Melting His Alaskan Heart Read Online Free Page A

the food. Maybe she could convince him to eat with her before the interview. No, she couldn’t do that. What if he changed his mind? She needed to strike while the iron was hot. So cliché, but so true. She walked through the lobby. Still no sight of Dane.
    Conversations she’d listened to about the Stanley Cup-winning team captain spun to the forefront of her disorganized thoughts. She tried to think about the game of hockey instead of the man. He couldn’t be the team captain if he didn’t have some redeeming qualities. Integrity, leadership, and honesty came to mind. The coach of the Alaska Fury wouldn’t have him as captain if he didn’t possess a big dose of reliability, and that had to include sticking to your word. Right?
    Carly strode through the lobby again looking for his knight costume. Her heart beat faster as she recalled her meeting with Harv. Dane wouldn’t back out on his end of the deal, would he? Finally, the desk receptionist asked, “Excuse me, is there anything I can help you with? You look lost.”
    “I was supposed to meet Dane, a costumed knight out here, from the party. We said five minutes. Maybe I’m early or he’s late.”
    “Do you mean Dane Forrester?”
    “Yes.”
    “I saw him not too long ago. He was headed toward the west bank of elevators.”
    “Thank you very much.” Carly briskly walked to the west side of the hotel. She reached the wall of elevators and before she could decide what to do, Dane stepped out and almost ran smack into her.
    “Excuse me.” He placed his hand on her elbow like he might stumble if he didn’t.
    “There you are. We were supposed to meet in the lobby. I was afraid you’d left.”
    “Me, leave? Never.” He pointed to his chest. “I went to my room for a minute, is all. I needed to readjust my chainmail.”
    “Uh-huh.” She nodded and couldn’t decide if his sarcasm was genuine. “You weren’t running away from me, were you?”
    “And if I was running, I didn’t get very far.” He placed his hand at the center of her back and guided her toward the lobby.
    His warm masculine essence encompassed her. A giddy schoolgirl feeling spun around her like a web. “So you’re staying the night here?”
    Other women approached him as they walked. He gave them a polite “hello” then moved on with her, his hand never lifting from her back. “I got a good deal.”
    “You got a good deal? Where are you, in the penthouse suite?”
    “Yup.” He wasn’t paying any attention to the other women who approached. Dane Forrester was almost acting as though she, Carly Hughes, was his date. She needed food to absorb the alcohol in her system. Truly, she must not be seeing things clearly.
    “I’m just a simple Alaskan kid from a small Alaskan town. I want a good deal, just like anybody else.”
    “Is that on the record?” she asked.
    “Yup.” He guided her toward a set of sofas beside a fake fireplace. “Should we sit here?”
    “Sure.” Carly reached in her purse, took out her tape recorder, and hit the on button. He waited for her to sit. Then he sat beside her. His knee brushed against hers. Heat enveloped her, but she wasn’t sure if it was from the fireplace or radiating from Dane. Instead of pulling away, she let their knees touch. She wanted the interview to be intimate.
    She placed the tape recorder on the oak coffee table and took out her list of questions. The warmth from their knees touching spread up to her thighs. She should slide over, but she didn’t want to. His hands were large. A small burn covered the back of his left hand. She wanted to ask what happened, but just before she spoke, her stomach gurgled.
    “Was that you?” he asked. “Are you hungry?”
    “Sorry.” How embarrassing. “Yes, I forgot to eat lunch today.”
    “I understand they’ve got quite a spread. It cost enough to attend this shindig, we should eat some of the food.” His fist bunched, then he tapped his fingers on his thigh.
    “No, it’s okay.”