Page 4 of Maddox: Wild Alaska (Hawke’s Ridge #1)

As soon as Maddox closes the door, I remove my jacket and kick off my boots before flopping down on the huge bed. I let out a sigh and find myself smiling as I look toward the doorway.

I’m engaged to be married even though I’ve decided to end things once I get home.

But still. Having such an attraction to the big man is new.

Exciting too. The way he looked at me made my panties wet and my body hum with arousal.

What I do about it while Richard is still in the picture is a quandary.

I rub my temples, trying to shake off the negative feelings that are causing a headache.

I'm prone to migraines, and the stress of this trip certainly hasn't helped.

At least I'm no longer sharing a room with Samantha. I wish my friend Jamaica was here with me. Of course, Samantha was the reason why she wasn’t.

My phone rings in my back pocket, but when I see the caller ID, I ignore it.

It stops and starts up again. I glance at my watch to make sure I'm not late for the afternoon snacks and wine.

Thankfully, I have plenty of time. My phone stops ringing, and I hold my breath, expecting Samantha to call again.

It stays silent. Then it rings again. This time, Richard's name flashes on the screen.

I grind my teeth in annoyance but decide to answer the call. I stay silent and wait for him to speak.

"Sofie, are you there?"

"Yes, Richard. I'm here."

“Samantha told me that a beast of a man took you to a different room than the one she booked. She isn't happy with you. Neither is Mother. Who is this man?"

I need a moment to collect my thoughts because I really want to tell him to go fuck himself.

Why have I allowed myself to become a doormat?

"The man is one of the owners. Apparently, since I'm the bride-to-be, I get a suite.

I'm not sharing it. I want my own space.

End of story. Now, why are you calling me? "

"I can see you're in one of your moods. Is that why you're ignoring Samantha?"

"I was in the bathroom. Not that it's anyone's business. I'll see Samantha later. She has her friends with her to keep her company," I snap. "I'll talk to you later." I quickly hang up before he can say anything else or before I blurt out the truth—I don’t love you. I can’t marry you.

A few minutes later, my phone rings again—it's his mother! I send it to voicemail and quickly turn off my phone.

Peace at last.

I roll off the bed and cast a glare at my phone as I pick my jacket up from the floor and hang it on the built-in coat stand beside the door.

The coat stand is quaint and reminds me of the country, with its overhead storage and bench for sitting while getting ready for the outdoors.

I pad into the bathroom and smile once again when I see the luxurious room.

The hot tub is calling my name, but I decide to explore the lodge and Hawkes Ridge for now. Hopefully, I can avoid the others.

I tug my boots onto my feet and decide to forgo my jacket because it's nice and warm outside. I open my suitcase and find a denim shirt to wear over my T-shirt. I leave my hair down, shove my sunglasses on top of my head, and, at the last minute, grab my phone.

Fresh air and the scent of flowers greet me as I step outside.

I close the door behind me, checking the handle to make sure it's locked.

Stepping off the porch, I tilt my face toward the sun, close my eyes, and enjoy the moment of being outside, away from blaring horns and foul smells like exhaust fumes and garbage in the city.

There's no noise from people's loud chatter, either with friends or on their phones. It's totally peaceful.

When I open my eyes, I see a large structure directly ahead that makes me wonder if it houses the indoor pool.

I follow the path through the garden and head up the steps, curious to find out.

There is an abundance of well-kept flowers.

I move toward what I assume to be the front of the building.

I find it locked. A wooden sign beside the door indicates that I have found the pool, but it is closed.

"Hello there."

I turn around and find a man. A very handsome silver fox. He offers me a smile. "I didn't mean to startle you.” He offers his hand. “Bryant Hawke."

Ah, this must be the father.

I smile and shake his hand. "Sofie Ryan.”

"I know who you are," he says with a twinkle in his eye. "May I offer you a cup of coffee?"

"That would be lovely." I shuffle up beside him, letting him lead me away from the pool and up another path through a grove of trees. I catch my breath when we emerge on the other side. "Wow, these are gorgeous."

“Welcome to the cabins where my sons and I live. It’s home. We call is Hawke Circle.” He grins.

I glance around at the nine cabins grouped together.

Each has a driveway large enough for a truck, and a few of them have one parked in the driveway.

The wooden structures are identical, with a porch and a front door in the middle, and large windows on either side.

There is a large circle of flowers in the middle of the cluster, which creates a turnaround for vehicles.

"This is really pretty."

Bryant chuckles. "My wife thinks it's wrong to live on the same street as my sons." He shrugs. "I haven't received a single complaint."

Feeling much lighter than before I met Bryant, I laugh and follow him up to the front porch of his cabin. Stepping inside, I see that it's rustic and gorgeous, with splashes of color from the throw blankets. "You are lucky to have such a lovely home."

"I am that. I would be even luckier if my wife decided to come home," he mutters sadly as he heads toward the kitchen.

I pause as I pass the table by the stairs, which is covered with photographs. "Are these your sons?"

He huffs out a laugh. "All eight of them," he says proudly.

"Your poor wife." I laugh.

"You'd really be saying that if you met her. She's tiny, and all the boys are over six feet tall, just like me." My eyes wander over the pictures but keep straying back to the one of Maddox. My belly tingles when I look at him.

Bryant clears his throat and adds, "That's Maddox, but you know that already." The twinkle is back in his eyes as I glance at him. "I invited you for coffee."

In the kitchen, I ask, "You said your wife isn't home yet?"

"She's a stubborn woman,” he mutters as he brings out two mugs and sets them in front of me at the breakfast bar.

"She lives in Sugar Briar, Tennessee. She works for the mayor.

There has been some trouble in town recently though, so maybe she will finally move here where her family is. Stubborn woman."

My eyes widen in surprise as he talks about his wife. "How long have you lived apart, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Ten years.”

"Holy shit!" I slap a hand over my mouth. "I'm so sorry. That was rude of me.”

“No need to apologize. I guess I'm stubborn, too.

" He pours coffee into our mugs and offers me creamer and sugar.

I refuse and pick up my mug of black coffee.

"I came out here to help a couple of my sons.

It was supposed to be temporary. I never went home.

I figured she'd follow me here. She hasn't yet.

Now that our youngest son has been here a few months, I'm hoping she'll finally join me.” He smirks. "I have a plan if she doesn't."

I watch him carefully and grin around my mug. “Are you going to go and collect her?"

"There might be some kidnapping involved, but she'll be living in Hawke's Ridge before the end of the year."

"You might want to get on the good side of the sheriff first if you're planning to kidnap her," I suggest. I feel at home talking to this man. I also see the family resemblance to Maddox.

He offers me a cookie from an open package and adds, "My oldest son is the sheriff.

" He grins. "He won't arrest me. After all, she's his mother, and we all want her here.

She'd be here already if my sons would listen to me, find a woman, and put a bun in her oven.

Louisa can never resist a baby, especially if it's her grandchild. "

I splutter at his reference to putting a bun in her oven and laugh as I set my coffee mug down on a placemat. "So, none of your eight sons are married, huh? Why's that? What's wrong with them?"

"There's nothing wrong with us." A man whom I don't remember seeing before enters the cabin and pours himself some coffee. "Variety is the spice of life," he says with a wink my way.

"One of my sons, Spencer." Bryant frowns, and Spencer grins.

"And you are?" Spencer asks.

"It's none of your business," Bryant replies. "Maddox is sweet on her.”

My cheeks heat and Spencer's eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. "Maddox?" He coughs. "No fucking way." Shaking his head, he sits beside me.

"Sofie Ryan,” I say.

He smirks. “Ah, Colton told me about you.”

"Colton?" There's no way I'm going to remember all their names.

“He checked you into the Lodge,” he smiles.

"I remember him! I love the suite I'm in. It’s stunning.”

Spencer and Bryant exchange a look that I don't understand. I decide to leave them to discuss whatever it is that Spencer came to talk to his dad about. "Thank you for the coffee. I'm going to take a walk into town before I meet up with the others."

“Enjoy the fresh air,” Spencer says.

Bryant accompanies me to the front door. “Have a good afternoon, and maybe we can have coffee again.”

“I’d like that.”