A Match Made in Alaska (12 page)

There was no sense pining away for Declan. He wasn’t the type who would embrace the idea of settling down. She needed to focus on men who wanted the same things in life as she did. A solid man like Dwight! She didn’t feel any romantic sparks with Dwight, but she knew that her focus should be on men like him.

“Have you ever been on a toboggan?” Dwight asked, his eyes radiating enthusiasm.

“Sure. A few times here and there when I was a kid,” she said, injecting her voice with eagerness. She didn’t want to hurt Dwight’s feelings or make him think she’d checked out of their date.

“A few people are going up to Cupid’s Hill to sled. Wanna join them?”

Annie looked over at the hill. She could see a group of people careening down the slope on their sleds. It looked like a lot of fun. And Dwight had such an expectant look on his face. There was absolutely no shot of them becoming romantically involved, so she felt obligated to show Dwight that at least she was a good sport.

“Okay,” she said with a tight smile. “Let’s do it.”

By the time Annie had made her way to the top of the hill, she felt winded. From way up on top of Cupid’s Hill, it was a long way to the bottom. She was starting to feel nervous. It had been a long time since she’d ridden one of these things.

“We can just grab one of these sleds. Everyone ends up sharing anyway,” Dwight explained. He picked out two big toboggans and dragged them over to the top of the run.

“Dwight, I’m not sure I want to do this,” she said, biting her lip. “We’re really high up here. I’m not exactly the sporty type.”

Dwight put his arm around her. “It just looks intimidating, Annie. Trust me. We’ve been tobogganing down this hill since we were little kids.”

Annie peered down the hill. It was a pretty steep incline. She shook her head. “I’m walking back down. I’m sorry to be a killjoy, Dwight, but I’m a little nervous.”

“Hey. Why don’t we go down together? I’ll steer us, okay?”

Annie nodded. Dwight held the toboggan and ushered her to sit down. Annie placed her feet firmly on the snow and straddled the sled, then gingerly sat down. She took another look at the steep incline. It was enough to make her dizzy.
Calm down
, a little voice buzzed in her head.
Live courageously.
Wasn’t that her motto for her new life in Alaska?

Just as she caught a glimpse of Dwight positioning himself next to the toboggan, she felt a shift in the sled’s position. She let out a cry as the toboggan began to slide down the hill without Dwight on it. With his guttural screams ringing in her ears, Annie held on for dear life as the toboggan careened down the hill at breakneck speed. With no way of stopping the runaway sled and her heart firmly lodged in her throat, all Annie could do was pray to make it out of this without breaking every bone in her body.

* * *

Declan sat at the bottom of Cupid’s Hill, looking out at Deer Run Lake. There was a tranquility about this place that settled over him like a warm blanket. It was his favorite location in town for that very reason. Everything seemed clearer out here. He could think without the doubts creeping in. Life seemed way simpler when he was standing here, bathed in moonlight and staring up at a star-filled sky.

He turned toward the hill, chuckling as he watched a group of teenagers come to a stop mere seconds before they would have skidded onto the lake. They triumphantly gave each other high fives. Sledding on Cupid’s Hill was tricky due to the steep slope of the hill and the way a smattering of trees intersected the route. People who didn’t know what they were doing might break their necks by crashing into the copse of trees at the bottom of the hill. Declan had seen quite a few terrible accidents over the years.

“I think someone might be in trouble,” one of the teens said, pointing toward the slope.

He followed the boy’s gaze and saw the flash of pink, accompanied by the sound of feminine screams as the sled came careening down the hill. Annie! He could see her brown hair flying wildly around her face and the earmuffs covering her ears. One quick glance revealed that she wasn’t even attempting to control the toboggan. She was going way too fast and heading directly toward the trees. Declan ran toward her path and veered to the right. With a wild cry he lunged for the reins, using all his weight to jerk the sled toward him. As if in slow motion, he saw Annie roll off the sled and land facedown in the snow.

“Annie!” he yelled, letting go of the reins and scrambling to get to her. When he reached the spot where she lay motionless, he heard her moan softly. “Are you all right?” he asked, gently turning her on her side. Her earmuffs were askew, and snow and ice particles clung to her face.

After a few moments, her eyes fluttered open. “Declan!” she whispered. “You saved me. Again.”

Declan blew out a deep breath. “You scared me half to death, Annie. What in the world did you think you were doing, coming down that slope like a runaway train?” He frowned at her. “You could have broken your neck.”

Annie struggled to sit up. He steadied her by her arms until she got her bearings. Without any kind of warning, she threw her arms around him and clung to him as if he was a life preserver. He could feel the rapid ins and outs of her breathing through her parka. She was mumbling something that he couldn’t quite decipher.

All he knew was that he didn’t want to let Annie go. It felt so right to be holding her in his arms and giving her a soft place to fall.

Chapter Ten

T
alk about a thrill ride! Annie could still feel her pulse racing like crazy from her dramatic ride down Cupid’s Hill. Declan coming to her rescue would go down in her memory as one of the most exciting and heartwarming moments of her life. It had been swoon worthy! Just as she had thought all hope was lost of being able to maneuver herself out of harm’s way, he had swept in and taken control of her toboggan like the French chevaliers she enjoyed reading about in medieval history. The look of intensity and fear etched on Declan’s face was one she would never forget.

Her cheeks felt flushed at the memory of the way she’d enthusiastically embraced him in the aftermath of her rescue. She hadn’t given a single thought to all of the onlookers. All of a sudden she’d looked up, and Dwight had been standing there. He’d raced all the way down the hill to make sure she was in one piece.

Poor Dwight, she thought. He had looked rather shell-shocked, as if the events of the evening were too much for him to grasp. She felt so guilty. Dwight was her date, but her thoughts were so wrapped up in Declan at the moment, she could barely see straight.

Once the excitement wound down, Dwight walked her back to the concession stand, where word had traveled fast about Declan’s quick thinking. Sophie wanted Annie to recount every detail of her escapade. Annie happily complied. She didn’t want there to be a single solitary doubt that Declan was a hero. At one point, Sophie sent her a knowing glance that caused her to wonder if she had gushed too much.

Shortly thereafter, Dwight pulled her aside. He had been as quiet as a mouse ever since the toboggan incident.

“Annie, I think I’m going to call it a night,” Dwight said in a small voice. He wasn’t making eye contact with her, and he appeared to be a million miles away. He didn’t seem like his usual confident self. “Will you be able secure a ride home?”

“What? Yes, I can get a ride back to the cabins from Sophie or Hazel. But it’s still early, Dwight. Is something wrong? I hope you’re not feeling bad about the toboggan. It wasn’t your fault.”

He looked at her, his brown eyes blinking like an owl. “I saw the way you looked at Declan when he rescued you,” Dwight said. “That one look spoke volumes. I’m pretty eager to find love, so I’m not going to waste my time with someone who is so clearly smitten with another man. I’m stepping aside.”

Annie didn’t bother telling Dwight he was imagining things. Grams had always told her that she wore her heart on her sleeve. Although she wasn’t in love with Declan, there were major feelings brewing inside her for him. And the truth was that she was well on her way to being in love with him. Dwight had been nothing but kind to her. At the very least, she owed him the unvarnished truth. “It’s nothing against you, Dwight. I met Declan before I even stepped foot into town. It all happened rather quickly. Before I knew it, my feelings for him had grown by leaps and bounds. And there’s nothing romantic going on between us. Declan and I are not meant to be together. We’re just friends. I promise.”

Dwight held up his hand. His features appeared pinched. “Spare me the details. I know women in this town are drawn to men like Declan and Boone and Liam like moths to flames. It seems that young ladies these days go for brawn and chiseled good looks rather than brains and old-fashioned charm,” Dwight said in a small voice. “I always try to put my best foot forward, but it doesn’t seem to matter when I’m not considered eye candy.”

Annie let out a groan. “You’re looking at this all wrong. You’re you, Dwight. A unique and special individual. That’s all you can ever be in this life. Be yourself. And love yourself. That’s the perfect road to happiness.”

Dwight reached for her mittened hand and brought it up to his lips. “It’s been a pleasure, Annie. I wish things could have been different. This town is truly blessed by your presence.” With a stately bow, Dwight turned on his heel and departed, leaving her feeling both speechless and saddened. She had accepted Dwight’s invitation as a date on a friends-only basis. She hadn’t had the heart to say no. Clearly Dwight had been hoping for more to brew between them than friendship, leading to his disappointment when he had come to the realization that she wasn’t having the same feelings.

Was it so obvious that she was falling for Declan? Her palms began to sweat as the realization swept over her that Declan himself might have figured it out. That would be all kinds of mortifying.

Annie watched Dwight leave the area and head toward the parking lot. She walked back to the roasting fire, suddenly feeling chilled to the bone. She wrapped her arms around her middle, then rocked back on her heels.

Before she knew it, Declan appeared at her side. His eyes were full of questions.

“Where’s your date?” Declan asked, peering behind her as if he was looking for Dwight.

“It appears I’ve been ditched.”

Declan moved toward her, a deep frown etched on his face. “He did what? I’ve got a good mind to—”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Annie scolded. “Dwight did what was right. He realized that we were never going to be more than friends. He’s quite serious about finding a woman to settle down with, and he wants to move forward in that pursuit.”

“When you put it that way, it makes sense,” Declan said. “Although he seemed really in to you.” He squinted at her. “Are you sure there’s not something you’re not telling me?” Annie had no intention of telling him what Dwight had sensed about her feelings for Declan. That would be downright embarrassing, especially since she had no idea if Declan had any romantic feelings for her.

Ugh.
Why did she suddenly feel as if she had been transported back to high school?

“I’ve told you the main points. I’m here all alone now with no one to enjoy this beautiful evening with,” she hinted. “I’d still like someone to point me toward the northern lights.”

He flashed her a magnificent grin. “It would be my pleasure to be your escort,” Declan said with a gentlemanly bow. “Declan O’Rourke at your service.”

She clapped her hands together and playfully batted her eyelashes. “I thought you’d never ask,” she teased.

Declan quirked his mouth. “If you remember, I did ask. You turned me down for Dwight.”

She put her hands on her hips. “What kind of woman would I be if I ditched the man I first accepted for the man I wanted to ask me all along?” Annie let out a squeak and slapped her hand over her mouth. Had she really just said that out loud?

Declan’s face lit up like Christmas. “So you wanted me to ask you all along, huh?”

Annie groaned. “I hope that doesn’t give you a big head. Or should I say, an even bigger head than you already may have?”

He held up his hands. “Hey! I don’t have an ego.” He snapped the collar on his coat. “I’m not conceited, just convinced.”

She swatted at him and laughed. “You have so many women in this town chasing you that it’s totally gone to your head.”

“There’s really only one woman I want to chase me, but something tells me she never would,” he said, his blue eyes gleaming with mischief.

Annie felt her cheeks warming up, despite the frigid temperature. Was he referring to her? She ducked her head down to avoid his probing gaze. “Ladies shouldn’t pursue,” she murmured. “They should be pursued.”

“Another Gram-ism?” he asked with a wry smile.

Annie couldn’t help but giggle. “I have enough Gram-isms to fill up Kachemak Bay.”

Declan didn’t laugh. Instead he gazed at her intently, his eyes flashing with an emotion she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Suddenly everything hushed and stilled between them. It felt to Annie as if they were the only two people at Deer Run Lake.

He grabbed her hand. “Seeing the northern lights is completely out of our control. There’s no way of predicting whether they’ll be visible or not. But I know the perfect place to view them if they decide to come out and entertain us.”

Adrenaline raced through Annie as Declan led her toward higher ground and a spot on the hill that provided an unobstructed view of the celestial universe. Annie let out a sigh as she gazed up at a velvety sky illuminated by glittery stars and a luminous, fat moon.

“I forgot to tell you my big news.” Declan felt as if his chest might burst with pride.

Annie clapped her hands together. Her brown eyes grew wide in her face. “Oh, tell me, Declan. I love happy news.”

“I heard from the FAA about the crash. It wasn’t my fault. I’m officially cleared,” he announced. “It was a bird strike, not pilot error.”

Annie let out a hoot and jumped up and down. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in ages. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks,” Declan said, unable to stop himself from grinning ear to ear. “I have to admit, it’s a huge relief. I finally feel as if I can start moving forward and putting all this behind me.”

“It’s perfect, Declan. Almost as perfect as this Alaskan view. Sky. Moon. Stars. It makes me feel rather insignificant in the scheme of things,” Annie said.

He reached out and placed his hands on both sides of her face. “That’s the last thing you could ever be, Annie. From the moment I met you, I had a feeling you were going to turn my entire world upside down.”

Annie gulped. “Is that a good thing or a bad one?”

“A very wonderful thing.” Declan grinned. “This is way overdue. I’ve been wanting to kiss you since we crash-landed in the Chugach National Forest.”

“You have?” she whispered, bowled over by his admission. If Declan had known how many times she’d thought about being kissed by him, he would have been speechless.

“Yes, I have, Annie,” he said with a nod, just as he dipped his head down and placed his lips over hers. Declan’s lips were warm and inviting and filled with a tenderness that made her soul soar. He tasted like apples and cinnamon. She kissed him back, caught up in this wonderfully romantic moment. A tidal wave of emotion crashed over her as his lips slanted over hers. It had been years since anyone had kissed her. And this wasn’t just an ordinary kiss. And Declan O’Rourke wasn’t just your average man. He was everything she’d every hoped for wrapped up in the dreamiest of packages.

She would remember this wondrous kiss for the rest of her life. After being duped by love once, Annie had been afraid even to dip her toe into the pond. This kiss...this soul-stirring, amazing kiss...swept her up and carried her to a place she’d only dreamed about. She was soaring way up in the clouds, flying above the earth in a place where nothing could touch her.

As the kiss ended, Annie kept her eyes closed. She didn’t want this moment to end. For just a few more seconds, she wanted it to linger so she could savor it all the more. She knew that once she opened her eyes, it would be over and reality would set in. Suddenly she felt Declan’s lips tickling her lashes. She let out a giggle. He was kissing her eyelids. When she opened her eyes, he was staring straight at her, a look of wonderment radiating from his eyes.

At that exact moment, Annie knew she was a goner. The kiss had cemented it. There wasn’t a single doubt in her mind that she was falling happily, crazily, madly in love with Declan O’Rourke. And it confounded her, because she knew he was the last person in Love who believed in or wanted his own happily-ever-after.

* * *

As Declan stood side by side with Annie, gazing up at the vast universe, a feeling of peace settled over him. He’d spent most of his life chasing this feeling. As a kid, he had wanted nothing more than to be surrounded by calm. Yet his world had been filled with chaos. And now, out of the blue, he’d found serenity. It was strange to know with such a deep certainty that God had planted you exactly where you needed to be at exactly the right time.

Raw emotion grabbed him by the throat. It had been such a long while since he’d allowed himself to believe that he deserved happiness. But joy had been all around him tonight, hovering in the air like a promise. Somehow, God was still showing him grace. Maybe if he stepped out on a leap of faith, he could reach for that elusive dream—home, hearth, a family of his own.

Even though it didn’t seem possible, there was a tiny kernel inside him that believed it was possible, after all.

Lord, I need Your grace. I’m so tired of feeling as if the past has already determined my future. I want to be hopeful, not just for everyone around me but for myself as well. I want to be so secure in my faith that I won’t question any blessings You bestow on me. And I want the smile on my face to reflect true joy, not just serve as a mask to hide my hurts. I want to be healed, Lord. I want to be hopeful rather than feeling broken.

“Look! A shooting star. I’ve never seen one before,” Annie shouted, pointing up at the onyx sky scattered with stars. “It’s on my someday list.”

“Your what list?” he asked with a frown. He’d never heard of a someday list.

“My list of things I want to do in my life. It’s about two pages, give or take.”

Declan smiled. Something told him her list might be a bit longer than two pages. “Well, I guess you can check that one off, huh?”

“Coming here to Love was on my list,” she said.

“To find love, huh?” he asked. A tight pressure landed on his chest at the idea of Annie finding love right here in Alaska with an Operation Love participant. He couldn’t even pretend that it wouldn’t eat him alive.

“Among other things. Starting up the library was very important to me, as is tracing my roots. I’ve been trying to fill in the blanks ever since I was a kid.” Her voice sounded wistful. As light and airy as a fluffy cloud.

“So what did you dream about as a kid?” Declan asked. He could imagine her. Sweet. As smart as a whip. Full of hopes and dreams. Someone who lived by the rules and never colored outside the lines.

Annie looked up at the sky. “All I ever dreamed about was having a family of my own. My mom died when I was two. Gram always said that she died of a broken heart.”

“Is that what you believe?” Declan asked. In all his life, he had never heard of a single person dying of heartbreak.

She nodded. “Yes. I do. My dad captured my mother’s heart, but he didn’t stick around very long. Even though she was pregnant with his child, he never bothered to marry my mom. Even though he abandoned us, she still loved him until the day she died. He charmed his way right into her heart. So...because my Gram was a single mother, then my mom, I always wanted to be married with a family.” Her voice cracked. She bowed her head. “That probably sounds silly to you.”