Alaskan Nights by Anna Leigh Keaton Page A

I’ve had snow crab at restaurants, and I’ve seen king crab legs in stores, but that was the first time I ever saw a whole crab. They’re huge.”
    Brandon did laugh then. Something about her seemed so innocent, so young, even though her eyes showed a level maturity and pain that stunned even his jaded soul. He had to learn her story. He needed to know. “Ever seen a live halibut?”
    “Just the little California ones. I’m from San Francisco. But I was told they are the size of barn doors here.”
    “Big, very big barn doors. A hundred pounds can almost be called average.”
    She shook her head.
    Her hair puffed wildly out the back of a 49ers baseball cap. Curling tendrils hung against her cheeks and long, shapely neck. With her belly bare, she looked as though she’d lost a lot of weight all at once, much too quickly for her body to adjust. Her pants were baggy, slung low on her hips, baring the enticing waistband of her pink panties. Cotton. Probably comfortable. She definitely wasn’t into pretense. Damned if he didn’t liked her more and more every moment. Even her true redheaded temper turned him on.
    “So, tell me about this woman who was your partner,” Isabella said as she lit the propane burner and set the pot of potatoes on it.
    “Since I’m sure you went through my wallet, you probably saw her picture.”
    Isabella frowned. “The old lady?”
    Laughter burst out, and he clutched his throbbing head to keep it from exploding. “That’s my mother! And I can guarantee she would not like being called an old lady.”
    Isabella was at his side, sitting on the edge of the couch, when he opened his eyes. Her hip touched his, warm and soft even through layers of denim. “Don’t laugh so hard. Give your head time to heal.” Her fingers were cool and slightly damp against his forehead. “You don’t have a fever, but your eyes look a bit glassy. Don’t tell your mom I called her old.”
    Unable to stop himself, Brandon caught her hand and held it against his bare chest. “I promise. She’d probably smack me for even repeating it. I was talking about the other picture. The big blond guy, woman and child. The woman is Sheila Cassidy—no, Johnson. She was Cassidy when we worked together. She left the force to start a family. One of the best cops I ever knew.”
    “And you carry her picture?” Bella’s fingers curled slightly into his chest hair, and he almost groaned at the exquisite tenderness of her touch.
    “She’s my best friend. Her in-laws treat me like part of the family. But I move around quite a bit now, so we can only stay in touch through a few letters, emails and phone calls.”
    Brandon watched as Bella’s pretty eyes glistened with tears. Now what had he said to upset her?
    “Must be nice to have a family,” she whispered. “When I lost Cam...”
    Brandon released her hand and gently tugged her to his chest. “Oh, sweetheart.”
    She laid her cheek against his bare chest and almost instantly relaxed. Her arms went around his sides, and she took a deep, shuddery breath. Brandon’s heart constricted for her.
    “I’ve pretty much been on my own since I moved to Anchorage for college when I was eighteen,” Brandon said softly, not knowing if what he said would upset her or calm her. He hoped if he told her a bit about himself, she’d be more willing to open up to him.
    Her softness felt nice against him. Too bad all he could smell was pine-scented mosquito repellent. Last night she’d smelled sweet and feminine.
    “Mom and I didn’t get along my last couple years of high school. I was a typical teenager who got into scrapes and a little bit of trouble with the law. Right out of college, I joined the Marines. Since then I’ve only been home a handful of times to visit her. It wasn’t until the McCormick family—that’s Sheila’s in-laws—kind of adopted me that I realized what I’d been missing. My dad died when I was young, and I was an only child.”
    Did Bella just