Page 8 of An Alaskan Wedding (Alaskan Grooms 1)

Grace took a few steps forward until she was standing next to Boone and Primrose. She reached out and tentatively patted her on her back. Truth to be told, Primrose was pretty cute for a skunk.

“See? There’s nothing to fear but fear itself.” Boone looked down at her and their gazes locked for a moment. They were standing mere inches from one another with only Primrose separating them. Something was brewing in the air, some hint of awareness that hummed and pulsed in the atmosphere.

“There you are, Primrose. I’ve been looking all over the place for you.” Hazel’s voice rang out in the silence, shattering the moment before Grace could even put her finger on what had happened between her and the sheriff.

Boone placed Primrose in Hazel’s arms, his movements full of tenderness. “She gave Grace a bit of a scare. It’s not every day a skunk shows up in one’s home.”

Hearing Boone refer to the cabin as her home was jarring. This bare-bones cabin was a far cry from her cozy apartment in Soho, which she’d purchased with her inheritance from her grandfather. Perhaps if the cabin wasn’t so drab, she would feel a little more comfortable living here.

“She’s really quite harmless. Just a nuisance is all,” Hazel explained in an apologetic tone. She nestled her face in Primrose’s fur as she cradled her like a baby. “Thanks for finding her, Grace. I owe you one. You too, Boone.” With a wave of her hand, Hazel was gone, swallowed up by the onyx night as she made her way back to her lodgings.

“Sorry for the commotion,” Grace said sheepishly. She bit her lip and looked down at the floor. She felt like the world’s biggest fool. She hadn’t even been in Love a full day before she’d had to make an emergency phone call to law enforcement. And her big bad creature had ended up being a domesticated skunk. She hadn’t even been in danger of being sprayed by noxious fumes.

“No problem. It’s been a while since I had to rescue someone from a wild, dangerous, foaming-at-the-mouth creature.” Once again she found herself on the receiving end of a beautiful smile.

Unable to stop herself, she let out a whoop of laughter. Now that Boone put it that way, it was rib-tickling hilarious. All the stress and tension faded away. It felt good to laugh out loud at something. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done so. It was hard to wrap her head around how lonely and mirthless her life in New York had become over the past few years. Always being on the move had distracted her from this simple fact.

She’d been so afraid while she’d been alone in the cabin, yet the moment Boone had shown up, those fears had dissipated. Staying in the cabin while he hunted down the creature had been an act of bravery. For a woman who’d lost her faith a long time ago, today had been full of surprises. She’d flown all the way to Alaska, and in the process, confronted her fear of flying head-on. And tomorrow she was beginning her new job as a barista, even though she didn’t have a clue how to make specialty coffee drinks. All in all, she was operating way out of her comfort zone.

Boone folded his arms across his chest, striking a commanding pose. “Was this the closest you’ve ever been to wildlife?”

Grace nodded. “Other than the Bronx Zoo, yes. My family didn’t even own a pet when I was growing up.”

He shook his head, his expression radiating disbelief. “Not a single one? Not even a fish or a hamster?” When Grace shook

her head again, he continued. “We had so many pets our house resembled a menagerie.” Their laughter mingled together as one, creating a beautiful harmony.

“So, you really came all the way here because of Jasper’s article?” His smile was nice and easy. The little dimple in his chin stood out even more when he grinned.

“Yes, I did,” she answered. “It really spoke to me.” A feeling of relief swept through her. It wasn’t a lie at all. Just a little bending of the truth. It was definitely because of Jasper Prescott that she’d ended up in Love, Alaska. Only not for the reason Boone believed. Not in pursuit of love.

He let out a soft whistle. “Well then, the single men of Love owe Jasper a debt of gratitude.”

“Why’s that?” she asked, curiosity overtaking her.

“Because you, Grace Corbett, are the most stunning woman this town has ever seen.”

The compliment took Grace by surprise. It washed over her like a gentle summer rain after a scorching heat wave. When she’d asked the question she hadn’t been angling for praise. It wasn’t something she received often, so to have Boone pay her such a kindness warmed her insides. Her cheeks felt warm and she self-consciously tucked her chin into her chest. It was an odd little habit she had when she was nervous. A protective gesture of sorts.

Boone reached out and gently touched her chin, lifting it up so that their eyes met. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Just speaking a plain truth.”

“Thank you. Not just for the compliment, but for coming out here to assist me. Now I can close my eyes tonight without having to worry.”

He shifted from one foot to another. “I should be getting back to town,” Boone said as he gestured toward the door. “You must be tuckered out.”

Grace trailed behind Boone as he ambled outside. Once he reached the porch, he turned toward her, his expression difficult to read.

She looked past him, distracted by the brilliant stars peeking out through a midnight sky. She let out a surprised cry. “Oh, it’s stunning,” she gasped. Boone turned his head and looked up. In profile his face appeared softer somehow and a little more vulnerable. He didn’t look quite so tough at the moment.

“That it is.” He turned back to her, studying her face for a moment. “Night, Grace. Get some rest.”

She moved toward the doorway of her cabin, unable to resist turning back one last time to wave at Boone as he revved his engine and disappeared down the lane.

As she settled in for the night a feeling of discomfort trickled through her. Boone had been so nice to come to her rescue this evening. Even though he’d been a bit prickly at first, he seemed like a good guy. It didn’t feel great to make him believe she was in town as a participant in Operation Love. It felt like a lie. She shut her eyes tight and pressed her head against the pillow, determined to get a restful sleep.

One thought rattled around her brain as she drifted off to slumber. No one and nothing was going to get in her way of achieving her professional goals, not even a too-handsome-for-his-own-good sheriff who made her weak in the knees just by glancing in her direction.

Chapter Four

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