Friend-zoned since childhood by the most amazing man she's ever known, that doesn't stop Alaska Stein from doing whatever's necessary-including lying to the military-to be by his side when Drake ends up in a German hospital after a mission gone wrong. The broken man in the bed is not the boy she once knew. Despite that, and despite years apart, when Drake turns his gaze to Alaska, he her. Looks beyond the plain-Jane exterior to his childhood friend beneath. He may never be anything more than a friend, but putting her needs aside to see him whole is a sacrifice she's willing to make. Drake "Brick" Vandine walks away from the SEALs after his recovery, building a life around helping others struggling with PTSD. But he can't walk away from Alaska. She was there for him in his darkest moment and her spine of steel saw him through one of the biggest challenges of his career. And now, although she lives half a world away, she's still his anchor, his daily dose of support as he and several friends build The Refuge. A place of peace, a place of healing. But, for Drake, also a place of loneliness. When the unthinkable befalls Alaska during a trip to Russia, it's Drake's turn to drop everything and race to her aid. Safely back at The Refuge, he just as quickly realizes what he's failed to see for two decades-his oldest, dearest friend is the love of his life. A revelation that may be too little, too late. Because Drake's brought the enemy right to their door. **Deserving Alaska is the 1st book in The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.