REED SCANNED THE schedule on the station office wall the next morning, clutching his coffee cup like a lifeline. The day before, Erika had texted briefly to let him know that she’d arrived home safely, but she hadn’t been able to call him until almost midnight, having gone straight to the hospital. Leaving her at the train station had been torture. A hollow, lonely feeling had stuck with him for the rest of the day.

When she finally did call, they’d talked for hours...and by 2:00 a.m., he still hadn’t wanted to let her go. He’d been listening for the smallest indication that things were still okay between them. But as she told him all about the clinical trials starting the following week, all he’d heard were a million reasons why she wouldn’t be able to get away again anytime soon.

Scanning the upcoming holiday season calendar, he couldn’t find even one day where he could make a whirlwind road trip to Anchorage to see her. Three support members and one full member were going away for two weeks over the Christmas break, therefore all other hands were needed on deck with the tourist and ski season picking up.

He was leading another Hug-A-Tree session the following day and the last one for the year was scheduled for the following week. He couldn’t hand those off to the other guys—it wouldn’t be fair.

Marcus’s support membership was being evaluated in a few days and he was hoping to become a full member. As a crew leader, Reed needed to be there for that. Having another full member would ease some of the pressure on him.

In addition, his mom expected to spend time with him and he was still needed at the bar—that month more than ever... The night before had seen double the usual number of patrons and it was only the beginning of December.

Things were only going to get busier.

He ran a hand through his hair and took a gulp of the steaming hot coffee, burning his throat. It was his third cup and the caffeine wasn’t helping at all. If anything, it made him only more anxious and irritated.

What was it about women that drove men so completely crazy?

This had certainly never happened to him before. He’d dated tourists without developing feelings—some beautiful, amazing, interesting women. None had left him feeling this damn empty.

Erika wasn’t just some tourist. She’d been a part of his past and suddenly someone he wanted in his future. Unlike his previous flings, this parting had been with a promise of more.