Alaska Heart

by Christine DePetrillo

  Tall. A thick crop of chestnut hair. Solid, athletic build expertly filling a pair of blue jeans and a green ski jacket. He appeared to be talking to someone behind him, but when he walked into the tavern, he was alone. The perfect green eyes that connected with mine made my throat go dry, my heart drum in my chest.

  Oh, Goddess. It. Was. Him. He looked even better than his picture on the poster at Moose Point.

  The easy smile that slid across his face was inviting, and I automatically returned the gesture, though the voice inside my head ordered me to run. He strolled toward me and sat on the stool beside me.

  “Hi,” he said. I almost couldn’t hear him over my pulse roaring in my ears.

  “Hi.” I swiveled my own stool to face him. Bold move. For me.

  “How were the chicken wings?” The shadow of a beard played along the smooth skin of his jaw. My gaze wandered to his lips.

  “Who says I had chicken wings?” I usually didn’t say two words to men, and here I was flirting with a superb specimen. With sled-dog16! The green of his eyes—real jade green—had me transfixed.

  “I’ve never seen you in here before.” He tapped his fingers on the edge of the bar. “Visitors usually come for the wings. After a couple of visits, people figure out that everything coming from the kitchen here is delicious, so they explore the entire menu.”

  “Everything here tastes as good as those chicken wings?” Even you? He looked as if he could be quite tasty.

  “Ram’s a kitchen magician. He can barbecue a tire and make it taste like heaven.” A woodsy smell floated around him as he took off his coat. I inhaled deeply, suddenly contented.

  “I assume you’re a regular?” I coiled a strand of hair around my fingers as I’d seen Meg do when she was out for the kill. What was I doing?

  He laughed—a husky, pleasant sound—and said, “Yeah, I’m—”

  “One slice of chocolate cake coming up,” Ram’s booming voice interrupted.

  We both turned to face the opening kitchen door.

  My mouth watered at the dessert Ram carried. Dark chocolate frosting glistened on a hunk of cake. Ram had to be psychic. That cake was exactly what I would have picked from the menu.

  When Ram turned toward us, his face beamed more brightly as he looked at the man beside me.

  “Well, well,” he roared. “The celebrity has come to grace us with his magnificence.”

  “Okay, okay,” Internet hottie said. “Take it down a notch, will ya, Dad?” He turned to me. “Please excuse my father.”

  Now that I looked at the two of them and back at the picture of Ram’s wife, I saw the family resemblance. Especially in the smiles.

  “A father can’t help but be proud. Don’t ruin my fun, boy.” Ram puffed out his chest as he placed the cake in front of me. He gestured his hand toward the man, whose cheeks had pinked slightly, making him look boyishly handsome. “Alanna Cormac, meet Dale Ramsden, Junior, my son.”

  I shook hands with the man, a warmth flowing from his hand to mine. I held on for a few moments, savoring the feel of his rough fingers against my smooth ones. A brace covered a good portion of his right wrist.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said, even though we had technically already met electronically. No need for him to know that. I gestured to his wrist. “I hope you didn’t hurt yourself.”

  “It’s just a sprain.” Dale shrugged one shoulder as he released my hand.

  “Just a sprain?” Ram shouted, as I shoveled a piece of cake into my mouth. “The boy sprained it winning the Iditarod.”

  “No kidding?” I managed. “The Iditarod. Hear that’s the toughest race on Earth.”

  Again, Dale shrugged, looking a little embarrassed by the attention. Shit, he was adorable. Now that I had a face—a gorgeous one—and a voice to put with the emails, I was enthralled by the total package.

  I took another bite of cake. Damn, it tasted like no other cake I’d eaten. Rich, sweet, a dream. Not unlike the man sitting beside me.

  “What do you do?” Dale asked, no doubt trying to get the focus off him.

  My mind flicked through a mental file cabinet of things I could tell him, but before I could finish chewing my cake and choose one, Ram answered.

  “She writes for Gaia.”

  Dale’s eyes popped open, and cake spewed from my mouth as I choked on bits of chocolate. I had sucked in a huge breath, inhaling cake along the way, at the mention of Gaia. Wasn’t ready for that cat to come out of the bag yet. Wasn’t sure I was going to let it out of the bag at all actually. No choice now.

  I hacked as I struggled for air. Had to look disgusting. Face red, neck veins bulging, eyes tearing, chocolate-coated teeth…oh, Goddess.

  I dared to shoot a watery glance at Dale. Shit, he was good-looking, and now he knew who I was.

  “Dad,” Dale got up from his stool. “Get her water.”

  Ram sprang into action, filling a tall glass with water and handing it to Dale.

  “Here. Try this.” Dale passed the glass to me. I took it, but considered choking to death a better alternative than the humiliation that was certain to follow. Dale placed his hand on my back and rubbed, trying to comfort. His touch sent a shockwave through my body, and more ragged coughing exploded from my chest.

  “Alanna,” Ram said. “Look at me.”

  I raised tear-filled eyes and connected with Ram’s pale blue ones. “In and out. Nice and slow. Get control. You can do it. I won’t have anyone as pretty as you choking on my chocolate cake.”

  I couldn’t help laughing, which only added to my strained panting. I managed to slip in a swig of water and slow my breathing a bit. My coughing subsided, and I patted the sweat off my forehead with the extra napkins Ram had plopped in front of me.

  “You okay?” Ram’s voice reflected both concern and humor.

  I nodded. Dale sat beside me again, his hand still lingering on my back. I didn’t mind it there.

  Ram pointed to Dale. “Thought he was going to have to do CPR on ya.”

  “Might still have to.” Dale smirked. “Can’t have you dying here. Be bad for Dad’s business, Gaia-girl706.”

  Throw my coat on and leave. That’s what I should have done. My body, however, refused to move. If I moved, Dale would take his hand away. If Dale took his hand away, I might not like that. Besides, his damn eyes were so captivating—everything about him was so captivating—that I didn’t want to leave. Couldn’t leave.

  “Don’t you get Gaia, Dale?” Ram said.

  “Yeah.” Dale grinned. “And I think they just sent me a special gift for renewing my subscription.”

  Chapter Six

  Dale’s eyes flickered with amusement as he studied me. I tried to think of something to say—anything to say—but my mind was lost, and my throat was scratchy.

  “Gaia-girl706,” he said again, letting his hand slip from my back. He folded his arms across his chest, the grin on his lips widening with each passing moment.

  I cleared my throat and rasped, “Hi, Sled-dog16.”

  “You came.” He whispered the words and locked his eyes on mine. All my senses were tuned to him. I noticed every detail of his face. The faint lines at the corners of his eyes, like Ram’s. The dark freckle high on his left cheek. The incredibly white, straight teeth flashing at me. Logical thought had no chance whatsoever.

  “You two know each other?” Ram’s voice broke the spell, and we both turned toward him as if we’d just realized he was standing there.

  “Sort of.” I glanced back at Dale. “Look, I…my boss picked my Denali story, the one you helped with.” I poked him in the chest and liked the hard muscles I found there. “She wanted me to come here to do the story justice. I agree it all seems coincidental, but it’s the truth.” I held out my hands innocently.

  “I don’t care how you got here. I’m just glad you are.” Dale’s gaze softened a bit as he glanced down at himself. “See, I’m not a serial killer.”

  “A serial killer,” Ram interrupted. “
Why would she think you were a serial killer?” His brows furrowed so deeply I thought they were going to touch his nose. “You wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  Dale motioned to his father with his hand. “The defense rests.”

  Laughing, I nodded. “Okay, I’ll concede you don’t appear to be a serial killer, but most serial killers are experts at hiding their madness.” I picked up my fork and attempted another mouthful of the chocolate cake. Almost choking to death was not going to interfere with an exceptional dessert.

  “Maybe,” I said, savoring the flavor of a chocolate heaven, “you two are in this together. Maybe he distracts me with this mind-altering cake here, and then you slip in for the kill.” I pointed my fork between Ram and Dale.

  “I would never use my cake for ill purposes,” Ram said. “Never. Besides, you’re too pretty to kill.”

  What a sweetheart!

  “Have dinner with me tomorrow night, right here, and I’ll prove to you I’m harmless,” Dale said.

  I stopped mid-chew and contemplated the offer. No question I was attracted to Dale. If he was half as charming as his father—half as stimulating as his emails suggested—he’d be wonderful to have dinner with. Still, I hadn’t dated anyone seriously in a long time. I just wasn’t any good at it. Besides, I was only in Alaska for two weeks.

  “I’ve got a lot of work to do, and I’m not here long. I wouldn’t want to—”

  “Just dinner, Gaia-girl,” Dale cut in. “You don’t have to let me sweep you off your feet or anything.”

  “He probably should though,” Ram mumbled.

  “Dad.” A look passed between father and son.

  Huffing out a breath, Ram wiped the bar as he scuttled along to the other end of it. He sparked a conversation with an older gentleman seated there.

  “What do you say, Alanna?” Dale’s eyes searched my face. “C’mon. It’s as if we know each other already, isn’t it? All those emails.”

  “Yeah, but…” I hesitated long enough for my subconscious mind to talk me into having dinner with him. Funny how my subconscious voice sounded like Meg’s. “Okay. Dinner, right here.”

  Dale’s eyebrows arched in victory. “Maybe it’ll be over there.” He pointed to a booth in the corner of the tavern.

  “Fine.”

  “6:00?”

  “Also fine. I’ll meet you here. I’ve got to spend time in the library tomorrow, gathering facts and such for my article.”

  “Your article, right,” Dale said.

  “I really have an article, Dale. You answered all those questions for it.” I finished the last bite of cake. “I did not look you up on the Internet as you suggested, and I am not here because you said to just come. I’m here on business only.”

  “Whatever you say, Gaia-girl.” He attempted a serious face but wasn’t successful.

  I was about to protest, but Jerry came from the kitchen toting a brown bag. “Here you go, Dale.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Jerry.” Dale shrugged back into his coat as Jerry placed the bag on the bar.

  “Didn’t bring any of the kids with you tonight?” Jerry craned his head to look over the bar.

  Kids. No. He couldn’t have any kids. Could he? He never mentioned kids in his emails. So what if he did. What did I care?

  “Gypsy’s here.” Dale snapped his fingers and patted his thigh. A well-shaped thigh encased in dark denim. Within seconds, the wolf-like dog from the poster trotted from the alcove by the front door. She was mostly black, with splotches of white around the neck and face. Her muzzle was black, and bright blue eyes looked at me as she sat on her haunches right beside Dale. She didn’t make a sound. Didn’t growl at me. Didn’t whimper at what might be in the bag Dale held.

  “Wow. She’s wonderful,” I said.

  “She’s a champ.” Dale leaned down and scratched between the dog’s ears. The blue eyes disappeared for a moment as Gypsy enjoyed the massage. She nuzzled Dale’s leg with her nose and then looked at me.

  “I think she’s telling me you belong to her.”

  “Gypsy and I have spent many a Friday night alone together. Not to mention freezing our asses off out on the trails together,” Dale joked. “She’s entitled to be a little possessive.”

  I left money on the bar and put on my coat. Ram worked his way back over to us. “You guys leaving?” He looked downright sad about the idea.

  “I’ve got to get started on my article.”

  “She’ll be back tomorrow night though,” Dale added. “To see me.”

  Ram turned his lips down into a sad face. “And I thought you were going to marry me for my chicken wings, Alanna.”

  “I still might. Depends on what else you’ve got hiding in that kitchen.”

  “I’ve got me plenty of tricks.” Ram’s face brightened. “I’ll whip up something special for you two tomorrow.” He extended his hand over the bar to me. I reached across to take it, and Ram brought my hand to his lips. “Fair Alanna, ever so lovely to meet you this evening.”

  “Likewise. You made me feel right at home, Ram. Plus, you didn’t let me choke on cake.”

  Ram roared with laughter, and, when I looked at Dale, he was chuckling too. Gypsy studied me with steel blue eyes, sizing me up, but then, on Dale’s command, the dog lifted a paw and waved.

  “Walk you out?” Dale asked.

  “Sure. Bye, Ram. Thanks again.”

  “Bye. See you both tomorrow.” He emphasized the word both as if he were secretly congratulating his son on his fresh catch.

  Saw right through him.

  I zipped my coat, pulled on my hat, and stuffed my hands into my gloves. The prospect of going outside was not one I looked forward to. I thought of the weather in New York right now and missed home. Then I looked at the way Dale’s jeans fit from behind. Perhaps I wasn’t that homesick. Hadn’t seen a view like that in New York for a while. I’m sure they were there. I just hadn’t been looking.

  Dale held the door open, and Gypsy trotted out before me. I followed behind the dog, the wind whipping me as I arrived at the front step. I paused for a moment, all my muscles tightening against the cold.

  “What’s the matter, city girl? Too icy for ya?” Dale’s warm breath at my ear sent a jolt through me. His close proximity did more to heat me than all my layers of clothing.

  “No, Mr. Iditarod. I merely haven’t adjusted yet.”

  “We’ll make an Alaskan out of you in no time.”

  “You only have two weeks.” Why did that seem too short now?

  “No problem.” Dale stopped at a shiny, black pick-up truck parked next to my rented Explorer. He opened the passenger side door and pointed to the seat. In one smooth movement, Gypsy jumped into the cab.

  “She always that cooperative?” I asked, admiring the dog’s discipline.

  “Yep. Gypsy’s a good girl.” Dale’s voice lowered as he vigorously rubbed under the dog’s chin. “She’s my lead dog. She listens to me, and the other dogs listen to her.”

  Impressive. Both dog and man. Dale closed the truck door and leaned against the bed to face me.

  “What?” he said.

  “Nothing,” I said, embarrassed that he caught me examining him. Checking him out if we were going to get technical. “Am I what you pictured?”

  “Exactly.” He stuffed his hands in his coat pockets.

  “Really?”

  “Really. The hair, the eyes, the body.” He let his eyes sweep over me. Normally I would have been disgusted by such a move, but for some reason I didn’t mind him doing it. “What about me?”

  I turned to unlock my car door. I opened it and climbed inside. “I’d say I’ve seen better, but I’d be lying. See you tomorrow, Dale Ramsden, Junior.”

  I closed my door and started the Explorer. After giving Dale a little wave, I backed out of the parking space and turned onto Main Street. In my rearview, Dale watched me.

  Damn, he had a good face.

  ****

  Finding the library was easy thanks to Bear
’s expert directions. What the man lacked in social skills, he made up for in giving accurate coordinates.

  “Out the drive. Bang a right. About six miles down, take a left. Library’s the brick building.” When Bear finished speaking, he simply turned his back to me and resumed reading his newspaper. The man seemed both out of place and perfect for the Moose Point Resort. He wasn’t welcoming, as a hotel employee should be, but his laid back, flannel-shirt personality fit the look of the oversized log cabin. Still kind of scared me though.

  “Thanks.”

  Bear simply nodded as he shuffled his newspaper to another section. I stuffed my laptop into my bag with my notebook and hauled the bag onto my shoulder. Bundled again into my winter attire, I braced myself for the cold slap of air that waited for me on the other side of the door. My hiking boots crunched over the sanded pathway as I jogged to the car in the dark. Couldn’t be doing this article in the summer when the sun doesn’t set until ten, eleven o’clock at night. No. I get sent during the tail end of winter.

  I hopped into the car, drove down the driveway, and caught myself looking to the left. Toward Ram’s Den. After a restless night’s sleep, thinking of Dale mostly, I hoped the day would pass quickly. Didn’t want to rush through my time in Alaska, but I had to admit I did want to see Dale again. Charged with the image of his face in my memory, I vowed to make the day productive so I wouldn’t feel guilty taking some hours off tonight to…play.

  I arrived in front of the library, which was right where Bear said it would be. As I walked to the front door, I got that tingle I always got when I was about to encounter stacks of books. Books on any topic I wanted. The possibilities were endless. If I didn’t focus, I could be led off track in a library. I once wasted an entire afternoon reading about Sacagawea simply because I’d passed a book on display about her. Had to stay up all night to finish my article that night, but it was worth it. I can answer all the Sacagawea questions on Jeopardy now.

  As soon as I walked into the library, an older woman greeted me. Her silver hair was pulled back and coiled into a complicated looking knot at the back of her head. She had a pencil stuffed into the knot. She whipped it out like a samurai, scratched something on a piece of paper, and then sheathed it in her coif. All that without ever looking away from me.