Werewolf in Alaska: A Wild About You Novel
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Praise for the Novels of Vicki Lewis Thompson
The Wild About You Novels
Werewolf in Denver
“A clever lighthearted tale. . . . The story line is fast-paced as the lead couple fights each other and their respective hearts.”
—Midwest Book Review
Werewolf in Seattle
“A fun frolic starring two likable protagonists . . . witty.”
—Midwest Book Review
“I really love this book. Vicki Lewis Thompson did it again. She can’t write fast enough for me! This is another keeper for my very full bookshelf. It will have you reading long past bedtime and still wanting more.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“A fun, lighthearted romance, as are the previous books in this series. It’s a feel-good read that will brighten any bad mood or reading slump. If you’re not sure what to read next, try this one. It’s time for some fun!”
—The Good, the Bad and the Unread
“A sweet romance which has humor and love throughout the entire book. . . . I love werewolves, love, and humor mixed together, and this series seems to have it all.”
—TwoLips Reviews
Werewolf in the North Woods
“Perfect for when you need to add some romantic comedy to the daily grind. Thompson does her werewolves justice. . . . Sparks and fur do indeed fly.”
—USA Today
“A great read.”
—Bitten by Books
“Sizzling as well as howlingly funny.”
—Fresh Fiction
Werewolf in Manhattan
“A humorous and romantic comedy.”
—USA Today
“Enough heated sex scenes to satisfy any werewolf romance fan.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Readers will enjoy Vicki Lewis Thompson taking a bite . . . out of the Big Apple.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“I loved this book and I can’t wait for the next one. . . . A definite keeper and will be on my shelf for a lifetime.”
—Night Owl Reviews (top pick)
The Babes on Brooms Novels
Chick with a Charm
“Thompson again gives readers a charming, warm, humorous, sexually charged romance with likable characters, a magical dog, and a feel-good ending.”
—Booklist
Blonde with a Wand
“Extremely readable . . . terrific writing and great character development. . . . Readers will fully enjoy this confection.”
—Romantic Times (4 stars)
Further Praise for Vicki Lewis Thompson and Her Novels
“Snappy, funny, romantic.”
—New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips
“A trademark blend of comedy and heart.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Count on Vicki Lewis Thompson for a sharp, sassy, sexy read. Stranded on a desert island? I hope you’ve got this
book in your beach bag.”
—Jayne Ann Krentz
“Wildly sexy . . . a full complement of oddball characters and sparkles with sassy humor.”
—Library Journal
“A riotous cast of colorful characters . . . fills the pages with hilarious situations and hot, creative sex.”
—Booklist
“[A] lighthearted and frisky tale of discovery between two engaging people.”
—The Oakland Press (MI)
“A funny and thrilling ride!”
—Romance Reviews Today
“Extremely sexy . . . over-the-top . . . sparkling.”
—Rendezvous
“A whole new dimension in laughter. A big . . . bravo!”
—A Romance Review
Also by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Werewolf in Denver
Werewolf in Seattle
Werewolf in Greenwich Village
(A Penguin Special)
Werewolf in the North Woods
A Werewolf in Manhattan
Chick with a Charm
Blonde with a Wand
Over Hexed
Wild & Hexy
Casual Hex
Werewolf in Alaska
A WILD ABOUT YOU NOVEL
Vicki Lewis Thompson
SIGNET ECLIPSE
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
USA / Canada / UK / Ireland / Australia / New Zealand / India / South Africa / China
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
For more information about the Penguin Group visit penguin.com.
First published by Signet Eclipse, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Copyright © Vicki Lewis Thompson, 2013
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
SIGNET ECLIPSE and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
ISBN 978-1-101-61456-3
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
Contents
Praise
Also by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Excerpt from Werewolf in Las Vegas
Excerpt from One Night with a Billionaire
Excerpt from Tempted by a Cowboy
Excerpt from Safe in His Arms
To the cheerful residents of Skagway, who helped me fall in love with Alaska
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, I treasure Claire Zion’s perceptive editing, which never fails to improve the book. I’m also grateful for support and career guidance from my agent, Robert Gottlieb. My assistant, Audrey Sharpe, traveled with me to Alaska, so her photographs and personal recollections were invaluable. And finally, I’m thankful for the talents of cover artist Lucy Truman, who perfectly captures the spirit of this series.
Prologue
July 14, 2010
Polecat, Alaska
Lurking in the grocery aisle of the Polecat General Store, Rachel Miller pretended to shop while she eavesdropped on the conversation between the store’s owner, Ted Haggerty, and the broad-shouldered customer he’d called Jake. She’d recognized the guy the minute he’d walked in, despite the fact that he was fully clothed.
Although they’d never met, she knew three things about Jake. He lived across the lake from her grandfather’s cabin, he liked to skinny-dip, and he was built for pleasure. Among other items, Grandpa Ike had left her his high-powered binoculars.
She’d accidentally caught her hot neighbor’s skinny-dipping routine one warm summer night while watching an eagle dive for a fish. After that, she’d planned her evenings around it.
After opening the screen door of the general store, Jake had glanced in her direction but hadn’t seemed to recognize her. Apparently he hadn’t been keeping tabs on her the way she had on him. That was disappointing.
Then again, she spent only a couple of weeks in Polecat every summer, and she wasn’t the type to plunge naked into an alpine lake. Still, she would have taken this opportunity to introduce herself if he hadn’t paused in front of the small display of her wood carvings.
She’d immediately turned away, grabbed a can of salmon, and studied the label with fierce intensity. If she ever intended to move from hobbyist to professional, she’d have to get over being self-conscious about displaying her work for sale, but she was brand-new at it. Asking Ted last week if he’d like to carry her art in his store had required tremendous courage.
Today when she’d come in and noticed that nothing had sold, she’d been tempted to cart it all back to the cabin. Ted had talked her out of giving up, and now her gorgeous neighbor was discussing the carvings with Ted. She hoped to hell Ted wouldn’t mention that the artist was right here in the grocery aisle. Then the guy might feel obligated to buy something, and how embarrassing would that be?
“So who’s this Rachel Miller?” Jake had a deep voice that matched his lumberjack physique. His name fit him, too.
Rachel held her breath. Now would be the logical time for Ted to call her over and introduce her. She prayed that he wouldn’t.
Ted hesitated, as if debating whether to reveal her presence. “She’s local.”
Rachel exhaled slowly. She might not be a skinny-dipper, but there were many ways to be naked, and this, she discovered, was one of them. She could leave and spare herself the agony of listening to whatever Jake might say about her work, but then she’d be tormented with curiosity for days.
Besides, she’d already put several food items in the basket she carried over one arm. Leaving the basket and bolting from the store would make her more conspicuous, not less.
“I like her stuff.”
Clapping a hand to her mouth, Rachel closed her eyes and savored the words. He liked it!
“Especially the wolf.”
“That’s my personal favorite,” Ted said.
Validation sent a rush of adrenaline through her system. It was her favorite, too. The other carvings were forest animal figurines, none any bigger than eight inches tall. Her friends back in Fairbanks raved about them, but friends were biased. She cherished their praise but didn’t always believe it.
She’d broken new ground with the wolf, though. After finding a ragged chunk of driftwood about two feet long, she’d left the basic shape intact while carving the wolf in bas-relief on the smoothest side. Powerful and majestic, the wolf appeared to be emerging from the piece of wood.
Ted had praised the carving, but Ted had a natural tendency to encourage people. His comments didn’t pack the same punch as those from someone who didn’t know her and had no reason to protect her feelings. Excitement made her giddy.
A moment of silence followed. She wondered if Jake had wandered away from the display to begin his grocery shopping, but she didn’t dare look to make sure. If he’d finished admiring her work, that was fine. He’d given her a gift simply by commenting favorably.
“I want to buy it.”
Her chest tightened. A sale.
“All righty, then!” Ted sounded pleased.
Rachel was in shock. A complete stranger was willing to pay money for something she’d created! She stifled the urge to rush over and shower him with thanks. On the heels of that urge came another—to snatch the piece and announce it wasn’t for sale after all.
Once Jake bought that carving, she’d never see it again. She hadn’t expected to be upset by that. Apparently the wolf meant far more to her than she’d realized.
Jake might like what she’d done, but he couldn’t fully appreciate it unless he’d also caught a glimpse of the magnificent black wolf that had inspired her. She’d seen it only once, poised in a clearing. Grandpa Ike had taught her how to get good pictures of wild creatures—stay downwind and seek cover. She’d been in luck that day, perfectly positioned for an awesome shot.
The photo was still tacked to a bulletin board in the cabin, so she could use it to carve another likeness. Yet she couldn’t guarantee the next attempt would capture the wolf’s essence in quite the same way. She’d known this piece was special the moment it was completed.
Finishing it had given her the confidence to approach Ted in the first place. She shouldn’t be surprised it was about to become her first sale. If people bought her work, maybe she could give up her veterinarian internship and carve full-time.
She’d thought she’d love being a vet, but the surgery and death that were an inevitable part of the job drained her. Wood carving gave her nothing but joy. Still, it might not bring in enough to support her. One sale was hardly a guarantee that she could make a living as an artist.
It was a positive sign, though, and thanks to what she’d inherited from Grandpa Ike, she had a place to live and a little money to tide her over if she decided to switch gears. The prospect was scary but exciting, too. She had Jake the skinny-dipper to thank for jump-starting her dreams.
From the corner of her eye she could see him rounding the aisle where she stood, a basket over his arm. Walking in the opposite direction, she ducked down a parallel aisle and carried her basket to the counter, where Ted was wrapping her carving.
He glanced up and smiled. “Do you want to tell—”
“No.” She kept her voice down. “Thanks for not saying anything.”
Ted spoke softly, obviously sensing her nervousness. “Decided that was up to you.” He finished taping the end of the parcel and set it aside. “Congratulations, though. He lives across the lake from you.”
“Thought I recognized him. What’s his name, again?”
“Jake Hunter. He’s a wilderness guide. Earns good money doing it. Quite well-off.”
“I see.” Judging people’s financial status was tough in a place like Polecat, where everyone kept a low profile, dressed casually, and drove dusty trucks and SUVs. She was flattered that a successful wilderness guide found value in her work.
Ted rang up her groceries and bagged them in the canvas tote she’d given him. She hadn’t bought much because she’d been so distracted, so Ted finished quickly. Fine with her. She’d prefer to be out the door before Jake returned to the counter.
She almost made it. She was tucking her change back into her purse when he walked up, his basket stuffed with everything from canned goods to paper products. He must be a fast shopper.
Not wanting to appear antisocial, she met his gaze while keeping her expression friendly but neutral. “Hi.”
“Hello.” He glanced at her with the same carefully neutral expression. But then a spark of interest lit his green eyes.
Her breath caught. She’d never looked into those eyes before. Grandpa Ike’s binoculars were good, but not that good. Yet she felt as if she’d met his gaze before, and seeing it—again?—brought back a half-remembered thrill. Crazy.
Even crazier, she flashed on the image of the black wolf in the clearing—a green-eyed wolf with dark, luxurious fur the same color as Jake’s collar-length hair. Clearly his purchase of the carving was messing with her mind.
The interest reflected in Jake’s eyes slowly changed to speculation. Maybe something in her expression had given her away, or maybe he’d picked up enough of her quiet conversation with Ted to figure out who she was. In any case, she needed to vamoose be
fore he started asking questions.
Quickly breaking eye contact, she grabbed her canvas bag from the counter. Her smile probably looked more like a grimace, but it was the best she could do. “You two have a nice day!” She headed for the screen door.
As exits go, it wasn’t her best. Heart pounding, she climbed into the old truck Grandpa Ike had willed to her, started the ancient engine, and pulled out onto the two-lane road that skirted the lake. She’d escaped, but the adrenaline rush of making her first sale stayed with her.
Logic, the tool that her lawyer father embraced, told her that Jake buying the wolf carving wasn’t reason enough to change her life. Intuition, the tool that her photographer mother preferred, whispered that she’d reached a major turning point and shouldn’t ignore it. Grandpa Ike, who had been more intuitive than anyone else on her mother’s side of the family, would have told her to listen to her instincts.
Rachel wondered what Jake Hunter would have said if she’d had the courage to admit she’d carved that wolf. Or maybe, judging from the quiet assessment in those green eyes, he already knew.
Chapter 1
Present day
Jake finished answering e-mail from members of the group he’d founded the previous year, Werewolves Against Random Mating (WARM). Shutting down the laptop, he headed for the kitchen and snagged a cold bottle of Spruce Tip ale from the refrigerator. Then he twisted off the cap and walked into the living room. As usual, his gaze drifted to the Rachel Miller carving displayed on his mantel.
The soot from the hearth fires of three consecutive winters had darkened the wood. Maybe he should clean and oil it, now that summer had arrived once again. Or not. The soot that had settled into the grooves added character, in his estimation. Reaching out, he traced the distinctive and familiar slant of the wolf’s wide-set eyes.
When he’d bought the piece, he’d had no clue that Rachel would become internationally famous. But he’d suspected that his impulse buy might come back to haunt him, especially after he’d walked up to the counter and she’d turned to look into his eyes.
Leaning against the mantel, he gazed across Polecat Lake toward her property. It was nearly nine in the evening, but it might as well have been midday. Sunlight continued to play on the water, and the metallic whine of her power saw drifted in through his open window. She must be starting another large project, one that required the saw and the extra space provided by the workshop she’d had built about ten yards from her cabin.