Chapter 2
TWO
CLIFF
The number of vehicles parked in front of Winter and Slate’s place gives me pause.
The loud music and even louder conversations and laughter nearly have me putting my truck in reverse.
I love my sister. In fact, there’s no one on Earth I love more than her. I’m even happy she’s found herself a man to marry. I’m even happier it’s a guy I actually like and respect.
That doesn’t mean I have to love or be happy about spending a night celebrating their upcoming nuptials with a bunch of strangers. Not to mention the acquaintances who I wish were strangers.
The things I do for my sister. With a groan, I jump out of my truck and grab a couple bags of ice from the passenger seat. Our grandma always told us we should never show up to a party empty-handed. I’m all thumbs in the kitchen, but a party can always use more ice, right?
Tucking a bag under each arm and grabbing the rest, I make my way toward the house.
“Howdy, stranger.”
I start, nearly dropping the bags. Slate, Winter’s fiancé, appears from the shed carrying what appears to be more charcoal.
I clear my throat. “Hell of a part you’ve got going on.”
“That’s all your sister.” He holds up his bags of charcoal. “I’m just here to grill.”
“And I’m just here to bring ice.”
“Good call on the ice. Your sister will be thrilled.”
From the look he gives me, I can tell he doesn’t just mean about the ice.
“Yeah, parties aren’t usually my thing.”
“Mine either.” He still looks like he wants to say more.
Thankfully he doesn’t. Neither of us has ever been big talkers. That’s probably part of the reason I’ve always liked him.
I hope he doesn’t change that now.
I catch a whiff of meat on the grill. My stomach growls. “Well, hell. I guess we’d better do this.”
The fragrant barbecue mixed with the woodsy musk of the surrounding wilderness is too much to resist.
I missed both during my years of deployment and base-hopping. Though I’d rather chew off my own arm than go to a party, it’s hard to resist the pull of my roots.
Slate rolls his eyes. “That’s the spirit.”
“But I won’t promise to have fun.”
“I’d never ask you to do something as crazy as having fun.” He gives me a stern look. “But don’t ruin Winter’s.”
I glare at him. “I’d never do that.”
“Yeah, sure.” He cuffs my shoulder in sympathy.
“Look, I know we’d both rather come up against a bear in a forest than make small talk with anyone in there. But it means a lot to Winter.”
I sigh. “Hell. Why do you have to put it like that?”
“I’m just speaking the truth.”
“You’re speaking like a man in love.”
“You have me there.” His lips curve into a wry grin. “Just wait till it’s your turn to fall in love.”
“Oh, no.” I shake my head. “Just because you’re drinking the until-death-do-we-part Kool-Aid doesn’t mean I’m lining up to take a swig.”
“Famous last words.” He scoffs. “Who knows? Maybe the future missus is tapping the keg in there as we speak.”
“Right. My future wife is inside tapping a keg. And I’m going to have a blast being forced to make small talk.”
“You never know. Winter says saying what you want out loud is one way to make it come true.”
My eyes narrow. “Don’t tell me she has you buying into that manifesting bullshit.”
“Why not?” He slings an arm around my shoulders and ushers me inside through the side door to the kitchen. “It worked for me.”
Before I can tell him that’s the sappiest shit I’ve ever heard, we’ve breached the door and stepped into the fray.
“Cliff!” My sister exclaims, abandoning the women huddled around her. “You came.”
“Bearing gifts.”
Her eyes widen. “Best. Brother. Ever.”
“I try.” I shift my hold on the ice. “Where should I park these?”
She fights me for one of the bags and then leads me toward a row of coolers and a baby pool filled with ice. I’m all too happy to let her chat away about the last-minute wedding plans as I help her replenish the ice.
She’s talking about the arrival of her best friend from Seattle when a curvy brunette catches my eye.
Her chestnut hair is lightly curled, framing one of the sweetest faces I’ve ever seen. Her dark blue eyes and even darker eyelashes stand out as she carefully watches the party.
Watches rather than participates. A woman after my own heart.
I don’t think she’s from around here. Then again, I haven’t exactly spent much time reacquainting myself with the locals since I retired from the service and moved back. But considering she’s wrapped up in a jacket on what would pass for a warm evening, I suspect she’s from the lower forty-eight.
Besides, I’m sure I’d remember seeing a woman like her around.
“Ahem.” Winter clears her throat. “Earth to Cliff. Earth to Cliff, do you copy.”
I blink in surprise and tear my stare away from the buxom brunette. “Sorry, I zoned out. What were you saying?”
She arches an eyebrow. “I asked if you’d like an introduction.”
I groan. Oh, man. So it begins. “With who?”
“With Sophie. The woman you’ve been staring at for the past few minutes.” An amused grin plays on her lips. “You know our grandma always said it was rude to stare.”
“I wasn’t staring.”
“Sure you weren’t.” She takes me by the arm and pulls me away.
When I realize she’s leading me to the woman I was not staring at, I quit dragging my feet.
“Sophie,” Winter calls out, and her friend looks up. “I wanted to make sure you met my brother.”
Winter gives her a pointed look and Sophie’s cheeks flush pink. It makes her look even sweeter.
And even more tempting.
“Cliff.” She pinches my arm and I wince. “This is Sophie. Say hello, Sophie.”
“Hello, Sophie,” I reply gruffly, tugging my arm away from my sister. “Uh… welcome to Alaska.”
Great. My excellent communication skills are at work again.
“Hello, Cliff.” She offers a shy smile. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Good things?”
“Good things.” Her cheeks flush even darker, and I take an involuntary step toward her.
Winter looks between us and smirks. “Well, since the two of you have struck up such a conversation, I’ll make myself scarce.”
I don’t object. Hell, I’d tell her to scram—with love—if I didn’t suspect that would embarrass Sophie.
Sophie. Sophie. Sophie.
The name fits. It’s sweet, just like her.
“So.” I shove my hands in my pockets because I suddenly feel as awkward as a twelve-year-old at their first school dance. “How long will you be in town?”
“I leave on Sunday.”
I nod. “You know, if you need anything while you’re in town, I’d be happy to show you around.”
Her eyes light up at that. I’d be willing to play tour guide for the whole time if it’ll brighten her day just a little.
“Actually, there is something I was hoping to do.”
My throat grows unexpectedly thick. “Name it.”
“Can you recommend a good yoga studio?”
Well, shit. There goes my plans to squire her around town. I’ve barely scoped it out in the months I’ve been back. Even then, it’s only been to find the basic provisions I need: groceries, fishing tackle, and ice.
Still, I’m not willing to give up defeat so easily. Where this woman is concerned, I’d move mountains. “I can ask around.”
“Oh, you don’t have to go to any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble,” I insist. Besides, I bet Winter will know of a good yoga studio. She’s only been back for about a year now, and it’s like she never went away. “Anything else you’d like to do?”
“I don’t know. I’m up for anything relaxing really.” She nibbles on her bottom lip, and my pants grow tight imagining doing that for myself. “I’m supposed to be relaxing this week.”
I frown at that remark. “Is everything? Because if anyone is giving you problems, I’ll take care of it.”
“No—no.” She reaches for my arm, and my heart skips a beat. “It’s nothing like that. I just… want to relax while I’m here.”
“Oh, okay. Good.”
We fall silent and when she realizes she’s still holding my hand, she pulls it back quickly. Hell, I’ve probably messed this up already by going all He-Man on her.
I’d better tamp that down. I don’t want to scare her off.
I clear my throat. “Look, I—”
“Uncle Cliff! Uncle Cliff!”
We both turn and I drop to one knee in time to catch a little blur of pink before she can knock into me.”
“Annalise!” I release an oof as she throws her arms around me, knocking her knee into my gut in the process. “How are you doing, girly?”
“I’m good.” She plants a wet kiss on my cheek and pulls back to tell me all about a game she’s playing with a couple of the other kids in attendance.
I glance up at Sophie to apologize but catch the soft smile on her lips. Her eyes have gone all soft, making my gut clench.
“Friend of yours?” she asks, when Annalise pauses for breath.
“Something like that.” I make the introductions and explain that Annalise is my best friend from high school’s girl.
I mean it when I say I haven’t lit up the social scene, but I have caught up with a few friends. For some reason, Kyle’s kids have taken a shine to me.
Annalise curtseys to Sophie, earning another one of those heart-melting grins, then grabs my hands.
“Uncle Cliff, will you come play with us?”
“I…” I’m torn.
Ordinarily, I’d have no problem ditching small talk. Kids are easier to talk to than adults. They tell the truth and don’t want anything besides your company.
This is different.
There’s something about Sophie, something that has gripped me to the core. It makes me want to spend every second I can with her.
“Go on,” Sophie urges, ending my turmoil. “We can talk again later.”
“Yeah. We’ll talk later.” I slowly rise to my feet, holding her gaze steady with mine. “It’s a date.”
Annalise tugs my hand again, and I scoop her up in my arms. I toss her in the air, making her burst into giggles and earning another Sophie Smile.
“C’mon.” I settle her on my hip. “Let’s go get in trouble.”
Though, as I take a parting look at Sophie, I suspect I’m already in deep, deep trouble as far as she’s concerned.