Page 10 of Dr. Alaska
“Is there a white or black post about chest-high in front of the house?”
Her light brown brows drew together. “Yes.”
“Engine block heater.”
“Um.”
He crossed his arms. “You don’t know what that is, do you?” At her head shake, he said, “If you don’t use the block heater, the cold weather is really hard on your vehicle. Engine might not start due to the oil becoming more viscous in the cold temps. Plug the vehicle in when you arrive in the evening and unplug when you leave in the morning.”
“Where?”
“Oh boy.” He pulled a picture of an engine block heater attachment on his phone. “The connection is usually on the front grille or a side recess on a sedan.”
Her dark eyes went unfocused as she looked toward the ceiling. “Yes.” She nodded. “I think I know where it is.”
“Also, you’ll need warmer outerwear. You will need to walk out to your car without freezing to death.”
“Is that a literal risk or a figure of speech?”
“Both.”
“Lordie.” Her white teeth worried her lower lip, tempting Mav to taste.
Right there. He leaned an inch closer. She brushed her palms together, breaking his concentration.
Straightening her spine and patting her purse, she said, too brightly, “Okay, then. Let’s get some better gear. Lead on.”
He put a hand on her forearm, stilling her. “Why are you here, Lee?” He felt the tiny shudder even through her coat.
“I’m buying groceries and winter gear.”
“No, here. In Yukon Valley.”
A pause. “Filling gaps in critical access hospital coverage.”
Shaking his head, he said, “You could do that anywhere.” Another outsider on a temporary adventure assignment in Alaska.
Another pained expression creased her forehead for a second. “Seemed like a nice place to be.”
“Bull. People come out here because they’re drawn to the area and the self-sufficient lifestyle, they have a romantic notion of the Alaskan bush, or they’re running from something.”
Her mouth dropped open, then snapped shut in a determined line. Those brown eyes glimmered. “Is nosy psychoanalyst your side gig, for the times when you’re not busy making assumptions about members of the healthcare team?” Sharp heat laced her words. Her neck and cheeks reddened.
Crap. “No, I mean, I’m sorry. I—”
She swallowed and said in a voice a few notes too high, “So. Any recommendations for snow pants and boots?”
Chapter Five
The only reasonLee didn’t have to deal with a call from Mom on Monday, her first night in Yukon Valley, after she’d gotten settled in the modest two-bedroom rental mostly had to do with the four-hour time difference between Georgia and here. Unfortunately, when Mom texted Lee Tuesday morning…oof, that louddinghurt at five a.m. local time. At least she texted rather than called. Easier to deal with right now in the pitch-black chill of early morning.
When are you coming back home? Preston was asking about you. He’s considering a run for city commissioner.
Lee pinched the bridge of her nose. Nohow are youordid you arrive safely?
Nope. In Mom’s world, denial was indeed a river in Egypt. Ignore, avoid, distract—that was her go-to response when embarrassed. Mom had much more pressing items, like maintaining the family image. That meant wifey Lee needed to be seen supporting her ex.
Apparently, infidelity, sucking Lee’s savings account dry, and a divorce didn’t slow Preston Dupree down from brazenly climbing the local government career ladder like kudzu. He truly was a weed—nice-looking in season, useless, and relentless in its destruction of everything beneath it.
