Wild Men of Alaska 04 - Wild Men of Alaska - Four Book Bundle

room at the lodge.”
    “No. I would have been mortified if everyone knew I was freaked out.”
    “Eva, you were held hostage, threatened at gunpoint. I don’t know of any civilian who could’ve handled themselves better than you did. You kept your wits about you and defeated the bad guy. Pretty ingenious of you too. Nate’s singing your praises. So am I.”
    She glanced down, her fingers plucking the material of the patchwork quilt his Grandma Coho had made for him last Christmas. “Thanks for that.”
    He tilted his head toward the bedroom. “Want to catch a few more winks with me in a more comfortable place?”
    “Uh, about that. We need to get some truths out in the open before whatever this is between us goes any further.”
    “What kind of truths?” This is not where he wanted to go. He wanted to lift her up in his arms, carry her to his bed, and after loving her, fall asleep in her arms.
    “You’re keeping a secret from me,” she accused. “The past has taught me one thing very important, never to abide secrets.”
    He really could have used some sleep before this confrontation. But he could see in her eyes how serious this was to her. How did he tell her without making her run screaming from him? He took a seat on the couch, faced her, and covered her hands with his. Looking deep into her eyes, he told her the truth. “I can talk to animals.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Can you be serious?”
    “I am.”
    “What, you’re like a Dr. Doolittle or something?” she scoffed.
    He winced. It wasn’t the first time he’d been called that. Didn’t help that he’d first gone into veterinarian science.
    “You’re being serious?” she asked as though she’d been waiting for the punch line to a joke.
    He nodded and quietly waited her out as the dots connected.
    “Okay, then why is BW stalking me?”
    “Near as I 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