IN HER REGULAR LIFE, Dakota spent her days working up curricula for math and science programs. In theory, a year or two from now, students from around the country would be able to come to Fool’s Gold and spend a month immersed in a math or science program. Dakota and Raoul worked hard to solicit donations from corporate and private benefactors. It was work that excited her. It was work that made a difference. But was she doing that important work now? No. Instead, she’d spent the past hour on the phone with various hotels in San Diego, negotiating room rates so reality show contestants could have a dream date.
The door to her makeshift office opened and Finn stepped inside. She hadn’t seen him in a couple of days, not since the contestants had been announced. She half expected to read an article in the local paper saying that two twenty-something twins had gone missing. But so far, Finn seemed to be holding it all together.
“Am I interrupting?” he asked.
“Yes, and I’m desperately grateful.” She tossed the papers she’d been holding. “Do you know I have a doctorate? I can make people call me doctor. I don’t, but I could. Do you know what I’m doing with that degree right now?”
He took the seat across from her desk. “Not loving your job?”
“Not today,” she said with a sigh. “I tell myself I’m doing the right thing. I tell myself I’m helping the town.”
“Let me guess. It’s not working.”
“I’m getting very close to wanting to bang my head against the wall. That’s never a good sign. As a health care professional, I’m very aware of that.”
She leaned back in her chair and studied him. Finn looked good. Hardly a surprise. When had the man looked bad? He was solid. Dependable. His concern about his brothers proved that. She supposed her next line of thought should be that he was nice. Instead she found herself acknowledging that he was every woman’s definition of a hot, sexy guy.
“Can I help?” he asked.
“I wish.” She sighed. “Let’s talk about something else. Nearly any topic would be more cheerful.” She pointed to the papers on her desk. “I see Geoff kept his word. You’re the pilot of choice for several of the dates. What you’re doing for your brothers—” she smiled “—let’s just say, parents across America will be so proud.”
“That’s one way of looking at it,” he said. “I’d rather not have to be here at all.” He looked at her. “Present company excluded.”
“Thanks. Are you still going to come between Stephen and Aurelia?”
Finn shrugged. “Once I figure out how. They haven’t been on a date yet, and both my brothers are avoiding me.”
“Are you surprised?”
“No. If I were them, I’d be avoiding me, too.” He shook his head. “Why couldn’t they rebel in Alaska?”
“Missing home?” she asked.
He swung his gaze back to her and shrugged. “Some. This is very different.”
“The landscape or the people?”
“Both,” he admitted. “Compared to where I come from, Fool’s Gold is the big city. Back in South Salmon, there’s still snow piled ten-feet deep. But the days are getting longer and warmer. Bill—that’s my business partner—and I should be gearing up for the busy season. Instead Bill’s doing it himself.” Finn sank lower in the seat. “We’re going to have to hire a couple of temporary pilots.”
“That can’t be good,” she said.
“It’s a pain in the ass.”
“You blame your brothers.”
He raised one dark eyebrow. “Any reason I shouldn’t?”
“Technically, you don’t have to be here.”
“Yes, I do.” He glanced out the window. “If I wasn’t worried about my brothers and work, being here wouldn’t be so bad.”
She smiled. “Are you saying you like Fool’s Gold?”
“The people are friendly enough.” He straightened. “I went out to the airport and talked to a guy there about renting planes for the show. I’m going to work with him while I’m here.”
“Flying cargo?”
He nodded.
“I didn’t know we flew cargo in and out of Fool’s Gold.”
“You’d be surprised what comes in by air. Even here. He also has charters. Taking people to remote places.”
“Do you do that in South Salmon?”
“Some, although Bill and I focus mostly on cargo. I’ve thought about expanding, or even starting a new company. Bill wants to avoid dealing with passengers. It may be hard to believe, but I’m more of a people person.” He grinned.
She reacted with a burst of heat to her belly and the knowledge that he’d made her toes curl. Thankfully, the latter was something he couldn’t see.
“You’re willing to take on the tourists?” she asked, trying to speak without having to clear her throat.
“They can be fun. I’ve also thought about opening a flying school. There’s freedom up there, but you can’t be stupid about it. My dad used to say the only time he knew I wasn’t taking crazy chances was when I was flying.” He chuckled. “Of course, he was wrong about that. Still, it teaches responsibility.”
“Sounds like a calling.”
“In some ways it is.” He gazed at her. “You’ve been nice to me. I know you don’t have to be, and I appreciate your counsel.”
Nice? Great. She wanted him to think she was sexy and irresistible. Someone he couldn’t wait to get in his bed. Wouldn’t you just know it—the first man to get her attention in nearly a year thought she was nice.