The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska)

by Sarah Morgenthaler

  Long lashes brushed her glasses as her eyes dropped down instinctively. An adorable blush filled her cheeks as she jerked them back up again. “You need to get checked out.”

  “Naw, I’m good.”

  “You just said you aren’t good.”

  Chuckling, Graham stuffed his hands in his pockets, slouching his shoulders so he wasn’t towering over her. “I’ll live. No pressure, but I’d really like to buy you a cup of coffee.”

  Setting her hip to the door, Zoey peered up at him, arms folded across her chest. “No pressure, huh?” Her eyes sparkled, even though her tone was dry. “You’re literally trying to guilt me into doing what you want. Maybe I wanted to sleep in. Maybe you’re not welcome here unannounced. Maybe I’m allergic to eggs and bacon. Did you ever think of that?”

  Hmm. She had a point.

  “What if I promised quiche?”

  “Quiche is still eggs and sometimes bacon.”

  “Yes, but only sometimes bacon.”

  “Doesn’t negate the risk of anaphylaxis.”

  “Are you actually allergic?”

  “Not the point.”

  “It feels like the point. Because if this is a breakfast food allergy issue, I’m happy to come back at lunchtime.” Setting his shoulder to the same side of the doorframe, Graham gazed down at her. “As a restauranteur, I take food allergies seriously.”

  Her eyebrow climbed higher.

  “Very, very seriously.”

  “You can’t flirt with food allergies, Graham.”

  “No? See, I thought this was going really well. I can switch topics if that helps. What’re your feelings on cinnamon rolls the size of your head?”

  “Hmm.” Taking a moment to visualize, Zoey sighed. “I bet they don’t exist. And you can’t flirt with me when I haven’t brushed my teeth. I’m not even dressed.”

  “So? I thought indecent exposure was your thing.”

  Ahh, too far. With a waggle of one specific finger in his direction, Zoey closed the door in his face. Feeling his lips curving, Graham knew it was time to change tactics. Maybe he needed to be clearer in his intentions here.

  “I know you’re still there,” Graham told her cheerfully. “I can see your shadow through the eyehole.”

  “You’re an eyehole.”

  “Probably, but I’d like for us to be friends. Come on, ballbuster. Let’s get some breakfast.”

  “Or I could just call security.”

  “Naw, I’m buddies with the owner’s son. They’re used to me.” He did his best to appear charming through the eyehole. “It’s my treat.”

  “I don’t eat breakfast.”

  “Everyone eats breakfast. Some just start later in the day than others. Let me make yesterday up to you. I don’t make a habit of scaring women, and I’d like a do-over.”

  The door opened just wide enough for her to peer out. “I thought you said I owed you?”

  Graham shook his head. “Naw, I think it’s mutual owing. I know a place that makes an excellent egg-free omelet with no bacon.”

  “The five-star restaurant in the world class resort where we’re standing right this very minute?”

  “Someplace where the napkins aren’t folded into swans or fans or dorkfish. Cinnamon rolls the size of your head. Warm, yummy cinnamon rolls.” He lowered his voice to sell the deliciousness of the offering. “But they run out quick. Are you in or out?”

  Never one to fear a little pain, Graham risked the tip of his nose as he stuffed it into the one-inch opening of the door, earning himself a view of her pretty eyes and the curtain-darkened room behind her. Then a close-up of the security chain as she smirked and chained him out of her room.

  “I take it that’s a no?”

  Even though it was stupid, he found himself dreadfully disappointed. Graham didn’t know why, but he was dangerously close to liking this one, tourist and all.

  “I’m in,” Zoey admitted, still leaving the chain up. “But if you’re lying about the cinnamon roll, I’m going to get revenge. I don’t know how, but the retribution will be swift and the justice ample.”

  “How ample?” Graham murmured.

  “Oh. Ample. Teenage daydream ample.”

  “My favorite kind of revenge, gorgeous.” Dying to reach out and brush an errant strand of hair away from her brow, Graham had to content himself with stuffing his nose farther inside the door, earning a soft snicker for his efforts.

  “You’re like a puppy desperate to come in and play. Okay, out, so I don’t squish you.” He did as she asked, and Zoey closed the door enough to unchain it before opening it all the way. Rumpled and sleepy looked far too good on her.

  “Hey there, Zoey Bear,” Graham murmured, softening his voice.

  “Wait out here until I get ready. Lana’s still in bed.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of intruding.”

  “You’re incorrigible, aren’t you?”

  This time when the door closed between them, it stayed that way. Graham settled in to wait for a woman, leaning back on the wall across the hallway. He’d been called worse, and he’d rarely had the chance to wait for better. Zoey appeared only a couple of minutes later, her black-and-white Alaska bag over her shoulder.

  “A part of me was hoping this was all a bizarre dream.”

  “Really? Because I feel like you and I are becoming fast friends.” Graham tossed her the keys. “You drive. This is way too early for me.”

  Maybe he deserved the rolled eyes, but he’d earned the tiny curving of her lips fair and square.

  Hannah was just coming off her shift as Zoey headed for the exit, Graham at her heels. When Hannah tilted her head, silently mouthing “What are you doing?” Graham shrugged, giving his ex a helpless look.

  “She’s kidnapping me,” he stage-whispered back. “Call Jonah.”

  Hearing him, Zoey turned, confused. “What was that?”

  Hands in his pockets, Graham lengthened his stride to fall in next to her. “Nothing. Oh, I’m parked with the rest of the staff. Hang a right.”

  Someone was waiting for them in the bed of the truck, floppy ears perked to listen for Graham’s voice, furry tail wagging.

  “Who is this?” Her voice shifted to one of delight. “He’s wearing pajamas.”

  “That’s Jake. He’s the love of my life.” Confessing his everlasting devotion to the wriggling ball of fur and joy didn’t bother Graham one bit. “Jake prefers the snug comfort of long johns, but he’s been known to rock a sleep set if the cartoons are right. We’re all about the choo choos and Ninja Turtles, aren’t we, buddy?”

  Aware his dog was adorable on the level few living beings achieved, Graham was used to strangers reaching for Jake without asking. Already shifting to intercept if her hands went for him, Graham’s instincts weren’t necessary. Zoey’s fingers stayed clasped behind her.

  “Can I pet him?”

  “Of course. He’s blind, so hold on. Jake. Introduction time.”

  The border collie sat up at attention.

  “Jake, buddy. This is Zoey. She’s trouble, but so far, she’s made this week more interesting than normal. Don’t bite her, okay?”

  With a yip, he dropped to his belly, tail wagging furiously.

  “He promises he won’t bite,” Graham assured Zoey. By the look of utter delight on her face, he knew Jake had won her over already. Still, something about this girl made him want to show off, just a little.

  “Give the woman some space, Jake. You just met.”

  The border collie literally hopped backward, then he rolled over, sticking out one paw and curling the other across his chest.

  “Yeah, I know. She’s a heart stopper, isn’t she? But try to play it cool, man. Just say hello.”

  Trotting up to the edge of the truck bed at Graham’s verbal cue of “hello,” Jake held
out his paw in introduction.

  Taking his paw in her hand, Zoey melted into a standing pile of goo.

  The border collie wiggled and wagged until his body couldn’t handle it anymore. Flopping over, he shoved his furry belly into Zoey’s slender fingers. Graham watched her coo over Jake like he was the best dog in the world—which he was. Nose-to-nose, Zoey dissolved into giggles as Jake licked her from chin to cheekbone.

  “Way to make me look bad, buddy,” Graham murmured. “He’s such a ladies’ man.”

  “On the contrary. He more than makes up for you waking me up so early this morning. Your daddy owes you, doesn’t he?”

  Jake wriggled in agreement.

  “Actually, we’re more like human/canine bros. His mom was a real piece of work, and dad left when his eyes were still closed.”

  “Hush. I like you more when you’re just standing there, all sexy guy with a cute puppy.”

  Graham hushed. As compliments went, he’d take it.

  “Is it safe for him to be in the bed?”

  “Nope, but I wasn’t going to leave him in the cab while I was inside the big house.” Picking Jake up under one arm, Graham carried him to the back seat of his truck, belting him in securely.

  In the end, Zoey did drive, although she had to scoot his seat up as far as it could go to reach the pedals. Settling back in the passenger seat, Graham kicked a foot up and enjoyed not driving for a change. A few eyebrows raised in curiosity as Graham’s truck drove past with a Zoey-shaped driver, but Graham waved cheerfully, letting them look.

  “You’d think they’d never seen us on a date before, Jake.”

  “This isn’t a date. Well, not with you. Jake still has a shot.”

  “You get all the ladies, don’t you, buddy?” Graham sighed mournfully. “It’s just not fair. You were born with all the looks, and I got stuck with the charm. Turn left up there.”

  “I can’t tell if you’re the most confident or most self-deprecatingly insecure human being I’ve met.”

  Chuckling, Graham closed his eyes. “Tell me when we get there.”

  A couple of hard steps on the brakes later, Graham finished giving Zoey directions to the modest, two-story strip mall downtown. The bottom three units were easily identified, with signs hanging for all the world to see: the local daycare, a family law office, and the town’s life-weary therapist. Upstairs were three more units, two with newspapers covering their windows and one with a simple unmarked door.

  There wasn’t a single person in town unaware of the culinary bliss housed in the far-right unit. But like all the other tourists, Zoey’s eyes went to the signed units first.

  “Is it weird those businesses are together?”

  “It’s strategic. Kirk thought it was clever to set up right where the stressed-out, new parents dropped off their kids. But then he got divorced three years ago and quit trying to save everyone else’s marriages out of spite. So Catey opened up her law firm right in between. Of course, the bulk of us just go upstairs to Frankie’s and eat our feelings.”

  “You know a lot of people, don’t you?”

  “I know the whole town.” Graham got out of the truck, setting Jake and a collapsible bowl in the bed. He always kept a jug of water in the back seat just for this purpose, and he made sure the water was where his pup could find it.

  “Stay, Jake. The lady and I will be back soon. Sorry, but no dogs in this establishment. We’ll hang out at the Trap later.”

  Zoey blinked in surprise. “Are you allowed to bring him to your diner?”

  “Nope, not at all.”

  A soft laugh matched the sparkle in her eyes. “But you still do.”

  Running a hand over Jake’s floppy ears, Graham looked down at his friend. “Wouldn’t you? Sometimes he stays with his aunt Ash and uncle Easton so he doesn’t get too bored. They have a cute little pit bull he’s sweet on. Right, buddy? How any of the ladies could say no to you is beyond me.”

  When he looked up, he saw Zoey watching him. The scent of baking bread hit them in a wave, causing Zoey to inhale deeply, her eyes fluttering closed. “Cinnamon rolls?”

  “Unless you’d rather try couple’s counseling.” Smiling at her sigh of pleasure, Graham led her to the stairs around the side of the building. “Right this way.”

  The bake shop didn’t sell egg-free omelets, but Graham hadn’t lied about cinnamon rolls the size of a person’s head. The pans of sugary deliciousness were lined up for them to see, although half of those trays had been emptied by earlier customers.

  “We should have hurried, Zoey.”

  “Why does this place smell so familiar?”

  “They source the bread for my place. Speaking of, hey there, Frankie.”

  The Native Alaskan woman behind the counter waved a hand at him in greeting, hustling around to take and fill the orders.

  “Frankie, this is Zoey. She’s a friend. Zoey, ignore what Frankie says. She loves me dearly.”

  “Depends on the day,” Frankie joked.

  Frankie gave Zoey a friendly but wary smile. Which Graham completely understood. He felt the same way with the strangers always wandering his town. But unlike Frankie, Graham was rarely nice to them. Zoey was an exception.

  She looked around, taking it all in. “Your store looks amazing.”

  “Remind this one,” Frankie teased. “He’s always on me for more bread, more bread.”

  “Not my fault.” Leaning comfortably against the counter, he watched Zoey explore the bakery. Frankie watched her too, curiosity growing. “Frankie’s family has been here—”

  “Forever.” The bakery owner nodded at Graham. “Before the Barnetts arrived here. They’ve been thorns in our sides for four generations.”

  Frankie flicked her eyes toward Zoey, then raised a curious eyebrow. “A tourist, Graham? So the rumors I’ve been hearing are true?”

  “Lies, all of it. But yeah, Zoey’s good people,” Graham promised, vouching for the woman busy doing math problems in her head. She pulled out her travel book to confirm something before turning back to him, excited.

  “So you’ve been here since the late 1800s? That was when Moose Springs was founded. Did your families build this town?”

  “You’re not going to find everything worth knowing in a travel book, Zo.” Graham put his hand to the small of her back, smiling down at her. “You want anything else?”

  “Besides the monster pastry? I’m good.” Without warning, Zoey started to crack up. Turning to follow her line of sight, Graham spied a pair of antlers very slowly rising in the window behind them. A massive lip wiggled into view, rubbing a wet smear across the clean glass.

  Chuckling, Graham walked over to the window, catching Zoey’s hand in his and drawing her with him. “This is Ulysses.”

  Ulysses was impressive, tall enough he could almost see through the second-story window if he stretched his neck as far as it would reach. “Appropriate name,” she murmured, wide-eyed and breathless.

  “I thought so.”

  “Joyce?”

  “Homer. I like to keep it old-school.” Graham tapped a finger against the window fondly. “Poor guy loves the smell of these things, and he never has been able to get one.”

  Kneeling down, Zoey placed her mouth next to the moose’s snout. “‘Take courage, my heart,’” she said sweetly, quoting Homer’s Odyssey, the animal’s namesake. “‘You have been through worse than this.’”

  Graham dropped down next to her, watching Zoey lean forward and breathe against the glass, her fingertips tracing a heart in the condensation.

  “‘For a friend with an understanding heart is worth no less than a brother,’” Graham murmured in a husky voice.

  Turning his way, Zoey pushed her glasses up her nose with her pinkie. “Or a sister.”

  “Even better for Ulysses.”

 
; Graham was seriously considering if it would be inappropriate to kiss her when a moose’s lips were right there too, the most awkward of threesomes. Unfortunately, an annoyed huff broke the moment.

  “Your moose is as much a pain as you are.” Frankie softened the comment with a fond smile. “Please run him off before he causes trouble.” After Graham rose to his feet, holding out a hand to Zoey to help her up, Frankie pressed a take-out bag and two coffees into Graham’s arms.

  “That’s her way of saying she loves us.” Graham said dryly. Zoey fought to keep a straight face as Graham handed her their food. “Stay here, if you don’t mind. He’s usually pretty chill, but bull moose are unpredictable.”

  Ulysses was not interested in leaving, so by the time he convinced the moose to take a hike and go find something else to snuff, the coffee had cooled to perfect drinking temperature. Zoey had waited for him, watching the fun out the same window she’d drawn her heart on.

  There were a few cozy, two-person bistro tables tucked in the corner of the bakery, but they must have seemed too cozy for his companion. When Graham started to head toward the closest one, Zoey and her massive cinnamon roll rolled right on out the door, across the parking lot, and over to one of several heavy cedar picnic tables set up in the grass.

  It had rained the night before, even though none of the weather channels had predicted rain the whole week. Swiping her hand over the bench seat to knock away the worst of the standing water, Zoey flopped down, eyeing her breakfast with enthusiasm.

  “You know, the tables inside have cushions.” Graham settled in far more carefully on his side of the picnic table, grimacing when he shifted on the seat.

  “Sore?” She almost sounded sympathetic.

  “The projectile vomiting has passed,” Graham replied. “I’ll survive.”

  “Should we get Jake?”

  “Naw, he’s a weenie about wet grass. He’s happy where he’s at. So. Let’s start with apologies. You can go first.”

  Mouth full of frosting, Zoey’s eyes widened. “Oh no,” she mumbled around her food. “I’m blameless. Blame. Less. With a capital B.”

  Stealing a bite of her cinnamon roll, even though he had one of his own, Graham watched as she stabbed her fork at his hand.