. I tried to find something else.”
“I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you say anything?” Mel asked.
“I should’ve known. Detroit is awful. You moved. Everyone was saying I should too, but our company was hanging in there.” Gretchen nibbled on a piece of pizza.
Mel understood the desire to cling to what was familiar, even if it w
asn’t working. Her parents had been married all her life, and when they divorced, it’d thrown her. That freshman year of college was a mess of bad boyfriends and partying. Family should be able to be counted on, but in business… “Loyalty isn’t rewarded anymore. That sucks, but it’s true. No good prospects? In other cities?”
“I’ve tried. Grand Rapids—hell, anywhere in Michigan. Chicago. Solid professional jobs are hard to find. I didn’t tell my parents, and unemployment kept me afloat while I looked. Now I’ve drained my savings, and I’m going to have to move in with my parents. How pathetic.” Gretchen’s face scrunched.
Mel took the pizza from Gretchen, then hugged her. “Forget about the party. I don’t need the money. I wish I knew a good headhunter or could help some way.”
“You are. I couldn’t tell Isa and ruin her celebration. Bethany is only interested in scoring a group of men. You’re so busy; I feel terrible. You should enjoy your new relationship.” Gretchen pulled back and wiped her eyes. “I’ll find a job somewhere. It’s wonderful to have a happy event to focus on instead of endless job hunting.”
Mel didn’t believe the instant mood change for a second. Still, she had to be encouraging. “That’s the spirit. You will find the perfect thing. Maybe you’ll find the perfect guy too? There are plenty around here.”
“You’ve got three.” Gretchen giggled. “How is it?”
Grinning, Mel told the truth. “Amazing. They’re great and sexy. It’s like a fantasy.”
“I could use a bit of that since I’ve just been moping around here.” Gretchen rubbed her forehead.
Mel had to agree. A loud series of cheers and screams from inside drew her attention. “There’s still a stripper in there to enjoy. The big wedding is right around the corner, and between my dress and Bethany’s makeup and hair talents, you’ll look amazing. Show that positive, happy side of yourself, and you’ll attract the right thing. Men and jobs.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Gretchen opened the door.
Mel caught sight of the muscular man stripped down to his underwear. They headed back in for the fun. The money wasn’t a big deal. Although her business was affected by the economy, she’d managed to put money away over the years. Mel wished she had a connection of some sort to help her friend. Gretchen’s parents had always been critical of her weight and lack of dating. Living with them as an adult would be torture.
* * * *
Three hours later, Melody hadn’t touched the wine or sangria. She’d stuck to caffeinated beverages and pizza to avoid doing anything dumb. The stripper was hot, but she preferred her men. As she cleaned up, Gretchen and Bethany helped Isa with her haul of naughty gifts.
It was after three when her cell phone buzzed. Which of her men was drunk dialing her? She found a text from Dale asking her to come by when she was done.
She returned a text, asking if they were drunk. He replied: Not at all. We miss you. Strippers are sleazy.
Grinning, she replied: Maybe. Although she had fittings in the afternoon tomorrow, she wanted to be with the guys.
Once the room was cleaned up and everyone was gone, she grabbed her purse. She checked on the rings as she fished her keys out of her purse. Still there. She swung by her room and threw a change of clothes into a shoulder bag. She changed from heels to the boots the guys had bought her. Perfect for her and practical—just like her guys.
In ten minutes, she was on the road, driving to the guys’ home. The winding roads were icy, so she went cautiously. The trees and bushes were thick on some sides and in the spring and summer, according to the men, would contain bears. No doubt there were wolves and all sorts of animals roaming.
She turned a curve slowly to avoid fishtailing on the ice. Something huge and dark darted out in front of her. Hitting the brakes on instinct, she tried to turn off the road. The thud was terrifying. Nothing like hitting another car; it was like colliding with five massive deer at once. Air bags deployed, and her neck ached from the impact.
She put the car in park and groped for her purse. Calling her guys was all she could think about. They’d know what to do.
Chapter Six
Jason prayed Melody was truly unhurt. He was on the phone with his brothers as Dale drove to the accident. Ryan was prepping his camera. As if Mel wanted to remember this.
The moose lay on the hood of her rented sedan. It was thin from the lack of food in the winter, but it wasn’t a baby. Dale parked the car and put his flashers on. Jason and Ryan got out of the car, cautious of the slick road. She was still in the car, which was smart, considering the cold weather.
She opened the door as soon as she saw them.
“Thank God!” She hugged Jason tightly.
He held her and rubbed her back. The plans he’d had earlier, before the accident, had been very X-rated. Now he needed to know she wasn’t hurt. “You okay?”
She nodded and shifted to kiss Ryan. “Put that camera away. The air bags did their job. It bolted out of nowhere!”
Dale was inspecting the damage to the rental. “You’re lucky that thing hit low.”
She walked carefully over in the boots and hugged him. “Who do we call?”
Jason smiled as he heard the sirens. “They’re on their way.”
The police car and ambulance pulled up behind her rental. Jason went over and chatted with them first. His brother Bruce stepped out of the car as his other brother, Tony, climbed out of the ambulance.
“Melody, these are my brothers. Bruce and Tony. Don’t worry about a thing.” Jason kissed her quickly to make sure the relationship was clear. New women in town weren’t single for long.
She blushed and rubbed her gloved hands together. “Hi. Small town. I don’t know what happened; it came out of nowhere.”
“It’s pretty common. Tony can check you out. You had your seat belt on? Not speeding?” Bruce took a few pictures.
“No on the speeding. It’s icy enough. Yes on the seat belt. The air bag gave me a headache. That poor moose is dead. I just feel awful.” Tony shined a light in her eye, took her pulse, and manipulated her neck.
“Any pain?” Tony asked.
“No, just a little ache from the air bag.” She moved her arms and touched her toes as if to prove she was unhurt.
“Drinking tonight?” Bruce asked.
Jason gave her a look that said don’t lie. Everyone in town knew the bachelor and bachelorette parties were tonight.
“Not me. I had lots of women in a room with a stripper and alcohol. Someone had to be responsible. No drinkers drove home.” She glanced at the animal. “What do you do with it?”
Bruce smiled. “I’ve called in a charity to pick it up.”
“Charity?” She looked at Jason in confusion.
He hugged her from behind. “The meat freezes right away at these temps. It’ll be butchered and the meat given to the needy. Don’t be upset. It probably got spooked, darted into the street, and slid on the ice at the wrong time. It happens a lot.”
Ryan came up with the camera. “How does it feel to be a real Alaskan now?”
She frowned at him. “I didn’t mean to hit it. I’d never hunt anything.”
Tony wrote some notes on a form. “This isn’t hunting. Accidents happen. The animals are just a bit bigger here. The car is totaled.”
“I’ve got a tow truck on the way,” Bruce said. “The rental place will get you a new one in a day or two. I’m sure Jason and the guys will see you home safely.” He leaned in and again shined his light in her eyes.
Mel snorted. “I’ll take a Breathalyzer if you want.”
“No. You’re good. I’m just doing my job. Everyone knows what you were up to tonight. The wedding is the big winter event in Sterling.” Bruce pulled flares out of his car and lit them around the rental. “Get your stuff and go home. Get out of the cold. I’ll wait for the tow and the charity.”
Tony shook her hand, then gave her a piece of paper. “If you’re stiff and sore after a couple of days, hit the clinic f
or a checkup. Nice meeting you.”
“Nice meeting you guys too. Wish it were under better circumstances.”
Jason stepped out of the way to let Ryan film the inside of the car and grab her purse and overnight bag. This was too close a call.
Ten minutes later, they were back home. Jason held her tight as she drank coffee with some form of alcohol in it back home. Dale sat on her other side while Ryan transferred the footage. Ryan sighed and finally allowed himself to relax.
“You had to video that?” she asked.
Ryan winked at her and played it back. “The locals will love it. An outsider hitting a moose right after the bachelorette party will make you a favorite. Too bad you didn’t have the stripper in the car with you. Trust me—it’ll be a highlight of the event.”
“Why would I bother with one stripper when I have three men who like me?” She snuggled closer. “I feel so dumb.”
Jason stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. “You’re not dumb. It happens a lot. The winter means less food. Moose wander with less caution. Tons of native Alaskans hit moose and bears every year. That’s why charities are ready to get the meat as soon as they get the call.”
Dale massaged her feet and slid his hand up her calf. “You didn’t panic, and you’re not hurt. That’s all that matters. At that hour, it’d be dark back in Michigan too.”
“True, but it’d only be a deer. That can total a car, but the moose was massive.” She rubbed her eyes and set the cup on the coffee table. “Sunlight sounds really good right now. Home with a fast-food franchise and a big mall.”
Jason flipped on another light. “It was a rough night. Some sleep and you’ll feel better.”
“How do you take all this dark and cold? Nothing for miles.” She yawned.
Ryan abandoned his computer, then straddled her legs. He kissed her. “Anchorage is only a plane ride away. You got a stripper here from somewhere. We can’t be that close to the end of the world.”
She laughed. “Homer had a few male strippers and wineries. I was surprised. I think I just need to go home. I feel like I’m in everyone’s way or trying to fix things when I don’t know how.”
Sterling New Year Page 7