CHAPTER SIX
Elara
“You plannin’ on spending all day here?”
I shrugged. At least there were people here. I could keep my mind busy.
“Is it a problem if I do?”
Cash shrugged, the tight shirt accentuating his movement. He’d probably been hired to be eye candy, but something told me he’d win any fight you stuck him in.
“No. You’re welcome to stay here, petite sugah. We’re always welcoming company. But do me a favor, please. Stay in after dark. Especially in this town. Especially on full moon.”
“But that’s the next two days.”
I narrowed my gaze at him. Was he really serious? It was sound advice for anywhere you were unfamiliar with, but in the small town, I couldn’t quite believe it. I doubt my father would have left Aunt Minnie alone if the town was that dangerous.
The bartender didn’t elaborate on his statement, just changed the subject. “What sort of job does a pretty little thing like you have that made escaping to Alaska seem like a good idea? Especially in this snow?”
“That’s hardly a fair question, Cash.”
“No?” He was genuinely confused. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want to talk about it. Pick a different question.”
I was an emergency dispatcher back home. I didn’t need to bring my work with me. It was enough of a fight to keep centered some days.
There was his bright laugh again. From the looks the regulars shot me, they were wondering just who I was. I didn’t need that. I didn’t want connections with the people that would make me regret selling the house. I was already too cold and lonely. Cash seemed willing to keep me company at least.
“Fine. So that question is out, petite sugah.” There was that tiny smirk at the corner of his mouth. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
I didn’t want to think about my last boyfriend. “Nope. Do you?”
“Have a boyfriend?”
I shook my head as I found it funnier than it should have been. I’d set myself up for that one. “No, a significant other is what I meant.”
“Do.” He sighed heavily. “Did. It's complicated.”
“Complicated? Isn’t that code for one of you wants to date other people?”
Another genuine laugh. “No. Olivia, well, she’s a doll. She’d never mess around on me.”
“So you’d mess around on her?”
His green eyes dulled. I felt a flash of guilt for pushing the issue. I didn’t know his situation, and I sure didn’t want him prying into mine.
A drum beat started in the corner of the bar; my eyes snapped up to Cash.
“Seriously?”
He rolled his eyes so dramatically, I snorted as I tried to contain my giggle. “What?”
“He's lucky Kodiak’s not here.”
“Who's that?”
I sat a bit taller as the beat grew faster.
“She’s the boss lady. She'd make him stop.” Cash sighed heavily as he leaned against the bar. He was making me a co-conspirator in some grand scheme. “He's gonna sing, too.”
I snorted, again. The alcohol was already making me feel more at ease. I heard a guitar tuning up as he huffed.
“That a bad thing?”
Cash shrugged his shoulders and looked a bit dejected. “Fishboy thinks he's a cock of the walk if Kodiak’s not here for him to fawn over. You'll probably be next.”
“Next what?”
“For making doey eyed fish advances.”
“Fish? He a fisherman or something?” I paused, my eyes wide. “Is that an accordion?”
“Yep.” The response came sharp and fast, his annoyance apparent.
Walking into a town like Cordova was like stepping into a stranger's family reunion. Everyone was nice, but you had no idea of the dynamic or the inside jokes.
“You're only doing this, Caleb, because Kodiak’s not here!” Cash shouted above the noise of the bar. There was a playful lightness in his voice.
I caught the pearly smile of a good looking blond man across the room. He'd been helping tune an instrument I didn't recognize. His randomly braided tresses had gold and red beads that made him look like surfer Viking Barbie. Ken, not Barbie. There was nothing feminine about the strong lines of his jaw and high cheekbones.
“Damn straight, Louisiana!” Viking Ken called back.
Shaking my head, I tried not to laugh as a look of disgust passed over Cash’s face. He muttered something under his breath as the music started in earnest.
It took a moment, but I recognized the song they were starting to play. I glanced over my shoulder, Cash was even less amused.
I sang the first chorus of The Star of the County Down with the boys in the corner.
Cash shook his head at me, fighting a smile. “Don’t encourage him.”
“I’ll sing if I want to.” I laughed. “I spent four summers working as a Renn Faire beer wench. I learned more than a few songs.”
“And dance.” The long haired, blond Ken doll slipped his arm around me. “Care for a dance?”
“Don't mind if I do.” I slipped off the bar stool and caught my dance partner tossing a wink at Cash. The tables slid apart to give us a dance floor as the barkeep glared.
I followed the Viking’s lead as we spun and skipped around the tiny floor, laughing and singing the lyrics we could manage. He smelled like the beach on a summer day. It was an unexpected bit of brightness in the cold. So was the music that took me back to happy summers.
Partway through the song, the bar began to clap along. I even caught Cash clapping. The little band moved on to the next song without a pause. It was another song I knew, but couldn't remember the title. We kept dancing. By the third song, I was dizzy, but the dancing was fun.
“Foxy.” His hollow voice matched his paled face as we spun past the door.
The music came to a screeching halt at the woman’s appearance, and so did we.
I glanced over my shoulder to see what had given him such a shock.
A dark ruby braid that cascaded over her shoulder and perfect pale skin that could have reflected moonlight made me jealous. Her eyes were the deep blue of the sea that one could get lost in. She definitely did not belong with the crowd dressed in her knee high boots and leggings. Her chunky knit fisherman's cabled sweater accentuated her figure making her look like a living fashion ad.
One perfectly groomed eyebrow arched as she realized Caleb’s arm was around my waist. Those sea blue eyes turned frothy with ice as she looked me over from my own worn boots to my wild, fiery hair. She was a perfectly put together princess. I was a gypsy peasant.
“Humans?” was the only word that passed her lips. It was dark and twisted, like a night storm. The word stung, and I wasn’t sure why.
My dance partner tensed against me. My heart skipped a beat as the anxiety started to bubble in my stomach.
Caleb pointed toward the door. “Out!” he barked at her.
“That’s a hell of a welcome home,” she cooed as she crossed her arms under her breasts, standing straighter.
I wanted to slowly slink out of the picture, but his arm tightened around my waist.
“What did you expect? Julian is dead!” The slight gravelly sound in his voice shifted to a growl.
A smug smile passed across her lips as she raised her shoulder in a callous shrug. “Things happen.”
“Out, Fox!” he barked again, dropping his grip on me.
The woman spun on her black boots. With a flick of her braid, she sashayed out. Caleb followed her without a word to anyone. The door slammed shut, the little brass bell tinkling as the vibrations settled.
Glancing around, no one understood what had just happened. Cash waved me back to the bar.
“Who’s Julian?”
Cash’s eyes were dark and solemn. “Good guy, petite sugah. Was mauled to death a few weeks ago. He was one of Caleb’s crew over at the mine.”
“Mauled?” I almost choked on the word.
“I told you this place is dangerous. Stay in after dark.”
I nodded absently. “Is that his girlfriend?”
“I've never seen that woman before.” Cash shook his head, his forehead slightly furrowed. “And it's not like the fish has been known to have a steady woman. He’s always chased after Kodiak.”
I tilted my head, contemplating his words as I stirred my soda with the straw. “Why do you keep calling him ‘fish’? He some sort of Alaskan mobster?”
He waved off my comment and poured himself a shot of whiskey.
“Well?” I pushed as he downed the shot.
I wasn’t going to let it go that easily. I was too curious. It didn’t help that I had nothing better to do. That cold house was too big and too lonely for me to deal with at the moment.
Cash raised an eyebrow as he set the shot glass back on the bar. “You really want to get caught up in our drama up here? My advice is to stay away. Once you know things, they can’t be unknown, Ellie.”
“Oh so cryptic, Cash,” I mocked. “You make it sound like I’m in some sort of horror film.”
“You don’t know the half of it, petite sugah.”
My better judgment told me to stay out. The devil on my shoulder said pry. I had time.
The little bell above the door rang again and the cold filled the room. Finding a seat by the fireplace was starting to sound like a good idea. I thought I knew cold before, but oh how wrong I was as I glanced over my shoulder.