Grizz glanced over his shoulder, a soft smile on his face.
Dani watched the man in the kitchen. His bulky frame seemed out of place in the tiny area. “You like to cook?”
He turned around. “I guess. I have a freezer, and I love to grill in the summertime.”
She never would have expected a man like Grizz knew his way around a kitchen. But his soup was fantastic.
Dani heeded his advice and showered. The hot water washed away the dirt and mud but did nothing to scrub away the images of finding Josh dead in the woods.
After the shower, she headed to the bedroom. Her original clothes were folded neatly on the dresser. For a rough-looking guy, he kept a neat house. Cooked. Did laundry.
She sank onto the bed, which had a cozy comforter for a bachelor’s reclusive cabin in the woods. Something she hadn’t noticed before—because she hadn’t been willing toseeit. Smells from the kitchen called to her.
Grizz had a Bible on his nightstand. Why did he have this? She picked it up. The pages were worn, and she noted the name on the cover.Matthew Grizz.
Was this Grizz’s first name? She flipped through a few more pages and determined that Matthew must be Grizz’s grandfather, since this used to be his family’s cabin.
Too bad. She really wanted to solve the mystery of Grizz’s first name. But she had learned that Grizz was surprisingly sentimental. After all, he’d saved his grandfather’s Bible.
She opened the old book with yellowing pages, and it fell open to a chapter called Philippians. She read the highlighted verse.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
She sighed. “Except keep my friend alive.”
She tossed the book onto the bed.
All things?
If life had taught her anything, it was that it was up to Dani to make things happen. That was what made her a successful reporter.
Win at all costs.Wasn’t that the mantra her dad had drilled into her head growing up?
Now she was out here alone, with no way to call her parents and tell them she was still alive. Fatigue weighed her down. When was the last time she’d called them, or even had lunch with her friends?
She had to get out of this funk. Talking to Grizz might lighten up her dark thoughts about God, death, and the dead body that haunted her mind. But it was hardly going to solve any of her problems.
Yet she found herself drawn to the big muscle man.
She headed out the front door to the porch. The rhythmic sound of the beating raindrops soothed her soul, even if the peace didn’t last. It never did. But being out in the woods, so remote, with no cell phone or internet, she found herself not missing those things.
She looked out beyond the railing. Trees rose up a hill in the distance, but the clouds hung low, creating a fog. The sun still shone brightly for five in the afternoon. She wore another one of Grizz’s sister’s hoodie sweatshirts that had the University of Alaska emblem across the front. Her own jacket hadn’t survived.
When was the last time she’d felt this alive? At home, it was go go go. She never stopped to take in the scenery. Alaska was bringing out a different side of her—one that she hadn’t known she possessed. Here, she didn’t have to be driven to perform.
She could just…rest.
Grizz stepped outside with plates and cups in hand. “I made us some lunch.” He motioned to another tree-stump end table, where he set two full mugs of coffee. “I poured you some coffee. Hope you like venison. I’ve got a ton of deer meat in my freezer.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had venison.”
The rain had a sweet aroma, but it was another scent that sparked her interest. What was it? Aftershave?
“Thanks for everything, especially the coffee. I’ve got to maintain my perky disposition somehow.” She slid into the rocker next to Grizz and tried not to check him out in his tight T-shirt and jeans. How did he find clothes in his size?
“Yeah, it must be hard being on camera all the time. I’d never make it as a reporter.”
She took a bite of the delicious stew. The flavors melted in her mouth. “This stew is amazing.”
