Dad's E-Mail Order Bride (4 page)

The Alaskan husky wagged his tail as Rachel approached. Rachel bent down and rubbed the big dog’s ears affectionately when she walked up beside him.

Her father had surprised her with her own puppy shortly after they’d arrived in Port Protection. It was his way of proving there were things she could have in Alaska that she couldn’t have back home. She’d named the pup Broadway—her message to her father that no matter where he made her live, her heart would
always
belong to New York City.

That had been five years ago.

Rachel was still as homesick as the day she left.

“Let’s go, boy,” Rachel told the dog.

With Broadway in the lead she headed for the lodge, a prayer on her lips that this would be the last year she spent in a school with only twenty-one students. Even worse was being the
only
high school sophomore.

That meant she would also be the only high school junior next year. And unless someone her own age moved to Port Protection—about as likely as her dad agreeing to let her have her nose pierced—her graduating class would consist of a big whopping
one!

Available boys?

Forgetaboutit!

Boys her age in Port Protection were nonexistent. Just like her totally nonexistent social life.

“Rachel. Wait up.”

Rachel turned to find Tiki running toward her. Her friend had the black hair and eyes and coloring of her Haida ancestors. Tiki’s Haida name was
dukdukdiya,
which meant
hummingbird,
because she was so little. Although Tiki was two years younger, the age difference hadn’t kept them from becoming close friends. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Tiki, Rachel knew she never would have survived living in Port Protection.

She was, however, beginning to regret confiding in Tiki about her plan to get her father to move back to New York. Tiki had warned her from the beginning the online dating idea was crazy.

And Tiki did so
love
being right.

Taking a second to recover from her race to catch up, Tiki said between breaths, “Why are you in such a big hurry to get home, silly? You know your dad is going to kill you.”

Rachel rolled her eyes.

“I’d be terrified,” Tiki said, pretending a shudder. “I can’t even imagine what my dad would do if I charged a plane ticket on his credit card.”

“Oh, please,” Rachel said. “The charge on Dad’s credit card is the least of it. What will totally freak him out is me pretending to be him and inviting Courtney to his birthday party.”

“But aren’t you worried Courtney is going to be mad at you, too? You lied to her from the beginning.”

“I know,” Rachel admitted. “But Courtney really likes me. We’ve spent hours talking on the phone. And when I explain I was only trying to get Dad to move back to civilization, I think she’ll forgive me.”

“For your sake, I hope you’re right.”

“Of course, I’m right,” Rachel said, trying to convince herself more than Tiki. “Courtney isn’t some phony, shallow person or she would have lost interest the second I told her Dad had lost his hearing. She doesn’t even mind Dad having a teenage daughter. I’m telling you, Tiki, the woman is a saint.”

“Let’s just hope your dad thinks so.”

“Yeah, I can always hope,” Rachel said with a snort. “But if I know Dad, all he’s going to do is be mad at me and sulk. And then he’ll spend the whole weekend stomping around like an old bull, ignoring me
and
Courtney completely.”

Tiki looked over at her. “And that’s what I’ve never understood about this plan of yours, Rachel. If you didn’t think your dad was going to like Courtney, why even bother?”

“Because I’m desperate, Tiki. And if I push a gorgeous woman like Courtney in front of Dad, maybe he’ll remember what it’s like to have a real life.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

Rachel sighed. “Then at least I’ve shown Dad what it feels like to have someone else make decisions for him without his consent.”

“But what if your dad started stomping around like an old bull when Courtney got here and she got back on the plane and left?”

Rachel scoffed. “Do you really think I’m that stupid? I’ve been planning this day for months. I made Gil promise that under no circumstances would he let Courtney get back on that plane.”

They stopped walking when they reached the fork where the boardwalk divided. Broadway obediently sat to wait. A left turn led to Trail’s End Lodge. A right turn led to one of the more populated sections of Port Protection where Tiki lived.

Rachel shifted her book bag to her shoulder. “Well, at least wish me luck.”

“Luck?” Tiki laughed. “Forget luck, Rachel. What you need is a freaking miracle.”

Still laughing, Tiki headed off down the boardwalk.

“So
not
funny,” Rachel called after her.

But as Rachel headed home, the situation was becoming less funny with every step she took. Sure, she knew her dad was going to be furious with her—that was a given. She was just counting on her dad’s good manners not to make a scene with Courtney there.

Only now Tiki had put other doubts in her mind.

What if Courtney didn’t forgive her for lying? What if instead of being a saint, Courtney turned out to be some screaming psycho chick and really did flip out over what she’d done?

Rachel didn’t have to pretend a shudder.

She slowed her pace, wondering if maybe Tiki was right. Maybe she shouldn’t be in such a big hurry to get to the lodge. Maybe she should be late on purpose and give both her dad and Courtney more time to calm down.

Yes.

Maybe she should let her dad and Courtney think she was too afraid to show up. That should gain a little sympathy—hopefully, from both of them. And if her dad and Courtney were worried about her, maybe they’d be less likely to be so angry.

Pleased with her new plan, Rachel looked down at Broadway. “Want to go on a long walk, boy?”

The big dog barked and wagged his tail.

Everything about Graham Morrison impressed her.

She glanced in his direction again as she finished off her last bite of cheese, and she couldn’t help but smile inwardly over the fact that he’d changed his shirt and shaved while she’d been upstairs. Her only regret was that he’d hardly said a word to her. Instead, he’d been pacing back and forth at the lodge’s front window for the past thirty minutes.

He looked at his watch for the fiftieth time, frowned and finally looked in her direction. “I’m getting worried,” he said. “Rachel should have been home by now.”

Courtney didn’t want to pooh-pooh Graham’s concern, but common sense told her Rachel was dragging her feet coming home on purpose. That’s what she would have done had she been in Rachel’s teenage shoes.

“I’m sure Rachel’s okay, Graham. Broadway wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

She’d been trying to assure him Rachel was safe, but now he was frowning again.

And this time he was frowning at
her.

“You just mentioned Broadway,” he said. “I was joking earlier, but Rachel really has told you everything about our lives here, hasn’t she?”

Courtney didn’t blame him for being upset that she knew so much about him—even the name of his dog. In his situation, she would have felt violated, too. Particularly over his journal entries. She wouldn’t bring up the e-mails again.

But maybe if she gave Graham the opportunity to ask a few questions about her, he might not feel so exposed. Deciding to give him that opportunity, Courtney left her chair and walked over to where Graham stood.

“I can understand how unsettling it must be for me to know so much about you when you know nothing about me,” she said.

Was it her imagination, or was he staring at her lips?

“So?” Courtney offered. “Is there anything you do want to ask about me, Graham?”

“Yes,” he said. “Why would a successful career woman from New York want to get involved with some deaf guy from Alaska and his bratty teenage daughter?”

Courtney laughed. “Well, when you put it that way, it makes me wonder why myself.” She paused before she added, “You have an amazing daughter, Graham, even though you’re upset with her right now. In fact, for the past three months, Rachel has been the one bright spot in my day.”

His expression softened slightly. “Even when she was complaining about her horrible life here?” he asked.

Is that what was bothering him? Was Graham worried Rachel had aired all of their dirty laundry? If that was the problem, she could clear that misconception up real quick.

“You have my word, Graham,” Courtney said, “never once has Rachel said anything but wonderful things about you.”

He didn’t look convinced. “Only because she was trying to sell you on me.”

“Believe me,” Courtney said, “it wasn’t a hard sale.”

The words just hung there.

Courtney couldn’t take them back.

And Graham didn’t seem to know what to say.

Thankfully a loud bark defused the situation.

“Showtime,” Courtney said, moving closer to Graham and sliding her arm around his waist.

“And how far are we going to take this?” he asked.

“Far enough to be convincing until you tell her the truth.”

Graham put his arm around her shoulder. And his arm did feel good around her—too good. Courtney breathed in his scent—all manly and intoxicating. And though she knew she was only torturing herself, Courtney couldn’t help but notice how perfectly they fit together.

“Now what?” he asked, snapping her back to reality.

“Smile and look happy,” Courtney said.

Smiling from ear to ear?

In a clutch with a woman he’d just met?

Unfreakingbelievable!

All Rachel could do was stare.

“Well, aren’t you going to say hello to Courtney?” her dad asked as if she weren’t late getting home.

“Hi,” Rachel managed, but it came out as a squeak.

“Come here, you,” Courtney said.

Before Rachel knew what was happening, Courtney flew across the room and engulfed her in a big hug. And when she let Rachel go, she stepped back and smiled.

“I’m so happy to finally meet you, Rachel,” she gushed. “You’re even prettier in person than you are in your pictures.”

“Thanks,” was all Rachel could think to say.

Although Rachel doubted Courtney really cared. Miss So-Happy-To-Meet-You had already hurried back across the room to wrap herself around dear old Dad again.

“We have every right to be angry with you, young lady,” her father said.

Rachel held her breath, expecting the worst.

What she got instead was another big smile.

“But how can we be angry,” he added, “when you’re the one responsible for bringing us together?”

“It was love at first sight,” Courtney said.

“Totally,” her dad agreed.

Huh?

Rachel couldn’t believe it. Not only was her dad still grinning like some silly buffoon, but he had just said
totally
for the first time in his life. Had he completely lost his mind? That was the only explanation Rachel had for his goofy behavior.

“In fact,” he said, “Courtney and I have already decided now that we’ve found each other, we don’t want to be apart for a minute. Right, Courtney?”

“Absolutely,” Courtney said, smiling up at him.

And then he kissed her.

On the mouth!

In a flash, Rachel was mentally packing her bags. She could see herself running through Central Park with Broadway. And she
would
take Broadway back to New York with her. Millions of people had dogs in the city no matter what her dad said.

Other images quickly filled her head.

She could order Chinese takeout any hour of the day or night—and man, how she had missed Chinese takeout. She could shop on Fifth Avenue. She could go to the Met anytime she wanted. She could see a musical on the real Broadway. And attend the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center for the first time in years. She could even be in Times Square for the big ball drop on New Year’s Eve.

Rachel was on the verge of jumping up and down. She couldn’t wait to tell Tiki. She really had been granted a freaking miracle. Finally, she could go to a regular high school with boys and girls her own age. Finally, she could experience what it was like to be a
normal
teenager.

“Courtney’s agreed to move to Alaska to be with us. Isn’t that great?”

“What?” Rachel shrieked.

And that’s when she saw her dad’s expression change before her eyes. Now his jaw was rigid—his smile gone. And the reaction Rachel had been expecting all along quickly followed.

“A lie isn’t so funny when you’re on the receiving end of that lie, is it, Rachel?”

Rachel balled her fists together. He was using his serious father-knows-best voice. She
hated
when he did that.

“And save yourself the trouble of thinking up any more schemes,” he warned. “We are
not
moving back to New York under any circumstances. And that’s final.”

For one brief second, Rachel truly hated her father.

“You can’t control my life forever!” Rachel screamed back at him. “When I turn eighteen I
will
move to New York City. And I’ll never come back to this miserable place again. Ever.
That’s
final!”

Sobbing, Rachel ran from the room.

Faithfully, Broadway trotted after her.