Free Sweet Home Alaska by Rebecca Thomas Page A

tell you this morning before you left our hotel room. The truth is, I knew our relationship was just temporary because of the job.”
    “Trey, stop it. I don’t believe you.” She sounded angry.
    “And as much as you talked about your fast-paced life in L.A. on your blog, I didn’t think you’d ever really be happy here.” He gripped the phone with such force he thought it might break.
    “Trey, there is a difference in what I posted on my blog for entertainment purposes. What I was posting was the real me and how I really felt and thought,” she said.
    “The blog doesn’t matter. I just wanted to come clean about it. I respect you and I didn’t want any secrets between us.”
    “My blog wasn’t a secret,” she said.
    “I know, but you wrote it as L. Kinkade. You never said your first name, so I wasn’t sure if you wanted anonymity or not. Regardless of your blog, I think you and I have different ideas about where our relationship was going.” He swallowed hard. The words were a lie and he wasn’t good at lying.
    He was about to add more to his lie before she said, “I’m angry at you for not telling me you knew about the blog. I hate having this discussion over the phone, but I am really falling in love with you and I thought you were falling for me, too.”
    A knot formed in his stomach and his lungs couldn’t hold air. He heard the hesitation in her voice and thought she was waiting for him to confirm or deny his intentions.
    “You were wrong. I wasn’t falling for you.” The words felt bitter and stung his mouth to say them. “As soon as the job was finished, I knew we’d be finished, too.” His phone beeped at the perfect time. The incoming call was from the hotel manager. “Listen, I’ve got to go. Congratulations again. I can’t wait to watch you on television. I’m sure you’ll top the ratings and you’ll have everything you’ve ever wanted. Goodbye, Lauren.”
    He hung up quickly before he changed his mind. He told himself he was doing the right thing. That if she stayed, with him, in Alaska, he would never live with the fact that she’d given up on her dream for him. She would eventually resent him for it. He could never live with that. Yes, he was in love with her. He had no doubt about that. Otherwise, he wouldn’t hurt so much.

Chapter Eleven
     
    Lauren’s meeting with the executives of the Food Network couldn’t have gone any better. She’d spent the week signing papers, seeking advice from her agent, and hiring attorneys, but now she was on her way back home—home to Alaska, sweet home Alaska.
    The past week had been the most exciting of her life, and all she could think about was how she wasn’t sharing it with Trey. He should have been with her. Her gut told her he wanted to be with her, but his words on the phone were hurtful.
    Now, with all her decisions made, she felt happier than she’d ever been. Now she only had to share it with Trey.
    She left L.A. on the redeye and arrived home at 6:00 a.m. As soon as her plane landed, she went home, took a shower, put on her skirt and heels, and picked up the phone. She was exhausted, but that didn’t matter.
    Lauren dialed Briggs Enterprises.
    “Briggs Enterprises. This is Kayla, how may I help you?”
    “Hello, Kayla. It’s Lauren. Can you tell me where Trey is?” Her words came out in a rush.
    “Sure. He’s at the hotel overseeing a few things there. I don’t expect him back in the office today. Hey, I heard you were going to L.A. to talk with the Food Network about having your own show?”
    “Yes, it’s true,” Lauren answered. Now she knew where Trey was.
    “That’s big news. Our town doesn’t have anyone famous in it. Not until now.”
    “Thanks. Not sure how famous I’ll be, but yes, this actually is a big deal. You know, I had a lot of time to think on the plane, and I was wondering what Trey’s fascination is with wild iris flowers? He plants them around town, and they are designed in the stained