Under an Alaskan Sky

by Jennifer Snow

  “Hi, can I help you?”

  Diva was full-on alert now, sitting obediently by Cassie’s side.

  The guy removed his sunglasses and looked around, before lowering the balaclava away from his mouth, letting it bunch around his neck. “Nippy out there, isn’t it? That windchill...brrrr...”

  Cassie suppressed a grin and nodded. “You wouldn’t like it here in December.”

  “Probably not...but I’m hoping I’ll get used to it...gradually...” He shivered.

  So not a local, but also not a tourist. “New in town?”

  He nodded, removing the gloves. Stepping forward, he extended a hand toward her. “Miller Hartwell, and you are?”

  Shocked.

  Miller Hartwell. The owner of North Mountain Sports Company was standing in her store. Not one of the many executives she’d read about online or seen around town in the last four months overseeing the construction and being interviewed by all of the local media outlets, but the actual owner of the chain of stores.

  What was he doing in Wild River? She’d expected maybe he’d make a quick cameo on the grand opening day, then fly back to their corporate offices in Arizona—back to heat...which he obviously preferred to this weather.

  Diva nudged her leg.

  Realizing she still hadn’t responded or accepted the outstretched hand, she shook her head. “Sorry... I’m Cassie Reynolds,” she said, shaking his hand, which was surprisingly freezing.

  At least he’d picked a good day to stop by. The office was neat and tidy...though it was empty. The retail section was really only for impulse buys or last-minute gear if someone forgot something. She had three separate wholesalers and brands she carried, but the revenue from merchandise sales was almost nothing. Therefore, unless there was a tour group, the place was usually quiet. Her staff only came in when they were leading a tour or during their monthly meetings. Otherwise, it was just her.

  If only he’d stopped by an hour earlier, he’d have seen the twenty-two students from Wild River High School boarding the SnowTrek Tour vans for their spring hiking and orienteering lesson that day. Of course, she offered this to the local high school for free every year...but he didn’t need to know that.

  “You’re the owner, right?” he asked.

  He’d checked out her company? Her stomach twisted. She’d already turned down a buyout offer from North Mountain Sports Company the year before, when one of the executives stopped by with a form letter and boilerplate contract. The guy had assumed she’d say yes and was surprised she’d turned down their very reasonable offer.

  At the time she still had a ton of business and a fighting spirit keeping her confidence high.

  What would she do if Mr. Hartwell presented her with another opportunity right now?

  No. Nope. The answer was still no. Their fancy billboard that broke several of Wild River business association regulations didn’t scare her that much.

  “Yes, I’m the owner. How may I help you?” She’d be polite but firm. He wouldn’t intimidate her. Money and power weren’t everything. He was still the new kid on the block around here.

  He walked around the office, taking in the photos of various tour groups and her own opening day. Not nearly as grandiose as the one he was planning, but it had been an amazing day for her. She’d never felt such pride, and the support of the community who’d come out for hot dogs and free balloons had meant everything to her. She refused to let this man steal how that day had validated so much for her. She tried again. “Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Hartwell?”

  He still didn’t answer, turning his attention to the Business of the Year award on the shelf.

  That’s right. Be intimidated.

  Instead, he pointed to the Slush Cup trophy. “Impressive win.”

  He’d been at the Slush Cup competition? He’d been in town for a while? “Thank you.”

  “Maybe North Mountain Sports Company can give you some healthy competition next year.”

  So he wasn’t there to offer to buy her out and he assumed she’d still be in business a year from now. Good. “We look forward to the challenge,” she said, meeting his gaze square on.

  “You have a nice setup here. And your reputation in town is great.” He glanced at Diva, who’d assessed he wasn’t a threat and had gone back to sleep. “What’s his name?” he asked.

  “It’s a she. Diva. Um...was there a reason you stopped by?”

  “Oh, yes.” He opened his jacket and reached inside for an envelope. He handed it to her and she saw her name embossed in gold on the front. “It’s an invitation to our private event before the official grand opening...in...” He leaned toward the window, opened the blinds and read, “Twenty days, three hours, and forty-eight minutes.”

  Cassie forced a smile. These personalized envelopes alone probably cost more than her monthly marketing budget. But, whatever, she didn’t need fancy to be effective. “Great. Thank you.”

  “The event is by invite only for the business owners in Wild River. An opportunity to get to know one another. Show you all that we’re not a big corporate monster, trying to wipe out the small shops—such as yours—that are the spirit of this community.”

  Right. That’s why they’d tried to buy her out before. If he was trying to soften her up, just to take her out when she let her guard down, he’d be disappointed. She hadn’t made it this far in life by being susceptible to manipulation. “Well, thank you for the invite.”

  He smiled, before the bottom half of his face disappeared beneath the balaclava and he lowered his sunglasses back down over his eyes. “I hope to see you then,” he said as he left the store.

  I wouldn’t count on it.

  And she’d be surprised if any of the other business owners attended either... Mr. Hartwell could say what he wanted, but his company was already different from the rest around here. And in Wild River the small business owners stuck together. Of course, she wouldn’t fault anyone who did decide to go...

  She tossed the invite into the trash can beneath her desk and turned her attention to the new marketing brochures awaiting design approval on the screen.

  Of course, getting an early inside look at the store only made sense. And learning more about Mr. Hartwell and the company could help her...

  Retrieving the invite, she slid it into her purse and inserted the event into her Outlook calendar just as the door opened again and Tank rushed in.

  “Hey, I came to give you a heads-up. There’s some douchebag dressed like he’s ready for the blizzard of ’87 going around handing these out.” He held an invite to the VIP party like the one she’d received, but personalized with his name in gold lettering.

  Cassie nodded, forcing her heartbeat to steady at the sight of him. Dressed in tight-fitting jeans that hugged his thighs and a black T-shirt with The Drunk Tank logo on it, he always made her pulse pound. “He was just here. And that douchebag happens to be the owner of North Mountain Sports Company—Mr. Hartwell.”

  Tank ripped his invite in half.

  “What are you doing?”

  He frowned. “We’re not actually going to the party...are we?”

  Cassie nodded slowly. “I think I will...”

  Tank reached for the tape on her desk. “Guess I should have clarified that first.”

  Cassie smiled. “You don’t have to go.”

  “Of course I do, if you’re going. I told you. I’m here. For support.” He taped the invite. “We will go together.”

  Together. Of course they’d go together. They did everything together. Unfortunately, she knew enough not to think of it as a real date. “Great,” she said.

  If Tank could sense it wasn’t actually great, he didn’t show it. “Are you coming to Kaia’s soccer game today?”

  She nodded. “I’ll be there. I hope it’s a different ref this time. That call agai
nst her in the last game was bullshit.”

  Tank raised an eyebrow. “So that’s where she got it.”

  “Got what?”

  “The potty mouth,” Tank said with a grin.

  Cassie felt her cheeks flush. Okay, so maybe she wasn’t always the best influence on the little girl. Which was one of the reasons why Tank doubted her ability to be in Kaia’s life full-time. She wanted to prove to him that she could handle the responsibility of being a caregiver to Kaia...but she refused to change who she was. “Sorry about that.”

  Tank waved it off, but his expression grew serious. “Hey...has Kaia mentioned anything about her mom to you?”

  Cassie frowned, her heart racing at the mention of Tank’s ex. He never brought her up. Like, ever. “No... She showed me the unicorn stuffie she sent for her birthday, but she hasn’t said much else. Why do you ask?”

  Tank shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “No reason. They’ve just been Skyping lately and I... Never mind. I’m sure everything’s fine.”

  They’re Skyping now? The last Cassie had heard, they spoke several times a year at most. Birthday gifts... Christmas gifts. She didn’t know the full story, but Tank and his ex had agreed that was for the best. Apparently, Kaia’s mother decided to change their arrangement. Cassie could tell by Tank’s expression, it hadn’t been his idea. “Do you want me to ask her about it?”

  Tank shook his head. “No. I’m sure she will talk to me about it when she’s ready.” He headed toward the door.

  Funny, that’s what Cassie always thought about Tank. In five years of friendship, he’d barely mentioned Kaia’s mom. From what Cassie had gathered, Kaia kept in contact, but Tank had no relationship with his ex. They didn’t need to. They weren’t sharing custody of Kaia or having to coparent.

  But Tank’s silence regarding their history had always spoken volumes. Cassie suspected there was a good reason Tank was worried about this increasing contact between his daughter and her mother now.

  Would he ever open up about it?

  He hesitated at the door, but then opened it. “I’ll see you at the game,” he said as he left the store.

  Obviously not today.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  INSIDE THE DRUNK TANK the following Tuesday afternoon, Erika knotted off a blue balloon with the number 30 on it. “I thought Tank was turning thirty-five. Why do all the balloons say thirty?”

  “I could only find thirty or forty, and I didn’t think he’d appreciate the latter,” Cassie said from her perch on the bar where she was hanging the Happy Birthday banner.

  “I thought he didn’t like to celebrate his birthday,” Erika said, slightly out of breath from another balloon.

  “That’s just because he’s never had a party.”

  “Like ever?”

  “Like ever.” The thought of Tank as a kid never having a party had brought tears to Cassie’s eyes when he’d told her. His upbringing had been difficult and lonely from the tiniest bits that he’d actually revealed over the years. His dad had died when he was a baby—a motorcycle accident—and his single mother had been too wrapped up in her own grief to look after her son, taking her own life six months later. Tank didn’t like to talk about his past and Cassie respected him enough not to push him. He’d open up when he was ready...she hoped. They were so close, yet sometimes she felt like she didn’t know him at all. Not when it came to the things that really mattered. Without him trusting her enough to share all of himself, a real relationship could never develop between them. Since the day in her office a week ago, he hadn’t brought up his ex again either and as usual, she didn’t ask.

  It was their thing. Along with not having sex and repressing all confessions of feelings.

  “He grew up in foster care,” she told Erika. “He said he remembers a smashed cake once, but it was for him and two other kids with birthdays that month, and that’s it. So I want to do this for him.”

  Erika gave her a look. The one that said she wasn’t completely on board, that this whole thing could backfire, blow up in Cassie’s face, but she kept blowing up balloons.

  That was all Cassie needed.

  Cassie knew the risk she was taking. When Tank said he wanted to ignore his birthday, he might very well mean it...or he might appreciate the gesture for what it was—a chance for others to celebrate him. Tank was one of the best guys in Wild River. Everyone loved The Drunk Tank and the man who owned it. That night, the bar would be at maximum capacity as everyone came to wish him the best. He deserved that. It was long overdue.

  And after a couple of shots, he’d be fine...

  “So, I meant to tell you, a few days ago, one of the workers on the new store construction came in with a nail gun injury to his leg...”

  “How does that even happen?”

  “You wouldn’t believe the shit we see in emergency... Anyway, I asked him a few questions...”

  “Right there—this is why you’re my best friend. What did he say?”

  Erika held up a finger as she emptied her lungs into another balloon. She tied it and sent it flying into the air as she said, “He was fairly tight-lipped. They’ve all signed confidentiality agreements. But I pushed him for details on how he got the injury and he said he’d been building a skiing simulator...whatever that is. He said the technology attached to North Mountain Sports Company’s displays is insane—virtual reality combined with actual motion to give an authentic skiing experience, right there in the store. Tourists won’t have to even go outside.”

  Was it Cassie’s look of horror or the one of disgust that had Erika’s smile fading fast?

  “I mean, that’s horrible...” Erika said, stretching another balloon.

  Cassie sighed. “What’s horrible is the fact that this is the world we live in now. People would rather have a simulated version instead of the actual thrill of racing down a slope, exertion and adrenaline making their cheeks red...snow flying up all around them...”

  “Actually, the simulator has snow, apparently.”

  Typical Erika. Cassie loved her blunt, straightforward friend, but Erika was still working on her ability to “read a room.” “Unbelievable. I really am screwed, aren’t I?”

  “I think you’re going to have some competition for sure.”

  Cassie shot her a look.

  “Sorry. I’ll reserve my air for the balloons.” Her face disappeared behind the inflating rubber.

  Hearing the truth was hard, but she could count on Erika not to sugarcoat things. That was good. Everyone else was trying to reassure her that things would be fine, but Erika was helping her prepare for the challenges ahead. “No, it’s okay. You’re right. The worst thing is that I have no idea what’s going on over there and it’s killing me. Those black drapes covering the windows are blocking any view...”

  “Tell me you aren’t the person who vandalized the fence.”

  “Of course not.” She paused. “Did I try to peek inside once the damage was done? Absolutely. But it wasn’t me. And besides, I saw nothing.” North Mountain Sports Company took up a full corner of Main Street and was three stories high. Based on their other locations, Cassie knew the top floor was the reservations office and the bottom two were retail and “experiences.” The sheer size of the place was intimidating compared to her small overhang beneath her condo on Main Street.

  “I guess I’ll know soon enough though—they invited the local business owners to a private party before their official grand opening to the public.”

  “Do you want me to come with you? For moral support?” she asked.

  “Actually, Tank was invited too...so we’ll just go together.”

  Erika raised an eyebrow. “Like a real date? Finally?”

  “No. Just two friends and local business owners.”

  Erika’s balloon popped. “When are you going to give him an ultim
atum? Either take things to the next level or...” Her voice trailed off.

  Exactly. Or what? If the choice was having Tank in her life as a friend or not at all, she’d have to choose this friend zone she was locked in. “Believe me, I want to,” she said. “But the truth is, I don’t think he’s ready. I’m not sure he’ll ever be ready.”

  “Everyone can see you two are perfect together. He obviously adores you. Do you really think he’d shut you down if you went for it?”

  That was the fear. “I’m not sure...”

  “Well, he better smarten up soon before he loses you,” Erika said.

  Cassie was silent. What could she say without sounding pathetic? Tank would never lose her. No matter how long it took, she’d wait. She’d loved him for five years, her feelings only getting stronger, her attraction never fizzling out—not even a little bit. He was the only man she wanted, the only one she could ever see a future with. Love wasn’t always perfect, but she’d rather have this situation with Tank than all the fairy tales in the world.

  Erika’s pager sounded and she released a half-inflated balloon as she reached for it. Then, after she dialed the hospital, Cassie listened to one side of her conversation. “This is Dr. Sheraton. I was paged...right...okay...moron, okay. I’ll be there right away.” She disconnected the call. “Sorry, Cass. I have to go.” She slid into her coat. “Apparently some kid attempted the Slush Cup run this morning on an old crazy carpet. I’ll be resetting the bones in his arm all day.”

  Cassie winced. “Better you than me.” Unfortunately, having a surgeon best friend who was constantly rushing off to save lives and limbs put Cassie’s problems into perspective.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Erika said, leaving the bar.

  Which meant, for now, Cassie was on balloon duty, alone. Left with her own questioning thoughts about whether this party was a mistake.

  Ten hours later, she was about to get her answer. Guests started pouring into The Drunk Tank right on time and Reed was scheduled to arrive with Tank in minutes. Unfortunately, her brother wasn’t calling to report good news.