by Lucy Monroe
“I’m sure you’ve seen some around your place.” Caitlin knew guests at the B&B often spotted wildlife in the backyard because it butted up to the forest.
“Yes, but we’re in town.”
“Not really.”
Savannah pointed over her shoulder to the houses that populated the streets behind the boardwalk. “Looks like town to me.”
“The deer consider the meadow their stomping ground.”
“They’ll have to share today,” Savannah said with a cheeky smile.
Caitlin grinned and nodded. “I’m not sure the bears will agree, though.”
“Bears? There are bears?”
Caitlin laughed. “Tenderfoot. Bears almost never come this close to town.”
“What about the forest?” Savannah gave the trees ahead an askance look.
“Don’t worry. We aren’t going deep enough to be concerned about running into any predatory wildlife.”
“Well, that’s good to know.”
Savannah was quiet when they walked the trail through the forest. Caitlin told her about the local flora and fauna, keeping her voice low. Not because she was afraid of drawing a predator’s attention, but because she didn’t want to disturb the wildlife around them.
She’d always found this particular hike peaceful and enjoyed the fact that Savannah didn’t try to fill the quiet space around them with chatter.
“Why did you leave?” Savannah asked as they got to the deepest part of the forest for this particular path. “It’s so incredible here.”
“I wanted to see something different.” Wanted to be someone different.
“You came back.”
“It’s home.” It was as simple and as complicated as that.
“It’s my home now, too, but it doesn’t feel like it yet,” Savannah confided.
“Give it time.” That’s what Caitlin’s gran always said.
Savannah nodded.
They spent the next few minutes talking about life in Cailkirn. Savannah didn’t ask Caitlin any probing personal questions and she appreciated that enough to keep her own curiosity to herself about why a woman would enter into a proxy marriage.
They were approaching where the trail exited the forest when a loud snuffling grunt to Caitlin’s left caught her attention. A small brown bear laid waste to someone’s picnic that had been stored in a Day-Glo green nylon backpack.
“Where’d you leave the food? I told you we shouldn’t have gone swimming.” A teenager’s voice got louder as the sound of stomping feet drew nearer.
“It wasn’t that cold. You’re a wuss.”
“Am not.”
The sound of a scuffle ensued. Unfortunately, Caitlin wasn’t the only one who noticed. The bear lifted its head.
Savannah squeaked beside Caitlin.
“Shhh…,” Caitlin admonished.
“You said there weren’t any bears,” Savannah hissed.
“There aren’t usually, but then most people are smart enough not to leave food where they can sniff it out.”
“He did more than sniff. He tore that backpack apart.”
“He’s a bear. He’s not going to use the zipper.”
Their conversation was held in tight whispers, but Caitlin knew if they didn’t start backing away, the bear was going to notice them. The only problem was, he was definitely going to notice the teens too.
“Back away slowly and as quietly as you can. We’re almost back to the boardwalk. Go to the tour office. Hopefully one of the guides will be there.”
“I have my phone. I’ll call.”
“You need to go, Savannah.”
“The bear—”
“Is going to notice us any second.”
“Then you need to go too.”
“You heard the kids.”
“But—”
“They’re probably tourists.” A local wouldn’t have left their picnic in a backpack on the trail to take a swim in the still frigid waters of Poppy Pond. “They won’t know how to handle a bear.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Whatever I can. Now go, Savannah.”
Savannah shook her head, but Caitlin gave her a gentle shove and finally the other woman started her quiet and slow retreat.
“Dude, I’m serious. Where’s the food?” the one teen demanded plaintively. “I’m hungry.”
“I left it right here.”
“Someone took it? But this is Alaska, man!”
The bear seemed undecided between his interest in the approaching teens and the lunch they’d inadvertently supplied for him. Caitlin started moving in an arc to intercept the teens if possible before the bear decided he was more interested in them than the food and they did something dumb, like run.
She caught sight of two boys, lips a little blue from the cold pond and shivering in their damp clothes. The idiots really hadn’t prepared for their impromptu dip. The sun might be shining, but temperatures weren’t high enough for them to dry anytime soon.
She waved at them to get their attention.
The taller one noticed her first. “Hey, did you steal our food?” he demanded loudly.
She made a shushing sign with her finger to her lips.
“What? Lady, if you took our food—”
The other boy bumped the taller one’s shoulder. “Chill, dude. Do you see our backpack?”
“No, but where is it, then?”
“The bear has it.” She tried to project her whisper without gaining said bear’s attention.
“Bear?” the shorter one demanded, looking around frantically. “Where?”
“Shhh,” she hissed, glaring at him and then pointing toward where the bear was devouring a sub sandwich, paper wrapper and all.
Both boys looked and then froze. She could see them planning to run even as she said, “Don’t run. He’ll chase you.”
“But, lady, it’s a bear.”
“And right now he’s more interested in your lunch than you. Walk over here slowly and then we’ll head out of the forest.” When neither moved, she said, “Come on.”
It took them longer than it would have taken her, mostly because she made them stop every few feet and get quiet because they were so noisy. But the bear didn’t come after them and eventually they reached the end of the forest trail.
One of the teens whooped as they broke from the trees.
Caitlin shook her head. “The bear can still hear you.”
“But he’s not gonna come out of the forest, right?” the taller teen demanded.
“He’s not a vampire. The unfiltered sun isn’t going to stop him.”
Apparently that was too much for the boys because they broke into a run, heading back toward the boardwalk and the cruise ships.
They passed Tack as he headed toward Caitlin at a fast clip. He was right up to her when he asked in a suitably quiet voice, “Are you okay? Savannah Marie said there was a bear and some kids.”
“Those were the kids and the bear is hopefully still in the forest enjoying their lunch and the remains of their backpack.”
“I hope you’re kidding.”
“About the lunch? No. The backpack. Maybe.”
“I’ll have to get it. We can’t leave that kind of litter there.”
“Are you kidding me?” No, of course he wasn’t. “Where’s Savannah?”
“She’s with Nik at the café. She’s a little freaked.”
“I told her how rare it is to see a bear.”
“Well, you didn’t count on the bear finding his lunch.”
“Right.”
He headed toward the forest but stopped and turned around, coming back to her. Tack cupped her shoulders with his big hands and gave her a thorough once-over. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I was more worried about the boys.”
“Did they even thank you?”
She shook her head.
He said something not very complimentary about the teens and she pretended not to hear it.
“I have to get the garbage.”
“I know.”
“Will you go to the café and wait for me?”
“Will you promise to leave the garbage if the bear is still snacking on it?”
He looked like he didn’t want to but he finally nodded.
“Then I’ll wait for you at the café. I’ll even order lunch.”
“Good.” Tack placed a firm but brief kiss on her lips and then turned away.
Nik and Savannah were at a table for four in the back of the crowded café. The other woman jumped up and raced to Caitlin when she came in. “Are you okay? I was terrified that bear was going to eat you.”
“I’m not as appetizing as a sub sandwich, believe me.”
Savannah laughed, the sound strained but clearly relieved. “I called Nik. I didn’t know what else to do. He said he’d call Tack and then ordered me to come to the café.”
From the disgruntled sound of her friend’s voice, Caitlin didn’t think Savannah had liked being ordered to do anything. “You did the right thing. Please believe me.”
“I admire you for staying to help the teens,” Nik said.
Savannah frowned. “I wanted to stay.”
Nik put up his hand. “That was not meant as a criticism of you, Savannah Marie. I imagine it was difficult enough for Caitlin to lead the teenagers out of the forest without having to worry about you too.”
“And I suppose you didn’t mean that as a criticism either?” Savannah asked, her voice laced with hurt.
“I didn’t.” Nik grimaced. “I can’t say anything right with you.”
Thankfully, the waiter came up to their table right then. “Would you like to order anything, ma’am?”
Caitlin nodded. “A shaved chicken breast sandwich à la carte, no mayo, and an onion burger with fries and salad.” She knew Tack’s schedule and he hadn’t had time for lunch yet either.
“We already ordered,” Savannah offered before Caitlin could ask.
“Do you want me to bring all the food out at once?” the waiter asked.
“That will be fine,” Nik answered for all of them.
Silence descended on the table and Caitlin cast about for a safe topic to break it. Savannah was looking down at her lap, so she didn’t notice the looks being cast her way by her husband, who clearly was still very much a stranger to her.
“Have you heard anything about the movie they’re making in town?” Caitlin asked Nik.
“They are filming at Jepsom Acres.”
“Oh?” That would explain why she hadn’t seen any film trucks in town.
“I don’t know how Carey talked Rock into that one,” Tack said as he slid into the booth beside Caitlin.
Caitlin reveled in Tack’s nearness and did her best not to show it. “I wonder. I don’t remember him having much of a sense of humor or adventure for that matter.”
Rock had been four years ahead of her and Tack in school, but he’d never really been a kid. It seemed like he was always watching out for his little brother and sister. His parents had been pretty absent from the picture long before the plane crash that killed them both.
“Who’s Rock?” Savannah asked.
“A self-made millionaire who lives south of town.”
Savannah’s brow furrowed. “Then who is Carey?”
“His baby brother,” Nik answered.
“Rock’s got the patience of a saint to put up with him,” Tack grumbled.
“Glad your parents gave you Egan?” Caitlin teased as the server put their food on the table.
Despite the undercurrent of tension between Savannah and Nik, lunch was surprisingly pleasant and Caitlin was sorry to see both men leave—Tack to lead an afternoon tour and Nik to return to work.
“As long as we’re here, want to do some shopping?” Caitlin asked Savannah.
Savannah’s eyes lit up. Oh, ho. Her new friend liked to shop. “You bet I do.”
They managed to spend three hours on the boardwalk and Caitlin was so exhausted by the time she got back to the B&B that she took a nap before Tack was supposed to pick her up and take her back to his house.
* * *
Tack dropped a photo on Kitty’s desk on his way into his office.
It was a purple wild iris, one of the earliest blooming wildflowers in the area. He’d taken the picture the day before while leading a group of hikers up one of the steeper trails on the peninsula. Irises usually grew in clumps, but this one had stood beautiful and proud alone.
It had reminded him of Kitty.
He could have given the print to her the night before. She’d been at his house for dinner and a hell of a lot of entertainment after. It wouldn’t have been the same, though.
He liked the look of surprised pleasure that came over her face each time she found a new picture on her desk. The framed board he’d put up on the wall behind where she sat already had a decent “bouquet” growing from the center outward.
He wasn’t the only one providing pictures of Alaskan wildflowers. Once Egan and Bobby saw Kitty’s photo board, they’d started looking for the perfect specimens of their own to add.
The other two wilderness guides didn’t print the pictures off, though, but sent them to Kitty’s phone.
Only Tack got the privilege of seeing her delight as she picked up a new flower to add to her “bouquet.”
Which was why he made sure he was in the reception area when she came in.
She saw him and her sky-blue eyes sparked with happy welcome. “Good morning, Tack.”
“Hey, wildcat. You sleep good last night?”
Kitty gave him a sultry up-and-down look. “Oh, yeah.”
He’d taken her home after midnight, grateful that her gran and great-aunts went to bed by nine, no matter the season.
The Grant sisters’ nocturnal habits had made him and Kitty getting together a lot easier. The influx of tourists from the first of the ships also helped keep everyone too occupied to notice Tack and Kitty sneaking around.
Though it was riskier to share dinner, like they’d done the previous night. Tack considered it a calculated risk worth taking when the benefits were so pleasant.
“Shouldn’t you be gearing up?” she asked. “Your tour leaves in less than an hour.”
“It’s a pretty easy hike.” He’d taken one of Egan’s tours so his brother could drive their mom into Anchorage on a last-minute errand.
Their schedule still wasn’t as full as it would be once all the cruise lines had their Alaska routes running.
Tack could have driven Aana because he’d planned a day in the office, but he would take a hike over the big city any day. Even an easy one.
He would end up doing the paperwork he couldn’t delegate to Kitty at home later.
“Is Bobby at the pier by himself organizing both groups?” Kitty asked, sounding worried.
“He can handle it.”
Kitty looked at him askance. “He’s got twenty-five people signed up for the Cailkirn Beach Walk.”
“I’ve only got ten cruise passengers going up to the Skilak Lookout Trail with me.” Tack and Egan’s tours were limited by the number of passengers their two tour vans could hold.
Both had room for eleven passengers and a driver. They capped their tours at ten in case they got a call from a desperate cruise director who needed a spot for a VIP or disgruntled ship passenger.
It happened often enough that Tack planned for it. They either charged the ships three times the usual rate for the last-minute booking or gave it away to cruise directors who sent a lot of business their way. It was a win-win.
“You’re going back up to the overlook?” Kitty’s tone was wistful.
“You have the schedule.”
She turned away, but not before he noticed the tell-tale color on her cheeks. “I didn’t pay attention to the fact that this was the tour you were taking over for Egan.”
He wasn’t sure why it mattered to her, but for whatever reason it seemed to. “Do you want to come?”
“I’m working, if you hadn’t noticed. You hired me to answer phones and handle your scheduling.”
“So, forward the phones to your cell and take my tablet in case you need to refer to the schedule. You’re even dressed for it.”
She usually looked pretty fashionable in the office, but she’d worn jeans and a sweater today. She’d need her hiking boots, though.
“I’ve got all the info on my phone.” She shook her head. “But I can’t just leave the office unattended.”
“What do you think we did before you started working here? The phone doesn’t stop ringing when you leave in the afternoons either.” And he hated that moment when he had to forward it to his cell.
At least Egan and Bobby took their turns doing that onerous task too.
“But—”
“It’ll be a chance to see what you’re selling when you’re talking to a potential client.”
Kitty gave him a look he hadn’t seen in a lot of years. It was her let’s do this even if it gets me in trouble look. The one she gave him before she set about proving that not only could she keep up with him, but she’d also challenge him to keep up with her.
Hell if it didn’t send blood surging into his prick. “You in, wildcat?”
“I’m in.”
“We’ll stop and get your hiking boots on the way out of town.”
“The trail’s in the other direction.”
“So?”
She laughed, the sound so much like her old self he couldn’t help yanking her into his arms for a kiss that put arriving at the pier on time in jeopardy.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Caitlin couldn’t believe she was going back up to the Skilak Lookout Trail with Tack.
Their last time there had been an emotional watershed.
Today she planned on simply enjoying herself. No complicated discussions about the past or feelings. No making out on the ground, though she might miss that one.
Just watching Tack in his element.
She hadn’t told him, but as soon as the customer satisfaction surveys started coming in, she’d started wishing she could see him in action. His clients loved him.
Egan and Bobby, too, but the kinds of comments that came in about Tack were different. More intense. It was no surprise that others considered him the epitome of the Alaskan man, but the way people claimed that he helped them fall in love with the state?
