by Mona Ingram
“Do you know who it was?” She watched his face change. “You do, don’t you?”
He nodded. “My partner. And for good measure he took my wife as well.”
Someone reached inside Leeza’s chest and squeezed her heart. So he was married. She tilted up her chin, trying not to show how much the news had disappointed her. “But they let you keep the prize?”
“There was talk of awarding it to someone else, but in the end they decided it was a good way to get rid of me for a while. My lawyer presented my side of the case to the Board and they said they’d let me know in a week or ten days. After that I couldn’t wait to get away.”
“So here you are.” She touched his hand with her fingertips. Her nails were short and serviceable, her fingers scarred from knife cuts over the years. How could she have thought that he might be interested in someone like her? She pulled her hand away. “So what are you going to do while you’re here?”
“I don’t know.” He looked at her with those amazing brown eyes. “What do you recommend?”
She spread her hands. “Everyone comes here to fish. There isn’t much else to do.”
He nodded. “I brought my camera and I might try some photography. It would be nice to take pictures of something besides real estate for a change.”
“There’s a beautiful waterfall not too far away. I’ve heard some guests saying that first thing in the morning is the time to get the best pictures. Something about the light.”
“They’re right. It’s all about the light.” He looked outside again. “I met Billy yesterday. He seems like a nice enough guy. We might hang out together.”
“He’s been here many times before. Maybe he can show you the waterfall.”
“Maybe.” He watched a pair of ducks spill air from their wings and land just beyond the docks. Then he turned to her, a frown on his face. “Do people always tell you their secrets?”
She lifted her shoulders. “Not really. Why do you ask?”
“Because this...” he pointed back and forth between Leeza and himself. “Because this is the first time I’ve spoken about what happened. “I didn’t mean to spill my guts like that.”
“I’m flattered, I guess. But I can’t imagine how it would feel to be accused of something you didn’t do. I’d need to tell someone, too.”
“To quote my nephew, ‘it sucks’.” He smiled.
Leeza looked around for a server. He was preparing the tables for lunch and she motioned him over. “Would you bring me a coffee please Karl?” She looked at Matt. “How about you?”
“I’m having tea, but I’d like some more hot water.” He leaned forward. “Tell me something about yourself, Leeza. What brought you here?”
His request made her uncomfortable but she tried not to show it. “I grew up in Ottawa and I came here four years ago with a man who was my boyfriend at the time. He was Chef here but he had a terrible temper and didn’t last long. After he left, Jamie gave me the opportunity to take over the kitchen and I’ve been here ever since.”
He looked up as Karl brought the coffee and tea. “Thank you, Karl.” He watched as the young man went back to setting the tables for lunch. “So you were trained as a chef but accepted a lower position to be with this man?”
She looked at him, startled. “I guess I did, yes.”
“Hmmm.” He poured his tea. “My sister met her husband while they were both in medical school. She quit to support him; not exactly the same situation, but similar. When he left her, she went back to finish her training but she said it was much harder to do the second time.” He sat for a moment, hands cradling the cup. “I think marriages should start out equal and stay that way.”
“In a perfect world, maybe. But in my experience, it doesn’t often happen. Especially when children are involved.”
He exhaled slowly and stared into the cup. “Cassandra and I don’t have any children. Just as well, I suppose.”
Leeza wanted to cheer, then her euphoria turned to guilt. The man’s life was falling apart and all she could think was that he might be available after all. She’d do well to stay far away from Matt Weber. She made a show of looking at her watch. “I suppose I’d better get back to the kitchen.”
He looked at his watch as well. “I guess I should get moving, too. I told Billy I’d look him up this morning.”
“He was in first thing this morning but I haven’t seen him since then.” Leeza rose and looked pointedly at the plate which held the remains of the toast. “I hope you can eat something soon.”
“Yes, Mom.” He grinned at her, and then sobered almost instantly. “Thank you for the company Leeza. I enjoyed talking to you.”
She was glad he couldn’t see the way her heart was thudding in her chest. “Me too.” She turned and fled into the kitchen before she made a fool of herself.
* * *
He watched her as she almost tripped over one of the chairs in her haste to get back to her kitchen. He didn’t know why he’d asked her to have coffee with him. It wasn’t because he was lonely; he was enjoying being alone for the first time in ages. No, it was something else. She fascinated him with her spiky black hair and prickly attitude. So different from Cassandra. Tall, slender Cassandra with the sleek blonde hair, the beautiful face and the treacherous heart.
Cassandra and Matt Weber were an attractive couple. They both knew it and had used it to their advantage in the competitive field of real estate. Their pictures were on business cards, in print ads, and on the side of the moving van they offered to their clients. Looking back now, he could see that Cassie had been drifting away from him for some time, but he’d been so busy with the massive development on the north side of the valley that he’d missed the signs.
His gaze went back to the kitchen doors. Billy was a nice guy, but he’d rather go to the waterfall with Leeza. He stood up abruptly before he did something foolish, like ask her to go with him. His life was in a mess right now and he didn’t need any extra entanglements, even though becoming entangled with Leeza would be pure pleasure. His body stirred at the thought and he chuckled silently to himself. Considering he’d been so sick just a few hours ago, he’d made a remarkable recovery. But then he sensed that Leeza was a remarkable woman. He left the lodge with a smile on his face.
Leeza watched him through the narrow space between the doors. She didn’t care what the kitchen staff thought, she was compelled to see what he did after she left. There’d been a moment there when he looked toward the kitchen and she thought he was going to come towards her but he hesitated, then turned and left the dining room.
She went back to her office and slipped on her white jacket. She was acting like a crazy person, falling for a man she’d met a couple of hours ago. A married man who’d been accused of fraud. She caught a faint reflection of herself in the glass. What was she thinking? A shiver of anticipation crept down her spine. She was thinking of chocolate brown eyes, elegant hands and sensuous lips. Lips that she ached to kiss. Hands that she wanted to feel...
“Excuse me Chef, but we seem to be out of tomatoes.”
She looked at the new staff member, uncomprehending for a moment before reality kicked in. “We have some but they’re in the other cooler.” She followed him into the kitchen. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
Chapter Six
Craig’s heart lifted when he saw Jamie standing in the morning sun. She was talking to a man in an old fedora. The hat had seen better days, but Craig suspected that he’d never willingly part with it. Jamie spotted him and waved him over.
“Craig, I’d like you to meet Floyd Ransome, our chief caretaker. Floyd, this is Craig Hansen. You may have seen some of his work. He did that documentary on musk oxen in the Arctic.”
“You a photographer, then?”
Craig smothered a smile. “I do some still photography, yes. But my main interest is in shooting documentaries.” He gestured back toward the lake. “It takes me to some interesting places.”
“Glad to have
you here.” The older man stuck out his hand. “Let me know if I can be of any help.”
“I’ll do that.” Craig wandered back toward the lake and Jamie caught up with him a moment later.
“I need that every once in a while” he said, almost to himself.
“Need what?” She was pulling her hair back and putting it in some sort of elastic band. He watched her with interest.
“Your hair looked nice last night” he said, apropos of nothing. “I liked the way you pulled it back with that big comb.” He watched a telltale blush crept into her cheeks.
“Thank you. But what do you mean, you need that?”
“Oh.” He gave a short laugh. “It’s good for me when people don’t recognize my name.” He smiled down at her. “After a while, you start to expect people to know who you are. People like Floyd help me keep my feet on the ground.”
“You’re just saying that,” she said with a smile. “You don’t have a conceited bone in your body.” She stepped onto the dock and turned to see if he was following. “Come on, we’re burning daylight.” A bubble of laughter rose in her throat. “I’ve always wanted to say that.”
She walked to a small runabout and Goldie appeared, quivering in anticipation of a boat ride. “We’ll take this one. I thought we’d just explore Long Lake today, but if you want to go farther afield, it’ll take us.” She looked at him and frowned. “No cameras?” She slipped the line at the bow and stood there holding it.
“Nope. Not today.” He motioned to the aft line and she nodded. “Today is for looking.” He untied the line and stepped into the boat. “I’m all yours.”
Had he really said that? For one irrational moment he realized that he’d like to be all hers. He liked the way she lived, laughed and took everything at face value. There was something honest and refreshing about this woman, traits he hadn’t come across in a long time. She started the motor and pulled out slowly.
She pushed the throttle forward just as the morning mist burned off, revealing mirror-calm water.
“It’s almost a shame to disturb it,” she said reverently. “But I love being out here like this. It’s like a do-over, with everything fresh and clean.”
He’d been thinking the same thing. He sat beside her under the small canopy and watched her movements. His earlier assessment of her had been correct; she did everything confidently.
Craig had been shooting documentary films for over twelve years and had travelled the world. But he’d never become romantically involved with any of his subjects. Was Jamie Nicholson going to be one of his subjects? If so, he had a difficult decision to make. He would either break a long-standing rule and act on his growing attraction for her, or he could forget about doing a documentary on the area. It wasn’t a decision he was comfortable with. Not yet, anyway. He turned and looked at Goldie sitting in the back of the boat. If she had an opinion, she was keeping it to herself.
“Not everyone is a fly fisherman, you know.” Jamie’s voice sliced into his thoughts. She’d cut the motor and pulled into a circular bay that was hidden from the main body of the lake. “Dad used to bring me fishing here when I was a kid.” She smiled and pointed to the far side of the bay. “See those lily pads over there?” Shiny leaves floated on the surface, dotted with cup-shaped yellow flowers. “He’d say ‘I think there’s a big one right over there, under that lily pad.’ And he’d cast out.” She made a casting motion. “The lure always landed right where he aimed and it seemed like he got a fish every time.” Her eyes were soft with remembrance as she thought back. “Of course he didn’t catch one every time, it just seemed like that. I thought he was magic.”
Her eyes were unusually bright, and he realized that she was holding back tears. He wanted to comfort her but was afraid where that might lead. She solved his dilemma when she started up the motor and guided the boat out of the bay. “I’m going to take you to my favourite spot on the lake.” She managed a smile. “And it has nothing to do with fishing.”
Once out of the bay she accelerated. Within minutes she slowed again and approached an island he hadn’t noticed before. He shot her a questioning look and she understood his unasked question. “No, it’s not occupied.” She cruised around to the far side and nosed the boat up onto a small, sandy beach.
She scrambled out and tied the boat to some tree roots that had been exposed by the constant lapping of the water. She climbed the low bank and sat on a broad flat rock. Surrounded by trees on three sides, it reminded him of a stage, looking out over the water. She sat down and patted the spot beside her. Goldie sprawled out on her other side, head on her paws.
“I started coming out here to this island after my parents were killed. Dad loved this lake and everything that it represents. That’s why I’ve fought against allowing my property to be developed.” She stared into the distance for a moment then turned back to him dry-eyed. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’m having trouble keeping the Lodge afloat.” She gnawed at her lower lip. “Business looks great right now with all the units full, but these few weeks in the summer aren’t enough. I need to generate interest during the off-months as well. That’s actually when the fishing is best. In the heat of summer, the fish go down to the cooler waters at the bottom of the lake, but the average tourist doesn’t seem to mind. They’re just here for a break from their normal lives and they catch enough to keep them happy.”
She hesitated for a moment, then went on. “When I heard you were coming I thought I’d play it cool and pretend that it didn’t matter if you filmed in our area or not.” Sunlight sliced through the trees, highlighting the green of her eyes. “But it does matter. It matters a lot.” She looked at him for a long moment. “I’m no good at playing games, Craig. I just want you to know that.”
She smiled at him. It was a brilliant smile, free of stress. “And now that I’ve said that, I can relax.”
He wanted nothing more at that moment than to take her in his arms and kiss her. But the timing was all wrong. Especially since she’d been so brutally honest about her situation.
He picked at a pine cone to keep his hands occupied. “How do you do it?” he asked, watching her carefully. She’d been stroking Goldie’s head and her hand stilled.
“Do what?”
“You’re so honest,” he blurted. “When I first saw you, I remember thinking that there was no artifice about you at all.”
She laughed. It was a genuine laugh, not at all forced like most women he knew. “It’s one thing to be honest, and I try to be that way, but the truth is I’d never last out there in the real world.” She made a broad gesture. “I think that’s why I stay here.” She sobered. “I know the rules here, Craig. If you were here long enough, you’d realize that most people who live in the north are just like me when it comes to being honest. We need to be, or we wouldn’t survive.” She laughed self-consciously. “Sorry, that probably sounded like some bad dialogue in a movie but I think you know what I mean.” She stood up. “Come on, let’s go get some lunch. I’ll take you to the marina where I get my avgas. They make killer hamburgers and serve them outside at picnic tables on the dock.”
He got to his feet. “Are you sure you want me to see the competition?”
She gave him an odd look. “They’re not competition, they’re my friends.” She jumped into the boat, followed closely by Goldie. “Just for that you get to untie and push off.”
He managed to untie the rope and get into the boat with only one wet foot. She looked down with laughter in her eyes but didn’t say anything.
Craig was quiet on the ride to the marina. A floatplane came in and he watched it land ahead of them but he wasn’t really seeing it. Jamie glanced over at him a few times but left him to his thoughts.
* * *
“Jamie Nicholson, look at you!” A large woman met them on the dock and enveloped Jamie in a hug. “Where have you been?”
“Hi Nettie. I’ve been working, just like you. I was here last week for gas but you were busy.”
She turned and motioned Craig forward. “I’d like you to meet Craig Hansen. He’s staying at the Lodge. Craig, this is Nettie Blomquist.”
Nettie’s gaze darted back and forth between them. “And you two are...” The implication was clear.
Craig laughed. “Delighted to meet you Nettie.” He shook hands and turned to Jamie. “And no, we’re not...” He paused. “At least not yet.”
“Ho!” Nettie gave Jamie an exaggerated wink. “You look out for this one my girl.” She flicked a dragonfly away from a picnic table. “Are you here for one of my famous hamburgers?”
“Yes, please.” Jamie looked at Craig. “Is that okay for you?”
“Thanks, and I’d love a coffee.”
“Help yourself.” Nettie motioned toward a small blue shack that jutted out from the dock. “Coffee’s over there. Just made some fresh.” She wandered off to greet some new arrivals.
Jamie glared at Craig. “What was that all about?” Her heart was pounding. “You can’t go around saying things like that.”
He looked at her steadily for several long moments and then took her face in his hands and kissed her. It was a kiss that promised a lot more and it shook her to her core.
“Craig!” She couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, guiding her to the table. “Wait here, okay?”
Dazed, she touched her lips and sat down.
He came back a minute later carrying two coffees. He pulled cream and sugar from his pocket. “Didn’t know how you take it, so I brought both.” He busied himself putting sugar into his coffee and stirring it before he spoke.
“You know that speech you gave back there...the one about honesty?”
She nodded; she might have said something, but she was too stunned.
