Page 67 of One Night in Alaska

He stared at me for a long moment. I’d clearly caught him off guard. But when his face broke into a smile, I knew exactly what he would say back. “I love you, too, baby. Georgia, I love you so much.”

He reclaimed my lips with his own, and the two of us continued to move together until I could no longer tell where he ended and I began. My body felt like it was floating as I fell over the ledge, unable to make any noise except for some small high-pitched moans as he kept me there for what seemed like forever.

When Beau began to grunt along with me, we created a song only we knew the words to. Our hearts sang together as one. Beau’s body shook a few times and then he collapsed on top of me, both of us fully satisfied, exhausted, and joined in ways I had never imagined possible.

It took me several minutes to flutter back down from my high, but even then, finding myself in Beau’s arms, I knew that there was nowhere else in the world I wanted to be.

Leaning up, Beau found my lips again and kissed me, his hand caressing my cheek. “That was amazing, Georgia,” he whispered. “God, I love you so much.”

“I love you, too,” I told him. Talking was a challenge because I was so out of breath, and I could feel sleep starting to claim me, but knowing he was there, that I was in his arms, I could fall asleep without a care in the world.

A few moments later, I realized Beau had gotten up. I didn’t even feel him leave the bed until he got back on it. He moved me up to the pillows and tossed the bedspread over me before he lay back down and pulled me against him. Snuggling against his chest, I placed my ear over his heart, listening to it thump against his ribcage, a rhythm that was certain to put me to sleep soon enough.

But even in my sleepy stupor, I had a question on my mind. “Beau?” I said, barely recognizing my own voice.

“Yes, beautiful?” he said, sounding much more awake and chipper than I was.

“What happens now?” I couldn’t even lift my head to look at him. I was too tired.

He chuckled and kissed the top of my head. “That’s entirely up to you, my love. But if you would consider moving back to Alaska with me, I would love to have you.”

Alaska. He wanted me to move to Alaska. To live with him. The thought had me both excited and terrified. What would I do in Alaska? Well, probably the same thing I would do here. Except for in Alaska, I could be with Beau.

My mouth wouldn’t work at the moment, so I couldn’t answer him. Within a few seconds, I felt myself drifting off, falling asleep in Beau’s arms.

39

BEAU

The breeze rocked the boat slightly as Ryan and I stood on theSeaside Shanty, spending the afternoon together beneath a brilliant July sun. I was on a mission today. Twice since I’d originally hooked that giant salmon, I’d gotten a taste of him again. Now, he was out there somewhere, and I was determined to take him home with me.

“Well, I didn’t make it,” Ryan said, shaking his head as he recast his line into the water. “It’s a shame. All that hard work, and Don decided this wasn’t my month.”

Turning to look at him, I raised an eyebrow, not sure what he was talking about. But then it occurred to me that this had to be about the Employee of the Month situation at the bait shop. “That’s a real shame,” I said, infusing fake sympathy into my voice. I really didn’t think he deserved it considering what he’d done, but I could tell that it was bothering him.

“I mean, I only made one tiny mistake in an entire month. I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t just see past that,” Ryan lamented.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I tested my line. “Buddy, you burned the fucking bait shop down. I think that’s a reason to not give you an award.”

“I didn’t burn it down!” he shouted defensively as he wheeled around to look at me.

“You burned the whole back section down, Ryan,” I reminded him. “How much money do you think it’s going to cost Don to rebuild that part of his store?”

“I don’t know,” Ryan said, still keeping his attitude with me for arguing with him. “But he was already planning on expanding the storage area of the store anyway. I just made it easier for him. I took away all of his excuses and started the demolition for him. If anything, the man should be thanking me.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. I decided it was just as well. Ryan was pretty convinced that he hadn’t done anything wrong, so he wasn’t going to listen to me. “Okay then,” I told him. “I hope you get July Employee of the Month.”

“Thanks,” he said, his attitude changing completely now that I had let it go. “Don’t worry. I think I’ve got a really good chance this time around.”

“As long as you don’t put any metal in the microwave,” I muttered.

“What was that?” Ryan asked, putting a finger behind his ear and leaning toward me.

“Nothing,” I said, not really wanting him to hear. “Nothing at all.”

He narrowed his eyes at me but then turned back to his pole. I let out a sigh and also began to scan the water, wondering where in the world my friend could be.

“Are you sighing because you miss Georgia?” Ryan asked me. “Good grief. I feel so sorry for you. How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”