Page 2

CHAPTER

TWO

PRESENT DAY

Logan Gibson let his gaze travel across the crowd inside the lodge until it stopped on Morgan Riley.

His breath caught at the sight of her.

She was easily the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

And she was off-limits, he reminded himself.

If Morgan knew the truth about his past, she’d hate him. And Logan wouldn’t blame her. Most of the time, he hated himself for what happened.

But there was something off about her tonight. She seemed jumpy—and Morgan wasn’t usually the jumpy type.

Maybe it was just nerves. This was a big night for her.

Logan turned his gaze away from her as Duke McAllister strode up beside him. Duke was a former investigator with the Army and a member of the Arctic Circle Murder Club, who hosted a true crime podcast.

Duke and his girlfriend, attorney Andi Slade, had shown up at the event to support him.

The rest of the team would be here if they could. He knew that. But they’d had other obligations that had kept them away.

Tonight was Morgan’s big night—the night she’d unveil her most recent landscape photos from Alaska. Her photos had a deliberate focus on finding beauty within destruction.

Serene landscape shots with the reminder of the frailty of life. Majestic mountains with a broken car in the foreground. The aurora reflected in an oil spill. A frozen lake cracked and dangerous.

She’d established quite the name for herself in the art world, and tonight’s success was much deserved.

Reporters were here. City council members. Art aficionados.

All because of Morgan.

Her work was displayed around the room. Hors d’oeuvres stretched across a table near one wall. Classical music played overhead. Everyone had worn their best clothing—tuxes for the men, and evening gowns for the women.

This was the event here in Fairbanks, Alaska.

“See anything you like? Art-wise, of course,” Duke clarified with a smirk.

But Logan knew good and well that Duke could see what was going on.

He ignored his question and instead said, “Thanks for coming tonight.”

Morgan’s photography was being honored with the Ansel Adams Innovation in Photography Award. The event was taking place about twenty minutes east of Fairbanks, Alaska, at a huge lodge often used for weddings and other special events.

City leaders, business owners, other artists, and many fans had shown up to see her work displayed.

She deserved every moment of the limelight.

“Andi and I are thrilled to be here.” Duke followed his gaze. “It’s good to see Morgan again.”

Logan turned his gaze back to her. His friends had only met her in person once while at Ranger Garrett and Simmy Samuel’s wedding.

Currently, Morgan stood among the other guests, her smile lighting up the room. Her dark hair fell well below her shoulders, thick and wavy. Her brown eyes appeared intelligent. Her figure petite.

And the little black dress she wore?

All he could say was va-va-voom .

Not long ago, Morgan had let Logan and his friends with the Arctic Circle Murder Club use her secluded cabin when they’d been in a tight spot. She’d been away on an assignment anyway, so it had all worked out.

Logan knew his friends were curious about the woman, and he couldn’t blame them. He and the team had been through a lot together.

But he liked to keep his private life private.

Speaking of Morgan . . . she seemed to realize he was watching her, and she excused herself from her conversation with several local business owners. She glided through the crowd toward him.

Duke conveniently disappeared, leaving Logan and Morgan alone—as alone as they could be in a crowd of people.

“What do you think?” Morgan looked up at him, her eyes dazzling as they glimmered in the overhead light.

“I think it’s fantastic.” I think you’re fantastic. He didn’t say that last part.

But he wanted to. In a different life, he would. In different circumstances. If he were a different person who made different mistakes.

Morgan’s grin only widened, and she looped her arm through his and began walking with him through the crowd. Warmth spread inside him at her touch.

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re here with me tonight,” she continued. “And that you brought your friends.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it.”

“I have something I want to tell you,” she rushed.

His curiosity spiked. “I’m all ears.”

She chuckled and looked at him, a strange expression on her face.

He gave her a questioning look, unsure what was so funny.

She waved her hand in the air. “Sorry, I’m just being silly. But whenever someone says that, I try to imagine what it would look like if they really were all ears, and the picture that forms in my mind is utterly ridiculous. It’s so silly, but I can’t help myself.”

He smiled. That sounded like Morgan. As an award-winning landscape photographer, Morgan saw life through a different lens than most people. But she never took herself too seriously either. Despite all her success, she was surprisingly down-to-earth.

It was one more thing to love about her.

Her eyes continued to sparkle as she looked up at him. “I don’t want to talk in here. Come this way.”

Morgan pulled him toward an exit, and Logan didn’t resist. However, he was very curious as to what she might want to talk about right now.

They stepped outside, the Alaska air brisk around them. It was early April, and snow remained on the ground and the nights were still chilly—if not downright cold.

If they could see through the darkness, Logan knew they’d pause to absorb the sight of the Alaska Range in the distance.

The exquisiteness in this state was unmatched, and Logan would challenge anyone who said otherwise.

Morgan turned to him, standing close. He wasn’t sure why, but he reached for her waist and left his hand in the gentle curve as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Something internal told him he should pull away. But he couldn’t.

Something larger than his caution made him stay.

Most likely his attraction to this amazing woman.

Excitement continued to race through Morgan’s gaze as she peered up at him, a smile curling the edges of her lips.

“Now you’ve really got me curious,” he murmured.

“Oh, Logan . . .” Her voice softened as she looked up at him. “I have been waiting for this day for almost five years.”

“I’m really excited for you. You’ve worked really hard.”

“I’m not talking about my pictures.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Then what are you talking about?”

She scooted closer, and some of the sparkle left her gaze, replaced with an almost smoky look. “I’m talking about the day when I finally found the courage to do what I wanted to do.”

Logan hadn’t realized she needed courage to show off her photos. Everyone loved them, and Morgan, though humble, had never been shy about her talents.

“You’re an amazing woman, Morgan Riley.” Logan meant the words.

She was the most remarkable woman he’d ever met. Strong but witty. Tough but soft. Smart but humble.

Her grin widened. “And you’re an amazing man, Logan Gibson.”

The warmth in his chest continued to grow. He wasn’t sure where Morgan was going with this conversation. But he desperately wanted to find out.

She licked her lips before starting. “For years, I’ve been waiting for you to do something. And I’ve realized I don’t need to wait.”

He squinted. “I’m not sure I’m following . . .”

“Of course, you’re not.” Her smile dipped into a goofy, exaggerated frown.

He stared at her, still having no idea where she was going with this. He couldn’t even begin to fill in the blanks, and he dared not assume anything.

Instead, he waited. Watched her. Observed the emotions fluttering through her gaze.

Amusement. Interest. Fear.

Then resolve.

“Oh, why not?” she finally muttered.

The next instant, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

Her lips pressed into his.

Something began to explode inside him—a cascade of sensations that started where their lips met and radiated outward like northern lights across a winter sky.

The warmth of her mouth against his sent electricity down his spine, awakening every nerve ending that had been dormant for so long.

His body responded before his mind could catch up, one hand instinctively finding the small of her back while the other cradled the nape of her neck, his fingers threading through the silk of her hair.

The scent of her enveloped him—a hint of lavender mixed with something uniquely Morgan, like fresh snow and cedar. She tasted faintly of champagne from the award ceremony, sweet with a hint of tartness that made him want more.

Her body pressed against his, soft curves fitting perfectly against the hard planes of his chest, and he could feel her heartbeat racing in time with his own frantic pulse.

Time seemed to slow around them, the distant sounds of the award gala fading until all he could hear was the soft catch in Morgan’s breath as she deepened the kiss.

The night air chilled his skin but couldn’t touch the heat building between them—a fire he’d been trying to ignore for years now suddenly roaring to life, consuming every rational thought.

Five years of restraint, of keeping Morgan at arm’s length out of guilt and obligation, melted away beneath the insistent pressure of her lips.

The wall he’d built between them crumbled with each passing second, and for one glorious moment, Logan allowed himself to forget why he’d built it in the first place.

Her fingers traced the line of his jaw, leaving trails of fire on his skin. Then they twisted the fabric of his shirt collar, pulling him impossibly closer.

Was this really happening? Or was this just a dream?

A wonderful, wonderful dream?

In all his fantasies about this moment—and there had been many—Logan had never imagined Morgan would be the one to break their stalemate. But now it made perfect sense.