Gabe snorted. After they’d built the semi-circle of five cabins on the far side of Lynx Lake, Bull named the compound the Hermitage. “What? It’s the dwelling of a hermit, isn’t it?”

Mako hadn’t been amused.

“Getting together for supper sounds good. I still have to get my cabin opened up and stocked.” Tomorrow, he’d attend Bull’s grand re-opening…if he could stand being around that many people all at once.

He paused. A bar. Bull needed staff. Dante’s blonde helper was getting only room and board. No cash. She could probably use a real job.

When Caz’s lips turned up, Gabe eyed him. “What are you smirking at?”

“You haven’t lost that I’ve got a plan expression you had as a kid.”

“It’s not my fault you all were stupid enough to follow me.”

“Good times. Remember when you decided we should help that cub get back to its mama?”

The mama had been a brown bear—and all those grizzly movies were spot on about the dangers of a pissed-off mother. Gabe’d almost gotten them all killed. “No wonder the sarge’s hair turned white.”

Caz laughed. “So, what’s the plan?”

“Might have a barmaid for Bull.” But he still didn’t trust her.

He’d just have to keep an eye on her.

Chapter Five

After the police chief left, Audrey continued restocking the shelves. Her anxiety hadn’t lessened, though. She dropped a can. Picked it up. Her hand was shaking so hard she dropped it again.

Eff-it-all.

That police chief had studied her as if she was an ax murderer or something. Sheesh, he was scary.

“You all right, girl?” At the dairy aisle, Dante looked up from unpacking milk cartons.

“Just clumsy, but I’m fine.” What a lie. Everything inside her wanted to flee back to her rental house.

Wasn’t it funny how quickly the tiny log cabin on the lake had become her refuge…despite a few hair-raising night noises from outside. One sounded like a high-pitched timer going off, peep, peep, peep, for long periods at a time. Another went up in pitch like a saw being sharpened.

Or…far worse…she’d heard something rustling in the brush down by the lake. And, like a courageous soul, she’d actually pulled the covers over her head.

Welcome to Alaska, city girl.

Maybe if Spyros came after her, some huge carnivorous animal would chow down on him before he reached her cabin.

Speaking of primitive Alaska, her tiny cabin didn’t have internet service or phone coverage. She sure hadn’t realized how addicted she was to an online connection…not until the day she arrived and found she had none.

Now, every morning, she visited the coffee shop to use the free internet there and check her emails.

Not that her emails had good news.