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coming from the town.” She sniffed back tears. She had been so excited about this new adventure. The very thought of being at the center of controversy made her feel terrible. All this time, she had imagined being treated with kindness and support the moment she stepped off the plane. Had she been completely misguided? Maybe she would be as unwelcome as a storm sweeping into town.
    “Hey, now,” Declan said, his voice noticeably softer. He edged closer her and peered into her face. “Are you...crying?”
    “No, I’m not,” she said as tears splashed onto her cheeks. “It’s just smoke from the fire getting in my eyes.” She was mortified. Up to this point, she had managed to hang tough and hold her head up high. All of sudden she had broken like a dam.
    He reached out and brushed her tears away with his thumb. “Forgive me. I spoke without thinking, Annie. It’s been a really long, scary day for you. All you expected when this day began was to arrive safely in Love, Alaska, with a wonderful adventure stretched out before you. And what did you get instead? A terrifying crash landing in the middle of the wilderness. And a pilot who has a bad habit of putting his foot in his mouth.”
    Annie stared into Declan’s eyes, lulled by the rich timbre of his voice and his ice-blue eyes. He really was a spectacular-looking man. And he was kind. He just hid it behind a mask of brusqueness. He’d been hurt, she deduced. Someone or something had bruised this man, and as a result, he hid his light under a bushel. But without him even knowing it, the richness of his soul shone through at certain moments.
    “I’m sorry for being so thoughtless with my words. I really like you, Annie Murray. You have more spirit and pluck than most women would have in a crisis like this. And you’ve done brilliantly in an unpredictable and terrifying situation. Truth be told, I’m pretty fortunate that you were my passenger. Without you here, I’d be hungry and cold and downright miserable. If I had to rate you as a survival companion, I’d give you an A plus.”
    Annie smiled at Declan through her tears. He was being so very kind to her. The truth was, he had bruised her feelings with his careless comment about what the town thought of her. She took her profession very seriously, and if she was being completely honest, she was a tad homesick. Whimsy, Maine, was all she had ever known. And she had traveled all this way to head up Love’s new library, only to be involved in a plane crash. The last thing she needed to worry about was her bread-and-butter job in Alaska.
    But to be fair, it wasn’t completely Declan’s fault. Her nerves had already been on edge. This day had been endless. And she was scared to death. It was almost time to go to sleep, and she didn’t know what the morning would bring. Rescue? Or vast disappointment?
    “I don’t know if I deserve all your praise, but I appreciate you lifting me up.”
    Declan flashed her a perfect smile. “Anytime, Annie. We’re buddies now, right? After this singular experience, we’re bonded for life.”
    Bonded for life . What a dramatic turn of phrase. Even though she knew better than to fall for a handsome charmer like Declan, the idea of being bonded for life with him was not an unwelcome thought.
    * * *
    When it was time to bunk down for the night, Declan borrowed several articles of clothing from Annie so that he could make a pallet for himself. He intended to keep watch tonight rather than lie down and sleep. He figured if he propped the pallet against a tree, he could sit up and keep watch without being too uncomfortable. And he felt the need to keep watch over Annie. Even though she acted tough, Annie Murray needed protection. Until he delivered her safely to Love, she would be under his watchful, protective eye.
    He and Annie enjoyed a companionable silence as they made their pallets. Declan couldn’t fathom how she had managed to stuff so many items in her bags.
    “I feel