Page 1 of Keep Me Close

ChapterOne

Hallie

My hands were curled so tightly around the steering wheel that my fingers hurt. When I finally let go, I sat there, trying to take a breath. My lungs felt tight, and my heart ached.

I was only thirty years old. That was it. I tried to tell myself it wasn't a big deal. The news could be worse. I was going to survive. I was going to be fine.Fine.

But, but—

I shook that thought away so hard it skittered off into the dark edges of my mind. Awareness clicked into place, and I finally noticed I was just sitting there in the parking lot at the grocery store.

Abruptly, I decided I didn't want to go grocery shopping, not today. I didn't even want to go back to my lonely apartment tonight, but I didn't want to see anybody I knew. I wanted to pretend everything was fine. As if I hadn't just discussed when I’d be scheduling surgery.

I started my car again, stretching my hands before I began driving. I headed out of Anchorage, watching the city lights disappear in the darkness.

Moonlight gilded the snow-topped mountains with a silvery glow. I’d always loved how it felt as if the mountains cradled the city. They felt so close, as if I could reach out and touch them.

Though it was bracingly cold outside, it was clear, and the roads were plowed. I told myself I would just drive for a little bit, maybe stop at the first exit outside the city. I passed that exit, but I wasn't ready to stop yet. A while later when I saw the exit for Willow Brook, I smiled. I'd been here a few times. The downtown area had a cute little coffee shop. It was just far enough outside of Anchorage that I didn't come often. I typically drove south rather than west. My brother lived in Diamond Creek, another small town roughly five hours south.

I couldn't even remember why I'd come to Willow Brook the last time. I thought it was because a friend had an art show in a gallery here. The town was just big enough that I could find somewhere to stay. When I turned onto Main Street and saw the sign for Wildlands Lodge & Restaurant, I whispered, “Here.”

I could stay here, have a good dinner, and pretend my life belonged to someone else for the night.

I checked into my room and dropped off my backpack, which had some toiletries and a change of clothes. Not because I planned this night, but because I always had that in my car. You never knew what might happen when driving in winter weather in Alaska. That was a habit I'd carried since I was younger and more carefree and traveled frequently.

I glanced in the mirror before I left the bathroom and swiped a brush through my light-brown hair. My hazel eyes blinked at me behind my glasses. I slipped a tube of lip gloss out of my purse and smoothed it across my lips.

“There,” I said to my reflection. “You look fine.”

I looked nothing like I felt, as if I was cracking along the seams. I jogged down the wide stairs at the lodge. It was a nice place, with guest rooms in the two wings off the main section and a restaurant and bar downstairs. The lodge was situated on a lake with the lights from the dock glittering in the darkness. Tonight, the reflection from the moonlight shimmered on the surface of the frozen lake.

Moments later, I walked into the bar and restaurant and glanced around. It was busy, busier than I'd expected for winter. My guess was it was a favorite local hangout.

My eyes landed on the bar, and I strolled across the room, the heels of my cowboy boots striking the wide plank hardwood flooring. I ordered a sangria with a burger and fries.

I was starting to feel carefree. This was what I used to do—on a whim, go to new places by myself. You could be who you wanted to be because nobody knew you.

As I sipped my drink and looked around the crowded space, my eyes collided with a man's. He was leaning on the opposite corner of the bar from me. The lights from above glinted on his dark hair.

When his dark gaze connected with mine, it felt like a flame lit in the air, heat flickering across the distance between us. He was, as they say, tall, dark and handsome. My body buzzed, and I took a long swallow from my drink, casting a smile in his direction. His return smile was subtle, just a kick of his lips at one corner paired with a barely-there wink. It sent my belly in a swoop and a spin.

I swallowed and thought maybe, just maybe, I could forget everything for a night. I could pretend I was carefree and careless and reckless.

A few minutes later, the man rested his elbows on the bar beside me. “Hi,” I said, injecting boldness into my tone.

He dipped his chin. “Hey there, I'm Chase.”

“I'm Hallie.”

“Nice to meet you, Hallie.”

His voice was low and rumbly. It both invigorated and soothed my nerves. I'd never had a one-night stand, but I decided tonight was the night. It was perfect.Hewas perfect.

“I don't think you're from around here,” he observed.

I shook my head. “I'm not. You must be.”

He grinned. “I am. How long are you here?”

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