Chapter1
Knife’s Edge didn’t thaw quietly—it cracked, hissed, and burned its way into spring.Every year, without fail, more visitors showed up in the small Alaskan town once the mountain passes and tumultuous sky cleared.Not even the drilling rain could keep them away.
Christian Osprey skirted a purple-haired female standing beneath an eave and in front of some lit circle contraption holding a phone, her eyes animated.What the hell?He kept walking, noting the Green Plate restaurant was open for the day.In the winter, Gus and Janet only opened for dinner.
He sighed.Apparently spring had arrived.Damn it.He’d have to gather supplies and head into the mountains sooner rather than later.Glancing at Sam’s Tavern across the muddy street, he felt a tug in his chest he didn’t appreciate.Not at all.He would not go in there.Nobody really knew who Sam had been, but the name had stuck throughout the ages.The current owner was a sweetheart, and one he needed to leave alone.
Hunching his shoulders, he allowed the rain to fall on his thick hair and stood for a moment on the torn and winter-damaged sidewalk, staring at Sam’s and the small storage building between the tavern and the grocery store.
“Hey.Excuse me?”The gal with the purple hair tugged on his arm, her pink sweatshirt damp from the rain.
He glanced down and smoothly stepped away, freeing himself.
Her eyes widened as her gaze dropped to Tika, by Christian’s side.“Is that a baby wolf?”
For crap’s sake.“No.”Christian gave an imperceptible jerk of his chin, and the wolf-husky puppy immediately moved forward, in front of him and to the side.Away from the woman.He turned to do the same and she grabbed his worn T-shirt sleeve.Again.
“Wait.It’s so cool that both you and the wolf have two different colored eyes.Can I interview you?”She stepped closer, bringing the scent of lavender with her.
“Absolutely not.”Christian’s eyes were green and black, while Tika’s were blue and bluish-brown.
The woman didn’t seem put off and instead switched topics.“Why does this town have the only sheriff in Alaska?”Still unfortunately holding the material above his wrist, she pointed to the banners strung across the main street of town.One announced the spring fishing derby next week, and the other announced that Knife’s Edge claimed to have the only Alaskan sheriff.
At the sight of the bigger one, he felt his lips twitch.Brock would fucking hate that.Served him right for becoming the sheriff.
“Well?”The woman turned her attention back on him, looking up many inches to his face.She was cute.About five foot six.Blue eyes, nice bone structure, girl-next-door grin.Too young to be alone in the Alaskan wilderness.
“You eighteen?”he grunted.If not, he’d take her to Brock’s office.As the sheriff, his brother would have to deal with her.
Her smile brightened.“Not anymore.I’m old enough to drink, handsome.Want me to prove it to you?”
He heard the side door to the tavern open across the street and then he felt her move through it.Her.His gaze slid to the opening between the rough wooden building housing the bar and the one-story storage building, catching a glimpse of Amka.Just one second glimpse before she disappeared inside.
At all times, he could feel her location.Her energy.Somehow.
In that instant of seeing her, he’d noted her black hair up in a ponytail, her blue flannel shirt open to show a black cami over full breasts, and tight slim jeans that hugged every delectable inch of her legs.His own energy flowed through him, pushing him to cross the street.
The female finally released his arm.“Dude?You okay?”
Still remaining motionless, he cut his gaze to her.“Yes.”
She swallowed and finally had the good sense to step away from him.“You’ve got such an intense vibe, man.It’s both kinda hot and kinda scary.”Squinting, she studied him from the top of his dark hair to his well-worn boots.“More hot than scary.”Her grin returned.“I’m Nixi Halliday.From Halliday’s Adventures and Holidays?”
He had no clue what that meant.Grunting, he jerked his head at Tika and turned away from Nixi.
“Wait.”Now exasperation filled her tone, but she didn’t grab him again.“Seriously.You’ve never heard of me?Aren’t you on social media at all?”
He needed to get to the damn store for provisions, yet his boots remained on the muddy sidewalk.It wasn’t the woman demanding his attention that kept him rooted to the spot.It was the woman he couldn’t see right now.Having Amka out of sight left him unsettled in a way that hadn’t even caught him while he’d remained motionless in a perch for hours on end worlds away…waiting for his mark.That’s why he had to escape into the wilderness.
Now.
“Please let me interview you really quickly about the town.About you and your cute puppy.Please.”Nixi fluttered her eyelashes, somehow making her look even younger and cuter.
He had no interest in cute…or so young.While he might be in his late twenties or even early thirties—who knew—he felt eons older.Knew it showed in his eyes.“No.”
Now she put out her bottom lip in a look that no doubt helped get her way with most people.“Come on.One of the requirements for the traveling challenge is to interview a local at each small town, which is something I usually do for my channel, anyway.So, please?I’ll even buy you a drink afterward.”
He’d hate himself later for asking.Just knew he would.“Challenge?”
