Page 36 of An Alaskan Wedding (Alaskan Grooms 1)

“If it ever happens for me, I promise to cherish it,” Grace said, her thoughts straying toward Boone.

Jasper winked at her. “Rumor has it you’ve been spending a bit of time with my grandson.”

Grace laughed. “Uh-oh. Boone and I are the topic of town gossip?”

“Don’t let that bother you none. People have been waiting a long time to see Boone come out of his romantic funk.” He reached out and clutched her hand. “He’s a good man, Grace. As solid as they come. Gruff on the outside, but as tender and kindhearted as a lamb on the inside. He’d make a nice father, too.”

“Jasper? Are you playing matchmaker?” Grace asked, buoyed by the wonderful things Jasper had told her about Boone. She’d already figured out what kind of man Boone was, but it was nice to hear Jasper corroborate her opinion.

Instead of answering, Jasper winced and began rubbing his chest.

“Hey. What is it? Did the food not agree with you?” Jasper had ordered some sandwiches and side dishes for their lunch, along with two cans of cream soda and two éclairs for dessert. They’d gobbled everything up in record time.

Jasper pressed a hand to his head. “I’m not feeling so good all of a sudden. Something in my chest feels tight.”

Grace scrambled to her feet. “Let me get you some water.” She quickly went over to Jasper’s water cooler and filled a plastic cup to

the brim with ice-cold water. Grace walked back toward Jasper and held the cup up to his lips. “Take small sips,” she instructed.

The door to the mayor’s office abruptly flew open, right before Boone marched into Jasper’s office, his face as stormy as a thundercloud.

* * *

The moment he stepped in to the mayor’s private office, Boone realized that his belief in Grace might have been misplaced. Not only was she in Jasper’s office, but the floor was scattered with maps and notebooks. There was no doubt in his mind that Grace was Jasper’s sidekick, despite her promise not to encourage his grandfather in his dreams of rivers of gold flowing through Love.

He drew his brows together. Something was going on with Jasper. He didn’t look so great. “What’s wrong?” Boone blurted out.

“He’s not feeling well. He was having a pain in his chest,” Grace explained, a look of concern radiating in her eyes.

Boone strode forward and leaned over so he was eye to eye with his grandfather.

“Do I need to take you to the clinic? Does it feel like you’re having a heart attack?” Boone asked in a gentle voice.

“I think it’s just gas,” he said with a sheepish look. “I thought it was my heart for a second.”

“Are you sure?” Boone asked. “Sometimes the symptoms are hard to pinpoint.”

“I’m sure. My stomach is all bubbly and making funny noises,” Jasper explained. “It’s my stomach, not my chest. Thank the Lord for small mercies.”

Boone felt beads of perspiration gather on his forehead. He swiped them away with the back of his hand. He’d felt a sense of rising panic before Jasper had dispelled his fears.

“I’m going to mosey down the hall so I can raid the first-aid kit for some antacid,” Jasper said.

“You sure you’re okay?” Boone reached out and helped Jasper with his crutches. He held his arm to steady him.

Jasper shrugged off Boone’s hand. “I said I’m fine. Don’t treat me like an invalid.” He wagged his eyebrows in Grace’s direction. “I’m sure you two lovebirds won’t mind a few moments alone.” Jasper swung himself on his crutches toward the door. Boone held his breath as Jasper maneuvered the opening and closing of his office door.

Boone turned back toward Grace. “What’s going on here?” He darted a glance at the materials scattered on the floor. It was fairly shocking that Jasper had nothing better to do as town mayor than to research the family legend. And Grace had given up her lunch hour to help him!

Grace shrugged. “Nothing much. We were just having a little fun. Jasper was showing me on the map where your ancestor Bodine went down with his ship.”

Part of him knew he shouldn’t take out his frustrations on Grace, but he was so sick and tired of hearing about gold and buried treasure and legends. He’d grown up hearing about it and he knew how Jasper’s obsession had been one of the factors in the dissolution of his grandparents’ marriage. He couldn’t help but think it had trickled down to his own parents’ marriage. At what point did it all end?

He shook his head. “Fun? Was that before or after he started having chest pains?”

Grace’s eyes flickered with surprise. “He ate too much or too quickly. You heard him. It’s gas.”

Boone folded his arms across his chest and began tapping his foot. “Am I wrong here, or did you agree not to get involved with Jasper’s legend theories? I seem to recall a certain promise you made to me.”

---