The Pump House was packed this Friday night just like every Friday night. Avery did a fair amount of business in Heartbreak, Alaska. Heartbreakers made the Pump House their spot, and since the only other bar in town was the Ticker Tavern—offering their clientele a steadier menu with a side of strippers—the Pump House was more pub house friendly and the patrons didn’t have to worry about added creepy-crawlies in their food.
Todd picked up his microbrew and followed her to the booth. When they sat down, he asked, “Is there something going on between you and Dawson?”
She almost sipped her drink. “No,” she blurted out too loudly. “Why would you ask that?”
“Just the thick tension whenever the two of you are breathing the same air space.”
“We went out a few times a couple of years ago. He’s still not over me,” she lied. She was the one who couldn’t seem to move on.
Todd gave her that shimmering smile that had all the customers of Heart Springs Eternal Spa and Resort signing up for whatever treatment he suggested. He ran a finger down the side of her face. “Now that I completely believe.”
Sucker, she wanted to say, but sipped her club soda instead. “I need to talk to you.”
Todd sat back against the padded booth. “This sounds serious.” Slowly he drank from his glass, wiping his mouth of foam when he set the beer back on the table.
“I’ve decided to open my own business, which means I’m leaving Heart Springs, but I’ll help out until you find a replacement for me.”
He stared at her for a moment. “What kind of business?”
“A new age shop where I’ll sell natural remedies, healing crystals and stones, homemade items, that sort of thing. I’m calling it the Mystic Heart.”
“A place you’ll also teach yoga?”
“Uh, yes.” Why had his eyes hardened at her answer?
“You can’t do that. You signed a contract with a noncompete clause when you were hired at Heart Springs Eternal.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Read your contract.” He sipped his beer again. “Starting a business like that in a town of less than four thousand is financial suicide. You need to rethink it.”
Wow, way to dash my dreams. “I’ve done the research and Heartbreak is prime for a business like mine. Most Heartbreakers prefer natural remedies and locally homemade items. Plus, this town has an artistic, hippie vibe the tourists love and my shop will fit right in. This isn’t a spur of the moment decision.”
He seemed to realize he’d misstepped and changed tactics. “Catronia, you’re a smart woman. I have no doubt that you’ve done your homework. But I’ve been in business a long time and the risks of going out on your own are many. Some you won’t even see coming.”
Like her current date stomping all over her dreams. Her instincts of not seeing him anymore were right on target.
“Those are my risks to make, aren’t they?”
“I hoped we could move our relationship into something more permanent.”
He wasn’t suggesting marriage, was he? Good God, she hoped not.
“What kind of permeance?”
“Moving in together.”
“We haven’t even slept together yet and you want to move in?”
“I’d hoped the sleeping together would be rectified tonight.” He gave her that boyish grin, which teased her into agreeing to going out with him in the first place. It lost all its effect on her now.
“Yeah, that won’t be happening. And I won’t be moving in with you either. We aren’t right for each other, Todd.”
“Why? Because I pointed out some hard truths about your ridiculous idea of opening this Magic Heart crap?”
“Mystic Heart.” You son of a bitch. “And no, that’s not the whole reason, but it definitely plays a part. I think you want a woman you can mold. That isn’t me.”
“You’re making a mistake, Catronia.” Todd drained his beer and stood. “I’ll take you home.”
“No need. I know the way.”
“Fine, and I won’t require a two-week notice from you. Clear out your things tomorrow.” He grabbed his coat and stomped off.
She watched him plow through the crowd.
Wow, had she dodged a bullet.
Avery showed up from out of nowhere, slinging a white bar cloth over his shoulder. “Broken another heart, Cat?” Avery asked.
“They’re dropping like flies at my feet,” she murmured into her club soda.
“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you gave him the boot.”
“I didn’t know you cared,” she responded syrupy.
“I care.” He turned away and she thought she heard him say, “Too much,” under his breath, but she had to be mistaken. A man didn’t treat her like he had and confess to caring. She watched him walk away from her, hating that she still had feelings for him.
She needed to swear off men. Lord knew, mass dating them hadn’t worked to forget about the one who had gotten away, or given her away. She still didn’t know what she’d done to scare him off. She thought they had something special. That he was the one.
Just went to show she sure could pick them. It was time to concentrate on her and her future. Men just mucked up the works. Opening her own business was where she needed to put her passions.
Chapter 2
Avery Dawson watched Catronia out of the corner of his eye. Why she continued to frequent the Pump House, torturing them both, he couldn’t fathom.
“I take it Catronia Wilde is back on the market,” Hank Dawson said from the corner of the bar.
“Leave it alone, Dad.” Avery grabbed another glass and drew a draft.
“If I were twenty years younger, I wouldn’t have been so foolish to let her get away.”
That’s just it, he was the one who’d gotten away and just by the skin of his teeth. What did that even mean? Who had skin over their teeth?
Knowing he’d escaped her kitten claws didn’t make him want her any less. He’d hoped time and distance would cure him of his fascination with her. It hadn’t. If anything, he found himself searching her out, in the pup, at the grocery store, along the Main Artery of town, his ears attuned to any gossip concerning her and who she was dating now.
Pathetic.
He’d been the one to call a halt to their explosive love affair. Thank God he hadn’t slept with her, and hadn’t that been a close call. Their last night together, when they’d almost gone all the way still woke him in the middle of the night hard as granite and sweating like he’d played a championship hockey game.
“You’re going to wake up one day and kick yourself for letting her get away,” his dad continued.
“Drop it, Dad.”
“It’s my job as a parent to point out when their child is being a dumbass.”
Dumbass or not, at least he wouldn’t be paying alimony to three different women like his dad.
Nope, marriage wasn’t for him, and Catronia Wilde had marriage written all over her. He wouldn’t mind children, but if they came with marriage, he’d have to pass. He’d continue volunteering to coach hockey and get his kid fix that way. Besides, those kids needed him—a steady role model who didn’t switch out their moms like new snow machines every couple of years.
He’d made the right decision, but watching Catronia walk out of his bar when he wanted her in his bed didn’t make the ache low in his belly lessen any.
Hank slid into the seat across from Jack where he sat in a darkened, corner booth that gave him a wide view of the pup. “What did I tell ya? Those two are meant for each other.”
Jack nodded. How hadn’t he seen it before. His poor girl was suffering, and from what he saw of Dawson, the boy was equally heartsick. “Let’s do this.”
He held up his beer and they clinked glasses and shared conspiring grins.
WILD CAT (Alaska Wild Nights Book 2) will be available on April 3rd, 2018, and is now available for preorder on Amazon.
Author’s Note
&nbs
p; While Heartbreak, Alaska is a fictional town, I roughly based it off of Chena Hot Springs, which is located about fifty-seven miles northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, where I grew up. I spent many a winter warming up in the hot springs, swimming in the large outdoor pools when the temperature dipped to minus twenty below. There is nothing more magical than relaxing in natural hot springs while the Aurora Borealis dances across the sky above you, or as in Sorene’s and Ash’s love scene, soaking in the pools while large, fluffy snowflakes fall all around you.
For more information about these natural wonders dotting the state of Alaska, check out The Alaska Life and their list of fourteen natural hot springs, some easy to access, while others will truly be an adventure you would never forget.
About the Author
USA Today Beset Selling Author Tiffinie Helmer is always up for an adventure. Raised in Alaska, she was dragged “Outside” by her husband, but escapes the lower forty-eight to spend her summers in Alaska as often as she can get away with it.
A wife and mother of four incredible kids (now adults) and four furry babies, Tiffinie divides her time between enjoying her family, throwing her acclaimed pottery, and writing of flawed characters in unique and challenging situations.
To learn more about Tiffinie and her books, please visit www.TiffinieHelmer.com
Also by Tiffinie Helmer
Romance on the Edge Series
Edge - Book 1
Hooked - Book 2
Shiver - Book 3
Death Cache - Book 4
Romance on the Edge Bundles
Romance on the Edge - Bundle One (Edge & Bearing All)
Romance on the Edge - Bundle Two (Impact & Hooked)
Romance on the Edge - Bundle Three (Moosed-Up & Shiver)
Romance on the Edge - Bundle Four (Death Cache & Dreamweaver)
Wild Men of Alaska Novellas
Wild Men of Alaska Bundle
Impact
Moosed-Up
Dreamweaver
Bearing All
Wild Women of Alaska
Wild Women of Alaska Bundle
Reel Trouble
Bushwhacked
Fireweed
Icebreaker
Topless Club Series
Topless - Book 1
Heartless - Book 2
Short Stories
Bait
Mooseletoe
Wild Heart Page 12
