One dark eyebrow rose. The rifle stayed pointing at the ground just to my right. “Who’s asking?”
“Lana Decker. Mina, from The Cozy Cup, sent me.”
Recognition flickered in those dark eyes. The scowl eased a fraction, and he shifted the rifle, holding it in a more relaxed stance.
“The coffee shop woman?”
I nodded. “She’s my sister-in-law.” I tipped my head. “Well, almost. Anyway, she said you’re a hunting guide. Is that right?”
The scowl turned into a curious and cautious frown. “I am.”
“I need to hire you.”
That same thick, black eyebrow rose again before he raked his gaze over my attire, lingering on my not-for-the-wilderness boots.
Maybe I should have changed before I drove up here. I was dressed for meetings with caterers, florists, and crazy brides, not a man who probably only owned one dress shirt and possibly a tie.
“I’m booked through the end of the month,” he said. “If you need a black bear guide, you probably should have booked one last summer.”
“This isn’t for a hunting trip.” I was well aware most hunting guides, especially the ones worth their salt, booked up a year or more in advance. Hopefully, though, we could work something out, and he could help me.
His dark eyebrows dipped, and he set the rifle down, leaning it against the wall by the door.
I walked closer, taking it as a sign he wasn’t about to shoot me anymore.
“If you don’t need a hunting guide, then why do you need to hire me?”
Stopping at the bottom of the porch stairs, I craned my neck back to look him in the eye. From this vantage point, he appeared even bigger. Staying in the middle of the driveway likely would’ve been smarter, but there was something to be said for nearness to get a point across. “I’m a wedding planner. One of my clients is worried about her fiancé. He went hunting alone northeast of here about a week ago. His fiancée hasn’t been able to reach him since Saturday. He’s due back Thursday, and their wedding is Saturday. She asked me to find someone who could go look for him.”
Toren’s expression didn’t change, but his gaze sharpened. “Why didn’t she go to the cops?”
“As I’m sure you know, cell service is spotty even just this far out of town.” I raised a hand, gesturing to our surroundings. “He was also in good spirits when she talked to him Saturday, and he still has several days until he’s scheduled to return. If you were a cop, would you be concerned?”
A low grunt escaped his chest. He propped his hands on his hips and glanced past me to the trees. “Where did he go?”
“The Lace River area. Somewhere between here and Skagway. She wasn’t sure of the exact location.” I liked that he was asking questions and hadn’t immediately sent me on my way. When I set out, I figured I would have an uphill battle to get him to go looking for Dustin.
“You don’t have any other information about where on the Lace River he went?”
“No. Not offhand. Tina—his fiancée—might have more details about that, but I didn’t ask for exact coordinates, and she didn’t offer them. We were more concerned with finding someone to help.”
“Is this guy a local?”
“Local-ish. They’re from Juneau.”
That low grunt sounded again. “How experienced is he?”
“Honestly? I’m not sure. Tina said he’s gone on solo trips before, so probably experienced enough to have the confidence to go out alone and stay out.”
Sculpted lips pursed as he nodded.
When he didn’t speak, I filled the silence. “I know this is a strange request. And I know you don’t know me. But Mina trusts you enough to recommend you, and right now, I don’t have a lot of options. Tina’s worried, and while she’s a bit of a bridezilla, her concern for Dustin isn’t just worry that he might miss the wedding. She’s truly concerned something has happened to him.”
For long moments he just stared at me, those nearly black eyes hiding his thoughts. I wanted to look away and break the stare, but I didn’t dare let him know I was at all intimidated.
“You said the Lace River area between here and Skagway?”
“Yes.” Hope swelled again. He wouldn’t be confirming Dustin’s location if he didn’t want to help, would he?
