The Alaskan Rescue. Dominique Burton
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walking into. I’ve started them on antibiotics. Keep them away from the other guests for a day or so, and everything should be fine. If something changes, take them to the clinic in Craig to be assessed.”
“All right, Cole. Listen. I have a bungalow on the water. It’s unoccupied. Why don’t you spend the night here on me? It’s eight o’clock and dark outside. Dinner’s over, but Bubba’s still in the kitchen. I’ll have him bring you something to eat at the bar. Everything will be on the house.”
“I’ll be sending a bill for the services rendered,” Cole reminded him.
“And I’ll pay it.”
“All right. I am rather tired and hungry.”
“So you’ll keep this outbreak of strep between you and me?” Frank seemed worried.
“I have to. No laws were broken. The guests have the right to get sick. I want you to know I checked their visas, Frank. They have to be out of the country by Sunday. Make sure they are.” Cole looked at him coldly. “If you need me, I’ll be in the bar.”
“I’ll have one of the girls bring you the key to your bungalow.”
Cole left Frank and followed the beautifully lit path surrounded by ancient pines and ferns to the bar. He took a deep breath of the invigorating air, the clean smell of wet earth and pine. The night sky was glorious, brimming with stars.
He was grateful he didn’t have to fly back home on such a magnificent night. He’d pulled an all-nighter at the hospital the night before and was beat.
The bar looked like a saloon from the gold-mining days at the turn of the twentieth century. He walked inside and could see people sitting at tables and the bar laughing and talking, while a handful of others danced to the music blaring from a jukebox.
* * *
SASHI HANSEN WAS EXHAUSTED as she headed to the bar. Her job was to give a key to a VIP at the resort. Who wasn’t an important guest here? Then she smiled. Everyone considered themselves important, she supposed.
She lifted a hand to her nose. It smelled of soap. She often worried she’d grown so used to the smell of fish on her skin that she couldn’t smell it anymore. Sashi had been in Alaska only a week when she’d overheard how much money could be made working down in the cannery. It paid three times what other jobs paid, but you really had to work hard. Fourteen-hour days on your feet cleaning, filleting and packing fish ready to be sent to places all over the world. So she resigned from her original job as a hotel maid and went to work in the packing plant.
Today Sashi had packed fish all day and the smell had been dreadful. When wasn’t it dreadful? She was convinced she was slowly turning into a fish, not realizing how vain she was. The boss had ordered her to wait tables for two more hours. She needed to concentrate on that and then she could hit her bunk bed.
As long as Sashi kept her vision in mind, the long days weren’t that bad. She could scarcely believe she was so close to attaining her dream. After working incredibly hard this summer, she’d earned enough money for a down payment on her own dance studio back home in Alexandria, Virginia, and would now be eligible to apply for a business loan. Soon she would be able to open it.
The long hours were draining, but she’d spent worse days getting ready for performances at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Not to mention there were only three more days left at this place and then she and her best friend, Kendra, would be flying home. She couldn’t wait!
Sashi walked into the bar, ducked behind the counter and found an apron to tie around her waist. Reaching into her jeans, she grabbed a rubber band and pulled her strawberry-blond hair into a ponytail. It reached halfway down her back.
With that accomplished, she inhaled deeply. Just think about tips.
First she needed to find a Dr. Stevens. Mac, the bartender, would know him. The middle-aged Tlingit knew everyone who flew in and out of here for whatever reason. “Yo, Mac,” she called. “I need some help over here.” Over the past three months she’d picked up the easy local banter.
“How can I help you, New York?” he responded.
Sashi had grown accustomed to every employee calling her “New York.” After living in the Big Apple for the past ten years, she’d picked up the accent, and here it had earned her the nickname.
“I need to find a Dr. Stevens,” she said.
“Really? Did you get lined up for a date?” Mac’s brown eyes twinkled.
She blushed. “No. Mr. Marshall told me to give him the key to his bungalow.”
“Not anything else?”
Sashi hated all the attention men gave her, even in a teasing manner. “You’re shameless.” She put her hands on her hips and tried her best to make a hundred pounds look tough.
“I know. But you still love me.” Then he gave her a hug. Sashi found if she held herself stiffly, most men let her go pretty fast. And he did.
“Just show me where the doctor is.”
Mac brought his face close to hers. He reeked of alcohol, causing her to shudder. “He’s the blond guy in the sweater and jeans staring at you.” He pointed.
Sashi turned and met the most unusual pair of eyes she’d ever seen—golden like honey, in a face that looked like it belonged in a magazine. Tanned, with an aquiline nose and chiseled features, even a cleft chin. Damn. For the first time since she’d been here, she felt her stomach tighten up over a good-looking man. Embarrassed because of the way she was reacting to him, she looked down at the floor.
“New York,” Mac said. “Doc Stevens is right there!” He gave her a little shove.
Sashi was sure she was bright red by now. The curse of pale skin.
Stop it, Sashi. Go give the doctor his key!
His table wasn’t far from the bar. She pulled herself together and crossed to him. In an effort to appear in control, she focused on a spot behind his broad shoulders and not on his handsome face. Her heart was pounding too hard. This kind of thing didn’t happen to her.
“Welcome to the Watering Hole, Dr. Stevens.” Now she met his gaze. Whew! His eyes were a luminous gold. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the key. “I believe this is for you.” As she handed it to him she said, “Mr. Marshall wanted me to tell you ‘thanks again.’”
As the doctor took the key, his hand brushed hers. She felt a jolt of energy from her fingertips to her midsection.
Sashi had heard of love at first sight, or what she preferred to call lust at first sight, but had never believed in it. She chalked it up to living in New York. Or maybe never having a relationship last. Whatever the reason, it had turned her into a real cynic about romance—until this moment. She’d never felt such attraction. No doubt it was one-sided, but it was shocking nevertheless.
“Thank you, Sashi,” he replied.
“Oh! You’re welcome.” She smiled. “It’s part of the job. Hey—how do you know my name?”
Suddenly the two most adorable creases bracketed his mouth. “It’s on your name tag.”
“Of course.” She felt herself blush again and bit her lip, continuing to look at him as he looked right back at her. Needing to break the silence, she asked, “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“I’ll have whatever you think is the best on tap.”
“Are you a lager kind of guy?”
“Always.”
“Then I’ll be right back.” Sashi started to make an escape and compose her thoughts.
“Wait.”
Her body quickened. This weird attraction was well beyond her comfort zone. She needed to talk to Kendra right now! Unfortunately,