Free The Stranger by Anna del Mar Page A

couldn’t afford to waste your time babysitting.”
    I glared from one man to the other. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
    “I said I’d drive her and I will.” Seth’s tone forbade further discussion.
    “Okay, bro,” Jeremy said, “but don’t underestimate Alex.”
    “I won’t.” Seth snatched his keys from the counter. “Want to help me load the truck?”
    “Sure.” Jeremy got up.
    “Can I help?” I said.
    “You’d be no help at all, so stand down,” Seth said. “Eat something. There’s food in the pantry. Come down in twenty.”
    I thanked Jeremy for his help and watched the brothers go. Talk about contrasting personalities, Mr. Charm and Mr. Grouch. My stomach grumbled, so I checked out the refrigerator. Other than a jug of milk and a carton of orange juice, it was empty. A quick look at the freezer revealed more desolation. I closed the freezer door and opted for the box of high-protein cereal I found in the bleak pantry. It tasted like dirt, but it was food.
    I tackled my messages on the cell. My boss, Hector Carrera, answered as soon as I replied to his frantic texts.
    Where are you?
    @ AK , I wrote back. Searching.
    Tammy?
    Nothing yet.
    Need you back ASAP , he texted. Need third floor redesign for Darius.
    Email new specs , I wrote. Will email redesign by tonight . You won’t even know I’m gone . GTG .
    I ended the text exchange before we got testy with each other. Hector had given me such a hard time about leaving for Alaska. I couldn’t understand why he was so upset about me taking a few days off. First off, he knew I was a hard worker. The project was going to get done and on time. My work record spoke for itself. Nobody worked as hard as I did. Nobody.
    Second, I had the time off on the books. I should be able to take it if I needed to. I’d kind of told him that. He hadn’t liked it at all. Third, Hector had been my dad’s business partner. He knew Tammy and Louise really well. He knew all about our family and that I took care of them.
    On the other hand, I couldn’t take my job for granted. I needed it to make ends meet and help Louise and Tammy with their bills. Plus, deep down, I hated to disappoint Hector. He’d always been there for my dad and, after his death, he’d been there for my family as well. He’d given me a job when I graduated in the middle of a recession and no one was hiring. I owed him my hard work and tons of gratitude. I decided on the spot to work late tonight and blow his mind with a kickass redesign. Meanwhile, I had to find Tammy and get the hell out of Alaska.
    My mind drifted back to Seth Erickson. Yes, I was leaving, but still, I was really curious about him. Don’t do it , Silva. Don’t bother . I considered the cell in my hand. Oh, what the hell. I googled him. Everybody did it these days. Right?
    His business bio came up. CEO of Erickson & Erickson Enterprises, the largest family conglomerate in Alaska. The company was valued in...the billions? I had to close my mouth. Lots of pictures of him with presidents, governors, senators, rig workers, construction workers. Impressive.
    I did a little bit more internet sleuthing. Not an iota of personal information, no social media presence, nothing. Either he had no personal life, a possibility considering his sustained level of irritability, or he’d devoted some serious resources to protecting his privacy. A cleanup job, maybe?
    Oh, well. What did I care anyway? I was out of his life today. I drank the milk out of the cereal bowl, tucked the dish and spoon in the dishwasher, grabbed my purse, bag, and laptop, and made my way down the stairs. Good-bye high-tech cabin. Farewell amazing views. Sayonara hunky stranger and associated, assorted complications. First order of business: find Tammy. Get her to Anchorage. Go back home. Second order of business: keep my job. Finish the Darius project. Forget that Alaska had ever happened to me.
    That was the plan and I intended to stick to it because Seth was way