Page 23 of Radar (Iniquus Certified Cerberus Tactical K9 #2)

Elyssa

Saturday

Lumberjack, Alaska

The wind blew Eddie and Paca through the door into the lodge. They were laughing as they stomped their feet on the mat and made their way over to Elyssa, sitting at the bar.

Pulling off his coat and draping it over a stool, Eddie said. “Uncle Orest was looking a little gray when I saw him go into his room.” He climbed onto the seat. “He said that two bowls of cobbler and ice cream were too much, and he needed to go to bed.”

“There are worse ways to go than death by cobbler,” Paca said as he sat on Elyssa’s other side. “He does this every year. And every year, it’s the same dessert and the same bellyache. He’ll be fine tomorrow.”

“I hope that’s right,” Elyssa said. “He’s leaving out on that early flight.”

Paca lifted his chin when the bartender came over. “Rum-spiked hot chocolate, please.” As usual, Paca had left his hat on his head and his scarf wrapped around his neck.

Elyssa wondered if that was an Alaskan habit or a Paca habit.

“Same,” Eddie added.

“A glass of sparkling water for me, no ice, please,” Elyssa ordered.

“Orest flying again does make me a little worried,” Paca said. “Orest isn’t getting any younger, and he traveled from Normandy to Alaska, which was already a lot. And now he says he’s flying to San Francisco and on to Singapore, that’s hardcore even if he has a sleeping pod and first-class care.”

“Mmm. I’m not sure I can blame the look you saw on Uncle Orest’s face wholly on a maple ice cream upset stomach,” Elyssa frowned.

“I think it’s something else. He’s been pale and distracted since he was on the phone this morning,” Elyssa said.

“As Eddie will tell you, I’m not one who minds doing a little eavesdropping on loved ones, but Uncle Orest was speaking in Slovak.

When I asked, he said he had everything under control, and I shouldn’t worry so much. ”

“Eat. Eat. Look at the beauty. Eat.” Paca laughed.

“That’s Uncle Orest for sure,” Elyssa said. “I think whatever is taking him to Singapore is a concern for him. There’s something that’s happening in the family. But he didn’t share, and since I don’t know anyone else from over there, I thought it was rude to pry.”

“It was nice of him to allow us to continue with our plans. Tomorrow is going to be a blast out on the sled.” Eddie grinned. “Are you excited?”

“Hey, yeah. Eddie, listen,” Elyssa said. “I’m not doing great in this cold. Circulation for me is already hard. This is just a bad combination. It was worth a try, but I know my limits.”

Eddie ran his fingers down her arm and grabbed her hand. “Do we need to go?” He swung his gaze to the window where the flutter of snow was picturesque against the dark of night. “We should go.”

“I should go,” Elyssa corrected. “You should stay. I have a car coming around first thing in the morning. I booked the first flight out.”

“You can’t leave without me,” Eddie said.

“Of course, I can. You’re going to watch the race start with Paca. He knows the ropes.” She turned toward Paca. “You’ll take good care of Eddie, won’t you?”

“You’ll get to meet the wife and kiddos,” Paca said, looking up from his phone. “Hey Eddie, this is the site you were asking about with the different sled teams.”

Eddie rounded to stand between Paca and Elyssa, and the two men lowered their heads over Paca’s phone.

Elyssa turned as a guy walked through the main door with an enormous German Shepherd by his side. Frosted with snow, the German Shepherd shook his fur clean as the man stomped his boots, then shrugged off his coat, hanging it along with his fur hat on one of the many hall trees.

Something about this guy pulled Elyssa’s full attention, and she forgot, for a moment, that she was an adult woman in an adult world where manners and social norms should be followed.

Instead, she just let herself gaze and speculate.

He was a reasonable looking man. Giant. He was reasonable looking for a giant.

Not a lumberjack giant, though he looked like he was fine in the woods.

Not a corporate giant, though he had reasonable hair that could be interpreted as “office clean cut” or maybe a busy guy who didn’t like the fuss.

Easy to go to the gym in the morning, take a quick shower—no, a nice long wash off with lots of rubbing and suds that smelled of warm spices—and head off for his day.

She imagined that he’d go to his meeting in a bespoke suit.

Not that he looked hyper-monied, but did they make suits that big?

The suit would fit him beautifully, Eddie-approved beautifully.

He’d have his briefcase in one hand and a coffee in the other.

Black. A medium black coffee—a very reasonable amount of coffee without any frou-frou about it.

Just look at him.

He bypassed any plaid flannel cosplay and wore a rust-colored Henley with an unzipped brown fleece. The Henley looked like it had been around long enough that it was probably buttery soft from all the washings. It was exactly the kind of thing that she loved to sleep in.

Yes, he wore reasonable clothes for an Alaskan lodge.

They looked expensive but not over-the-top. Upper-middle price range because he invested in quality and was not concerned with labels, but more about long-term functionality. Reasonable colors, not bright, not camo. Just an everyday guy-giant with an absolutely beautiful dog.

Blendable.

Forgettable.

Well, his body wasn’t exactly forgettable, she’d admit. He hit the gym, but not in a gym-bro kind of way that she hated. He was doing something to build functional muscles. Handball. Tennis? No. Lacrosse came to mind. Violent enough, aggressive enough.

Yes, he was too developed—what she could see of him and what she could imagine—not to play some kind of competitive sport. Elyssa pursed her lips together as she contemplated him.

“He is a good-looking guy,” Eddie said, leaning in.

Elyssa startled. “What?”

“That guy with the dog? And I agree, he wears those pants just right around his hips and thighs.”

“Eddie, stop!” Elyssa hissed, shooting a glance toward Paca and feeling relief that he had his attention fixed on texting.

“It wasn’t me staring at his package with those ‘let me unwrap it’ vibes.” Eddie’s eyes twinkled with mischief.

“I wasn’t!”

“Weren’t you?’ Eddie raised his brows. “Okay. My bad. From my angle, it looked like you were interested.”

“I’m horrified,” Elyssa whispered. “How long was I looking like that?”

“Long enough, girlfriend. I’m surprised he didn’t wander over and say, ‘I’m game. Let’s go play.’ He must be very dedicated to someone back home. A lesser man would have pounced.”

“I might not be his gender of choice.” Elyssa forced herself not to look back over at the guy.

“Oh, sweetheart, that man is a hundred percent not gay.”

“Okay. I’m not his type.”

Eddie rolled his eyes. “You’re everyone’s type. You tick all the boxes. Nope. He’s got to be married and very dedicated. It’s the only thing that makes sense right now.”

“He does have a good-looking dog.” Elyssa, losing the battle with herself, glanced over her shoulder.

“Beautiful.” And she kind of got stuck there, taking in the picture.

Giant sprawled on the leather couch, book in hand, dog curled at his feet, roaring fire to the side.

She breathed in and let out a heavy sigh.

“Mm hmm.” Eddie leaned in a little farther. “You’re still staring.”

“Lost in thought,” she countered.

“You’re drooling.”

She rounded on him, swiping at her mouth. “I am not.”

Eddie laughed. “Be brave. Invite him for a drink or some dessert,” he gave his brows a double flick.

“Do you think?” Actually, a little dessert would feel very satisfying.

“Why not?” Eddie turned as Paca slapped a hand on his shoulder.

“That guy that just pulled up?” Paca pointed toward the window. “That’s Dan. You need to meet him,” Paca said, swinging his parka on.

Eddie stood and reached for his coat while Elyssa poured electrolytes into the glass the bartended set in front of her, then gave it a swirl. “I’ll wait for you two in here. The cold is too hard on me.”

Eddie turned to her. “We won’t be long. It’s too cold for me, too, if I’m out there for more than a couple of minutes.” Eddie flicked a glance toward the giant on the leather couch. “You’re okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Eddie bumped into her. “If you need company, you could always wander over to warm yourself in front of the fire and give the guy an opportunity to say hi.”

She waggled her fingers as they headed out the door. “I’ll consider it.”

She didn’t have time to consider it.

As soon as Eddie and Paca moved away, a new guy stepped forward, picking up a stool and setting it back down in such a way that Elyssa felt like he was boxing her in.

She turned away from him and reflexively rested her hand over her glass. “Can I help you?” Elyssa asked as the man sat down, facing her. She’d pitched her voice to shut him down before he even got started.

“Thought I’d be friendly,” he said with a slow smile that looked like it had been practiced in the mirror, perhaps refined for social media.

She imagined he was one of those men who pulled off his shirt and chopped wood with his well-oiled and meticulously trimmed beard.

He was looking at her hand on her drink.

“Welcome to Lumberjack, Alaska. You’re new here.

” He lifted his chin toward the bartender. “Beer.”

“I’m with friends,” Elyssa said.

The beer guy looked around. “I don’t see anyone.”

“I’m not interested in a conversation with you,” she said more directly.

“Listen,” he leaned in, “I know that you’re not from around here, and it’s cold out and all. But the frigid bitch act doesn’t do well in this part of the country.”

Elyssa leaned in, too, so he knew she wasn’t intimidated. “Hey, Gaston, you have a bit of something caught in your teeth, just there.” And with her teeth clamped down, she spread her lips wide, digging her nail beside her eye tooth.