Read Online Alaska Heart by Christine DePetrillo - Free Book Online Page B

things he doesn’t tell her to do, like save his life.” Gwen scanned all my books into her computer at lightning speed and handed me a receipt.
    “Save his life?”
    “Oh, I’ll let him tell you that one. It’s a good story. Could have had a tragic ending. Real tragic. But Gypsy here prevented that.”
    I studied the dog still sitting obediently beside me. Did Dale tell her to do that?
    “Here you go, Alanna.” Gwen pushed the books toward me. “Books can be kept for two weeks, but if you’re going back to New York before then, I’ll need them back sooner.” Gwen still had her friendly smile on, but if someone abused her books or didn’t bring them back on time, I’d wager she’d get vicious.
    “I’ll have them to you before I leave. Promise.” I held up my right hand.
    “Very good. Enjoy Alaska, dear.”
    “Will do.” I already was.
    I took my books and looked at Gypsy. “You coming or what?”
    Gypsy let out a soft bark as she trotted after me. As soon as we made it outside, my heart thumped erratically in my chest at the sight of the black pickup truck and the man leaning against its tailgate. The sight of him warmed me from the inside out. It could have been thirty below outside, and I wouldn’t have felt a thing.
    “You stalking me?” I pointed a finger at Dale.
    “Maybe.” His grin was impish.
    “I’m supposed to have dinner with a handsome, potentially dangerous sled dog racer in an hour. I don’t know what he’ll do if you abduct me.”
    “Oh well,” Dale started as Gypsy sidled up next to him, “I’ll have to follow you to where you’re having dinner with this handsome, gentle-as-a-kitten musher and continue my stalking in private.” He took a few steps closer to me, and my pulse reached an all time high.
    “You don’t blend in enough to be a stalker.” I shuffled around in my bag for my car keys. “You’re too noticeable.”
    “Noticeable? What’s that supposed to mean?” Dale shifted to lean against the driver side door of my car so I couldn’t open it. I stared into the greenest eyes I’d ever seen, framed with long, feathery lashes that brushed his cheeks when he blinked.
    Shaking myself out of my momentary hypnosis, I said, “Number one, you’re like famous around these parts for winning the Iditarod. Number two, you’ve got this intelligent dog that people have to stop and marvel at. And number three…” I nudged Dale out of the way so I could open the car door. He fought back playfully, his hands resting on my waist briefly before he admitted defeat and stepped aside.
    “What’s number three?”
    I tossed my bag and books into the passenger seat and turned to face him. “Number three is that you, sir, are ridiculously attractive.” I folded my arms across my chest and looked him over approvingly. Another move I learned from watching Meg in action. Oh, how I wish she could see me now. I was like a different person around Dale. Smooth, confident, interested. I hadn’t found anyone worth the effort in New York, but it was easy with this guy. I didn’t want to be invisible around him, to him. “You stand out with those green eyes of yours.”
    “Do I now?” Dale puckered his lips in consideration. “I suppose it takes a ridiculously attractive person to recognize another ridiculously attractive person.” He tugged on the end of my hair, and for a moment he was so close to me the woodsy smell tickled my nose again. I closed my eyes, drawing it in.
    “Listen, it’s been lovely chatting with you here, but I do have to be off to my dinner meeting. I’ve been looking forward to it all day. I don’t want to be late.”
    “No, that would be rude. You don’t want to get started on the wrong foot with this guy.”
    I shook my head as I closed the car door. I mouthed the words “see you,” and Dale gave me a wave before opening the passenger door of his truck for Gypsy.
    I raced back to Moose Point, and hurried to my room, a levity in my step that was so