Stars Over Alaska (Wild River #4) - Jennifer Snow Page 0,115

who was over six feet tall and beefy. Jade preferred shorter, fitter, more...polished men. Still, Jade had seemed really distraught when things hadn’t worked out, claiming Mike was an insensitive brute that she’d wasted her time on.

And while February 14 was just another day to Maddie, Valentine’s Day was one of Jade’s favorite holidays. Usually she had a boyfriend more than willing to make it special for her, so her first year single in forever would be a tough one.

Maddie had signed up for the weekend away before Thanksgiving...before Jade’s breakup.

Still, if her sister wanted her to stay...

But Jade shook her head quickly. “Yes, I’m totally fine. Go. Have...fun.”

Maddie wasn’t convinced and her protective instincts over her baby sister outweighed her desire for a romantic weekend. “You know what, I’ll stay home and we can have a Galentine’s Day instead.” Decision made, she started unpacking.

Jade stopped her. “No way—you’re going. I’m one hundred percent over the breakup. Believe me, he was not worth the tears. I just wish I’d found someone else in the last few months, but I can buy my own chocolate and flowers this year.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely,” Jade said reassuringly, then she paused. “But if you see Mike, feel free to slap him with a fish for me.”

CHAPTER TWO

OF ALL THE TOUR GUIDES at SnowTrek Tours, Mike Toledo was assigned to her excursion. Fantastic. That wouldn’t make things awkward at all.

Maddie took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. She wouldn’t let this bother her. She wasn’t there to spend time with Mike. She would just ignore him. Once they were paired up, she’d be too preoccupied getting to know her match to even notice him. She scanned the group as everyone arrived and loaded their gear into the back of two vans that would be taking them out to the lake.

They hadn’t been assigned their matches yet, but there were a few great-looking guys so far...

“Hi, everyone!” the owner of SnowTrek Tours, Cassie Reynolds, addressed them. “Thank you all for signing up for our fifth annual Blind Date Ice Fishing event. My expert tour guide Mike Toledo will be hosting you all this weekend. He’s very qualified and capable of ensuring everyone’s safety and comfort...”

Yeah, except when it comes to matters of the heart.

So far, Maddie wasn’t entirely impressed with SnowTrek’s choice to allow this guy to be in charge of whether they found love that weekend.

But she refused to worry about him. Her Mr. Right could be standing right next to her right at that moment.

“Most of you are here already, but a few are running late, so Mike will load one van and then I’ll drive the others up to the lake once they arrive,” Cassie said. “Have fun!”

Everyone was all smiles and chatter as they loaded into the van and headed out to the lake. But sitting behind the driver’s seat moments later, Maddie couldn’t help her gaze from shifting to Mike’s reflection in the rearview mirror as he drove.

Please don’t let this inconvenient coincidence ruin my weekend.

* * *

MADDIE FRAZIER.

Wonderful. He was stuck hosting Jade’s sister for the weekend. He assumed Jade had told her all about him. Or her version of him anyway.

Didn’t matter. He wasn’t the one needing to impress her. That job fell on her match. And what an impossible feat that poor guy had if Maddie was anything like her sister.

“Okay, everyone, gather around.” Mike called the group in to the edge of the frozen, glistening lake.

His gaze fell on Maddie, and her piercing look revealed she wasn’t thrilled by this turn of events either. Well, hopefully they could both be adult enough to get through the weekend.

“So, this is how the event will work,” he said. “You’ve all been expertly matched by our selection process and questionnaire. But, you will also get a chance to meet everyone at tonight’s firepit dinner, where we’ll have a speed dating opportunity. If you’re not feeling your connection or want to explore something else, the option will be there.”

The group nodded and he saw a few of the guests sizing each other up.

The heat sizzling off these people already could potentially melt the ice and they hadn’t even gotten started yet.

Mike scanned the matchmaker sheet Cassie had given him and then forced all the enthusiasm he could muster as he glanced up at the hopefuls waiting to be shot by Cupid’s arrow.

Unfortunately, there was an uneven number. Shit, someone was missing. He scanned the name tags on everyone’s jacket and then reviewed