Page 48 of A Rebel's Shot

“It’s not like that.”

Except it totally was.

Astryde snorted. She could see right through his lie. She hadn’t been awarded top investigator in the state three years in a row for nothing.

“So, nothing’s happened?” She raised one eyebrow, a smug smile twitching her lips.

He ran his hand through his hair. “We almost kissed.”

“I knew it.” Astryde’s smile broke free.

“Okay, so we’ve hung out after work a few times, and we may have almost kissed, but it doesn’t mean anything. I definitely admire what she’s done both before taking over HGR and after, but there won’t be anything between us.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I’m a Podunk bush pilot who’d rather be in the wilderness than around people, and she runs a multibillion-dollar business and is from one of the richest families in America.” He looked down at his scuffed boots. “We couldn’t get any more opposite on the spectrum.”

“Right.” Astryde drew out the word in disbelief.

“Besides, once she has the mine up and running, I doubt she’ll be staying in Alaska. And we both know I’dshrivel and die in the city, especially somewhere hot like Texas.”

He sighed and looked out the window at Sunny and Davis still slow dancing even though Rafe had somehow convinced others to line dance. For the first time ever, the mention of marriage didn’t send him running to the woods.

But no matter what angle he looked at the possibility of him and Merritt, it never added up to equal together. Pursuing her would end as a tragedy, not a happily ever after.

“Yeah, but at some point, losing something you love forsomeoneyou love makes the loss worth it.” She eased against the counter flush next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Maybe not hiding in the wilds, taking smelly men to hunt even smellier animals, and instead, chasing down the only person who has interested you in years would be the better road forward?”

Or it could plummet him further down the path of loneliness.

His phone vibrated his alarm in his pocket. Time to go. Wrapping his arm around Astryde’s shoulders, he moved her with him as he headed outside to say his goodbyes.

“I have to get going.” He pressed a kiss to Astryde’s hair. “The life of an air taxi pilot is at the beck and call of others.”

She squeezed him tight when he went to let go. “Just… be careful, okay? I know that people like to protest mines and everything, but sometimes the claims are right. And something just seems off tome.”

“I promise I’ll keep on my toes and my head on a swivel.”

Her eyes darted from one of his eyes to the other like she was searching for the truth of his words.

“Good.” She pushed to her toes and kissed his cheek. “Stay safe.”

“You, too.”

She might not be an investigator anymore, but commercial fishing held its own and many dangers. Astryde jogged to the dance floor to a round of cheers as she joined the line dancing.

Tiikâan heaved a sigh and headed to his parents talking with Bjørn and his fiancée, Sadie.

“I’ve got to get back.” Tiikâan pulled his mom into a hug.

“So soon?” She held him tight.

“Yeah.” He kissed her on the top of the head and let go to hug Sadie and shake Bjørn’s hand. “I promised I’d be there to take the boss lady back to Barrow this evening.”

“The job going okay?” Dad shook Tiikâan’s hand and pulled him into a crushing hug.

“Eh, it’s all right.”

He didn’t want to elaborate and have his family worry. They’d just gone through hell and back with Sunny’s disappearance and brush with death. Him telling them about the possibility of trouble, both at the mine and with him personally, would just make them anxious all over again.

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