The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska)

by Sarah Morgenthaler

  Coming around the corner into another one of the resort’s lawn areas, Graham found himself nose-to-yoga pants with the second set of bottoms of the day. But since one was Zoey’s, he found this situation far less annoying than the first one.

  “Suddenly, my day has gotten so much better,” Graham murmured, watching his dog fall in love with her all over again.

  “Jake!” Zoey burst into giggles.

  The border collie wriggled and waggled and licked Zoey’s face until her glasses fell off. With his exuberant attentions, she was unable to maintain her sun salutation or Chaturanga whatever thingy the overly pacified instructor droned at them.

  At Zoey’s side, Lana was doing the moves flawlessly, her cell phone under her nose and her nails typing away.

  Ambling over, Graham joined the two women in their line. “What are you two lovely ladies doing this fine morning?”

  “Mountainside Morning Yoga.” Lana didn’t look up from her phone.

  “Sounds like a breakfast,” Graham decided, squeezing in between Lana’s and Zoey’s yoga mats. “L, no cell phones in class.”

  Stretching out comfortably on the grass, he flicked her phone with a finger before turning back to Zoey. “So, yoga, huh? I pictured you more of the running through the woods screaming type.”

  She opened her mouth to retort, then started giggling again as Jake scooted on his belly through the grass, resting his muzzle on the mat between her arms.

  “Yes, I love you too,” she promised. “But I paid for this, Jake. I did; I paid way too much for it.”

  “To see him? This guy?”

  The instructor opened one eye, aiming it Graham’s way.

  Graham jutted his chin upward in greeting. “Heya, Russ.”

  “Good morning, Graham. If you’re joining our class, please lower your voice to pleasing levels and take a downward dog position. Feel the stretch.”

  “Feel the stretch, Zoey,” Graham stage-whispered to her. Her glasses had slipped down her nose in this position, and he wanted to nudge them back up for her.

  “Deeper,” Russ instructed. “Let the stretch take your mind off your worries.”

  “This guy used to be so uptight in school. I used to cheat off his papers in kindergarten, and he’d throw a fit.”

  “Sun salutation,” Russ hummed. “And greet the morning.”

  “How do you cheat in kindergarten?” Zoey asked, giggling.

  “I’d just copy what he drew.”

  Clearing his throat, Russ raised his voice. “Greet the morning in quiet reflection.”

  Zoey lowered her voice to an actual whisper. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

  “We’re closed today. There was the possibility of being criticized, and I don’t take criticism well, constructive or otherwise.”

  “Graham. Greet the morning or please leave my class.”

  Well, when Russ put it that way… Greeting the morning popped his back in the kind of way he’d feel for the rest of the day.

  “Hey, Zo.” Getting her attention, he waggled his eyebrows at her. “What are you doing today? Besides this?”

  Her already bright eyes brightened even more. “I have a shuttle to catch in forty-five minutes. Lana and I get to go whale watching out of Seward. Oh my gosh, I’ve been dreaming about this for years, and suddenly, it’s today. It’s in less than an hour! I couldn’t sleep last night.”

  Could she have been any cuter? Graham wasn’t sure he’d ever been as excited about something as she was about this. Russ called for them to go back into downward dog, and for a moment, Graham watched his actual dog touch noses with Zoey, Jake shivering with pleasure and Zoey looking just as happy.

  Okay. So that might have been the cutest thing he’d ever seen in his life.

  “Sorry, love.” With a sigh, Lana shook her head. “It seems my work trip has become more work than trip. I’m going to have to sneak away from this one too.”

  When Zoey’s happiness slipped, it took Graham’s heart right along with it. “What do you have to do?”

  “Nothing for you to worry about, just a little investment meeting or two. Maybe Graham wants to go.”

  Whale watching? With a whole bunch of tourists? Nope, Graham most certainly did not want to go. He glanced at Zoey and realized his reluctance must have shown on his face.

  “Or Killian,” Lana continued, aiming a knowing look Graham’s way. “I bet he’s free, and you two get along well.”

  Ooh. L always could hit a man where he lived. It was probably why these two were friends.

  “How’s that fair? You offer a guy a fun-filled day of whale watching with his favorite Zoey and then take it away?”

  “You snooze, you lose.”

  “I’d enjoy the company,” Zoey said shyly, sounding embarrassed. “You don’t have to though.”

  “Sadly, I’m going to have to pass.” Softening his tone, Graham scooted his hand over an extra inch and hooked his pinkie finger over hers. “I’d love to spend the day with you, but I have a feeling there’s a no Jakes rule on this trip. Even if I booked it out of here, I couldn’t get him home and get back here again in forty-five minutes.”

  Despite her clear disappointment, Zoey gave him a reassuring smile. “It’s okay. I’m fine going alone.”

  “Just go with Killian,” Lana pressed. “He likes you. He won’t mind at all.”

  Now, why did that stick in his craw so much? Graham grunted, glaring at the grass.

  “Don’t force him, Lana. I’m perfectly fine on my own. I don’t need a babysitter.”

  “No, but I promised you I would go with you, and this is the second thing I have to miss.” Lana sounded embarrassed and more than a little frustrated.

  Eyes closed, Russ raised his voice to be heard over them, smooth and peaceful but so loud.

  “Everyone rise to your feet. Now, take a deep breath. Reach for the sky, opening your chest and your shoulders and your mind. Let the mountain air wash over you. You are the mountain. As you go into mountain pose, be the mountain. Let its slopes be your slopes.”

  “Be the mountain, Zoey,” Graham told her as they stood. “Be it.”

  She shushed him, but her shoulders were shaking from containing her mirth.

  “From mountain, we go into tree. As you were the mountain, you now become the tree. You are the tree.”

  “I think inner me is getting confused,” Graham murmured out of the side of his mouth to Zoey. “Excuse me, Russ?”

  “Yes, Graham.”

  “What kind of tree am I? Cedar? Evergreen?”

  Russ ignored him.

  “I think you’re a leaning log,” Zoey murmured back. It was true. Graham was doing a significant amount of leaning toward the woman next to him.

  “Is there a downed tree pose? I can stick my sticks in the air.”

  This time, Russ opened his eye and trained it on both of them.

  “Remember, Morning Mountain Yoga is for opening yourself to the beauty of the world around you. As we mentally prepare ourselves to go into happy baby pose, first stretch your toes to the heavens, legs open, vagina to the sky. Lift with your hips, open and welcoming to the new experiences of today.”

  Now, Graham had done many things in his life, but he had never once pointed his vagina to the sky.

  But hey. It was always good to try new things.

  “Hey, Zoey. Psst, Zoey.”

  “Mm-hmm?”

  The sexy little bit beside him was trying desperately not to fall out of position, her face purple from holding in her laughter.

  “Am I doing this right?”

  Jake had the decency to turn away.

  By the time they came out of happy baby pose and relaxed on their backs for a while, Graham had to admit he felt more pelvically open to the universe than he’d ever felt before. That and
bizarrely sleepy, but it might have had more to do with listening to Russ hum for a solid ten minutes than anything else.

  Having Zoey by his side, Jake snuggled between them, felt oddly pleasant. And yes, they’d only known each other for a few days, but when he looked over and saw her stretching out comfortably on the grass, gazing up at the mountains rising above them, Graham couldn’t help but want to spend a little more time with her.

  Hooking his pinkie around hers, Graham tugged lightly to get her attention.

  “Hey, Zoey. Why don’t we drive down to Seward together? If we leave now, I can drop Jake off at home and get us down to the boats in time. I promise you won’t miss your ride.”

  She hesitated, then shook her head.

  “Learning about everything from the tour guide is the fun part.” Zoey reached over and patted Graham’s arm. “Thank you for being sweet, but it really is okay.”

  Throughout their exchange, Lana stayed quiet, but Graham felt her eyes flickering over to them more than once.

  “I could puppysit for the day,” Lana offered. “You know Jake and I are super tight. If not, Killian would love an excuse to get out of today’s meeting.”

  While Graham was fairly certain this was manipulation, it felt a lot like her being an actual friend at the moment. Because when faced with the idea of his Zoey on a boat with tall, dark, and fancy pants, Graham was pretty sure he would much rather spend the day with her.

  “Are you sure, L? Jake gets scared when he’s alone with strangers, and he gets sick from the stress. He needs to be with you or at my place.”

  “I solemnly swear I will take the best care of Jake that anyone has ever taken of anything ever. Now, are you going, or am I calling Killian?”

  Well. It wasn’t like Graham had anything better to do. He’d already opened his pelvis to new experiences for the day.

  Zoey really was beautiful. And with the look of hopeful excitement back in her eyes, Graham realized he would do far too much to keep it there. Finally allowing himself the luxury of carefully adjusting her glasses high on her nose, Graham gazed over at her, voice softening.

  “Whale watching it is.”

  * * *

  When Graham agreed to go on the whale watching trip with her, Zoey’s first inclination was relief. But when he turned his head her way, playfully squeezing her pinkie finger, it occurred to her Graham might be a problem.

  A sexy problem, but a problem nonetheless.

  After a quick change of clothes and a phone call to Moose Springs Adventurers to switch Lana’s name to Graham’s on the reservation, Zoey grabbed her Alaska bag and hurried down to the lobby. She found Graham just inside the hotel with Lana, ignoring the lurking Diego and his brochures, Jake at his feet and a worried expression on his face. Somehow, they’d procured a leash—one of the rules of the resort—but no one was actually holding the thing except for the dog. Ears perked and leash folded neatly in his mouth, Jake turned his cute little nose back and forth between the two humans, following their conversation.

  “It’s going to be fine. Stop being a worry wart.”

  “L. He’s my baby.”

  “You’re so dramatic.”

  Graham frowned at that. “I’m a responsible pet owner.”

  “Are you? Because I’m pretty sure you showed up here in a sports car, and he wasn’t wearing a seat belt.” The dog turned toward Lana.

  “How did you know that? And the situation wasn’t conducive to seat belts. Jake understands the limits of reasonable expectation. Right, Jake?”

  Ears perked, he turned back to Graham.

  “I have eyes everywhere,” Lana reminded them. “And I would have found him a seat belt. Jake, your daddy doesn’t take care of you at all.”

  “L, you literally ditched your so-called best friend sloppy drunk the first night she was here.”

  “And see how nicely that turned out? You two are delightful, by the way. Much better than the last one she was dating.”

  Zoey’s face heated up at the insinuation of Lana’s comment, and she was glad neither one seemed aware of her presence. To her horror, Lana kept going.

  “I’ve never met someone so boring in my life. How she managed to climb in bed with him—”

  Graham must have been horrified too because he shook his head as if to shake free the images.

  “Okay, so I’m going to stop that line of thought. Lana. Lana.”

  “Yes?”

  “Please don’t forget my dog. Don’t forget his water. Don’t forget he exists. And please, for the love of everything, don’t forget he can’t see.”

  “I will send you pictures on the hour to prove that we are having nothing but the most fabulous time.” Lana picked up Jake, even though it took both of her arms to Graham’s one. “Say bye, Graham. Bye-bye. We’re going to be so much chicer by the time daddy gets home.”

  Graham whimpered.

  Jake had the gall to look pleased.

  “She’s good with breakable things,” Zoey promised him.

  “Come on, handsome,” Lana cooed. “You and I are going to get a makeover.”

  “Don’t listen to any advice she gives you, buddy. You aren’t an autumn. Poodles make terrible girlfriends. Make good choices!”

  Zoey patted him on a muscled arm, watching Lana sashay off with Graham’s fur baby. “Don’t worry. I think she’s joking.”

  “Think or know?”

  “I hope? Come on. Our shuttle should be here any minute.”

  Graham allowed Zoey to herd him outside where the Moose Springs Adventurers tour shuttle was supposed to pick her and Lana up. As Graham held the door for her, he returned Zoey’s murmured thanks with a nod, then his eyes flickered over her shoulder to a woman hustling down the sidewalk. She was beautiful, from nose to high-heeled toes, in a perfectly tailored suit with the managerial bearing to match.

  Shifting out of her path was instinctual, but Graham continued to hold the door for her and the breathless desk clerk at her back.

  “Morning, Hannah. Grass. As always, a pleasure.”

  Grass narrowed his eyes, edging through the door sideways so as not to offer his blind side to Graham. Huh.

  “How’s Harold this morning?”

  “He’s already made the sous-chef weep.” Hannah the—oh. She was the night manager of the hotel, or at least that was what her name tag said. Hannah turned to Zoey. “I hope you’re enjoying your stay, Ms. Caldwell.”

  “I hope you’re enjoying your stay,” Graham mimicked in a squeaky voice, earning himself a swat of Hannah’s hand.

  “Don’t start, mister. Graham, today has been a nightmare.” As she went through the door, the hotel manager put her hand on his arm and squeezed. “But it would have been a worse nightmare without the warning. Thank you.”

  “I know it’s stressful up here, and they have you way overloaded.” He gave Hannah a softer version of his normal greeting. “Anytime you want out, let me know. I’m down for a rescue mission.”

  “If I ever need rescuing, I’m more than capable of doing it myself.” Hannah bumped her shoulder to his playfully. “And I like running this place, even on the bad days. Now get out of my hotel. You always cause trouble when you’re here.”

  Graham let the door close, following Zoey to the sidewalk.

  “You’re friends with the manager?” she asked cautiously, aware she was prying.

  “Hannah’s my ex. I’m the one that got away.”

  “Does she think that?”

  “I assume she does.” Graham glanced down at her. “Why, are you jealous, Zo?”

  “Nope.” Definitely, probably nope. “I just think it’s nice you’re friends with your ex.”

  “Hannah’s good people. Besides, I think I’m just acquaintances with my ex,” Graham told her, eyes sparkling in amusement. “I may have lost actual friend s
tatus the third time we broke up.”

  “Was that recently?”

  “About a year ago, give or take a few months.”

  Zoey nodded, unsure of what to say.

  “You know how some things seem like a good idea when you’re tired or lonely or you had a bad day? I’m Hannah’s too much whiskey, didn’t get the raise, current boyfriend and she broke up call. By the next morning, everyone involved remembers it’s a bad idea.”

  “Do you pick up?”

  Amused eyes gazed down at her. “Depends on how good an idea it seems at the time.”

  His statement hung between them for a moment, leaving Zoey feeling awkward and oddly unhappy. Then Graham shrugged. “Hannah’s great, but we’ve never been in sync. Even when we were together, I wasn’t what she really wanted. Opposites attract, but some people have forward momentum, and some prefer their lives to be in a holding pattern.”

  “Are those your words or hers?”

  “My mom’s.” Graham flashed a sexy grin. “It’s her nice way of saying I’m lazy.”

  “You’re not lazy,” Zoey teased just as the shuttle bus turned up the Moose Springs Resort’s drive. “You seem like a conservation of energy type of guy, not the truly unmotivated.”

  “I knew from the moment we met, you get me, Zoey.”

  A middle-aged man in a collared shirt half a size too small trudged out of the shuttle bus, mustering up a polite greeting. “Welcome to Moose Springs Adventurers, where all your adventures are moose-tastic. Caldwell and Montgomery?”

  Zoey stuck her elbow in Graham’s side to quiet his snickers. “Caldwell and Barnett, actually. We called the office a minute ago and changed everything.”

  “They didn’t call me.”

  “I’m sorry. But yeah, my friend had to work and he—”

  “Played hooky,” Graham provided cheerfully from behind her.

  “Had to close his business for the day for—”

  “Nefarious purposes.”

  “Yes. Nefarious purposes. So we called and changed Lana Montgomery’s ticket to Graham Barnett.”

  The driver frowned. “I can’t let him on the shuttle if he doesn’t have a ticket.”