Dani shivered. The senator could have killed her. The same way she’d been inches from death so many times since she’d arrived in Alaska.
God had done the impossible. He’d sent Grizz.
If her hero hadn’t gotten there when he had?—
A helicopter landed with more FBI agents. Radios squawked and a local news crew pulled up on ATVs, their network windbreakers flapping in the mountain breeze. People raced around her, on a mission. After all, there was still one container of a biological weapon unaccounted for.
But she couldn’t shake the daze. Because despite the continued threat to national security, her job here was done. She’d leave Alaska and go home.
Except a little piece of her didn’t want to leave.
Grizz walked up to her as she stood by the tree line, taking in all the action. She should be the one reporting this. Not that she was in any shape to be on camera. Blood caked her wrists from the zip ties Deville had used. Her hair was matted, and she had another hole in her shirt.
She sighed. Grizz looked at her. “What is it?”
“These bootsareridiculous. What was I thinking?”
“I think your boots are a perfect reflection of you. They survived. They’ve been dragged through the mud, and you are still on your feet. Those boots are resilient and don’t know when to quit.”
“You’re right. I don’t know when to quit.” She sighed. “And I’m not giving up on us. You’re not getting rid of me that eas?—”
His lips met hers, cutting her off mid word and silencing her mind. Warmth chased the Alaskan chill away. She sank into his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. His beard tickled her chin, but man, could this guy kiss. His fingers tangled in her hair.
She might be going home to DC, but her heart had made a home here in Alaska.
With this man.
He moved back an inch, his muscular arms still wrapped around her. “I’m so sorry I walked out on you. I know your heart. You’re more than just a story. The truth is, I just thought that I couldn’t compete with your fancy DC life.”
“You don’t have to compete. I thought I knew what I wanted. But I was wrong.”
“So, don’t you want to be out with the reporters? This story is yours. You lived it—earned it. You should be the one to break it to the world. If it wasn’t for you coming up here to investigate after the FBI’s hands were tied, who knows how much worse things might have been?”
She leaned up and kissed Grizz again. He tasted like dirt and salt, but she didn’t care. They’d been through the wringer together, and that dirt streak across his forehead was a badge of honor. One that she wore too.
She took a step back and placed her hands on his chest. “Maybe it’s time I tell a different kind of story. One about the hero hotshots who rescued me and saved the day.”
“Ah-hem.” They hadn’t noticed Rio approach them. “Sorry to interrupt, but—” He pointed to a group of cameras perched at the edge of the driveway. Instead of pointing at the senator’s house, the evening news would now have Dani and Grizz’s kiss playing on an endless loop.
“Oops.” Dani should feel embarrassed, but there was something about the Alaskan air that made her not care. Or maybe it was the person she was with.
Rio looked like he was about to smile as he stared at them. “Well, I need to borrow Grizz to get his statement.”
Grizz kissed her hand and let it go. “I’ll meet you at base camp.”
Dani couldn’t take her eyes off the man as he ran toward Kane and Sanchez. She and Rio walked toward the line of reporters. One man broke rank and charged her way.
Her boss. James Smythe.
She smoothed her hair down with her hands. How had he gotten here so fast?
“I came as soon as the FBI called to let me know about Josh.” They let a silent nod of understanding pass between them. “The police have recovered Josh’s remains,” James said. “The family is planning a service in a week.”
And then, just like that, she was back to work. Investigative reporter Dani Barlowe for International News Network.
“I’ve got you an exclusive INN interview first, where you’ll get to tell about how you not only uncovered a terrorist plot but also escaped capture and survived the wilds of Alaska. Throw in a bear story or two. The viewers are going to love you. And that lumberjack you were making out with. Disgraced reporter heads to Alaska to clear her name only to uncover a deadly terrorist plot funded by Senator Deville. But the bigger story is, did you find love while running from gunmen? This story sells itself. I can’t wait to put you on a press junket, giving your eyewitness interview to all the news outlets. How fast can you get to DC? Will your new boyfriend give us an exclusive interview?”
James’s rapid-fire statements made Dani’s head spin. Or maybe it was the chloroform still wearing off.
