Page 2 of Burning Escape (Chasing Fire: Alaska #3)

So for this one evening, she’d forget about the strict discipline she used to keep everything in order and instead enjoy herself, having finally accepted the invite to go out to the Midnight Sun Saloon.

She’d listen to the band play and let the music move her instead of holding back like she usually did.

And she certainly wouldn’t let some jerk on the dance floor ruin her night.

“Hey, honey, sorry I’m late.” Montana, the handsome stranger in the navy shirt and flannel, held out a hand to her.

His blue-eyed gaze locked in on her. He’d caught her earlier, blushed when she’d teased him about calling her ma’am.

He had a nice Captain America vibe going on—if the Cap had come from the wilds of Montana instead of NYC.

Her hero could totally take Camo Man on with those wide shoulders, but he was trying to defuse the situation and rescue her.

She could take care of herself. But maybe for this one time it would be okay. She didn’t want to fill out a police report on her one night off.

“It’s about time, Montana. I’ve been waiting all night.” She gave him her warmest smile and was finally able to pull away, since Camo released his hold on her arm.

Even if his foul breath hadn’t been enough to warn her, she’d made enough mistakes with men to steer clear of someone like him.

Montana, on the other hand, was probably too good for the likes of her. He followed her lead to the other side of the dance floor. The music slowed.

He bent down. “I think the coast is clear. You don’t really have to dance with me. I only wanted to help.”

Yup. He was definitely out of her league.

But her mouth didn’t know better.

“I came here to enjoy the music tonight.” So what harm could it do to dance a little under the stars? Especially with a cute guy with dark hair falling in wild waves across his forehead. A guy who blushed.

Besides, he was probably another tourist passing through who she’d never see again.

“So maybe you could help me out?” she asked him.

“Of course. How?” He looked so sincere.

“Like this.” She faced him and lightly looped her arms around his shoulders. They were nice shoulders. He wasn’t big and bulky, but he was definitely fit, maybe worked out, the way his biceps bulged in the dark-blue T-shirt and flannel he wore.

He cleared his throat and dropped his head, spoke in her ear. “I, uh, I…don’t really know how to dance.”

How refreshing to find a guy who could admit he couldn’t do something. His eyes were honest and true. And that slight flush to his cheeks only made the blue-green flecks stand out.

“That’s all right. Just follow my lead.” She placed his hands on her hips, where his light touch warmed her through.

“Yes, ma’am.” He swallowed, looked her in the eye, and gave her a bit of a shy smile.

Oh, she could fall for this one. Sweet and polite. And he did, in fact, follow her lead as they swayed to the crooning from the stage with a soulful fiddle accompaniment. The kind of song made for luring people to fall in love.

But it was only for tonight. So no danger of that.

She moved a little closer to him, the solidness and heat drawing her in, a hint of amber and sandalwood wrapping her in a sweet embrace. “You’re doing great, Montana. Who said you can’t dance?”

“No one. I haven’t done it before.”

“Shall we take it up a notch?”

His eyebrow quirked up in a question. “Are you flirting with me?”

She chuckled. His honest question and lack of guile was refreshing. “Wow, you really don’t get out much, do you?”

He sucked in a breath through his teeth. “That obvious, huh?”

“Here. Hold tight to my hand. I’m gonna spin out, and then you lightly pull me back in. Nothing to it.”

“I think I can handle that.”

And he did. She twirled out, her hair dancing on the cool breeze with his strong grip anchoring her. A slight tug and she spun back into his arms, rested her hand on his chest, her fingers hitting his well-defined pectorals.

He definitely worked out.

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” she asked.

A slow, lazy grin emerged on his face. “Not at all.”

They danced to the next slow song, Tori tucking herself against him.

The crisp spring breezes swirled through the crowd but didn’t cool the air between them.

The song drew to a close, the last notes floating away into the soft light of Alaskan twilight.

The lead singer announced the band was going to take a little break before coming back.

“Could I…buy you a drink? Or a meal if you like?” He looked at her directly, a hint of vulnerability there. Not weakness by any means, but a hope that—dang—she wanted to realize for him. Looking around, she saw her friends Evie and Lucy talking with a couple of guys they knew.

Well, she was hungry. And it was her one night, so, “Sure, but why don’t we get a snack to go. There’s a great park by the river where we can eat.” And with plenty of tourists out and about, she didn’t have to worry about being too secluded.

She was rewarded with a handsome smile. They put in a to-go order for ribs and onion rings.

While waiting for their food, someone tapped Tori on the shoulder. She turned to find one of her regulars from work.

“Hey, Damian.” He looked different in jeans and a fitted shirt that showed off all his hard work at the gym. Tall and lean with dark-blond hair cut short and stylish, he had a cute brunette on his arm.

“Hey, Tori. This is my friend Amber. I was just telling her what a great trainer you are and that she should ask for you at the gym.”

“Aw, that’s sweet. I’m going to be gone for the summer though. But for sure come see me this fall when I’m back.”

“I’ll do that.” Amber smiled. Damian started to ask something else, but Montana was paying for their food. Tori quickly said goodbye and turned back to the bar.

“I can pay for that.” Tori started to pull out her debit card from her jeans pocket.

“No need. It’s already done.” His clear, steady gaze quieted the accusations and doubts. Maybe letting someone take care of her for a night wasn’t so bad. As long as she didn’t get used to it.

Once their food was ready, they strolled out along the main drag and headed to the riverside park.

“So, what do you do around here for work?” he asked. “Or are you on vacation?”

“I live here. But let’s not talk about work. I’ve given myself this one night to forget about jobs and responsibilities. That’s for tomorrow.”

“So you’re one of those live-in-the-moment kind of people?”

“Tonight I am.”

He chuckled. “Fair enough. So what do I call you? At least for tonight. I thought I heard someone call you Tia?”

“I’m—” For tonight, she wanted to be someone different.

Someone without her past, without the bad choices weighing her down.

At least with this man, who had honor written all over him, from the way he’d rescued her on the dance floor to the fact that he’d paid for her meal.

“—Victoria.” She held out her hand. He shook it.

“Nice to meet you, Victoria.” His hand was calloused, the shake firm, but he didn’t squeeze like he had something to prove.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

He didn’t let go right away. “I’m Orion.”

“You’re named after the Greek hunter?”

“The constellation.”

“Ah, so you’re a star.”

“Nah, just an ordinary guy from Montana with a weird name. What about you? Are you from Alaska?”

“California.”

“So what brought you up here?”

“Regrets. A man. Take your pick.” She grabbed an onion ring and ripped it in half, popped a piece in her mouth. Shoot. Why had she said that? She sent him a playful wink to dispel any sense of pity that he might throw her way.

“But the joke’s on him. I found a career I love. A good group of friends. I stayed, and he’s gone, so…” She shrugged as she ate the rest of the o-ring. “So for now, Alaska is the closest thing I have to a home.”

Maybe someday she’d find a place where she belonged. Her sisters kept asking when she’d settle down and find a permanent address. But like they could talk. They had both moved multiple times in the last couple years, even though now they both claimed Last Chance County was home sweet home for them.

She wiped her fingers on a napkin. “What about you? What brings you here?”

“An opportunity. I love Montana, but I wanted a chance for something bigger in a place I didn’t have a history or connections. I want to be able to say I did this on my own, ya know?”

“I do. I have two older sisters that are…amazing, but also a lot. They practically raised me, so I kinda get it, but they are always checking on me like they don’t believe I can handle myself, even though I’m grown up and have been on my own for years.

So, yeah, I can respect the need to be your own person, even if it means starting from scratch. ”

“Exactly.” His blue eyes lit with understanding…connection.

They enjoyed the rest of their ribs and onion rings, chatted about useless things, and listened to the frogs along the river. Tourists wandered past. The sun drifted toward the horizon.

A text notification dinged from Tori’s phone. The time glared up at her from the screen. “Shoot. It’s almost midnight! I should get back.”

“Afraid your carriage will turn back to a pumpkin?” Orion stood to throw the to-go boxes away.

“No, I just have an early morning.” A morning she needed to be at her best for. She’d worked too hard for that smokejumper spot to flounder now. “I set my alarm for midnight. I have to head back.”

“I’ll walk with you.” Orion’s dark hair, longer on top, ruffled in the wind, which had picked up. “Here.” He shook off his flannel and laid it over her shoulders.

She wrapped herself up in its warmth and amber scent. She really shouldn’t let herself enjoy this.

But it wasn’t midnight yet.