A Match Made in Alaska (5 page)

Hearing his brother say those words warmed his insides. It was a rare moment when the two of them lifted each other up. So many things stood between them as a result of their dysfunctional past. He used to pray for a better relationship with Finn. Without even realizing it, he had long ago stopped asking God for help in that area of his life.

“Thanks for the rescue, Finn,” Declan said with a nod of his head. “In a few hours, things would have gotten dicey,” Declan admitted. Although he didn’t want to dwell on what might have happened, it was a reality he couldn’t simply ignore.

Finn quirked his mouth. “No problem. That’s what big brothers are for,” he said with a smirk. “Besides, it gave me an opportunity to fly Ethel.”

“Ethel?” Annie asked with a raised eyebrow. “Don’t tell me. You named this plane, also.”

Finn leaned in. “He sure did. Ethel and Lucy are the great loves of Declan’s life.”

Boone laughed and threw back his head. “So that explains why he’s still single,” he said. “I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure it out.”

Declan couldn’t resist laughing along with his best friend. It was funny the way things had worked out. Finn had been itching to fly Ethel for the longest time. Declan had a hard-and-fast rule. No one flew his O’Rourke Charter planes but himself and his employee, Willard, since both were listed on the insurance. Today Finn had found a loophole in the policy, and as a result, he’d been given the opportunity to fly Declan’s cherished plane.

His brother had learned to fly at the same age as he had, and in his opinion, Finn was just as good a pilot as he was, even though he’d long ago decided he didn’t want to fly planes for a living. The plan had always been for him and Finn to open O’Rourke Charters together, until Finn had bailed on him at the last minute. Declan had been forced to scramble to get the funds together to live out his dream. Thanks to Boone and the Prescott family, Declan’s dream hadn’t gone up in smoke.

Finn’s betrayal still stretched out between them like a live electrical wire.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

His older brother had been letting him down for most of their lives. Declan considered himself a fool for ever truly believing that he would come through for him. Finn had always had one eye on the nearest exit out of Love. Declan had given up on the idea of his brother ever putting down roots in their hometown. He’d come back for a few months, then fly off again on his latest adventure. He was a lot like their father in that regard. Finn never wanted to plant roots anywhere.

“She flies like a dream,” Finn said with a nod of his head. “I expect you’ll be wanting to fly her back.”

Fly her back? Fear slithered through Declan at Finn’s words. Just the thought of getting into the cockpit again made him break out in a cold sweat. It was such a foreign feeling to him to be nervous about flying, but he couldn’t ignore the emotions roaring through him. Terror. Nervousness. Suddenly he was right back in that desperate moment when Lucy had fallen from the sky and he had been in a life-and-death struggle at the controls. Everything had happened so quickly. He’d barely had time to react.

What would have happened if he had made a single misstep? He shuddered. Finn was studying him, a look of curiosity flickering in his eyes.

“Nah,” he said with a shake of his head. “Why don’t you fly us home, Finn? I didn’t get much sleep last night,” he said. Finn’s eyes widened. Boone gaped at him.

“Seriously?” Finn asked. He let out a loud cackle of delight. “I never would have thought you’d let me fly Ethel home.”

Boone eyed him suspiciously. “Are you sure that you didn’t hit your head in the crash?”

“I did not hit my head. I’m in perfect health, which is fairly extraordinary, considering we crash-landed in no-man’s-land.” Declan asserted.

Boone clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s time we head home. You need some food and some rest, not to mention some time to process everything that’s happened.”

“I’m fine,” Declan said, knowing as soon as the words left his mouth that it was far from the truth. He wasn’t fine. The crash had changed him. Just one glance in Ethel’s direction had his heart thundering inside his chest. He prayed this feeling wouldn’t last, but for the life of him, he couldn’t imagine ever wanting to fly her again.

* * *

During the flight to Love, Annie couldn’t help but sneak a few glances at Declan. He was seated in the row across from her. Sheriff Prescott was in the row behind them, reclining with his legs stretched out on the seat next to him. Ethel was a bit roomier than Lucy, she realized. She didn’t feel quite so claustrophobic on this plane. Or perhaps she was just so happy to have been rescued that she was viewing things with different eyes.

She might have been imagining it, but Declan didn’t seem as bold and confident as he had a mere twenty-four hours ago. He was drumming his fingers on his knee and glancing back and forth between the window and the cockpit.

He seemed antsy. Preoccupied. Maybe he was wishing he was flying the plane rather than Finn. Perhaps he couldn’t stop thinking about the plane crash. Even though she was slightly nervous about the flight, she hadn’t been the one who had been flying the plane. She couldn’t imagine all the turmoil Declan must be facing, particularly since his flying record had been spotless prior to yesterday. On impulse, she unbuckled her seat belt and went over to sit beside him.

Declan eyed her with surprise. His thick blond hair was a bit tousled, and he had a sleepy expression on his face as if he might need a good night’s rest.

“You looked like you might need a pick-me-up,” she said, her eyes skimming his face. His expression was a tad beleaguered, although it did nothing to diminish him in the looks department.

“I’m okay. Just a little weary. I get a little off-kilter when I don’t get my full eight hours of sleep,” Declan explained.

A hint of sadness hung over him. She recognized it. More than anything, she wanted to make him laugh, to see the spirited side of him that she knew was lurking inside.

“I have a joke for you. What did the pencil say to the other pencil?” she asked.

He tapped his finger against his chin. “Hmm.” After a few seconds he shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“You’re looking sharp,” Annie said. “Get it? Sharp. Pencil.” Annie jabbed him playfully in the side.

Seemingly against his will, the corners of Declan’s mouth began to twitch with laughter. He settled back against his seat and chuckled. All of a sudden, his face resembled sunshine and blue skies.

Annie pointed at him. “See, I was able to make you laugh. Mission accomplished.”

Declan chuckled and shook his head at her. “That joke was so bad, it was good.”

Annie giggled. “Ouch! Well, at least you found it amusing.”

Declan reached out and placed his hand over hers. “Thanks, Annie, for being such a peach. I really meant it when I said you were fantastic out there in the forest. You showed a lot of heart and pluck and grit. And I know you were scared. But it didn’t stop you from fighting for survival and giving it your best. That’s what separates the ordinary from the extraordinary.” He squeezed her hand. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re one in a million.”

Annie felt tears pricking her eyes. She blinked them away. Her chest swelled with pride. “That’s awfully kind of you to say, Declan.”

“I’m not being kind. Just truthful. The town of Love is fortunate to have you as its newest citizen.” He was looking at her with such sincerity and goodness that, for a moment, she almost thought she heard a chorus of violins playing. She let out an unintentional sigh, earning herself a questioning look from Declan.

“I’m going to tell you something that I haven’t told a single other confidant. A secret.” She repositioned herself and edged closer, so that her shoulder was now brushing against his arm.

Declan raised his eyebrow. “What’s the secret?”

“You asked me why I was coming to Love.” She felt her smile widening into a huge grin. “I only told you half the story.” Annie turned toward the back of the plane to make certain the sheriff was still sleeping. After hearing the light buzz of his snoring, Annie turned back to Declan. “I not only intend to find my other half here in Alaska and serve as town librarian but I also plan to find my long-lost family in Love.”

Declan’s brows knit together. “Your long-lost family, huh? What is this, some genealogy investigation?” He chuckled lightly. “Are you going to be taking DNA samples?”

She wrinkled her brow. Declan seemed to think she was kidding. “Nothing that scientific, I’m afraid. At least, not right away. After my grandmother passed away last year, I began to read her journals. She was born and raised in Love. I grew up hearing heartwarming tales about life in your quaint little fishing village.” Another sigh slipped past her lips. “She made Love sound like something out of a fairy tale. When she left Alaska for Maine all those years ago, she was pregnant with my mother. Gram never revealed the identity of the father, so my mother, bless her heart, never knew who he was.”

“That’s a shame,” Declan said. “Everyone has a right to know who they are.” There was something radiating from Declan’s voice that made her believe he knew where she was coming from. He empathized with her situation. Relief washed over her. She had made the right decision by confiding in him.

“Exactly!” Annie said, her voice rising with excitement. “Gram’s diary pretty much tells the tale of the man she was in love with. A good-looking charmer she grew up with. She worshipped the very ground he walked on. And my goal is to meet this man and prove that he’s my grandfather. After all, I really don’t have any other family connections.”

Declan’s mouth twisted. “Annie, I understand your motivations, but don’t you think it might be a bit more complicated than some scribblings in a journal? That’s not really proof of anything.”

“But she left me plenty of bread crumbs. And the names of her best girlfriends and the boys who were in their circle. She left enough clues for me to figure it out.” Annie leaned in so that she could speak softly in his ear. She didn’t want to run the risk of Boone overhearing her in case he wasn’t fully asleep. Getting up close and personal with Declan wasn’t half-bad, she realized. He smelled of pine trees and the great outdoors. All of a sudden, she was having trouble concentrating. She had lost her train of thought.

Declan regarded her, a look of puzzlement etched on his face. “It sounds a bit tricky.”

“I promise you, it’s not complicated at all. Every word she wrote about him shimmers with meaning.”

“Does her journal say why she left town? Was it because she was pregnant?” Declan asked. His brows were knitted together.

Annie shook her head. It was something she’d always wondered about, especially since Gram had avoided the topic. “No, it doesn’t. Matter of fact, the journal ends rather abruptly. Right around the time she left Alaska for Maine.”

“Do you think perhaps she didn’t want anyone to know? It sounds like she had ample time to tell you if she’d wanted to share that information.”

“Gram was always ashamed of being a single mother who had never been married. That’s why she never talked about it!” she said in a defensive tone. “And I won’t rest until I resolve this once and for all. Since you’re a hometown boy, I was wondering if you could help me in my quest.”

Declan’s eyes widened. “Am I right in assuming that no one in Love knows that your grandmother was born and bred there?”

Annie bit her lip and nodded. “It may seem deceptive, but I really just want to do a little digging before I announce the connection. I could use your assistance.”

Declan clenched his jaw. He was clearly mulling over her proposition. Her heart sank. He seemed torn. Finally he answered. “I promise to help you, Annie, but secrets have a way of coming back to bite you,” Declan said, a concerned look gracing his handsome face.

“Gram and my mother, God rest their souls, deserve to be acknowledged rather than swept under the rug. If I have to bite my tongue about Gram until I figure it out, then so be it.”

She hadn’t meant to get on a soapbox, but the fact that two generations of her family had raised children out of wedlock didn’t sit well with her. The blame couldn’t be heaped solely on them. Part of digging up Gram’s past in Love meant making her grandfather accountable for not being in her mother’s life and for evading responsibility.

She wasn’t going to share that with Declan just yet. She’d already given him enough food for thought.

While Declan stared at her with his mouth hanging open, Annie scooted out of the seat and made her way back across the aisle. She quickly buckled up, then let out a sigh of resolve as she stared out the window at the magnificent Alaskan scenery unfolding before her very eyes. Majestic mountains loomed in the distance. A large body of water—Kachemak Bay, according to her research—glistened with promise. She let out a gasp as the plane began to descend and she spotted eagles circling their nest. Down below she could make out buildings and people and cars.

Excitement roared through her as her dreams merged with reality. Finally, after so many years of dreaming about it, she was moments away from her arrival in Love, Alaska. She felt incredibly blessed. Her life in Alaska was about to begin!

Chapter Five

A
s the plane went in for its final descent over Kachemak Bay, Annie prepared herself for landing. Twenty-four hours ago she had been involved in a terrifying crash of a similar-size seaplane. It was only natural that she was slightly nervous. As the plane touched down on the water, Annie softly recited a prayer and closed her eyes. Within a few minutes, she realized that the plane had stopped moving. Relief washed over her as she heard Finn announce over the headset that they had arrived in Love.

Thank You, Lord, for safe travels.

After grabbing a few of her belongings, Annie followed right behind Declan as he exited the plane after Boone and Finn. For a moment, she felt disoriented as the glare of the sun hit her squarely in the eyes. She ducked her head, giving herself a moment to adjust to the light. A huge roar sounded all around her. When she looked up, she saw that a huge crowd had assembled by the dock where Ethel had landed.

A beautiful, dark-haired woman, presumably Boone’s wife, stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips. Her stomach was gently rounded in pregnancy. She then threw her arms around Declan and wiped away tears from her eyes. Finn had radioed ahead to let the authorities know that they had been found alive near the crash site.

It seemed to Annie as if everyone in town was calling out to Declan. There were signs bearing his name, while others simply read Our Hero. Clearly he was beloved by all the villagers. All of a sudden, Declan transformed before her very eyes. He seemed lit up from inside with a lightbulb. White teeth flashed. His shoulders straightened. The sound of his laughter filled the air.

A group of young women swarmed around him. It was almost as if Declan was a rock star or a soldier returning from the battlefield. Who were these women? Declan O’Rourke groupies? Ladies he was dating? A trickle of annoyance flowed through her. Although she wanted to look away from the spectacle they were making of themselves, it was like watching a train wreck. She found herself riveted. There were blondes, brunettes, redheads. Short, tall, brown-skinned, fair-skinned, freckled. Annie shook her head. Declan had his own personal fan club.

She watched as he threw up his hands and chuckled. “Ladies. Ladies. There’s enough of me to go around.”

Annie rolled her eyes. He was clearly relishing all the attention. She watched on the sidelines as Declan was swept up by a whole new crowd of well-wishers. An older woman wearing a magenta ensemble handed him a teddy bear, and a teenager enthusiastically high-fived him. Although the sight was beautiful to witness, it left her feeling a tad homesick. She had come here to establish a sense of community, but at the moment, she was a stranger. It was a foreign feeling to her and one she didn’t enjoy. Her heart sank—until she saw a beautiful sign bearing her name. It read Welcome to Love, Annie. It was feminine and delicate with lots of swirls and flowers and several shades of purple. Declan waved her over and pointed enthusiastically at the sign.

She nodded with approval, smiling at the dark-haired little boy who was holding it up. Annie bent down so that she was on eye level with the cutie-pie. “I really love it.” The boy grinned then bowed his head.

“Thanks, Aidan,” Declan said, tousling the child’s curly hair. The little boy ran off into the crowd.

“Declan O’Rourke!” a raspy voice boomed. Annie felt goose bumps on her arms as a silver-haired older man came into view. “I already had one heart attack. Are you trying to give me another one?” he asked.

“Jasper! Did you miss me?” Declan greeted him with wide-open arms. Annie had sensed before Declan even stated the gentleman’s name that she was in the presence of Jasper Prescott.

Jasper wrapped his arms around Declan and embraced him tightly. When they pulled apart, Annie could see tears streaming down Jasper’s face. “I promised Killian I would watch over you. Everyone knows you’re an honorary member of the Prescott clan. You’re just as precious to me as my own grandsons.” Jasper’s voice radiated affection and an abundance of love.

Declan touched Jasper on the shoulder. “You’ve always made me feel like one of the fold,” he said. “Grandpa would be proud of that. He thought the world of you.”

“I still think of him every day,” Jasper said. “He was the truest friend I ever did have.”

Annie teared up as she watched the emotional reunion between Jasper and Declan. It was so wonderful to see the two men share such a heartfelt moment. Based on Gram’s journal, she already felt a kinship with the mayor of Love. He could possibly be one of the last links to her heritage. If he had been the man to hold Gram’s heart in the palm of his hand, he must be quite special. She peered at him, trying to find something in his features that resembled her mother or herself. Hmm. As much as she wanted to see something familiar in his countenance, there wasn’t a single feature she could isolate.

“Where’s your passenger? Her name is Annie, isn’t it? Our new librarian?” Jasper asked in a raised voice. “I’d like to make her acquaintance.”

Declan grabbed Jasper’s elbow and pulled him in her direction. Jasper’s blue eyes twinkled as he gave her the once-over. He tipped his hat to her like an old-fashioned gentleman.

“Jasper, this is Annie Murray, our new librarian,” Declan announced with a flourish. “Annie, this is our town mayor, Jasper Prescott.”

Jasper reached for her hand and pressed a kiss on her knuckles. “It’s my pleasure to welcome you to town. And to tell you how thrilled we all are to have you heading up the new Free Library of Love. This dream has been decades in the making.”

All of sudden, when faced with the man who might be her grandfather, Annie felt a bit overwhelmed by the possibilities. Jasper Prescott was a larger-than-life figure from Gram’s writings. She had to force words out of her mouth. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Mayor,” she murmured. Ugh. Mr. Mayor? Why had she called him that? It sounded ridiculous.

Jasper squeezed her hand. “I’m terribly sorry about the plane crash. You must have been terrified.”

Annie darted a glance at Declan. “Let’s just say I feel blessed to have made it out safe and sound.”

“That’s the right attitude, Annie.” He eyed her shrewdly. “Are you sure you’re not Alaskan? From what Boone just told me, you’ve shown a great deal of resilience. And fortitude.”

She giggled. “Not even the slightest. I was born and bred in Maine in a rather small town named Whimsy,” she explained.

Jasper stroked his chin. “Now, why does that sound familiar?” Annie’s heart leaped. Perhaps he had a recollection about Gram. Should she just cut to the chase and introduce herself as the granddaughter of Aurelia Alice Murray? Or would it be too abrupt? She didn’t want anyone to believe she had come to town with an agenda. Her main goals in relocating to Alaska were to be a participant in Operation Love and to help establish the library. Tracking down her grandfather was important, but she didn’t want to alienate the townsfolk right off the bat.

“Don’t forget that tomorrow there’s a team scheduled to meet you over at the library and help you get everything up and running. They can’t wait to get to know you.” Jasper winked at her. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other very soon.”

Annie found herself following Jasper with her eyes as he made his way through the throng of people. There was such a congenial, commanding air about him. Much like Declan, he seemed magnetic. Everyone seemed drawn to him, like moths to the flame. For the umpteenth time, she found herself wondering if Gram, too, had found Jasper Prescott irresistible. Was he her grandfather? Or did the trail lead elsewhere?

Just then a beautiful red-haired woman came rushing to Declan’s side. She threw her arms around his neck and said, “I’ve been praying for your safe return. I’m so tickled that you’re in one piece. This town wouldn’t be the same without you!”

“Sophie!” Declan cried out. “You have no idea how great it is to see your pretty face.” Sophie blushed and said something to Declan that Annie couldn’t hear.

Annie swallowed past the hard little lump in her throat. Some things were crystal clear, even to a small-town girl like herself. Declan O’Rourke might be the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on, but he was also a player extraordinaire. Annie had heard too many cautionary tales about men like him. Gram had given her the drill time after time.
Don’t fall for a man simply because he makes your heart race. Don’t lose a sense of yourself or your values because you’ve fallen in love
.

She had forgotten that simple rule once and lived to regret it. That was a mistake she wouldn’t be repeating, ever. Not even for sky-blue eyes and cheekbones to die for.

Declan was an appealing, handsome charmer. He had a sense of humor. He was brave. And he lived a life of adventure as a pilot. It was easy to feel a pull toward a man like Declan O’Rourke. But she had to resist the tug she felt in his direction. It was imperative to keep her eyes on the prize. She had relocated to Love, Alaska, in order to live out her dreams and to experience living in her grandmother’s hometown. Finding someone to walk through life with was part of the grand adventure. Annie was looking for someone stable and steady. A man who wanted to settle down and make a home and create a family. And give her his name. Despite Declan’s endless appeal, he wasn’t even close to being the type of guy she needed or wanted in her world. By his own admission, he wasn’t looking to ditch his bachelor status.

Annie had a list of things she was striving to accomplish in her new life in Alaska. There was no way in the world that a drop-dead gorgeous pilot was going to sandbag those goals.

* * *

Declan drew in a deep breath of air. The scent of fresh catch from the fishing boats hung sharply in the November air. The view from the pier was awe inspiring. White-capped mountains sat majestically in the distance. The waters of Kachemak Bay shimmered as the sun’s rays bounced off the waves. This was home sweet home. The plane ride back to Love had been uneventful, if a bit nerve-racking. He had found himself clutching the armrest as Finn headed in for the water landing. The thud he felt when Ethel hit the water seemed more pronounced than usual. And contrary to any emotion he had ever felt before when flying, a trickle of anxiety had settled over him.

Shake it off.
This is going to pass like a spring shower, he reassured himself. Flying came as naturally to him as walking. A single incident shouldn’t change all that. He just needed some time to decompress.

Boone walked toward him with his arms folded across his chest and a huge grin planted on his face. He looked at Declan and chuckled.

Declan frowned. “What seems to be so hilarious, Sheriff Prescott?”

“Oh, nothing,” Boone said. “I just remember standing on this very pier when Grace arrived in town. You asked a lot of questions that day. Now it’s my turn to grill you about Annie. The two of you seem to be getting on like a house on fire.”

Declan rolled his eyes. “We were stranded together waiting for rescue, Boone. It’s not as if we were on a date,” Declan said.

“I guess if you’re going to be fighting for survival with someone, it might as well be an attractive woman like Annie.” Boone leaned in and jabbed him in the side. “Am I right?”

“I guess. But she’s more than just a pretty face,” Declan said. “She’s smart. And resourceful. There’s a goodness about her that radiates.” Glancing around, he located Annie in the crowd. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her fuzzy leopard pants.

“Sounds like she’s pretty amazing.” Boone raised an eyebrow. “Is she special enough to tempt you to put your foot back in the dating pool?”

“I never took my foot out of the dating pool,” he cracked. “Declan O’Rourke does just fine in that department.”

Boone shook his head. “Come on, Declan. You know what I mean. Connecting with a woman. Finding that special someone. Maybe even settling down. Hint. Hint.”

“Someone who completes me?” Declan teased. He held up his hands. “I’m not geared for all that. Don’t get me wrong. It’s amazing that you found Grace through the Operation Love program, but I’m doing all right the way I am. Matter of fact, I might even have a date tonight.”

Boone’s jaw went slack. “A date? With who?”

Declan frowned. The name was on the tip of his tongue. What was it again? Caroline? Coraline? He snapped his fingers. “Madeline. She’s new in town. One of Jasper’s recruits. Prettiest smile you ever saw.” The moment the words slipped past his lips, he mentally called himself out. His statement hadn’t been true. Annie Murray’s smile was the most stunning he had ever seen in his life. But he wasn’t about to confess that to Boone. Until he figured out how to deal with these feelings for Annie percolating inside him, he was going to keep things close to the vest.

Declan scoffed, “You married people always want us singletons to follow you down the aisle into wedded matrimony. I’m doing just fine all by myself.”

“If you say so,” Boone muttered as he walked away shaking his head.

At almost the same time his best friend was leaving in disgust, Annie was walking toward him from the opposite direction. She moved with a pep in her step and a smile plastered on her face. Although he didn’t know Annie very well, he had a feeling this was how she navigated her way through life. With optimism and an open heart. He wished he could be more like her. On the inside, where it counted most. He was good at putting on a jovial show, but deep down he had always been nursing his hurts.

“I hope everyone has given you a hearty welcome,” Declan said as she stopped beside him.

“I feel like the queen for a day,” Annie gushed. “Everyone is so enthusiastic about the library. I really feel that coming here was my destiny.” Annie’s cheeks were flushed pink with happiness. Her brown eyes sparkled. Her joy was effusive. All of a sudden, he felt excitement building inside him regarding the library. He was beginning to see things through Annie’s eyes a little bit. Although he still didn’t think the library was a good use of town money, he was happy that Annie was now a resident of Love. But for the library, she would still be back home in Whimsy.

“Love is a great town. It’s going to be different from what you’re used to. That’s for sure. But once it settles inside your heart and mind, you’re going to be head over heels for this fishing village. Just you wait and see.”