by Noelle Fox
Fantasy mostly, he’d admit that. Back all those years ago she’d become his beacon of change, and he’d carried her in his heart since then as a symbol, not a real person. Now she’d been on the island for two days, during which he’d had all of one conversation with her, and look at how he’d reacted to the idea of losing her.
Crazy. And a sign that he’d better make the rest of her time here count. He wanted to get to know her now, as a real woman, strengths and weaknesses, perfections and flaws.
Back at the lodge, he reluctantly delivered Grace into George’s capable hands, every cell of his body telling him not to leave her. But he needed to check on his hikers, to make sure they were coming back down the mountain safely without him.
At the registration desk he begged another radio and hurried back to the docks to unhitch the trailer from his ATV in order to leave it for Sofia. Then he drove like a maniac back up the trail his group would be using to come home. All he wanted was to be back with Grace, reassuring himself over and over that she was recovering and going to be fine.
He found his group easily, its members cheerful and energetic, enjoying the beautiful day and the scenery. With a sigh of relief, he explained the situation and handed over a radio to the most experienced hiker in the group before turning the ATV around and heading back to the lodge.
By the time he got there and found Grace’s room, her shivering had stopped and she was halfway through her second mug of herbal tea, looking tired, but alert. George had reported that Derek was doing fine as well.
Connor sat in the chair next to her bed, unable to stop grinning. “Hey, listen, next time you want to go swimming…”
She rolled her eyes. “Ha-ha.”
“What happened?”
“I went chasing after a whale without realizing how dangerous the waves were becoming. Derek got in trouble and then I got in trouble trying to help him.” She leaned over to put her mug on the bedside table. “I think from now on I’ll stick to kayaking on lakes.”
“Sounds safer.”
“Yeah.” She lay back against the pillow and blew out a breath, closing her eyes. “What a freaking weird day this has been.”
“Not over yet.” He brushed hair from her forehead, any excuse to touch her. Her skin was substantially warmer than it had been. “There’s still time to make it better.”
“I guess.” Her eyes opened; she stared at the ceiling, looking as if she were about to cry. “It wasn’t just the accident…”
Connor’s heart ached. She’d had an emotional time. “Something else happened?”
“Yeah.” Grace turned her head toward him. How could anyone look so sad and so beautiful at the same moment? “Derek talked to me about my dad. If he was right, it looks like the stories Mom told me about him all my life were probably not true. And now Dad is gone. Before this I would have said good riddance. Now…”
“I’m sorry.” He stayed guarded, wondering how much of Derek’s talk about Grace’s father was autobiographical. If Connor’s theory was correct, she still had time to get to know him. But only if the idiot would get off his cowardly ass and tell her the truth. “I know what it feels like not to trust your parents.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. Lying was what mine did. They were experts.” He’d been astonished to realize as an older child that so many other kids counted on their parents as the bedrock of their lives.
“I’m so sorry.”
He waved away her concern. “Ancient history. What else did Derek say about your dad?”
Grace sighed heavily. “Mostly that he had his problems, but that he wasn’t anywhere near the total mess my mother made him out to be.”
“People seldom are totally one thing or another.”
“True.” She ran a finger along a fold of the blue and green bedspread. “The thing is, I believed him right away. Derek, I mean. Doesn’t say much about my loyalty to my mother.”
“Maybe it means you have good instincts about people.”
“Which would mean I stayed away from my dad my whole life based on a lie. I should have known somehow, given who my mother is, and what I’ve known about her for so long.”
Her voice cracked. Connor felt like he’d been punched in the gut. What about this woman made everything she felt turn into his own pain or joy? He desperately wanted to give her hope about her father, but that was Derek’s story to tell. “You couldn’t know. You were a kid when she first told you. Kids have to trust someone. It’s how they’re built. You’re figuring it out now. That’s what’s important.”
“True.” She stared down at the bedspread for another moment, then hoisted herself so she was sitting up straighter. “Well. There’s nothing I can do about my father now. Thank you for helping rescue me today.”
“You’re welcome.” He took his cue from her, admiring how she bounced back, both from a potentially life-threatening condition, and from an emotional blow. “How are you feeling?”
“Better all the time.” She yawned—even that looked adorable on her. He wondered if she remembered that he’d kissed her, or whether she’d been too far gone. He would really like to kiss her again. “George said I should be nearly back to normal in another hour or so, and a hundred percent fine tomorrow. Which is good because I don’t want to lose any more vacation time.”
“Absolutely not.” Connor stood reluctantly, wishing he could stay and watch her sleep. “I should let you rest. You need anything?”
“No, I’m fine. Thank you for checking on me, Connor.” She smiled drowsily. “And for listening.”
“I’m glad I was here when you needed to talk.” At the door he turned abruptly. After all that had happened today, the last thing he wanted to do tonight was sit in his tiny rental cottage all by himself. “Any plans for dinner?”
“Oh…” She eyed him warily. “I was just going to eat at the lodge.”
“Want some company?”
She stared down at her hands, wrinkling her forehead—apparently this was a very serious decision. “That would be nice, actually.”
He managed not to grin. “Then, actually, I will meet you there. What time?”
“Six-thirty?”
“Perfect.” He gave her a smile, which she returned shyly, left her room and strode out into the lobby in a completely different mood than when he’d come through earlier.
It wasn’t possible to fall for someone in the short amount of time he’d known Grace. Maybe the months he’d known her back in Colorado, but certainly not now. He was such a different person, it was as if that earlier time didn’t count.
But his feelings felt damn similar to those he’d had when he fell in love the first time, which also happened to be the last time. About six years ago, not long before he moved here. Kimberly Bellson. Big passion that fizzled into the cliché of “wanting different things.” Namely, she wanted a husband and permanence, while he wanted a good time in the present and not to have to worry about tomorrow or next week, and certainly not forever.
After Kimberly, he hadn’t dated any other women seriously, still clinging to his philosophy of life, living only in the here and now. With Grace, he was already anticipating every day of the next two weeks, hoping she’d come to feel the same way about him during that time.
And he was already wondering if there could be more time to steal together after that.
Chapter 8
Liz knocked on the door of the room at the lodge in which Grace was recuperating. This had not been a good day for the island. Given how much of the activity at Northern Lights was physical, some injuries were inevitable, but it went without saying the fewer the better. Sprained ankles, bug bites, sunburn, okay. But the tragic death of Marianne Abbott the previous summer and now this, happily as it had turned out, were serious.
Bad for anyone to be injured. Bad for staff morale. Bad for island PR. That made it triple bad. As a woman, Liz still grieved for Marianne and her family, and wanted to do whatever it took to prevent such tragedies. A
s Village President, she could add in worries about possible lawsuits. At very least they needed to review all safety protocols with the town leaders, Derek and his top staff. At most, hire a decent doctor or nurse practitioner who would live on the island. No offense to George, who had done a fabulous job taking care of the island’s injured, but the expansion of the resort, plus more and more people moving to live on the island full-time and more of them having families—more people meant more services were needed.
Northern Lights Retreat had been started by Derek’s father in the 1950s for the sole purpose of running fishing trips. Simple cabins, three meals a day, a boat captain, that was it. Derek had done wonders expanding and redefining the retreat, but the town needed to catch up.
“Come in.” The voice was sweet and musical, and so…young.
Derek had almost convinced her that his interest in Grace was platonic, but not quite. Fixing a bright smile on her face, Liz pushed open the door, hoping she took an instant liking to this…whatever she was, this Most Special Person of Derek’s.
Otherwise she might get bitchy.
“Hi, Grace. I’m Liz Mayer, Village President of Aurora.” Grace was a slender blonde with wide blue eyes and peaches-and-cream skin scattered with freckles. Darn it. She was totally adorable. Liz had a “friend” on the mainland whom she visited on occasion, though it had been a long time since they’d been together. She assumed Derek had similar ways of taking care of his needs. A romantic relationship between the two of them as co-leaders of the town was impractical at best.
Liz’s fear right now, with this sweet young thing in town, was that she’d been kidding herself. Maybe her conviction that she and Derek were only biding their time, burying their need to be together until circumstances made it possible—or at least more practical—was all in her romantic female head.
That would suck.
“I just stopped by to see how you’re doing. I’m sorry about your accident. You look fine. I hope you feel that way?”
“I’m much better, thanks. Got a little chilly, then warmed up. That’s all.”
Liz nodded. She liked that Grace downplayed the incident instead of launching into a poor-me whine-fest. Good strong woman. Stoic.
Derek must like that too.
Stop it.
“Anything I can do? Anything you need? I guess you’re already getting everything paid for while you’re here, so I can’t help there.”
“Not necessary, thanks.” She smiled, but not simperingly. Nothing to hate about her yet. Again, darn it. “Derek has been really sweet.”
“I’m sure he has.” Her smile staled.
Grace gave her a quick look, which made Liz instantly try to bolster it back into sincerity.
Not Grace’s fault.
“Other than today, how are you liking our island?”
“It’s beautiful.” She struggled to sit up higher. “I’m really enjoying it. And I plan to continue. Though from now on mostly on dry land.”
“Good plan.” Liz found herself nodding inanely. She was about out of chit-chat. Generally she had no problems talking to strangers, in fact she liked doing it, but right now a completely unnecessary and extremely unwelcome ball of jealousy was distracting her. “You have dinner plans tonight?”
“Oh.” Grace blushed. “Yes.”
Liz’s lips tightened. “You’re eating with Derek.”
Argh! Why did she say that? Why not simplify things and wear a sign, I am secretly in love with Derek and don’t want you to have him?
“Derek?” Grace looked astonished. “No, with Connor Reed. He’s an old friend. We worked on an organic farm together one summer in Colorado.”
Yay!
“I see.” Liz gave an absurd giggle she immediately wanted to take back. “That’s great. I mean, I was…maybe you’d want to have dinner with…after your accident I was thinking you might not want to eat alone. Or maybe you would.”
Not surprisingly, Grace was now looking at her with some concern. Her left eyebrow went up; she tilted her head. In that instant, another face jumped out from her features.
Liz nearly fell on the floor.
No way.
No way.
Grace was looking really concerned now. “Is…something wrong?”
Liz didn’t blame her for asking. “No, no, everything’s fine. Wonderful, actually. I’m glad you have someone to hang out with tonight. That had to be a shock today.”
“It wasn’t great. But before we flipped over we had a fabulous trip. We saw a whale spouting.” Her eyes lit up and she smiled wide, looking even prettier. Guess what? Liz didn’t care. Grace could be as beautiful as she wanted. “That was a first for me. Though next time I’m going to watch them from a wide and extremely stable boat.”
“Gotcha. Aren’t they amazing?”
“Yes!” Grace put a hand to her chest. “I was so excited.”
“I don’t blame you.” Liz was able to smile naturally now. Nice girl. Lovely girl! “I grew up around here and I still find it thrilling. Wait until you see a humpback breaching. Those huge bodies launch up out of the water and then come crashing down. It’s incredible. I still get goosebumps.”
“Where did you grow up?” Grace seemed to be more at ease too. Liz had obviously been communicating some of her tension. “On Polaris?”
“Close. In Klawock. The little town on Prince of Wales Island where you caught the ferry. During high school I worked here at Northern Lights as a maid for several summers, then after college I was hired as an assistant to Derek’s father and never left.”
“And now you run the place.”
She rolled her eyes. “Aurora wouldn’t exist without Northern Lights. Everyone knows that. I run whatever Derek lets me.”
“He…did you know he knew my father?” Her pretty face turned suddenly serious and vulnerable. Liz took a step back. She still didn’t know. The kayak ride would have been the perfect place for Derek to tell her, and he hadn’t. If he didn’t have the balls to tell this poor woman before she left Polaris, Liz would leave him without any at all. Grace deserved to know as soon as possible.
“I did know that.” Liz stepped closer to the bed and put her hand on Grace’s shoulder, wanting to bend down and give her a maternal hug.
“Did you know him?”
“No.” She hesitated, unsure how to go on, but desperately wanting to offer some helpful information even if she couldn’t tell her the truth. “This is going to sound strange, but I hope it makes sense to you soon. I want you to know that Derek is a really good person, but he has one fatal flaw.”
Grace’s eyes widened. “What’s that?”
Liz sighed. “He’s a man.”
Grace burst out laughing. “I thought you were going to say something awful. That is hilarious. And yes, poor things. They can’t help themselves.”
“It’s tragic.” Liz was really glad she no longer had to hate Grace, because she seemed pretty terrific. “Speaking of Derek, I need to go visit him, too, but I look forward to bumping into you again during your stay. Feel free to come over to the municipal building any time. It’s about halfway between here and the ferry dock. My door’s always open.”
“Thanks, Liz. Nice to meet you.”
“Same here. Have a good dinner.” She winked, even though she probably shouldn’t have, and grinned when Grace blushed again.
Outside in the hall, her grin faded, though the giddiness that had come over her when she realized Derek and Grace were definitely not an item still lingered.
His daughter.
Good lord. What was he playing at? Why didn’t Grace know? When was he going to tell her? Was he going to tell her? For that matter, when was he planning to tell Liz that he had a child?
Thank goodness she’d figured out the relationship. If nothing else she could keep Derek from screwing it up.
Honestly.
His room was across the carpeted hall from his daughter’s—his daughter’s!—so it was only a few steps before she was
knocking again. “Derek, it’s Liz.”
“Come in.”
After his illness, she should have known that the sight of him looking anything but calm and in charge would affect her.
It still did.
He wore one of the thick fleece bathrobes the resort provided in guests’ rooms during the winter. He must have been napping because his hair was half flattened and his eyes were bleary and swollen. On his forehead was a small raw-looking area that looked as if he’d gone at it with a cheese grater.
Ouch.
Her heart melted. She wanted to crawl in next to him and hang on for dear life. Thank God he was safe.
“Hey, Derek.” She made her tone brisk to avoid tenderness. It would only piss him off and make her cry. “Did someone forget to tell you which side of the kayak is supposed to be up?”
“Yeah.” He grinned ruefully. “Not one of my smarter moments. Waves were too big for kayakers with our experience. Or lack of.”
“You were showing off.”
He shrugged. “Not like you think.”
Exactly like she thought. Liz pulled a chair over to his bedside. “I just spoke with Grace. She doesn’t seem the worse for wear. Have you been over to see her?”
“I stuck my head in a little while ago. If anything had happened to her…” He scowled and dropped his head to his chest. “I’m not the man I was, Liz.”
She snorted while her heart nearly broke. “Were you ever?”
“Maybe not.” He smiled up at her, exactly as he was supposed to do. Funny how many times she’d wished he’d drop the macho act and be a real, vulnerable human. When he was sick and now again, all she did was try to joke him out of it. They’d need to get comfortable with all sides of their personalities—if they ever got the chance to try.
Liz put her hand on his shin and squeezed lightly. “You were trying to do something nice for Grace and you had an accident. Could have happened to anyone. You’re both fine, and that’s what matters. However…”
