Page 27 of Tempted To Be Mine

I recognized the look. I’d seen it a thousand times before. The interested look. The invitation.

Normally, I would have returned it. Flashed a smile. Made conversation. Seen where the night took us. But tonight I just nodded politely and turned back to Lucy.

The lodge worker passed by again, shooting me another smile. I barely noticed.

I was having too much fun watching Lucy discuss penguins with one of the photographer assistants. Apparently, she had a thing for penguin documentaries and was something of an expert. The beanie was long gone, her blonde hair slightly mussed from where it had been trapped underneath.

She looked happy. Like the Lucy I only got to see when it was just the two of us, away from the chaos of work and schedules and obligations.

9

LUCY

Ihad to admit I was having fun. It was nice not to have to check my phone every five minutes. I wasn’t running through Jeremy’s schedule or worrying about what disaster might be lurking around the corner. The food was incredible, the wine was flowing, and Jeremy was being genuinely entertaining instead of being a handful I needed to wrangle.

It was a glimpse of what our friendship could be when I wasn’t constantly in manager mode.

“See?” Jeremy nudged my shoulder with his. “This place isn’t so bad.”

I took another sip of wine and surveyed the room. The crackling fireplace. The stunning view of the frozen lake through the windows. The warmth that had finally seeped into my bones after what felt like hours of being cold.

“The lodge is nice,” I admitted. “They’ve made us all feel welcome.”

“Exactly.” He grinned, that boyish smile that got him out of trouble more times than I could count. “See? There’s nothing to worry about in Alaska. Just like New York or remember that Montana shoot we had?”

Before I could respond, Bernadette stood up at the head of the table and clapped her hands twice. The room fell silent almost immediately. The woman had presence. When she wanted your attention, you gave it.

“Alright, everyone,” she said, her voice carrying easily through the dining hall. “Now that we’ve all had a chance to eat and settle in, it’s time for the safety lecture.”

I felt my stomach drop. Safety lecture. That implied there were things we needed to be safe from. We did not get safety lectures at our New York hotels.

“I know, I know,” Bernadette continued, holding up a hand to preempt any groans. “Nobody wants to hear about safety protocols after a long day of travel. But this is important. We’re in the Alaskan wilderness, and there are some things you need to be aware of.”

She pulled out a small notepad, though I got the sense she didn’t really need it. I’d met Bernadette a handful of times. She was competent.

“Let’s start with the wildlife,” she said. “There are several animals in this area that can pose a threat if you’re not careful.”

I reached for my wine glass. I had a feeling I was going to need it.

“Number one: grizzly bears.”

Of course. Bears. Because why wouldn’t there be bears?

“Grizzlies are common in this region,” Bernadette continued. “They’re usually more active in warmer months, but they can still be encountered in early winter, especially if they haven’t fully entered hibernation yet. If you see one, do not run. Make yourself appear larger, speak in a calm, low voice, and back away slowly.”

I took a large gulp of wine. Next she was going to tell us not to make eye contact. Not exactly a strategy I wanted to test.

“Number two: moose.”

I blinked. “Moose?” I whispered to Jeremy. “Moose are dangerous?”

“Shh,” he said, but he was smiling.

“Moose are actually more dangerous than bears in many situations,” Bernadette said, as if she’d heard me. “They’re unpredictable, especially during mating season or if they have calves nearby. A moose can weigh over a thousand pounds and they’re surprisingly fast. If one charges you, get behind a tree or any solid barrier. They don’t have great maneuverability.”

I groaned quietly. Wonderful.

“Number three: elk.”