Stars Over Alaska (Wild River #4) - Jennifer Snow Page 0,24

comfortable bringing Selena there. She’d bet her job—if she still had one—on the fact that no one would even recognize Selena.

And this experience should be entertaining at least. If anyone in Wild River could put Little Miss Movie Star in her place, it was the local watering hole owner. She smiled at him behind Selena’s head when they reached two empty bar stools and Selena was still scanning the bar like she was stuck in an old Western movie and didn’t know how to get out. “Hey, Tank.”

He nodded toward her. “Heard you were in town,” he said with a smirk he failed to hide.

Leslie’s own grin faded. Damn. She should have known that the search and rescue crew would have heard about what happened with the cabin...and the rescue...and her unfortunate wardrobe. And Tank was a member of the team. “Yeah, well... I like to make an entrance.”

He laughed because it was furthest from the truth.

Her “friend” on the other hand...

“Hi. What do you serve that’s skinny?” Selena asked, climbing onto a bar stool and looking for a drink menu.

Tank reached for new coasters and set them on the bar in front of her. “Besides you?” He rested his palms against the bar and even Leslie had trouble averting her gaze from the rippling muscles in his forearms. Tank was off-limits, but guys like Tank definitely were her type. Big, muscular, strong... Someone who didn’t make her feel like the manlier one in the relationship.

Selena smiled at the perceived compliment. “I meant calorie-wise, like a skinny margarita or martini?”

Tank shook his head. “Just regular margaritas and martinis but I can pour it into a skinny glass if it makes you feel better.”

Selena’s smile faded. “That will be fine.”

Tank looked at Leslie. “For you?”

“Diet soda, please.” She would kill for one of Tank’s famous martinis but she was technically on the clock.

Tank moved away to get their drinks and Selena twirled on the bar stool to face her. “You tricked me again.”

“No, I didn’t. Believe it or not, this is as wild as it gets here on an off-season Tuesday night.”

“I’d slit my wrists if I lived here,” she mumbled. Something caught her eye and she grabbed Leslie’s arm to hide partially behind her. “That guy’s staring at me. Do you think he recognizes me?”

Leslie sighed. Doubtful. The guy she was pointing to was Rob from the hardware store. “He’s staring at you because you still have the price tag hanging from your jacket.” She yanked it off.

“I don’t feel safe. I think you were right. We should just hide out at the resort,” Selena said.

Leslie wasn’t falling for that. The star had been desperate to explore the town—until she realized that there was little to explore. Wild River was a quiet ski resort town with a few shops along Main Street, a steak house boasting fancy dining and the pub. People came here to ski and hike and fish...not “be seen” red carpet–style.

So, naturally, Selena was eager to return to the only high-end place in town, where she felt more at home.

“You’re actually safer here. No one in this bar has any idea who you are,” Leslie said.

A loud shriek made her jump.

Tank’s twelve-year-old daughter, Kaia, was coming from the kitchen, carrying buckets of ice. Her mouth was wide open in shock as she stared at Selena.

“I guess you were wrong. Someone in this town recognizes me,” Selena said, obviously happy to have a fan.

Kaia walked slowly toward them and Leslie’s mind reeled. How did she convince the preteen that she had to keep this encounter to herself and off all social media when it was probably the coolest thing to happen to the kid in months?

“Hi, Kaia,” she said carefully. “Um... I guess you recognize my friend...”

Kaia was nodding, eyes still locked on Selena. “I’ve seen High School Romance at least a hundred times,” she said.

“That she has,” Tank muttered.

Selena’s smile was warm. “Well, thank you. That was a fun movie to make... Kaia, is it?”

Kaia nodded. “Yes, Kaia... I’m Kaia.”

Starstruck was what the poor kid was. That had worn off quickly for Leslie. LA had a way of going from charming and exciting to fake and flashy fast. In her few years living there, she’d gone from enamored to disillusioned quickly. But she wouldn’t burst Kaia’s bubble. “Maybe Selena could give you an autograph?”

“Could we take a selfie?” the young girl asked.

“Of course!”

“No!” Leslie offered a sympathetic look at Kaia. “I’m sorry Kaia, but...” She lowered her