Wildly, Boldly (Return to Culloden Moor #4)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

W yatt drove away from Kirkham Lodge, telling himself he was escaping. The problem was, it didn’t feel like an escape at all. Sophie’s laughter kept echoing in his head, along with the way her eyes had lit up at Darrow’s ridiculous stories. The way she’d actually stopped to listen to the wind in the trees instead of just pointing her phone at everything that moved.

She wasn’t what he’d expected. That was the trouble.

His phone rang, and he already knew who it would be. The mayor’s name flashed on the screen, right on cue.

“Something else you forgot to tell me?” Wyatt asked, not bothering to hide his irritation.

“Now, don’t be like that.” Mayor Anderson’s voice was far too cheerful. “I just wanted to make sure you’re clear on what we need from you over the next few weeks.”

Wyatt frowned. “Next few weeks? I got her to the lodge. That was the deal.”

“Actually, I need you to stick with her. Show her around, keep her out of trouble?—”

“That wasn’t part of the arrangement.” Wyatt’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Whitney can handle the tour guide duties. Ranger Wilson or Ranger Cross—or even one of the state troopers—could do it. Isn’t that what they’re there for? Dealing with lost tourists and keeping them out of trouble?”

“Travis would spend the whole time trying to impress her instead of keeping her safe. And if she asked, Owen would take her into the wilderness to chase her ghost stories. No, I need someone sensible. Someone who won’t get caught up in all the excitement.”

“Someone who doesn’t want the job.”

“Exactly! See? You understand perfectly.”

But that was the problem. Wyatt understood himself too well to buy his own act. The truth was, life had gotten a little...predictable lately. And Sophie Marlow was anything but predictable.

“Just keep an eye on her,” the mayor continued. “Make sure she doesn’t get herself into trouble chasing those northern lights. And Wyatt?”

“What?”

“Try to have some fun. It wouldn’t kill you.”

Wyatt hung up, adjusting his rearview mirror with more force than necessary. He should head home. Get some work done. Instead, he found himself thinking about dinner at the lodge. About the way Sophie had immediately started plotting ghost-hunting adventures with absolutely no idea what she was getting into.

Someone would need to keep her from wandering into bear territory in the dark.

Someone would need to make sure she understood the dangers of the wilderness at night.

Someone—

He sighed, already knowing he’d be turning around later. The mayor was right about one thing—he was sensible. Sensible enough to know when he was lying to himself.

Besides, Nukak was making his famous sourdough bread today. He could smell it the moment he’d walked into the lodge. And it had been a while since he’d had a real home-cooked meal...

He was just making excuses now.

The late afternoon sun painted the mountains in shades of gold, and for once, the familiar view didn’t bring its usual peace. Instead, he found himself wondering what Sophie would make of it. If she’d see the same things he did, or if she’d find something he’d missed in all his years here.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered, but he was already calculating how long it would take to run his errands, shower, and make it back to the lodge by six.

Darrow was going to be insufferable about this. But maybe, just maybe, an evening of ghost stories and Sophie’s enthusiasm wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

For now, anyway. Until she got bored with Alaska’s mysteries and moved on to the next adventure, like all the other tourists eventually did.

He tried to ignore the way that thought bothered him more than it should.