Finding Paradise Read online

  The air compressor finished chugging and hissed to silence and the fluorescent buzz above them filled the space.

  “Mia saved my PC-12 from crashing,” Brodie said, referring to the time Mia Westberg had cleared airstrip debris in the middle of a flood.

  “Plus, Raven wanted this,” Cobra added.

  Brodie’s eyes narrowed as he sent Cobra a sidelong glance. “Keeping the peace between Raven and me is important to the town.”

  That was true enough. Raven was operations manager at Galina Expediting. Together with Brodie’s company, West Slope Aviation, they supplied outlying mining, scientific and wilderness tourism operations all across central Alaska. The two companies made up the majority of Paradise’s economy.

  “They redecorated half of your housing units—girlified them, according to Peter.”

  “That wasn’t Raven.”

  Cobra knew Brodie had a soft spot for Raven. He also knew enough to let that particular subject drop. “Mia?”

  WSA’s chief pilot Silas Burke’s new fiancée, Mia, was a former supermodel and had a flair for the artistic. She’d first come to town in June, and she was behind the matchmaking project. She’d also had an impact on the décor over at the Bear and Bar Café, and now she had Silas building her a swanky new house beside the river.

  “Who else?” Brodie asked with an arch of his brow. “Dusty rose. My walls are dusty rose.”

  “Is that a real color?” Cobra moved a few steps to the refreshment fridge at the end of the workbench. Since he was off the clock now, he pulled out a couple of beers, holding one up to Brodie as a question.

  Brodie nodded, and Cobra tossed him the can.

  “You should see the other stuff,” Brodie said, sounding like he was in pain. “Watercolor paintings and frilly curtains and something called wainscoting.”

  “What’s wainscoting?” A picture was forming in Cobra’s mind. He’d heard sawing and hammering next door to his own WSA staff housing unit for weeks now. He’d never been inclined to check out what Peter and the construction crew were doing.

  “It’s trim, fancy wooden trim.”

  “Does it add any structural value?” Cobra popped the top of his beer can.

  “A little, maybe, I suppose. But it’s white and . . . you know . . . dusty rose.”

  “So, white and pink?”

  Brodie grimaced.

  “Like a little girl’s bedroom.” Cobra covered his smirk with a chug of his beer. It tasted good going down, crisp, cold and refreshing. He realized how long it had been since he’d taken a break. He stretched out his neck and shoulders.

  “Sure.” Brodie took a drink himself. “Kick a man when he’s down.”

  Cobra’s grin broadened. “There is one upside.”

  Brodie gestured with the can. “I don’t want to hear any optimism from you.”

  “Okay.”

  It took Brodie less than a minute to crack. “All right. Give it to me.”

  “Pretty women.”

  Brodie frowned. “That’s not the upside. It’s the downside.”

  “Potato, Potahto.”

  “No. All downside for me. I’m not interested in any of that, but all of my pilots are.”

  Cobra guessed Brodie was only interested in Raven—who was pretty herself in a not-so-flashy, down-to-earth way. But he wasn’t going to bring her up again.

  “Don’t tell me you’re interested now,” Brodie said with mock disgust. “You’re the only other guy on Team This-Is-Stupid.”

  “Not my thing,” Cobra said.

  Brodie gave him an odd look.

  “Short term,” Cobra elaborated. “I have zero interest in getting to know a woman who’s only sticking around for seventy-two hours. Plus, they’re lower-forty-eight, big-city. Could you have found any less likely group of women for this?”

  “I didn’t find them,” Brodie pointed out.

  “Why not from Anchorage or Wyoming?” Targeting LA had struck Cobra as flawed from the beginning.

  “Wyoming?”

  “Rural women who don’t expect five-star dining and maybe know their way around a shovel or a well pump.”

  Brodie straightened away from the workbench. “I said that weeks ago. I suggested some perfectly practical screening questions, but I was shouted down. It’s pointless to let people think Paradise is all ‘sipping brandy in front of an open fire.’ ”

  “It’s not an easy life up here.”

  “It’s a great life.” Brodie pointed around with his beer can for emphasis. “But it’s not cushy by any stretch. And did you see the website they built?”

  “I did not.” Cobra was surprised that Brodie had.

  “All vistas and bonfires, snowmobiles and fun. They showed the Frances’ house, like that’s typical of where people live around here.”

  Mrs. France owned the Bear and Bar Café, and the France family had the fanciest house in town.

  “They dressed up a section of the Bear and Bar for a photoshoot.” Brodie was clearly on a roll, and Cobra settled back to sip his beer and listen. “Tablecloths and silverware and flowers. It’s false advertising, I tell you. And Mia—they used Silas and Mia’s happily-ever-after story, set him all combed and clean-shaven in his flight suit in the sunshine in front of a freshly washed bush plane, Mia holding his hand all über-citified, like anyone from LA would naturally fit in up here. Do they show the mud? No. Do they show the mosquitoes? No. Mia barely escaped a bear attack. Do they mention that? No.”

  Cobra was sympathetic but also entertained by how worked up Brodie was getting over the whole crazy idea. He quickly raised his beer to hide his grin.

  Brodie caught the expression anyway and scowled. “This isn’t a joke.”

  “I know. But you’re headed off the deep end there.”

  Brodie jabbed his thumb against his chest. “I’m the rare voice of reason.”

  Cobra polished off the beer then dropped his empty into the recycle bin. “Here’s the thing about these women, Brodie. They’re small. They’re slow. They’ll probably wear high heels. I’m liking our chances of a clean escape.”

  Brodie cracked a smile then too.

  Cobra clapped him on the shoulder. “Bob and weave, Brodie. Bob and weave. We’ll make it through the weekend.”

  Chapter Two

  Marnie squinted down the bright white corridor of the terminal at LAX, watching for Olivia Axler to appear. Eleven of the twelve women had already arrived. With less than an hour until preboarding, only Olivia was missing.

  “Anyone heard from Olivia?” Marnie asked the others as she sent a text to check on Olivia’s whereabouts.

  Everyone shook their head, but Marnie’s phone pinged.

  Checked in and on my way, Olivia had texted.

  Marnie blew out a breath of relief.

  “All right,” she said to get the rest of the group’s attention.

  They were all freshly shampooed and made up, dressed in low-key but snappy outfits with a range of fashionable shoes and boots. Scarlett wore flats, but Ariel Wallace had worn open toed, spike-heeled shoes—Marnie winced at the pain she’d likely be feeling later.

  The rest of the women had gone with a mix of practicality and fashion. On top, they wore a variety of stylish jackets and trendy sweaters. But slacks had been the preferred choice rather than skirts. Ariel had gone with a skirt above her impractical shoes—did she even know where she was going?

  Before the group joined the TSA checkpoint line, Marnie began handing out small white envelopes. “This is some spending money. You’re welcome to have breakfast and lunch at the Bear and Bar as part of the accommodation package. Dinners are all prearranged and noted in your itinerary. Did everyone test the link?”

  There were nods all around.

  Olivia rushed up beside her. “Sorry about that. I got stuck in
traffic, then I remembered I had a nail file in my carry-on and had to dig through it in the cab to find it. I’m just a hot mess right now.”

  “The important thing is you’re here,” Marnie said. She handed Olivia her spending money.

  “You’ll have two hours between planes in Anchorage. Then Silas, Mia Westberg’s fiancé, will meet you at the FBO in Fairbanks. The FBO is outside the public terminal, so you’ll have to catch a shuttle. Pick up your luggage at the baggage claim, then follow the signs out the end door to the shuttle pickup. You’re looking for—” Marnie consulted her notes.

  “Can’t you just show us when we get there?” Willow asked.

  “Yeah, won’t we all be together?” Olivia asked, concerned.

  “We’re all on the same plane from Anchorage, aren’t we?” Scarlett asked.

  “I’m not coming to Alaska with you.” Marnie looked up to find twelve shocked gazes on her.

  “What do you mean you’re not coming to Alaska?” Willow asked.

  “You’re the one who knows everything,” Olivia said.

  All the women nodded to that.

  “Why would you miss all the fun?” Scarlett asked in obvious bewilderment.

  “I would’ve paid way more attention if I knew we’d be on our own.” The pitch of Ariel’s voice went up. “It’s going to be like Naked and Afraid out there without you!”

  Marnie thought that was a little dramatic.

  “You have to come,” two voices said simultaneously.

  Everyone jumped in with words of agreement.

  An announcement came over the speaker about luggage security.

  “I don’t have a ticket,” Marnie pointed out.

  “Get one,” Olivia said, wrapping her hand around Marnie’s forearm. “You have to come with us.”

  “That wasn’t the plan.” Marnie couldn’t imagine what she’d said to make them think she’d go all the way to Paradise with them.

  “You’ve worked so hard,” Ariel said.

  “This isn’t fair,” Scarlett said. “Who won’t let you come? Who can we call? Mia?”

  “Mia didn’t tell me I couldn’t come,” Marnie quickly said, not wanting any blame directed at Mia.

  “Who did?” Willow asked.

  “Nobody. It just never came up.”

  “So, they didn’t say you couldn’t,” Scarlett said, drawing back, her expression turning contemplative.

  “No . . . but I never planned—”

  “Quick,” Olivia said, urging Marnie toward a customer service desk. “See if you can get on the flight.”

  “I can’t just drop everything and—”

  “It’s not fair for you to miss out,” Ariel said. She dug into her purse. “Use my credit card.”

  Marnie waved her off. “That’s not necessary.”

  “We’ll all chip in,” Scarlett said, holding out her envelope of spending money.

  Everyone started agreeing and offering their money at once.

  Time was ticking, and the TSA line was growing.

  “We’ll feel terrible if you don’t come with us,” Willow said, waggling her envelope.

  Everyone looked so earnest and so concerned and so worried about her missing the fun that Marnie didn’t have the heart to argue anymore.

  “Okay, okay, I’ll see if I can get a ticket,” she finally said, giving up the fight. Part of her was worried they’d miss their flight by standing here arguing. But another part of her thought, “Screw it, why not?” She needed a break after the past frantic weeks anyway.

  They all cheered then, their enthusiasm warming her heart.

  * * *

  * * *

  There was room for her on the flight, both flights in fact, and Marnie was able to stay with the group all the way to the Fairbanks FBO, where Silas was picking them up in a West Slope Aviation twin otter airplane.

  She’d dressed this morning in a white tank top with a royal blue blazer and a chunky silver necklace. Her hair was loose, and her dangling earrings and multiple bracelets weren’t exactly Alaskan casual. Neither were her slim black jeggings and her strappy platform wedges.

  But here she was, in the middle of Alaska with nothing but a handbag under her arm containing a comb, lipstick, credit card, a few dollars and her phone. She desperately hoped Mia had some extra clothes she could borrow for the weekend, or that she’d at least have time to shop in the little town.

  Silas was punctual, showing up in an olive-green flight suit, drawing clearly appreciative attention from the women assembled in the small, utilitarian FBO. Marnie could guess what they were thinking—they were hoping all the men of Paradise looked like Silas. And maybe they did.

  To get things started, she did a quick round of introductions. Then Silas led them across the open tarmac into the airplane where they got settled into narrow gray seats. The twin otter airplane was compact, and they took up nearly all the room, with some of their luggage piled on the back-row seats. The plane didn’t have a restroom, but Mia had warned them about that, so they were all prepared.

  It had been a whirlwind trip. Marnie had spent the layover in Anchorage and the few moments she’d had in Fairbanks trying unsuccessfully to call Mia and leaving two voice mail messages. She’d also reached out to her law firm and her clients with active cases, checking for urgent issues and letting them know she’d be out of town over the weekend.

  Now, with her phone battery dwindling, the twin engines roaring to life and the huge propellers spinning and vibrating the aircraft, reality hit her head-on. She was in Alaska.

  Alaska.

  Alarm began to build inside her. She wasn’t a spontaneous person, and the little airplane made her feel trapped. Once they were airborne, she’d be swallowed up by the rugged mountains and wild forests that Mia had described in such clear detail. The thought of wolves and moose and grizzly bears made her frightened, then excited, then overwhelmed and jittery with anticipation of the unknown.

  They turned onto the runway, increasing their speed as they hurled along. Then they lifted off, and she scanned the enormity of the forest as they banked west and headed toward the vivid autumn mountainside, the white peaks and the endless sky.

  She didn’t see a single wolf or grizzly bear along the way. At one point, she thought she might have seen a moose standing in a little green pond in the saddle of two mountains. But the plane was too high, and they were going too fast for her to be sure. It could have been a dead tree or a rock, or pretty much anything else. All in all, the lack of animal spotting was a disappointment after Mia’s captivating stories.

  Back on the ground, she stepped from the airplane down three little stairs to the gravel of the Paradise airstrip. The wind whipped her hair, a cutting, chilly breeze in the thin air. She gathered her blazer closer around her, but it was made for fashion, not warmth, so it didn’t help much.

  The air was fresh, Marnie would give it that. It held a hint of pine tree and autumn grass and that was all. It was pure and clear as could be. And through it, the mountain peaks were outlined like razors against the canopy of bright azure.

  A burly man was hauling suitcases out a small rear cargo door three at a time and stacking them on the rough gravel. Watching his efficient movements, Marnie shifted under the wing to make room for Scarlett, who was coming out behind her.

  “Wow,” Scarlett said, pausing to take in the vistas. “This is absolutely fabulous.”

  “Chilly,” Marnie responded, rubbing her arms.

  The only building in sight was tall and cavernous, dusty blue with a red and white sign advertising West Slope Aviation. She guessed they were the only game at the airport. There were a few other bush planes parked around them. They were smaller than the one they’d just flown in on. Pickup trucks lined one edge of the lot, nosed into the bush that surrounded the place.

  “Reminds me of
being at altitude,” Scarlett said, inhaling deeply. “I’m sure we’ll get used to it in a few days.”

  Marnie figured they’d be used to it just in time to head back to California. A shopping trip was high on her list of urgent activities, and Mia had mentioned a clothing store in town, the Butterfly Boutique. Marnie needed some weather-appropriate clothing. She knew all about hypothermia, and she had no intention of succumbing to it before it was time to go home.

  “I count thirteen,” a very deep masculine voice said from behind her.

  She turned to the sound to see the burly man who’d been moving their luggage talking to a second man, slightly shorter, great looking and with an air of authority.

  “How did that happen?” the second man asked, taking in their group with a frown.

  “You’re asking me?” the larger man responded, drawing Marnie’s attention to his square chin, strong brow and his overall scowl.

  His neck was sturdy and his shoulders brawny, while his chest was a barrel of strength and power. He looked like he belonged out here in the wilderness, like it was the safest place for him, or at least the safest place for the rest of humanity to keep him.

  “This is a problem,” the other man said.

  Olivia stopped to stand next to Marnie. She craned her neck, gazing around at the vistas. “Is it what you expected?”

  “Mostly,” Marnie answered, keeping her attention on the two men. Either Mia hadn’t listened to her voice mail yet, or she hadn’t shared it with these two. Marnie was the thirteenth member of the group, so she was their problem.

  “You?” she asked Olivia.

  “It’s so quiet,” Olivia answered. “Like, listen.”

  “Right?” Scarlett responded. “No traffic or music, or any background noise at all. It’s as if we’ve all gone camping in the mountains.”

  Silas approached the two men, and Marnie wondered if she should join the conversation, maybe offer an explanation about what had happened.

  “Thirteen?” the guy with the air of authority asked Silas.

  “Was I supposed to leave one of them behind?” Silas countered.