“I’ve never been disappointed. True takes great pride in Chef Ito’s fare.”
Laurie Ito was an award-winning chef hired by True to inject new life into the tavern’s menu. She had succeeded way beyond True’s wildest hopes. Anyone who wrote Northern Exposure off as just being a bar was mistaken. In the last year eating at the tavern had become a culinary experience.
Sophia looked around in awe. Over the years True hadmade major changes to Northern Exposure, all for the betterment of the establishment. She could only imagine that things would keep evolving, now that True owned the tavern. This place was her pride and joy. It was nice to see that hard work and dedication paid off. She thought of her own career path in the same manner. The sacrifices she’d made were now beginning to pay off.
Their drinks and appetizer came, followed by their delicious entrees. Sophia ate with gusto, not bothering to hide her appetite. It was nice feeling so comfortable with Caleb that she could scarf down her food without worrying about being dainty. She’d dated men in the past who seemed to think women should just exist on water and air.
“Chef Ito really put her foot in that,” Caleb said, wiping his mouth with his napkin and pushing his empty plate to the side.
“She sure did,” Sophia agreed. “Let’s make sure to tell True how much we enjoyed the food.”
“She’s doing such a bang-up job here. I know my grandmother is beyond proud,” Caleb said. “As we all are, but they have a special relationship.”
“As do you,” Sophia said, carefully watching his expression. Lately she had noticed a pensive expression etched on Caleb’s face whenever the topic of Hattie came up. She imagined he was wrestling with the inevitability of losing her, even though he rarely discussed it with her.
He ducked his head and looked at the table. “I never imagined that we would build such an unbreakable bond. She’s the real cherry on the sundae as far as I’m concerned.”
“You should tell her that,” Sophia blurted out.While you can. Although the words rattled around in her head, she stopped short of saying them. Caleb didn’t need any reminders that Hattie was slipping away from them. He saw herevery day at home and at Yukon Cider. Saying those words would just be rubbing his nose in it, and she couldn’t do that to him.
“Maybe I will,” he told her before standing up and holding out his hand to her. “Let’s dance.” The band had begun playing a few minutes ago, and couples were now filling up the dance floor. Although she did want to shake what her mama gave her, Sophia had the feeling that Caleb was using dancing as a diversion from talking about his grandmother’s decline.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she said as he pulled her to his side and brought her into the middle of the floor.
“I want everyone to be able to admire my beautiful girl,” Caleb said in her ear, drawing her against him as they began to move.
Being held in Caleb’s arms gave her a feeling of security that she’d never known with a romantic partner. He was solid and strong. He cared about her. She felt it deep in her bones. And he was a total smoke show.
They moved in time to the music—a slow song by Alicia Keys—their bodies in perfect sync with the band’s rhythms. Although there were other couples on the dance floor, to Sophia it seemed as if it were only the two of them. She wrapped her arms around his neck and melted into him, feeling as if all was right with the world. As far as she was concerned, it didn’t get any better than this.
Suddenly, the flash of lights in the darkness blinded her. She heard snapping sounds, one after the other, followed by more intense flashes of light. Sophia put her hands up to shield her eyes.
What in the world was going on?After a few moments of feeling dazed and confused, it hit her. Someone was recording them. Taking pictures of her and Caleb. She could only think that they were being pranked by someone.
Caleb raised his arm up and shielded her from the glare of the bulbs. She grabbed onto him, fighting against a sensation of dizziness. He placed one arm around her, and she felt herself being held against a rock-solid chest. All of a sudden the lights came on, and she squinted to see what was going on. A camera crew. A group of people focused on them. A woman was standing next to them—a very striking, familiar-looking individual.
Caleb’s voice rang out in a sharp tone. “Abby! What in the hell are you doing here?”
Caleb’s knees nearly buckled at the sight of Abby Taylor, the woman who had torn his heart out of his chest and fed him to the wolves during the filming ofLove Him or Leave Him. Was he having an out-of-body experience? There was no way Abby was standing mere inches away from him in Alaska of all places.Was there?
Caleb felt disoriented as Abby stood so close to him, surrounded by a camera crew. Someone had turned on the lights in the tavern, so there was no mistaking the sight of his ex-girlfriend. She was looking up at him with that same butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-her-mouth look that he’d fallen for hook, line, and sinker during their time together.
“Hey! You don’t have permission to film in here,” True shouted above the music as she came storming over to them. “I’m the owner, and this is out of line.”
Why was Abby here with a camera crew? And why had they been filming him and Sophia?
“Are those cameras still rolling?” he asked, trying to make sense of things. His anger and frustration were rising exponentially.
“We wanted to capture you in an unguarded moment,” Abby explained.
Abby was still as beautiful as ever with shoulder-length black hair that gave her a sophisticated air. Her skin was the color of almonds. When they had been together, she hadn’t been into makeup or designer clothes. She’d changed since the last time he had seen her, with a new, sleek hairdo and upscale clothes. He had a feeling the makeover was due to her starring in the spin-off show.
But what was she doing in Moose Falls, Alaska? She still hadn’t given him any explanation.
Before he knew what was happening, Abby flung herself against his chest. He was so stunned, he froze and let the memories sweep over him. The scent of her coconut body lotion rose to his nostrils, as did a floral scent from her hair. He tried to disentangle himself, but Abby was holding on to him for dear life. With what felt like superhuman strength he managed to remove her arms from around his waist.
She was looking at him with puppy dog eyes. “Caleb! I’ve missed you, and I came all this way to Alaska to see you.”
“And you brought a film crew with you to document it?” he asked, frowning. He didn’t know exactly what was going on, but his Spidey senses were on full alert.
