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Hailey and I both turn around. Maxine is standing there with a folder in her hand. She arches an eyebrow at Hailey, who immediately apologizes and gets back to work. To me, Maxine says, “You’re going to Alaska.”
What?
“I’m sorry…I don’t understand—”
“Zac broke his ankle, so now there’s a spot for another intern.”
“Yessss!” I jump out of my seat and punch the air, then quickly realize that everyone in the office is staring at me in concern, so I clear my throat. “I mean, sad for Zac, though. Hope he gets well soon.”
“Get your laptop,” Maxine says as she checks the time on her watch. “Meeting with the team in five.”
Chapter 2
Nick
The TV crew is coming today. I’m nervous and excited at the same time.
When they reached out and offered to bring me in for the next season of their survival show, I thought it was a prank. After all, I wouldn’t dream of people showing interest in my boring life, let alone putting me on TV! But it turns out one of the tourists I’d taken on a hiking trip through the park is an in-law to one of the show’s producers. When they’d heard about what I do, they thought I’d be a good fit for the show. So, I guess my definition of boring is different from Hollywood’s. As long as I’m getting paid, they can film me for as long as they want. It could even drum up some more business for me too, which is never a bad thing.
There will be four of them, which will be a tight fit in my cabin. My house was built by my grandpa and passed on to my dad, then me when he decided to retire. Fortunately, we won’t be here long. Most of the time the crew is here, we’ll be camping in the park.
When I’m making dinner in the kitchen, I hear the crunch of tires on the gravel drive and the barking of my dogs in the front yard.
They’re here earlier than I thought.
Quickly, I clean my hands and rush outside, just as the jeep comes to a stop behind my own truck. The crew members climb out one by one, and I come over to help them with their luggage. The first guy to shake my hand has a beard and introduces himself as Roy. He’ll be in charge of directing. Cory, a tall guy with a French accent, is the cameraman. Sarah, a blonde-haired woman who seems to be about my age, is acamerawoman. And the last one is a pint-sized brunette with shiny black hair and sparkling green eyes. She’s a bit clumsy as she climbs out of the jeep and slips on the lingering snow; she nearly falls, but I catch her just in time. I swear her cheeks glow red immediately as she starts apologizing. Then, she puts her arms around herself and starts trembling slightly.
“Are you cold?” I ask, concerned. Winter is nearly over, but Alaska is still cold, especially considering the crew has flown in from sunny, southern California.
Sarah laughs. “Her first time. Jess is our intern from the Editorial Department. I don’t know why they decided to include her.”
“Sarah, that’s not nice,” Roy reminds her in a fatherly tone, making the blonde roll her eyes.
“It’s just a joke, Roy. You boomers just don’t get it.”
It’s obviously not a joke, because when I look over at Jess, I can see that she’s genuinely upset by Sarah’s comment but says nothing. So, I take her hand, which is cold and small. “Come on. Let’s go inside so you can warm up.”
***
The crew and I have dinner together, during which we go over our plan for the next few days. Jess is quiet the entire time, just eating, listening, and observing. It seems to me that she just fades into the background and isn’t allowed to participate in conversations with her colleagues.
She intrigues me. I can’t stop looking at her. She has the kind of looks that don’t immediately catch your eyes the first time you see her, but if you look closely, you cannot turn away. Her eyes are an intense green, and her nose is still a little pink from the cold. She has these full lips that shape perfectly. Lost in the moment, I think about kissing those lips.
I don’t remember the last time I actually kissed someone. In fact, it’s been so long since there was a woman even in myhouse…Now there are two. And this one, Jess, is making me feel things I shouldn’t feel for a guest who’s only here for a week. Why do I want to feel the touch of her hand again and caress her soft skin to warm her up? Why do I think about kissing her and what may be hidden under those many layers of coats?
She catches me looking, and we both avert our eyes. I hope my cheeks aren’t too red, and if they are, that nobody notices.
It gets dark early here in the winter, and there’s nothing to do at night, so after we finish dinner, we all get ready for bed. The crew is probably tired from their travel, and as they move to their rooms, I stay in the kitchen to wash the dishes then take a hot bath. I cannot wait to sink into the coziness of my bed, but as I cross the living room, I find Jess wrapped in her duvet like a cocoon, asleep on the couch in front of the fire.
I walk over and touch her shoulder, but she’s too deep in her sleep to respond. I don’t want to disturb her sleep, but I can’t let her stay here, either, since I cannot keep the fire going all night. I put the fire out and lock up the cabin, hoping the noise will wake her, but it doesn’t. Left with no other choice, I gently shake her awake.
“Jess, sweetheart, you need to get up.”
She blinks awake slowly, then seems to startle when she sees me. “Oh, sorry. Is something wrong?” she asks.
“You should move to your bed. I had to put out the fire; it’ll get cold in here fast.”
Jess bites her lips, drawing my attention to her mouth. “Um, I-I thought I could sleep on the couch tonight.”
