Her Alaskan Pilot: An Alaskan Hero Novel

by Rebecca Thomas

  Oh, she trusted him just fine. She didn’t trust herself was the problem. Each stroke of the paddle pushed the canoe farther out in the middle of the lake, farther away from the shore, and farther away from her good sense. “I trust you.” She tried her best to sound casual. “Don’t be silly.”

  She was safe here. Logically, she knew this. Reminding herself she only agreed to this excursion because of how it would enhance her work, she took in the picturesque postcard scene before her. The beauty of the lake, the quiet air, the mallard ducks flying overhead, the stillness of the water, the surroundings encompassed and relaxed her. Her grip on the sides of the canoe loosened a fraction. Closing her eyes, she let the cool air flow over her as the canoe hissed ahead with each stroke of Travis’ paddle.

  The silence stretched as they moved over the water. Clouds interspersed in wispy threads across the sun. The mountains loomed in the distance like guards standing before a mighty fortress.

  Chryssa itched to reach her sketchpad, but she didn’t dare let go of the canoe’s sides. She thought about Travis’ muscled arms stroking the paddle through the water behind her and how her view would be better if she turned around. “Would you stop for a minute?”

  “Sure.” The canoe slipped to a stop.

  “I want to turn around.” She lifted her legs over the seat one at a time and spun around to face him. “You’re not wearing a life vest.”

  “If I fall overboard and I look like I’m drowning, throw the cooler at me. It works as a floatation device. I could grab a sandwich while waiting for a rescue team too.”

  She glared at him. “I’ll throw a cooler at you. Sure thing.”

  The wooden paddle lay across his lap. Snow dusted the tops of the mountains in the background. Gray-brown rocks, green foliage, and blue sky reflected in the ripples of the water. The muscles of Travis’ tanned forearms flexed with his grip of the paddle and Chryssa thought she’d never seen sexy until this moment. This was the picture she’d sketch the first second she had a chance.

  She glanced at the cooler and two garbage bags in the middle of the canoe. Duke sat between them. He cocked his head to the side as if questioning her. “Duke won’t jump out, will he?”

  “He did a few times when he was a puppy, but he knows better now. Are you ready to keep going?” She nodded and watched his biceps flex as he slid the paddle back into the water. He moved with a fluidity of motion not everyone possessed. Was there anything he didn’t do well? He must be flawed somehow, but she still hadn’t seen it.

  “I made tuna fish sandwiches. I hope that’s okay.” He continued to paddle. “I should have asked you first.”

  “Tuna is great.” Anything he did seemed okay with her. The guy was multi-talented and capable. Not to mention fixing the Lodge’s deck. Was he a carpenter too?

  For someone who basically had her act together, she still felt inept in his presence.

  The silence between them had too many long spaces. She had to fill them. “Did you get Duke when he was a puppy?”

  “He was probably about a year old when I got him. Or he got me. However that works. He’d been abandoned at the dump. I couldn’t resist his big brown eyes. He won me over in about three seconds.”

  “How long ago was that?”

  “Oh, about five or six years ago, I guess.” The motion of the paddle from one side of the canoe to the other was like a dance of fluid movements.

  “He won you over. Just like that?”

  She watched his rhythmic stroking through the water pause for a minute, before he continued paddling. “Just like that.”

  The silence stretched. She thought he would share more information, but he said nothing.

  “I should be paddling too. Instead, I’m sitting here on my duff letting you do all the work.”

  “You can sit on your duff all you want.” He sounded completely serious, but she detected a hint of teasing in his voice.

  She chose to act as if he never said anything about her butt. “Now that I’ve got my sea legs, I think I should give paddling a try.”

  “It’s up to you. You want to paddle, go for it. If you want to sit back and let me do the paddling, that’s fine too. I figure either way, I win, because I’ve got you all to myself for the afternoon, and that’s good enough for me.”

  Travis had never said anything like that to her before. It didn’t make sense. Why would he want her all to himself? She hardly knew what to say. “Would you hand me a paddle?”

  “Sure.” He reached for the other paddle lying next to the fishing poles on the floorboard of the canoe and handed it to her. “I’m all for you trying new things.”

  Why did she get the distinct feeling they weren’t talking about paddling a canoe? She took the paddle from him and turned around in the bench seat, happy to not be facing him anymore.

  She stuck the paddle in the water like she’d watch Travis do. When he said trying new things, what did he really mean? He acted different. Granted, they’d never been around each other unless it was work-related, but this was strange. She wasn’t sure how to react. “Where are we aiming for?”

  “Up ahead. The sandy spot by those two big boulders is where we’ll park the canoe.”

  From now on, she’d keep the conversation on fishing, sketching, or lunch. “Oh, I was wondering if we were fishing from the canoe or the shore.”

  “I think the shore will be easier, since it’s your first time. Once you’ve figured out how to cast standing up, we’ll think about casting from a seated position in a canoe with not much room to maneuver.”

  Her breathing grew heavy with the exercise, and it invigorated her. “And what about the fireweed field—where is it?”

  “Patience, my dear. All in good time.”

  My dear? He’d never addressed her with a term of endearment before. This isn’t the Travis she’d been around the past three years. “Should I keep paddling on my right or switch to my left now?”

  “Switch back and forth whenever you want and I’ll keep the canoe going straight.” She could hear his smile in between his words. “Do what feels comfortable to you.”

  “You’re making this too easy for me,” she said between strokes. “Taking care of everything—lunch, fireweed fields, being my pilot, now taking me fishing. What don’t you do?”

  “I don’t make very good coffee.”

  “Okay. Anything else?”

  “I’m not very good at accepting resignations.”

  She almost dropped her paddle into the lake, but recovered quickly. “Oh,” she tried to say in her most nonchalant voice, “and why’s that?”

  “Because I wish you weren’t leaving.”

  Chryssa held the paddle in a death grip. Thank God her back was to him so he couldn’t see her face turn red.

  While she appreciated hearing his wishes, he had to know she’d made her decision. She turned back around to face him. “I have to leave.”

  He stopped paddling, “I want to find a way to convince you to stay.”

  Chryssa’s heart kicked in her chest, and it had nothing to do with her self-imposed exercise. Mesmerized by his smile, his intelligent eyes, his broad shoulders—she knew this was going to be difficult, but she would resist the temptation. Staring down at her hands, she said, “Travis, I am leaving.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Travis said simply.

  Chryssa took in the exquisite scenery. The glistening lake highlighted by rays of sunshine hitting the water at varying angles. Completely alone with Travis so far away from everyone and everything. It was just the two of them. They could say anything and no one would hear. The intimacy struck her. If only things had taken a different path.

  Duke stood.

  “Hang on,” Travis said. “We’re about to hit shore.”

  Chryssa gripped the sides of the canoe as they skidded to a stop. She started to stand up, but Travis held up his hand. “Wait just a sec. I have waterproof boots on. Let me carry you out of this mud.”

  Carry her? No way.
That kind of body contact was completely out of the question. Flustered, she said, “You—you should have told me to wear water boots.”

  Duke bounded over the edge of the canoe and ran up the shoreline splashing water as he flew by.

  “I know, I should have, but this way I get to carry you,” Travis said.

  He sounded so serious, and yet, she knew him well enough to know he was teasing. It was one of the things she loved about him. He found humor and lightheartedness in many things. Things that some people might consider stressful.

  Chryssa looked out over the grassy muck. She didn’t want to get her sneakers wet, but she didn’t want Travis carrying her either.

  Travis stood beside her outside the canoe. “Hop on my back. I’ll give you a piggy-back ride.”

  This was an impossible situation. She couldn’t hop on his back. She couldn’t. “Isn’t there another place we could get to shore?”

  “Sure, if you want to paddle a lot farther.” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other in impatience. “Come on. Is a piggy-back ride from me for about five steps really going to be that bad?”

  She was being ridiculous, but the idea of her body touching his made her beyond uncomfortable. If she made a bigger deal out of it than she already was, she’d appear foolish. “I guess not.”

  “There’s that sense of adventure I love about you,” he said, as he backed up to her and gestured for her to hop on.

  Taking a deep breath, she blew it out slowly. He loved something about her? He’d said several things now that were completely out of character. “Okay, are you ready?” she asked.

  “Yep,” he replied.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  He turned his head and gave her a sly grin. “I’ve packed a lot more on my back than a hundred-pound woman before.”

  “A hundred pounds?” She laughed. “Ha. I wish.”

  “You’re not one of those sensitive about her weight women, are you?”

  She climbed gingerly on his back. “Hardly. My weight is what it is, although with all this paddling and hiking, maybe I’ll burn some extra calories and lose a few pounds.”

  He hooked his arms under her jean-clad legs and hoisted her up a notch. Travis tromped a couple steps through the grass before he tipped from side to side, acting as though he would drop her.

  “Travis Forrester—stop it this second!” She slugged him on the shoulder. “Don’t you dare drop me.”

  He stopped in his tracks and peered over his shoulder. “I’m hurt you think I’d be so devious as to dump you in the lake.”

  “Travis, stop it.” Her stomach went all butterfly-ish. So close to his woodsy smell and warmth, she leaned into him, crushing her chest against his back.

  “Actually, I want you to have a fantastic fishing experience and it wouldn’t be as good if you were soaking wet.” His voice sounded so sincere, she smiled.

  She smiled an awful lot around Travis. His teasing ways sucked her in. Like forbidden fruit, she knew better than to take a bite.

  “Mmm.” She nodded and ached to wrap her arms around his neck, but instead kept her hands placed gently on his shoulders. Every nerve ending in her body sprang to life. A primal urge, beyond conscious thought, coursed through her body, recognizing the maleness of him, even if her better sense told her not to notice.

  It’s a piggy-back ride, that’s all. Get a grip.

  Maybe if she talked, it would take her mind off her body’s irrational urges. “I guess I can honestly say it’s been awhile since I’ve been on a piggy-back ride.”

  Travis took a few more steps before crouching over and depositing Chryssa’s feet on the ground. “I’ll get your things and our fishing poles out of the canoe. Be back in a minute.”

  Chryssa watched him turn and slog through the grassy mud back to the canoe. Surveying their surroundings, she noted a path leading up a rocky ledge overlooking the water. This place was amazing. She never realized how intoxicating nature could feel. The intimacy of this wide-open place. Almost clandestine.

  A place for lovers. For Seduction.

  She banished the ludicrous thought.

  CHAPTER 9

  Duke took off down the beach, splashing water as he ran. Travis made a couple of trips back and forth gathering the tackle box, cooler and Chryssa’s backpack. Dragging the canoe to higher ground, he gazed at Chryssa standing on the shore waiting. The feel of her thighs wrapped around his waist and her breasts pressed against his back had nearly undone him. He must find a way to subdue the carnal thoughts swimming haphazardly around in his brain.

  He wasn’t here to seduce her. He was here to show her how great Alaska could be and how she shouldn’t leave the state. Art could be pursued anywhere. There was no reason for her to leave.

  Besides, she was his employee. Or was she? Technically she’d already had her last day of work, so at this point she was only a friend. Something clicked inside him. He’d never looked at her as anything other than an employee, but now, flying her to Gold Creek… Something had changed between them. Or, at least it had for him.

  She would love this picturesque fishing hole as much as he did. Whatever other thoughts entered his mind, he needed to forget about. Fishing. Fishing was what he needed to think about. Mind over matter.

  He could tell himself this outing was just another fishing trip, but the truth was, he’d never taken a woman who wasn’t a family member fishing before. Why it never worked out until now, he didn’t know. He guessed it was because he didn’t wish to share that part of himself with someone else. But he’d volunteered to take Chryssa.

  Her cheerful spirit and willingness to try new things were qualities he’d not often witnessed in people. She wasn’t afraid to live life with a little more edge and a little more passion. Heck, she was leaving Alaska to go after something she wanted. He admired her for that.

  He set their bags and cooler beneath a grove of aspen trees and scanned the area for Chryssa. She must have followed the trail to his fishing hole. No sign of Duke either. Making another trip back to the canoe to gather their fishing poles, he dragged the canoe with him and tied it off securely on shore.

  Duke barked. He probably wanted Chryssa to throw a stick in the lake for him, but in case something more was going on, Travis hurried up the path.

  Yelping and barking sounded off in rapid succession. Travis ran. He rounded a curve in the trail and saw the cause for the commotion. Chryssa reached for Duke’s collar to haul him away from a porcupine, but she was no match for his strength and determination.

  “Duke, get over here!” Travis yelled.

  Duke stopped barking long enough to eye Travis, but didn’t move from his spot beside the porcupine. The porcupine stood his ground at the base of a spruce tree, swishing his quill-laden tail. Two quills poked out of Duke’s face and neck.

  Anxiety and fear lined Chryssa’s face. “I tried to pull him back.”

  “I know. He won’t listen.” In two quick strides, Travis maneuvered Duke away from the porcupine. “You’d think he’d learn, but he’s just too stubborn.”

  “What?” Chryssa cried. “This has happened before?”

  “Yes.” Travis dragged him toward the lake’s shoreline. “Come here, boy.”

  The porcupine scampered away.

  Quickly, Travis yanked the quills from Duke’s face and neck.

  Duke yelped.

  Travis held on to him and talked soothingly to him. “You okay, boy? You need to stay with me.”

  He glanced up at Chryssa. Her eyes were round and bright. “I’m sorry. I should have got him away.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Travis ruffled the fur on Duke’s head. “Why do you go after something you know will hurt you, silly dog?” He glanced at Chryssa. “I have some antibiotic ointment with me.”

  He let go of Duke and opened a side pouch on his backpack. “Come here, boy.”

  Duke trotted to his side.

  “Now sit.” Travis put the ointment on his finger,
then on the two places where the quills had been.

  “Will he be okay?” Chryssa asked.

  “If they don’t heal up, I’ll take him to the vet, but I suspect he’ll be fine. Wolves have been known to do the same thing. They continue to try to eat a porcupine even with their mouth full of quills. Needless to say, the wolf eventually dies.”

  Travis let go of Duke’s collar, grabbed a stick, and threw it into the lake. Duke bounded into the water swimming after his prize. “Good as new.”

  They watched Duke swim out into the lake. Chryssa stood beside him. “Is that ointment specifically for dogs?”

  “Yes. I always carry it with me now. I have a human first aid kit that permanently stays in my backpack too. Even though we aren’t far from the lodge, it’s always a good idea.”

  “I imagine it would be.”

  Duke bounded up the shore, dropped the stick, and shook the water off his drenched fur, spraying everything within a three-foot radius. Travis picked up the stick and threw it again.

  “I should have warned you about the spray,” Travis said.

  She laughed. “It’s fine. Why would Duke continue to go after porcupines?”

  “Now that’s a question I don’t have an answer for.”

  Duke returned with the stick.

  Chryssa stepped away from the lake water shower. “Maybe he thinks he’s protecting us.”

  Nodding, he said, “Could be.”

  Travis strolled alongside the lake’s shoreline. Chryssa followed.

  After throwing a stick for Duke a few more times, he asked, “You’ve really never been fishing before?”

  “Nope.”

  “Well, we’re about to remedy that.” He gestured farther up the trail. “We’re going to go to my secret spot where Duke will not be allowed to play fetch and scare off all the fish.”

  * * *

  CHRYSSA LISTENED INTENTLY TO TRAVIS’ instructions about casting, but she was having a hard time concentrating when his arms were wrapped around her like a warm jacket. She held the fishing pole in both her hands. He stood behind her with his chest and hips pressed against her. He demonstrated where her hands should be placed on the pole by wrapping his own hands around hers. It felt like the piggy-back ride all over again. Only worse.