Wild Men of Alaska Collection - By Helmer, Tiffinie Page 0,57

can tell, he thinks you look like a pretty flower. He’s partial to flowers.”

“He told you that?”

Lynx couldn’t tell if she was humoring him or giving him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe a little of both. “It’s more of an image or feeling than actual words exchanged.” That would be crazy. “And then I went and told him I’d like to get to know you back when you first came to town. I believe he thinks he’s helping me.” This was going to sink him. He should just shut up.

“So, he’s playing matchmaker?” Her eyelids lowered, and she freed her hands from his.

“Kinda.” He rubbed the back of his neck and decided he might as well jump in with both feet. She could obviously see if he wasn’t telling her the whole truth. “BW and I go back a ways. I rescued him when he was born. His mother died giving him birth, and I, well, raised him.”

“You’re the moose’s daddy?” Her brows rose in disbelief.

“No. Maybe. He’s fond of me. He likes to check in and hang out every now and then. I asked him to stay close to town because of the poachers.”

“You realize this is a moose we are talking about?”

“I know.” Any minute now she’d vow never to see him again. Or worse, pack her bags and head back to Cincinnati.

“Do you talk to more than moose?”

He could talk to all of them including the birds in the sky. “Yeah, but I can’t seem to reason much with mama bears or wolverines.” He shrugged. “Listen, Eva, I know this sounds crazy, especially to someone from Outside, but if you live here long enough, this doesn’t seem so weird. Alaska is a magical place, and I come from a long line of Native Alaskans. Athabascan with some Tlingit mixed in there. There is...enchantment, for lack of a better word, in my lineage.”

“Are you saying all of the Maiskis can talk to the animals?”

“No, we each have our own gifts, and they manifest themselves in different ways.”

“Fox?”

“We don’t know yet. But he’s a hell of a lot smarter than most ten-year-olds.” It was downright unnatural. “I know this is a lot to comprehend, but I really like you Eva. More than like you. I’m falling in love with you.” Already fallen and landed hard. He didn’t think she was ready for all that until she’d digested his “gift.”

She shook her head. “One thing at a time.” She rubbed her face and stood up. “I need caffeine. Lots of it.”

“Eva—”

She held out her hand to stop him as he got to his feet and reached for her. “I don’t know what’s worse. Loving a man who loves men or loving a man who thinks he talks to animals.”

He took the one-two-punch like a prize fighter.

“I’m not ready for this.” She splayed her hands wide. “All of this. It’s too much. I’ve only been in Alaska for a month, and I’ve been chased up a tree by a moose, stabbed by the same tree, swept out of a canoe into a freezing river, eaten by mosquitoes, had my undergarments stolen and paraded around town by the same stalker moose, and held at gunpoint. Now you say you’re falling in love with me. In my book, that means marriage and me agreeing to live here, permanently. It’s too much, Lynx. I might not survive next month.” She paused to breathe. “I need time to decide what I really want. I’m sorry, Lynx, but would you please leave.”

He swallowed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “It’s my house.”

“What?”

“You’re in my house. Let me walk you home.” He couldn’t give her a ride in his truck. The reminder of Pete would probably be that last straw that would send her packing.

“Oh.” That seemed to take the steam right out of her. She glanced around the log cabin. “Okay, I’ll leave, and I’ll walk myself home. It’s daylight, what can happen?” She laughed, the sound a little hysterical.

“Eva,” Lynx called her name when she opened the door. “I never figured you for a coward.”

Her spine shot straight as a broomstick. He’d just thrown down a dare. That’s how he’d gotten her to go canoeing after he’d stood her up. He hadn’t forgotten either.

“That won’t work with me this time. Not over something this important.” She walked through the door and quietly shut it behind her.

Eva followed the path to the clinic from Lynx’s cabin. She shouldn’t have crashed at his place. But