Stars Over Alaska (Wild River #4) - Jennifer Snow Page 0,19

and heard Dawson say the word date.

Leslie hesitated before answering. She caught sight of Levi and her expression was slightly conflicted.

Maybe there had been more to the practice kiss she’d been wanting...

Say something! Do something! Don’t let your buddy steal your girl!

Unfortunately, as usual, he waited too long, and then it was too late.

Leslie looked away from him and smiled at Dawson. She nodded her head and Dawson grinned like a moron.

And that was the first time seeing his two best friends together had broken his heart.

But no matter how hard it had been over the years, having the two of them in his life had meant everything to him. They were his family.

And family supported one another. Leslie might be the last person on earth who would ask for help or admit she may be in over her head this time, but he’d be there for her if she needed him. Decision was made, he was staying in the ski resort town for a few nights.

He dialed the station and Chad answered on the third ring. The unmistakable sound of Mario Kart in the background confirmed that Levi taking a few days off shouldn’t be a problem. “Hey man, I’ve decided to stay in Wild River for a few days... You cool holding down the fort on your own?”

“No problem...damn it, Yoshi took me out,” Chad said.

“Okay, call me if there’s an emergency,” Levi said, disconnecting the call. Then, checking the traffic, he took a deep breath and did a U-turn on the highway, heading back toward Wild River.

For one last attempt to get back at least one of the friends he’d lost.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“AHHHH...NOW THIS is more like it.”

Shocking. The Wild River Resort was to Selena’s liking. Stretched across four hundred acres, the posh, luxurious accommodations boasted three hundred guest rooms, a five-star spa, two high-end, expensive dining options, and provided tourists the most spectacular views of the mountains.

Unfortunately, the price tag was astronomical. Wild River was a small town, boasting only four other modest hotels and a local B and B, but everything else was booked solid. Some bestselling fantasy writer was hosting a knitting retreat and book signing that week.

“This place is amazing. I had no idea there were resorts like this in Alaska. You’ve definitely redeemed yourself,” Selena said.

“Wonderful. I was worried,” Leslie said as they approached the check-in desk.

“How can I help you?” the man dressed in a resort uniform behind the desk asked.

“We need a room, please.”

“For how many nights?”

She hesitated. “I’m not entirely sure. Can we book three for now and then extend our stay if necessary?” Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.

The clerk nodded. “I’ll need your ID and credit card, please.”

That wouldn’t be happening. She couldn’t risk leaving a trail. She opened her wallet and took out a wad of cash that she’d taken from an ATM before leaving LA. “I’d prefer to pay cash if possible.”

The clerk hesitated. “You’d need to leave a sizeable deposit for any incidentals...”

Leslie nodded. “That’s fine,” she said, handing over the money and saying a silent goodbye to her savings. It wasn’t like she’d be able to submit an expense report for this one. She signed the paperwork for their room with her left, unbandaged hand, the signature barely legible.

“Great,” the check-in clerk said. “Here are your room keys...”

“We only need one,” Leslie said.

Selena rolled her eyes. “You don’t even trust me with a room key?”

“You won’t be going anywhere alone.”

The clerk sent them an odd look, but having the forty-year-old guy think she was in some weird as shit relationship was the least of her worries right now. “One key is fine,” she said.

“Okay... Elevators are down the hall, across from the restaurant. Your room is on the third floor. Room service is twenty-four hours and the spa is open from eight a.m. until nine p.m. Enjoy your stay and please let us know if you need anything.”

The last part of his sentence was directed at Selena and Leslie sighed as she moved away from the desk. She didn’t care how strange this must look—her in a pair of hospital scrubs and oversized rubber boots, checking into an expensive resort with no luggage and a woman that looked half her age. She couldn’t wait to get to their room and take a hot shower. A nap would be amazing as well if she was successful in shutting her overactive brain off for five minutes.

She ignored the odd looks from other guests as they headed