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But I’ll write them as who I truly am—Carly Walters—a woman no longer afraid to chase the dreams she wants and deserves. A woman no longer feeling inadequate or undeserving of love. Like Sealena, I can decide my own fate.
Thank you for believing in me and these stories that are so close to my heart.
XO
Carly
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing this Wild Coast series has been such an educational experience as I’ve learned so much about the coast guard and its commitment to keeping our oceans safe. Thank you to my uncle, Coast Guard Captain Brian Legge, for all the research help! All mistakes are my own.
Thank you to my editor, Dana Grimaldi, for all the amazing feedback and notes that make every book stronger, and my agent, Jill Marsal, for always championing my work. As always, I’m incredibly grateful to the Harlequin art team for the beautiful covers for this series!
Thank you to my family for continuing to support this author journey and helping to balance my stressful deadlines with fun and adventure. And a big thank-you to my readers whose messages and reviews mean so much.
XO
Jen
Love in the Alaskan Wilds
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER ONE
HEHADTHEscript memorized, but keeping the same level of enthusiasm with each new tour group he took up into the air was requiring energy Dwayne Madden simply did not have. He stifled a yawn as he took the same flight path for the third time that day.
How had he done these aerial-view-of-Alaska tours multiple times every day when he still worked for his family’s business? Two weeks of it and he was starting to wish he’d taken his forced leave of absence from the coast guard somewhere south.
But it was July and his family appreciated his help during this busy season, so he infused enthusiasm into his tone as he said, “In the distance to your right, you will see the Chugach Mountain Range—the northernmost of the ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges.”
He navigated the helicopter over the valley, offering his three passengers—a family from Seattle—a breathtaking view of the Alaskan wilds and the small coastal town of Port Serenity. Dwayne felt a tug of pride seeing their reactions. Faces full of awe and wonder as they pointed and marveled over the scenery below.
There was no place on earth as beautiful as his hometown. Nestled between tall, rugged mountain ranges and featuring some of the world’s most magnificent trails and rivers, with natural hot spring waterfalls, Port Serenity was a favorite tourist destination for many and a great place to grow up.
While he was getting tired of these daily sightseeing tours, he’d never get tired of the view.
He flew south and mentioned several other points of interest along the valley, but as they drew closer to the coastline, his chest tightened.
If only they could skip this part of the tour.
He missed his job with the Port Serenity Coast Guard. Missed his crewmates and friends. Missed the challenges and rush of adrenaline he felt on rescue missions. Missed helping people in need. He’d been avoiding the coastline while on the ground as much as possible.
Unfortunately, it was the part of the tour that guests enjoyed the most, so taking a detour wasn’t an option.
He flew toward the rocky beach, the waves crashing onto the shore and the whitecaps visible from a distance putting him on full alert as he scanned by instinct. The weather was beautiful—sunny and warm without a cloud in the sky—but the wind had picked up and ocean waves were reportedly reaching thirteen feet high... He hoped locals and visitors opted for nonwater activities.
