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“I’m going to keep doing it anyway.” She pulled me into a quick hug and patted my cheek before bustling off.

I stood in my office for a moment, smiling to myself. I loved my job. I really did.

The sound of Maggie’s footsteps faded as she continued down the hallway, and I looked around my office, a smile curling my lips. I felt, all things considered, genuinely surprised and lucky to have gotten this job.

I’d wanted to come here with my dad, no hesitation. He was the best father I could ask for. After my mom passed, he’d stepped up for me in every way. Being a single father had changed the trajectory of his military career, and I understood that. Time and again, he’d shown me he was dedicated to me, first and always.

He’d visited Alaska in passing once, years ago, flying through, and had always wanted to come back and “fish, fish, fish”. Literally his words. Fishing was his place of peace, and he loved it. When I’d moved here with him, figuring out how it would all work out had felt uncertain. I hadn’t known what kind of job I could get here. I’d taken the leap and hoped for the best.

When I was in college, my grades had been stellar, but I’d felt lost, as if I should’ve known exactly what I wanted to do with my life even though I had no idea. I ended up with a degree in English, a genuine cliché. I’d always loved organizing. It gave me a deep, quiet satisfaction. Scoring this position as the receptionist-office manager-do-whatever-needs-doing suited me better than I could’ve imagined.

I thought I would stay in Alaska forever now. This place made my soul feel at home.

Even though Maggie had just scolded me about working too late, I took a few minutes to tidy my desk.

Just then, I heard footsteps in the hallway, and without even peering out to check, I knew it was Lincoln. There were plenty of other people who could’ve been walking down that hallway, but I knew Lincoln’s stride, and I knew it well. Unfortunately. I listened as they faded with a turn before they reached my office.

I let out a slow breath. Good. I did not need another tense moment with him.

I hated how much he unsettled me. How much he made my hormones go a little haywire. Which was something, because, until Lincoln, I’d been fairly certain my hormones were dead.

My heart and my hormones had learned our lesson the hard way. They were often mistaken in their judgment, and I carried invisible scars to prove it.

Chapter Six

Lincoln

Hot cocoa

Months later – mid-fall

* * *

“So we’ve got to make sure to let Chloe’s dad know for next summer.” Haven glanced up at me. “For the dipnetting trip.”

“Does he have residency yet so he can get a dipnet license?”

“He does. They moved here last spring,” Haven replied.

“Oh, hell yeah.” Grady flashed a grin as he plunked down on the couch beside me. “That man knows how to fish. Dipnetting’s a different game, though.”

“Well, I wouldn’t call it a game. Stick a net in the water and hope for the best,” Haven offered dryly, and a collective chuckle circled the table.

“Do you think Chloe wants to go?” Elsa asked from where she sat beside Haven.

“I don’t know. We should ask her. I love dipnetting, but I don’t really love fishing.” Elsa wrinkled her nose, and Haven absentmindedly leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

My brother was still so smitten with her, and we were all so happy for him. Of course, as if just to get under my skin, Asher chimed in, swinging his eyes toward me. “Dude, ever since Haven and Elsa got together, we lost the cranky one in the family. It’s you now.”

“What?” I slid my gaze to his.

“Yeah. You’re the cranky one.” He nodded declaratively.

Jude happened to be walking in just then and caught Asher’s comment, cuffing me lightly on the shoulder as he walked behind my chair. “Facts.”

Cole, usually the chattiest of all, had been quiet up to this point. He set his water bottle down on the table. “Abso-fucking-lutely. What do we need to do to get you to lighten up?”

I let out a sigh. “I am not cranky.”