Page 279 of Unexpected Ever After

“While the coast of this Alaskan fishing village is beautiful, it can also be harsh and even deadly. On this episode of Courting Wild, we’ll discover together how the local Search and Rescue Team protects the lives of both locals and tourists.

“I’m Court Davies and let’s GO WILD!”

“That was great, Court. Maybe one more time from the top.”

I let out a groan. It’s not Matt’s fault that I can’t get it together today. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I’m a little off my game and I need to get these B-roll shots done so that I can get ready to see Zelda tonight.

“What’s wrong, Court?” my producer laughs. “You got somewhere to be?”

“You know I do, you arsehole.”

“Yeah, I know,” he says. “One more time from your name and we should have it.”

“I bloody well hope so,” I mutter. “This is getting ridiculous.”

“One more time…”

“I’m Court Davies and let’s GO WILD!”

“Perfect,” Matt shouts. “That’s a wrap.”

“That was almost exactly the same as the last ten times,” I gripe.

“I know,” he says. “But it was fun to watch you squirm. Now go get your girl.”

“Oh, bugger off!” I laugh as I strip off my mic pack and toss it to him before I take off running.

“We’ll make sure to put this in B-roll footage—you running away from adventure and toward a woman,” he calls after me.

“Don’t you know yet?” I turn and ask as I reach for the handle of my rental SUV.

“What’s that?”

“A good woman is the greatest adventure any man can find out there.”

“Touché,” he says. “See you tomorrow.”

I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face as I climb in my borrowed SUV and head back to town where I’m staying at a small hotel over an old fashioned café. I park at the curb and jump down, eager to make myself look presentable and not like I was filming on a cliffside all day. I have to get the pancake makeup off before I head to Zelda’s place on the hill or she’ll never look at me the same again.

I pull open the front door and move quickly through the lobby.

“Hot date?” AnnMarie, the hotel owner, calls out to me as I make my way to the stairs. Of course, she was at the bloody banging bear tavern last night.

I let out a groan. It’s been a long time since I was invested in a small town like this one. I had forgotten how involved everyone is in each other’s bloody business. And there’s definitely something about Zelda that multiplies that need to know and be invested by one hundred. Maybe a thousand.

I take the stairs two at a time and practically jog down the hall to my room. The old fashioned key on the plastic hotel keychain feels like a lead weight in my pocket. I let myself into my room and strip off my heavy coat and my hiking boots and socks. I uncap the tub of cold cream and slather it on my face to break up the makeup before wiping it off with a damp washcloth.

I turn the taps in the shower to heat before I strip off my clothes, leaving them in a pile on the bathroom floor. I pull the curtain back and step into the tub, letting the hot spray hit my sore muscles. I'm getting too old for all of this. My aches and pains remind me of my shorter than I’d hoped for military career and the parachute accident that ended it all too soon. Not to mention, my forty-five years on this earth. And still, I can’t help but feel as excited as a lad going out on my first date with a pretty girl.

I towel off and rummage through my suitcase for clean boxer briefs and a pair of jeans. I pull them on and then don a plain t-shirt with a blue jumper over it. I pull on socks and a pair of slip on moccasins that I picked up on a different trip to the States. I grab my wallet and keys and head out the door.

The drive up the hill to the little blue house in a sea of lavender is a short one and still longer than I want. I can’t wait to see the woman who has captivated my thoughts. After tossing and turning all night, I was sure that I had made it all up in my head—the attraction, the chemistry, the way that she makes me want to be near her—and still I knew that I hadn’t.

I jump down from the SUV and pull in a deep breath of cool, crisp air to settle my nervousness. As skittish as Zelda is, it won’t do me any favors with her to be jumpy myself. I take my time, moving up the steps to her front porch and knock on the door.

“Shit,” I hear her bite out followed by the squeal of female giggles.

“You better get the door, or I will,” someone threatens.

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