All The Afters

  Wild Fire Series

  J.H. Croix

  Contents

  1. Tish

  2. Griffin

  3. Griffin

  4. Tish

  5. Griffin

  6. Tish

  7. Griffin

  8. Griffin

  9. Tish

  10. Griffin

  11. Tish

  12. Tish

  13. Griffin

  14. Tish

  15. Griffin

  16. Tish

  17. Griffin

  18. Tish

  19. Griffin

  20. Griffin

  21. Griffin

  22. Tish

  23. Griffin

  24. Tish

  25. Griffin

  26. Griffin

  27. Tish

  28. Griffin

  29. Tish

  30. Tish

  31. Griffin

  32. Tish

  33. Tish

  34. Griffin

  35. Tish

  36. Tish

  37. Griffin

  38. Tish

  39. Tish

  40. Tish

  41. Griffin

  42. Tish

  43. Tish

  44. Griffin

  45. Tish

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Find My Books

  About the Author

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  * * *

  Copyright © 2024 J.H. Croix

  All rights reserved.

  Cover design by Najla Qamber Designs

  * * *

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Without in any way limiting the author’s exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication (in any and all formats, including ebook, print, audio, translation, and any other formats) to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.

  Created with Vellum

  To those who make the world a welcome place when it feels lonely and help us catch our balance if we stumble.

  Chapter One

  Tish

  I rested my elbows on the railing, letting my gaze arc over the river below. The water seemed almost ethereal, impossibly blue water fed by a melting glacier. I slowly inhaled, savoring the crisp, cool air. I could’ve sworn the air here was fresher than any air I’d ever breathed in my life.

  It felt as if I was in the middle of nowhere with mountains towering in the distance. I could almost forget about the narrow two-lane highway behind me. Considering that I’d been born and raised in a city, it really did feel rather nowhere-ish. Alaska, the land of fresh starts, at least for me.

  I was the only person at this little viewing rest stop. The railing was tall, higher than my waist. Glancing down, it was obvious why. Below was a rocky cliff that angled almost straight down to the edge of the river. Part of me wanted to strip off my clothes and dive into the water below.

  Holding my arms wide, I twirled in a half-circle and let out a joyous greeting. The sound of my voice echoed back to me. “Hello-hello-hello-o-o-o-o!”

  “Hello,” a man’s voice came from behind me.

  I shrieked and spun around. Standing before me was a man so handsome and rugged, it was as if Alaska had delivered him up to me on a platter. He had rumpled, dark blond hair with flickers of gold in it that glimmered under the bright sunlight from above. His eyes were silvery-gray. Tall with broad shoulders, he wore a faded navy-blue T-shirt that clung lovingly to his muscled chest, paired with well-worn black jeans and black leather boots.

  “I didn’t see you here!” I yelped.

  “I gathered,” he said dryly. “It’s worth saying hello to the world here. I’ve done it myself.” His lips kicked up in a half grin that sent my belly tumbling into a spin.

  I wasn’t sure why, but there was something a little familiar about this man. I mentally thumbed through my recollections, wondering if I’d met him somewhere before. That made no sense though. I was in the middle of almost-nowhere Alaska, and it was the first time I’d ever been here.

  When my eyes shifted toward the truck that must’ve pulled up while I was staring at the river and the mountains, I noticed that he had Alaska license plates, so he had to be local.

  I didn’t get a bad feeling, but I sure hoped he was safe. I didn’t know what I would do if he wasn’t. I’d already discovered cell phone reception was seriously spotty in Alaska.

  I managed to smile back at him, feeling my cheeks heat as he took a few steps closer. He approached me almost as if he were aware that maybe I was feeling cautious.

  “Have you ever been to Alaska?” he asked.

  I noticed his eyes flick toward my vehicle, the trusty little SUV I’d had for years. I gestured toward it. “As you can see, I’m from Washington. Seattle, to be specific.” Abruptly, I realized I was giving personal information to a complete stranger. My hand flew to my mouth.

  “I promise I’m safe.” He held both hands up in mock surrender. As he let them fall, he added, “Although, with the world we live in, you probably shouldn’t believe me.”

  I shrugged. “Well, there’s not much I can do if you’re not a nice person. Since you’re from Alaska, tell me, am I going to be glad I’m moving here?”

  This man, whose name I didn’t even know yet, smiled slowly. My belly did a full-on tumbling routine, complete with an internal cheer at the end. “Alaska is amazing.”

  Tingles raced over my skin. “That’s good to hear.”

  I realized I was just smiling at him like a foolish girl. I didn’t even have anything else to say because my brain couldn’t even seem to fire off a complete thought, much less have a casual conversation like a normal person.

  The moment of quiet was broken by a piercing call in the air. I didn’t recognize the sound and glanced around. “Eagle,” the man said.

  He pointed, and I followed the direction of his hand to see a large bird cutting through the sky, maybe twenty feet away. Unbothered by our presence, the bird landed on a tree nearby, carefully tucking its massive wings in place before turning and pinning us with its intense gaze.

  My breath hitched in my throat and I pressed my palm to my chest as I looked back at the man. “Wow,” I breathed.

  Another smile unfurled slowly across his face and heat spun through me, sending tiny sparks scattering everywhere. “Wow is right,” he said.

  His voice was a little low and rumbly. It made me feel funny inside. As I stood there, staring at this stranger, I experienced a startling kinship with him. It was an easy connection, one where it felt like we understood each other even though I didn’t even know his name.

  I started to feel a little lightheaded, the heat from those scattered sparks cooling rapidly. I could feel the plummeting drop of my blood pressure. “Oh, no,” I muttered. I knew what was coming.

  I heard his voice from a distance. “Are you okay?”

  Chapter Two

  Griffin

  The woman in front of me barely seemed to hear me. One moment, her pretty hazel eyes were focused on my face, and the next, she whispered, “Oh no.”

  I could tell she didn’t hear my question. Sensing she was about to faint, I reached her just in time and she slumped into my arms.

  “Well,” I said to myself as I looked down at her.

  Her eyes had fallen closed. She had silky brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. She wore a fitted blouse that flared around her hips over a pair of fitted jeans that tucked into, you guessed it, fitted boots with low heels.

  I adjusted her in my arms and carried her toward her car. She must have had her key fob on her, because it automatically unlocked when I stopped beside it. Except, I couldn’t just leave her in her car. That didn’t feel right.

  I turned to walk toward a small bench. It was nothing fancy. Roughhewn planks on two logs situated against a stone wall. I sat down, easing her to my side, while keeping my arm curled around her shoulder, so she didn’t topple over in the opposite direction.

  She was pretty in an understated way. Her nose endearingly tipped up at the end. Her lips were full, in contrast to the sharp lines of her face. Her cheekbones rose high and her jaw had a clean, angled line. I noted that she wasn’t wearing a ring on her ring finger. I had no idea why I would even notice that detail.

  The few minutes I’d spent in this woman’s company had been electrifying. When I pulled into the viewing area for a break and to stretch my legs, she was standing by the railing, looking out over the glacial river. I might’ve not even said anything until she let out her joyful shout and spun in a circle, appearing ecstatic to be here.

  While I did love Alaska and meant what I said when I told her it was amazing, the last few months of my life had been challenging and I was weary inside. I’d taken this drive, starting with a short ferry ride, from my hometown of Fireweed Harbor all the way up to Fairbanks solely because I wanted some peace and quiet. There was more than enough of that here. Miles upon miles of empty stretches
of highway with few other cars in sight, and wildlife sightings aplenty with only the occasional human encounter.

  It had been maybe a minute or two since I’d carried her over here when I felt her shift against me and glanced down to see her eyes opening. After she blinked, her gaze was clear again. She sat up, blinked a few more times, and let out an annoyed huff.

  “Are you okay?” I repeated my earlier question from right before she fainted.

  She sighed. “I’m fine. I have this weird thing. They call it syncope. Basically, sometimes I get lightheaded and faint. It never happens when I’m sitting down, which is the only reason I’m allowed to drive.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  She straightened more fully. I was a little disappointed to lose the press of her soft curves against my side. “Thank you,” she said as she looked around. “I’m assuming you kept me from face-planting and carried me over here?” She peered up at me.

  “Yes, and no need to thank me. I’m a firefighter. It’s in my wheelhouse.”

  “Catching random women when they faint and carrying them to benches?” she asked, her eyes teasing.

  “Sure, if that’s what the occasion calls for.”

  As we sat there smiling at each other, I experienced a sense of lightness. There was an ease to sharing space with her.

  Her gaze broke from mine first. She stood up and brushed her hands down the front of her jeans before tapping her palms together lightly. “Well, I should get going.”

  I didn’t want her to leave. “Do you mind if I ask your name?”

  She studied me quietly for a few beats before offering, “Tish.”

  “What would you say if I wanted to call you?”

  A light gust of wind came off the river, blowing her ponytail in a swirl.

  “I would say that I don’t know. What’s your name?”

  “Griffin.”

  I wasn’t sure why I chose to leave out my last name, but I did, just as she had.

  “How about if we ever see each other again, we can take that as a sign?”

  Chapter Three

  Griffin

  A few years later

  * * *

  My brother Wyatt held his wife’s hands and looked deep into her eyes. “I do. I do,” he repeated for good measure.

  My throat was tight. I was happy, in a bone-deep way, for my twin brother. He’d crushed on Rosie for years before he’d been crazy enough to dare her to get a marriage license when they were in Las Vegas.

  Roughly a year later, they were still happily married, but they were doing a recommitment ceremony. I glanced around the room to see plenty of teary eyes and lots of smiles. My mother had her palm pressed to her chest.

  Rosie said her vows before Wyatt laid a deep kiss on her. The assembled group let up a small cheer. A few moments later, I clapped him on the shoulder as he turned to hand me his jacket. He’d worn a suit and everything. He’d said he wanted to get this seriously right. Wyatt could be a tad superstitious.

  “I’m happy for you,” I said, leaning close to his ear.

  He glanced over. “Yeah?”

  “Well, I was already happy for you because you’re already married,” I teased. “But this is good. You wanted it, Rosie wanted it, and Mom is beside herself. Now, make sure you keep treating Rosie right.”

  He flashed a quick grin before he turned his focus back to his beaming wife. The party swung into full gear. The ceremony was at the park down by the harbor. With it being summer, the weather was gorgeous. Of course, that wasn’t always the case, but today, the weather obliged the ceremony with a bright blue sky, sun glittering on the water, and a soft, salty breeze coming off the harbor. The winery restaurant was catering for the reception. Once the ceremony was over, food and drinks flowed.

  Tourists milled about nearby as well. Fireweed Harbor was one of Southeast Alaska’s popular travel spots. Boats rolled in and out of the harbor, both fishing and recreational. A raft of otters frolicked near the shoreline and a pair of curious seals watched us as they swam nearby.

  “You’re the only one left,” my sister commented from my shoulder.

  I glanced over at McKenna. “What do you mean?”

  “You have to get married next.”

  I stared at her. “I’m in no hurry,” I finally said.

  McKenna took a bite of a crab puff. While she was chewing, I stole two of them and popped them in my mouth. “Wow, these are so good.”

  “Can’t go wrong with Alaskan king crab and cream cheese,” she said dryly. After finishing another crab puff, she added, “You should be.”

  “I should be what?” I countered.

  “In more of a hurry to find someone. You’re getting old, Griffin.”

  I eyed her. “I’m not old.”

  My sister rolled her eyes, just as our oldest brother Rhys stopped beside me.

  “McKenna thinks I’m getting old,” I said.

  Rhys chuckled. “You’re not.”

  Someone from the catering crew stopped by with a question for McKenna, and the party rolled along.

  My eyes caught on a bright blue dress. When I turned, I realized the woman wearing it was a woman I’d encountered on the side of the highway once before. Tish. I hadn’t forgotten her name. Awareness sizzled down my spine.

  Her hair was pulled up in a tight bun. It was as if she was striving to give off an uptight librarian vibe. Her looks were understated. I couldn’t forget her wide hazel eyes and full sensual mouth, though. My curiosity grew when I saw her say something to one of my brothers. When I headed in her direction, I was caught up in another conversation on the way over. By the time I looked up, she was out of sight.

  The party rolled along, and I was just about to depart when there was a surprised scream. My reflexes kicked in, and I quickly followed the sound to realize it was coming from the dock at the harbor. There was a small commotion as I ran in the direction. I got to the edge of the dock and looked down to see Tish in the water, her blue dress billowing up on one side. Her head was bobbing at the surface. I was kicking off my shoes and stripping down to my briefs in a hot minute.

  “My dress is caught on something,” she called up. There was a thread of panic in her voice.

  I was about to dive in when Wyatt reached my side. “You wait here. There must be a life buoy nearby if we need it. Find it,” I barked in the general direction of my brother and the assembled group.

  Alaskan waters were cold, even at the hottest time of year. We needed to get her out as fast as we could. You didn’t swim or surf without a wetsuit here. Hypothermia could set in quickly based on the water temperature.

  I braced myself for the jolt of cold as I broke through the surface. My system was electrified, instantly alive. I was close to Tish when I surfaced. “I’m stuck,” she said, her teeth chattering.

  “Kick off your shoes. I’ll tear your dress,” I ordered.

  I dove under the surface quickly. My vision was blurred by the water, but I saw where her dress was hooked on one of the large bolts in the pilings. I didn’t even know how she’d ended up in the water, but pondering that was for another time.

  Her dress tore quickly with a good yank. Seconds later, I surfaced beside her and curled an arm around her waist. Her teeth were chattering harder.

  “I know where the ladder is. Stay with me.”

  It was clear she could swim. Now that her dress was free, she kicked easily. I still kept my arm loosely gripped around her waist. I’d been a trained lifeguard back in high school.