Bait Shop Blues

by Nancy Pirri

  Maxie showed up at her usual time of 5:30 a.m. Once Cassandra told her of her plans Maxie was as hesitant as Leif had been the previous night. “I’m not doubting the place will be successful, and I know the Chamber of Commerce is always looking to give folks directions to cabins and resorts in the area and would welcome another. But, I’m of the same mind-set as Leif.”

  Cassandra stared at the older woman, perplexed. “But you don’t seem to mind folks and tourists coming in. And you certainly liked the coffee shop idea, didn’t you?”

  “Sure, I still like it, but building cabins, disturbing the property here will bring in lots more folks. One of the reasons I enjoy living way up here is the privacy. It’ll be gone once you build those cabins and rent them out.”

  “But it would only be for a short while each year. The tourist season lasts from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and that’s only four months.”

  “Four long months,” Maxie said dryly, “but I see your point. Still, there’s a lot of work involved in running a housekeeping resort.”

  “Yes, I know. And during that time we’d earn lots of money, which would enable us to make repairs on Gateway and even have a cushion in the bank, not to mention paying our salaries over the winter months.”

  Cassandra was heartened when a grin crossed Maxie’s face. “You mean you’d pay me for not working?” At Cassandra’s nod, she said exuberantly, “Let me work on Leif a little and see what I can do.”

  Unfortunately, all of Maxie’s talking did no good. Leif wasn’t speaking to Maxie or Cassie by the end of the day.

  But Cassandra wasn’t a quitter. The following evening she reevaluated her plans and her manner of approaching Leif, and decided it was worth another try.

  She smiled then when she recalled the wilderness trip they’d planned for fall. Leif hadn’t mentioned the challenge again, and she knew that was likely because they’d been getting along so well. She’d remind him. She might possibly be able to use the trip as a bargaining tool.

  She’d just finished cooking chicken on the grill when Leif motored in from a guiding trip. She watched him pull the anchor rope through the loop on the dock, then he looked up and scowled at her. She stood beside the grill, a large platter of chicken cooked to perfection balanced in one hand. If she couldn’t use good, solid business sense to reach him, perhaps food would change his mind . He did seem to enjoy her burgers last night.

  He trudged up the stairs and swept past her without a word. Just as he opened the door she made her move.

  “I’ve grilled chicken, baked potatoes and broccoli, if you’re hungry.”

  He held the door open, narrowed his eyes on the chicken, then met her eyes. “What’s it going to cost me?”

  Cassandra sighed, guessing she shouldn’t blame the guy for not trusting her. But he should also know she wouldn’t give up easily. Gateway needed improvements and she was up for the job. “Come and join me. I’ve another proposition for you.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Oh, great. Let’s hear it,” he said brusquely.

  “Remember the wilderness challenge you brought up awhile ago?”

  He nodded and kept his eyes on the food, his arms folded across his muscular chest covered in a chambray shirt.

  Cassandra sank into her chair, then proceeded to cut into a chicken breast. She smiled to herself when he took the seat across from her.

  “Well, I know you’ve had second thoughts about that trip since we’ve been getting along so well.”

  “I’ve been having third thoughts lately,” he retorted, pinning her with a hard look. “Let’s set a date.”

  “Only if we change the rules a bit,” she smoothly replied.

  He gave her a suspicious look. “What sort of changes?”

  “If I successfully complete the trip you’ll reconsider and allow me to have two cabins built to rent out for the next tourist season.”

  “Oh, there’s no doubt in my mind you’ll survive, but how well you do is another story. When the trip’s over, if you haven’t a single bruise, scratch or broken any limbs, then you’ll have succeeded, and you can make all the changes you like.”

  “But that’s ridiculous! I’ve seen you when you’ve returned from one of your guiding trips with scratches on your hands. As a matter of fact, if I remember correctly, you’d been hooked more times then you could count you said.”

  He leaned forward, his blue eyes sparkling. “You’re right, so here’s the plan, in order to make this challenge fair and square. We’ll count war wounds afterwards. If I have less, you’ll leave Gateway, forever.”

  Cassandra’s heart pounded furiously at his foreboding words. Leaving Gateway wasn’t an option for her any more. This was her home now. She wouldn’t lose the challenge, but would meet it head on. And win. And if she didn’t, well, he’d just have to put up with her. She had the law on her side.

  “I agree to the terms,” she said finally, meeting the level look in his eyes with one of her own.

  After a long moment’s silence, Leif gave a curt nod and reached out one big tanned hand. She grasped it firmly, sealing their bargain. Bolts of excitement ran up her arm and through her body. She started imagining him touching her, then shook her head. What was wrong with her? Sure he was an attractive man, but she’d had enough problems with men in the past she didn’t need more. Besides, it would be difficult taking up with a man who only wanted to see her leave his turf.

  After they ate, Leif helped Cassandra clean up the kitchen. It was the longest forty minutes she’d ever spent in her life with a man. His silence unnerved her, and whenever she’d tried to draw him into pleasant conversation he either grunted, or answered in monosyllables.

  After drying and putting away the last of the pans, he left the kitchen without uttering a word. She sighed, thinking how stubborn he was! As she passed the living room she paused a moment and peeked in on him watching a Twins game. They’d watched a few games together in the past month since she’d arrived and she felt a bit bereft that he hadn’t asked her to join him this time. She bit her lip and stared at his broad back as he sat in the dark, wanting to sit, but knowing she wouldn’t be welcome. To heck with him!

  His stubbornness had prompted her to make a decision; one she’d been pondering since before she’d left Chicago. She turned on her heel and made her way to the den.

  Mr. Leif Flying Eagle would just have to get used to her presence, permanently around the place. She sank into the leather chair behind the desk and pushed out a number on the phone’s buttons. Then she threw her legs up on the desk and listened to the phone ringing, all the while thinking, someone pick up!

  A woman’s soft voice answered, “Carlisle residence.”

  “Saunders Carlisle, please. It’s Cassandra Thompson.”

  “Oh! I’ll get him right away.”

  Twirling a hank of hair at her temple she waited for the heir to her major business competitor come to the phone. When he did she said, “Sorry to bother you at home, Saunders, but I’ve decided to take your offer to buy out Pretty Woman Cosmetics.”

  ~ * ~

  In the middle of the night the phone rang. Cassandra woke immediately thinking bad news only came during those quiet, dark hours. She waited quietly in her bed as she listened to Leif’s low voice, then sat up when she heard his footsteps pounding down the hallway. He threw open her door, stalked to the bed and stuck out his hand. “Phone’s for you. What jackass would be calling at two in the morning?”

  “Did you ask?” she hissed.

  “Hell no. By the way, I’ve got another trip in the morning. Hope to God I can get back to sleep.” She watched him stalk out of her room, then slam the door behind him.

  She sank low in the bed, praying it wasn’t her mother calling to say she was coming to visit, all the way from Manhattan. But her mother would have identified herself and she wouldn’t be calling in the middle of the night.

  “Hello?”

  “Cassandra?” a man said, his voice slurred. “I miss you bab
y. When you coming home?”

  Not her mother, but someone infinitely worse. Her first fiancé, Todd Fairbanks ‘the Third’.

  “Todd? Why are you calling in the middle of the night?” She frowned and added, “For that matter why are you calling me at all?”

  He chuckled, that soft, rumbling laugh that had always brought a smile to her face, along with the rest of womanhood who had the misfortune to come in contact with the cad. She didn’t laugh this time.

  “You heard me. I miss you. I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

  “No kidding. It’s been two years. And I want to keep the record going. I’m going to hang up. I suggest you do the same. By the way, you haven’t changed a bit.”

  “How do you know when you haven’t seen me?”

  “I don’t mean your looks. You’re still drinking.”

  He hiccupped. “Just a couple glasses of bubbly is all I had. Celebrating the folks’ fortieth. God, you should see them. How in the hell can two people who’ve lived together for forty years still look goo-goo eyes at each other?”

  She’d always liked his parents. He could learn a lot from them. And, if he’d looked goo-goo eyes at her, they might still be together. She bit her tongue. “Good-night, Todd. And don’t call again. By the way, who gave you this number? Who told you where to find me?”

  “Saunders Carlisle.”

  Of course! Saunders and Todd had been friends for years.

  “Tell me what he told me isn’t true?”

  She groaned. “I can’t if you don’t give me some clue as to what I’m supposed to tell you.” So, why in the world am I bothering with him now?

  “Why did you sell out to him?”

  “I’ve started a new life for myself. You aren’t included in it.”

  She lowered her hand to hang up but she snatched it up to her when she heard him say, “I’ve booked a flight. I'm coming to visit you. I’ve decided this Gateway to Paradise place must be something special to make you sell out your beloved business, and sublet your condo.”

  Cassandra jammed the phone against her ear. “Do not, I repeat, do not show your face here, Todd. I’ll have you shot.”

  He chuckled nastily. “Still harboring hard feelings after all this time?”

  “Was she worth it, Todd?” she hissed.

  Silence.

  She couldn’t help the shrill tone in her voice. “Was Hillary MacBride worth leaving me high and dry at the altar?”

  “I made a mistake.”

  You sure as hell did, buddy. But, could she have heard him correctly? Todd admitting he’d made a mistake was unheard of!

  “It’s over between us.”

  “You broke up with her?” Cassandra asked, not bothering to hide the surprise in her voice. “I don’t believe it”

  “She found someone else. Someone taller, richer, a better tennis player and he owns a yacht.”

  Cassandra frowned. “You own a yacht.”

  “His is bigger and better.”

  With a smug tone in her voice, Cassandra said, “Then you know what it feels like, don’t you?”

  “Yes. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “No. Damn it Todd, don’t you dare come up here!”

  She slammed down the phone when she realized he’d hung up. As she bit her lip she sank low beneath the covers, staring into the darkness. Oh, how she’d been in love with that blasted man. After a long while, as she waited for those old feelings to return, she finally realized they weren’t going to. She grinned. She was over him. He wouldn’t show up. He’d heard the fury in her voice and wouldn’t dare show his face to her. He’d heard her. She’d take a gun to him if he did.

  ~ * ~

  As luck would have it, she didn’t have to buy a gun, which was a good thing because she was fairly certain she would have used it if Todd showed up on her doorstep. Leif roused her at five o’clock, half an hour earlier than her usual rising time. Then he proceeded to badger her with questions about the telephone call.

  “I had a hell of a time going back to sleep after that phone call. Who was it?”

  She arched one eyebrow and said, “Excuse me, but it was personal.”

  He gave her a patient, ‘I can wait all day’ kind of look and she sighed.

  “If you must know it was my ex-fiancé calling to say he’s coming to visit.”

  He lowered his blue-eyed gaze on her. “From the little I heard it didn’t sound like you wanted him to.”

  “That’s right.”

  “You’ve no feelings for him then? I mean you haven’t been carrying a torch for the guy, have you?”

  She slammed a hand against her forehead. It was none of his business but she decided to tell him anyway, knowing how persistent he could be.

  “Would you have feelings for someone who left you standing at the altar?” She cringed at his stunned gaze, which quickly changed to sympathy.

  “He did that?” At her nod he tightened his jaw and said, “The jerk!”

  She nodded. “Yes, he was that, for sure.” As she bit her lip those old feelings of insecurity washed over her—feelings she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  “He made a mistake. He’s not good enough for you.”

  She gave him a wobbly smile. “Thanks for saying that.”

  Leif gave her a slow, wicked grin. “If he does show up, we’ll give him a real nice welcome.”

  ~ * ~

  Cassandra answered the phone at one o’clock the next day and groaned at Todd’s irritable voice. His breathing sounded ragged and quick, as though he’d just run a marathon.

  “I’m here, sweetheart! My God, I’m at some town called Inner Falls. Its pouring out and do you believe this airport doesn’t have a tunnel to walk through to the building? I’m soaking wet! Come and get me.”

  Over my dead body. “You’re at the International Falls Airport. I told you not to come, Todd.”

  “I had to, sweetheart. You won’t regret seeing me. I promise.”

  “I don’t want to see you,” she shot back. “And I’m not going to pick you up.”

  “You won’t because I will.”

  Cassandra looked up and saw Leif’s large frame taking up much of the doorway leading into the store. Into the phone she said, “Todd. Hold on a minute.” She held the phone against her stomach. “Thought you were going to be gone all day guiding.”

  “We caught a lot of fish early on. I just got back. I’ll fly on up and get—what did you say the guy’s name was?”

  “Todd. But I don’t want him to come here,” she said petulantly. “I vowed to never set eyes on him again.”

  There was that wicked gleam in his eyes again. “Maybe you don’t, but I sure do. You don’t think I’d pass up the opportunity to meet the fool who let you go, do you? Hell, the guy’s got a screw loose. Besides, this will give you a chance to tell him once and for all not to bother you again.”

  Cassandra felt heat seeping into her cheeks. He’d just paid her a compliment, hadn’t he?

  He gave her a toothy smile. “Besides, thought I’d show him some good ‘up north’ hospitality, not to mention a flight he won’t forget for a long while.”

  Cassandra’s frown disappeared. “Excellent idea.” She talked into the phone again. “Uh, Todd? Are you there? Okay, my partner here at Gateway’s going to pick you up. He should be there in about half an hour or so.”

  “Why don’t you come with him?”

  “Someone has to be here to watch the store. I’ll see you in about two hours.”

  ~ * ~

  Two hours later, Cassandra sat on her stool behind the counter, sorting jigs. The door slammed open, startling her. She looked up, eyes widening on three suitcases that came flying inside the store, as they slid across the floor on their wheels and banged against a display case.

  Leif came stalking in, muttering, “What a piece of work.”

  He stopped in front of her and growled, “What in the hell were you thinking getting involved with someone like him?” He
tucked a fist beneath her chin, leaned down and brushed her lips with his. “He isn’t good enough for you. Hell, I’m not good enough for you, but I’m a damned sight better than he is. You were lucky he left you at the altar. Count your blessings because he did you a big favor.” He gave her a hard kiss, raised his head and gazed into her eyes.

  “Hey, hey, that’s my girl you’re kissing!” Todd protested as he stumbled inside.

  Cassandra looked at Todd and laughter rumbled around inside her. She met Leif’s eyes as she sank down onto her stool then turned to Todd. His usually perfect blonde hair was standing on end. His face was blotchy and red. His body shook. She wasn’t sure if he was scared and furious from the flight, or if he was cold from the rain. He was soaking wet and dripping on the hardwood floor. She opened her mouth to tell him she’d show him to the bathroom to change out of his wet clothes, but changed her mind. What was she thinking? This guy had made her life miserable!

  Leif said, “Your girl?” and started walking back to Todd.

  Todd’s face went from red to white in five seconds flat and he backed away from Leif, finally stopping when his back hit a wall.

  Leif leaned down close—got right in his face. “You hurt her again, Fairbanks, and you’ll deal with me. You’ve got until seven to talk to her—then you’re out. Understand?”

  Todd glared up at Leif. “I’m staying as long as it takes to talk Cassandra into returning to Chicago with me.”

  “Which won’t happen,” Cassandra retorted. She came forward, her eyes narrowing.

  “I need to speak to you in private,” Todd said.

  She stopped beside Leif. “Whatever you have to say can be said right here and now. I didn’t want Leif to pick you up, but he insisted.”

  “Hell, you could have warned me last night. This guy’s a demon behind the controls of a plane, if you can call that little job an airplane.”

  Cassandra felt Leif’s body tense beside her and she placed a gentle hand on his arm. She relaxed when he took her hand in his.

  “You heard the lady. Say what you have to say and I’ll fly you back to the airport,” Leif snapped.