Alaska Twilight Read Online Free Page B

obviously hadn’t cleaned up after himself. Haley exchanged a knowing glance with Denny.
    Haley and Augusta explored the rest of the cabin. The first bedroom was hardly larger than a closet and contained only two cots and a wooden table, which held a cracked washbowl and pitcher. It was a wonder someone hadn’t broken in and stolen the meager furnishings.
    “Nice,” Augusta murmured, a wry twist to her lips. She stepped into the room and dropped her satchel on the dirt floor. “We’ll take this one.”
    Haley glanced into Augusta’s face and noticed the dark circles under her eyes. “Are you okay?”
    “Of course. I’m just tired like everyone else. How about you? Are you going to hold up all right? This isn’t exactly Scottsdale.”
    “It’s only for twelve weeks. I can stand it.” In spite of her brave words, she wondered how she could get along without Nordstrom and Ann Taylor for a whole summer. No concerts or plays, no fine dining or museums. A dismal lump settled in her stomach.
    Her grandmother smiled. “At least the sales will be starting when we get home.”
    “You read my mind.” Haley forced a cheerful tone into her voice. “Which cot do you want?”
    Augusta shuddered. “Neither looks comfortable. Or clean.”
    “You can put your sleeping bag on top.”
    Augusta studied her face. “You’re taking this well.”
    “You haven’t got my bill yet.” She grinned and turned back to the common room, then went to find Kipp. “When do we meet with Tank Lassiter?” she asked.
    Glaze spiked Kipp’s hair, and every strand had been carefully placed for maximum casual effect. She supposed someone in the public eye had to think about those things. Kipp’s gaze skittered away. Even after only two days in his company, Haley was beginning to realize he only imparted as much information to his team as he deemed necessary.
    He waved his hand. “Let’s get this stuff put away, then we can worry about Lassiter.”
    “I don’t like the sound of that. Is he a problem?” She picked up a box of canned goods and walked to the cupboard with it. Numerous scars and wounds gouged the pine cabinets. She opened the doors and shoved items inside. The stink of dirt and mildew began to give her a headache.
    Kipp still didn’t answer her. A gust of wind blew in, and she realized the door was open. The cabin suddenly seemed darker. Haley turned to see a big man blocking the doorway. His shoulders spanned the breadth of the door. Shaggy black hair fell across his broad forehead and looked as though it needed a trim. He wore jeans tucked into hiking boots and a red and black wool shirt. Paul Bunyan, transplanted from Minnesota to Alaska. His scowl was as dark as the shadow he cast across the room.
    Oscar yipped at him once, then scooted behind her. The dog peeked past her pants leg at the big man. When the man’s gaze raked her, Haley took a step backward and nearly stumbled over her dog. She wouldn’t want to get on this guy’s bad side.
    “Good morning, Tank. The team was just asking about you.” Kipp held out his hand with a winning smile.
    This was Tank Lassiter, the famous wildlife biologist? He looked like he’d be more comfortable hewing trees than documenting the bear population. His hands were as big as bear paws, and she wondered what size shoe he wore. At least a fifteen , she thought, eyeing his boots. Maybe his name was a nickname and not his real name. He looked like a tank. Dangerous and impervious to hurt.
    Tank’s dark brows lowered over piercing blue eyes, and he looked even more ferocious. “You lied to me, Nowak.” He threw the paper in his hand to the floor. “You said you were here studying the effect of global warming on the bears’ hibernation patterns. Now I find that’s not it at all. You’re here to do a documentary—see the great Kipp Nowak hand-feeding the bears? See how strong and brave he is? See how bears aren’t dangerous?”
    Kipp didn’t wince at his derisive tone. “I