Men of Alaska 2: Sterling Sunshine (2 page)

“It will and it’ll be even better if we can build up Sterling as a spot for destination weddings. Alaska is a great vacation place, we can make Sterling a great location to get married in and enjoy the scenery, the nature, and all that good stuff. If we can tie our promotion budget in with the town, we’ll more than double the reach.”

“Destination weddings? Here?” Mel asked.

“Sterling has it all. Small, cute feel. Water and gorgeous nature settings. The men can fish, hunt, hike, and all that. Women too. Or the women can do the wine tasting in Homer like we did. We need to build up the draws for women because they really are the ones who make the wedding decisions.” Gretchen nodded.

“That’s true. There’s a beauty salon in town. Not a ton of shopping beyond basics. Photographer.” Mel frowned.

“You’re sure you’re not going to have a wedding? We could make a blitz of promotion about that.” Gretchen grinned.

“No. Marriage is great for some people, but I won’t play favorites.” Mel shook her head.

Mel had overcome a lot of marriage doubts and independence issues to move here. Committing to such a complex relationship was great progress, and Mel didn’t want to be legally married to one man and not the others. Gretchen admired her friend’s perspective, but she couldn’t imagine still not wanting a big wedding. Legal or not…it was a celebration!

“I hope gay marriage is made legal here soon. That’d add to the business. Two brides, double the dresses. Or two custom-designed tuxes works too. Group marriage will take forever, but we don’t need it to be legal to throw the party,” Gretchen said.

“I know you were out of work for a while and it was really depressing, but you don’t have to push so hard. Big things take time. I won’t be a billion-dollar dress designer in a day. Especially not after moving here.” Mel patted her friend’s hand.

Gretchen took a deep breath and sipped her coffee. “I get it. Too much too fast. Too much pressure on myself. It’s just so nice to have something to do. I’m living in your house and eating your food. You know I just want to make myself useful.”

“You are. There’s no rush to move out. Trust me, the guys don’t mind. The deal was room and board while we get things going. Once business picks up, we can start paying you more. You can find a place, if you want to stay,” Mel said.

“I’m not sure I want to live alone here. Definitely not yet. It’s different, but nice. Small town. Things feel a bit simpler, yet other things are a lot more complicated.” Gretchen had been eating more in-season fresh fish and local meats instead of the processed food that were cheaper and easier to come by in the lower forty-eight. That alone helped her take off the weight she’d added while jobless.

“You fit in better than I did at first.” Mel checked her phone.

“It’s summer too. That helps. The darker winter was a rough way to explore a new town with wedding stress on top of it. You were a great maid of honor and made fabulous dresses in the dark. At least now we know what we’re in for. We can soak up the sun and prep for the winter.” Gretchen looked down at her smartphone.

Technology was a big part of what helped Alaska run better these days. Even if they were snowed in, information still came through. “What if we do an app?”

“An app? For dresses?” Mel asked.

“Yeah! What if we had an app designed where women take a selfie and pick a design of yours, and it adjusts to their form? They could virtually try on your whole line. There would be a place to put in for a custom dress, of course. But the idea is they can see what you’ve done and how it’d look on them from anywhere. We could advertise in Canada and all over Alaska. Offer the app for free.” Gretchen started making notes in her phone.

“You’re really good at this. See. I knew I hired the right woman for the job. Maybe Ryan can help?” Mel suggested.

Gretchen nodded. Ryan was the tech expert of Mel’s men. “Make sure we load those prom designs you did too.”

A text popped up on her phone.

From the office of the Mayor: He has an opening at 11 a.m. today. Please reply if you’d like this spot or not.

She replied yes quickly. “I’m seeing Ross today at eleven. Hopefully he’ll be on board.”

“He will and he’s hot.” Mel grinned.

Gretchen’s jaw dropped. “You have three hot guys.”

“I meant for you. Tony was flirting with you at Isa’s reception. He and Ross are an item. They’d been running into you every chance they get. You don’t see it? I don’t know why they haven’t been here trying to get you out on a date all spring,” Mel said.

“Who knows? I’ve been so busy. I thought Tony might ask me out at the wedding and Ross is a flirt, but he’s a politician. Maybe it’s weird because you’re with Jason, and Tony is his brother. Men are different. Not sure I could juggle the way you do.” Gretchen downplayed it all but she’d paid close attention to the two men. Hoping for a date and maybe love of her own but not wanting to look desperate. She made this choice for a job. It was a fresh start not a husband-hunting expedition. Still, the men who’d caught her interest hadn’t made a single serious move.

Throwing herself full force into work was the best solution. She’d been looking for a year back in Michigan, and nothing had turned up. Were they finding reasons not to hire her because she was a size 22? There was no way to prove it, but here she had plenty to keep her busy, and there were a lot of men around. She’d been meeting some of them.

“No other men or groups you’re interested in?” Mel asked.

Close friends, sometimes it felt like they could read each other’s minds. She, Isa, Mel, and Bethany had been friends for years. Moving here was easier because Gretchen knew she’d have friends.

“Isa has been introducing me around a lot. Not sure I want a military man. Lots of coast guard invites to Kodiak Island, but I’m more of a land girl.” Gretchen got seasick, airsick, carsick if she sat in the back and vertigo on carnival rides. All the meds she’d tried just made her sleepy, so it really didn’t pay to take certain adventures.

“Well, today you get to flirt with Ross. He’s cute, nice, and loves this town. Everyone says he’s not a real politician type. I bet you can convince him to work with you.” Mel smiled. “I better get into the dress studio and be productive.”

“Good idea.” Gretchen nodded. “I need to get some files and proposals together to show him.”

“Don’t overlook men in your lust for work. You gave me good advice about my guys. I want you to be happy too.” Mel gave Gretchen a stern look.

“I am happy. I have plenty to do, and I lost the weight I put on from stress-eating over not having work. I’ll never be skinny, but I feel better. The air is cleaner or something,” Gretchen said.

“I’ve learned that life balance is worth it. There might be more dress business in New York or Chicago but the men I love are here. As long as the group has enough, we’re okay. I like this town too. You can’t have it all, but you can pick what matters most and work around the rest. The right men for you are here. I believe it.” Mel slid on her sunglasses and grabbed her bag. “See you later.”

“All the sunshine is going to your head,” Gretchen teased. She wanted Tony to ask her out and to get to know Ross better. No matter what, she wasn’t going to let men depress her. There was more to life than love, and all of
that
was going pretty well.

Chapter Two

Sterling’s town hall wasn’t a huge building. It sat on one end of Main Street, nothing fancy or showy. Ross had learned the dull parts of the job and was finally digging into the good he could do.

When his assistant showed Gretchen in, Ross found himself a little tongue-tied. She dressed in black slacks and a black blazer with a light blue blouse underneath that matched her eyes. That long black hair was pulled up and showed off her creamy skin. They’d met and talked several times before, but her professional touches made him want to move beyond the mundane, if important, matters of the meeting and open the door to a more personal exchange.

“Nice of you to see me, Mr. Mayor,” she said.

“No trouble at all. Please call me Ross. Have a seat. Would you like something to drink?” He shook her hand and the spark hit again, like it did every time they ran into each other.

“No, thanks.” She smiled and took a seat.

He nodded to his assistant who closed the door on her way out.

“So are you liking your move to Sterling?” he asked.

“Loving it. The boat repair business is easier to promote. I’m hoping that we can combine efforts and boost tourism as well as get more business for the dress shop,” she said.

“Even the tourists don’t get that dressy around here. Except for weddings and such.” Ross wanted to work with her but getting her hopes up would only hurt his chances.

“We’re doing a wedding show in Anchorage and I’m planning some local photo shoots of Mel’s work. We’re even developing an app. If we could possibly slant the tourism angle to include the potential for destination weddings, it might benefit us both and other local businesses. The bakery, the inn, the salon, and so on. I have a breakdown of what Isa’s wedding used locally, and it wasn’t even a high budget wedding. There could be a lot of benefits for the town.” She pulled a folder from her bag.

There was a knock at the door.

“Yes,” Ross said.

“Hey.” Tony entered and stopped short.

There was a spark and a little unease that Ross detected.

Gretchen’s cheeks pinked up, but she recovered with a big smile. “Hi, Tony! How have you been?”

“Good. I didn’t mean to interrupt. Ross texted about lunch, and things are actually slow today.” Tony held up his phone and gave Ross a confused look.

“I’m glad. Gretchen and I were talking about some tourism promotions. I thought maybe we’d all grab lunch if you had time.” Ross nodded to the chair next to Gretchen.

“That’d be lovely, but I don’t want to bore Tony with work talk.” She shrugged.

“Look, I know what he’s up to.” Tony sighed.

“Up to?” she asked.

“I wanted to ask you out and pursue things once you moved up here. Obviously a group situation makes it a little more complicated to date,” Tony said.

“You think I didn’t like Ross? Or was it that Mel is with your brother and I’m living there? Is that weird?” she asked.

“No, that’s not the weird part. You and Ross have met, and I think that has real potential. I don’t know if Jason told you about our third
sometimes
guy,” Tony said.

She looked from Ross to Tony. “Jason and everyone there has been very helpful with my move and getting me adjusted to Alaska. But there’s privacy. Jason hasn’t really gone into it. Mel said she didn’t really understand the details but mentioned a guy named Matt. I think I met him. In Mel’s defense, she has three men’s families to learn and a new town.”

“It’s not Mel’s job to play matchmaker.” Ross felt things potentially going off track. He liked that she wasn’t needy or waiting around for them but realized Tony’s point was spot-on. She might not want drama and complications. But they were all in the early to mid-thirties. Who didn’t have some baggage and deal-breakers at that point?

“Exactly. I don’t know how this ménage dating works either. Mel was sort of locked in working with her trio in the dark of winter. I’m not planning on leaving, but I’m not underfoot, so if men are interested, they might need to work a little. Like ask me out.” She smiled.

“Then we should tell you about Matt. He moved here from the north. He grew up in Nome and did his pilot certifications. He’s worked Medvac flying helicopters then bush planes for supplies deep into the Arctic Circle. He’s a bit of a wild guy who likes to wander every so often,” Tony said.

“I think you did meet him at the boat launches. He blew into town for a bit not long after you were moved in and, before we could sort out anything, he headed back out.” Ross knew that even if she was okay with a guy who traveled for work a bit, he had to be around enough for her to be sure he belonged in her life.

“So you guys just take him when he comes back, and he leaves when he wants?” she asked.

“His dad was an ice-road trucker. So he was gone for a long stretch. Then he went out on the boats and worked the summer. He had a dad but he was always off working to make the most money for the family. Matt has that same habit only with flying. The weather can be unpredictable and he knows Nome, Anchorage, Bethel, the Kenai, and Deadhorse up by Prudhoe Bay. He’s good.” Tony shrugged.

“Well that’s good. So he gets a lot of work. You three are an interesting group,” she said.

“He’s got a gift for reading the weather signs, especially on the coasts where it can be tricky. He’s a great guy, but pinning him down is a pain.” Ross didn’t want to harp on the subject. “Let’s start with lunch, and you can see if you want to work with me on this tourism thing and give us a chance at a real date.”

“Totally independent offers,” Tony said nervously.

She laughed. “I’m not going to trade sex or dates for help with the tourism angle, and I’m pretty sure that’s not what was being suggested. This Matt, doesn’t sound like he cares much about Sterling. He loves all of Alaska.” She stood and slid her bag over her shoulder.

“I like you even more. Very ethical business sense and you’ve got Matt down. He’s a complicated guy at times, but we’re used to him. Tony and I try to be straightforward.” Ross winked at his guy.

Ross finally understood Tony’s reluctance. He was totally enamored of Gretchen. She was beautiful, smart, and had a strong personality. Screwing it up once might mean no second chance. Matt could screw it up for them in one bad date.

“Café?” Tony suggested.

“We can take my car,” Ross said.

“Sounds great.” She led the way out and Tony followed.

“I think we’ve got a good shot,” Ross whispered in Tony’s ear. They shared a smile and caught up with Gretchen.

* * * *

After they’d ordered, the conversation fell silent. Gretchen was sitting across from both men. Neither, apparently, wanted to be too forward. This Matt, she remembered him vaguely. Brown eyes, dark blond hair, tall and muscular, he’d worn a Windbreaker to the boat launch. That triggered her memory. She remembered thinking Matt had dressed smartly. The wind cut through even on a warmish day, and she was still learning the quirks of weather here.