Stars Over Alaska (Wild River #4) - Jennifer Snow Page 0,21
her energy. “Great,” she mumbled.
In the back seat of Eddie’s van a minute later, Leslie tried to put as much distance between her and Selena as possible, but the star kept moving closer to peer out the window as they drove toward Main Street. “You have your own window,” she muttered.
“There’s just trees on my side,” Selena said, practically leaning on Leslie’s lap.
“So, is the cabin completely gone?” Eddie asked, glancing at her in the mirror.
“I’m not sure...but I think so.” The lump was back in her throat and she swallowed hard. What was wrong with her? It was just an old cabin that she hadn’t bothered to visit in a very long time. She’d left it in her past years ago, along with everything else. This overwhelming regret needed to subside quickly so she could go back to focusing on the mess she was currently in.
“I’m so relieved you two are okay,” Montana said.
Was she? Physically maybe.
Selena’s audible gasp next to her made her jump. “What? What is it?”
“O-M-G this street actually looks just like the studio lot set for the Back to the Future series.”
Leslie shot her a look. “You have been outside a movie set before, right?”
“Yes, but not outside of LA and let’s face it, Hollywood is really just one big studio lot.”
No arguments there. “So, wait—you’ve never been outside of LA?”
Selena nodded. “Of course I have, but mostly when we are on tour for movie promo, so I’ve never actually seen Small Town, USA. I’ve been in movies since I was a toddler and between my filming schedule and Dad’s...we’re too busy to travel for fun.”
So money couldn’t buy everything. Leslie’s family relationships weren’t perfect, but some of her best memories growing up were of traveling together—mostly with their father before he died. He was a brilliant artist with a passion for photography, something Leslie had inherited, and he’d captured the most breathtaking scenic shots wherever they went. Photos that were now lost in that fire. She’d lost him years ago when she’d needed him most and now she’d lost those precious, irreplaceable images as well.
“You can put the sympathetic eyes away,” Selena said, mistaking Leslie’s own memory lane trip as sympathy for her. “I love my life and LA. There’s nowhere I would have wanted to go anyway,” she said, then her attention was elsewhere. She pointed to North Mountain Sports Company on the right side of the street. “That looks like a place to find decent winter clothes.”
Right. At killer prices. The big chain store had only recently opened in Wild River and despite the locals’ attempts to keep it away, it seemed everyone had quickly embraced the store and its high-end offering. Leslie wasn’t sure it went with Wild River’s aesthetic, but they were trying to appeal to the luxury traveler and outdoor enthusiasts. Or in cases like Selena, brand snobs.
“This where you’d like to get dropped off?” Eddie asked, pulling his van in front of the store.
“Yes, please,” Selena said.
“I’ll pretend I don’t see you shopping at my competitor,” Montana said with a wink. She’d recently partnered with her ex’s new girlfriend at her company SnowTrek Tours. North Mountain Sports Company had once threatened to put them out of business, but Montana’s background in extreme sports and BASE jumping gave SnowTrek Tours something different to offer and according to Eddie, the company was no longer worried about the big chain store’s effect on their bottom line.
“Sorry Montana. I promise we won’t book any excursions,” Leslie said, opening the van door and climbing out. “Thanks, Eddie.”
Her brother nodded. “Anytime. And I’ll call you about dinner.”
Fantastic. She didn’t commit as she closed the door.
“How long has your brother been in a wheelchair?” Selena asked as the van drove away.
“About eight months.” Felt like a lifetime ago already when her brother’s heroic act had given them all quite a scare and had him questioning his future on the police force.
“What happened?”
“He was shot. Took a bullet for...Montana actually. She wasn’t his girlfriend at the time.”
“Who could resist a man that heroic though, huh?”
Leslie shrugged. “They had a connection before that, but I would think Eddie’s bravery didn’t hurt to make Montana fall even harder.” Her brother had sacrificed everything in that split second—his life, his career... Things could have been a lot worse. But it was in their genetics to be selfless and he’d acted the way anyone in their family would have. The way Leslie was prepared to in her line of work.