Stars Over Alaska

by Jennifer Snow

How the woman stayed in shape was a mystery. Her workout routines with her trainer were more gossip session than sweat. Had to be her young metabolism...and diet. Leslie could easily keep the weight off by eating healthy alone, but she liked to feel strong, powerful... She loved how having muscles made her feel overall.

  That’s it. Think about the workout. Focus on breathing and sweating...

  “Speaking of sexual chemistry...” Selena said, “there was a shit ton last night at the bar.”

  Leslie tripped and grabbed the handles of the treadmill before she could fall on her face. “What are you talking about? I told you Levi and I are just old friends.” With a history, with a past, with shared trauma and now a passionate...regrettable kiss between them.

  Selena looked at her like she was dense. “I was talking about me and him.”

  “Oh.”

  “Think he’d have dinner with me?”

  “We’re not here on a vacation.” She wasn’t jealous of the idea. It was just dumb. They weren’t there to have fun, they were there to keep her alive. And if Leslie wasn’t enjoying herself, why should Selena?

  “But we are stuck here, right? Might as well make the most of it.” She climbed off the bike and headed toward the sauna.

  Leslie didn’t answer. It didn’t matter. Selena could ask Levi out, but he’d never say yes. Selena was too young for him and not his type.

  Levi preferred strong, sturdy, practical women.

  A flash of the expression on his face when he was holding her, right before she kissed him, replayed in her mind. It was that look that had ultimately gotten to her. Pure, raw attraction mixed with hurt and yearning. It had terrified her, then intrigued her, then made her jump off the deep end by throwing herself at him.

  Stopping the treadmill, she got off and checked on Selena before heading to the showers. The star was asleep in the sauna.

  But when Leslie reemerged ten minutes later, she heard her talking to someone. Her heart raced as she listened. Was there someone else in the workout room? She peeked around the shower room door to see Selena casually curling a two-pound dumbbell with Leslie’s cell phone to her ear.

  What the...?

  Damn it! She’d left her phone unattended on the treadmill. How the hell had Selena even unlocked it and who had she called? Grabbing a towel quickly, she nearly fell on the wet, slippery floor as she hurried toward her. “Who are you talking to?” she said, reaching for the phone.

  Selena swiped her hand away and shot her a look. “It’s your brother,” she said.

  Eddie? He must have called and Selena answered. Leslie’s shoulders sagged in relief. That was better. At least it wasn’t anyone from LA.

  “Yeah, we can totally be there for then... Leslie’s just finishing a workout so hopefully runner’s high is a thing,” she said, laughing into the phone.

  Seriously?

  “I know, right?” she said.

  “What did he just say about me?” she asked, annoyed at Selena for chumming it up with everyone and annoyed at herself for giving a shit. She reached for the phone again. “Give it to me.”

  Selena pulled it away. “Okay...see you then,” she said, disconnecting the call before handing the phone to Leslie.

  “What was that about?”

  “We were invited to lunch,” she said, setting the two-pound weight back down in the wrong spot.

  Leslie sighed. “Fine.” There were far worse ways to spend the day than hanging out with Eddie.

  “It’s at your mom’s house,” Selena said.

  Right there. That was the worst way.

  * * *

  LEVI PUNCHED THE button for the elevator and fought the feeling of drowsiness washing over him. Zero sleep the night before, his overthinking was on autopilot.

  That kiss had him all kinds of messed up. He’d wanted Leslie to open up. He’d wanted his friend back. If he was being completely truthful, he wanted her. Especially after that kiss. He knew what was driving it, but what if there was more? He’d felt all her emotions spiraling out of control, but there definitely had been passion and attraction in her eyes when she’d looked at him. He’d been right not to take advantage of the situation, but he couldn’t help but wonder if maybe they could somehow find themselves there again, someday, with less hurt and more attraction between them.

  And then he felt guilty as shit. He’d never made a play for Leslie because she was his best friend’s girl and now she was his best friend’s widow, essentially. That made her just as off-limits as before. Even more so.

  His phone lit up and a glance at the caller display only amplified his conflicted state.

  He sent Mrs. Powell’s call to voicemail, knowing there was no way he could sound normal that morning, let alone happy to hear from her or able to discuss Dawson in any way without his guilt destroying him.

  The elevator doors opened on his floor and he stepped in. He wanted to see Leslie before he headed back to the station. Apologize for the night before and make sure she knew he was there for her anytime she needed someone, but he knew he’d have to quit trying so hard to force it. She’d come to him on her own time if she still wanted a friendship.

  The elevator doors opened on the second floor and there she stood.

  Again, wet and wearing a towel.

  Was fate having fun messing with him?

  “Levi!” Selena said, excitedly getting into the elevator. “So happy to run into you.”

  He reluctantly pulled his gaze from Leslie’s flushed expression as she hesitantly stepped inside the elevator, her workout clothes and runners clutched close to her body. They didn’t help to cover the long, gorgeous legs or sexy shoulders and collarbone. He could still feel her hands on his chest and stomach and remember the way she’d tasted.

  Damn, he hadn’t heard a single word Selena had said and now she was staring at him expectantly.

  And so was Leslie.

  Both expressions so completely different. Selena’s hopeful. Leslie’s murderous.

  Shit. What had he missed? “Um...”

  “I’m sure he has other plans,” Leslie said quickly.

  So Selena had invited him somewhere.

  “Um...”

  “I’m sure he’d rather hang out with me...us,” the star said, shooting him a flirty grin that no doubt worked on most men. Unfortunately, she was not his type at all and the woman he was crazy about was standing right there for comparison, so the flirting had zero effect. Though the idea of spending time with Leslie appealed to his lack of common sense.

  And if he had to pretend to agree to hang out with Selena to make it happen...well, maybe he would. “Actually, I’m not in a rush to head back to the station.” Damn, he was truly a sucker for punishment.

  Leslie’s eyes widened and Selena smiled. “Great! And you can drive.”

  He nodded. Drive where? Guess he’d find out.

  The elevator doors opened on their floor and they stepped out. “Meet you in the lobby around eleven?” Selena said.

  “Sure.”

  Leslie hung back as the star disappeared down the hall. “What are you doing?” she hissed.

  “Spending time with an interesting woman,” he said, staring straight at her.

  Her mouth gaped as the doors started to close.

  He stopped them, unable to help himself from saying, “And by the way, I’m digging this new towel fashion trend you’ve got going.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  “THIS IS WHERE you grew up?” Selena asked from the passenger seat of Levi’s truck as he pulled into the driveway of Leslie’s family home.

  “Sort of.” Just the sight of the two-story, modest townhome had so many conflicted thoughts swirling through her. This was her home until she was fifteen. Until the arguments with her mother had turned unbearable and she’d gone to live with her grandmother. Until one of t
he toughest days in her life taught her that family wasn’t always supportive when you needed them to be.

  Finding out she was pregnant had been terrifying. She was on the Pill and, sure, she’d forgotten a couple that month, but she and Dawson had had sex only that one time, before they both agreed they weren’t ready and decided to wait until graduation to do it again.

  Telling her mother hadn’t been her choice. She’d walked out of her doctor’s appointment in a hazy fog, disbelieving, scared and unsure, and her mother had read the truth in her expression.

  Their arguments went from bad to worse. Her mother had never approved of Dawson. After he’d been charged with vandalism with a group of boys in the few months that he’d fallen in with the wrong crowd, she said he was reckless and impulsive and his rich, privileged upbringing hadn’t given him a sense of responsibility or discipline. This unplanned pregnancy had seemed to only justify her position. She’d used it as a way to somehow prove to Leslie that the relationship wasn’t healthy and the pressure to end it increased.

  Leslie had been alone and scared. They told no one about it and her mother talked incessantly about her “options.”

  Leslie hadn’t wanted any option that didn’t include raising the child...with Dawson. She’d been young and in love and stubborn to a fault, but things had also changed for her, knowing she now had someone else to think of and consider and it hadn’t taken long for her to turn her fears into strength.

  Then she’d lost the baby. Before she’d gotten the nerve to tell Dawson. Away with his hockey team that weekend, she’d been all alone. He’d never known. She’d kept it to herself, feeling the weight and pain of it, despite the poor timing and situation.

  Her mother had been relieved. Said it was a blessing in disguise.

  Leslie had moved in with her grandmother that same day...

  It had been raining as she’d packed her things. Tears had streamed down her face, as uncontrollable as the rain hitting the windshield of Levi’s old pickup truck. He was the one she’d called for help and he’d been there, no questions asked.

  He’d helped her unload her things and carried her bed and mattress into her grandmother’s spare bedroom without needing her to explain her impulsive decision. He’d been a quiet, unjudging source of support and strength. Everything she’d needed that day with Dawson still away with the hockey team.

  Once she was settled, he’d sat next to her on the porch swing and she’d rested her head on his shoulder as she struggled with the emotions whirling through her. She told him about the baby and she hadn’t needed to ask him not to tell anyone. She knew her secret was safe with him.

  He’d held her on the swing all day and without knowing it, he’d helped her damaged heart start to heal.

  Staring at the family home now, her chest tightened. She hadn’t seen her mother since her grandmother’s wedding—her third wedding—months ago. Whenever they were around one another, the air was tense and awkward and everyone felt it. It was easier to keep contact to a minimum. And now, by the look of the cars in the driveway, they had a full house for lunch that day.

  “Are we going in?” Selena asked when neither Levi nor Leslie made any move to get out of the truck.

  Levi was waiting on her to adjust, to mentally prepare. She appreciated that he knew her so well but it also just made everything worse. His caring, intuitive nature was something she’d always loved about him. Dawson had been slightly clueless about feelings and he’d always seen her strength and assumed she was never vulnerable. Levi had seen that side of her and therefore had always been the compassionate ear.

  But right now she wished no one knew how hard this was going to be for her. It was easier to keep up the facade when there was no one who could see through it.

  She still couldn’t believe he’d agreed to join them for lunch. She knew it wasn’t about Selena. He wanted to spend time with her, but she was still processing what had happened the night before and it was harder to do when she was around him. She’d expected the embarrassment and the feelings of annoyance but she hadn’t been prepared for the lingering simmer of physical attraction he was evoking.

  “What’s happening?” Selena asked.

  “Yeah, we’re going in,” Leslie said quickly, removing her seat belt and opening the door.

  Outside the truck, Selena stopped her. “Hey, look, I get it. Families can be complicated. If you want to leave, just use the safe word ‘hashtag’ and I’ll fake an illness.”

  Rare moments of Selena’s true character caught her off guard. Her intuition was spot on in this situation and it made Leslie even more uncomfortable that she was so easily readable. “Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.”

  They made their way up the steps and she composed herself as she opened the door. Inside, she was relieved to hear her grandmother’s voice in the kitchen.

  Thank God. Her grandmother served as an amazing buffer for her. Her neutrality in the conflict seemed to help deflect any arguments from starting and her silent support for both Leslie and her mother made them both feel like they had a safe spot.

  “Hi, darling. So wonderful to see you,” her grandma said, as they entered the kitchen. She hugged her tight.

  Leslie didn’t want to let go because that meant turning to her mother next. But, she couldn’t stay in her grandmother’s arms forever. “Hi, Mom,” she said, desperate to sound casual with Selena and Levi watching.

  “Hi.” Her mother’s single word and unreadable expression revealed she was just as uncomfortable as Leslie was. Obviously this rare family get-together hadn’t been her idea. Leslie’s guess was Eddie had set this up and convinced her mother to host it. Her brother was always trying to get them back on the same page. He believed their conflict stemmed from the fact that they were just too much alike. Too stubborn. Both unwilling to be the first person to apologize or try to make amends. Of course that’s what everyone believed. Neither she nor her mother had ever told anyone about the pregnancy. There’d been no point. And she’d learned to be okay with her family never knowing her side of the story.

  Her mother quickly turned toward Selena. “This must be your...friend?” She shook Selena’s hand. “Welcome. I hope you’re enjoying your first visit to Alaska.”

  Selena smiled politely. “It’s been an adventure,” she said.

  “Well, Eddie’s cooking, so you’re in for a treat.”

  Selena looked impressed. “Cop and a chef? Wow, you know how to raise them right.”

  Leslie shifted uncomfortably.

  “I can only take credit for the cop side of his personality. The cooking thing, he learned from his grandma,” her mother said, gesturing her grandmother forward to meet Selena next.

  They exchanged pleasantries as her mother gave Levi a quick hug and immediately launched into a conversation about the cabin.

  “I assume it’s unsalvageable,” her mother said and Leslie felt the first kick to the gut. She didn’t need to say it; she heard her mother’s disappointment and disapproval in her tone.

  Once again, Leslie was to blame for destroying more bonds with her family.

  Levi glanced her way as he nodded. “We haven’t gone out there since the day of the fire, but from what we observed, I don’t think there’s much left.”

  There was nothing left. This house and that cabin had been the only places where reminders of her dad had existed and now one was gone and the other didn’t feel like home. The family home was actually suffocating and already the urge to escape was overwhelming.

  Leslie took a breath. But a second later, both of her arms were behind her back and she was in handcuffs.

  Her eyes narrowed as she swung around to face Eddie standing there on his crutches, which he alternated with his wheelchair. “Seriously?”

  His stopwatch was already ticking the seconds. “Your time’s running.”

  Damn it. She dropped
to the floor. Lifting her legs through her arms, she brought her hands to the front of her body and raised them up to her head to retrieve a bobby pin from her messy bun.

  The rest of the family watched as they joined them in the kitchen.

  “What are they doing?” Selena asked Levi in amusement. She linked an arm through his and moved closer.

  Leslie refused to let it distract her from the task at hand.

  “Seeing how fast she can get out,” Levi said, eyeing her intently. “It’s a game they’ve played since they were kids.”

  Selena laughed. “Really? Whatever happened to throwing a football around?”

  “Not this family,” Eddie said. “You seem a little off your game today, sis,” he told Leslie.

  “Shut up and let me focus,” she said, twisting the pin.

  She was off her game, but in her defense, there was a ton of pressure what with both her client and a man she’d embarrassed herself with the night before watching...and getting cozy with one another. And she still had an injured right hand. She’d removed the bandages the night before as they only irritated the damaged skin even more, but now the metal from the cuffs was rubbing the red flesh.

  Her grandmother cheered her on and her sister, Katherine, entered the kitchen and watched with interest.

  “Who’s the fastest?” Selena asked.

  “Leslie holds the record with fifty-seven seconds,” Eddie said, but he glanced at the stopwatch. “But it looks like she’ll be losing that title to Katherine...and yep, a minute and six seconds,” he said just as she freed her arms from the cuffs.

  Damn it. She hated to lose.

  She stood and handed Eddie back his cuffs.

  “I think that sun and surf is making you soft,” he said with a wink.

  “Whatever. I can beat your ass,” she mumbled.

  “So...all of you are law enforcement or some type of public service hero?” Selena asked, glancing around at all the people in the kitchen.

  Leslie nodded. “Except for grandma...and my dad.” Why had she mentioned her father? He wasn’t there. Bringing him up was just awkward and no one saying anything for a beat made it even more so.