Jensen, page 1
JENSEN
BROTHERS IN ARMS IN ALASKA BOOK 3
KALI HART
Jensen is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 by Kali Hart
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without express written permission from the author/publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Epilogue
Brothers in Arms in Alaska Series
Sneak Peek TALON
1
NOVA
“I’m so excited you’re actually here!” My sister loops her arm through mine as we stroll around the corner of historic Main Street. Her vise-grip hold is understandable. I vowed I’d never come to Alaska. She’s probably afraid if she doesn’t latch on, I’ll disappear.
Isla thinks I’m here to meet my nephew…which I am. But she has no idea what I found in our late Mom’s journal, and I’m not ready to tell her. I don’t know if that’ll ever change. It depends what answers I find in Three Rivers.
“I can’t wait to show you around! We can do anything you want, just name it,” Isla gushes excitedly as we pass local businesses run out of cabins and quirky historic buildings. I spot a coffee shop and make a mental note for tomorrow morning. I don’t do mornings without coffee. It’s not Starbucks, but Moosely Coffee does look quaint and, dare I say, intriguing. “You’re going to fall in love with Three Rivers,” she continues, unaware that I tuned her out a few minutes ago.
“I’m not staying,” I say for the third time since we arrived in town. Isla picked me up from the Anchorage airport and drove a hundred miles north to the middle of nowhere. We’re surrounded by mountains, sketchy cell service, and wildlife. Already I’ve seen two moose, a caribou, and a black bear’s ass hauling itself into the woods. I get why our mom always wanted to spend time here, but I definitely miss my city conveniences.
“We’ll see how you feel by the end of the week. This place has charm in spades. It’s going to sucker you in, just you wait.”
Though it’s tempting to crumble her confidence about the matter, my rebuttal fails as my gaze locks on the historical society. The same building that’s in the background of the picture that fell out of Mom’s journal. One that promises that we might just have a grandmother in Three Rivers. But the photo is decades old. I shouldn’t get my hopes up. Our dad never wanted anything to do with us, so if the woman in the photo is still in town—or even alive—I know better than to expect tears and open arms.
“This is where I work,” Isla says, pointing to a red-painted, wood-sided building called The East Fork. One side advertises dining, the other a general store. The place is quirky and promises decades of history. If only its walls could talk...the history buff in me would listen for hours to their words.
“You like it?” I ask, genuinely curious. Isla’s always had the ability to charm the pants off a man living in an igloo. Me, not so much.
“I love it. I love Three Rivers. There are so many wonderful people here, and you get to meet the gang now.” She steers us toward the center of the long building, to the restaurant entrance. There’s a small four-stool bar behind the host podium, a room with tables to the right, and an entrance to the patio to the left of the podium.
“I’m curious to see Theron after all these years, mostly because he stole your heart and got you knocked up.” Isla’s husband used to be our next-door neighbor when we were just kids. He always looked out for us since our dad couldn’t be bothered. I was so young that I only have brief memories of Theron before he joined the military and left us behind.
Isla rolls her eyes, completely unaffected by my light sarcasm. She must be truly happy if she doesn’t retort. “You’re going to love Theron. And Brandon. Oh my gosh! We made the world’s most beautiful baby!”
Before I can make a snide comment, I’m ushered onto the patio and handed a kid before I even find a seat. It all happens in a quick blur. I fall instantly in love with my one-year-old nephew. His eyes are big, blue, and fixated on me. He stares at me with a momentary look of panic but a large man, who turns out to be Theron, tickles his side. Brandon immediately starts to giggle.
“Good to see you, Nova. You’re a little taller than you were twenty years ago.”
I can’t help but laugh at the ridiculous joke as I sink into a chair. Besides Isla and Theron, there’s another man talking quite intimately with a waitress who Isla tells me is Blaine and his wife Charmane. There’s also an empty chair beside me, making me curious if someone else will be filling it.
“We have an extra guest room,” Theron says as he possessively drapes an arm around my sister and pulls her against him. Man, they really are in love. Like head over heels, Cupid shot them right in the ass with his biggest arrow, in love. “You’re more than welcome to stay out at the cabin with us.”
“Believe me, I tried to convince her,” Isla says with a playful shake of the head. “She’s too city for that arrangement. Our cabin isn’t close enough to fancy coffee. Plus, Brandon’s sleep schedule is all out of whack. I want her to actually come back—or maybe stay.”
The waitress who’s had her hands all over Blaine—Charmane—physically blocks my ability to let my glare burn into Isla’s forehead. Brandon giggles, and I forget I’m even annoyed. Man, this kid is magic. It makes my heart squeeze to think Mom will never get to meet him. I look up at the sky, hoping she’s looking down at us and smiling. Brandon might have a great grandma right here in Three Rivers.
“Sorry I’m late,” a deep voice says before a large man fills the remaining seat beside me and Isla takes Brandon back. A quick glance at this new arrival to our table makes my pulse triple instantly. He’s a massive structure of attractive muscle. His woodsy cologne makes me a bit foggy brained. Just as I’m debating how to discreetly get a satisfying eyeful of him, a soft lick to my wrist diverts my attention. A dark, furry dog, with ears that stand straight up, is looking at me with blue eyes that are so gorgeous they should be illegal.
“Hey buddy,” I whisper, letting him sniff my hand and hoping the waitress won’t kick him out. He begs to be cuddled, and it’s taking every ounce of restraint to stay in my seat. “Who are you, huh? Did you sneak in here?” Another lick gives me permission to run my fingers along the back of his neck, and I let them sink into his soft masses of fur.
“Yogi, we talked about this,” the deep voice says, drawing my attention to his emerald eyes that could make a girl forget her name.
“Yogi,” I say to the dog, earning an enthusiastic tail wag. “Named for your ability to sneak food like a pro, I presume?”
“Watch your fries,” the man with the panty incinerating eyes warns, a light edge of humor in his words that matches a fleeting gleam. Biceps strain against his shirt sleeves. Dark two-day stubble is dusted along his jaw and neck. There’s a wildness in his deep green eyes that I could never hope to tame, but dammit, I suddenly have an all-consuming need to try.
“What can I get you, hon,” Charmane says, touching my shoulder. A subtle hint that she’s asked me this question before.
“Water.” The word comes out garbled because my throat is unusually dry. I clear my throat and try again. “Water. With lemon.” The waitress lifts an eyebrow at the request but nods and moves on to the next.
“You must be Isla’s sister,” the too-sexy-for-his-own-good man says to me, watching my fingers stroke Yogi’s neck. I can’t read what lingers in his expression, but I’m desperate to unravel the mystery.
“Nova.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Nova. I’m Jensen.”
I try to form another reply, but the words are trapped in my throat, so I just nod. Jensen. A name that’ll taste sweet on my tongue tonight when I’m all alone. The only reassurance that I have about this man not being an axe murderer is that he’s at this table, yet I’m drawn to him as if I’ve known him forever.
“Brandon, look!” Isla announces. “Uncle Jensen is here.”
My nephew goes bonkers with excitement, reaching for Jensen. I get it, kid. He’s magnetic, and the rest of us are just paperclips helpless to fight the powerful pull. Watching Jensen entertain my nephew like he was born to make that kid giggle is doing very funny things to my lady bits.
I came to Alaska to find answers, not fall in love. I squeeze my thighs shut, afraid I’m in big trouble when it comes to this man I literally just met.
2
JENSEN
As Charmane delivers our drinks, Isla slips Brandon out of my hands for a diaper change. I love the kid, but I’m not going to begrudge his mother that honor. I know what she’s doing. Isla hopes that by holding the kid I’ll suddenly want to have a bunch of my own. I can spoil everyone else’s kids rotten without needing to
But without Brandon in my arms, I only have a sweating mug of beer to distract me from the incredibly beautiful woman sitting beside me loving on my dog. I take a slow, but hearty gulp.
All my friends here are well aware of my resolve to steer clear of women and relationships. It’s a decision I made years ago after watching so many around me split up. It started with my parents’ nasty divorce, continued right on to my sister and her cheating piece-of-shit husband, and kept going. An endless string of unhappily ever afters. Hell, my best friend since basic, Talon, has been married and divorced twice—to the same woman.
But sitting next to Nova, I feel…challenged. Only a week ago, the group was teasing me about staying away from Isla’s visiting sister.
I’m not laughing now.
“You just get to town?” I ask, not wanting to be rude since I’m sitting next to her and she’s been so kind to Yogi. I wonder if she knows how many fries she’s not going to get to eat with that burger she ordered.
“An hour ago,” she says, lifting her water with a shaky hand. Dammit, I’m making her uncomfortable. I shouldn’t care. In fact, it’ll be easier to steer clear of her during her visit. But something deep inside me tugs to make a better impression.
“How long you in town?”
“A week.” She takes a generous sip, and I find myself oddly jealous of the rim of her glass. My gaze is unavoidably drawn to her perfect lips. Lips that I bet would feel amazing against my own, or around my cock.
“She tells me I’m lucky she’s staying at all,” Isla says from across the table, saving me from my dirty thoughts. “She swore she’d never come to Alaska for anything.”
“Had to meet my nephew in person. FaceTime wasn’t cutting it anymore,” Nova says, slightly more at ease talking to her sister. But there’s something in her tone that makes me suspect she’s not telling the whole truth. As if she’s omitting something. Leave it alone, Jensen. You don’t need this entanglement.
“I think she should stop fighting it and move here,” Isla continues, clearly ambushing her sister. “The historical society—”
“Not happening.”
Yogi flops down between us, leaning slightly closer to Nova’s chair than mine. He’s a complete lover unless threatened, but he’s never taken to a stranger like this before. It makes my heart beat all wonky for a few beats. When he licks her wrist, gently demanding more neck rubs, she doesn’t hesitate. Fuck, I’m in trouble.
Charmane tops off our drinks, sneaks Blaine another kiss, and hurries back to the kitchen. But the interruption is too brief for me to get my head on straight. I never should’ve agreed to this lunch. After I dropped off a load of custom furniture at the gift shop, I should’ve hauled ass home. No chance in hell I’d have met Nova if I was hiding out in my remote cabin.
“You want to come over to our place tonight, Nova?” Isla asks.
“I was hoping we could go to The Greatview. I’ve read all about it and its historical significance. I want to take it all in. Can we do both?” she asks, her eyes twinkling with excitement. She’s not staying with her sister. That detail shouldn’t matter to me, but for some fucking reason it’s on repeat in my head.
“Can’t tonight,” Isla says. “I have to work a double tomorrow and need some sleep. You know, whatever sleep I can get with Brandon’s interest in waking up in the middle of the night. But why don’t you come over for dinner and hang out? I’ll take you to the bar another night, I promise.”
Nova parts her lips and clamps them shut a couple of times, hinting that she’s trying to find the right words to tell her sister no. I don’t like the idea of her heading out to the local bar alone. Too many fucking handsy tourists this time of year.
“I could take you.” The words slip out before I have a chance to vet them. Where the hell did they even come from? I don’t do shit like this and for good reason. “Talon said he might get in tonight if he feels like driving straight through.” It’s a lie. He has something to take care of in Tok tonight, but I’m the only one who knows that. “I was going to wait for him there in case he shows up.”
“You’ll look out for my little sister?” Isla asks, an appreciative smile on her lips even as Brandon tugs hard on her hair. That kid has one helluva grip. No way that didn’t hurt like hell.
“I’m twenty-two you know,” Nova says in defense. “I don’t need anyone to look after me.”
“But you’ll need a ride back into town. Our cabin is a ten-minute drive away.”
Nova’s sparkling eyes dull. “Guess walking is out. Would suck to get mauled by a bear.”
“I’ll pick you up,” I offer, again wondering what the fuck is my deal. Everyone eyes me suspiciously, likely convinced I’ve finally met a woman who’s going to destroy my resolve to live a solitary life. They’re fucking wrong. I’m simply doing a favor for my friends. That’s what we do. We look out for one another, and that extends to family members. “I have a delivery to make a town over. I’ll pick you up on the way back to Three Rivers.”
“That’d be nice. Thank you,” Nova says, flashing me a quick smile. But she won’t keep eye contact. Probably because I make her uncomfortable. Taking her to a bar later is surely not the way to change her mind about me. But, at least she trusts me enough to accept the ride. “I wanted to rent a car, but I’d need to win the lottery to make that happen in Alaska. Geez, it’s expensive.”
“Certain things are, yes,” I say as Charmane brings out our food. “But if you can provide most of your own needs yourself, it’s not that big of a stretch.”
“You live off the land?” she asks, scratching Yogi behind the ears again, unaware he’s buttering her up to share her fries.
“Yes, I do.”
“Like hunt, fish, grow your own food?”
“Built my own cabin, haul my own water, gather my own firewood, too.” I empty my beer and lift the mug at Charmane to signal a refill. She studies me with an assessing twinkle in her eye, warning me she’s joined the club with the others. I’ll never fucking hear the end of this. Even if Nova leaves and never comes back.
You mean when.
“But I don’t make my own electricity,” I add, trying to shut my inner voice the hell up. “I did cheat on that one luxury.”
“I couldn’t imagine living without electricity.”
“You can’t live without your fancy coffee. No electricity would kill you!” Isla says with an infectious laugh that gets Brandon going too.
“I like my city conveniences. So sue me,” Nova says, tossing a fry to Yogi like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Fuck me, I think I’m in big trouble when it comes to this woman. If I had any sense at all, I’d take off hunting for the week. Maybe two.
Instead, I not-so-wisely volunteered to take Nova to the bar tonight.
Just the two of us.
What could possibly go wrong?
3
NOVA
The second I hear Jensen’s diesel truck snaking up the long driveway to Isla and Theron’s cabin, my heart starts to beat erratically. The man is sex walking, and I’m in a drought. I want to climb him like a tree. A naked tree.
“Good luck.” Isla laughs at me as we stand on the front porch, apparently reading my mind about Jensen.
“Gee, thanks. I thought you wanted me to stay in Three Rivers.” My sarcasm comes out in wobbly syllables. Damn this man and his all-consuming effect on my entire nervous system. My palms are sweaty as I nervously fixate on the black truck that’s quickly approaching. Maybe I’m using Jensen as a distraction to avoid the one, very important task that needs doing. Shit, I don’t care. The need to feel his hands on me has pushed its way to the top of my priority list.
