A Match Made in Alaska (9 page)

“If you’re trying to flatter me, it’s working. Don’t stop there,” she said in a light tone. “Keep ’em coming.”

“Well, for starters, you’re the prettiest librarian I’ve ever seen,” Declan said. He smiled at her, appreciation evident in his gaze.

She shook her head, not quite believing him. “Am I the only librarian you’ve ever seen?” she asked.

“Of course you’re not.” Declan frowned. “I’m not some local yokel who’s never left Alaska. I’ve lived a little. I’m sure you’re used to being told you’re stunning.”

Not exactly
, she wanted to say. She deliberately let Declan’s statement sit out there unanswered. The truth was, she wasn’t used to flattery or sweet words about her looks. Other than her ill-fated romance with Todd, she had barely dated.
Once bitten, twice shy.

Annie couldn’t stop smiling. His compliments meant more to her than she wanted to admit to herself. She had missed being in his presence over the past week. In such a short time he had grown on her, and not seeing him had caused an ache inside her. She’d even wondered if Declan had been avoiding her.

It had been a long time since a man had told her she was attractive. And hearing it from his lips made her want to do cartwheels. There was something about Declan that was so endearing, even when she felt annoyed at him. It scared her a little bit that he had so easily crept past the defenses she had worked hard to build up.

And she worried that it meant so much to her to hear his sweet words. After all, Declan could never be more than a good friend. That knowledge felt bittersweet, but she knew it with a deep certainty.

She waved her hand at him. “Enough with the flowery words. You agreed to help me find the missing pieces from my family tree, so I can’t very well stop speaking to you.”

“Phew.” Declan wiped his hand across his forehead in an exaggerated gesture. “I’m glad I agreed to help you,” he said in a teasing tone.

She had no intention of allowing him to get off too easily, considering everything that was at stake. “But I can’t forget that we’re on opposite sides as far as the funding for the library is concerned,” she admitted.

“We may not agree on that issue, but please know that I’m always going to be rooting for you.”

“I appreciate you saying so, Declan.” Annie looked around at the crowd. “Everyone has been so encouraging about the library. And the library’s board of directors is very confident about getting more funds to support full-time hours. Dwight told me that there are upcoming fund-raisers to support the endeavor.” Her eyes twinkled. “He mentioned an ice-skating event at Deer Run Lake and a bake-off in the spring.”

“If I were you, I’d watch out for Dwight,” Declan leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“Why? He seems as harmless as a fly.”

“The man cannot be trusted. I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but do you know that he used to rob little old ladies of their purses?” Declan nodded his head at her, his expression somber.

Annie let out a whoop of laughter, then clapped her hand over her mouth. Declan reached out and removed her hand. “Don’t do that. Laughter should be shared. It’s one of the best sounds in the universe.”

She giggled. “That is not true about Dwight. You just made that up.”

Declan grinned. “I admit it. I did make it up. I had to get him back somehow for trying to turn you against me.”

“That’s not possible. Not after what we went through together.” She waved a finger at him. “But I am determined to make you see the value of a library. Every town needs one.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Declan scoffed.

“Knowledge is the key to life,” Annie said in her chirpiest voice. “Books unlock the world.”

“I guess I’m a graduate of the school of hard knocks. Everything I’ve learned in my life has come about through actual hands-on experience.” He shrugged. “I never went to college. I graduated high school by the skin of my teeth. But I aced every test I needed to in order to get my pilot’s license. That’s how badly I wanted to soar.”

From the sound of it, Declan had been living his life out loud. That’s what she wanted for herself. Adventures. Romance. A life beyond the walls of her beloved library. To reach out for that brass ring and grab hold of it for all she was worth.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Jasper’s voice rang out, interrupting their conversation. “Welcome to the official opening of the Free Library of Love.” He gestured to Annie to join him on the library steps. Annie scurried over to stand next to Jasper, and the town-council members assembled around him. “I’d like to introduce you to our newest resident, Annie Murray. With her leadership and vision, the residents of Love are going to have the best library in all of Alaska.” The crowd began to applaud loudly. Jasper turned toward Annie and held out the scissors. “I’d like to give you the honor of cutting the ribbon on this most auspicious day.” Annie took the scissors from Jasper’s hand.

Turning toward the crowd, Annie began to speak. “Thank you for entrusting me with this wonderful treasure. And a special thanks to everyone who helped me get this place organized. Sometimes it does take a village. I’m looking forward to every minute of being a librarian here in Love. Most of all, I’m very excited about getting to know all of you and introducing you to your next favorite book.” Annie held up the scissors and cut the ribbon. She blinked back tears.

It felt so gratifying to be standing here in Gram’s hometown on the precipice of something wonderful. Her gaze wandered to Declan in the crowd. He smiled at her. It felt as if she had been jolted by an electrical bolt. The feeling caught her off guard.

Dear Lord, please protect me from wishing for things that I know are way out of my reach. Declan O’Rourke may be the most fascinating man in all of Alaska, but he’s also the very last thing I need.

* * *

The Free Library of Love wasn’t so bad, as far as Declan could tell. It was bright and cheery inside. White walls with vivid splashes of color like an artist’s palette. Children’s artwork intermingled with pictures of the Alaskan landscape. Cozy couches and love seats were scattered around the interior. Balloons floated in the air, a celebratory touch that added a bit of whimsy to the day.

Declan wandered around the library, checking out the shelves, and searched the catalog in the computer. As he walked past the children’s room, he couldn’t resist stepping inside the moment he saw the scene taking place. Watching Boone’s four-year-old nephew, Aidan, being read to by his father warmed Declan’s insides. Dr. Liam Prescott had suffered the tragic loss of his beautiful wife, Ruby, two years ago. Since that time, Liam had struggled to get past his grief, all while raising his young son. Only recently had Liam reopened his medical practice and emerged from his solitude.

“Aidan sure looks happy,” Declan remarked.

“He loves books,” Liam said, looking up at Declan. “I can’t keep enough in the house to quench his thirst. At this rate, he’s going to be an early reader.” Pride radiated from Liam’s voice.

“That’s great, A-man,” Declan said, holding up his hand so Aidan could give him a high-five. The little boy slapped his hand, then went right back to reading his book with his father. Declan had to chuckle. He didn’t think he’d ever seen Aidan so engrossed in anything. Despite everything they had endured, there was a tight bond between father and son. Given his fractured relationship with his own dad, he envied the loving nature of their relationship. Seeing them together made him question his opposition to the library. If it could create something so heartwarming and wonderful for the people he loved, who was he to stand in its way?

“Grace and Boone are going to get a lot of mileage out of this place,” Liam said with a wide grin.

Declan hadn’t even thought about that. With Grace due to give birth to their first child at the beginning of the new year, she and Boone would both be seeking out advice on child-rearing as well as seeking out picture books to keep their little one entertained. “They sure will,” he agreed, swallowing past the feeling of shame rising up inside him. Once he’d met Annie and discovered that she was Love’s librarian, he had felt the first stirrings of regret about opposing the library. He had lobbied against this very place, and now that he was standing inside it and seeing it firsthand, he realized how wrong he’d been. And he was going to make sure everyone on the town council knew that he’d had a change of heart. He still had an eye on the town’s financial well-being and he would still continue to do so, but he no longer felt absolute certainty about his previous position regarding the library funding.

He began walking toward the exit, feeling enlightened by everything he’d been exposed to this morning.

Annie rushed toward him. “Declan! Are you leaving?”

“I’ve got some things to straighten out about the plane crash. An investigation is underway into the cause of it. They need to interview me,” he explained. “If this comes back as pilot error, that could put O’Rourke Charters out of business. I’d lose a lot of clients if I had that on my record.” Not to mention he still had to wade through insurance issues regarding the payout for replacing Lucy. He was feeling antsy about the fate of O’Rourke Charters. His whole future depended on this investigation and getting another plane. Operating O’Rourke Charters with just one plane would severely impact his revenue. And if he didn’t get over his sudden reluctance to fly, his company would be toast.

“If you need me to vouch for you, I will. You saved both of our lives.”

Annie’s encouragement gave him a boost.

“You’re still going to help me with my special project, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Of course I will, Annie. I know how important it is to you to find your roots.” He narrowed his gaze. “I’m still a little dubious as to how you’re going to accomplish it, but judging by your enthusiasm, something tells me you’re going to convince me.”

“Can we meet up tomorrow?” she asked, eagerness etched on her pretty face. “I’ll bring Gram’s journal and some notes I’ve taken.”

“I have a client I’m taking to Kodiak in the morning, and then I need to fill out some paperwork about Lucy, but I could meet you at the Moose Café at noon.” He prayed that he could summon the strength to get past his flying jitters and make the run tomorrow.

“I’ve seen the place, but I haven’t eaten there yet,” Annie said. “I’ve been brown bagging it for lunch.”

“Cameron sure knew what he was doing when he opened it. It’s only a five-minute walk from here, and it serves some of the best food in town.” He would never admit it to Annie, but he was a bundle of nerves about tomorrow’s flight to Kodiak. His first time up in the air after the crash would be tense.

“That’s great! I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said with a grin before turning back toward Aidan and Liam. She sat down beside the child and opened a book in her lap. Just the sight of the three of them made the wheels in his head turn. Liam was the type of guy Annie should be matched up with in Operation Love. Liam was stable and hard-working and dedicated to hearth and home. He had been an excellent husband to Ruby. Annie deserved someone who could give her a wedding ring and promises of forever.

Something had tugged at his insides at the sight of her so overcome with emotion during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He didn’t know why he was feeling such a kinship with Annie. Perhaps it was the plane crash. Maybe it was the way she seemed to embrace the world and all it had to offer. Perhaps it was because she was unlike any other woman he had ever known.

Who was he kidding?
The idea of her settling down with any bachelor in Love left him twisted up inside. It gnawed at him. And he couldn’t quite put his finger on why it left him feeling so gutted.

All he knew for certain was that she was starting to make him think about things he had stopped hoping for a long time ago.

Chapter Seven

F
or Declan, walking into the Moose Café was always a pleasurable experience. It was his haven from the day-to-day hustle and grind. And because of Cameron’s establishment, he had discovered that he really enjoyed lattes and the fancy coffee drinks that a person almost needed a degree to order. Tongue twisters, he called them. Boone teased him all the time about it, but he really was becoming a coffee connoisseur. Lately the café had expanded its menu to include mouth-watering sandwiches, soups, baked goods, pizza and a handful of entrées. He let out a chuckle. If he could afford it, he would eat every meal here.

The moment he walked in, he was met with unbridled enthusiasm by a few regulars.

“Here’s our ace pilot. I’ve been saying it all week, Declan. You’re a real hero! One of these days I’m going to let you take me up in the wild blue yonder with you,” a deep voice greeted him.

Declan paused in his tracks to say hello to two older white-haired gentlemen who were seated together at a table.

“Hey, Eli. Zachariah. How are you guys doing?” he asked, stopping beside their usual table.

“Doing pretty well. Can’t complain,” Eli quipped. “The good Lord woke me up this morning, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s a great day indeed.” Eli’s brown eyes radiated joy.

“I can complain,” Zachariah said in a cranky tone. His nose looked pinched as if he had just smelled something foul. “We’re still waiting for our grub. I’m not getting any younger sitting around here.”

“Look on the bright side,” Eli suggested. “At least you don’t have to eat by your lonesome. I’m a great conversationalist.”

“I’d much rather eat with a female dining companion,” Zachariah grumbled. “I’ve got a bone to pick with Jasper about all these young women coming to Love. When is the senior set going to be matched up with women in our age group?”

“Good point, Zach. You’ve still got a little life in you yet.” Eli laughed heartily.

“If Jasper can get a girl, I shouldn’t be sitting around like a wallflower,” Zachariah said with a frown. “You’ve got Cilla.”

Declan tried not to laugh. Eli and Zachariah were cronies of Jasper. Eli had been happily married to his sweetheart since they were in their late teens. The three of them, along with his own grandfather, Killian, had grown up in each other’s pockets. They had formed a tight circle of friendship that went all the way back to their toddler years. When Jasper joined up with them, it was a rib-tickling, hilarious spectacle.

“Enjoy your lunch, boys,” Declan said as he made his way toward a table in the back. If Annie wanted to discuss her grandmother’s diary entries, she might want a little privacy
. Poor
Annie
, he thought. She was clearly trying to fill a void after losing her beloved Gram. Latching on to the idea of finding a family member here in town was a direct result of her grief. Perhaps the best assistance he could provide would be to lend her a pair of listening ears. After all these years, it seemed unlikely that she would find those answers.

“Hey! Surprised to see you sitting all alone,” Cameron said as he walked up. “I can’t think of the last time you didn’t have a dining companion,” he said, handing Declan a menu.

“I’m meeting my friend Annie for lunch. She should be here any minute,” he announced, his lips twitching at the kooky T-shirt Cameron was wearing. It featured a moose drinking coffee.

“The new librarian?” Cameron asked. When Declan nodded, he continued. “Paige said there are already a dozen men or more clamoring to take her out. They said she can’t be pried away from the library setup, but once she has some free time, there are plenty of men who are going to try to woo her. Pretty impressive, huh?”

Declan slapped the menu down on the table. “Yep,” Declan snapped. “That’s the way of things around here lately. The minute a beautiful woman steps foot in town, the buzzards start circling.”

Cameron chuckled. “That’s a little harsh, isn’t it? I mean, this is all Jasper’s doing, if you recall. Operation Love was his grand plan. His call to action to save the town.” He shook his head. “You can’t blame men for wanting to get dibs.”

Declan scowled. “Dibs? Annie Murray is the town librarian, Cam. Not a toy to be claimed by some lonesome Alaskan bachelors,” he grumbled. He let out a grunt. “Dibs! Never heard of such a thing.”

Cameron gaped at him. “That plane crash might have scrambled your brain, Declan. I wasn’t saying anything even remotely like that.” He placed another menu down across from him. “Why don’t I leave you to ponder the menu? We have a new turkey and Swiss wrap with pastrami that folks are going crazy over. I’ll throw in two mochaccinos for you and Annie as a way of welcoming her to town. As far as I know, she hasn’t been in here yet.” Cameron shook his head at him as if he didn’t quite know what to make of him.

Declan muttered under his breath as he watched Cameron walk toward the kitchen. Maybe he had been a bit touchy about the subject of Annie. He felt protective of her, which made it hard for him to hear about half the male population in town drooling over her. She was so much more than a participant in Operation Love. Annie had heart and soul and depth. Some of these men knew little or nothing about how to court a woman. Declan laughed out loud. Their idea of a date was moose watching.

Just then he spotted Annie sailing through the door of the café. Once again, she was decked out in an outfit that harkened back to another era. Vintage clothes, if he wasn’t mistaken. She was wearing black tights and a black dress with red cherries printed on it. A red wool coat reached down to her knees. Once again, she was wearing her Lovely boots. She looked breathtaking.

He waved her over to his seat, frowning at several men who attempted to stop Annie from making her way toward him. They were full of smiles and flirtatious gestures. Just as he was about to stand up and escort her over, he watched as she smiled politely, then sidestepped them.

Declan jumped up to pull out Annie’s chair for her. A few hostile glares were sent in his direction by some of the male patrons. He couldn’t help but grin at them. The looks on their faces made him want to crack up laughing. So much for dibs.

“Good afternoon, Declan,” Annie said as she stopped at his table and sat down. “How was your flight to Kodiak this morning?” she asked.

He’d been hoping Annie wouldn’t inquire about his client. “Hi, Annie. Unfortunately I didn’t make the run,” he confessed.

She paused in the process of taking off her coat. Her dark lashes fluttered. “What happened?”

“I had a bad feeling about Ethel not being fit to make the trip. Spent the morning giving her the once-over and a little maintenance,” he said lamely. Backing out of a scheduled flight was a new thing for him. Never in all of his years of flying had he done so. And he wasn’t feeling good about it. Fear and anxiety had driven the decision, and he hated the way it felt to have done something so uncharacteristic for all the wrong reasons.

“She was fine last week when she flew us back to Love,” Annie noted. “Or so it seemed.”

“After what happened with Lucy, I had to make sure,” he said sheepishly. “At this point, the stakes are too high to make reckless choices.”

Annie leaned forward in her chair and put her arms on the table. “It’s okay to be a little reticent about flying again. It’s only natural that you would have some jitters after the crash.”

“That’s not it!” he said with a fierce shake of his head. “I can’t risk a plane malfunction. Not when I’m down to one plane,” he insisted. He could hear the hard edge to his voice. Why couldn’t he just admit to Annie that he was nervous to fly again?

Annie bit her lip. “I don’t want to overstep, but you seem...troubled about something.”

How in the world could Annie read him so well?
He’d been doing his best to keep a lid on his chaotic feelings. Her steady gaze let him know she wasn’t going to be pacified if he shrugged off her concern. “I had a rather disappointing conversation with the insurance company,” he admitted. He drummed his fingers on the table and looked down. “Because I changed my policy a few months ago, the payout from the insurance company is going to fall short of what I need to buy another plane.”

“Oh, Declan,” Annie said, her tone infused with empathy. “Is there any way to bridge the gap between the insurance payout and the cost of a seaplane?”

“I have to be honest.” He ran his hand over his face as the enormity of the situation crashed over him. “I don’t know how I’m going to make up the difference. It’s only been recently that we’ve begun to bring in a steady income and provide a salary for another pilot. Sadly it hasn’t allowed me to shore up my savings account.”

That was putting it mildly. His savings account was paltry at best. If he thought about it any longer, he wasn’t sure he could keep his head up. Everything he had worked so hard to achieve hung in the balance. And it scared him. Who was Declan O’Rourke without his aviation company? All this time he’d been trying to build something for himself, a legacy that would help him stamp out the darkness of his past.

“I wish there was something I could do to help,” Annie said. A sad expression was etched on her face. She bowed her head. “I’m going to put my thinking cap on and pray about it. That’s what I always do when something seems insurmountable.”

He reached across the table and lifted her chin up. “Hey. It’s not the end of the world. I’ll land on my feet. I always do. Prayers are always appreciated, though,” he said in a lighthearted tone.

Never let ’em see you cry
. After a lifetime of living by that credo, it was hard to let it go, especially since the thought of being vulnerable in front of Annie terrified him. Even after his mother’s death, he had stuffed all those feelings down and buried them. Somewhere along the way, he had learned that showing vulnerability was a weakness.

“Hey, Declan! Sorry that it took me so long to come take y’all’s order!” Sophie stood beside their table with two mochaccinos in her hands. She also was wearing the official Moose Café T-shirt with a big-eyed moose on it.

Declan felt an immediate sense of relief when Sophie showed up at the perfect moment. She diffused the heavy tension that had been lingering in the air.

Sophie placed the drinks down on the table. “These are on the house, per Cameron’s instructions.” She flashed a huge grin in Annie’s direction. “Howdy! You must be Annie Murray. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Sophie Miller. And believe it or not, we’re neighbors at the Black Bear Cabins.” She stuck out her hand. Annie reached out and shook it vigorously. I’ve been meaning to drop in on you at the cabins, but my work schedule has been crazy lately. I’ve been working the early-morning shift.”

“Nice to meet you, Sophie,” Annie murmured. “Hazel mentioned we were neighbors. No wonder we haven’t crossed paths. Most of my waking hours have been spent over at the library.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’d love to catch up with you, Annie, when I have some downtime. I can give you some pointers on life in a small fishing village and how to make a smooth transition to Alaskan living.” She looked around at the bustling crowd of diners. “Let me take your order before this place erupts into chaos. What’ll it be, folks?”

Annie looked at Declan. “Why don’t the two of you suggest something since this is my first time here?” She swung her gaze back up to Sophie. “Any specials?”

“Lots of specials. Today we have a really nice halibut chowder, a Reuben sandwich with polenta fritters, caribou stew in a bread bowl and turkey-lime burgers with sweet potato fries,” Sophie recited off the top of her head.

“And there’s always reindeer pizza,” Declan said. He rubbed his stomach with appreciation.

Annie wrinkled her nose. “I think I’ll pass on the reindeer pizza. At least for now,” she said.

Sophie winked at her. “It’s an acquired taste. If people had told me a year ago that I would enjoy reindeer pizza, I would have called them all kinds of crazy.”

“The halibut chowder sounds perfect,” Annie said. “I’m starving.”

“And I’ll have the Reuben sandwich,” Declan said, scooping up the menus and handing them to Sophie.

“Coming up in a jiffy,” Sophie chirped as she walked away.

Annie’s gaze trailed after Sophie. “She’s quite the whirlwind.”

Declan let out a throaty chuckle. “She’s a sweetheart through and through. Not a single mean bone in her entire body. Like yourself, Sophie came to Love to be a participant in Operation Love. She’s really found her groove as a barista and waitress here at the café.”

“She’s like a burst of sunshine,” Annie said, her voice filled with awe. “That’s priceless.”

Declan took a swig of his drink and let out a sigh of appreciation. “Cameron sure does know how to make a mean mochaccino.” He placed his drink back down. “So, why don’t you tell me about your search? How’s it going?”

Annie bit her lip. “I don’t want to bend your ear about my quest to find my roots when you’re in such a pickle.”

A pickle! Yes, he was definitely up a creek without a paddle at the moment. And it scared him. A heavy weight had been sitting on his chest ever since the crash. And after his discussion with the insurance agent, the harsh realities were beginning to set in. He knew far too well that this situation had the potential to derail O’Rourke Charters and rip apart his life in the process.

“You’re down to one plane and you’re experiencing...” her voice trailed off. She cleared her throat. “Mechanical difficulties?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

“There’s nothing I can do about it at the moment. Hearing about your search for your grandfather will serve as a distraction.” He jutted his chin in her direction. “Give me something else to think about.”

“If you insist.” She let out a little sigh and pulled a journal from her purse. She held it up for him to see. “I’ve studied this inside and out. Gram was a little inconsistent about writing in it every day, but her descriptions are so vivid that I feel like I was right there alongside her. She talks about her friends, life here in Love and falling for a young man she had known since she was a tadpole, as she calls it.”

Declan could see the excitement lighting up her face. Once again he was very conscious of how attractive Annie was, particularly when she smiled. It filled him with a sense of happiness to see her so delighted. He sensed that Annie wanted to be tied to people. Having lost her grandmother, she was clearly seeking meaningful connections. Finding her grandfather in Love would give her a sense of being linked to something solid.