Page 1 of Claiming Ours
PROLOGUE
“Iwon’t be gone long, promise,” I stated, shooting Hank a wide smile as the door snicked shut. After locking the adorable cabin up tight, I tucked the old-school metal key into the pocket of my lightweight jacket. Jogging down the few steps that led from the small porch, I started toward The Nest’s main building, desperate for anything with alcohol to help calm me down enough to sleep tonight.
The narrow trail weaved through towering trees, their leaves filtering the late-evening sun’s rays, making it dance along the worn path. Above me, birds flew from branch to branch, chirping and singing, no doubt grateful for the warmish weather after the brutal Alaskan winter. Thankfully, it was still light despite the late hour after my errands in Anchor Bay took longer than expected, allowing me to see without needing the flashlight on my phone.
Hands tucked into my jacket pockets, I paused, allowing myself a second to soak up the peaceful moment in the most serene setting I’d ever experienced firsthand. Exhaling slowly, I looked up toward the partly cloudy sky. A wide smile split my face as pure joy and excitement flooded my veins.
This was real. I wasfinallyhere, about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. For years, I dreamed of taking two weeks off from work to hike the advanced trail that cut through the rugged Alaskan terrain from Anchor Bay to the Kenai Fjords National Park. After saving all my PTO, and training for the last year to ensure we, Hank and I, were both ready for the challenges the difficult trail had in store for us, my lifelong dream was coming true.
Thin twigs and long-dead leaves crunched beneath the soles of my broken-in hiking boots as I continued along the winding path, the main building of the resort now visible through the trees up ahead. The distinct noise of heavy footsteps close by had me pausing, my relaxed grin fading as I scanned the shadows for the source. Despite being on the resort’s property, I was well aware of the dangers that lurked everywhere in the wild state. I hovered a hand over the knife secured to my belt just in case a bear or moose tromped out from the trees.
After a minute of nothing but the birds singing around me, I released the breath I’d been holding and worked to calm my racing heart. Shaking out both hands, I silently chastised myself for being so paranoid. I couldn’t get startled at every sound or the next two weeks would be miserable.
Steps a little quicker this time, I headed down the path, though the sense of being watched wouldn’t fade despite telling myself I was being ridiculous. Practically jogging, I focused on the automatic glass double doors, desperate for the safety the building promised. Without breaking stride, I stumbled into the main lobby, a hand pressed to my racing heart as if that would stop it from attempting to beat out of my chest.
A young woman standing behind the reception desk startled, eyes wide at my frazzled entrance. Her shocked gaze slid over my shoulder to the doors at my back. Whirling around, totally expecting someone or something to be there, I scanned theempty pull-through drive and parking lot while struggling to catch my breath.
“Everything okay, miss?” she asked. I nodded in response, not trusting my voice not to shake. “Is there something I can help you with?”
I blew out a slow exhale through pursed lips, calming the blood pounding in my ears. With a forced smile that didn’t reach my eyes, I spun around. “I leave tomorrow to tackle the Soul Trail and would love a drink before I’m without that kind of luxury for a couple of weeks.”
Nodding with a knowing smirk, she pointed down the hall to her right and relayed simple directions to the resort’s only bar on the property.
With a wave and a quick thank-you, I made my way toward the small dining room, using the short walk to finish calming down from the off-putting feeling from earlier.
No one was there watching or following me, right? It was probably just a curious animal. Yeah, that had to be it. My nerves were just heightened from the thrill of tomorrow and not having Hank at my side, which made my imagination run wild.
The bar and dining area was a little outdated but fit with the rest of the resort’s mountain-style decor. Being the only guest in the room, I picked a stool in the middle of the long wooden bar.
Noticing my arrival, the lone bartender glanced up from his phone and smiled, tucking the device into the back pocket of his dark jeans. A breath caught in my throat as he sauntered my way. Holy hell, he was hot. His smirk was kind yet promised to fulfill all the dirty thoughts running through my mind. Raking a hand through his wavy hair, he paused directly in front of where I sat and leaned against the polished wood.
Desperate for a distraction to stop staring, I slid a drink menu closer and pretended to focus on the specials listed.
“Welcome to The Nest.” I refused to look up from the blurry words, afraid he would notice the flush I felt warming my cheeks. “Just arriving?”
Daring a glance, I tucked a rogue lock of strawberry blonde hair behind my ear and shook my head. “Not exactly, but this is my first time in here at the bar.” I broke off his intense stare to scan the liquor bottles behind him just for a reprieve from being sucked into his orbit. “I’d love a drink. What’s good?”
His tempting smirk pulled into a wide smile. “Well, I make a tasty martini if that’s what you’re feeling, or a glass of wine is always good. We also have some of the local beers on tap?—”
“A martini,” I cut in. That sounded perfect. “Dirty with blue cheese olives if you have them. Thank you—” I flicked my gaze to the name tag pinned to his forest green uniform polo. “—Kale.”
“You got it. One martini coming up.”
I relaxed against the stool back when he turned to make the drink, not realizing I had been sitting ramrod straight until now. Grabbing the flimsy laminated menu, I used it to fan my hot face. You’d think I’d never talked to an attractive man before by the way I was reacting. Granted, it had been a while since I’d been on a date, but surely I had more game than this.
While I worked to come up with something to talk to Kale about, a door at the opposite end of the bar swung open, a man carrying a plastic crate full of clean glasses stepping through. He paused mid-stride, attention locked on me for long enough that I fidgeted on the hard seat, uncomfortable with the prolonged stare.
“You staying around Anchor Bay long?” Kale asked over his shoulder, breaking the other man’s intense focus. After dropping off the crate, he pushed back through the swinging door, though I caught him snagging a last look back my way before he disappeared from view.
I released the held breath burning in my lungs. “No, I actually leave tomorrow.”
He twisted around to face me, shaker in hand as he mixed the cocktail. “Well, that’s a shame. We have a lot to offer around here.”
My lower belly flipped, his husky tone making me forget all about the strange barback’s attention. “I’ve actually been here a few days preparing for the Soul Trail hike. I head out tomorrow morning. Today was spent picking up last-minute supplies, checking in with the doctor here for an emergency antibiotic prescription, and I even made Hank get a full physical to make sure he’s healthy for the long trek.”
I started to tell him about the doctor’s odd behavior but sealed my lips shut to keep the negative comment to myself. This guy didn’t want to hear how uncomfortable their small-town doctor made me feel during that brief visit. There was something off about him I couldn’t put my finger on, yet I knew it was best to keep my distance from the man. Then again, that’s what I thought about the weird guy who hit on me at that Dave’s place too. And the barback just now. Maybe knowing I was about to be all alone on the trail, except for Hank, was making me more paranoid about odd looks and too-cozy strangers than normal.
That had to be it, because I wasn’t normally this suspicious of everyone who glanced my way.
