Alaska Reunion

by Jennifer Snow

  Callum looked worried, and she wanted to reassure him that it was all good news she was there to deliver, but she refused to say anything in front of his father.

  “I’ll be back,” he said.

  Mr. McKendrick slapped a palm down on the table. “Callum...”

  “Dad, I said I’ll be back,” he said firmly. Then he turned to her, and his expression was completely unreadable as he pushed the ballroom door open and held it for her as they walked back out into the hallway.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said. About so much. She wanted to hug him and kiss him and beg him to forgive her for everything, for never seeing what was in front of her. Never seeing him and how fantastic he was. How well they could fit together.

  But she’d tried that already. Right now, she needed to tell him about the manuscript.

  “It’s fine. What’s wrong?”

  She took a deep breath. “Nothing’s wrong. Except you are about to do something I know you’ll regret.”

  He sighed and stared at his shoes. “Ellie... I’ve made a decision.”

  “It’s the wrong one,” she said quickly, before she could lose her nerve.

  His head snapped up. “Weren’t you also saying that I needed to think about my future? That I couldn’t continue to waste these so-called talents and opportunities?”

  She nodded. “I was wrong. Or partially wrong anyway. And I said those things before I read your work—your writing.”

  Callum glanced around quickly as though to make sure no one was within earshot.

  She took a step toward him. “But I think you should be pursuing that dream. Your dream. Not someone else’s. And not out of family obligation or fear that you might fail...because you won’t.”

  His gaze softened, but then he shook his head. “It was a pipe dream, Ellie,” he said, his voice hardened to hide the pain she could still hear.

  “It wasn’t. It’s not,” she said, taking a step closer. She dared to reach out and touch his hand. He didn’t pull away. “I may have done something that you’ll be upset about, but I’m hoping you’ll forgive me.” For so many reasons, but she’d start with this.

  He frowned. “What did you do?”

  “I gave your manuscript pages to an editor at the book signing the other day,” she said in a rush.

  His mouth dropped. “You what?”

  “I told you, you might be upset,” she said, her heart racing. He looked pissed, but she couldn’t regret the decision. It had been the right one.

  “Damn right I am. I gave those to you in confidence. In private. I told you I wasn’t ready to submit...”

  “She loved them,” she said quickly, her smile wide and full of pride, despite his annoyance. She couldn’t help it. She was so happy for him...and he’d be happy too... Hopefully... Eventually... She held her breath, waiting for his response.

  “Which editor?”

  “Claire Rodet from Lakeside Publishing. She was there at the signing with her author. I helped them get the last-minute live event, so she said she’d read a few pages...and then I guess she must have taken them with her and she read them all.”

  His eyes widened. “Seriously?”

  Ellie nodded, tears brimming. “Seriously. She loved it, and she wants you to submit the rest once it’s done.”

  “She wants me to submit my manuscript to her?” He sounded as if he was in shock.

  “Yes.”

  “But that’s not how this industry works. Authors write for years and submit to countless agents and editors and collect a stack of rejection letters as thick as the manuscript itself before they ever get published. It doesn’t happen like this.”

  “Maybe it does for you,” Ellie said softly.

  He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “And you won’t unless you finish the book.”

  Callum stared at her, then he stared at the ballroom door. A long moment of silence fell over them as he contemplated his future. It was the longest, toughest sixty seconds of Ellie’s life.

  “What about my father’s contract?” he asked quietly.

  “You should sign it if it’s really what you want,” she said gently. She’d interfered in his life, in his future, too much already. He needed to make this decision for himself. As much as she wanted to push him, figuratively and literally, out the front door of the resort, she couldn’t force him. “But if it’s not what you want, you should hold off until you’ve at least explored this opportunity.”

  He nodded slowly. “She loved them?”

  “She loved them. Almost as much as I did,” she said, her voice nearly breaking.

  His face melted into a wide smile as he ran a hand through his hair. “Wow. This is unbelievable.”

  “It’s so well deserved. That book is incredible, Callum.” She paused. “You’re incredible.” All she wanted to do was dive into his arms and hold him, squeeze him, kiss him... But she held back. He was happy about the amazing news, but that didn’t mean he forgave her.

  His gaze burned into hers. “And you did this, for me?”

  She nodded. She’d do so much for him. Anything it took to get a second chance. “The thing is, I loved your manuscript...but I love you even more.”

  He took a small step toward her and her pulse thundered in her veins. “You love me?”

  “Very much so.”

  “How do you know?” he asked, taking her hands in his.

  “Because I know what I thought was love, and it doesn’t even come close to these feelings I have for you. This is real. What we have...had,” she said, still unsure where they stood, afraid to let her hopes get too high.

  “Have,” he said, stepping toward her and drawing her into him. “This is definitely the real thing. I love you, Ellie, and I always have.”

  “I love you too,” she said as she stepped into his arms and stood on tiptoes to kiss him. It was soft and long and everything in the world that mattered. It had taken her far too long to realize she had everything she could ever want right in front of her, and there was no way she was letting it go—letting him go—ever again.

  He pulled back slightly, his gaze full of love as he stared down at her. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”

  Her heart was full as she held him tight. “I figured you saved my life, the least I could do was save yours.”

  EPILOGUE

  Six months later

  “I’M SO NERVOUS. I feel like a ten-year-old,” Ellie said, pacing in front of the counter of the bookstore, one eye on her laptop, where Callum sat refreshing the online university’s page every few seconds. Her first-semester grades were scheduled to be posted any minute now and she clutched her emergency inhaler in her hand.

  Callum smiled at her. “I promise not to ground you if it isn’t straight As.”

  Ellie’s shoulders relaxed. He was right. She’d worked hard that semester. She’d done her best. As long as she passed...

  “They’re here,” Callum said, leaning toward the computer screen. Ellie rushed to stand next to him.

  Oh please, God, be straight As.

  It was hard enough learning these results on her own, but she wanted Callum to be proud of her, as well. The last few months had been busy and chaotic for them both—working at the store, her taking the online courses, him finishing his book...which Lakeside Publishing had bought...and moving in together, to her apartment above the bookstore. Life was fantastically busy.

  He reached for her shaky hand and pulled her down onto his lap on the stool behind the counter. “Ready?”

  She nodded, and he clicked on the link to the posted grades. Ellie closed her eyes. “Just tell me they aren’t horrible.”

  “Let’s see. Three As and a C—”

  Her eyes flew open. “What? Which course was that?”

  Callum laughed. “No course—you
only took three.”

  Ellie playfully punched his shoulder as pride and relief washed over her. All As. Her hard work had paid off. “Well, that’s good news.”

  Callum turned her so that she was straddling him on the stool. “I’m proud of you. I’m not surprised that you did so well.” He kissed her nose, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “I think we should celebrate,” she said seductively, pressing her body into his. Maybe they could put the “Be back in an hour” sign on the bookstore door...

  He swallowed hard and his expression was full of desire for her as he nodded. “I was thinking the same thing.”

  They’d both been “celebrating” a lot lately. They couldn’t get enough of one another. Ellie had to be the luckiest woman in the world. Living with Callum, loving Callum, starting a life with Callum was everything she never knew she needed and wanted.

  She kissed him and he gently pulled back. “But we have work to do first,” he said.

  “Since when are you employee of the month?” she teased, pressing her pelvis against him and kissing his neck.

  He reluctantly held her away. “There was a new box of books delivered today...”

  She laughed. “Fine! I’ll get back to work.” She climbed off his lap, and he followed her to the aisle where two boxes of books sat waiting to be shelved. He’d already opened them, and her eyes widened, seeing the cover through the cardboard flaps. The image of a tree growing up through an old rusted 1950s Citroën DS had her heart racing. She recognized that image... “Oh my God...are those what I think they are?”

  Callum beamed at her as she opened the box and took out the top copy of his book—The Blue Hour. Her fingers gently rolled over his embossed name on the front, pride and love swelling in her chest.

  “Claire sent author copies,” he said.

  “Author copies.” Callum was officially an author. “I love the sound of that.” Ellie released a huge sigh of happiness as she hugged him tight. “I’m so proud of you. This is so amazing.”

  Callum took her face between his hands, and the love in his expression made all other good news that day pale in comparison. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

  “We make a good team,” she said softly.

  He cleared his throat. “So, I was thinking the next time we tell people we are engaged, maybe we could be telling the truth?”

  Her heart soared as she stared at the man she loved. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  He nodded toward the book in her hands with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Why don’t you see if it’s inscribed?”

  Ellie’s hand trembled slightly as she opened the front cover. Callum’s handwriting inside brought a batch of happy tears to her eyes as she read:

  What do you say, Ellie? Me and you against the world?

  She looked up at him and nodded. “Forever.” She leaned forward, and when their lips met, Ellie was no longer afraid she could ever possibly live an unfulfilled life.

  * * *

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thank you to all my readers for continuing to visit Wild River with each new love story! I’m grateful for all the support, reviews and emails about this series. Thank you to my agent, Jill Marsal, and my editor, Dana Grimaldi—I couldn’t live this amazing dream without either of you and your belief in me and my work. And thank you to the incredible art department at Harlequin for the most beautiful covers. I could never choose a favorite! Big hugs to my husband and son, who keep me sane during deadlines and give me the time and space to create. xo

  Wild Alaskan Hearts

  Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER ONE

  NICK HAD ACTUALLY unfriended her. And blocked her, judging by the slightly ominous disappearance of all his posts and comments from her social media sites. He’d even untagged himself from their photos together. Alisha Miller had been able to view her ex-boyfriend’s Facebook profile long enough to see him change his status from “In a Relationship” to “Single,” and notice that he’d “Liked” the Wild River Single Professionals dating page.

  That hurt, but it was probably his intent, and how could she fault him for it? The breakup had been 100 percent her fault.

  Who mixed up their current boyfriend’s birthday with their ex’s? Worse—who planned a surprise birthday party on the completely wrong day? She’d barely had the word “Surprise!” out of her mouth before the look on Nick’s face made her realize the mistake. The sound of her apartment door slamming behind him had made it perfectly clear that things were over.

  If only one of their friends could have prevented the mix-up... But Nick was a transplant to Wild River, so her friends had become his friends over the months they’d dated, and therefore, no one—not a close buddy of his or family member—could have prevented her massive blunder.

  Alisha sighed as she shut down the site and tucked her phone into the pocket of her scrubs. Getting dumped had been overdue actually. How many times had she messed things up and Nick had let it go? Even the sweet, patient, smart, successful lawyer had his breaking point. It was disappointing because she and Nick were compatible on so many levels. He was everything she claimed to look for in a man.

  Unfortunately, he wasn’t Arron.

  She’d thought that after all this time, she’d have moved on. Healed from the breakup before this one. But Arron Bosch had somehow weaved his way into her heart so deeply that even a steady, reliable relationship with Nick hadn’t been able to shake him loose.

  Alisha left the break room at Wild River Community Hospital and suppressed a yawn as she headed toward the maternity ward. She paused in the hall outside the baby room and the familiar tug at her chest felt even stronger this time.

  She wouldn’t call the sensation the result of longing or a ticking clock—it was more a foreboding sense of not being sure whether she wanted children of her own. In three months, she was turning thirty, and she’d never felt the pressure to get married and start a family even when it seemed everyone around her was blissfully betrothed. But her lack of desire one way or another was worrisome. She’d heard of the inexorable biological clock and she’d expected it to be ringing or at least sending warning signs anytime now...

  But nothing.

  The babies were beautiful, precious, adorable. She could cuddle one or all of them for hours. But it was also just as easy to hand them back. Indecisiveness over something so big was the scariest part. How could she plan her future if she had no strong feelings when it came to something as important as children?

  She continued down the hall and pushed through the door to Room 43, where her best friend, Cheryl Kingsly, was breastfeeding her new baby girl. Her second child in less than two years. Cheryl and her husband, Mitch, wanted a big family and they wanted the kids to be close in age. Cheryl and Mitch had a plan.

  “How’s Mom and baby Rose?” she asked quietly as she tiptoed toward the bed.

  Cheryl was already showered and dressed, and looked fresh as a daisy only twelve hours after delivering the perfect little girl. Cheryl was a personal trainer and Alisha suspected she’d be back in the gym with her clients, baby Rose strapped to her chest, doing squats in record time.

  “We’re doing great. She’s latching like a champ,” Cheryl said with a smile as she swaddled the baby and put the sleeping child into the plastic crib next to the bed. When she turned back to Alisha, she frowned. “You don’t look so great though. Everything okay?”

  She was a terrible liar and Cheryl could always tell when something was up, so she said, “Nick has officially banned me from his life. I’ve been erased on social media now.”

  After the birthday incident, he’d refused to answer her calls and texts. He�
��d sent Mitch to collect his personal things from her apartment. Just a week earlier she’d been thinking his next move would be to bring all of his items in, as his own apartment lease was coming up for renewal. But there had been no opportunity to explain or apologize, and it killed her that at this point, she was concerned more with clearing the air and removing the awkwardness between them than with actually getting back together.

  Since the breakup, she’d had to reluctantly admit it was for the best. Still didn’t stop her from missing him or the life they’d been sharing. But expecting him to still want to be her friend would be selfish.

  Cheryl offered a sympathetic smile and said, “Look, I know you wanted Nick to be the one...but you can’t force these things.”

  Right, but if Nick wasn’t the one when he was absolutely perfect in every way, how would she ever find the one? An anxiety attack threatened, so she calmed herself by staring at the peaceful, sleeping baby.

  “I didn’t have to screw things up so badly though. I still can’t believe I made such a crazy mistake. I know when Nick’s birthday is. He’s a Scorpio. It was one of those perfect things where the stars—the actual stars—aligned. We were astrologically compatible.” It wasn’t something she put a ton of stock in, but it certainly helped. “I don’t know how I got the two dates confused.”

  Cheryl eyed her. “Because you’ve never gotten over Arron.”

  Alisha opened her mouth to argue but then slammed her lips shut again. No sense trying to bullshit Cheryl. She paced the room and resisted the urge to scream. Arron infuriated her. Any thought of him, any mention... The fact that he didn’t infuriate her as much as he should infuriated her. “How could I? There was never any closure.”

  “What did happen between you two anyway? I was away at that yoga teacher training when things ended. You never did tell me. It was all kinda crazy, intense...then boom! Over.”

  Boom! Over. That pretty much summed it up. “Things were crazy and intense.” Arron was one of those exciting men who swept a woman off her feet with the promise of life being a continuous adventure. He was a free-spirited free climber who was essentially living life one challenging mountain to another. As an adventure guide for SnowTrek Tours, he was living the life he’d always wanted.