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Grizz shrugged. No use hiding it. Rio knew him too well. “I need to find time to talk with her before she heads home. Look, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m willing to make changes to have her in my life. This isn’t the end.”

Rio’s smile widened. “Well, we need to make sure you find her right after the press conference. I know she’s leaving tonight. Her station is making appointments for interviews across the country.”

Rio and Grizz made their way across base camp to the hangar where the press conference would be held. Base camp had become a hotbed of activity. FBI, reporters, and military personnel littered the area.

The hanger had been converted into a mini conference room complete with a stage and microphone stand. A few of the hotshots and smokejumpers pitched in and set up chairs. Reporters lined up their cameras, and the generators hummed while working overtime.

Grizz surveyed the room. No sign of Dani. People started to fill the seats, and Rio and Grizz staked some chairs out in the last row.

“Are you ready for the circus to begin?” Rio asked.

“At least I’m not in the hot seat. Apparently, the media is clamoring for an interview with me, but so far I’ve dodged them all.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t headed out yet, gone to hide in your cabin. Away from the lights and cameras.”

Grizz shrugged. “Not without seeing Dani first. We haven’t talked about our relationship, if there is one.”

Rio slapped Grizz on the back. “The world saw that kiss earlier. There’s definitely a relationship. You just have to work out a few kinks.”

“Like the three-and-a-half-thousand-mile distance, plus four time zones?”

“I have a good feeling about you two kids.”

The volume of chatter grew louder as more people filed into the hangar. Dani was scheduled to give her story and answer questions. Would his name come up?

She entered the hangar with two other reporters from INN, and they walked to the makeshift podium his team had moved from their briefing room.

A man, Dani’s boss, stood behind the microphone.

“Thank you for coming. While we mourn the loss of our colleague Josh Whitlock, we are thankful for the safe return of Dani Barlowe. We set up this press conference before Dani leaves Alaska and heads to DC as an opportunity for reporters to ask her questions about her harrowing journey. However, her flight has changed, and she’ll need to head to the airport in one hour, so we’re going to keep this brief. ”

Could this guy be any more dramatic? Probably. But Grizz focused on his words leaving Alaska and one hour.

How could he sum up his feelings for Dani in an hour and get five minutes of her attention?

Kane and Sanchez filled the remaining seats near Grizz, while Saxon stood behind Grizz, leaning against the back wall. All eyes were on Dani.

She rolled with the questions like a true pro.

Were you scared being out in the wild with terrorists chasing you?

Tell us about your confidential source.

What was it like being held captive by the senator?

What happened in the woods the night Josh Whitlock was murdered?

But no mention of Grizz or the weapons. Dani must have agreed to the press conference as long as no one brought up her kiss with Grizz. And the FBI had quashed the biological weapon story to let the bad guys think they were winning.

A few more questions referred to Dani’s past with the senator.

Dani had perfectly tailored responses to all questions. Except one.

A reporter stood when called on. “What’s next for your career, Dani?”

She looked right at Grizz, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “That depends. I have a lot of options on the table, and I’ll take some time to review them.”

The reporter with BBC on his hat scratched his forehead at the vague answer. But before the man could follow up, Grizz stood and raised his hand.

She nodded to Grizz that he had the floor. At an internationally televised press conference. Rio reaffirmed him with a nod and a smile.

He cleared his throat. What was he doing? A quick prayer and he opened his mouth, not knowing what was going to come out. “Is there any scenario on the table where you’d stay in Alaska?”

Everyone in the room turned to Grizz in unison, but he locked his eyes on Dani’s.

Her smile lit up the room more than the flashes from the cameras snapping pictures. Was he grinning like a fool?

“I think the answer depends, Mr. Grizz. What reasons would I have for staying here?”

A hush fell over the room, all eyes glued to Grizz. But all he saw was Dani and a future with her.

“Love.”

Gasps followed by silence as all heads swiveled to Dani.

“While love is noble, I find it hard to commit to a man when I don’t even know his first name.” She giggled, and the attention shifted back to him like spectators watching a ball at a tennis match.

Was she really going to make him reveal his biggest secret to the world? No one knew his first name.

No one.

Until now.

He gritted his teeth. “It’s Melvin. Melvin Grizz.”

The room erupted in laughter, chatter, and flashes from cameras capturing every second of the moment.

Dani interrupted the chaos. “I’d like to readdress the question the BBC reporter asked regarding my future plans.

I would like to announce my retirement from INN.

I will be staying in Alaska. Indefinitely.

I plan to work on my own independent documentary to introduce the world to the true Alaskan heroes. The hotshots.”

Applause deafened the space, but everything faded around Grizz. Several friends slapped him on the back and called him Melvin.

The press conference ended, and Dani made her way to Grizz, passing the throngs of people wanting to talk to her. Her boss looked ticked. Her competitors high-fived her.

Grizz closed the gap between them until they were a few inches away from each other. “I’m all in, Dani. I love you. I might still be a bear at times, but I’m never going to walk away from you again.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss that made his toes curl. He didn’t even care about the whistles a few of the hotshots made. This moment was about him and Dani. And their future together.

“I love you, Grizz. And don’t worry, I’ll never call you by your first name. Your secret is safe with me.”

* * *

BONUS EPILOGUE

Thank you for reading Rescued Faith . We hope you loved this story. Find out what happens next for Dani and Grizz with a Bonus Epilogue , a special gift, available only to our newsletter subscribers.

This Bonus Epilogue will not be released on any retailer platform, so get your free gift HERE . You acknowledge you are becoming a subscriber to the newsletters of Kelly, Susie May, and Sunrise Publishing. Unsubscribe at any time.

* * *

Gear up for the final thrilling Chasing Fire: Alaska romantic suspense, Burning Justice by Lisa Phillips.

RESCUE. DANGER. DEVOTION.

THIS TIME, THEIR HEARTS ARE ON THE LINE.

She's been searching for her father for fifteen years...

Maria Sanchez has spent her entire career as a CIA operative searching for her father, and she’s not going to let some tough, arrogant former-soldier-turned-hotshot stand in her way.

His life was upended on a single fateful mission...

After being betrayed, branded a traitor, and declared dead, Kane Foster has a lot prove—and he’s not going to let his team—or his country—down. Even if he has to douse the sparks between him and his feisty teammate. Because some things are more important than love.

Now someone tell that to his heart…

As the smoke clears on this pulse-pounding series, buried truths will be uncovered and loyalties tested in this sizzling finale to the Chasing Fire: Alaska romantic suspense series.

Pre-order from the Sunrise Shop to get your hands on it early, or later from your favorite retailer .

Keep reading for a sneak peek…

BURNING JUSTICE | CHASING FIRE: ALASKA #6

CHAPTER 1

Almost a decade as a spy for the CIA hadn’t prepared Maria Sanchez one bit for this life. Fighting wildfires in the Alaskan backcountry. Trying to stop a dangerous militia group from deploying a biological weapon on US soil.

Okay, so that last one was a bit more her speed.

Still, talk about being unprepared.

Kind of like the way she felt every time he looked at her. Kane Foster. Broody. Quiet. A former soldier, a guy who put loyalty above everything.

Cue heart fluttering.

Until the rumble of thunder split the sky, growing like a wave until it crested right on top of them.

It sounded so close that Maria ducked, tucking her knees up to her chest and holding on tight.

The way her father had always told her to.

She tipped her head back against the mossy tree to watch the sky light up over Denali Mountain.

“There you are.”

She flinched and turned to look over her shoulder but didn’t uncurl her limbs. The night air had a chill.

“Need my sweater?” Kane reached for his zipper. Dark-blond hair, short on the sides but with the top sticking out all over because he didn’t care to fix it. Stubble across his chin because he didn’t care about that either. But the man cleaned up good on a Friday night, that was for sure.

She shook her head. The point was to not need anything, because needing things from people never ended well.

He settled beside her on the ground, close enough that she could feel his warmth. “Impressive storm.”

She turned back to the sky stretched out in front of them. Above them. “This was a good place to stop for the night.”

Kane nudged her elbow. “That means you’re supposed to be getting some sleep, like everyone else.”

“I signed up to take watch. Keep an eye on the fire.”

“Right.” His low chuckle drifted over. “That’s why you’re hiding over here, pretending you’re alone in the dark.”

“It’s not as impressive if you feel safe. Storms are supposed to be dangerous and out of control. You’re supposed to be a little afraid.”

“Don’t worry, I am.”