Alaska Heart (6 page)

Ram let out a roar of laughter.

“Another satisfied customer,” Jerry said as he came around the bar to tend to the other diners.

“We aim to please,” Ram said.

“Mmmm,” I mumbled as I dove into another wing. Ram sat on a stool on his side of the bar and poured himself a soda.

“So what’s the name of the magazine you work for?” he asked.

“
Gaia
.” I was in chicken-wing heaven. No question about it. Ram had a gift.

“How long have you been working for
Gaia
?”

“Six years.” I licked sauce from my index finger, completely forgetting I was in public.

“Making a name for yourself with this Denali piece?”

“I’m going to try.” I stopped eating for a moment and met Ram’s eyes.

“Determined, aren’t ya?”

“Got to be. I ain’t getting any younger, Ram.”

“None of us are.” He took a long swig of his soda and when his eyes settled back on me, he appeared to be…pondering. “You got somebody back home?”

I shook my head.

“What a shame for the New York fellows. None of them suit you?”

I dabbed a fry into a small pool of leftover barbecue sauce and swirled it around my plate. A slow burn ignited in my chest. How strange to want to talk about my love life—or lack thereof—with this complete stranger over chicken wings. My eyes flitted around the tavern, looking for what exactly I don’t know.

“Some of them suited me…for a little while anyway,” I said, “but it always works out the same way. I’m a loner, I guess. My work is my life. I don’t have time for anything else.”

Ram’s facial expression changed. The creases around his eyes disappeared as he closed his hand over mine.

“You just haven’t found someone you want to
make
time for,” Ram said softly. He pointed to a picture encircled by a wooden frame hanging on the wall behind him. An older woman with a thick mane of red-brown hair and piercing green eyes smiled back at me. “My Diana, God rest her, died eight years ago. She was worth every moment I spent with her.”

He shook his head again and slid from the stool. Walking around to my side, he threw an arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “I know we just met and all, but you look like you need a hug.”

I couldn’t stop the tear that trickled down my cheek. Ram reached over the bar and grabbed extra napkins. He handed them to me, and I blotted my eyes. How embarrassing, crying like that in front of someone I’d just met. And over the fact that I was lonely no less. Stupid.

“Sorry. I don’t know what happened here,” I said. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Ram scooted back around the bar. “Alaska’s not all ice and wind. Some of it’s warm and fuzzy.” He grabbed his washcloth and wiped the counter absently. He drew in a deep breath and said, “How about that dessert?”

I nodded. “That would be great.”

He collected my empty plate. “Do you want to see a dessert menu?”

“No. I’ll bet you can pick something I’ll like,” I said, and his face turned jovial again.

“Be right back.” He bounded into the kitchen.

I composed myself, shaking my head at my blubbering. Twenty minutes in this bar, and I was ungluing at the seams. I’d finish my dessert and get the hell out before I told Ram my entire life story over coffee.

I swiveled again to observe behind me. The same crowd was still assembled, finishing their meals and visits. A few newcomers had filtered in—again none of them sled-dog16. I couldn’t tell if I was relieved or disappointed. My emotions were a jumbled mess at the moment. I didn’t like that. I needed Meg.

The baseball cap in the corner was gone, along with his pad and pencil. Probably scooted out when I was hugging the freaking bartender.

A surge of cold air made me turn toward the front door. The sound of boots stomping snow from their heels had me waiting to see who the next visitor was in this tavern of holy chicken wings and empathetic hugs. When he stepped from the shadows, something fluttered deep inside me.

Tall. A thick crop of chestnut hair. Solid, athletic build expertly filling a pair of blue jeans and a green ski jacket. He appeared to be talking to someone behind him, but when he walked into the tavern, he was alone. The perfect green eyes that connected with mine made my throat go dry, my heart drum in my chest.

Oh, Goddess. It. Was. Him. He looked even better than his picture on the poster at Moose Point.

The easy smile that slid across his face was inviting, and I automatically returned the gesture, though the voice inside my head ordered me to run. He strolled toward me and sat on the stool beside me.

“Hi,” he said. I almost couldn’t hear him over my pulse roaring in my ears.

“Hi.” I swiveled my own stool to face him. Bold move. For me.

“How were the chicken wings?” The shadow of a beard played along the smooth skin of his jaw. My gaze wandered to his lips.

“Who says I had chicken wings?” I usually didn’t say two words to men, and here I was flirting with a superb specimen. With sled-dog16! The green of his eyes—real jade green—had me transfixed.

“I’ve never seen you in here before.” He tapped his fingers on the edge of the bar. “Visitors usually come for the wings. After a couple of visits, people figure out that everything coming from the kitchen here is delicious, so they explore the entire menu.”

“Everything here tastes as good as those chicken wings?”
Even you?
He looked as if he could be quite tasty.

“Ram’s a kitchen magician. He can barbecue a tire and make it taste like heaven.” A woodsy smell floated around him as he took off his coat. I inhaled deeply, suddenly contented.

“I assume you’re a regular?” I coiled a strand of hair around my fingers as I’d seen Meg do when she was out for the kill. What was I doing?

He laughed—a husky, pleasant sound—and said, “Yeah, I’m—”

“One slice of chocolate cake coming up,” Ram’s booming voice interrupted.

We both turned to face the opening kitchen door.

My mouth watered at the dessert Ram carried. Dark chocolate frosting glistened on a hunk of cake. Ram had to be psychic. That cake was exactly what I would have picked from the menu.

When Ram turned toward us, his face beamed more brightly as he looked at the man beside me.

“Well, well,” he roared. “The celebrity has come to grace us with his magnificence.”

“Okay, okay,” Internet hottie said. “Take it down a notch, will ya, Dad?” He turned to me. “Please excuse my father.”

Now that I looked at the two of them and back at the picture of Ram’s wife, I saw the family resemblance. Especially in the smiles.

“A father can’t help but be proud. Don’t ruin my fun, boy.” Ram puffed out his chest as he placed the cake in front of me. He gestured his hand toward the man, whose cheeks had pinked slightly, making him look boyishly handsome. “Alanna Cormac, meet Dale Ramsden, Junior, my son.”

I shook hands with the man, a warmth flowing from his hand to mine. I held on for a few moments, savoring the feel of his rough fingers against my smooth ones. A brace covered a good portion of his right wrist.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, even though we had technically already met electronically. No need for him to know that. I gestured to his wrist. “I hope you didn’t hurt yourself.”

“It’s just a sprain.” Dale shrugged one shoulder as he released my hand.

“Just a sprain?” Ram shouted, as I shoveled a piece of cake into my mouth. “The boy sprained it winning the Iditarod.”

“No kidding?” I managed. “The Iditarod. Hear that’s the toughest race on Earth.”

Again, Dale shrugged, looking a little embarrassed by the attention. Shit, he was adorable. Now that I had a face—a gorgeous one—and a voice to put with the emails, I was enthralled by the total package.

I took another bite of cake. Damn, it tasted like no other cake I’d eaten. Rich, sweet, a dream. Not unlike the man sitting beside me.

“What do you do?” Dale asked, no doubt trying to get the focus off him.

My mind flicked through a mental file cabinet of things I could tell him, but before I could finish chewing my cake and choose one, Ram answered.

“She writes for
Gaia
.”

Dale’s eyes popped open, and cake spewed from my mouth as I choked on bits of chocolate. I had sucked in a huge breath, inhaling cake along the way, at the mention of
Gaia
. Wasn’t ready for that cat to come out of the bag yet. Wasn’t sure I was going to let it out of the bag at all actually. No choice now.

I hacked as I struggled for air. Had to look disgusting. Face red, neck veins bulging, eyes tearing, chocolate-coated teeth…oh, Goddess.

I dared to shoot a watery glance at Dale. Shit, he was good-looking, and now he knew who
I
was.

“Dad,” Dale got up from his stool. “Get her water.”

Ram sprang into action, filling a tall glass with water and handing it to Dale.

“Here. Try this.” Dale passed the glass to me. I took it, but considered choking to death a better alternative than the humiliation that was certain to follow. Dale placed his hand on my back and rubbed, trying to comfort. His touch sent a shockwave through my body, and more ragged coughing exploded from my chest.

“Alanna,” Ram said. “Look at me.”

I raised tear-filled eyes and connected with Ram’s pale blue ones. “In and out. Nice and slow. Get control. You can do it. I won’t have anyone as pretty as you choking on my chocolate cake.”

I couldn’t help laughing, which only added to my strained panting. I managed to slip in a swig of water and slow my breathing a bit. My coughing subsided, and I patted the sweat off my forehead with the extra napkins Ram had plopped in front of me.

“You okay?” Ram’s voice reflected both concern and humor.

I nodded. Dale sat beside me again, his hand still lingering on my back. I didn’t mind it there.

Ram pointed to Dale. “Thought he was going to have to do CPR on ya.”

“Might still have to.” Dale smirked. “Can’t have you dying here. Be bad for Dad’s business,
Gaia-girl706
.”

Throw my coat on and leave. That’s what I should have done. My body, however, refused to move. If I moved, Dale would take his hand away. If Dale took his hand away, I might not like that. Besides, his damn eyes were so captivating—everything about him was so captivating—that I didn’t want to leave. Couldn’t leave.

“Don’t you get
Gaia
, Dale?” Ram said.

“Yeah.” Dale grinned. “And I think they just sent me a special gift for renewing my subscription.”

Dale’s eyes flickered with amusement as he studied me. I tried to think of something to say—anything to say—but my mind was lost, and my throat was scratchy.

“Gaia-girl706,” he said again, letting his hand slip from my back. He folded his arms across his chest, the grin on his lips widening with each passing moment.

I cleared my throat and rasped, “Hi, Sled-dog16.”

“You came.” He whispered the words and locked his eyes on mine. All my senses were tuned to him. I noticed every detail of his face. The faint lines at the corners of his eyes, like Ram’s. The dark freckle high on his left cheek. The incredibly white, straight teeth flashing at me. Logical thought had no chance whatsoever.

“You two know each other?” Ram’s voice broke the spell, and we both turned toward him as if we’d just realized he was standing there.

“Sort of.” I glanced back at Dale. “Look, I…my boss picked my Denali story, the one you helped with.” I poked him in the chest and liked the hard muscles I found there. “She wanted me to come here to do the story justice. I agree it all seems coincidental, but it’s the truth.” I held out my hands innocently.

“I don’t care
how
you got here. I’m just glad you are.” Dale’s gaze softened a bit as he glanced down at himself. “See, I’m not a serial killer.”

“A serial killer,” Ram interrupted. “Why would she think you were a serial killer?” His brows furrowed so deeply I thought they were going to touch his nose. “You wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Dale motioned to his father with his hand. “The defense rests.”

Laughing, I nodded. “Okay, I’ll concede you don’t
appear
to be a serial killer, but most serial killers are experts at hiding their madness.” I picked up my fork and attempted another mouthful of the chocolate cake. Almost choking to death was not going to interfere with an exceptional dessert.

“Maybe,” I said, savoring the flavor of a chocolate heaven, “you two are in this together. Maybe he distracts me with this mind-altering cake here, and then you slip in for the kill.” I pointed my fork between Ram and Dale.

“I would never use my cake for ill purposes,” Ram said. “Never. Besides, you’re too pretty to kill.”

What a sweetheart!

“Have dinner with me tomorrow night, right here, and I’ll prove to you I’m harmless,” Dale said.

I stopped mid-chew and contemplated the offer. No question I was attracted to Dale. If he was half as charming as his father—half as stimulating as his emails suggested—he’d be wonderful to have dinner with. Still, I hadn’t dated anyone seriously in a long time. I just wasn’t any good at it. Besides, I was only in Alaska for two weeks.

“I’ve got a lot of work to do, and I’m not here long. I wouldn’t want to—”

“Just dinner, Gaia-girl,” Dale cut in. “You don’t have to let me sweep you off your feet or anything.”

“He probably should though,” Ram mumbled.

“Dad.” A look passed between father and son.

Huffing out a breath, Ram wiped the bar as he scuttled along to the other end of it. He sparked a conversation with an older gentleman seated there.

“What do you say, Alanna?” Dale’s eyes searched my face. “C’mon. It’s as if we know each other already, isn’t it? All those emails.”

“Yeah, but…” I hesitated long enough for my subconscious mind to talk me into having dinner with him. Funny how my subconscious voice sounded like Meg’s. “Okay. Dinner, right here.”