Ash parked in front of Sorene’s house and reached for the potted bulbs of daffodils. The florist at Hearts in Bloom had explained that daffodils were a symbol of new beginnings. Perfect for them getting to know each other again. Plus, she’d be able to plant the bulbs outside the lake house when she took possession.

He hoped he’d be there to help.

Earlier, he’d heard from his doctor friend Gideon who’d said he was more than happy to examine Quinn tomorrow. It had been great catching up with him. Knowing Quinn would get a second opinion, whether he liked it or not, gave Ash hope that not all was lost. It reflected in the stride of his step as he vaulted up the porch stairs two at a time.

He didn’t like leaving his dad alone, but the wide, proud smile Quinn had given him when Ash informed him that he had a date with Sorene went a long way in reassuring him that he’d be okay. Quinn seemed to be getting better, happier, and livelier whenever Ash mentioned Sorene.

He knew that making his dad happy wasn’t a good reason to get married, but marriage to Sorene had always felt right. It felt right now, and if it made a dying man’s wish come true to see his son settled before he passed from this earth, well, that was just a bonus. Now if he could get Sorene to agree, sooner rather than later.

He knocked on the door and waited, the nostalgia of the moment not lost on him. How many times had he cooled his heels on this wide front porch, waiting for Sorene?

Too many to count.

A young woman opened the door. She had long, copper-colored hair with bourbon low lights, her mischievous green eyes smiling up at him.

“Zoe? Is that you?”

“Hey, Ash.” She spread her arms wide. “I’m all grown up now. Remember how you promised me a date when I was nine? Are you here to pick me up? Some notice would have been nice, but I can be ready in a few minutes.”

“Uh…”

“Zoe, leave him alone.” Sorene appeared wearing jeans and a burgundy sweater, a colorful scarf in jewel tones complementing the rich color that highlighted her sunny-blond hair and laughing green eyes. “Are those for me?” she asked, when Ash stood there like an ice sculpture.

“Uh…yes.” He handed over the pot of daffodils.

“These are beautiful, thank you.” Sorene set the pot on the entryway table and reached for a long, down coat in black.

He took it from her and helped her into it, causing Zoe to sigh. “He’s still so romantic. Ash, are you sure you don’t want to throw Sorene over and take me out?”

“Uh…” he responded intelligently again.

“Zoe,” Sorene warned. “Give the man a break. I don’t know what time I’ll be back, but I don’t plan on being out too late. If you see Dad, tell him we need to talk.”

“Yes, Mom.” Zoe cocked a hip and looked more like the young girl who used to hang on his every word.

Sorene looked as though she wanted to respond to Zoe’s sarcastic comment, but she held her tongue. “Let’s go.”

Ash smiled goodbye to Zoe and gladly closed the door, leaving her inside the house. Placing his hand at the small of Sorene’s back, he guided her to the SUV he’d picked up from the Pump House that afternoon with Bart’s help.

Not his proudest moment.

He opened the door and helped Sorene settle into the passenger’s seat before getting in himself. Once buckled in, he sat there for a moment before starting the engine. “That’s little Zoe?”

“All grown up with an attitude shiftier than a badger’s.” Sorene expressed a deep sigh. “She’s been a challenge.”

“Is she still in high school? How old is she now?”

“Nineteen, and just dropped out of college after one semester. It’s a sore subject right now, so let’s talk about something else. Where are we going?”

“I thought dinner in Ester, away from prying eyes and running mouths.”

“The Malamute Saloon?”

“Yes, and this time we won’t need to sneak in with fake IDs.”

“Well, there goes half the fun.”

The drive to Ester would take them roughly thirty minutes, plenty of time to catch up, then dinner conversation, a little dancing, more conversation on the way home, and then maybe Sorene would consent to marry him. Once on the highway leaving Heartbreak, he opened the get-to-know-you-conversation. “So, what are your siblings up to? Other than Zoe, as she seems to be a touchy subject.”

“You’re observant, I’ll give you that. Kennadee is a firefighter and works for the local volunteer fire department, and smoke jumps in the summer.”

“She hasn’t slowed down any then.”

“Nope, and her wild streak has no brakes. Catronia is a licensed masseur and yoga instructor and is currently working for Heart Springs Enteral Spa. But I see her opening her own place soon.”

“I caught sight of her at the Pump House. There seemed to be some history between her and Dawson.”

“If you want to live, don’t bring up his name in her company. I don’t really know what happened between them, but she refuses to talk about it. Kennadee and I thought she’d be the first to get married and then one day the relationship was kaput, freezing over as fast as it flamed. She told us if we wanted to remain breathing, not to mention him again. Did Dawson say something to you about her?”

“No, other than she’d grown into her claws, and he clammed up when I asked anything further. I think he still has feelings for her.”

“Then he needs to do something about it because Catronia is going through men like, well, an alley cat.”

He chuckled at the play on words. “Is Brey next or Ryder and Dare? I always forget who is older.”

“Brey. He’s in Nashville writing songs. He came home for Christmas, but I got the feeling Tennessee doesn’t agree with him. He’s seen a lot of success and recently won a CMA award for one of his songs that Carrie Underwood recorded.”

“Wow, I had no idea. Good for him. I remember him carrying his guitar everywhere with him and scribbling in a notebook. It seemed he couldn’t wait for school to be over with so he could get on with his life.”

“That about sums him up. He’s a lot like you, wandering feet and restless spirit. He couldn’t wait to see Alaska in his rearview mirror and took off the day after graduating, much to Dad’s disappointment. Dad always had dreams of running Wilde Log Homes with his boys, but he got saddled with me and Ryder, and now Zoe since I’m making her work there until she either agrees to return to college or gets another job somewhere else.”

Ash reached over and took Sorene’s hand in his, kissing her knuckles. “My feet no longer feel the need to wander and my spirit wants to make a life with yours.”

She sucked in a breath and let it out in a whoosh. Before he could say anything else about their future together, she started talking about Ryder’s brilliant architectural mind and Dare’s wild streak in a fast voice. He bit back a smile, liking that he unnerved her.

“And that brings you up to date with the Wilde clan,” Sorene finished.

“No, it doesn’t.” Didn’t she realize that while she’d told him about her siblings, she’d said next to nothing about herself? “What about you? What have you been up to in the last ten years?”

“Not much. Bandaging cuts, icing bruises, carpooling, enforcing curfews, breaking up fights, and disciplining mostly.”

“What about Jack?” Where was her father in raising the kids after Sorene’s mother died?

“Dad was pretty much useless the first few years after we lost Mom. His heart was broken. I didn’t know if he’d ever recover. Half the time I figured I’d come home from running one of the kids somewhere and find him dead of a broken heart. He’s doing better now. Actually, the last four to five years have been much better. Your dad had a lot to do with that. Quinn made him get out and do things that reminded him he was still alive and had a lot to live for.”

“I had no idea, Sorene. I wish I had been here to help you.” Guilt wheedled in. Why had he left her? She’d pushed him out of her life, but he could have insisted, stuck around until she’d forgiven him.

“It was what it was. I don’t regret taking care of my family. I love them.”

More than anything, he wished that she would someday love him unconditionally like that.

“Enough about me. I want to hear all about the places you have seen, the experiences you’ve had. Did you really eat deep-fried maggots in Africa?”

He saw through her tactic. Talking about the sacrifices she made to keep her family from falling apart after her mother died made her uncomfortable. He’d indulge her for now. Lord knew, he needed to lighten up the conversation. This was supposed to be a fun night out where they enjoyed each other’s company. The more she revealed, the more guilt he felt for his part in not being there for her.

“Deep-fried maggots are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. And yes, I did try them. I was too curious not to.”

“What did they taste like?” she asked her eyes wide in fascination.

“Kind of nutty. That wasn’t the worse thing I’ve eaten.”

“Did you try durian fruit? Is it as smelly as they say?”

“God, yes, it smells like hell yet tastes like heaven. It’s really indescribable. You need to try it yourself to really understand the complexities.”

“I thought you did a good job with the description in Traveling to the East.”

“You read that?”

“I’ve read all your books.”

“You have?”

“How else was I to live vicariously. I feel like I’ve been to all the places you have through reading your books.”

The realization that she’d read—what he considered travel journals—pleased him more than he thought it would.

“What was the favorite place you visited?” she asked.

“That’s easy. Finland. The people are friendly, the landscape is similar to Alaska, and the cheese—oh my God, the cheese.”

“Was there anyone special?”

“No. No one compared to you. I won’t lie and tell you that I’ve been celibate all this time, but no one has come close to you. And you? Has there been anyone special?” Please don’t mention Bart.

“I’ve been too busy for affairs of the heart. I shouldn’t admit this, as you might think I’m a loser, but this is the first date I’ve been on since our last date ten years ago.”

He swerved. Hands shaking, he pulled over to the side of the road and put the SUV in park. Turning to her, one arm on the steering wheel, he faced her. “You haven’t been with anyone since we were together?”

“No.”

“Please clarify. No one-night-stands? No hook-ups, no booty calls?”

“None of the above.”

“Christ, I’m not going to survive the night.” Shutting his eyes, he tried to visual something that would shrink his desire. God knew, with her declaration, he had no blood left in his head.

When he opened his eyes, he caught her smiling at him as though knowing the effect her words had. “Do you need me to drive?”

“Give me a minute.” He fell back against the bucket seat. “Talk about anything that will settle me back down to size.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I like this newfound power.”

“Not newfound. You’ve always been able to do this to me with just a sideways glance.”

“I have?”

“Did you ever wonder why I carried so many books in high school? I never knew when I’d need cover.”

“Seriously?”

“As serious as a heart attack. Since I’ve been home, the problem has arisen again and again. Carrying around books doesn’t really work at my age.”

She giggled.

“Sure, take pleasure in my discomfort.” He loved her light-hearted laugh and the fact that there had been no one special for her. Hope filled his chest and he felt better about his future than he could remember. Putting the vehicle in gear, he eased back onto the road. They finished the drive to the Malamute Saloon, keeping the conversation light.

Ash shared more of his travels with her. It became apparent that she had read all his books and closely followed his career. He wanted to take her to all the places she asked about. Show her the world. Be her world. The realization that he still loved her, had never stopped loving her, hit him like a snowplow.

The Malamute Saloon hadn’t changed in all the years he’d been away, with its scarred, wooden floors, old cable spool tables, and honky-tonk piano squatting in the corner of the small stage. A lone musician sitting on a barstool in the middle of the stage strummed his acoustic guitar tonight. Only a few tables were taken with quiet diners, where in the summer months the place would be ear deafening, with standing room only, and a full band playing.

The hostess led them to a table in the corner, and Ash pulled out Sorene’s chair for her. He’d learned a few gentlemanly ways in the last ten years.

They took a few minutes to look over the menu, even though they both knew it by heart. They each ordered the Malamute’s famous reindeer stew. Sorene paired hers with a red wine, and since Ash had sworn off alcohol after last night, he went with the homemade root beer.

While they waited for the food, Ash reached across the table and took Sorene’s hand. “We’ve talked of the past, what about the future?”

“I haven’t really thought about the future. I’ve been busy surviving the day to day.”

“Buying the lake house is a step into a new future for you. How do you think your family will take the news?”

She worried her bottom lip. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. My sisters will be fine with it. I’m sure Zoe will rejoice. It’s Dad I’m worried about the most.”

“It’s not like you’re leaving town.” Like he had. Guilt needled in. He should have returned home, helped his dad out more, been a true partner in Bleu Carpentry. Drawing up the plans for the lake house with Sorene had gotten him excited to work with his hands again. Build something tangible. While writing did produce a book at the end, the grueling work of sitting days on end typing into a computer didn’t show progress like building furniture.

“Why the frown?” She tilted her head in concern.

“Just wished I had been a better son to my dad.”

“Quinn loves you, and he’s so proud of your accomplishments.”

He tightened his hold on her hand. “What if I lose him?”

“What has he told you of his illness?”

“That it’s his heart.”

“That’s kind of vague, isn’t it?”

“Which is why I called Gideon. He’s coming out tomorrow to give me a second opinion.”

She smiled. “How is Gideon? You two were thick as thieves. I heard that he’s returned after becoming a big city doctor.”

“He’s currently looking around Fairbanks hoping to open a practice.”

“We could use a doctor here in Heartbreak. Right now, we only have the small clinic with a nurse practitioner running it. A lot of folks would love to have a doctor in town so they don’t have to make the trek into Fairbanks.”

“I’ll pass the information on to him.”

Their food arrived and they dug into the thick, rich stew and homemade sourdough bread lathered in butter. After they’d eaten, and the waitress cleared their plates, Ash took her hand again. “Dance with me.”

She glanced around. “No one else is dancing.”

“And your point is?” He quirked a brow in challenge and stood.

Nervously, she laughed, but she slid her chair back and followed him onto the dance floor. The musician tipped his hat and started playing “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley. Ash slowly pulled Sorene into his embrace, one arm wrapping around her waist, the other tucking their clasped hands over his heart.

“You feel so right in my arms,” he whispered into her ear. “Tell me you feel the same.”

“What if I’m only feeling memories of the past instead of something real in the present?”

“Close your eyes,” he instructed. “Don’t think of anything, just feel.” Slowly, he swayed, their bodies brushing teasingly against each other. “Let yourself believe that we can finally live the life we were always meant to live together.”