Back To Us (Dare With Me #4) - J.H. Croix Page 0,1

tab that says schedule.”

“Got it. Okay, here’s what it says.”

She read off the schedule, and relief washed through me when I realized Gabriel wasn’t conveniently close to me.

“I need you to call Flynn. Have him get ahold of Elias and tell him to come by here and pick me up. He’s the closest and should be landing soon. He’ll have plenty of time to hop over here and get me.”

“Consider it done. You’re okay with waiting?”

“Of course, I’m okay. I’m bored, but it’s beautiful out this afternoon. I just hope it holds. The wind is supposed to pick up later this afternoon. I’ll only have to wait about an hour, though, so it should be fine. Plus, there’ll probably be some magazines in the airport.”

“The airport?”

I laughed softly. “It’s a shed with two benches and some shelving, but it counts as an airport. The magazines are probably ancient, but it’ll help me pass the time. See you tonight.”

“You got it, girl. Call me again if you need anything,” Daphne replied.

I hung up, smiling to myself and thinking I needed to take Daphne with me on a supply run one of these days. Aside from taking people on guided flight expeditions to see wildlife and the stunning Alaskan wilderness, Walker Adventures also had contracts to deliver mail and supplies to different areas in the southern part of Alaska. Running the business with my siblings made for a kick-ass job, and I was never bored.

I quickly unloaded the supplies I’d brought over today—some mail and a few things from a local hardware store. There was one heavy pallet, and I decided to wait for Elias to get his help with it. I could’ve handled it myself, but a little help never hurt anyone. I discovered the magazine selection was older than expected. I walked out, angling toward a rocky ledge that sloped down to a beach with charcoal gray sand and a wide variety of rocks. The runway here ran parallel to the water.

Alaskan beaches had the best rocks, and I could always collect more. I clambered down the ledge and began walking along the water. The tide was out, and I leaned over to gently carry a few starfish into the shallows. A seal noticed me and followed my progress. There was also a raft of sea otters nearby. They were gathered together, some resting on their backs and others frolicking in the water. The wind picked up slightly, and I turned back after a little while, both of my pockets filled with pebbles and rocks. They were all kinds of rocks here, including lava that had formed into lightweight shapes, almost weightless in your palm. A bright red piece of lava was my best find of the day.

A short while later, I heard the distinct sound of a small plane engine approaching. “Yay!” I cheered to myself unless I was counting the eagle that screeched above again.

I was waiting by my plane when Elias came in for the landing. Unlike me, no last-minute gust of wind threw his landing angle off course. The aircraft lightly bounced a few times before he came to a smooth stop. I couldn’t see his face due to the glare of the sun, but I waved and turned to walk to my plane and fetch my backpack.

A few moments later as I reached into the back of the plane, the hairs on the back of my neck stood. Without looking, I knew it wasn’t Elias. Gabriel was here. Fuck my life.

I’d been studiously avoiding Gabriel for several months now. I prayed my instincts were wrong.

“Hey, Nora.” Gabriel’s low voice came over my shoulder, sending a jolt of electricity and the most inconvenient desire I’d ever experienced coursing through my body.

My instincts were spot-on, but then Gabriel was a magnetic force. Taking a deep breath, I marshaled all of my tattered composure and turned. “Hi.” I refused to say his name.

His eyes met mine, and his gaze alone felt like fire on my skin. I ignored the feeling. “I thought Elias was coming to pick me up,” I added.

“We switched up the schedule this afternoon.”

“Why?” I practically barked at him.

The love of my life and the only man who’d ever really gotten to me shrugged. “Because we could.”

I felt the tension in my face, and my lips tightened, but I refused to discuss this further. There was no point. Elias wasn’t here, and my ex was. Actually, I didn’t even know what Gabriel was to me.