Tempting Perfection

Me: Yeah, that’s the plan. I’m currently standing on a crate outside the Red Onion trying to get Teagan to give me the keys. She’s holding them hostage.

Hollis: Umm… is that normal for Skagwayians?

I laughed. Hollis and Alaska were going to be an interesting combination. His mother was livid that he even considered wasting his talents up here. He’d graduated first in his class. We’d met during clinical while he was working on his residency. Even though he was four years older, we’d hit it off as friends instantly.

Me: No… this is Teagan’s way of forcing me to see Drake.

Hollis: Oh… good luck with that. It’s about time the two of you talked.

Me: I need to go. My calves are starting to hurt.

Hollis thought I should tell Drake everything. For two months after I left, Drake tried to contact me. Finally, I’d changed my number and moved in New York so I would be unreachable.

I am such a bitch.

Drake hadn’t deserved that. He was a good guy—the best. Before the logging incident, I’d planned to spend the rest of my life with him. I’d loved him. I still loved him.

I rang Teagan again and held the phone up to my ear. “Come on, Teagan. Pick up.”

Voice mail again. Damn it. She had a good heart, but was sometimes a little self-absorbed. But underneath it all, she had a good heart. Sometimes it was a little misdirected.

The crowd cheered inside. I felt like a serious creeper, standing on a shaky wooden crate with my head just above the windowsill. Teagan was in the back with her boyfriend, Donnie. I’d have to walk through the whole bar just to get to her. With a frustrated sigh, I blew out a breath.

“Hey, Lex. Who are you spying on?”

I jumped, screaming, and fell off my perch. Pain shot through my ankle. “Ouch!”

Why me? Why?

The situation looked much worse than it was—an innocent situation gone terribly wrong. All I’d wanted was to avoid the man who still affected me in more ways than he should. And now that man was standing less than two feet away. My skin danced with the familiar electric current that left my head buzzing.

Be strong.

The crate had given me a nasty scrape on my calf. Damn it. It was superficial but bleeding nevertheless. I knew I shouldn’t have worn shorts today, but the weather was unseasonably warm. I looked around to make sure no one else heard, buying some time to pull myself together. Judging by the racket inside, I had most likely escaped additional embarrassment.

I gave a quick scan around us to make sure no one else was around. Skagway had a local gossip newsletter that went out on a weekly basis via email. The Twiner Sisters ran it like world-class paparazzi. Sometimes, for red hot news, there were even special editions. They had a knack for being in the “worst” place at the “best” time.

Every. Single. Person. Was. On. The. Subscription. List.

The people of Skagway enjoyed the gossip. Hell, even I read it. When my email pinged with the newsletter each week, it was like a beacon.

Jeans-clad legs I was all too familiar with stepped closer. “Need a hand?”

The deep timbre of his voice still made me weak in the knees. It was deep and husky and took manly to a whole new level. The men in New York City weren’t like Drake. They were too refined, lacking the edge the wilderness of Alaska infused in the men here. Drake was savagely protective, romantic, strong, and loving all wrapped up in one ridiculously hot package.

I glanced up, meeting those warm chestnut eyes I remembered all too well. I swallowed. “Drake.” My voice cracked.

Yeah, I sound affected. Stay calm. Drake knows you. He knows you better than anyone.

I cleared my throat. “I wasn’t creeping. I was waiting for Teagan.”

“Why not come in? She’s inside with Donnie.”

That was the million-dollar question. “Umm… I… You know…” I gave up and stood. I felt the blood trickle down my leg.

Ugh. I need to get this cleaned up.

Drake leaned against the post. “Let’s get you fixed up. I’ve got a first aid kit upstairs at my place. We can take the back stairs.”