Love Grows in Alaska (The Washington Triplets)

by Michelle Lynn

  “What does that have to do with you?” Clearly I can’t figure out why the owner of King’s Gate Resort and half the town has anything to do with Zach Greer’s occupation.

  “My mom’s name is Leslie Reckle Greer,” he divulges and all the dots start to line up, slowing connecting.

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah … oh.” He nods his head slowly and focuses on anything but me. “Good ole Uncle Ned left a will and guess who is the proud owner of half of the businesses in King’s Gate, including the resort?” He points to himself and anyone would notice he doesn’t want the responsibility, or the weight of a town, on his shoulders.

  “So, you were in Anchorage for—”

  “The will reading,” he divulges and places his napkin on the table.

  “Your cousin in the restaurant at the resort—”

  “She’s looking to me to save it, to keep it in the family.” He stands up and grabs a bottle of beer from the fridge, foregoing his glass of wine.

  “The receptionist the night of Libby and Camden—”

  “Yep, I’m the go-to person until I can figure my way out.” He sits back down and looks me straight in the eye, fear filling them. But there’s something else, maybe a small glint of yearning for the opportunity. “And I want out. I like my life. I like guiding tours and meeting new people, flying them back and forth. The last thing I want is to take down not only a company, but an entire god damn town.” His voice rises the more he expresses himself. Although I should be listening, I can’t help but think how jealous I am that he can be so open with me on his anxiety with new challenges. He could have easily disguised this until he had no choice but to clue me in. He trusts me with this information and maybe hopes I lead him to some decision.

  “How do you have any time?” I ask.

  “I don’t. That’s why I had to leave you the other morning. Because that dipshit Camden came back and they called me to handle it. My uncle was such a micromanager that the staff won’t even pee before asking me. I begged Bree, my cousin, to take over today, so I could spend time with you.”

  “Why wouldn’t he leave the company to his own daughter?”

  An empty, hollow laugh escapes him. “Because he’s old fashioned. You know, old school, where a woman can’t do what a man can.” The one side of his lips turn up and his eyebrows raise up and down. “As his only nephew, I’m the lucky one.”

  “So you don’t want the company at all?” I clarify, because this is something I’ve only read in books. Being handed down a successful business at such a young age, I can’t even fathom.

  His eyes flit to mine before casting down at the plate. “It comes with stipulations.” He picks at something on the red placemat before his vision focuses in on me. “Plus, I ran a company into the ground once, who’s to say I won’t do it again?” My heart swells at warp speed that this man is so outspoken with his trepidations. Not being able to deny myself any longer, I stand up and round the table, straddling his lap.

  My fingers play with his hair and he tilts his head back, clearly enjoying my hands on him. “What are the stipulations?” I ask.

  A slow breath releases from his mouth. “That everything stays exactly the same.” His voice is so annoyed, signaling it’s been a form of stress for him.

  “Oh.” I bite the corner of my lip, unsure what advice I could possibly give him. The most my dad ever gave me was my mom’s jewelry, because who would want that when your mistress is moving in?

  “Anyway, let’s talk about something else. I’ll figure something out and you’re only here for the week and I don’t want to spoil it with my whining.” His head bolts up and the tormented blue eyes are replaced with appreciation and I hope to hell they are because of me being here. “I just didn’t want you thinking I’m one of those guys that dates more than one girl, or that when I disappear, I’m doing anything shady.”

  “Do you have any alternatives to what you want to do?” I ask him and his hands grip my hips, moving me back and forth on top of the bulge straining in his jeans.

  “I know what I want to do right now.” His seductive tone brings a pool of warmth between my legs and my fingers begin to reach down to free him when I realize he’s distracting me. Just like I did upstairs with my left over baggage from Nate.

  “Talk to me,” I change the course and he huffs a big breath.

  “I don’t want to talk.” He straightens out in the chair and begins kissing my neck. “Have I told you how hot you are?” Changing the subject, I welcome his hands to pull the neckline of my t-shirt and his moist lips on my collarbone. This time, it’s my head rearing backward in pleasure due to Zach’s masterful art of distraction.

  His hands change course, playing with the hem of the shirt and goose bumps run rapid when his fingertips float over my bare stomach. Inching further, my pulse quickens in expectation of his hands on my breasts. Then something snaps in me and I push his hands down. “No, no way, Zach Greer.” I lift off him and he tries to pull me back by gripping the t-shirt, but I’m able to wiggle free. Sitting back down in my own seat, I point a finger to him. “You stay there.” Then I point it at myself. “I stay here.”

  Shaking his head, he smiles over at me. “Payback?”

  “Yep,” I answer, nodding my head. “Fear?”

  “Rearing its ugly head,” he confirms. “If I fail, it’s not a handful of young employees that can bounce back. It’s a whole town that the Reckle family built and employs. It’s a lot, ya know?” His hands wash down his face before his apprehensive eyes reach mine. “I ran away from Connecticut like a spineless wimp, but it turned out to be the best thing for me. I love King’s Gate, no pressure, no responsibility except for myself. If I do this, it all changes; I’ll no longer have my life.”

  “That’s not true, you ran a successful business, Zach. It was the economy. So many people felt that hit, not only you. It wasn’t just your ownership decisions; it was out of your control.” I want to reassure him because everything I know about him confirms he’s a good guy and a smart one to get where he is now. “That doubt needs to leave, like right now.”

  “Feisty … I like it,” he jokes, but I try to conceal my amusement. “All right, my doubt will vanish when yours does,” he fires back at me, resting his elbows on the table and I shake my head at his antics.

  “It’s hard, I can’t turn it off,” I admit and he holds out his hand for me to come back over. Ignoring the fight in me, I willingly go to him, because he’s comforting and safe.

  Once I’m securely in his lap, with my legs hanging over the edge, he wraps those strong arms around my waist and tugs a little tighter to pull me in. He focuses on me with soft eyes. “I know some asshole hurt you and words can leave scars deeper than a knife, because they’ll always circle back around. But, and please listen to me when I tell you that your ex-boyfriend did this due to his own insecurity. By putting you down, he was trying to boost himself up.”

  I place my head down in shame that a man I just met a few days ago is giving me advice that should have dawned on me a long time ago. He takes his finger and rests it under my chin, bringing my face up to meet his. “Marisa, I wish you could see what I do when I look at you. My body responds instantly the minute I imagine your beautiful face. When you walk into a room, I have to shift my stance to keep from embarrassing myself. Then, just when I think I can’t take anymore, you speak and that angelic, intelligent voice wraps you up in a perfect package that I feel came to King’s Gate just for me to unwrap. I know it’s only been a few days, but I’m not sure I can let you go—”

  He doesn’t have to finish because my heart just overfilled for this man beside me. I crash my lips to his and he doesn’t stop me. Instead, his hand fists my hair in the back of my head and deepens it further. An electric current travels through my blood at max speed when his tongue demands the attention of mine. All of the sexuality we have matched with the emotional connection we are beginning to form turns the kiss into a heated chaos of hands gripping c
lothing, teeth knocking, unable to be satisfied with even a millimeter of space between us.

  Out of breath, I break apart and a deep rumble erupts from Zach. “No, you don’t. I’m through talking, through eating. I just want you wrapped around me while I bury myself inside of you for the rest of the night.” He grips my hips and hoists me up so I can straddle him. Then two hands squeeze my ass and we’re up off the chair, lips locked on our way to the couch. How in the hell will I go back to Anchorage in two days and leave this man behind?

  THREE NIGHTS LATER, AFTER DITCHING my room at the resort, I’ve been staying with Zach. He arranged it with Bree to take over the resort responsibilities in order to be our tour guide the remaining part of the week. It’s our last night together before I leave on a plane in the morning back for Anchorage. My insides have been ripping to shreds thinking of saying good-bye and what our fate will be. Two hours isn’t terribly far, but enough that it’s long distance.

  The fire warms the room as I lay on his couch, watching the flames go from red to orange to yellow. It’s relaxing and serene laying in the arms of the man my heart is growing for, while watching a fire he built. Zach’s fingers rub back and forth along my bare arm as I’m tucked away against him. The last I looked, it was almost midnight and as exhausted as I am, I don’t want to go to bed, because I have limited time with him before I leave.

  “So, do you think you’d like to run Reckle’s?” I’m bold enough to ask the question I probably shouldn’t. It’s really none of my business.

  He doesn’t respond right away, but I feel his whole body breathe in and out. “I’m not sure. I’ve tried to fight it for so long that I haven’t given myself a chance to even consider the possibility.”

  “I think you’d do great, if my opinion means anything.”

  “Your opinion means everything, Marisa.” His eyes expressing the assertion of his declaration. “I appreciate the faith you have in me, but there’s more to it. Financials that are in the red, remodeling that needs to be paid for. My uncle was in the midst of having the whole resort completely modernized and I was helping him with that, but as of right now, the company isn’t making it. So, I’d pretty much be taking over a failing company.” Shit, I hadn’t realized that. You’d think that such a long-standing company that owns half the town wouldn’t be in the red.

  “Oh.” I bite my lip, because if the company is already on its way down and if it did fail, Zach would lose faith in himself again.

  “That faith wavering over there?” he jokingly questions, chuckling into my neck, but there’s fear underlying that I might be.

  Turning around, I place my hands on either side of his cheek, “No. You probably have a zillion ideas up there,” I tap his head with my finger, “that could make this place be the go-to destination.”

  Hugging me into him, he kisses the top of my head. “I wish I had positive thinking like you.”

  “You’ll find it, maybe if you hang around with me more,” I tease and he pulls back. His eyes full of determination.

  “I don’t want what’s between us to end when you leave, Marisa. I know long distance can be hard, but we aren’t that far away from one another. We can make it work.” I bite my lip and nod.

  “Thank God, I don’t want it to end either,” I admit and the weight that he only wanted me for the short-term lifts from my chest. Grabbing all of my self-confidence, I swing my leg over to straddle him. The blanket falls at my waist and I sit there naked in front of him, baring everything. He might not realize it, but I’m giving him my trust and my heart, praying with everything I have that he doesn’t break it.

  As though he’s figured it out, he doesn’t mask sex with the vulnerability I’m displaying, he only brings me down to him, giving me the most romantic and soft kiss I’ve ever received. “I won’t hurt you,” he whispers and tears prick the back of my eyes, because it’s taking every ounce of confidence I have to hand myself over to him.

  ***

  The next morning, I sneak out of bed to shower and get ready to leave for Anchorage. Each step more excruciating than the next, making it harder and harder as I go through my morning ritual. Foregoing blow drying my hair, not to wake Zach, I tip toe downstairs and begin the coffee. It took me two mornings to figure out the state of the art maker, but I finally conquered it.

  Taking my cup of coffee, I quietly open the sliding doors and sneak outside to absorb this sound of wilderness for the last time in awhile. Sitting down in the patio chairs, I remember when Zach made me breakfast and set up the table outside only two days ago. We admired the morning fisherman motoring by, while I ate his scrambled eggs and venison bacon. For a man who told me he couldn’t cook, he has misled me.

  I bring the cup to my lips, the steam rising up my face. Slowing sipping, being careful not to burn my tongue, I hear the door slide open. Turning around, I find Zach in his pajama pants and sweatshirt emerging from the warm cabin. His face isn’t his usual happy and easy going, but instead melancholy. Coming around, he places his cup on the table and reaches his long arms around me in a promising hug. “Good morning, beautiful,” he softy says, and as always my stomach flips with the flicker of his voice.

  “Good morning.” I place my cup down next to his, gripping his clasped hands, silently asking him to not let go.

  “Aww … come here.” He breaks away and takes a chair, quickly grabbing my hand to lead me to his lap. “I know,” is all he says because we’ve been dreading this day all week.

  “I just—don’t want to go,” I admit and he nods.

  “I don’t want you to go. But I’m coming up this weekend and you can come down the next. It’s only two hours.” Being the man he is, he shields his own emotions for the sake of mine.

  “Yeah,” I sigh and he grips my chin, bringing it up to his face. “We’ll make this work.”

  “I know.” I do know we’ll make this work. In six short days, Zach has won over my trust. “I can’t imagine waking up tomorrow in Anchorage.”

  “Me either.” It’s the first time his eyes leave mine. He studies the lake, waves to a fisherman going by. Distracting himself with the coffee, he takes a sip. “I’ll miss you,” he mumbles and I bury my face into his neck. The tears having nowhere else to go except out. “Awe baby.” This time he doesn’t reassure me, because that’s not the reason I’m crying. The tears are for grieving that our time is up and I have to leave the one person who gets me. It has nothing to do with me believing he won’t be waiting for me, or that there’s someone else. They are strictly because my throat is already constricting thinking about going to bed without him next to me tonight.

  “I … miss … you,” I hammer out and he only pulls me closer, holding me tight in his strong arms.

  “You’re not gone yet,” he jokes and I smile into his neck, the stubble of his unshaved neck pricking my cheeks. I’ve enjoyed the security that feeling has given me every morning.

  “I know, but it’s coming too fast,” I whine and he laughs.

  “You sure know how to boost a guy’s ego.” He grabs my face from his neck, protecting it in his hands. “Why don’t we go upstairs and I’ll show you who can come too fast.” His sexual innuendo for my thirst of him that never leaves puts the impending doom of separation to the side.

  “I’m always game,” I slyly wink and he laughs louder, echoing through the morning air.

  “Well, Miss Washington, duty calls I suppose.” He swiftly picks me up with little effort. With loving eyes only on mine, he breaks the distance across the deck and carries me through the patio doors.

  Not blinking, I keep my eyes glued to his, although the heat and burning of lust continues to fill them, but so is a subtle promise. I can’t turn my eyes away in the chance I’ll miss something in those blue eyes that seem to own my heart.

  He lays me on the bed and the coolness has set in on the sheets we warmed only a short bit ago. Zach doesn’t leave me on the bed this time to stare down and admire, but instead keeps me in his arms as w
e lay down together. Kissing my neck, I close my eyes in the pleasure only he can deliver to me. “Just think about right now, Marisa. Not an hour from now, tonight or next week. Be with me in this moment, please,” he says softly, his hand gripping my neck firmer into his palm, bending it for a better angle. His lips give me no choice but to listen to his demand.

  His wet lips flutter kisses up my neck and I buck, feeling the hardness of his thigh at my center. My breathing falters as moans escape my mouth and my hands fist his sweatshirt, wishing I could rip it off of him. His unshaved face rubs against my skin as he travels up, along my jaw until he’s only millimeters from my lips. Unable to wait any longer, I smash mine to his and his fingers fly to my hair, tugging lightly as we delve into each other’s mouths at a frenzied pace.

  Circling around, his thigh rubs along my clit and I’m unable to take my time and relish this moment. My fingers travel down his sides and he grunts when they hover around the edges of his draw-string pajama pants. His stomach sinks in with his labored breath and I push them down as far as I can get and he wiggles the rest of the way. Breaking our contact briefly, he grabs the back of the neckline on his shirt and easily pulls it over his head, leaving him naked on top of me.

  With his sly grin, he flicks the button of my jeans while focusing his vision on me. Sneaking his hand down, my heart rate only climbs as his fingers slick down my folds. My back completely off the mattress, he inserts a finger into me and I’m a thread slowly thinning, waiting for him to break me. Increasing the pace, I buck into his hand over and over again while his other hand pushes up my sweater and he yanks down the cup of my bra before claiming my nipple with his mouth. Sucking in, trembles course through my body, becoming faster and uncontrolled. Then he adds another finger and my whole body shatters into a million pieces. ”Zach!” I call out and he rewards me by sucking my whole breast into his waiting mouth, twirling his tongue around my nipple while his fingers slow their pace, allowing me to enjoy every last ripple effect he just gifted me.