Stars Over Alaska

by Jennifer Snow

  “Remember, there’s no obligation to switch partners, it’s just so you all have a chance to get to know one another,” he said.

  Maddie glanced at him, a slight questioning expression on her face.

  “You’ll participate too.” Mike had noticed the friend-zoned man’s attention on Maddie while they’d eaten. The two had chatted and joked...they’d seemed to be getting along.

  And that’s what she was there for. To make a real connection.

  He was not there for that reason.

  He checked his notes from Cassie...this dating part of the excursion was the bit he was least comfortable executing, but he needed to pull it off. Good evaluations from this group would go a long way in ensuring Cassie trusted him with future excursions. “Ladies will stay put and the men will rotate from log to log. A five-minute alarm will chime when it’s time to rotate again.”

  The men stood, ready, and Mike hit his stopwatch. “And start.”

  He poured more coffee into his thermos and sat on a log away from the group, desperate not to watch but feeling his gaze shift back to Maddie as the men did their rotation.

  Most of the original couples seemed happy together. He wasn’t an expert on love but he could read body language and it appeared everyone was keeping their speed dates casual, friendly.

  If Cassie ever wanted a career change she could definitely become a professional matchmaker. Maybe next year he should sign himself up as a participant. Finding a potential mate who liked ice fishing and the great outdoors, someone not worried about how they looked or having to pee in an outhouse...

  Someone with a nice sense of humor who was interesting to talk to but who also didn’t mind the stillness and silence.

  Someone like Maddie.

  He sighed as his gaze landed on her again. His ill-timed attraction for her had him foolishly hoping she’d say no to his next question as the speed dating wrapped up. “So, anyone want to switch?”

  Three women shook their heads, to the relief of their partners, but Friend-Zoned Guy’s hand went up slowly. He glanced at his current match and she nodded her approval. “I’d like to hang out with Maddie...if she’s up for it.”

  His match smiled at Mike, but Mike’s palms went clammy as he turned to Maddie. Would she switch? It made sense seeing as how this other guy was available and there for the same reason. “It’s totally your choice.”

  She hesitated, smiling politely at the guy. “Um, actually I think I’ll stick to my original hut.”

  Her original hut, meaning her original “stand-in” partner—him.

  “Okay, well, everyone can head back inside. Have a good night,” he said quickly before Maddie could have a change of heart.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THE VIBE INSIDE the hut was definitely different now. Maddie’s choice to stay with Mike had him all kinds of conflicted, and she seemed uneasy, as well. As if they both knew her decision meant something but weren’t sure what to do about it.

  At her cot, she opened her duffel bag and took out her pajamas.

  “Turn around, please,” she said when he continued to stand there awkwardly.

  “Oh right.” Mike turned and when he caught a glimpse of her removing her sweater in the reflection of the window, he shut his eyes tight. Unfortunately, not fast enough. The image of her bare, shapely back and shoulders would now be engrained behind his eyelids, along with those piercing green eyes and wide, easy smile. The inventory of images he was collecting was sure to stick with him long after the weekend was over.

  “Okay, I’m good,” she said a minute later.

  He turned around in time to see her pull the heavy comforter back and climb into her cot. Her white fleece pajamas with grizzly bears all over them made him smile. “Cute pj’s.”

  Her laugh sounded slightly embarrassed. “Yeah right. I’m sure the pajama choices in the other huts are a little less...cozy.”

  He opened his own duffel bag and retrieved a pair of pajama pants that could be the male version of the ones she was wearing. He held them up. “Yeah, but are they matching?”

  Her laugh broke any lingering tension between them and made his body tingle with that same fight-or-flight response he always got on rescue missions. Unfortunately, he wasn’t sure what the right actions were this time. He didn’t want to run away or fight the crazy attraction he was feeling for Maddie, but the fact that she was his ex’s sister meant he needed to do one or the other, and running away wasn’t exactly an option at the moment.

  “That is an odd coincidence,” she said, fluffing her pillow behind her.

  “Yep.” Though it didn’t exactly shock him. He and Maddie seemed to have a lot in common—not just their preferred choice of sleepwear.

  He turned around and removed the plaid button shirt and then lifted his undershirt off over his head. He caught Maddie’s stare in the window reflection and she looked away quickly.

  Not before he caught the glimmer of unconcealed attraction in her eyes though.

  He quickly removed his jeans and pulled on the pajama pants and then climbed into his cot across from her.

  An awkward silence fell over the hut and he cleared his throat. “Comfortable?”

  “Yeah...this is actually surprisingly comfortable.”

  At least she was. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to roll over without falling onto the floor. His legs hung over the end of his cot. “Good. That’s good.”

  “Hey, did you want to switch?” she asked. “I chose this one to annoy you, but I’d be happy to swap with you.”

  “Nah, I’m okay. You’re the client, after all,” he said, immediately regretting the word choice. She was so much more than just a client, but he had no right to see her in any other way.

  “Okay,” she said quietly.

  He stared at the ceiling, still kicking himself for the comment. He couldn’t claim to be great with words. One of the reasons he preferred not to talk too much. “Lights off?”

  “Sure, yeah. Probably be easier to sleep.”

  He sat up and hit the switch on the wall and immediately the hut was dark, except for a small beam of light streaming through the blinds.

  “Well, hopefully tomorrow we have more luck catching something,” he said.

  Something other than these unexpected feelings.

  * * *

  MADDIE LAY AWAKE on her cot, listening to Mike toss and turn on his. It was late and she’d been up early. Normally, she’d have no trouble falling asleep, but she was hyperaware of him just a few feet away.

  She also couldn’t shake the nagging question that had plagued her most of the day. “Hey, Mike, you awake?”

  “Yep.” His bedsprings creaked as he rolled onto his side to face her. She could faintly make out the outline of his naked upper body. “What’s up?” he asked.

  She hesitated. The question was embarrassing, but she had to ask. “When you spoke to Cassie, did she say what happened to Darrel?”

  “No...just that he’d had to cancel last minute.”

  She bit her lip, straining to see her hands in the dark as she played with her nails. She swallowed hard. “You don’t think he drove past SnowTrek Tours...saw me and then bailed, do you?”

  Mike scoffed, then made an odd coughing noise to cover it up. “No... I don’t think that’s what happened.”

  She nodded, even though he couldn’t see her.

  “I mean, the guy would have to be crazy if that were the case,” he said softly but also slightly gruffly, as though sentimental comments took a lot out of him.

  Which had the butterflies in the pit of her stomach fluttering on full speed. She was grateful for the dark so he couldn’t see her flushed cheeks. “Okay. Thanks, Mike.”

  “But I’m sorry he didn’t show up,” Mike said, an odd note in his voice.

  “I’m not,” she said. “’Night, Mike.
”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  MADDIE YAWNED AND stretched before her eyes opened the next morning and she quickly scanned her surroundings before remembering where she was. She hadn’t expected to sleep so well in an unfamiliar bed, but the silence out on the lake had been like nothing else, and once she’d finally dozed off, she’d been out cold.

  She glanced toward Mike’s cot but it was already made and he wasn’t in the hut.

  Maddie got up quickly and peered outside. Two couples sat on the logs, drinking from thermoses. Smoke spiraled into the air from the outside grill and the smell of breakfast cooking made her stomach growl. She dressed quickly and was about to reach for her coat when the hut door opened.

  Mike entered carrying her thermos and balancing two plates of food. “Hey, morning,” he said, seeing her up. “I thought you might sleep past breakfast, so...”

  He was bringing it to her.

  It was probably a sad reflection on her past dating life, but this was the nicest, most thoughtful thing any guy had done for her. Twenty-four hours ago she’d have thought it out of character for Mike, but she was realizing there were far more layers to the guy than her sister had bothered to peel back.

  She accepted the food and coffee from him with a smile. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” He set his own plate down and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Did you sleep okay?”

  “Once I finally fell asleep, yeah.” She picked up a piece of toast and took a bite, savoring the buttered homemade bread. “This is so good. What is it about eating food outside that makes it taste better?”

  He stared at her.

  “What?” she said.

  He shook his head and looked away. “Nothing. I was just saying the same thing... Should I get the fishing holes ready?”

  She nodded, taking another bite of the toast. “Absolutely. I’m not leaving here without catching something.”

  Other than feelings for her sister’s ex.

  * * *

  HOT COFFEE IN HAND, line cast through the hole in the floor, Mike settled into his chair next to Maddie. He hadn’t slept so great on the tiny cot, but he wasn’t tired. He hadn’t needed his cell phone alarm to wake him.

  Something about the outdoors invigorated him. Waking up to silence, stillness, the smell of food grilling and fresh coffee brewing in the chilled air was the closest to heaven he’d ever get.

  And being there with a woman who enjoyed all those things as much as he did made it even better. He’d dated a lot of women and no one seemed as compatible for him as Maddie. He’d always thought compatible would mean settling on chemistry or physical attraction.

  You got one or the other, right? Relationships were either comfortable or passionate.

  It didn’t feel that way now.

  He was both comfortable with Maddie and insanely tempted to grab her and kiss her. He took a gulp of coffee and cleared his throat. “So, it’s just you and Jade? In your family, I mean.”

  Maddie nodded. “Yeah, our dad died of cancer a few years ago and our mom had an aneurysm...”

  “Sorry,” he mumbled. One tragedy was hard enough, two in the matter of several years had to be really difficult.

  “That’s why Jade and I are so close. It’s just us now,” she said quietly.

  He nodded. He understood. He could also clearly hear the note in her voice that said she’d never do anything to hurt Jade or jeopardize that strong sisterly bond. Mike didn’t want to come between sisters, but damned if he could deny that he wanted to see where things could lead with Maddie.

  She was everything he’d look for in an ideal partner, and those green eyes were dark emerald pools that just sucked him in.

  “This fishing pole was my dad’s,” she said. “He’d wanted it for years but refused to splurge on it. Jade and I saved up and bought it for him for Father’s Day the year before he died. He only had a chance to use it a few times, but he loved it.”

  “I’m sure it meant a lot to him that it came from you both,” Mike said. He didn’t have many memories of his mother—she’d left him and his brothers with their dad after the divorce—but he had a picture of her in his wallet that had been there as long as he could remember. Everyone had a different way of holding on to the past.

  Maddie nodded and a silence fell over them.

  “Hey, I feel something,” she said suddenly, sitting straighter and holding the pole tighter in both hands.

  Mike put his thermos aside and moved closer. Her line tugged and his eyes widened. “Looks like it could be a big one.”

  She started reeling it in and he stood back, impressed by the skill.

  Most fishers were too eager. They yanked the reel and went too fast, causing the fish to retreat from the bait and take off if they weren’t already hooked. Maddie was patient, calm, reeling in a little at a time...keeping the fish interested, letting it chase the bait. More desperate, more confident in its conquest...until it was too late. It was hooked and met its fate.

  She pulled the fish up through the ice and the wiggling, struggling rainbow trout had to be a ten-pounder. And when she carefully removed the fish from the hook herself—delicately, thoughtfully, respectful of the catch—he was a goner.

  She picked it up in both hands and displayed it proudly. “Think it’s the catch of the weekend?”

  She was the catch of the weekend.

  He couldn’t stop himself. He strode toward her and cupped her face between his hands. Her eyes registered surprise first, then mirrored his own attraction. The fish in her arms was the only thing between them as he leaned toward her, brushing her blond waves away from her face. He paused—unsure and more than a little hesitant.

  Her gaze flitted from his eyes to his lips and back again. “Well?”

  “Well what?” he asked, his voice slightly hoarse.

  “Are you going to kiss me or not?”

  * * *

  IT FELT LIKE an eternity as she waited for his answer.

  His eyes burned into hers, his attraction evident, his desire intense. He was just inches from her, holding back...contemplating.

  She should be moving away, putting the brakes on...contemplating, herself. But in that moment, she just wanted him to kiss her. She’d worry about the consequences later.

  She stood on her tiptoes, raising her face even closer. “I mean, I should get something for catching this fish, shouldn’t I?” she whispered.

  He seemed satisfied with the justification as he pulled her toward him and his lips pressed against hers. She closed her eyes and savored the feel of his mouth, the taste of coffee on his lips. His beard tickled her flesh and a shiver danced down her spine.

  His fingers tangled into her hair as he deepened the kiss, intoxicating her with his passion. She’d wanted this. Her attraction to him had been growing with each minute they’d spent together, every new thing she learned about him...

  He pulled her in closer, kissing her harder, stealing her breath away, and she gave in to the moment fully, completely, wishing it could last. His touch, his kiss, the way he’d looked at her all had her body reacting in ways it never had for anyone else.

  When he reluctantly pulled away, disappointment washed over her. Would she ever get a chance to kiss him again? Could they enjoy the day together without promises, without consequences, without guilt and then go their separate ways?

  They couldn’t actually date one another...

  “Mike, you know this can’t happen, right?” Every part of her wished there was a way and if he had any ideas on how they could be together and not hurt Jade, she was all ears. But she’d been on the receiving end of a betrayal like this and she could never do that to Jade. She knew the hurt and pain that went along with having to put on a brave face and act like everything was okay, when deep down her heart was aching. Jade would never admit that she was upset, but Maddie w
ould know.

  “Are you sure? I mean, Jade and I weren’t serious. We dated six weeks.”

  Six weeks too long. If it had been one bad date, maybe...but they’d given it an actual shot and Jade had been disappointed things hadn’t worked, which meant she’d obviously had feelings for Mike. “I can’t risk hurting her.” She shook her head. “I think this weekend is all we have and then...” Her voice trailed off and she was unable to verbalize the rest.

  He sighed as though his thoughts had just completed the same spiral to the same disappointing conclusion.

  He took the fish from her and placed it into the ice bucket then, taking her hands, he moved backward toward his own chair. Sitting, he pulled her down onto his lap and she snuggled into him as he reached for his own fishing pole and they continued to fish.

  CHAPTER SIX

  THE DAY PASSED far too quickly and night fell over the frozen lake, bringing the weekend closer to its end. The couples had opted for dinner inside their individual huts and Maddie was grateful for the extra alone time with Mike.

  As she finished the last bite of the rainbow trout she’d caught that day, she sat back in her chair and said, “Well, this was one of the most unexpectedly fun weekends I’ve had in a long time.” Fun but also disappointing that their time together couldn’t last.

  He nodded. “Me too. And you were right when you said this excursion wasn’t really my thing. The fishing part of course, but the whole romantic thing is definitely not my strong suit.”

  “I don’t know. I mean, I think there’s different kinds of romance. You might not be the big gesture guy, but small gestures are the way to some women’s hearts.” Like hers. His bringing her breakfast that morning, or the way he’d refilled her coffee every time it was low or too cold, or the way he’d given up the bigger cot... His silent, unassuming way made him far more appealing than any lavish, over-the-top show of affection ever could.

  “Well, it takes a very special kind of woman to appreciate that,” he said with that same soft gruffness that appeared in his voice whenever the conversation moved to emotional territory. Oddly enough, his struggle with vulnerability only made him more endearing. The effort counted for more and there was a level of sincerity that she hadn’t seen in other men she’d dated.