Page 10 of Maddox: Wild Alaska (Hawke’s Ridge #1)

I’m about to head out to look for breakfast when I hear Catherine and Samantha directly outside. I plaster myself against the front door of my cabin.

A loud knock makes me jump, but I don't move. My heart pounds heavily in my chest and blood rushes through my ears. I can't hear them, but I sense they haven’t left. I kept the curtains closed and, luckily, but the lights were off. Two more rapid knocks make me flinch.

"Mom, she's in there!" An angry Samantha says.

"You don't know that. There are no lights on."

"How would we know that? They’re blackout curtains," Samantha huffs.

She's right, too. I can't see daylight with the curtains drawn, so they can't tell if a light is on.

"Let's go have breakfast. Sofie will be there, and we can ask her which room she's staying in," Catherine says.

I lose track of their conversation as they move away. At least, I hope they're moving away because I'm hungry and don't want to hide in my room all morning.

A few minutes later, I decide to make a move. Before I get the door open, someone else knocks on it. I stop in my tracks. The knocking continues. "Sofie, it's Judean. The coast is clear. Please let me in."

My breath catches as I quickly let her inside. She grabs the door from me and quickly closes it. "I'm sorry, but I'm hiding."

"Why?" I look her over. “Did you sleep elsewhere last night?” I grin, but it turns into a frown when I remember that Colton, the youngest Hawke brother, had led her away.

Judean's cheeks turn bright red, and I smirk as she closes her eyes and sighs. "I slept in his bed, but nothing happened. I woke up like this!" she hisses, holding her arms out to the side showing me the hockey jersey she wears. "How did I get into these clothes?"

"Well, did you ask Colton?" I sit in the chair at the dressing table, amused by my new friend's predicament.

"No, I didn't ask him! He was snoring when I snuck out." Perching on the edge of the bed, she continues, "The blanket was pulled really low on his body. Like, below his firm butt. He's gorgeous and toned. I was so tempted to peek further, but I resisted."

"You slept next to a hot, naked guy and didn't peek?" I snort.

"Well, really? Look at me, then look at him." She slaps her thighs.

My brows pinch together. "I don't understand. You're both single and consenting adults, right? I mean, I think you are."

"I'm fat, so I'm single."

“Judean, who the hell put that notion into your head?

I can't believe you'd say that about yourself.

You have nice curves. You're pretty, and you have beautiful, glossy hair.

I'm totally into guys, and even I've noticed your boobs.

You're easy to be around and likable. You have so much going for you!

And let's not forget that the guy slept naked beside you in his bed.

That doesn't sound like someone who's not interested. "

"I don't know. He's young."

I snicker. "How old are you?" I ask because she looks twenty.

"Twenty-four."

"Well, I think he's around your age."

"You're not helping. You're supposed to tell me what an idiot I am for running to you wearing one of his shirts."

"Judean, you're not an idiot. Maybe you should have stayed to see him while he was awake. You could be getting hot and sweaty with that man right now.” I tug her up from the bed.

"Change into something else so the others won't know about last night, because it's none of their business.

Meet me in the restaurant for breakfast. I'm hungry. "

"Okay! I can do that." She smiles and starts laughing. "I can't believe he tucked me into bed." She looks at me, then at the bed, then back at me. "Did you have company?"

"No."

"You can tell me. I promise I'm not spying on you for the others."

“He kissed me on the cheek and left me at the door. I promise." I sigh wistfully. "I would have broken my vows to Richard if Maddox had come inside with me."

"You're not married yet." She opens the door to my room, peers outside, and then walks out onto the porch. I walk in silence along the small pathways.

She's right. I'm not married yet. The sad truth is that I won't be marrying Richard Walker.

"I'll meet you shortly." Judean rushes off as soon as we step into the main building.

I follow the smell of food and find a cozy, delightful restaurant.

It has a rustic feel and a sense of home.

Warmth. I take a seat by the window, order a cup of coffee, and feel a sense of calm wash over me as I watch the world go by outside.

The aroma of freshly baked bread fills the air, and I feel grateful for this unexpected moment of peace amidst the chaos. I do wonder where the others are.

Judean crashes into the seat opposite me. "Sorry." She winces. "The others are on their way, so I wanted to get here and warn you.”

The server puts a cup of coffee down in front of Judean and shoots her a look I can't quite decipher. Judean and I exchange a glance, then watch the server stride away. "What was that about?"

"She got up on the wrong side of the bed," Judean says, taking a long drink. "It's a buffet-style breakfast, right?"

"Yes."

She pushes up from the chair. "Let's go. I could eat a horse."

"I'd planned on eating you, but you ran off,” Colton says in a low, growly voice. He looks like he fell out of bed, threw on whatever he could find, and ran over here to find Judean.

"Are you calling me a horse?" Judean's spine stiffens as a frown appears on Colton's face.

"That's funny," Samantha says as she comes up behind us. I catch the server's attention for a few minutes before looking between Colton and Judean. Ah, that's why the server is grumpy. She has a crush on Colton.

Judean starts to tear up, and Colton curses loudly. "You are not a fucking horse!" he shouts, turning to Samantha, who has the good sense to back away. He calms down and says, "I'll let you eat breakfast." With that, he's gone.

I take Judean's elbow and lead her over to the food. "Just breathe, okay? It was bad timing on Colton's part, but I was right. That man wants you." I shove a plate into her hands and take one for myself. "Food and a plan."

"What plan?"

"First, how I'm going to break off my engagement while I'm here and Richard is there. Second, how we're going to enjoy ourselves regardless of the others. Three, how you are going to apologize to Colton." I raise my brows.

"I can work on the first two. I'm not sure about the third." I let her grumble and mutter to herself while I fill her plate, doing the same for myself.

At least where I chose to sit is quiet, I think, but then I get sidetracked by Catherine.

"Can we speak for a moment, please, Sofie?"

Surprised by her soft tone, I nod. "Let me just put these down." I quickly mumble to Judean and head back to Catherine.

"I wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday. The whole Alaska experience is out of the ordinary for me, and I took my irritation out on you. Can we please try to get along for the rest of the trip?"

"Sure," I say, surprising myself. "I'd like that."

"Good. After all, I'm going to be your mother-in-law." She smiles and sits at the table with the others, who have all listened in on our brief conversation. I'm also more than aware that her words weren't sincere.

Judean forces a blank expression when I sit down and admit. "I got an apology from Catherine. Every word she said was bullshit!" I smile feeling happy being here with my new friend.

“It’s me and you, my friend.”

Judean’s eyes light as she raises a glass of orange juice. “To new friends and sexy men.”

I snicker as we clink glasses.