Stay With Me, Contemporary Romance (Last Frontier Lodge Novels Book 5)

by J. H. Croix

  Delia’s cheeks flushed. She kept her eyes on Jessa. “Try the coffee. Let me know what you think. I wasn’t sure what your preference was, so I made a triple shot Americano. Seems like everyone in your family likes their coffee strong and dark.”

  Garrett lifted his mug and took a long swallow, leaning his head back with a sigh. “It’s perfect.” His eyes caught Jessa’s again. “She even makes the best coffee.”

  Jessa giggled, enjoying how relaxed and easygoing Garrett was with Delia. She took a sip of her own coffee. “Oh, this is amazing! You guessed right by the way. I like my coffee dark and strong.”

  Delia laughed softly. “Good to know. So what’s on the schedule for today?” she asked generally.

  Seeing as Jessa had absolutely no plans whatsoever, she was relieved when Garrett immediately answered.

  “After breakfast, I’m headed to the office. I’ve got some work to do on that zoning case.”

  Delia nodded and started to reply when her name was called from the front of the restaurant. “I’d better go. Harry’s up to his ears out front since our breakfast hostess called out sick. Natalie apparently got a fishhook caught in the back of her head yesterday. She said they had to shave her hair to stitch it up. She doesn’t know when she can work again.” Delia shook her head and sighed. “My guess is she won’t be in for weeks. Natalie likes to look good, and her partial buzz cut probably won’t meet her standards. That means I’ve got to figure out how to cover her shifts.”

  Garrett rolled his eyes. “It’s not like you have to hold her job for her forever.”

  Delia’s eyes widened. “If I let her go over this, no one would want to work here. Diamond Creek’s not much bigger than a thimble. Everyone would know and I’d look like a bitch.”

  “I can help,” Jessa said, suddenly energized at the idea of being useful somehow.

  Delia and Garrett looked to her in unison. Delia’s eyes immediately glanced down at Jessa’s bandaged hand. “I don’t know if…”

  “My hand is fine! I just have to be a little careful. I waited tables all through college. If the hostess part is mostly seating customers and helping out to fill waters and coffees, I can do that with one hand. In another week or so, I could even help waiting tables. Please let me help.”

  Delia took a sip of coffee, her eyes considering, before she nodded. “Okay, but not today. I’ll check with Harry about Natalie’s schedule and you can start covering her next shift. This way, I can do a run through with you later tonight.” A slow grin spread across her face. “This is awesome!”

  Jessa felt a little buddle of joy inside and returned Delia’s grin. She liked to help and was craving something to help her feel grounded and useful again. Helping Delia when she needed it gave her a little boost inside and right now, she could use every boost she could get.

  Delia slipped out of the booth. “Okay, make sure to help yourself to the buffet. We have some amazing smoked salmon to go with the bagels and cream cheese.”

  Garrett caught her hand as she started to turn away. He leaned over and dropped a kiss on the inside of her wrist. “See you tonight.”

  After Delia rushed off, Garrett looked across to Jessa. “Well, you’ll be busy if that’s what you were hoping.”

  “I love being busy. Maybe I wasn’t sure what I planned to do when I got here, but I don’t want to just sit around.”

  Garrett grinned. “No worries there. This place is hopping all day up through about midnight. Just promise me you’ll take it easy on your hand if you need to.”

  Jessa rolled her eyes. “Oh my god. Don’t worry about me. My hand is healing up just fine. I can certainly handle managing a waitlist and walking customers to their tables. Right now I’m starving through, so let’s get some food.” She slid out of the booth and headed over to the buffet.

  4

  A splash of seawater hit Eli right in the face. He wiped his face on his sleeve and held on to the fishing line. “Keep reeling it in!” he called out, glancing over his shoulder at the man standing a few feet behind him on the boat.

  Eli and Cliff were running a fishing charter today. Two brothers, Ed and Jack Rogers, and their two sons, Lee and Toby, were handling the semi-rough seas well today. Kachemak Bay was stirred up with a steady wind cutting across it. Cliff was holding the wheel of the charter boat, keeping the boat at a slow pace through the water. They were fishing for silver salmon. So far, their customers had caught one each and were all hoping for one more, the daily limit at two apiece. Silver salmon were considered some of the most fun fish to catch for anglers. They were strong, aggressive and acrobatic. Eli had been relieved to discover the four men with them today were fairly experienced. At the moment, he was standing by the rail, ready to net the fish, as Ed was close to bringing in another salmon. The wily salmon had been playing the line for close to an hour now. Ed was tiring, as he should’ve been, so Eli wanted to make sure he didn’t lose the fish at the last minute.

  Another small wave crested just in front of them, splashing the side of the boat and Eli’s face. He chuckled as the silver salmon gave a twisting flip just a few feet away. “You’ve almost got it,” he called over his shoulder.

  Seconds later and the salmon was right by his hand. He grabbed the net and dipped it in to bring the fish up and over. Ed came to his side. “Damn, I know that’s a good sized silver, but hard to believe a fish that size nearly wore me out.”

  “Silvers make you work for it,” Eli replied and handed over the fish whacker as he stood and got out of the way.

  Cliff tossed him a towel from his station by the wheel. Eli immediately wiped his face with it and turned to check if Ed needed any help. He was already carrying the fish to the back of the boat where a large cooler waited. He set the fish carefully inside and closed the cooler. Eli stepped past Cliff and walked down the short set of stairs into the tiny, utilitarian boat cabin. He opened the small freezer and tugged out another bag of ice, the only thing they kept in there. Returning to the deck, he carted the ice to the cooler and carefully poured it over the fish, sifting it with his fingers to ensure the fish were fully covered.

  A while later, Eli did a last check on the boat deck to make sure everything was tidied up before he locked the cabin and left the harbor. Cliff had left with the customers to deliver their fish to the Fish Factory, a local business down the road from the harbor that catered to locals and tourists by filleting and flash freezing fish. They ran such a brisk business in the summer that they were open until midnight every day. The long days of Alaskan summers lent themselves to long days on the water. Eli strode down the harbor dock and paused when he reached the top. Turning to face the bay, he savored the salty, briny scent of the ocean air. Today’s trip had been fairly short, so it was only late afternoon. The sun was just beginning its slide down the sky, glinting off the surface of the bay. The mountains across were dark against the brightness. Mount Augustine, one of several volcanoes nearby, stood sentry beyond the bay in Cook Inlet, rising tall out of the waters. An eagle flew low over the water, snatching a fish out as it swooped up swiftly. He tracked the fierce bird as it flew to land on the rocky beach and immediately tore into the fish.

  Eli turned and walked toward the harbor parking lot. His eyes were on the ground as he headed toward his truck parked in the far corner. He heard a voice that sent a ping through his center. He lifted his eyes and almost laughed aloud when he realized he’d unconsciously recognized Jessa’s voice. Ever since he’d seen her yesterday, he’d had a hard time not thinking about her. She was walking along a path that led from the beach to the parking lot. As he watched, he realized she was talking to a crow who was hopping along the edge of the tall grasses flanking the path. She leaned over and held her hand out. The crow paused and looked up at her and then continued hopping.

  He couldn’t keep his eyes off of Jessa as she walked the remaining short distance to the parking lot. Her chocolate brown hair was loose today, falling around her shoulders. As she got closer, he realiz
ed she had gold streaks in her hair, which shone in the sunlight. She wore leggings again and his eyes automatically traced up her legs and over the curve of her lush hips. Her flannel shirt was unbuttoned, revealing a fitted tank top that hugged her ample breasts. A pair of bright red rubber boots completed her attire and brought a smile to his face. Given that his body had gone tight with lust the moment he laid eyes on her, anything to snap him out of it was a good thing. He forgot he was staring when he realized she’d noticed him.

  Jessa turned toward him and stopped a few feet away. “Hi,” she said simply.

  He took in her silvery-gray eyes and saw something flash in their depths. After several beats, he realized he hadn’t replied. “Hey there. Taking a walk on the beach?”

  She nodded. “It’s so beautiful here. How are you?”

  “Good. Just in from running a charter trip.”

  “Oh, you mean like when you take people out on guided fishing trips?”

  “Exactly. That’s what I do. Well, not just that, although fishing charters make up at least half my business in the summer.” He recalled she was a vegetarian and had a moment where he didn’t know if it was a good idea for her to know what he did. Then, he realized it was downright ridiculous to try to hide that from her just because she was the sexiest woman he’d ever met. Because if there was one thing he was sure of, it was that he didn’t do relationships. Watching the toxic stew of his parents’ marriage had made it easy to avoid entanglements. He continued. “I own a wilderness guiding and retail business. My life is fishing, hunting and selling the gear for it.”

  “Oh. Well, I guess you make good money around here, huh?”

  “I stay busy if that’s what you mean.”

  He found it hard to stay focused when a loose curl blew wild over her face. She tried to catch it and missed. Before he realized what he was doing, he’d stepped right in front of her and lifted a hand to brush the errant lock of hair out of her eyes. When he tucked it behind her ear, he felt the hitch of her breath. His hand seemed to have a mind of its own. The second he felt the soft skin behind her ear, his thumb stroked down, savoring the silky feel. He lifted his eyes to find hers had gone dark and smoky. He stood close enough that he could feel the rise and fall of her breath. He ached to pull her into his arms and feel the soft, lush curves of her against him. Under normal circumstances, he’d never have found himself in this situation, inches away from a woman he barely knew with lust coursing through him so fast, he could barely think. Jessa had upended any sense of normal and knocked him sideways into this burning attraction.

  Oddly, though he’d only encountered Jessa a total of three times now if he counted this one, he somehow felt as if he knew her much better than he possibly could. He felt comfortable with her, albeit the disconcerting attraction. The air around them felt charged, alive with the connection between them. As he stood in front of her, his hand slipped down along the downy skin of her neck and laced into the hair at her nape. With not a single thought passing through his brain, he moved on instinct and dipped his head. Her lips were bow-shaped and full, so tempting, all he wanted was to know how they felt under his.

  Jessa stood there with Eli inches away, the feel of his hand in her hair sending a current of electricity down her spine. All she wanted was to twine herself against him and lose herself. She was rattled by the depth of her pull toward him, but her body seemed to be running the show, kicking any doubts to the curb temporarily. Eli’s lips caught hers. He moved slowly, almost a question at first. The sensation of his warm mouth against hers sent a shock of heat through her. She gasped and his tongue swept inside, and she all but went up into flames. His kiss was confident and strong, his tongue stroking against hers in between tracing her lips. Within seconds, she was drenched, inside and out. She arched into his kiss, wanting more. His hand loosened in her hair and slid down her back, creating a path of shivering heat. She hadn’t realized it, but she’d plastered herself against him. When his hand slid over her bottom, she pressed closer and sighed when she felt the heat of his hard shaft against her.

  Suddenly, he tore his lips away and swore roughly. He didn’t move away, but his hand stroked up over her bottom, coming to rest in the dip of her waist. Reality filtered into Jessa’s awareness and she tucked her head into Eli’s shoulder, not quite believing that she’d been so out of her mind with need, she’d wanted much more than a kiss from this man she barely knew while they stood in a public parking lot. Embarrassment flooded through her, notching up the heat already burning inside of her. The sound of distant voices reached her. She forced herself to lift her head and found his mossy green eyes looking down at her. Her belly fluttered at the desire reflected there.

  “I, um, I…” she started and stopped, unable to articulate anything.

  “Well. I’m not sure what happened there. I’m, uh, sorry about that. I let things get away from me there,” Eli said, his voice husky.

  A giggle slipped out, and she blushed. She was embarrassed, and she wasn’t. It was all just so unexpected and…hot. Sweet hell. Eli made her want him like she’d never wanted anyone. She bit her lip and took a breath. All the while, his eyes were on her. Hot and bothered didn’t even begin to capture how she felt. She marshaled herself inside. “Do you usually just walk up and kiss women like this?” she asked archly, teasing him.

  His sun-burnished cheeks reddened slightly. He shook his head slowly. “No, never actually.”

  She giggled again and slipped her hand up around his neck, tugging him down for another taste of him. She meant to be bold, but the second his tongue stroked against hers again, she almost lost herself again. She broke away, flushed and hot to her core. “Well, we’re even now,” she managed to say.

  His low laugh sent another wave of need coursing through her. He slowly moved away, and she instantly missed the feel of his hard body against hers. When he stood a few feet away, a gust of wind came off the water. The air was brisk and cool, knocking her out of her semi-trance. When she looked back over at Eli, her breath caught. Dear God, the man was a danger to her sanity. He was all kinds of sexy and rugged. He wore a long-sleeved t-shirt that somehow managed to outline every inch of his fit body. His chest was all muscle. Faded jeans hugged his muscled legs. Given what it sounded like he did for a living, he wasn’t in shape because he worked out, he was in shape because he lived a life that meant using his body to its fullest. She’d never thought she’d be turned on by a man like him. She’d imagined herself somehow finding another artist who would appreciate her whimsical furniture and her commitment to finding a way to make a living that didn’t mean she had to take a job she hated just to pay the bills.

  While she couldn’t have said she had a clear idea what that man would be to her, Eli was just…all man, pure masculinity. Even now being several feet away, it was as if a current encircled them. As she stood there, unable to figure out what to say next, a crow’s call came nearby, sharp and clear. She turned to see the crow in question sitting atop the small sign labeled “Otter Cover Harbor” near the entrance to the path with an arrow pointing toward the boat harbor. The crow called again, staring right at her as it did.

  “Well, hello,” she replied, only to blush furiously when she heard Eli’s low chuckle.

  She swung to him and shrugged sheepishly. “Sometimes I talk to birds and animals.”

  His warm grin sent another wash of heat through her. Dear God this man had one hell of an effect on her.

  Someone called Eli’s name from across the parking lot, and he turned. “Yeah?” he called out in reply.

  A truck was coming in their direction and slowed to a stop beside where they stood. A young man with blondish-brown hair and brown eyes glanced between them before he spoke. “Just checking to see what time you wanted to head out tomorrow.”

  “Let’s aim for seven. That’s early, but not so early our customers will end up being late.” He paused, his eyes flicking between the young man and Jessa. “Cliff, this is Jessa Hamilton. She’s t
he person I met in the parking lot yesterday. Her brother owns Last Frontier Lodge. And Jessa, this is Cliff. He’s my main employee and basically helps me keep my sanity when things get crazy in the summer.”

  Eli’s roguish grin sent her stomach in a slow flip. She managed not to throw herself at him, although he made her want to do just that. Instead, she smiled politely and looked at Cliff. “Nice to meet you.”

  Cliff nodded and winked. “So you must be the woman who backed into Eli yesterday?”

  Jessa blushed. Again. Maybe it wasn’t precisely because Eli flustered her beyond recognition, but it would be nice if she could do something other than blush around him. “That’s me, but I didn’t hurt his truck, just got a little dent in mine.”

  Cliff grinned. “Even if you had dented his truck, it would’ve been hard to find.”

  Eli laughed and shook his head. “No need to give my truck a hard time, or Jessa.”

  Cliff put his truck in gear and grinned again. “All in fun,” he replied. “See you a few minutes before seven tomorrow.”

  Eli waved as Cliff drove off. He turned back to Jessa, pulling a set of keys out of his pocket. “I should get going.” He paused for a long moment. “Any idea how long you’ll be in Diamond Creek?”

  His question zoomed right into the center of her uncertainty about the shambles of her life. She mentally shook herself and aimed for a casual shrug. “I’m not sure right now. At least for a month or two.”

  A month or two? You have no idea what you’re doing or where you’re going next. You can’t even afford to drive back to Seattle. Unless a miracle happens, you’re stuck for now.

  Unaware of her mental machinations, Eli nodded, his eyes considering. “Don’t suppose you’d want to try a trip out in the bay?”