Page 59 of Dr. Alaska
“We set our available dates a year in advance, based on my schedule and Dee’s. Between the two of us, we can free up nine or ten days a month.” He stared at the screen. “I don’t understand. We’re fifty percent booked through June.” He scrolled again. “Wait. Fall hunting season already has reservations.”
“That’s good.”
“Hell yes, that’s good. That’s income we can plan on.” He put the phone on the table. “How? You did this, too?”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “Tuli.” Craving the contact, she pulled his hand to her cheek. “He’s a social media influencer who runs the popular The Real Alaska account, apparently. Lots of connections. And he’s your friend.”
“Why?”
“Why is he your friend or why did he do this?”
Maverick’s stunned expression resembled someone who’d been hit by a two-by-four upside the head. “The second one.”
“I mentioned to him that some exposure might help counteract the incoming jerk reviews.”
“That’s it?”
“Basically.” She paused. “He started mumbling about cross-promoting and calling in favors with influencer friends and ran with it, I guess.”
“Huh.” His brows furrowed. “Should’ve thought of asking him a long time ago.”
“You were busy with an entire business plus running Yukon Valley’s EMS department. No time to refine marketing strategy.”
He looked back down at the phone. “Wow.”
“Also…” She hesitated. It hurt to say the words. “I do understand what it feels like to have a bully take things away. To stand on shaky financial ground and wonder what the future holds. I get it.” With a whisper, she confessed aloud her embarrassment. “I’m there right now. With nothing.”
“Lee.” He drew her hand up to brush his lips across her wrist. “After what you’ve done for my sister and for me, I want to help with your situation.”
For several seconds longer than she cared to say, Lee considered it. Thought about a future in Yukon Valley and out of the financial hole she’d landed in. Thought about what gold and other ore could mean in terms of money. Then she studied Maverick’s handsome, open expression. “I can’t accept the help. It’s tempting, but I need to do this myself. For myself.”
His blue gaze held hers. “I get it. You will get back on your feet, I bet sooner than you think.”
Inwardly, she flinched. He was way too close to the truth. “Sure hope so. For both of us.”
With the pads of his thumbs, he lightly rubbed the backs of her hands. Little sparks of heat zipped up her arms at the simple touch. He closed the short distance between them and dropped a gentle kiss on her mouth as he slid his hands into her hair.
“Mm, feels so good to touch you.” His voice had dropped an octave.
At the sensual tone, heat coiled low in her pelvis. “What now?” she said after another kiss.
He pulled her straight onto his lap, holding her loosely at the hips as he kissed her again. When he curled two corded arms around her back and pressed her into his chest, all of her nerve endings lit up like a Christmas tree. Lee looped her arms around his neck and relaxed into him.
“What now?” he repeated the question in between brushes of his mouth over hers. “No guests.”
“Hang out with the babies?” Her heart scampered as he traced the tip of his tongue over her lips.
“I love the babies, but they’re not you,” he murmured against her mouth. “Hate to miss out on a window of opportunity where both of our schedules line up.”
“Do tell.”
He pulled back, his breath feathering the hair around her face. “I want to continue what we started yesterday. This time without distractions. Any distractions. I want to give you my complete attention.” The way he said the wordcompletemade it sound like a promise and a sensual challenge.
“Oh?”Oh yes, more like it.
“If that’s what you’d like.” His pupils had dilated to the point where only a rim of blue remained.
She shifted on his lap, trying and failing to douse the heat building in her core. Now wasn’t the time for career decisions or an existential evaluation. Now was the time for more kisses. “I’d love that.” He rolled his hips against her, and she gasped. “I’d love all of that.”
