The Lure of Love (7 page)

“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.

“It got me
thinking. It’s time for me to be honest, too.”

Her face
fell. “You’re not going to do the documentary.” She tried unsuccessfully to
smile. “It’s okay, I understand.”

He reached
out and touched her hand, effectively silencing her. “Jamie, would you let me
talk?”

She looked at
him, confused. “I just thought…”

“I know what
you thought, and you’re wrong.” He stared into his coffee then raised his eyes.
“I have some rules when I’m out in the field. One of them is that I don’t get
romantically involved with the people I’m working with.” He made a broad
gesture. “The people who might benefit. It’s not ethical.”

Was he saying
what she thought he was saying? An orchestra should be playing in the
background right about now.

“I’m attracted
to you, Jamie. You must know that.” He looked over at Goldie, who was drinking
out of a dog dish by the burger shack. “I even like your dog.”

“You’re
interested in me?” It came out as a squeak.

“Since the
first minute I saw you with a can of bear spray in your hand.”

“Oh,” she
said. “I thought maybe it was just me who was attracted to you.”

“No.” He
looked into her eyes. “I won’t make a syrupy speech or anything, but you make
me feel like life’s worth living again.” Nettie brought their burgers and he
looked up. “I’m trying to tell Jamie that I’d like to get to know her better,
but she doesn’t seem to believe me.”

Something
unspoken passed between the two women. “She knows,” the older woman said
simply, then walked away.

Jamie ignored
her burger and leaned forward. “Are you saying I have to choose? You or the
documentary? Is that what you’re saying?”

He was about
to bite into his hamburger but paused. “You get right to the heart of the
matter, don’t you?”

She ignored
his comment. “Because if that’s what you’re saying…”

He stilled.

“I can get
along without the documentary.”

Joy mixed
with relief flooded his face. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He finally took a
bite of his hamburger and washed it down with a swallow of coffee. “Eat up,” he
said with a smile. “Nettie told me how you usually give Goldie most of your
hamburger, so I got one for her, too.”

The dog was
wolfing down a burger. Jamie watched for a moment then tried to talk, but her
throat was clogged with emotion. When she could finally speak, her words were
barely audible. “Thank you for thinking of Goldie.”

He gave her a
tender smile. “Now eat,” he repeated. “You’ll need your strength if you’re
going to take me flying tomorrow.”

“Really?
You’ve decided to go up?” Suddenly energized, she downed the hamburger like she
hadn’t eaten for a month. “What made you change your mind?”

He shrugged.
“I was thinking back to the day I arrived at the Lodge and saw you jump down
from the Beaver. I could see how much you loved flying. If I’m going to get to
know you, I need to give it another try.”

Her heart
expanded as she listened to him. “You won’t regret it. I’ll take you somewhere
special.” She looked at her watch. “I suppose we should get back. Brooke runs
the place, but there’s always something. I haven’t helped out much the last
couple of days.”

They rose
together. Craig wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “Are
you sure you’re okay with this?” he asked.

Jamie could
feel his heart beating. “I’m more than okay,” she murmured. “But there is
something I’d like from you, please.”

He pulled
back slightly so he could look into her eyes. “What is that?”

“Another
kiss, please.”

She raised
her lips and he complied. “That’s a deposit,” he said as several people climbed
out of a boat and headed for the picnic tables. “You’ll get the main payment
later.”

Brooke forced
herself to count to ten. Sometimes these college students just couldn’t think
for themselves! She touched the earpiece, only half listening to the maid’s
panicked inquiry. If she were honest with herself however, she’d admit that her
impatience was mostly due to the fact that she hadn’t seen Billy today.

“It’s okay,
Karen,” she said when she could get a word in edgewise. “We moved the soaps and
shampoos to the storage room at the far end of the hall. That’s why you can’t
find them.”

The front door
opened; she looked up but was disappointed. “That’s what I’m here for,” she
assured the maid and disconnected. The housekeeper’s son had broken his leg
early this morning and Brooke had been filling in while Heather took him to the
hospital for x-rays and a cast. Fortunately, most of the maids were familiar
with the Lodge’s routine and required very little supervision.