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“I’m sorry.” What else could he say? He’d always been considered classically handsome and had never dealt with bullying because of his looks. Or really any bullying at all. He couldn’t imagine what growing up must have been like for her.
No wonder she wanted to hide from the world out here on the edge of nowhere.
“Don’t be sorry. I don’t remember life without it.” She tried to smile again. It didn’t look at all genuine. Not like the one he’d caught a glimpse of while she was playing with her dogs. It didn’t reach her eyes.
“So,” she said abruptly, “about Dr. Will. You don’t need to come with me.”
Grateful for the subject change, he leaned back in his seat and draped an arm over the back of his chair. “Oh, no. I didn’t leave L.A. to go with you.” The mere thought of it chilled him to his core. “I came to make sure you don’t go.”
“Too bad. I’ve already done several trips since we spoke. I’m flying back out to Solitaire tomorrow.”
“Just…” He held up his hands in frustration as if he could shake the stubbornness out of her. “Listen, okay?”
She waved a hand for him to continue.
He drew a breath and let it out in a huff. “Okay. You don’t know my father.”
“I’ve known him for almost a decade.”
He shook his head. “No. You think you do because he can put on a good act. Oscar-worthy performances that convince everyone around him he’s a nice guy. But he’s not. He’s rotten to the core. He always—” He stopped short at the sudden tightening in his throat and waited for it to pass. “Disappears. Going after him is a waste of time.”
“It’s my time to waste,” she said simply.
“Goddammit.”
She leaned forward in her seat and met his gaze. “He was scared when he called me, Ellis. Terrified. I’ve never heard him like that before.”
“All the more reason you shouldn’t get involved.”
“Someone needs to. Someone needs to care since you and your brothers don’t.”
They stared at each other for several long seconds, the only sounds coming from the dogs playing in the living room.
“You talked to them?” Ellis asked finally. “My brothers?”
“I tried. No joy.”
“Not surprised.” He sighed and sat back, dragging both hands over his face and through his hair. He wanted to yank out his hair in frustration. He met her gaze again. “I can’t let you go alone. You’ll get yourself killed out there.”
She set her chin on her fist and narrowed her eyes at him. He couldn’t tell if her expression was one of amusement or disbelief. Probably a little of both.
“What’s more likely?” she asked. “Me, a trained musher used to the cold, getting myself killed or…you? Look at you, California. You’re shivering already. I’d be better off without you.”
He got the feeling that was the motto of her life. Which was pretty typical for Alaskans in general, but she took it to the next level. He’d seen the wall go up around her the moment she removed her hat and scarf and showed him her face.
“Except I know my father,” he pointed out. “I know his habits, the way he thinks. I know where to look for him. He has a cabin out near where you say his plane disappeared.”
“Where?” she demanded.
He shook his head. “If you insist on this insanity, you’re not going alone.”
She pushed away from the table and grabbed her mug. Without a word she dumped her coffee into the sink, then just stood there, hands braced on the counter as she stared out the ice-frosted window.
“Admit it. You need me, Brielle. Alaska’s a big place.”
“It’s Bree. And, no, I don’t need you. You’ll slow us down.”
“I can keep up.”
