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Haven rolled her eyes, not missing a beat, clearly accustomed to the banter between the Cannon family siblings. “Anyway, my point being, it’s probably relaxing and quiet to get to the office a little early. It’s usually very busy. Coffee with us means she’s sort of on duty.”
Rhys smiled down at her. “Good point.”
“I just have a few early calls to make. Thank you for the coffee.” I said my goodbyes and began to depart, just as I heard Griffin’s voice. “I need to get rolling. I have a meeting at the fire station. I’ll catch you guys later.”
I heard the chorus of goodbyes and lengthened my stride slightly as I slipped through the door. I studiously kept my gaze ahead, as though I didn’t feel Griffin’s presence like a blast of heat from behind.
The seconds ticked by before I felt him catch up to me. In order to keep ahead of him, I would practically have to run. My stride wasn’t nearly as long as his. A moment later, he crested my shoulder.
“How are you doing?” he asked.
I pressed my glasses up my nose as I glanced up to the side. “Fine, you?”
“Pretty good, actually.”
“Didn’t we just do the polite conversation thing?” My voice was a little tight.
“I suppose. Habit,” he said with an easy shrug.
I looked out toward the harbor as we approached it, and I couldn’t help my soft gasp of appreciation. With the sun still rising, the mix of clouds above was shot through with shades of pink, lavender, and silvery rays of light. The view was stunning with the colors reflected in the water shimmering underneath.
“Beautiful,” Griffin said, his voice reverent.
“It is.” I savored the view for another moment before finally glancing up at Griffin. “It doesn’t get old to you?” I asked.
“Never. I grew up here so I’m used to it, but nature’s beauty isn’t something that wears out. At least, not for me. Honestly, I pay more attention to it now than when I was a kid. Living away from here for a little while only makes me appreciate it more.”
“Where else have you lived?” My curiosity about Griffin couldn’t be stopped.
“Most recently, I was up in Fairbanks for a few years hotshot firefighting. Of course, that’s also Alaska and very beautiful, but different. Alaska’s so big, geographically speaking, that, even knowing that, it was still a surprise to realize how different Fairbanks is. I went to college in Juneau and I’ve spent some time in Seattle. Aside from business, we have extended family in Willow Brook and down on the Kenai Peninsula in Diamond Creek.”
“So, you’ve been all over Alaska,” I said.
Griffin chuckled and my belly did a little shimmy. “I suppose so. The crew I worked for up in Fairbanks covered the whole state as well. What about you? All I know is you came up here from Seattle when you took the position as Rhys’s assistant.”
“I grew up in Seattle. I’ve done a little bit of traveling in the Pacific Northwest, but that’s it.”
“So you’re a city girl.” His eyes crinkled at the corners with his smile.
“I guess so. Seattle has a lot of residential areas that don’t feel too much like a city, but it’s definitely a city.”
“What made you want to come to Fireweed Harbor?”
“I wanted to live somewhere more rural. Alaska is one of those places, you know? A bucket list place.”
Griffin was quiet as he studied me. As he looked at me, it felt as if fireflies were lighting up inside my body. I was shimmering inside under the heat of his gaze.
I got so flustered that I blurted out, “I should go! I really do need to get to the office.” I couldn’t move though.
He held my gaze for several more echoing beats of my heart before nodding. He fell into step beside me, and again, I had to force myself not to start running. My nerves were alight with electricity, and I could hardly contain the way it hummed through my system.
He was quiet as we walked. Blessedly, it wasn’t far to the office building. A few minutes later, I stopped in front of Fireweed Industries headquarters.
Normally, I had good manners. I knew how to handle the average social interaction, but I felt tongue-tied around him.
Griffin insisted on walking me into the building. He held the door for me, and I slipped past, trying to ignore the sizzle of electricity that raced up my arm from where my elbow brushed against his side.
“Thank you,” I said when I glanced up at him.
