I met his gaze and tried for something like an apologetic smile.“I wouldn’t have come if I knew it was private property.I’ll, uh…”
He shrugged.“It’s no bother.Really, it’s not.Luna comes here a lot with her dog.”
A soft sound had us both glancing over to see the wolverine start moving toward me.The poor snowshoe hare, its white fur fading into brown now that the snow in the mountains was melting, remained frozen.
“It is a wolverine, by the way,” he said, lips quirking.“They’re stubborn.”
“But I’m more stubborn, and I’m not moving.”
He let out a bark of a laugh, the sound sending tiny bursts of heat scattering through me.
“Well, I guess that’s good to know.So what should we do?”
I looked at the hare, contemplating our options.“Nature’s probably going to run its course.”I sighed.
He shrugged again, tipping his head slightly.“I have a shotgun and a hunting license,” he said, tapping his hip.“We could have some wolverine for dinner.”
I eyed the wolverine.“No.”
Another chuckle from him.More heat.“I was just pointing out the obvious.Are you a vegetarian?”
“No!”I exclaimed.“I even know how to hunt,” I offered pointedly.
“Of course you do,” he lobbed back.
The little twitch at the corners of his mouth sent my belly into a dizzying spin.I didn’t even know what the hell was happening with my reaction to this man.
“What do you mean, ‘of course’?”I bit the inside of my cheek, annoyed with myself for sounding so defensive.
“It doesn’t even matter.Although, I guess it sort of does since you’re on my property.I don’t know.You seem like you can take care of yourself.”
“Well, I can.”I lifted my chin.
“Are you from around here?”
“I’m visiting here, but I’m from Alaska.”His brows arched.“I’ve lived all over,” I added.“But I haven’t been to this area, so I came to spend a few weeks here before coming back this summer for a trip to Katmai.”
He nodded.“Okay.Well, you have permission to hike all over this area.We have miles and miles of trails.Hiking in the summer, cross-country skiing in the winter.That kind of thing.”
“Who are you?”I couldn’t help but ask.
“Cole Silver.We own Heartfire Falls.”
“Oh.Luna mentioned the falls.She said they’re beautiful when the sun is setting.”
“So they are.”When his lips kicked up at one corner, I felt hot all over.
“You know what?”he said, almost to himself.“Why don’t you come to Heartfire Falls for dinner while you’re nearby?My mom would love to have you.It’s an official resort, so we have guests all the time.Luna must think you’re friendly, or she wouldn’t have sent you out here.”
I felt as if I were holding my breath before I finally nodded, offering vaguely, “Not tonight, but maybe another evening.”This was the kind of thing I loved about Alaska—people being kind and welcoming.
“You haven’t told me your name yet,” Cole pointed out.
“Adele.Jacks,” I added belatedly.
“Well, hello, Adele Jacks,” he drawled.
Another flutter in my belly.
