Page 3 of His Determined Mate
“You okay?” asked Nicole, who already felt like an old friend.
“No. I just think the events of the day are catching up with me.”
“Tell you what—how about you give me a set of keys and we’ll go get you settled in the apartment, and send one of my people for your stuff?”
“I hate to be any more of a burden than I already have been.”
Nicole laughed. “A burden? You think you’re a burden? Sometime over nachos and tequila, I’ll tell you about how I came to live in Alaska and almost got myself killed.”
Hannah grinned. “It’s a date.”
Hannah spent the next few days immersed in cleaning, testing equipment, and making far more extensive plans than she had thought she would need to. Nicole proved to be an excellent source of information and supplies, including the necessary equipment for her bakery. Nicole knew the owner of the bakery in Mystic River, who was only too happy to introduce her as a new local bakery to his clients in Kodiak. By happenstance, he was expecting his new bakery equipment to be delivered any day. He made Hannah a deal for his old equipment, which was in excellent condition, so good that she truly couldn’t refuse.
Armed with cleaning supplies and an unyielding resolve, she scrubbed, polished, and painted until the bakery began to resemble the cozy haven she had envisioned. She focused on the bakery so she could start bringing in money, and Nicole had assured her the apartment was hers for as long as she needed it.
Armed with that knowledge, Hannah had chosen to turn the space upstairs from two small bedrooms and one bath to a large airy one bedroom with an attached bath plus a powder room. She took it down to the studs and reconfigured the space so she had a cozy gas fireplace and a really lovely gourmet kitchen, managing to buy last year’s floor models from a local high end appliance store. She was also able to include her own washer and dryer. It was a lot of hard work and long hours, but little-by-little, it was coming together. Each stroke of a paintbrush or furniture put into place brought her closer to her dream. She had clients ready to go as soon as she could take them, and people routinely stopped by to see how the work was coming along.
Instead of the usual rustic Alaskan look, she’d gone for more of a chic, seaside cottage feel. Everyone who came in seemed to like it, and Hannah managed to get some kind of daily treat made at Nicole’s before heading over to the bakery and getting her prized commercial K-cup coffee brewers opened for business. One by one a lot of professional local businesspeople were making it a routine part of their day to stop by on their way to work.
Nicole knocked before stepping inside. “Oh my, you have made such a difference in this place.”
“Thanks to you and all your contacts. Seriously, you and your staff are never paying for anything in my bakery. Ever.”
“Keep that up, and you’ll go broke.”
Nicole stayed for a while, chatting about various people Hannah had met and those she had introduced her to. It seemed a lot of people wanted to know about the woman behind the new bakery. There was Ben, the jovial fisherman with stories of the sea; Linda, the librarian with a passion for history; and several others who welcomed her with open arms. Hannah quickly sensed the tight-knit community's warmth, a stark contrast to the cold indifference she had felt in Bellingham after she and Teddy had split.
As the days turned into weeks, Hannah’s Hearth began to take shape. The bakery’s scent of fresh bread and pastries began to waft through the air, drawing in curious customers. Hannah’s days were filled with baking and learning the rhythms of her new home. She quickly became a part of the community, her friendly demeanor and delicious treats earning her a place in many hearts.
Despite the long hours, she found time to explore the town and surrounding area. One morning she spotted an abnormally large black bear loping through one of the city’s green spaces. She knew that the only bears native to the island were the fierce Kodiak grizzlies. When she asked Nicole about it, she explained that sometimes other bear species made their way over to the island, and if she saw one to give Nicole’s husband, Asher, a call. He and his team would work to track and trap the bear, returning it to the mainland.
The Black Bear Diner became her favorite spot to eat, but no matter how many times she went, it seemed the owner was determined to avoid her. Well, that was on him. As long as he didn’t throw her out and was planning to give her his business, he could stay as far away from her as he liked. It wasn’t like they were going to date. Rick Fraser was gorgeous, tall, black-haired, dark-eyed, and possessed of a body that spoke of a lifetime lived outdoors doing a lot of manly things. He was broad-shouldered with a tapered waist and chiseled jaw that looked as if you could cut a diamond on it. He also had an air of quiet strength that was hard to ignore and was continually surrounded by a bevy of beauties. Hannah was sure he had his pick of bed partners. Guys like him didn’t even tend to notice girls like her, who could be generously described as curvy. Hannah was fit—more so now than when she’d left Bellingham—but tall and willowy she was never going to be.
Hannah often saw him working behind the counter or chatting with customers, his presence commanding yet approachable. She couldn’t help but notice that often when she looked up, he seemed to be watching her closely, though he never approached her. There was something in his gaze that made her heart skip a beat, a mix of curiosity and something deeper she couldn’t quite place. He seemed to always keep the same distance and whenever he came closer, the feeling of dizziness swept over her.
She’d seen kindness in his interactions with his customers and staff, and he was quick to step in when a situation looked like it was about to escalate. The way he seemed to know everyone by name and remember their favorite orders was amazing. Hannah was certain there was more to Rick Fraser than met the eye, and she found herself wanting to know more about him.
But for now, she had a bakery to run and a life to rebuild. The people of Kodiak had welcomed her with open arms, and she was determined to make the most of her fresh start. With each passing day, she felt the weight of her past lifting, replaced by the joy of her new beginning. And though she had yet to meet Rick Fraser properly, she sensed that their paths would cross soon enough.
CHAPTER 2
RICK
The early morning sun cast a soft, golden hue over the snowy meadow. The snow, untouched and pristine, sparkled like a sea of diamonds under the clear blue sky. There was nothing that could compare to a sunny day in Alaska. Nothing. The silence of the winter landscape was profound, broken only by the rhythmic pounding of powerful paws against the snow.
An abnormally large black bear, its glossy fur standing out starkly against the white blanket of snow, emerged from the tree line. It moved with a surprising grace for such a large creature, its muscles rippling beneath its thick coat as it bounded across the meadow.
The bear's breath puffed out in clouds of steam, each exhale marking its progress like silent footprints in the air. It was in pursuit of something unseen, its eyes focused and determined. The snow sprayed up around its legs with each stride, a flurry of white in its wake.
As the bear ran, the landscape around it seemed to blur into a tapestry of white and shadow. The low winter sun cast long, dark shapes across the snow, creating a striking contrast with the bear's dark form. The meadow, a vast expanse of frozen beauty, was its domain, and it moved through it with a sense of purpose and familiarity.
In the distance, the sound of rushing water hinted at a nearby stream, unfrozen in patches where the current ran swift and strong. The bear veered slightly towards the sound, its path cutting a diagonal swath across the meadow. It was an impressive sight, a testament to the wild and untamed spirit of Kodiak Island.
The bear's journey was both a reminder of the harsh realities of winter survival and a display of raw, natural power. Each powerful stride carried it further across the snowy expanse, a majestic black shadow moving with unwavering determination through the winter wonderland.
Rick raced across the snowy meadow, the cold wind whipping through his thick black fur. The landscape blurred around him, the snow a pristine canvas, untouched by anything except his powerful strides. He reached the edge of the meadow, out of sight from prying eyes and felt the change coming before it began, a deep tremor that started in his bones and spread outward.
The first crack of thunder echoed across the sky, a deep rumble that seemed to vibrate through the very earth beneath his paws. He slowed his pace, feeling the electric charge in the air. Dark clouds gathered overhead, swirling and boiling as if stirred by an invisible hand. Lightning split the sky in jagged forks, illuminating the meadow in stark, brilliant flashes.