by Nancy Pirri
He rose swiftly and loomed over her a moment before sinking down on the hammock beside her. She nearly tumbled out, but he grasped her shoulders and held her in place, she prone, and he sitting beside her.
“You can’t stay,” he snapped.
She met his eyes, saw the heated glint of fury in them, but she wouldn’t back down. “Yes, I can. And there isn’t any way you can convince me to leave before I’m ready—that is, if I decide to leave.”
“Sure there’s a way,” he stated matter-of-factly. “Your stay here could get real uncomfortable.”
She narrowed her eyes and softly inquired, “Was that a threat?”
“No, just a reality check for you.”
“Why won’t you give me a chance? Tell me the real reason you don’t want me here.”
“Plain and simple, you don’t belong here. Look at you.” He flicked a quick glance over her body.
“You’re this fragile, frilly woman who’s barely let the sun touch her skin. Your choice of dress is inappropriate for the north woods, although I’ll admit that can be changed. Have you ever gone camping or fishing? Hiking or canoeing?”
“I’ve done some canoeing back home,” she said, emphatically.
He laughed dryly and got to his feet.
She struggled out of the hammock and stood in front of him, her hands jammed on her hips. “You could teach me those things.”
He stared down at her derisively, walked a few steps away, and looked out at the lake again.
“Yes,” he said thoughtfully, “I suppose I could, but I don’t believe I will.”
She raised her brow. “What? Afraid I’ll prove you wrong?”
Leif ambled to her side, tucked his fist beneath her chin, and asked softly, “Are you challenging me?”
Don’t do it, Cassandra. “Maybe I am, Wilderness Man.” She stepped back and his hand fell from her chin.
He gave her a devilish grin and folded his arms across his chest. “You’re on, sweetheart. We shorten Gateway’s open hours in early September. That would be the perfect time for me to show you the territory. How about a portaging-canoe trip through the boundary waters? That is, if you’re still here come fall.”
She stuck out her hand. “It’s a deal, Mr. Eagle.”
He took her hand and reeled her in close.
Her eyes widened, her heart stopped pumping blood through her body. His heat warmed her, and the woodsy smell of his clothes was like a balmy breeze to her senses. She caught a hint of tobacco, as well, although she knew he’d quit smoking since her arrival. It probably came from one of his fishing guests.
“It’s not too late to change your mind,” he warned. “Why go through all that hardship? You haven’t a prayer of winning.” He wound an arm around her waist and she gasped when he suddenly lowered his face to hers.
She pressed her hands against his chest to give herself some space. Her body nearly melted at the inviting warmth of his embrace, and even though she hated moving away from him, she forced herself to do so. Her mind told her one thing, her body another.
“Why not just sign complete ownership of Gateway over to me?” he murmured in her ear. “I’ll let you visit whenever you want.”
She remained mute in his arms as he drew her closer still, his lips just a breath away from her own. She found herself on the verge of nodding in agreement as she waited for his lips to touch hers. Breathing softly, a frown creased her brow when his words sank in. Leaning back, she met his blue-eyed sultry expression.
“No way am I handing over my share of Gateway to you.”
His lips narrowed, his eyes as well as he released her. Then he held up his hands in a fend-off gesture. “Hey, suit yourself.” He turned away and reached for the door handle.
“He was my grandfather,” she said, her voice trembling.
“And my foster father,” he said coolly, peering at her over his shoulder.
“Yes, but you were lucky to have him with you for several years. You had a relationship with him all the time I never knew him. It wasn’t my fault he and my father never reconciled. Don’t you see that Gateway is my grandfather?” She moved around him and down the steps until she reached the edge of the dock before turning back to him, her arms wound around her waist. “I can feel him here,” she said gently. “Can’t you?”
His soft treads down the stairs reached her side. She glanced at him and found him staring intently at the sky again. “Yes, I can. Every moment of every day and night.” He sighed. “I miss him, damn it.”
“Then don’t resent my wanting to stay. I’m no threat to you.”
Groaning, he moved up behind her and wound his arms around her waist again. “Sure you are.”
Cassandra relaxed in his arms, felt the warmth of his broad chest, even though warning bells rung inside her head; bells that reminded her of her choice to live a celibate life, until the right man came along and proposed marriage. But being held by Leif felt right. That surprised her because between the two of them she couldn’t think of any two human beings who had less in common. Yet, a small voice inside her whispered he might be the one. She thought over their conversation about dogs and figured he was twenty-nine, two years younger than her thirty-one years. Scott had also been younger. This was not good.
No, it was impossible. He couldn’t be the one. She’d seen his heated gaze meeting hers often enough to know that he was physically attracted to her, but she wanted him to see beneath her physical beauty. She wanted him to seek out and learn to love the true essence of her.
She forced herself to remain quiet, but nearly protested when he released her and made his way up the stairs again. Just before entering the house she heard him say, “No threat? Oh, baby, if you only knew.”
Chapter Four
The next morning dawned with blistering heat and humidity. It would be a slow, lazy Sunday and Leif had plans. He strode down the hall to Cassandra’s room and rapped on her door. “Rise and shine, Cassie-girl. It’s time for you to experience some of that wildlife adventure you’ve been yearning for.”
“Go away.”
Leif laughed. “I’m heading over to Lake David for a half day of fishing. I’ve already packed us a cooler full of food and drinks. It’s a good day for fishing ‘cause customer traffic is usually slow on Sunday.”
He smiled when he heard her quick footsteps crossing the floor.
She flung open the door. “Who’s minding the store?” she asked, her sleepy blue eyes staring up at him.
Gulping down the lump in his throat, Leif couldn’t take his eyes off Cassie. His dreams of her sleeping attire didn’t do justice to what she currently wore. Pink seemed to be her preferred color. Her nightgown was candy pink satin with thin straps, the neckline a deep V showing off more cleavage than he ever noticed in MM’s pictures. It seemed every curve of her delectable body was displayed to perfection, the long column of fabric ending at her ankles. He smiled down at her bare feet, toenails colored in pink, naturally.
“Uh, Leif?” she asked, waving her hand in front of his face.
He looked at her, disoriented. “What?”
“I asked, who’s watching the store?”
“Maxie,” he finally croaked, then cleared his throat.
“On Sunday? She usually attends church.”
Leif shook his head and made a concerted effort to look only at her face. If he checked out her body again he’d incinerate. “Church air-conditioning broke down so they called off services.”
“What time is it?”
“Five.”
She groaned. “Wake me in two hours and I’ll go with you.”
When she started closing her door, he jammed his shoulder in the space and held it open. “No can do. By mid-day it’s too hot and the fish stop biting.” He stepped back and shrugged. “But, hey, I know how important a girl’s beauty sleep is to her.”
He headed down the hallway to the front of the store. He’d just reached the beaded curtain when he heard her disgruntled, “I�
�ll be ready in fifteen.”
Yeah, right, famous last words. He glimpsed her turning into her room, then chuckled to himself as he entered the store. The heady aroma of freshly brewed coffee led him to the pot. Maxie was already behind the counter, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. Over her reading glasses she shook her head and narrowed her eyes at him.
“You know, you’ve got this look in your eyes I don’t trust.”
He raised his eyebrows. “What look would that be?”
“The kind you usually sported during your teenage years. I remember grimacing every day you left the house back then. Rarely did a day pass when you didn’t get into some scrape or another.”
Leif grabbed himself a cup of coffee and sank onto the stool beside her. “My only plan is to show our guest a good time. I’m taking her fishing, that’s all. Now what sort of trouble could I get into going fishing?”
She snorted. “You’ll give her grief about something, likely her city-girl ways again.” She added softly, “Go easy on her, Leif. I like her a lot. Some of her mannerisms and her kindness remind me of Roy.”
Tears sparkled in the older woman’s eyes and Leif groaned. He wound an arm around her shoulders. “I like her a lot, too, but she’s only here temporarily.”
“Maybe,” Maxie replied, “but I hope not. What are you going to do if she decides to stay? You can’t fight with her over every blessed little thing, you know! You’ve got to learn to compromise since you’re partners.”
“You siding with her about her harebrained ideas for changes around here? Come on, Maxie. You know Roy liked things just the way they are. Admit it.”
“Are you sure about that? Did he tell you that?”
Leif blustered, “Not in so many words, but I know that’s how he felt.” He walked toward the door, saying, “I’ve got to go rig up a few poles.”
A few minutes later, Cassandra ran into the shop and looked around in dismay. “Leif didn’t leave without me, did he?”
Maxie grinned. “Heck no. He’s out in the boat waiting for you.”
Cassandra headed for the door but stopped when Maxie asked, “Aren’t you having any breakfast?”
“No time,” she said. She tore down the stairs and ran across the dock, to the far end where she found Leif sunk back in his seat in the boat, tying something on the end of a fishing pole line.
He squinted up at her, then glanced at his watch. “You must really want to go fishing, Cassie-girl. That’s the fastest I’ve seen you move since you arrived at Gateway.”
“I’ve never fished a day in my life, so this truly will be an adventure!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing, anyway?”
“Tying Lindy-Rigs on a few poles.”
“Whaty-rigs?”
Leif grinned. “Basically, I take three snells, two sinkers, and two swivel clips and tie them to the monofilament.”
“To the what?”
“It’s the line spooled onto the reel. I’m rigged with six-pound test line. Hopefully, your first time out, you’ll land a nice walleye.”
She clapped her hands in delight. “Oh! This will be so much fun!”
Cassandra thoroughly enjoyed herself, once she got over the revulsion of handling the bait—minnows called ‘fatheads’. It was noon and she’d just reeled in her third fish of the day. The first fish she’d caught had been too small while the second too large. She’d learned that a fish had to fall within a particular length in order to be kept, and not thrown back. Finally, Cassandra caught a two-pound walleye this time. Good eating size, Leif told her as he removed the hook from the fish’s mouth and opened the live well.
She scowled. “But I wanted one to mount on the wall.”
Leif started up the motor and they headed out across the lake. “You’ll have plenty of opportunities to fish before you leave. Next time maybe you’ll catch a trophy fish.”
He slipped that little bit of leaving in there to see what kind of reaction he could provoke from her. Nothing. Nada. He didn’t trust the blasted beautiful woman. No response in his book meant she was up to something. As much as he enjoyed his time with her, in the long run he knew it would be impossible for her to stay. She didn’t fit in. Sure, buddy, keep telling yourself that!
“How about tomorrow after work?” she suggested.
Leif motored through a narrow passageway. “Sure, if I don’t get called out on an overnight guiding gig. But it’ll have to be after ten, after the store closes.” He grinned at her. “Gotcha, didn’t I?”
“What?” she asked, confused.
“You’re addicted now. I’ve got to admit, you surprised me today.”
“Why? Did you think I’d simply be an awful sport about this and do nothing but complain about the heat, not to mention the soggy sandwiches?”
He nodded. “Yup. You read my mind, but you were a great sport about it all, even when your line got caught on the bottom twenty times.”
“Twenty! Huh, it was only eight but who’s counting?”
Along a bank, Leif pointed to the side of a large rugged rock that rose twenty feet above the water’s surface. “Look there and tell me what you see?” He slowed and then came to a complete stop as they faced the rock.
Cassandra looked hard and long, but after a while shrugged.
“I don’t see anything but big rocks and cliffs.”
He started the engine and turned the boat sideways. “Now look. With the sun shining down you should see something.”
He grinned when her eyes widened. She gasped, “I think I see a man’s face in that rock!”
“You’re right on. I had to turn us to get the boat in the right position. This formation is called ‘The Old Man in the Rock.’ This passage is King William Narrows. Legend says if you wave at the Old Man in the Rock on your way out, you’ll have good fishing. If you wave again on your way back in, you’ll return safely to these waters again next time.”
“Did you wave when we first went out?”
Leif nodded.
“Then that accounts for the excellent fishing.” She laughed again, and hugged her arms around her waist.
His gaze moved to her v-necked blouse where he saw just a hint of cleavage. He found himself laughing along with her, then, unable to resist her infectious laugh. And her face, my God, when she tossed her head back and laughed, she looked even more like Marilyn.
She was one beautiful woman, and he’d lost count how many times during the morning hours his nether regions reacted to her in a very carnal way. He could get used to having her around Gateway. Maybe Cassie moving in and helping him run the place wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Okay, buddy. Remember how women and trouble go hand in hand. He ignored the little voice inside warning him.
The following evening, as luck would have it, Leif was called out on a guiding trip, disappointing Cassandra. And when he returned he had plans to travel west to the Red Lake Reservation to visit his mother and her family.
She looked at Maxie, who sat beside her at the transaction counter, straightening earrings in the glassed-in jewelry case. “You know, Maxie, I think I could handle Leif’s boat on my own. I’d like to do some fishing this evening.”
Maxie gave her a horrified look. “Over my dead body! You aren’t taking Leif’s boat. The man would have heart failure if you did. Besides, you’ve no idea how to drive it.”
“It didn’t look too hard. I watched him the entire time we were out fishing and it looks simple enough to me.”
“No. It’s not safe to go out on your own.”
Cassandra sighed. “I suppose you’re right. Do you think he’d teach me how to drive it?”
“I doubt it. He doesn’t think you’ll be staying here all that long so why bother? But, I’ve a feeling he’s in for an awakening. Right?”
Cassandra hugged Maxie. “I love it here. Everything about Gateway makes me feel close to grandfather, and the closest I’ve ever felt to what I imagine heaven would be like. The smell of the tall pine trees, the miles and miles
of water, the craggy, rocky, shorelines, even the crying of the loon keeping me awake at night and waking me in the morning—everything about this place is exciting and beautiful. This is my home now, Maxie. Chicago doesn’t exist for me anymore.”
“Ow,” Maxie said, grimacing. “I don’t think Leif is going to like to hear this at all.”
Cassandra gave her a shy grin and she felt her cheeks turn hot. “I think you’re wrong. I think Leif complains an awful lot about me staying, but I saw him looking at me in the boat today. He wants me, Maxie.”
Maxie’s eyes widened. “And do you want him?”
“Yes, but I’ll not forget my vows of chastity. He’ll have to marry me before we make love.”
“Oh, oh. It’ll never work out then.”
“Why not?”
“‘Cause Leif’s a confirmed bachelor, same as your grandpa was after your grandma died.”
“How do you know that? Maybe grandpa never met the right woman.”
“He met plenty of women. Your grandpa was very popular with the ladies, but he never took them seriously.”
“Not even you?” Cassandra asked softly.
Maxie’s cheeks turned pink and she bit her lip and clenched her hands on the counter. “Not even me,” she said. She looked at Cassandra with tears filling her eyes. “That little thing between us was a long time ago. Am I that obvious?”
“Only to me,” Cassandra replied, hugging Maxie close. “I’m glad you loved him. I imagine he needed that, especially with no family of his own around, although it must have been difficult for you.”
“I got over it years ago. I married a fine man and got a son out of the marriage, too.”
“That’s wonderful.” Cassandra moved to the kitchen sink and started running water, ready to wash up the day’s accumulation of dishes. As she stared out the window, she took in the gathering clouds outside. She tried not to sound worried, but she knew she didn’t succeed when she said, “Is it usual for Leif to be gone this long?”
“It’s only been a week. Yes, this is typical. He’s sort of a recluse, if you hadn’t noticed. Your grandpa was the same way. Now, don’t worry. He’ll return soon.”