Page 4 of Hunter
“Not personally,” I say, “but I think my dad does. His company is way bigger than ours.”
“Biggest provider of travel services in the state,” says Nick. “He’s got travel and tour contractors all the way from Seattle up to the North Slope. We wanted Landry to be the Locations Manager, but he recently had some health issues, so he suggested Rick instead. We assign two people to work with him as assistants.” Nick clears his throat. “I don’t want to lie to you, Hunter. I’ve met Rick. He’s kind of a douche.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah.” He sighs. “Wouldn’t feel right to bring you on without telling you that. I’m not a fan.”
Hmm. Okay.But the fact remains that Landry Jones has a good reputation in local tourist circles, and if anything, being better acquainted with the Jones family could end up helping our business in Skagway in the long run. Douche or not, knowing Rick Jones might be worthwhile.
“My mom always used to say that forewarned is forearmed. I’ll be ready to deal with him,” I say. “What’s the pay like?”
“Nothing to write home about,” he says, shuffling through a few more papers. “Looks like $300 a day. We shoot from June first to June twenty-first. Works out to about $6100 total, with room and board included, so the salary’s yours to keep. We rent a ferry for the first leg—picture a floating motel—and you’d stay in the same lodgings as the contestants for the second and third legs.”
Three weeks away from Skagway with only $6100 to show for it. I take a deep breath.Is it worth it?
As though reading my mind, Nick asks, “You mind my asking why you’re interested in doing this? June’s gotta be your high season in Skagway with the cruise ships coming through three to five a day. Don’t get me wrong! I’d be delighted to have a Stewart helping out on the show; I’m just wondering why.”
“I like the idea of making inroads into TV production,” I tell him. “I’ve been working for my family’s business since I was in high school. Thought I’d shake things up a little this summer. Who knows? Location scouting—or management, for that matter—could be a new side gig for us.”
I don’t mention my other reason for wanting to be involved with the show, but an image of her flashes behind my eyes.
Dark-brown eyes. Dark-brown hair. The hottest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on. The best sex I’ve ever had…and she dumped me. She fucking dumped me.
Ever since I found out that Isabella Gonzalez was coming back up to Alaska as a contestant ofThe Astonishing Race, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her...or those two text messages that torpedoed any possible future for us.
Do I want a second chance with her?God, I hope not.
Do I want answers from her?Definitely.
Moreover, Ineedthem.
Until I understand why she broke things off between us, I don’t think I can move on. And Iwantto move on. I mean...fuck! I haven’t had sex in months, and I’m getting frustrated. But every time I get close to sealing the deal with someone new, I think abouther—about the heat between us, and how right it felt to be with her. The fact that we were only together for a few weeks doesn’t seem to matter to my heart. She made a big impression on me and I’m having trouble letting go. Maybe getting some answers will lead to closure.
Not to mention, I’m a big believer in fate, and when I was getting my teeth cleaned last week, Nick’s aunt mentioned—out of the blue—that Nick was working on the show. I flinched so hard when she said,The Astonishing Race: Alaska, her plaque scraper slipped into my gums, making me bleed.
“Could definitely be a great side gig for the Stewarts,” agrees Nick. “TV audiences can’t get enough of reality shows in Alaska.There will definitely be more, and we’ll always need locals on the ground to help.”
“Nick, could you give me a few days to think it over?”
“I can give you a week,” he says. “Filming starts next month so if you don’t want the job, I need time to find someone else.”
“Got it.”
“I hope you take it,” he says. “We’d be lucky to have you. And if everything goes well, I’ll start using the Stewarts for all the stuff we pipe through Skagway.”
“I’ll call you back by the end of the week,” I promise.
We hang up, and I pocket my cell phone, staring out at the Taiya River, back behind our campground. I purposely walked a half mile away from the lodge to avoid eavesdroppers like my nosy little sisters. Well, that, and I wanted to check out the progress on my new house.
In a sweet spot, just steps away from the river, I’ve had a concrete pad poured for the modular cabin that I bought in March. It’s being delivered in mid-July, and I should be able to move in about two weeks later. It’s not huge, and it’s not too fancy; for fifty thousand hard-earned dollars, I chose a two-bedroom, one-bathroom cabin with a full kitchen, living room/dining room combination and front porch. It’s only eight hundred square feet, but it’s going to be perfect for me.
Not that I don’t love living with my brothers, but I’m a thirty-one-year-old man. It’s time for me to have my own place, and with the land cleared and the concrete poured, I can just about picture it finished.
The alarm dings on my phone, reminding me that I’ve got to get back for an eleven-clock tour in Skagway. I turn away from the river, hoisting my rifle back onto my shoulder as I head back to the campground.
I’m pretty sure I can sell this idea to the rest of the family on a business level. Breaking into TV location scoutingand management wouldn’t be a bad thing for our business, and I know my dad will approve of me working with Landry Jones’s company. A stronger connection between the Stewarts of Skagway and the most successful Alaskan tour operator in the state could only be agoodthing for us. The more I think about it, the more I’m sure my dad will bend over backward to make sure our local commitments are covered and give me his blessing to work on the show.
But my sisters and McKenna won’t be fooled. They’ll suspect my motives have something to do with Isabella.