Page 7 of Meeting Up with the Consultant

Most people think of marketing as pushing a product, but I don’t see it that way. It’s an art, a way to communicate emotion just like the painting. I love the idea that if I do things just right, others will find joy either in discovering the perfect product for their next adventure or a solution to a problem they didn’t even realize they had.

“Thank you.” Harding turns to me, his gaze steady as he stares into my eyes. “That was by far the best time I’ve had in a very long time.”

I clench my hands that tingle with happiness in my pockets to keep from jumping up and down clapping like some crazed cheerleader. A chorus of ducks quack with joyful chatter like they can feel my inner excitement and want to join in. I take a deep breath and smile at him.

“I’m glad the antics of my nephew could be put to good use.”

I turn to the ducks that have gotten quite loud and jump when they come right up to me. They are cute with their feathered butts wiggling back and forth. I glance at Harding, my eyes wide with concern.

“Looks like they like you.” He shrugs and chuckles. “Don’t blame them.”

Aah. My insides turn to a gooey, molten mess. He keeps that up, and I may not even fight his suggestions.

A duck bites at my ankle. I yelp and shake my foot to get him away. Then, like some horror farm movie, the ducks rush me as one, nipping and flapping their wings.

I stumble backward, my arms windmilling to keep my balance. Harding hollers my name and reaches for me, but it’s too late. I trip on a clump of grass and topple into the river. My shriek hits the air a second before icy water encases me and my backside hits the river bottom. I push my wet hair out of my face just in time to see the lead duck quack one last told you so, and the gang of feral fowl waddles their feathered butts back to their Lucky Duck Hotel.

“You okay?” Harding reaches out his hand to help me out, though how he can keep balance while laughing so hard is amazing.

“Yeah.” For a moment I consider pulling him in with me, but I’d probably be laughing my head off too if my teeth weren’t chattering so hard.

“I’m sorry.” He puts his hands on his knees, his entire body shaking with amusement. “It’s just … I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

He yelps and falls toward me, twisting at the last second and landing beside me. Water covers my face, and I sputter as a sort of chuckling sound comes through the commotion.

“He bit me on the butt.” Harding emerges from the water laughing.

The duck commander lifts his head and flaps his wings in victory before heading back to his flock. I’ve never heard of them doing such a thing before, but it doesn’t surprise me it happened to me.

Harding pushes onto his knees next to me, facing the opposite way. His t-shirt that had already been on the tight side clings to him, exposing all his muscles that my dream hadn’t been far from imagining. I yank my gaze away as he shakes off his hands. Wouldn’t do to get caught ogling him.

He glances at me, then rubs his fingers across my cheek to tuck a wayward hair behind my ear, leaving a trail of heat where he touches. “You sure know how to give a guy a tour.”

“Just wait until I get you in the real wilderness.”

Not sure why I say that, but I suddenly want nothing more than to show him all Alaska has to offer. A slow smile builds on his face as he stands and reaches to help me up, never taking his eyes off mine. If I’m careful, I won’t just be falling into the river. I might just tumble straight into love with a man who isn’t sticking around.

5

-Harding-

“So, you going to pick apart Kensie’s department now?” Emmy shoves a sleeping bag onto the sample supply shelf and turns to me.

“Yeah.” I sigh and run my hand through my hair.

In the four days since I’ve been here, everyone has been open to suggestions and excited for my help. Everyone but Kensie. Well, that’s not completely honest. She hasn’t openly objected to what I have to say. But her tight smiles and curt nods scream her disapproval. Granted, we haven’t discussed much since the airplane. I wanted to focus on the departments I hadn’t talked to first before diving back into marketing.

“Thoughts on how I can get her to not blast me with icy glares when I walk in?” I know, I should be more confident.

I am a highly acclaimed business consultant. But around Kensie, I flounder. Every move comes up against a growl like I’m the omega in her pack slinking in for a bite of dinner. Not that she bares her teeth or anything, though sometimes I think she’d like to.

“What? Feed intel to the enemy?” Emmy gasps dramatically, placing her hand over her chest.

“Am I her enemy then?”

The thought shrivels my heart to a prune. No, a raisin. Maybe one of those teeny currant things. The last thing I want is for her to look at me as her foe, someone against her. I want to come alongside her. Be her partner in this. Maybe move to partner in other ways not work-related. I shake that thought away as Emmy continues.

“No, you aren’t the enemy. Far from it.” Emmy sighs and shoves another sleeping bag on the shelf. “Ascent is Kensie’s baby just as much as it is Brad’s.”

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