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“I love it. Being a wildlife biologist gives me the chance to be free amongst the animals. The scenery changes every day, and I learn something new all the time.” He made a left and continued up a steep incline for about half a mile before the road evened out.
They drove for another twenty minutes before he pulled onto an unpaved road. His cabin came into view through a break in the trees. It was small but gorgeous, with big picture windows and a wraparound porch.
“Wow, Blake, it’s stunning. The pictures you emailed me don’t do it justice.”
“Thank you.” He pulled the SUV right up to the front steps and cut the engine. For several moments, they sat there. Neither of them spoke, and the only sound that filled the interior was that of the cooling engine.
“I have to admit I’m still surprised you wanted to come to Blithe.” His voice sounded deep and low. Poppy could tell in her peripheral vision that he turned toward her in his seat and watched her, but she didn’t turn her gaze from the front of the cabin.
“Why do you say that?” She did turn in her seat to look at him then. He didn’t answer for several moments, and Poppy took that time to take him in. Where Jon’s dark hair had been on the longer side, Blake had his cut short, so it fell across his forehead. He sported a five o’clock shadow, and she idly wondered if the men in Alaska grew beards to stay warm.
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “You left everything behind to come live in the sticks.” He looked at her then. “Although I do see the appeal, but it’s not for everyone.”
She smiled in return.
Blake was a big man and filled the interior of the spacious vehicle to capacity. That had been another difference between Blake and his brother. Jon had been a few inches taller than her. He had been just perfect; they had been perfect for each other.
Taking a deep breath, Poppy blew it out slowly and faced the house once again. “There were a few times I thought about not coming. I mean, there are places a hell of a lot closer than Alaska that I could run away to.” Blake chuckled, and she went on. “I just…” Poppy rubbed her eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted. “I just wanted to get away from Ohio, from my family, and from our friends. Everywhere I looked, I saw Jon, and I knew I would never be able to heal, be happy, or move forward.”
“Listen, Poppy, I didn’t mean to make it sound like I don’t want you here, because hell,” he said the last word on a ragged breath. “I’ll be honest, talking to you all those times after Johnny died helped me get through a lot of shit.” He ran his hand over the back of his neck, and Poppy was struck with the memory of every time Jon used to do that same mannerism when he appeared uncomfortable.
“Anyway, enough talk about this in the car before we freeze our asses off.” Blake’s grin was all straight, white teeth.
In that moment, nothing sounded better.Chapter 3When Poppy climbed out of the vehicle, she let the pristine calmness surround her. There were no familiar scents in the air, or the hustle of cars moving up and down the street. The aroma of car exhaust was absent from the air, and she tilted her head back and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.
She sensed Blake step beside her but didn’t open her eyes right away. Letting the stillness of her surroundings pour into her, Poppy smiled, knowing without a doubt this had been the right decision. When she did open her eyes, she saw Blake standing in front of her.
When she told everyone her plans to move, they hadn’t seemed all that surprised, but then when she revealed where she planned on moving and with whom, their shock had been evident. Poppy knew how counterproductive it might seem to everyone. What with her wanting to leave behind everything that reminded her of Jon, only to be living with his brother, of all people.
Poppy couldn’t explain it, didn’t even want to try to understand it. All she knew was that being in Blake’s presence and talking to him about her feelings helped her heal.
She followed him up the front steps and into the cabin. The scent of wood and leather filled her senses. The sun had already started to set, so the interior was dark, but she could make out the sharp lines of the furniture scattered throughout the room. A second later, he turned on a light, and the golden glow came from the antler chandelier, of all things.
“Nice.” She started laughing as she craned her head back to loom at the light fixture.
