Men of Alaska 2: Sterling Sunshine Read Free Page B

followed.
    “I think we’ve got a good shot,” Ross whispered in Tony’s ear. They shared a smile and caught up with Gretchen.
    * * * *
    After they’d ordered, the conversation fell silent. Gretchen was sitting across from both men. Neither, apparently, wanted to be too forward. This Matt, she remembered him vaguely. Brown eyes, dark blond hair, tall and muscular, he’d worn a Windbreaker to the boat launch. That triggered her memory. She remembered thinking Matt had dressed smartly. The wind cut through even on a warmish day, and she was still learning the quirks of weather here.
    “So the food isn’t too weird?” Ross asked.
    She shook her head. “I’ll try anything once. Almost anything. So far so good.”
    “I’m sorry I didn’t just ask you out at the wedding,” Tony said. “I should’ve but you hadn’t met Ross.”
    At least the delay made sense now. “I understand. I was wrapped up in the move and the new job. Seems like this Matt is more the troublemaker to a potential relationship.”
    “He’s been in and out of our lives for about five years. It’s complicated.” Ross shrugged.
    “But he always comes back?” she asked.
    “He likes Sterling, so he’ll come back, whether we’re together or not.” Tony gave her a boyish grin. She loved his dimpled grin and mysterious green eyes. He’d make anyone in trouble feel safe with his muscled body and calm demeanor. His brown hair was cut very much like his brother’s.
    Maybe that was another reason Tony hadn’t moved too fast. She was staying with his brother, and he could get some intel that way. Or at least see how she was fitting in. Maybe if things didn’t work out, it’d cause tension. She didn’t want to do that for Mel or anyone locally.
    Love had never worked out for her, so she wasn’t getting her hopes up on Sterling’s ménage tradition. Even if she liked these guys, she’d always gotten too eager too early in a relationship, and it ended badly. Too much pressure? Too needy? She wasn’t going to do that again!
    Especially in a small town where everyone talked. She wanted to stay and make the job work. Normally she didn’t fit in so well but her direct manner might just work in Alaska.
    “I think she’s sizing us up,” Ross said to Tony.
    “Maybe she’s rethinking any date offers because we’re too weird?” Tony replied.
    She smiled. “I don’t think it’s weird. Usually women are the ones making it too complicated. My dating experience has been rather random. So Matt is in and out of your lives. Does that mean we wait for him to turn up before we go on a date? That’s fine but I’m not planning my life around a guy who isn’t that interested in me.”
    “No, I don’t think we should wait. Life goes on here, and he knows it. It might make things a little weird when he shows up, but I think tomorrow night going for dinner would be nice,” Ross said.
    “Pick you up at seven?” Tony asked her.
    “Sure, why not?” She wouldn’t mind a nice dinner plus giving Mel and her guys a night of privacy.
    “So this destination-wedding idea. Are you hitting up the necessary places to make sure they’re on board?” Ross asked.
    Gretchen sipped her water and was glad to be back on a topic less unsettling. Was she dating two men with an option for a third? That was too odd to think about.
    “I’ve been trying to get a meeting with the owner of the Sterling Inn. I’ve floated the idea by the bakery, and they’re happy to give a small discount on a wedding cake for a package deal. The discount gets bigger if they have the bridal shower cake and any bachelorette cake done with them as well. So options are good.” She sighed.
    “A lot of people to talk to,” Tony said.
    “It is. I’m not even sure I can pull it off. This would be a big project, but I can see who’s interested. You don’t have a wedding planner in town.” Gretchen had asked around and searched.
    “That’s usually the mother of the bride and the