place and some back with Mel just to not rush things. As much as she loved having three men all to herself, their dynamic stirred things up at times. It was overwhelming and arousing. One night away and she felt lonely even in a house full of people. Mel’s men weren’t always calm but there was a different feel among that group.
As she climbed in Tony’s SUV she reminded herself not to compare groups. She and Mel weren’t the same person either. Mel’s men were attractive, but Gretchen never would’ve fallen in bed with those three. Love or chemistry, whatever it was, worked in odd ways.
“You okay?” Tony asked.
“Sure. I hope I’m not intruding,” she said.
“No, not at all. Tiff doesn’t mind. She and I have ridden together for years.” He shrugged.
“That’s great but I meant at home. Staying over so much. I like it there but I don’t want you guys to feel like I’m pushing things too fast.” She stared out into the wilderness as Tony pulled the car behind the firehouse and parked with the others. Even in a stable town, you were only miles from raw wilderness at any moment in Alaska. How could she feel safe here?
“Why would we think you’re pushing us?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Matt’s still here. You and he bicker, but I don’t know what’s normal. Maybe you guys are on your best behavior, and I’m not seeing reality yet.” She smiled.
“We’re not great actors. If you’re over too much, we’ll let you know. If we’re annoying you, tell us. If you don’t speak up and fight, you don’t get what you want.”
“Very Alaskan,” she said
After clocking in and all the routine stuff, Gretchen finally met Tiff. The tall woman was in the same uniform as Tony. Gretchen might’ve met Tiff before, but she didn’t make much of an impression. Quiet, hair pulled back in a severe braid, no makeup, and barely a smile—Tiff didn’t scream welcome!
Not that Gretchen judged people on their appearance. However, if Alaska ever made Gretchen that focused on function where she never even cared about style at all, she’d walk back to the lower forty-eight.
As they rode along, Tiff didn’t say much. Tony gave Gretchen the basics as Tiff drove. Their first few calls were people passed out. Drugs and alcohol were likely involved. Gretchen watched as Tony and Tiff worked with police officers, firefighters, and residents. After two trips to the medical center to drop off people who needed stitches or rehydration, she realized it was like any other job. Somewhat dull but very important.
“Not too exciting?” Tiff asked.
Gretchen perked up. “I guess that’s a good day. Helping people but not major danger or death.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Tiff replied.
Tony chuckled. “Any day can go wild. That’s the fun. You never know what to expect.”
The next call came in when a woman had flipped her ATV and hurt herself. The police were there, but it was off-road a bit. The lights and sirens were a rush that Gretchen liked. Flying through red lights was a bit more unsettling, but she was very glad she’d done this in the summer and not in the ice and snow of winter.
When they pulled up, the police officer was flagging them down. They parked and pulled out the gurney and the medical case. Gretchen followed along, staying out of the way. The officer said it looked like the girl was drinking. He saw her driving on the road and she went off-road into the woods as soon as she saw him. He heard the crash.
They walked fast as he talked and arrived at a scene with enough blood to make her uneasy. The ATV had been moved aside by the officer and the woman held a rag to her leg.
“I can’t walk,” she moaned.
The duo went to work, and Gretchen watched them wrap the wound to stop the bleeding. They took her vitals and transferred her to the gurney. The haste over her blood loss made sense. Then Gretchen heard a growl.
Everyone froze, and the officer drew his gun. Gretchen looked around and
As she climbed in Tony’s SUV she reminded herself not to compare groups. She and Mel weren’t the same person either. Mel’s men were attractive, but Gretchen never would’ve fallen in bed with those three. Love or chemistry, whatever it was, worked in odd ways.
“You okay?” Tony asked.
“Sure. I hope I’m not intruding,” she said.
“No, not at all. Tiff doesn’t mind. She and I have ridden together for years.” He shrugged.
“That’s great but I meant at home. Staying over so much. I like it there but I don’t want you guys to feel like I’m pushing things too fast.” She stared out into the wilderness as Tony pulled the car behind the firehouse and parked with the others. Even in a stable town, you were only miles from raw wilderness at any moment in Alaska. How could she feel safe here?
“Why would we think you’re pushing us?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Matt’s still here. You and he bicker, but I don’t know what’s normal. Maybe you guys are on your best behavior, and I’m not seeing reality yet.” She smiled.
“We’re not great actors. If you’re over too much, we’ll let you know. If we’re annoying you, tell us. If you don’t speak up and fight, you don’t get what you want.”
“Very Alaskan,” she said
After clocking in and all the routine stuff, Gretchen finally met Tiff. The tall woman was in the same uniform as Tony. Gretchen might’ve met Tiff before, but she didn’t make much of an impression. Quiet, hair pulled back in a severe braid, no makeup, and barely a smile—Tiff didn’t scream welcome!
Not that Gretchen judged people on their appearance. However, if Alaska ever made Gretchen that focused on function where she never even cared about style at all, she’d walk back to the lower forty-eight.
As they rode along, Tiff didn’t say much. Tony gave Gretchen the basics as Tiff drove. Their first few calls were people passed out. Drugs and alcohol were likely involved. Gretchen watched as Tony and Tiff worked with police officers, firefighters, and residents. After two trips to the medical center to drop off people who needed stitches or rehydration, she realized it was like any other job. Somewhat dull but very important.
“Not too exciting?” Tiff asked.
Gretchen perked up. “I guess that’s a good day. Helping people but not major danger or death.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Tiff replied.
Tony chuckled. “Any day can go wild. That’s the fun. You never know what to expect.”
The next call came in when a woman had flipped her ATV and hurt herself. The police were there, but it was off-road a bit. The lights and sirens were a rush that Gretchen liked. Flying through red lights was a bit more unsettling, but she was very glad she’d done this in the summer and not in the ice and snow of winter.
When they pulled up, the police officer was flagging them down. They parked and pulled out the gurney and the medical case. Gretchen followed along, staying out of the way. The officer said it looked like the girl was drinking. He saw her driving on the road and she went off-road into the woods as soon as she saw him. He heard the crash.
They walked fast as he talked and arrived at a scene with enough blood to make her uneasy. The ATV had been moved aside by the officer and the woman held a rag to her leg.
“I can’t walk,” she moaned.
The duo went to work, and Gretchen watched them wrap the wound to stop the bleeding. They took her vitals and transferred her to the gurney. The haste over her blood loss made sense. Then Gretchen heard a growl.
Everyone froze, and the officer drew his gun. Gretchen looked around and
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