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with a pause at the door to smile and wave to Karla one last time.
    When Pasha turned her attention from the doorway back to Karla, she saw Karla, eyes moist, brush an errant tear from her cheek.
    Highly regarded as one of the best bush pilots around, Bryson had flown in Alaska for twenty-five years. Her father—also a noted flier—began her lessons when she first reached her teens. But weather conditions in Alaska often changed in a heartbeat, and many well-seasoned pilots had lost their lives in what the media described as fairly routine flights.
    “Routine” didn’t apply to bush flying, one of the world’s most dangerous occupations. Pasha had heard story after story of disasters and near disasters and had come to appreciate the dangers pilots faced every time they flew over such a remote, unforgiving landscape.
    “Has to be incredibly difficult to watch her head off,” Pasha said gently.
    “It never gets easier. Alaska demands the true measure of a pilot. I still don’t know how she does it. She’s the bravest woman I know.”
    Pasha smiled. “She told me once you were the bravest woman she knew.”
    “Did she?” Karla grinned.
    “Yup. Very early on, as a matter of fact.” Pasha pictured them in Bryson’s Cub. “We ran supplies to a kayak trip right after I got here, and I planned to finally meet you that night—remember?”
    “I do. Of course.” Karla smiled at the memory, too. “You’d been here, like…a week or two already, but I had gone to Atlanta for a friend’s wedding.”
    “Bryson had told me a lot about you. Honestly, she kind of mooned over you during that time. Said you’d never been separated so long. Adorable.”
    Karla laughed. “Isn’t she though, when she gets that puppy-dog look? We got a good-enough Internet connection a couple of times to cam, and I just melted.”
    “Anyway, I couldn’t wait to meet you. And I remember asking her to describe you in three words. She said “brave” first, for facing adversities, doing your job, and moving to Alaska to be with her.”
    A pinkish tinge infused Karla’s cheeks as she swept a hand lazily through her shoulder-length blond hair. “Well, I’d call the last one a no-brainer. I’d do anything and go anywhere for Bryson. And the other two words?”
    “Generous, and sexy.”
    Karla smiled in delight. “I’d pick…fearless, sweet, and, hmm, maybe resourceful…for her. Hard to choose just three. She’s an amazing woman.”
    “I envy you.” Pasha sipped her coffee. “I hope to find the kind of connection you two have with someone.”
    “You will. Believe me, true love seems to strike when you’re not looking.” Karla laid a hand on Pasha’s. “Maybe your strong feeling means your special someone is headed this way.”
    “Well, I’ll be working bookings today and organizing the trip files. Dita’s busy packing. Perhaps I’ll peruse the clients’ vital statistics and see if anyone seems promising.” As she said the words, a sudden warmth infused her, a sensation she instinctively translated as confirmation that she should proceed immediately. She jumped to her feet, her hands shaking. “See you later.”
    “Pasha?”
    She shrugged. “Following a hunch. I’ll let you know if it pans out.”

Chapter Three
     
    “Miss…” Emery narrowed her eyes to read the gate attendant’s nametag. “Spires?”
    The attractive blonde looked up from her computer, and as piercing blue eyes met hers, the lips beneath curled into a smile. “Sue. Can I help you?”
    Emery detected a hint of innuendo in the offer and decided to play along. If Plan A wasn’t to be, a possible very attractive alternative might have just presented itself. “I’m certain you can,” she replied, imbuing her tone with a similar subtlety. “I’d like to get to Bettles today, if possible.” She paused and rested one arm on the counter casually, maintaining eye contact. “Although I’m in no real rush. Can you recommend something here in