Love Grows in Alaska (The Washington Triplets) by Michelle Lynn Page A

information to me about her and Wes. What they’ve been doing the last few months and how she was torn recently on what to do, but she finally realized she was better than what Camden was dictating. I couldn’t agree with her more, she is. I’ve never told Libby about Nate or the fact that I know firsthand what a verbally abusive relationship can turn someone into. I’m still struggling with own confidence level five months later. It’s hard to forget those words thrown at you; sometimes you start to believe them yourself, but Zach was different. I felt assurance in him that Nate never gave me and I stupidly trusted him. Erasing four years of worthlessness name calling in five months is hard to do. I’ve come a long way, but I’m certain my fear of Zach is because Nate was nice at first too. Then our first fight came and the gloves were off. He would teeter-totter back and forth between sweet and caring to angry and spiteful. Figuring out his mannerisms from a text or phone call before he got home, I knew whether or not to walk on egg shells, trying not to set him off. It scares the hell out of me that I’ll fall into that hole again with someone.
    Trying to push those memories behind, I peek up to find the one blonde right next to Zach. My stomach churns when he points something out to her and her hand lays on his shoulder blade. She furthers the closeness by leaning forward across him to gain a better view, rubbing her exuberant amount of breasts against him. “Slut,” I mumble a little too loudly because the rest of the group twists around with judgmental looks. My eyes bulge for a second before I think fast. “Oh, my phone, I just put it away,” I remark, hoping my rambling didn’t dilute my lying.
    My co-workers turn back around, disregarding me while the three girls give me their best narrowed-eyes and cocked-head attitude. Girls like them would have intimidated me when I was younger. Those pesky reminders that I’m not as attractive or have nearly the chest they do. Trying not to whip my hand out and toss them the finger, I clench my fist in my pocket. Then Zach stands back up and his eyes light up when they land on mine. “Marisa, why don’t you come up here?” He waves his hand forward for me to follow. A small smile begins to form across my lips as I weave through the group members. When I stop next to the blonde, he turns to her. “Kylie, if you could go back with your friends, Marisa had asked me about the mountain goats and we usually see them around this area.” He lies and a small tingling of hope that I misjudged this whole situation comes to my heart, because he’s purposely managing to get me next to him.
    “Mountain goats?” she snidely mocks, placing her hand on her non-existent hip, jutting it out.
    Zach nods and then places his hand on the small of my back, guiding me to the outlook area. As always, his touch leaves a quake of shivers up my spine. Once we reach the destination, there are actually mountain goats high on the mountains. Leaning closer to me, he points to the two white goats roaming around. As his breath hits my neck and cheek, my heartbeat begins to race. “You see them, guys?” He leans away, shouting to the group, as the girls and my co-workers meander up to the fence line to get a glimpse of what we are seeing.
    His hand drops and grips tight onto my hip; he nuzzles my neck with one swipe of his tongue to my earlobe. “God, you smell delectable. I’m not sure I have the willpower to not taste you again right now.” With one suck of his mouth, I’m completely limp against the wood railing. As much as I hate myself for giving into him, I’m crossing my fingers and my toes that I’m correct in my false allegations this morning and he isn’t only using me for a good time.
    My body colds when he steps to the side slightly, making sure we don’t get caught. “All right everyone, we are going to hike back down. There’s a lunch set up for you at the bottom. Then