I used to say nothing good happened in my life during my years in Alaska other than my brotherhood, but I have to amend that to include Smith’s Brewhouse. Clay Smith started the popular watering hole and passed it down to his son, Albert. Jed—a few years older than me—used to bubble over with excitement when he talked about becoming the third-generation Smith to work the Brewhouse with his sister.
All of that changed when he flew to Florida for a vacation and fell in love with Dean Malone, the irony of all ironies being that Dean was Kara Malone Jennings’s older brother. Two brothers of two best friends falling in love with one another before they died together. Their love was both beautiful and tragic. For a long time after Jed and Dean died in a car accident, I figured it was life demonstrating once again that nothing good came for free—like the night I won the belt and lost Maris. Here was her way of simply slapping down a remarkable man who had managed to finally find his soul mate but lost his life.
As Brad navigates the roads back into Juneau, I think back to the things Jed told me about Dean that most appealed to him. “Let’s be honest, Nick. Really it was lust at first sight. The man’s a hunk.”
I about fell out of my lounge chair in the beach house we rented in Malibu that year. “How utterly shallow of you, buddy.”
“Takes one to know one.” I grinned, taking no offense. But Jed went on. “But every day, he gives so much of himself to so many people. He lives with his sister and his nephew—who you’d love if you had a chance to meet them.”
As I had just started building up the training facility and the kids workout center, I took Jed’s comment at face value assuming he meant someday. I didn’t understand the clues he was dropping. Then, “What else?”
“Dean doesn’t hide who he is. He says what’s on his mind. He’s just out there, and you can take or leave him. He doesn’t get offended by it.” Jed became thoughtful. “I know it took Maris aback at first.”
“What do you mean?” I immediately became protective.
“I mean my sister’s too used to men saying one thing but meaning another when it comes to our species. She’s too suspicious. She’s too young to be this cynical about men. I hate that for her.”
“There’s no wrong age for her to be cynical about men,” I countered.
Jed laughed at my joke, but I felt his disapproval. In the back of Brad’s vehicle, I reach up and clutch Jed’s cross. “Especially when I likely caused most of it?” I whisper, as we drive through the streets. I doubt I’m overheard sitting behind Rainey with the music on.
The neon sign declaring our arrival at Smith’s has her turning the volume down and facing me. “Please don’t make a big deal when we get inside,” she pleads.
“I wouldn’t do that.” Except, I was contemplating it. The urge to wrap my arms around Maris and hug her is riding me hard.
“Nick, despite my dogging you all day, you’re you.”
“And that means?”
Rainey rolls her eyes at me as Brad parks the vehicle. “It means that most of Alaska claim you as their native son since you won the title belt, despite your disdain for our state. I suspect the moment the word goes out that you’re in the bar, your reason for seeing Maris will be just a memory once your fans arrive.”
“I’m not going to forget why I’m here,” I say, affronted.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” she retorts.
Brad chuckles.
I flick him off. Thank God Charmaine isn’t here. I’d owe her my next paycheck for the amount of swearing I’ve done since I got here.
“Get it all out now,” Rainey warns as she opens her door. “I give you thirty minutes tops to be Nick. Then you’d better be prepared to be Nick Cain.” Hopping out, she heads inside the Brewhouse without waiting for me or Brad.
“Come on, it’s not really going to get that bad. Is it?”
“No. But Rainey’s not wrong either. We’re going to be swamped with people trying to get to us. Hey! I have an idea.” Brad begins frantically texting.
“What are you doing?” I lean forward and try to peer over his shoulder.
“Inviting the guys from the boat down for a drink. This way, they won’t fawn over you like you’re a rock star, and you’ll be well insulated.”
“That’s genius. Tell them I’m buying.” I encourage this idea. I’d rather answer fight questions all night from the guys who work from Brad than be groped by groupies. I’ve been done with that shit for a long while, despite the trash talk I’ve tossed at the guys over the years. To be honest, with my work at Razor, it’s been way too damn long since I found a woman even remotely attractive. They don’t have the same fall of dark hair or spark in their indigo eyes. And I’m damn tired pretending I don’t care about what the people I care about think about me. I care too much; I just don’t know how to regain the respect I lost with them.
Brad’s fingers finish moving. “Done.” Pings start coming in. “Looks like you have a half hour to keep your gloves up.”
“Or avoid a rear naked choke,” I agree.
“Yeah. I’m going to need a drink for you to explain that one.” We both slide out and head inside.
The bouncer’s eyes widen comically when Brad and I step up in front of him. “Man, huge fan. Major.”
I shake his hand even as he stamps the back of my hand without checking my ID. “Appreciate it.”
“Amaq, can you keep a sharp eye for my crew? They’re going to be joining us by the pool table.” Brad’s eyes drop to the kid’s and my still-joined hands.
“Sure thing, Brad.” With another pump of my hand, he lets it go. “Nice to meet you in person, Mr. Cain.”
I nod, smile, and turn. But then it’s me who’s starstruck.
Because there she is.
Long dark hair tumbling over a body any man would die for the right to touch that’s wrapped in a tight black bodysuit. Nothing takes away from her magnificent face except the blank look she’s aiming in my direction. Giving in to temptation, I step forward and wrap my arms around her. Tugging her against my chest, I inhale her scent—musky, wild, daring. It’s simply Maris.
“Stop, Nick. Let me go.” Maris squirms in my arms. Heat rushes into her cheeks
I bend my head and whisper in her ear, “Not quite yet.”
“You’re making a scene.”
Not even close. “Would you believe me if I just wanted to tell you I’m proud as hell of what you’re doing for that little boy?”
She jerks back, and her lips part. She wets the lower one, her tongue darting out to slick it down. God, this woman could tempt a saint, and no one ever claimed I was one of those. “No, Nick. Not for a second.”
My lips curve in the first real smile since the last time I saw her. Little Mari Sunshine, my ass, Jed. I recall his nickname for his sister. Woman’s as cantankerous and distrusting as ever. “Good.” My arms tighten for just a heartbeat more before I let her go to follow Brad.
Maris