by Jean Oram
He almost laughed at her confused tone. “Yeah, you know. The people you hung out with. Built connections with, and added to your network. Hobnobbing?”
She stared at her plate, face blank.
“You did network?” he asked.
“Yeah, of course!”
“So then, get on your phone. See who can help you out.”
Maya smiled and pushed away from the table.
“Finish your breakfast first.”
She promptly pulled her chair back in place. Laughing, Connor walked to his room to put on his trunks. Today he would try swimming around the island, and spend the afternoon thinking about early retirement and whether it was something he should implement.
He took his time going down the winding path to the water, breathing in the summer morning air. Closing his eyes, he tried a new method of being present in the moment, counting the number of bird species he heard calling to each other. The distinctive chick-a-dee-dee-dee of the chickadee, the knocking of a woodpecker. The scratching of a nuthatch walking upside down on a tree to his right. He’d opened his eyes. He sucked at being in the present.
Ditching his towel and sandals on a chair, he dived into the lake, coming up several feet from the dock. He slowly warmed up with a back crawl, determined to make it around the island by taking it easy.
The water felt good, and he wondered if he’d be able to keep swimming when he returned to the city. It would have to become part of his routine. He laughed and choked on a mouthful of water. There was no way swimming would stay in his routine once he returned. A few late night meetings and he’d sleep through his opportunity to swim. Add an early morning meeting, and soon he’d be completely out of the habit.
He needed to find a way to have it all. Being away from the office for a week without contact hadn’t been nearly as bad as he’d feared. He was even beginning to enjoy not having anything pulling at his attention. He could stay with one line of thought without distraction.
On the far side of the island, the current turned against him, and the waves grew as the wind ripped across the open lake. Hugging the shore, Connor took his time, watching for places he could climb out if need be. The way the waves were eroding the bank here and there created small inlets that he could possibly use if he didn’t mind getting dirty.
A few minutes later he found himself back between the two islands, sheltered from the waves and wind.
Almost there.
When he reached the dock again, he smiled and swam to shore so he could walk out of the water instead of trying to haul himself up onto the dock with his burning arms.
He heard a light, friendly voice, and spotted Maya on the dock. When she saw him emerging from the water like a sea monster, she turned away, holding her cell to her ear.
She was reminding someone who she was and where they had met.
Good, the girl was contacting her network.
He stood on the dock in a growing pool of lake water. He smiled and toweled himself dry. He felt strong. Alive. Virile.
This morning he’d awoken to find a partial salute greeting him under the sheets, feeling better than he had in ages. The hope he’d felt—the relief—was overwhelming to the point of tears. He could fix himself. In one week he would be at his brother’s wedding as best man, and he was going to look good.
He gazed at Maya’s long legs from under his towel as he rubbed it through his hair. She shifted position, her frustrated mood revealing itself even though her voice hid it perfectly. She clicked off the phone and turned to him, the smile on her face tight.
“What?” he asked.
“You made it around the island?” Her voice still had that light, friendly tone she’d been using on the phone, but he could tell her calls hadn’t gone well.
“I did. Did you go?” She shook her head. “Why not?”
“Lots of work to do.”
“Don’t sacrifice your health for my work.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“I’m not. I just know what should be a priority.”
“Because you’ve been good at following them?”
“No, I haven’t. That’s why I know what they are.” He tossed his towel on the chair beside him and squared off with Maya. “You find someone to help?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because apparently my network doesn’t remember who I am.”
“Ah.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the boathouse. He couldn’t help but smile. He’d met so many ambitious people similar to Maya, who knew everything, except how to hang out and be human, not realizing that human connections were still ninety percent of business. “You handed out cards like they were candy at a parade, but didn’t chat up the crowd?”
“There wasn’t time. And anyway, people don’t need me nattering on about stupid things, or acting like a desperate student or grad.”
“Maybe they do.” He watched her for a moment. “How many people remembered you?”
Maya turned to stalk up the path, and Connor called out, “Try Nolan McKinley. Tell him I sent you. Get his direct line from Em.”
Maya turned slowly. “Thank you. I will.”
“And take the time to be friendly and real. It’s not all just business, you know. Remember? It’s like dating.”
“You sound like my sisters and mother.”
“Smart women.”
“Apparently,” Maya said with a heavy sigh.
Connor straightened his tie and studied himself in the mirror above the bureau. Was he too dressed up for a movie? What was Maya wearing? Man, he hadn’t been this nervous getting ready for a date since high school, and going to Finian’s new film with Maya and her sister and that dumb tree guy wasn’t even a real date.
He needed to stop thinking. The more he thought about Maya these days, the more he found that his own life wanted to blend with hers. It was as if the old Connor had been an immovable, impenetrable statue made of metal, which had somehow rusted while he’d been busy digging through never-ending paper. Now he felt that, if he reached out to touch it, that statue would crumble before him, becoming nothing more than a pile of oxidized dust.
Who was he? He had no clue.
Connor buttoned his shirt cuffs and studied his reflection again. Whoever he was, he looked pretty good. Almost like the old Connor who used to take on the world.
He dug through his bag for his wallet, and wondered what Toronto would be like without Maya. What if she moved to the city? Would he be able to feel her presence the way he did on the island? Would they meet up for drinks after work? And the bigger question, would he finally get his gearshift working, and be able to do the things a real man could?
He sighed and adjusted his fly. Not even forty, but he might as well be eighty.
Connor entered the living room and found Maya waiting for him. She took him in, not breathing, then turned away, busying herself with finding the boat key, which he’d noticed was always kept on the mantel.
“Do I look okay?” he asked. He immediately felt like a woman for the way he cared way too much about what her answer would be.
“It’s just a small-town movie theater. You’re fine.” She lifted out the skirt of her dress. It was something soft that clung to her curves in a way that made him want to create a sculpture of her. She was a Greek goddess, demure and incredible, easily the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He reached for her, then pulled back his hand. He had to keep his focus. He needed her, but he wasn’t ready. Not yet. He had to make sure he was worth the wait, because he knew she would be.
If she was still there.
Maya couldn’t look at Connor. If she did she might be tempted to run a hand down his arm, and he’d been giving off weird vibes. Was being on a fake date with his assistant bothering him? If so, then why had he stepped in and offered to go with her?
Because he was a nice guy. He’d saved her from going on a blind date with one of Shawn’s friends, then turned around and saved her niece. And right
now, he was also helping Daphne by going out tonight. He probably didn’t even want to be on a date with Maya.
Wait, did he like Daphne? Was that why he’d offered? He wanted to be closer to Daph?
Maya glanced at him as she parked down the street from the movie house. No, he couldn’t. He didn’t. Not the way he looked at her. Maya was the only one. Or at least the only one this week.
Maybe Connor didn’t find her appealing.
Maybe he knew their night in the boathouse had almost been too much, almost gone too far. She’d been too forward. Too bold.
But he was an alpha, a powerful businessman. Why would he want demure? She’d seen the way he responded when she came on to him. He wanted her, and he loved it when she pushed him and tried to steal his control. It was a game they both enjoyed. So what did she need to do to get him to stop being so annoyingly gentlemanly?
She pressed the tips of her fingers into her forehead. Nothing about Connor made her want to act like a lady.
Men. They were more confusing than a messed up Rubik’s Cube. All she wanted to do was peel off the stickers and put them back on the way they were supposed to be.
“You okay?” Connor asked.
“Yeah, great.” If wearing one’s sexiest dress and being barely looked at was the new definition of great.
Wow. She was officially driving herself crazy. Connor was her boss. He was here as her pretend date. End of story.
She yanked on the parking brake, knowing she should have stayed back at the cottage and worked. Sitting beside Connor for two hours would either make her sexual frustration worse or else get her thinking about work. And chances were it would be the latter, given all the emails she’d have to deal with when she got back to the cottage.
“I wish Hailey was here.” Maya palmed her car keys, missing her eldest sister. Maybe it was knowing that Hailey was living a new life—a whirlwind one with a movie star that was already sweeping her away to new worlds where the rest of the sisters couldn’t go, and couldn’t relate to.
“She’s in Hollywood?” Connor asked.
“Yeah, celebrating the movie’s release with Finian. She’s such a colossal pain in the butt, and acts as though she’s solely responsible for our lives. However, she deserves the way hers is finally taking off.” Now if only Maya’s would, too. Maybe that was why she was so edgy tonight. It was as though she was on the verge of missing something important in life and she didn’t know what it was, only that it was slipping away. “Do you have siblings?”
“Yeah, I have a brother.” Connor’s voice was quiet.
“So you know what it’s like.”
“Sure.”
“You don’t get along?”
“Nah, we do,” he said quickly. He opened his car door, his moves tight, as though he was holding back emotion.
Very curious.
She allowed him to take her hand and lead her past the small park beside the theater, not letting go as they stood in line. She felt jittery trying to figure out what his hand-holding meant. Casually, she allowed her chest to rub his arm as she checked behind his tall build for her family. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed and the tune he’d been humming faltered. Okay, so she did have an effect on him. Major relief on not being alone on that one.
Daphne, laughing and smiling, met them in line.
“Where’s Shawn?” Maya asked.
“He canceled. I think he’s afraid of Connor.” She grinned up at Connor, who let out a laugh before apologizing.
“Where’s the little munchkin?” he asked.
“Babysitter. This is an action flick.”
Connor smiled, his attention distant. “Right.”
What was going on with him? Why all the distance? But at the same time, he was still holding Maya’s hand. Which felt great—she didn’t want him to let go. Not ever.
Melanie joined them, her hair tucked in a ponytail, no contacts. “Were we supposed to bring a date?” She glanced down at her baggy shirt and paint-splattered capris.
“Um, Melanie, this is Connor MacKenzie…my boss.” Maya gave her a pleading look, hoping she would let his presence slide.
“Hello.” Melanie shook her head, grinning in a way that made Maya want to rattle some sense into her. He was her boss. Quit grinning like that! Yes, Connor was a major, totally beddable hunk, but he also had a big say in where her future went from here.
“Um, Maya?” Daphne asked tentatively.
“Hmm?”
“Weren’t you going to bring Mom?”
“Say wha—no!” Maya checked her watch, laid a hand on Connor’s arm and said, “Wait here. I’ll be back in a flash.”
Melanie sighed and began walking off. “I’ll go get her.”
“No, I will. Besides, didn’t you drive your moped?”
“It’s a full motorbike.”
“You’re not taking Mom on that thing.” Maya backed away from the group. “Really, I’ll return soon! Save Mom and me seats.”
Melanie, arms crossed, raised her eyebrows in amusement.
Connor strode toward Maya. “I’ll come with you.”
“It’s okay. We might miss the beginning.”
“I want to go where you go.”
Maya’s steps faltered. That may have been the most amazing thing she’d ever heard in her life.
Maya squealed her tires as she pulled into the parking lot of the nursing home. There in the entry was her mother, waiting in her wheelchair. Was Maya the worst daughter in the world or what? Never mind what Connor must think of her.
She hustled up the ramp and through the automatic doors, putting on a cheerful smile. “Hi, Mom! How are you?” Without waiting for an answer, she began wheeling her outside.
“I thought you were going to be here—oh!” Catherine stared up at Connor, who had come out of the car, handsome and welcoming.
“You must be Maya’s mother, Mrs. Summer. I’m Connor MacKenzie, her boss over on Nymph Island, for the time being. You have a fine, smart daughter, Mrs. Summer.”
Maya shot Connor a relieved smile as her mother grinned up at him, her mood lightening. “Call me Catherine, sugar.”
Connor gave her a lopsided grin. “Sure thing, Catherine sugar.”
Her mom laughed, and Maya wheeled her to the passenger side as Connor held the door open for them.
“And how are you enjoying Nymph Island?” Catherine asked him.
He moved to help her into the car, while Maya quickly unlocked the chair and flipped it flat so she could put it in the trunk. He replied, “It’s wonderful. Very quiet and relaxing.”
“Some might say magical,” her mother teased.
Maya slammed the trunk closed. “Mom, don’t start.” She checked Connor’s reaction, hoping he didn’t think her mother was off her rocker.
“I saw fairy houses,” he said. “What are those about?”
Maya replied quickly, “Just a tradition. It’s…it’s nothing.” Her mother gave her a look of understanding as Maya took the driver’s seat, Connor making himself at home in the back.
There was nothing like taking your boss on a date with your mother, and talking about the mystical beings she secretly believed in.
Outside the theater, Connor gently elbowed Maya out of the way, taking care with Catherine in a way that lit her up from the inside with pleasure and adoration. Maya knew the feeling, as the man had a way about him. No wonder she’d forgotten to pick up her mom: Maya was living with the guy.
As Connor pushed the wheelchair up to the ticket window, she nudged his arm, mouthing “Thank you.” He gave a nod, seeming almost bashful. He was so real, so present, she wanted to hug him and never let go.
Simone stepped out of the lobby before they could ask for tickets. “It’s sold out. Come on, I have your tickets and Mellie saved seats.”
“Thank you.” Maya gave her a hug, funneling all the appreciation she felt for Connor toward her friend.
“Oof! You’re welcome. I’ll let you sit beside the hunk
if you let go.”
Laughing, Maya released her, and followed Connor, who was still pushing her mother’s chair. He parked it in the dark cinema beside the row of familiar faces, and Maya let out a gasp as Finian took to the screen. He seemed so large. So real. So…so like someone Hailey should be with. Forever.
“I can’t believe your sister had sex with him,” Simone announced. A few people nearby laughed, having heard about the whirlwind fire-and-ice romance the two had begun only weeks prior.
“I knew Hailey would be good for him!” called a knowing voice a few rows back.
“Wilma Star, is that you?” asked their mother, peering through the dark.
“To rights it is. How are you Catherine? I told my cousin back in Blueberry Springs—”
A chorus of shushing silenced the woman who then whispered loudly, “I’ll catch up with you later so we don’t get thrown out for chatting.”
“Come for poker night at the home, Wilma. It’s Tuesdays at three.”
“I hate to break it to you, honey, but that’s not ‘night’.” Mrs. Star laughed and the shushing got more insistent.
“This is like knowing a movie star by proxy,” Connor whispered.
“You know him once removed,” Maya whispered back, as she got settled in the seat beside him.
The movie was great, but the best part was how halfway through it Connor placed his arm around her shoulder, drawing her against his side.
Oh, yes. Good things were going to happen between them. Again.
Connor held the door to the cottage for Maya, then closed it behind them. He loved her perfume. How gentle and flowery it was—a complete contradiction to the woman he’d come to know and admire.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie in a real theater,” he said as she switched on a battery-operated lantern.
“Really?” Maya turned to him in the kitchen’s weak light, her body nudging up against his as they stumbled into each other. He placed his arms around her to steady them, burying his nose in her hair.
“You smell good.” He inhaled the scents that had clung to her, hiding beneath her perfume. “Sunshine, lake water, sunscreen and popcorn. You are a perfect summer scent.”
