“What about dinner? Surely you take time for dinner.”

  A smile lit up her face. “That’s a great idea. Let’s meet in the dining room at six, shall we?”

  “It’s a date.” Had he really said that? He was acting like a clumsy teenager. Normally he ate much later and he wasn’t the slightest bit hungry but it didn’t matter. He watched her walk into the great room of the lodge and for the first time in two years he thought that life might be worth living after all.

  * * *

  Jamie looked at Brooke as the last of the guests drifted away. “They seem like a good bunch” she said, “although we might have to keep an eye on that older gentleman and his wife.”

  Brooke nodded. “I thought so too. Serious drinkers, if I’m not mistaken.”

  Jamie sorted through the registration cards. “I see Billy’s here. How was he?”

  “He’s really rather sweet. Seemed almost shy.”

  “Billy? Shy?” Jamie fingered the card. “Maybe it’s a new technique.”

  “Well, he seemed happy to be here. I saw you talking to Craig Hansen.” She watched her boss carefully. “What did you think of him?”

  Jamie felt a blush creeping up into her face. “He seems nice enough. Not sure if he’ll want to go up in the Beaver, though.” Her stomach rumbled audibly. “But I’ll see if I can change his mind. I’m having dinner with him tonight.”

  Brooke’s eyes widened fractionally. “Good. You need to eat.”

  “He’s kind of good looking, don’t you think?” Her gaze went to the verandah, where he was still sitting. “In a rumpled, outdoorsy way, I mean.”

  Brooke fought to keep a straight face. Jamie never noticed men, and the lodge attracted its share of good looking specimens. “He has nice eyes, but there’s something about him. He seems sad.”

  “You noticed.” Jamie tore her gaze away from the verandah. “But he has a killer smile, when he chooses to use it.” She had to stop thinking like this. She couldn’t afford to let her personal feelings get tangled up with business.

  “What are you going to wear for dinner?” Brooke looked her boss up and down. “My things won’t fit you thanks to my height, but I can help you accessorize.”

  “I hadn’t even thought.” Jamie tried to recall what she had that would be suitable. “Can I get away with a plain scoop-necked top and a long skirt?”

  Brooke rolled her eyes. “What time are you getting ready?”

  “About a quarter to six. We’re eating at six.”

  “That’s when the families eat! What are you thinking? He’s from the city, Jamie. He’s probably used to eating around eight...maybe later.”

  Jamie tossed her head. “Too late now. Besides, I’m hungry.”

  “Fair enough, but I’ll see you in your room around a quarter to.”

  * * *

  Brooke appeared at Jamie’s door with an armful of accessories. Between them they decided on a delicate fringed wrap which they tied around Jamie’s slender hips. Folded on an angle, the point hung down, lending a gypsy feel to the outfit. Brooke placed a delicate brass filigree necklace around her neck and stood back to admire.

  “Okay, one more thing,” she said and pulled Jamie’s long sun-streaked hair back on one side with a large comb. “There.” She turned her around to face the full-length mirror. “Have a look at yourself.”

  Jamie scarcely recognized the woman in the mirror. “I look good,” she said simply. “How did you do it?”

  Brooke laughed. “My mother used to tell me I was born to accessorize. I’ve always had a knack for it.”

  “With your taste, you should open a store.”

  Brooke stood back to admire her creation. “Speaking of stores, I’d like to talk to you about opening a store in the Lodge. I have a few ideas, but now isn’t the time.”

  Jamie studied her office manager for a moment. Behind the beautiful face and figure was a sharp mind. She’d only been with the lodge since the May long weekend and had proven herself many times. “Okay,” she said thoughtfully. “Let’s get together in the next day or two.”

  “I’ll remind you.” Brooke herded her out the door. “Have fun tonight.”

  Chapter Three

  Jamie was glad she’d taken extra care with her outfit when she saw the look on Craig’s face. He’d somehow managed to snag the best table in the dining room and stood up when she entered. He waved away the server and seated her expertly, pushing the chair firmly against the back of her legs, the way she liked it.

  “You’ve done that a few times before,” she said, smiling at him. He’d changed into a crisp white shirt and navy slacks.

  “I worked as a waiter in Banff for three summers while I was putting myself through college.”

  She glanced around at the dining room, which was already filling up. “I can’t begin to imagine the numbers they must serve in those big hotels every night.” She gave a little shudder. “Leeza and I were talking this morning about how the students are surprised when they’re expected to work.”

  “Leeza?”

  “Sorry. Leeza is our chef. She doesn’t look like the average chef, but she’s excellent.”

  “I’d like to meet her.” He looked up as their server appeared, then turned his attention back to Jamie. “Are you going to have a drink?”

  “I think so.” She smiled at the server. “Hello, André. I think I’ll have a glass of red wine. You choose something for me, please.”

  The server turned to Craig. “And for you, Sir?”

  “I’d like a Scotch, please. Chivas, if you have it.”

  “Yes Sir, we do. I’ll be right back.”

  He’d been reading the menu when she arrived but he set it aside and sat back casually. Contrasted against the white of his shirt, his tan looked even darker than before. Blue eyes studied her and an amused smile played around his lips.

  “I saw you this morning,” he said finally.

  “You did?” She looked around, not understanding what he meant.

  “On the road. You stopped to rescue that fellow who was about to be mauled by a grizzly.”

  She nodded. “The car behind him. That was you.”

  “That was me.” He looked up as their drinks were delivered. “Thank you, André.” He held up his glass and clinked it against hers. “He’s staying here, you know. I saw him this afternoon.”

  “Then I’m doubly glad I interfered.” The words were out before she could stop them. She clapped a hand over her mouth, unaware that he was also laughing. “I’m sorry. That didn’t sound very gracious.”

  “It was perfect.” He was still smiling. “He really should have known better.”

  “No kidding,” she murmured. She picked up a menu, then glanced over at him. “Brooke told me that six o’clock was ridiculously early for dinner. She said you probably eat around eight, but I was so hungry I wasn’t thinking straight. I hope you’ll forgive me.” She knew exactly what was on the menu, but she was nervous. And she really was hungry.

  “I’m just happy that you agreed to join me. The time doesn’t matter. What’s good?”

  “It’s all good but I usually have a steak and salad.” She lifted her wine glass. “One is my limit, so I make it last through dinner.”

  “Then that’s what I’ll have, too, but no wine.” He looked at his glass of Scotch. “This and the beer I had this afternoon are more than I’ve had in a long time.” He stared into the amber liquid. “I went a bit overboard on the drinking a couple of years ago. Thankfully it didn’t last long, but as they say it wasn’t pretty.”

  “It happens. We see a lot of odd behaviour here. People act differently when they’re away from home. I’ve never understood why, but they do.” She gave her head a quick shake. “Why are we having this depressing conversation?”

  “My fault, I guess.” He looked out over the lake and his gaze finally came to rest on the Beaver. “Do you mind if I ask you why you learned to fly? Was it something you always wanted to do?”

  Jamie had been told that she came alive when she talked about flying and tonight was no exception; she found herself eager to share the reasons with the man who sat across from her.

  “I was always pestering my Dad to go up with him when I was smaller. He promised to let me get my license as soon as I was old enough.” He was watching her quietly and she decided to get the hard part over with. “Mom and Dad were killed in an accident when they were holidaying in Asia.” It was a relief to have that out of the way. “I’d already been taking flying lessons for six months by then and I got my license the next year. I’ve been flying ever since.”

  “I’m no expert, but the way you handled that plane today...” he shook his head. “You look pretty good to me. Ah, here are our steaks.”

  For some reason his compliment pleased her. She knew she was a good pilot, but coming from someone who might be afraid to fly, it meant a lot.

  The conversation turned to talk of fishing as they ate. He inquired about fly fishermen in the area and she assured him that there were a few locals who were regarded as experts. She hadn’t contacted any of them in case he preferred to make his own arrangements, but she was fairly sure that they’d be delighted to be in any film made by the famous Craig Hansen.

  The server removed their plates and inquired if they would like dessert.

  “No thanks, André.” Jamie deferred to Craig. “How about you?”

  He patted his stomach. “No thanks.” A family got up from the adjoining table and she noticed the way his eyes kept returning to the young boy. “But what I would like is coffee down by the lake. I noticed the chairs down by the water when I arrived and I think the weather is co-operating. That storm that was threatening earlier seems to have passed us by.” He turned to her. “Will you join me?”

  “Sounds great.” She started to rise and he hurried around to pull out her chair. “I wasn’t sure about those when I bought them this spring, but they’ve been popular.” The brightly coloured plastic Adirondack chairs added splashes of colour to the grounds and were easier to keep clean. “We used to have the traditional white wooden ones, but it got so we were spending too much time sanding and repainting them every year.” She shrugged. “It’s all labour, and it’s getting expensive.”

  Goldie raised her head when they appeared on the verandah and her tail thumped against the floor.

  “Okay, you can come.” Jamie shot a quick glance at Craig. “You don’t mind, do you? You’re not allergic, or anything?”

  The dog had inserted herself between Jamie and Craig and he touched the top of the dog’s head. “No, I like dogs. This one seems devoted to you.”

  They sauntered toward the water’s edge. “She just appeared here one day, about a year and a half ago. She was in bad shape; skin and bones mostly. She either got lost, or some campers put her out to fend for herself.” She looked affectionately at the dog. “We were going to call her Lucky, but that seemed too corny. So thanks to her breed she became Goldie and she’s been here ever since.”

  “Do people actually do that?” He looked shocked. “Leave their dogs?”

  “It happens more often than you’d think. Especially with cats.” They arrived at a grouping of pink and green chairs. “Don’t get me started.”

  Craig brushed a few leaves from the seat of one of the chairs and made sure she was settled before he sat down. Andre arrived a few moments later, carrying a tray with coffee and a few biscotti.

  Craig’s chair was angled away from the Beaver but he turned now and took a long look at it. “I’d like to go up with you but I’m still not sure. This may not sound very manly, but I’m terrified of flying in small aircraft.”

  “You must have flown out here from Toronto, so I’m assuming it’s just small aircraft that bother you?”

  He pushed the hair away from his forehead. A scar about four inches long started just beside his temple and disappeared into his hair. “I got this in a crash two years ago.” He sat silently for a moment, then lifted his coffee cup and looked at her over the rim. “My wife and son were killed and the pilot was seriously injured.” His hand trembled a bit as he set his cup down. “We spun into some trees. I was sitting up front beside the pilot and somehow I was thrown out. Crushed a few ribs but that was nothing compared to the others.”

  There was nothing she could say that would help; she knew that from personal experience. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

  He gave her a smile that was full of pain. “Vicky and I were making one last effort for our son. Jody loved anything to do with boats, with fishing. We were taking him on the ultimate camping trip in northern Ontario.” He bit off a chunk of biscotti then looked at it as though wondering where it came from. “It was the ultimate trip, all right.”

  Jamie had never considered that he might be married. But then, she’d never thought she’d be attracted to him, either. “What do you mean ‘making one last effort’? Was your son sick?”

  “Huh? No, nothing like that. Vicky had told me a month or so previously that she wanted a divorce. It was all over but the paper work, but we wanted to make some memories for Jody.” His eyes glittered with unshed tears. “It was the biggest mistake of my life.”

  Jamie dunked a biscotti and waited while it melted in her mouth. “So, the drinking,” she said finally.

  He looked at her, dry-eyed now, and nodded. “So, the drinking.”

  “Is it as bad as they say? Survivor’s guilt?”

  He nodded. “Worse. After I sobered up, I threw myself into work, thinking it would help me to forget. I had two films to be edited plus a book that was overdue at the publisher’s. This past year I even went out on a couple of dates. Vicky’s family was shocked, of course. They didn’t know we’d been planning to divorce.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “What a mess.”

  They sat quietly for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts.

  A loon warbled in the distance and he raised his head. “That’s a lovely sound, isn’t it? Too bad everyone who makes a film even remotely connected with nature thinks it’s necessary to put a loon’s call on the sound track.” He came forward in his chair and smiled. “Want to hear something outrageous? A few years ago a friend of mine bought a computerized golf game that simulates golf courses around the world. He was showing me how it works and had chosen a course on Maui. There was actually the sound of a loon in the background. On Maui!”

  Jamie laughed. “You’re making this up!”

  He held up a hand. “I kid you not!” He hunched forward, elbows resting on the arms of the chair. “Thank you for listening, Jamie. You’re very relaxing to be with.”

  She frowned. “I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not.”

  “Trust me, it’s a compliment.” Was that desire she saw in his eyes? Forget it, said the voice in her head. You can’t afford to blow this opportunity.

  Then why did it feel so right?

  He rose and offered her his hand. “I’ve taken up enough of your time tonight.” He pulled her up and continued to hold her hand for several moments. “Will you show me some of the closer fishing sites tomorrow or the next day?” he smiled down into her eyes. “I’ve decided to take a vacation after all. My office booked the room for the full week, didn’t they?”

  She nodded and hoped that her legs would continue to support her.

  “Good.” He walked with her back to the lodge. “I don’t think I’ll bother with lining up a fly fisherman. I can visualize the shots.”

  “I know how to fly fish.” Why had she volunteered that information? She had absolutely no desire to be in one of his films.

  “Why am I not surprised?” His voice had turned husky. “I have a feeling you do everything well, Jamie Nicholson.”

  They walked up the stairs together. “Goodnight,” he said softly, then headed for the staircase leading to the first floor.

  End of Excerpt

  The Lure of Love is available at Amazon.com

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FEVKZ2

 

 

  Mona Ingram, Fallen Angel

 

 

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