by Mona Ingram
“You have?” He gasped at the heat of the water, but soon adjusted to it and sank down. “Why?”
She sat at a slight angle to him, where she could see his face. “Because you looked like you need to relax. I knew right away I had to bring you here.”
He sank down until the water was over his shoulders and closed his eyes. “This feels so good.” He opened his eyes again. “Who knew there were hot springs in the middle of British Columbia?”
She tucked up a strand of hair that had come loose. “Fortunately, this one is remote but there are probably others the same. There are at least three I can think of in the southern part of the province that have been developed.” She gave him a curious look. “You’re the globe-trotter. Surely you’ve heard of the Ring of Fire?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I did some research on it when I went to New Zealand once. I’ve heard it called the Rim of Fire, as in Pacific Rim and I’ve also heard it called the Ring of Fire. I think both are acceptable, but most of the talk is about the big splashy volcanoes, not these amazing small places. His eyes took on a distant look. “It would make a great documentary.” Her eyes widened in alarm and he held up a hand. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t film this place, it’s too private.”
She settled back down. “I’ve never been south of the equator. What am I saying? I’ve never even been to Hawaii.”
He looked at her speculatively. “Where would you like to go?”
“Oh, wow. I’ve never given it serious thought; it’s always been more of a dream.” She tilted her head back, looked up into the trees. “I’ve heard of the Cook Islands. I think that might be nice. Either that or Tonga, although I might just be in love with the name.”
“I’ll take you to the Cooks some day. One of the islands is called Aitutaki. Have you ever snorkeled?”
She shook her head. “Not really.”
“I’ll teach you. I’ll take you to Aitutaki and we’ll snorkel every day.” A shaft of sunlight slanted down through the trees, turning her eyes a brilliant shade of green.
“Okay,” she said softly. “I’d like that.”
For a long time he just looked at her. This trusting woman who didn’t ask anything of anyone had re-kindled his desire to live, to enjoy life. He was ready to begin again, and he wanted her by his side, wanted to make her dreams come true. He opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to it.
“I’ve made up my mind,” she said tentatively. “I’ve given Brooke’s idea a lot of thought and I can’t see anything wrong with it. I’m going to tell her to go ahead. And I’ve decided to sell the land to the north of the resort, so I can contribute something.” She watched his reaction as she spoke. “I’ll feel better if I do that; things always end up costing more than you estimate. I’ve certainly learned that over the years. The money from the sale of the property will give us more of a cushion.”
He nodded. “I think that’s a good decision. To go ahead with the development, I mean. As to selling the land, you have to do what feels right.”
“It feels right.” She stood up. “We’d better get out of here. It’s pretty hot.”
They climbed out and she stood on the edge of the pond. “Do you want to have a swim in the lake? We could walk down in our bathing suits.”
He hesitated. “I’m supposed to do the machete thing.”
“You can. I’ll carry your clothes.”
A few minutes later they were on the shore of the lake. “That’s harder work than I realized.” Craig cleaned off the machete and grabbed the leather sheath. “I’ll have to come back soon so we can keep the trail clear.”
Her head came up and she looked at him sharply to see if he was sending her a message, but his back was to her as he placed the machete back in her bag. How could she have forgotten that he would be leaving in a few days? All that talk about going to the Cook Islands was probably just that...talk. She ran across the narrow beach and immersed herself in the cold lake water.
Craig followed. “That feels good,” he said. “But it’s almost a pity to cool down.”
You can say that again, she thought to herself. “Move over there,” she said, pointing to where the stream spilled into the lake. “It’s quite warm still.”
Craig did as she suggested and a smile of delight transformed his face. “The best of both worlds,” he said, then made his way to the shore and grabbed his towel. She watched him. He was tall, lean and lightly muscled. He was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. Why did he have to live on the other side of the country?
She came out of the water and he slung his own towel around his neck then reached for hers, holding it until she walked up to him.
“Thank you for today” he said, draping her towel around her shoulders. “You were right, I enjoyed the flight.” He gazed into her eyes and pulled her closer. “I enjoyed everything.”
“Me, too” she said softly.
Her towel fell on the sand as he took her in his arms.
She should tell him to stop. Remind him that he’d be leaving to go back to Toronto in a few days. But she couldn’t. She wanted him to kiss her again. She raised her face and the desire in his eyes left her breathless.
His mouth covered hers and she closed her eyes, drowning in sensation. His hands slid up into her hair, and it came free, spilling down her back.
“You have the most amazing hair,” he said, running his fingers through the silky strands.
She closed her eyes, trusting him completely.
“And beautiful eyes.” He kissed her eyes, his lips feather-light against her skin. And then he switched his attention back to her mouth, probing between her lips with his tongue, igniting fire in her veins that raced through her body.
A squirrel chattered in a nearby tree, startling them both. Craig pulled back and looked around, as though he’d forgotten where he was. And then he focused on her and his eyes softened. “Are you sure you have to fly some people out this afternoon?” An Osprey flew overhead and he looked up. “We could stay here and commune with nature.” His smile turned seductive. “And each other.”
She pretended to be shocked at his suggestion. “Why Mr. Hansen. Whatever are you suggesting?” She knew perfectly well what he was suggesting and it was taking all of her will power not to give in. She had been attracted to Craig from the first moment she saw him and knew instinctively that making love with him would be something she would remember forever. But that was the problem...she didn’t want just the memory.
“You’re right” he said, touching her briefly on the cheek. He sucked in a couple of ragged breaths, trying to calm himself. “It’s just that...” his voice trailed off.
Jamie wanted to scream. This all felt so wrong, and yet she knew it was right. Craig had said he wanted to get to know her and that was fine, but she wanted more. She wanted more than the memory of lovemaking. She wanted him; she wanted the happily ever after.
“I’d better go get that cushion,” she said, her voice shaky. She checked her watch. If they took off now, they’d be back at the Lodge with half an hour to spare. After years of experience, she knew that the customers would be there waiting at least a quarter of an hour early.
“I’ll get it.” Craig was already walking down the shoreline. The cushion was bobbing in the reeds about a hundred yards away. She watched him walk away and wondered if she’d just made the biggest mistake of her life.
Jamie pointed out a few landmarks on the way back, but they were mostly silent. They pulled up at the dock with half an hour to spare and the customers were already there, eager for their next fishing experience.
Craig took off his headset, hung it on the hook and turned to her as the propeller slowed. “I didn’t handle that very well,” he said, angling his head back to indicate where they’d come from. “I’d like to see you later, if that’s okay.”
She wanted to tell him to stay away, to just go home, but she couldn’t. She looked at him and her insides melted. “I’d like that,” she said. She tapped her w
atch, calculating when she’d be back. “I should be back around two thirty, two forty-five, and I don’t have any commitments after that.”
“It’s a date.” He pointed to the dock. “I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
Chapter Eleven
Matt pulled into the disused driveway that marked the northern boundary of Jamie’s property. He got out and breathed in the sweet air. There was something about the air up here in the heat of summer. It was redolent of fir and pine. Closer to the water, aspens huddled together in random clumps, their leaves rustling in the slight wind. Shards of light reflected off the lake, a perfect background for what Matt envisioned.
He grabbed the old metal gate, but it was padlocked. It would be easy enough to get over the three-wire fence but that wasn’t necessary. The land sloped gently toward the water here in much the same way as it did on the Lodge property.
He spotted something to the right of the driveway and went over to look. “Here, look at this” he called to Billy. “Someone has done a survey.” He looked back at the triangular marker. “It looks to have been done in the past ten years or so.”
Billy came over to look.
“See those letters on the sign? IP? That means iron pipe. When they survey, they hammer an iron pipe into the ground. This wooden triangular post just marks the location of the pipe.”
Billy raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t know that.” He clapped Matt on the back. “You’re a good guy to have around.”
Matt made a wry face. “I hope so.” He looked back toward the water. “How far do you reckon it is to the water?”
Billy squinted into the sunshine. “I don’t know. Quarter of a mile, maybe less?”
Matt nodded. “That’s about what I think, too. You know, this land could be divided into some estate-sized lots.” He shook his head slowly. “With each one having water frontage, they’d be sold faster than you could put them on the market.”
“I know one that wouldn’t go on the market.”
Matt frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Me. I’d buy one like that.” Billy snapped his fingers.
Matt looked at the man who had become his friend. “You and Brooke?”
Billy grinned. “I’m trying to convince her that I’m serious, and I think I’m starting to get through.”
Matt stuck out his hand. “I hope it works out for you. You’re a lucky man.”
“Don’t I know it!” Billy turned back to face the water. “Individual lots, right? None of this common land stuff.”
Matt turned thoughtful. “That’s what I’d propose. I suppose adjacent lots could share a driveway up to a certain point. It would make snow clearance a lot easier in the winter.” He gave his head a shake. “But that’s all down the road somewhere. I just wanted to get a feel of the land in case Jamie asks me for my opinion.”
Billy’s gaze roamed over the landscape. “I don’t think she can afford to hold onto this land forever.”
“That’s the impression I got as well.” Matt took one last look and then headed back to his vehicle. “Want to grab some lunch in town? I’m buying.”
* * *
Craig was on the dock at two fifteen, waiting for Jamie to return. Howie glanced his way every once in a while, keeping an eye on him, but so far hadn’t said anything. Craig paced back and forth, planning what he would say. He’d really blown it earlier, coming on to her like that. But she’d looked so beautiful, and felt so good in his arms. And yes, he admitted it, he’d been alone for too long, except for that one foolish encounter earlier in the year.
Jamie was different. He’d known it from the first moment she stepped out of that old Jeep, can of bear spray in her hand. He smiled at the memory. Everything about her was real, and it was time he put things right and told her how he felt about her.
He heard the Beaver before he saw it. He knew she’d land into the wind and when she came into sight, he marveled at the way she leveled out over the water, holding it until she was at the precise spot where they’d touched down earlier. And then she set it down like a butterfly. Okay, a noisy butterfly that churned up the water, but it was still a sweet landing. He tried to restrain himself from waving, and then changed his mind. Today he didn’t care how he looked. He raised a hand and was about to wave when he heard his name being called behind him.
He swung around and spotted her walking down the lawn toward him. What was she doing here? He strode angrily back up the dock and met her before she reached the shore.
“Darling!” she trilled, red hair flashing in the sunshine. “I’ve come to surprise you.” She threw her arms around his neck. “Happy to see me?”
* * *
Jamie spotted him as soon as she turned toward shore. He was leaning on the low gate that held customers back until the propeller had stopped. He smiled at her, raised a hand and her heart did a little happy dance in her chest.
Then he turned away, spotted someone on the shore and ran toward her. It was a tall, slender woman dressed in city clothes, red hair twisted up in some sort of elegant swirl on top of her head.
Jamie stared through the windshield. The woman threw her arms around Craig’s neck. Her laughter floated on the summer breeze, cutting into Jamie’s heart like a knife.
Jamie didn’t remember tying up the Beaver and dashing across to the other dock. “I’m taking the runabout,” she called to Howie. She jumped in and pulled away from the dock, forcing herself not to accelerate until she was well outside of the buoys.
Tears blurred her vision as she headed south. She tried to ban the image from her mind, but kept on seeing the woman in Craig’s arms. Whoever she was, she was close enough to him that she knew where to find him. It was almost too much to take in, but Jamie knew what she’d seen, and it had broken her already fragile heart.
She was travelling at top speed and throttled back, looking around to get her bearings. She was headed for the solitude of her island and she’d almost passed it without realizing how far she’d come. She slowed, went around behind the island and stepped out, wishing she could turn back time to the days when Craig Hansen was only a name on a piece of film. But that wasn’t possible. She climbed up onto her rock, brought her knees up to her chin and held on, trying to hold herself together.
* * *
Craig removed his former publicist’s arms from around his neck. “Donna, what are you doing here?”
The woman pouted, touched him on the chest. “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”
He backed up a couple of steps, putting some distance between them. “No, I’m not happy to see you.” He knew better than to yell at her; she’d only make a scene. “I’ve told you before, Donna. What happened between us was a mistake and I’m sorry, but there is no ‘us’.”
Her eyes glittered and he began to wonder just how stable she was. “Come on, Craig. You can’t mean that.”
“I do mean it.” He glanced around and saw Jamie running to the other dock. He pointed to her. “You see that woman?”
Donna looked at Jamie and frowned. “Whoever she is, she has no fashion sense. Who is she?”
Oddly enough, her comment made it easier. “That’s Jamie Nicholson, and she means everything to me. That’s who she is.”
Jamie jumped into the runabout and pulled out. Craig gritted his teeth in frustration. “I can’t imagine what she’s thinking right now, but I’m going to follow her and set things straight.”
Donna looked at him oddly. “You mean that, don’t you? Even after I came all this way.”
He exhaled slowly, tried to gentle his voice. “I didn’t ask you to come and yes, I mean it. I’m in love with her.”
“Oh.” She glanced up at the Lodge, and her cool gaze took in the other buildings and the campsite. “Can’t say I think much of the place.”
Craig shook his head. “No, you wouldn’t.” He was smiling now. “You wouldn’t understand it at all.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Well then, I’ll be on my way. Goodby
e, Craig.”
“Goodbye, Donna.” He stood in the middle of the lawn, watching as she walked toward her rental car. When it disappeared from sight he let out a sigh of relief and strode quickly toward the dock.
Craig walked up to the older man. “Hello, Howie. Do you have a boat I can take out?” He looked up the lake and thought he spotted the runabout disappearing behind the island.
Howie noted the direction of his gaze and pointed to an outboard. “That’s the fastest I have, but it’ll get you there. It has a 40HP motor.”
Craig smiled. “Then it will have to do.”
“Do you know how to start it?”
Craig looked at the motor. “It’s been a while.”
The older man took him through the steps and the motor fired on the first pull. Craig smiled his thanks and pulled away from the dock.
* * *
Jamie heard him coming. She hadn’t changed position and still sat with her chin resting on her knees. She watched him run the outboard up on the sand beside the runabout and climb out. He didn’t seem to mind that he’d landed with both feet in the water. He tied the rope to the tree root and stood there, looking at her for what seemed like the longest time.
“May I come up there?” He waited for her to respond, but she just shrugged.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He climbed up, sat down beside her and took a deep breath.
“That was Donna,” he said, speaking slowly. “She was my publicist and I made the mistake of going out with her earlier this year.”
Jamie watched him closely.
He turned and looked into her eyes. “It was a mistake. I told her that, but she wouldn’t listen.” He raised his hands in a helpless gesture. “I couldn’t seem to get rid of her. She kept calling me, pestering me. I finally had to get a new publicist.” He picked up a small pinecone and started tearing it apart. “I thought I was rid of her, but she obviously decided to try one more time.”