Free Alaska Heart by Christine DePetrillo Page B

as well. The pain was instant. Shot right up through my whole arm. Stupid, but it’ll be fine in a few weeks.”
    He set the full intensity of his green-eyed gaze on me. “C’mon. Just come to Denali with me.”
    Just come . Those words echoed in my head again. Words I still maintain did not get me to where I was currently. Listening to him actually say them, though, as he sat across from me, was far more difficult to ignore than an email.
    “If you’re sure you don’t mi—”
    “I don’t.”
    “Okay, then. Let’s go to Denali together.”
    “As you wish.” His remarkably full lips turned up at the corners.
    “You’re pretty pleased with yourself, aren’t you?” I leaned back in the booth and wrenched my gaze from his lips.
    “I’m always pleased when I get my way.” He arched an eyebrow, and my eyes zeroed back in on his lips.
    I was almost officially putty in his hands. Another couple of smiles, and I’d be defenseless against his charms. What the hell was happening to my walls? Walls years in the making shouldn’t crumble so easily.
    “Here it comes.” Ram’s deep voice broke the spell I was rapidly falling under, and I turned to look at him. He balanced two platters of food, steam wafting from them. “Two orders of my Cajun grilled cod sleeping on a bed of black bean rice with a side of slaw and buttered broccoli.”
    As he placed the platters in front of us, cumin and chili powder enticed my senses. “Ram, you’re a god.”
    “You got that right, sweetheart.” He whistled a tune as he retreated.
    “I feel as if I’ve known your father for years.” I placed my napkin in my lap and cut into the cod.
    “He’s everyone’s father. He’s always been that way, but more so since my mom died. I think it helps him deal with it better if he’s always talking to other people.”
    “Do you have any siblings?”
    “A sister. Lives a couple of streets over from here. Married to a detective, has three boys.”
    “Three. Yikes.”
    “Triplets. Age five.”
    “Good Goddess. There’s a special place in heaven for people like that.”
    “I agree, although my brother-in-law and my sister run a tight ship. Noah, Riley, and Mick are great kids.”
    “I’ll bet you’re the fun-loving uncle they climb all over and always want to visit.”
    “Indeed, I am. Sometimes I think they just want to see the dogs, though.”
    The rest of the dogs had to be amazing if they were anything like Gypsy, but I was more fascinated by the man.
    “What about you? Any brothers or sisters?” Dale shoveled a heap of rice and looked at me.
    “No. Only child.”
    “You’re one of those. I see.”
    “Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”
    “It means you were spoiled. Your parents probably gave you every little thing you wanted.”
    “They did not.”
    “Did you have a puppy?”
    “Yeah, but—”
    “Horseback riding lessons?”
    “Well, yes, but I don’t see what—”
    “Could you maneuver your way out of trouble?”
    “I’m not answering anymore of these questions.”
    “That’s what a spoiled kid would say.”
    I swatted at Dale’s hand when he angled his fork toward my plate as if he were going to steal some of my dinner.
    “Where are your parents now?” he asked.
    “My mother died about seven years ago and my dad last year.”
    Dale cleared his throat. “Sorry to hear that, Alanna.”
    “Yeah, thanks. It’s pretty quiet without them.”
    Dale’s eyes were soft, consoling, without him having to say anything. “I can’t imagine what it’s like not having family buzzing around you all the time. It got quiet after my mom passed, but toss in a couple of triplets, boys no less, and things get back to loud pretty quick.”
    “Is your entire family as tight as you and Ram?”
    “Yeah, we’re pretty much in each other’s faces except during training. Then I disappear.”
    “I’m like that with work too. I forget the rest of the world exists sometimes when involved in a story.”
    “No time