Alexa
I blew out a breath as I listened to a message from the loan officer who wanted to meet with me. The papers had been signed for the Doogle place. I’d used a piece of land Dad had given me as collateral since I was technically jobless. The entire process was a little confusing since I had to get a collateral mortgage. In the end, they needed my land to ensure the loan would be covered if I should default. There was probably some additional paperwork they needed signed.
Putting my phone in my pocket, I decided I’d call Morgan, the loan officer, tomorrow. I knew I was being a glutton for punishment; I wanted to spend more time with Drake. And I needed to talk to him about what happened, see if maybe there had been a misunderstanding with my dad. My heart was alive for the first time in what felt like forever.
After being in his presence for just a few hours, I missed him. I wanted to sit in my truck and take deep breaths, savor his spicy smell that was a mixture of him and the outdoors. Pure ruggedness.
From across the street, the wind blew some dust around, and the Twiner sisters waved from their bench. “Hello, Alexa.”
“Hey, Elvira and Sylvia. Taking the day off?”
Elvira patted her gray hair and straightened her old-timey gold-digging uniform. “A news reporter never sleeps.”
Of course. “Good to know. Found anything worth writing about?”
They giggled. “Want to give us an interview?”
“Maybe next time,” I called and hurried onto the wooden porch of the Red Onion. There was some sort of commotion going on inside. I walked in, and it was like a scene happening in slow motion. Drake had murder in his eyes as he moved toward a man like an unstoppable force.
“Lex deserves better than a piece of shit cheating bastard.”
In the blink of an eye, Drake punched the blond man. When he spun around, I gasped. Hollis. My eyes widened as Hollis fell off the stool. “Oh my! No!” I yelled.
Drake turned to me and dropped his fist. I ran to Hollis’s side as he held his face and moaned. He sat up, looking at the Alaskan madman. “What the hell, man? Is it a crime in Skagway to take a number?”
“Hollis, what happened?” I asked, looking at Drake with narrowed eyes. He was not a bit sorry for punching the town’s newest member and future doctor.
Hollis pointed to Drake. “That Neanderthal just punched me. For no reason.”
I winced as the bruise started to form. Hollis needed ice.
“Drake?” I prodded. There had to be some sort of explanation.
Drake folded his arms over his chest, which only made his muscles look larger. Definitely intimidating. “He was taking a woman’s number.”
Okay… I looked around to see if there was something I was missing. Samone and Jane were holding onto each other for dear life. Overdramatic.
I looked at Drake. “Why can’t Hollis get a woman’s number?”
Drake’s eyes narrowed. “A man doesn’t cheat on his woman.”
I paused, waiting for him to continue. When he remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line, it all started to click.
Oh no. He thinks Hollis and I are together.
Hollis stood. “No, he doesn’t. I agree. Good thing I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Drake’s eyes widened, and I realized people were staring at us. The Twiner sisters were “lurking” at the door and writing down everything that was going on. We had probably given them enough fodder for three special editions. No, more. “Can we go to your office, Drake? Get some ice for Hollis?”
Drake nodded, grabbing an ice pack from Crete on our way back to the office at the end of the hallway. The tidy, wood-paneled office was just as I remembered. I whispered to Hollis, “You okay?”
He moved his jaw and winced. “No wonder you wanted a doctor here if this is how they greet newcomers.”
“I think Drake thinks we’re together.”
Hollis nodded, probably already piecing together the situation. In the office, Drake handed Hollis the ice pack, which he put on his jaw.
Drake began to speak, but I cut him off, more than a little agitated. “You owe him an apology, Drake. Hollis and I aren’t together. We have never been together. Why would you think that?”