Wild Card (Alaska Wild Nights Book 4)

by Tiffinie Helmer

And now Kennadee was engaged to Gideon Rasmussen, the town doctor. When Kennadee wasn’t off fighting some fire in the wilds of Alaska, she was usually with Gideon. They’d broken ground on their own place out by Sorene’s. Which left her alone in the big log home rambling around with her dad.

  With all the energy her dad put into matchmaking her sisters, he should be spending some of that on finding a woman for himself, Zoe thought. That would get him out of her hair. She knew he worried about her, but he didn’t need to.

  Granted, her actions last night hadn’t put her in a stellar light. Having sex with Trip had been reckless and impulsive. Unfortunately, those were the two things she had a reputation for. No thought whatsoever had gone into her actions. She’d acted purely on emotion.

  You aren’t going to think about that anymore, remember?

  Right.

  Leaving the one light to shine over the large table she’d set up, Zoe got to work on her latest painting. She’d stretched the length of silk and had drawn a scene of ravens over the variegated blues and greens she’d dyed earlier in the week. Once she’d produced enough of these, she wanted to show Cat and hoped she’d be willing to sell them in her new shop, the Mystic Heart.

  Hours flew by, and she entered the zone where nothing intruded but the creative work until she heard her dad holler.

  “Brey!”

  A smile appeared. Guess Brey hadn’t told their dad he was coming home either. She hadn’t asked, but now she was beginning to think Brey had snuck in last night when she’d been out and Jack had been in bed.

  Cleaning up her paints and brushes, she rushed downstairs, finding them in the kitchen. Her dad’s eyes were wet with tears.

  “Brey’s home!” his voice boomed.

  “I know. I found him last night.”

  “Why didn’t someone wake me?”

  “Figured you needed your beauty rest,” Brey said, from where he stood at the stove cooking bacon, sausage, and eggs.

  Finally, there was another cook in the house.

  Since Sorene had moved out, they hadn’t eaten well. Zoe didn’t have any desire to be in the kitchen unless it was to grab coffee. Coffee was about the only thing she could make with any amount of competency—that and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

  “Beauty rest,” Jack scoffed. “They don’t get much better looking than me.”

  True, Zoe thought. Her dad was still a very handsome man, more so than when he was younger, with the gray weaving artistically through his dark hair. He needed his beard trimmed, and a haircut wouldn’t hurt. But if there were a need for a GQ model of a rugged Alaskan man, Jack Wilde would rock the cover.

  “Good to see your self-esteem is still going strong,” Brey commented, stacking bacon on a plate and setting it on the counter with the rest of the food. He’d reached into the oven and pulled out a plate of pancakes.

  “Wow,” Zoe said. “If I wasn’t already so glad to see you, this breakfast would have sealed it.”

  “You two have starved since Sorene left I take it.”

  Jack grumbled in agreement around a full mouth. “Damn right.” He swallowed. “Been trying to survive on cereal and microwave vittles.” He indicated Zoe. “And this one eats most of her meals out. Hopefully, with you home, she’ll stick around more. That reminds me. Have you seen Trip lately?” he asked Zoe.

  Zoe choked on her bite of pancake, grabbing orange juice to help dislodge it. Gasping, she looked at Jack. “Why do you ask that? It’s not like we run in the same circles. You should be asking Ryder or Dare if you want any information on him.”

  Brey raised a questioning brow over Zoe’s response but kept quiet.

  “No reason. I just remembered how you used to follow him around all the time.” He tapped his temple. “The mind plays funny tricks when you get older. You remember the darndest things at the weirdest times.”

  “I might have followed him around then, but I have nothing to do with him now. Why do you ask?”

  “No reason.” A glint entered his crafty eyes, and Zoe straightened, suddenly horrified.

  “Don’t you even think about it.”

  “Think about what?” Jack tried for innocence and failed miserably.

  “You try your matchmaking voodoo on Trip and me, and you will be in for a world of hurt and disappointment. Besides, he still thinks of me as a kid.” Though he hadn’t treated her like one last night.

  “How do you think of him?” Jack asked.

  She felt her face flush with heat, and both her dad’s and Brey’s attention sharpened. “I’m not ready for a serious relationship with anyone.”

  “Hmm,” Jack hummed as if he knew better. Thankfully he changed the subject. “Are you catching a ride with me into work today?”

  “No. In fact, I’ll be late getting in. There are some things I need to take care of this morning.”

  “Like what?”

  “Personal things,” she stressed.

  “What is it lately with you and all the personal time?” Jack asked.

  “It’s personal, Dad.”

  “Any other employee taking as much personal time as you do wouldn’t still be working for me.”

  “You know I’m trying to find another place to work.” Which fit into her plan, so it wasn’t really a lie. Plus, now that Trip had lost her the job at Ticker Tavern, she really was in need of another.

  “You can work at Wilde Log Homes as long as you want. There’s no need to find something else.”

  “No offense, Dad, but I don’t want to work for you. I love you, but I don’t see my future there.”

  “I know, Wild Card. I just wish you had an idea of where your future was going.”

  “I’m working on it.” Geez, she was tired of this conversation. It wasn’t only Jack who constantly brought up the subject, but Sorene and Cat too.

  Jack ruffled her hair like he had when she was a little girl. “Well, I’m off then. Brey, what are your plans? Want to have lunch?”

  “I thought I would stop in later, but I’d like to surprise the others first. I need to see Sorene’s house that I’ve heard so much about and Catriona’s new shop.”

  “We need to plan a family dinner,” Jack said.

  “I’m on it. I’ll even cook,” Brey offered. “Do you have any salmon in the freezer?”

  Jack scoffed. “Do I have any salmon? Where do you think you are, Wild Star?”

  Brey laughed. “Stupid question. I should be at Wilde Homes around one. Sound good?”

  “Perfect. I’ll see you both later.” Jack left Brey alone with Zoe.

  She felt his stare bore into her. “What’s up with you, Zoe?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I don’t buy it. Did something happen between you and Trip Hunter?”

  Brey had always been too perceptive. Obviously, that hadn’t changed. “Nope. Why don’t we talk about you? Why have you returned home? You said you’re here to stay. Why is that? I thought things were going really well for you in Nashville.”

  He clammed up, turning to busy himself cleaning up the kitchen. “Just missed home. Plus, I can write songs here the same as there.”

  “Somehow I don’t think you’re telling me everything.”

  He turned back to face her. “I guess that makes two of us, doesn’t it?”

  Point taken.

  They shared a look, both deciding to back down for now. They’d always been able to do that. Brey was four years older than she, but with the twins born right after him, a lot of attention had gone to them. When Zoe’s birth had surprised everyone, Brey had latched onto her, taking her under his wing, and a special bond had been forged. She was closer to him than any of her siblings, since her sisters had more of a hand in raising her than actually being her sister. Lately, with the three of them falling in love, that seemed to be changing.

  “I’m off,” Brey said. “Will I see you tonight?” The rest of his question went unasked, like would she be out dressed in a wig and face paint, staying out until the wee
hours of the morning?

  “I’ll be here. Tell everyone hi for me.”

  “Will do, and you stay out of trouble.”

  “What? Me?” She feigned innocence.

  “Yes, you.” He tapped her nose with his finger and left her to put away the leftover food and clean up the kitchen. A small price to pay for having a decent breakfast for a change.

  Once she heard him drive away, she picked up her phone and dialed Derek. He answered on the first ring. “Coast is clear,” she said.

  “See you in five.”

  Chapter 6

  “How much time do we have today?” Derek asked when Zoe opened the door for him. He was dressed in tight jeans, with a layered-knit, purple sweater over a lime-green t-shirt. His flaxen hair, shaved short on the sides but left long on the top, gleamed in the light. It was always falling in his hazel eyes, and he had the adorable bang flip down. When they worked he would clip it up or tie it into a small man-bun.

  “We have a problem,” Zoe said as they hurried upstairs. “Well, not really a problem. More of a complication. Brey returned from Nashville last night and is staying here. We might have to show him what we’re up to and make him promise to keep quiet since he’ll be underfoot.”

  Derek stopped mid-step. “Brey? He’s the hottest one of your hot brothers.” Derek laid his hand over his heart. “You sure he doesn’t swing my way?”

  “Sorry, sweetie. I wish he did. I’d love you as a brother-in-law.”

  “Oh, me, too, girlfriend.” They continued into the sewing room, shutting the door behind them and locking the door.

  For years Zoe and Derek had talked of doing this. Her producing her painted fabrics, and him using them to design clothes. Finally, they were doing it. Each had attended a semester at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, and quickly realized that they were wasting their time there when they could be starting their own business. Their main problem was cash. Neither of them had much and were taking any job they could find to earn funds to buy the equipment and supplies they needed to produce enough inventory for a showing.

  “We have another problem,” Zoe said. “I no longer work at Ticker Tavern.”

  “What happened?”

  Quickly she filled him in on the night before and what happened with Trip. She told him all of it.

  With Derek she didn’t need to keep secrets, and neither did he. They’d been each other’s confidant and armchair therapist since Derek had come out to her in freshman year. Being gay in Alaska was harder than in the lower forty-eight because most of the men were straight as Sitka spruce. Derek’s goal was to head to New York City with his designs, and he was talented enough to make a splash. So was she, though she knew New York wasn’t for her. She loved Alaska and her family, where Derek couldn’t wait to get away from here and his overbearing father.

  Her talent was in painting, and her medium fabric. She could do that anywhere. And once she had enough designs in her portfolio, and the means to have them printed, Derek could take them and do his magic. So far, she’d found a business “Outside” that would print them for her and mail them to Alaska, but the cost was expensive. She also needed a better computer to support the design program she required and hoped to purchase the one she had her eye on for the last month. Now that was pushed back thanks to Trip.

  “You had sex with Trip Hunter?” Derek said in awe. “Oh my God. How was he? Tell me all the deets.”

  “It was good. Better than good. It was great. How I wished being with him had sucked.”

  “Next time you can add in the suck.” Derek winked at her.

  “Not helping. You know I’ve always had a crush on him. Now, what am I going to do?”

  “Sleep with him again, get him out of your system so you can move on to Mr. Right.”

  “What if he’s my only Mr. Right?”

  “Like I said, sleep with him again. And again, and again.”

  “Derek, did you not hear the part where he’s sorry we had sex. And that is all it was. Sex. There was no real emotion to it, for heaven’s sake, we went at each other like wild animals in the cab of his truck. From start to finish, it was probably over in five minutes.”

  Derek shuddered. “I love wham-bam sex.” At her growl, he sobered. “Okay, okay, I’ll get serious. You said he followed you home afterward. That shows he cares, he just doesn’t want to admit it. If you want a relationship with him, you need to put yourself in his way. He’s tried to ignore you all these years, but the way he went for you tells me he’s been in denial. Time to tempt the beast to come out and play.”

  Could she put herself out there again and risk her heart even more? She’d been in love with Trip since forever. She couldn’t remember a time she hadn’t been. But was what she felt really love or just a case of wild infatuation?

  “I don’t know, Derek.” She worried her lower lip.

  “I have an idea that will show his hand.” A sly glint entered his eyes. “My dad had a talk with me about marrying you.”

  “Marrying me? What are you talking about?”

  “Apparently, some of the fathers in town have taken notice of what your dad has been up to and are attempting to play matchmaker too. Dad had a long talk with me about putting a ring on your finger before someone else snapped you up. I’m sure if Trip saw us cozy at the Pump House, it would bring out his inner beast.”

  Derek hadn’t come out to anyone but her. She didn’t know how the citizens of Heartbreak—let alone his family—hadn’t figured out that Derek batted for the other team. She’d helped him keep the falsehood alive by pretending to date him, when really their nights out were more like girlfriend gettogethers.

  “You think I should try and make him jealous?”

  “Uh, yeah. Come on, Zoe, you know it’s a good plan. Let’s do it.”

  “I’m not into manipulation.”

  “We wouldn’t be manipulating anyone. Just having dinner, some dancing, two really close friends enjoying each other’s company. What Trip does about that has really nothing to do with either of us.”

  “I don’t know. He really regretted what happened between us last night. I don’t want to go through that again.”

  “Okay, look at it this way. You don’t want him to know he hurt you, right?”

  Zoe nodded.

  “What better way than to be out on the town on a Friday night with me? If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t. Consider this you faking it until you make it.”

  He had a point. “You’re on.” Lord, she hoped she didn’t regret this.

  Derek picked up the off-the-shoulder dress with the short flirty skirt he’d been working on with the abstract dragonfly fabric in purples and blues she’d designed. “You’ll wear this. I should have it finished today.”

  “We weren’t going to show any of the pieces until we had a collection.”

  “No one will know where it came from. Come on, let me play fairy godmother. Pretty please, Cinderella.”

  She laughed at that. Why the hell not?

  Getting dressed up and going out just might be what she needed. Staying at home wallowing wouldn’t do the trick. “Fine, but you have to leave your magic wand at home.”

  He gave her a phony pout. “Spoilsport.”

  “This will probably be a waste of time anyway. In order for your plan to work, Trip will need to be there. How are you going to make that happen?”

  “I have my ways.”

  “You can’t call in a bogus crime.” She’d be mortified if Derek lured Trip to the Pump House that way.

  “No bogus crime, promise. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. I have this covered too. Now strip so I can see what alterations I need to make on the dress. It needs to fit you like a second skin.”

  Chapter 7

  Trip entered the Pump House and searched the packed pub for his dad. He’d been surprised by the request for them to meet. It was out of character for Vance Hunter to call him up and suggest getting a beer together. It’d been a while since
they’d done any type of father-son activity. Usually it was fishing on the Tanana or Vance needing help with some outdoor project, like cutting firewood for the winter.

  He hoped something wasn’t wrong. His dad was getting up there in age. He’d turned fifty-three on his last birthday. Trip had never thought of his dad aging since he seemed capable of anything. He located him in a corner booth that gave him a view of the pub. Still a cop at heart, never sitting with his back to the room.

  “Hey, Dad,” Trip greeted, taking a seat across from him, adjusting the gun on his duty belt. A cold brew already sweated in front of his dad along with an order of reindeer sliders the Pump House was famous for.

  “’Bout time you showed. I was starting to think you’d stood me up.”

  “I had to finish a call that went long,” he explained, which was also why he was still in his Alaska State Trooper blue-and-gold uniform. Time hadn’t allowed for him to go home and change.

  “Anything I should know about?”

  Trip smiled. He’d never met a man more curious than his father—well, maybe himself. Vance had passed that quality onto him, after all. Only now, Vance researched unsolved cases, writing about them, and in the process, he ended up solving more than a few.

  “Just following up on a lead.”

  “That’s all you’re going to tell me? You know I live vicariously through you now that I’m retired.”

  “You wouldn’t know how to be retired if you tried.”

  “True.” Vance nodded.

  The waitress came by, and Trip ordered a soft drink. While he was technically off duty and could indulge in a beer, he was still in uniform, and enjoying a beer while wearing it didn’t sit well with him.

  After the waitress left, he placed his forearms on the table and leaned forward. “So, what’s up?”

  “What do you mean, ‘what’s up?’”

  “I can’t remember a time you asked me to meet you for a beer. Share a few at home in front of the game, yes, but it really isn’t like you to venture out for one.”

  “I haven’t turned into that much of an introvert.”