Book 2 of 2, sequel to Alaska's Illicit.
In which Mikaere returns to Alaska, but upon arriving realizes that she has a new problem: Vaughn, Darren, or should she just stick with Jared?
Vaughn's past and life are revealed, and also a serial killer mi...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
CHAPTER SEVEN: PENNY
Siara had been hanging out with him in his suite as she had started to do when she was bored with her job, snacks spread out before them as they talked about this or that.
Vaughn had been right in the middle of trying to justify shooting arrows in the general direction of trespassing villagers when Siara had suddenly stopped laughing. She read a text on her phone that she explained was from Tommy before simply telling him she had to go, exiting the room.
And he hadn't understood why she had been so cryptic for the next fifteen minutes, dodging his texts. And he hadn't understood why Tommy had simply texted him a smiley face out of nowhere, either.
But as he mindlessly runs a hand through his messy hair and opens his suite door, he understands.
And all thoughts fly from his head because she's actually here.
In front of him. Right now. At his doorstep, as he had imagined.
Well, not exactly as he had imagined. The long black hair has been cut, and her eyes stand out more from the sharp eyeliner. She's practically glowing, looking healthier and happier.
His heart skips a beat.
But Vaughn can also tell that she's also incredibly nervous, as her right pointer finger curls to rub against her right thumb. It's one of the small things he had learned to notice about her, and that one just happens to be one of her nervous habits.
He realizes he's been standing there staring for too long, and may not know what to think, and he may not understand what he's feeling, but he does know that he's glad she's here.
And before he can stop himself, he breaks out into a genuine grin.
"Mikaere?"
Her eyes lift from the floor, and he watches as her cheeks become a tinted pink. His smile grows.
"...Hi, how are you, I believe this is yours," she holds out her arm stiffly, swallowing as her eyes dart away.
While her nervous way of speaking hasn't changed, he's immediately confused as to why she's acting almost...businesslike. Professional. Strange. Like they don't even know each other. His smile begins to flicker out.
Finally focusing his eyes from her face to her outstretched hand, he stops short. His journal.
Reaching out and taking it from her, their fingertips lightly brush against each other's. He notices as she shifts on her feet awkwardly right after, tucking her hair behind her ear. And with effort, he looks away and down at what he's been handed. The leather feels rough against his fingers in comparison to her fingertips, and for a quick second, he almost thinks he can faintly detect the scent of his cabin still on the pages.
