Page 57 of Protective Heroes

High Heat SEAL

One

Kami

“Ishould get one of those folding board thingies.” I carefully tucked a winter white sweater on top of the clothes already packed in my suitcase.

“A folding board thingy?”

My gaze shot to Asha where she sprawled against the pillows on my bed. Willa, my black and white tuxedo cat was tucked into her side, eyes at half-mast and purring as Asha scratched her between her ears.

I pressed my lips together and returned to packing. That damn cat would be thrilled to have my best friend in charge of her care and feeding for the next week. I’d never really been a cat person and definitely never planned to get one. But Willa already occupied this apartment when I moved in, a fact my landlord failed to mention until he handed over the keys and a bag of kitty litter.

From what I’d been able to figure out, Willa belonged to the elderly woman who lived here before me. When she moved into an assisted living facility, her family packed up all of her possessions—all except poor little Willa. And she’s been a grumpy cat since then.

I’d called the local humane society to see if they had room for the lazy femine. When they told me the likelihood of a middle-aged housecat getting adopted, and what her fate would be if she were left in the shelter too long, I decided she and I could find a way to live amicably together.

But when she met Asha, it was love at first sight. They’d connected instantly, and if my best friend’s building allowed pets, I had no doubt she’d have absconded with my cat by now.

“Hello! Earth to Kami. Folding board thingy?”

I shook off my rambling thoughts. I’d allowed my mind to wade through junk thoughts to keep it off the topic I most wanted to avoid—my upcoming trip back home.

“You know. Those plastic boards they have at retail stores that you can use to perfectly fold shirts and sweaters.”

Asha snorted and eased away from Willa, sliding off the bed. “Like you need help keeping things perfect.”

I glanced down at my open suitcase and my lips twisted into a wry smile. I shot Asha a sheepish look and she had no problem with laughing at me.

She threw an arm around my shoulders and squeezed me close to her side. “Relax, sweetie. Everything will be fine. I can’t believe you’re getting this worked up over traveling. You’re an old pro at this.”

She wasn’t wrong. My wedding planning business was well-known for the extravagant destination weddings I orchestrated. But the destinations I frequented tended to be tropical beaches or major cities. I’d never been hired to do a wedding like this one. Least of all the last place I wanted to return.

I tilted my head and let it fall on Asha’s shoulder. “I can’t believe I agreed to do a wedding in Hartwood, Alaska.”

Asha nudged me with her shoulder. “It could be fun. Maybe you’ll get snowed in with some rugged hottie and he’ll help break the sheet of ice you’ve wrapped yourself in.”

I threw her a hard look and she raised her hands in defense. “But am I wrong? You and I both know you could use some one on one with a hunk packing some nice junk.”

I got a saucy wink.

She’s not wrong, but not for the reasons she thinks. The last time I let a rugged hottie slide my panties down I lost my heart and for a good long while I lost all sense of purpose. I saw our future together when he saw me as his last quest before leaving our town.

Hence, why I now lived across the country and not even remotely close to where he could be found.

I held back my shudder.

There was a good reason I avoided Alaska at all costs. One I hadn’t even shared with my closest friend. The only reason I agreed to it this time was because Asha’s sister was getting married and she wanted nothing else but a wild, untamed wedding. Once she found out where I spent my childhood she set her heart on having a magical wedding in my small mountain town. There was no talking her out of it.

She and her fiancé thrived on being outside. I’d hoped a beach wedding in some tropical paradise would do the trick. But they were emphatic. They wanted something off the beaten trail in my hometown.

So off I went to Hartwood, Alaska—home of wilderness, outdoor adventure, and an insanely large number of the country’s rugged hotties in plaid. And one in particular. My high school sweetheart and the man who left me for the Navy.

It still stings to think about it seven years later.

I sighed, shoved down my mental rumblings and hastily zipped my suitcase closed. Hefting it off my bed, I glanced around the room.

“I hope I packed enough.” I placed the suitcase by the bedroom door next to a smaller, matching case.

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