Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
W yatt tried to focus on loading Sophie’s equipment into his truck instead of sneaking glances at her, but his gaze kept drifting back. She moved with a natural grace that drew his attention—petite but confident, her auburn waves catching the morning light as she directed him on the careful handling of her ghost hunting gear. When she smiled, which seemed to be often, her hazel eyes lit up with a warmth that made his chest tighten.
He yanked his attention back to the task at hand. This was exactly what he didn’t need—getting distracted by a pretty face and infectious enthusiasm. Even if that face belonged to someone who actually seemed to know what she was doing, unlike the usual social media “influencers” who showed up expecting to go viral.
“So,” she said as they pulled away from the airport, her voice carrying a hint of amusement that made him grip the steering wheel tighter, “how long have you been a ranger?”
He was glad he’d decided to wear his uniform on his day off. The familiar weight of the badge helped him maintain some professional distance. “Eight years.”
“You must have some amazing stories.” When he kept his eyes firmly on the road, she added, “Come on, what’s the craziest tourist situation you’ve dealt with?”
The memory of last week’s moose incident flashed through his mind—the family’s screams as their rental car’s mirror went flying, the bull moose’s massive antlers scraping paint off their door. Just another day of tourists treating thousand-pound wild animals like petting zoo attractions. But engaging with Sophie’s questions would only encourage more conversation. “Nothing worth mentioning.”
“Really? Because Whitney told me about the couple who tried to feed the eagles by throwing sandwiches out of their car window.”
A snort of laughter escaped before he could stop it. “That was a mess. Ended up with about twenty eagles causing a traffic jam.”
Her answering grin was bright enough to light up the whole truck cab. “See? Was that so hard?”
Damn. She was exactly the kind of distraction he didn’t need—observant, quick-witted, and apparently determined to chase ghost stories in his territory. He’d expected to find her irritating. Instead, he found himself fighting the urge to smile back.
“Oh wow, look at that view!” Sophie pressed closer to the passenger window as they rounded the bend, revealing the bay stretched out beneath snow-capped peaks. “The way the light hits the water...it’s like the whole bay is made of diamonds.”
Her wonder wasn’t the manufactured kind he was used to seeing from visitors. There was something genuine in the way she took everything in, a sincere appreciation that made him see his familiar surroundings through fresh eyes. He caught himself watching her reflection in the window, noting how her face softened with each new discovery.
“Have you always lived here?” she asked, finally turning from the window. “I mean, I’ve traveled all over, but I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”
“Born and raised,” he said, then found himself adding, “The view never gets old.”
Her smile widened, and something warm unfurled in his chest. “I can see why. Though I bet the winters are intense.”
“They separate the tourists from the true Alaskans pretty quick.”
“Are you calling me a tourist, Wyatt?” She affected an exaggerated wounded expression that tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“If the hiking boot fits...”
“Hey, these boots have seen six continents, I’ll have you know.” She stretched out one foot demonstratively. “Though I’ll admit, Alaska might be their biggest challenge yet.”
A black bear appeared on the roadside ahead, and Wyatt automatically slowed the truck, tension coiling in his muscles as he prepared for the usual tourist reaction. But before he could warn her, Sophie was already lowering her voice to a whisper.
“Oh my gosh,” she breathed, reaching slowly for her phone. “I’ve never seen one this close.”
He watched, surprised, as she took a few careful photos without any of the usual dramatics—no squealing, no attempts to get out of the vehicle, no sudden movements that would startle the bear. Just quiet appreciation and careful documentation.
“Beautiful,” she murmured as the bear ambled back into the forest. Then, catching his look, she grinned. “What? I may be a ghost hunter, but I do know how to behave around actual wildlife. I did my research before coming.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “But you thought I’d jump out and run at the bear with my phone, didn’t you?”
He couldn’t help but smile. “I was expecting at least a window roll-down and some hanging out of the car.”
“Please,” she laughed, the sound doing dangerous things to his concentration. “I save all my reckless behavior for ghost hunting.”
Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at it before putting it face-down on her lap. “Sorry, my followers are pretty excited about this trip. But they can wait.”
Against his better judgment, curiosity got the better of him. “How many followers do you have?”
“About a million.” She said it casually, like it wasn’t a big deal. “Though honestly? The numbers aren’t the important part. It’s about connecting with people who share your interests, you know? Building a community around something you’re all passionate about.”
And there it was again—that genuine warmth that made it impossible to dismiss her as just another influencer chasing likes. She talked about her followers like they were friends, her eyes lighting up with the same enthusiasm she’d shown for the scenery.
This was bad. Very bad.
Wyatt was starting to understand why the mayor and Whitney had specifically requested him for this assignment. He was known for his patience with difficult tourists, his ability to handle any situation calmly. But Sophie Marlow wasn’t difficult at all. She was genuine, prepared, and altogether too engaging for his peace of mind.
Maybe that’s exactly why they’d chosen him—because they knew he’d be expecting trouble and instead would find himself completely thrown off balance by someone like Sophie.
“So,” she said, breaking into his thoughts, “any good ghost stories about this stretch of road?”
He groaned. “Don’t start.”
Another stretch of comfortable silence fell between them as the road wound through towering spruce trees. He found himself stealing glances at her profile, noting how she seemed to be studying everything, taking mental notes along with her photos. Not just pointing and clicking, but really seeing.
“You know,” she said finally, her voice thoughtful, “there have to be some stories about this area. All these old mining towns have stories. Though I’m more interested in the connection between the northern lights and supernatural activity. Have you ever noticed anything strange during aurora season?”
“No,” he said firmly, ignoring the way her eyes danced with amusement at his tone. “Because ghosts aren’t real.”
“That sounds like something someone who’s seen a ghost would say.”
He shot her a look, but there was no sarcasm in her teasing. Just warmth and good humor and an infectious sort of joy that made him want to smile despite himself.
Kirkham Lodge came into view, and relief washed over him. Sophie Marlow was dangerous—not because she was reckless or difficult, but because she was genuine and enthusiastic and far too easy to like.
Which was exactly why he needed to keep his distance. He had enough complications in his life without adding a ghost-hunting social media star to the mix, no matter how appealing she might be.
Even if she did see the beauty of his home with the same wonder he still felt after all these years.
Even if her smile made the truck feel a little brighter.
Even if-
No. Just no.
He pulled up to the lodge, already dreading the next few weeks of trying to maintain his professional distance from Sophie Marlow and her inconvenient charm.
The mayor was going to pay for this assignment. Somehow.