“Are you trying to flatter me?” She fluttered her eyelashes, but ended up laughing.

  He smiled. “No, seriously. I don’t want you to get sick.”

  She stopped pretending. “I’ve been worried about Gran. I phone every day and they say she’s fine, but I worry about being here.”

  He took a bite of chicken and groaned with pleasure. It was good to see him eat with such enthusiasm. “Did I see your car being towed today?”

  “Yes, it was leaking oil. Good thing I looked.”

  He put a piece of chicken and some salad on a plate and handed it to her. “Here, eat.”

  “Okay.” It was good. They ate quietly for a few minutes.

  Amanda wiped her fingers on a napkin. “Can I ask you something?”

  He was still eating. “Fire away,” he said between bites.

  “Why are you up here taking care of boats for Dave and Kathy? You seem like an educated guy; you’re attractive and well spoken. Why are you up here?” She held up a hand. “Nothing against Dave and Kathy, but it seems to me you could do just about anything you want.”

  Chapter Eight

  He stilled. “And what would that be?”

  She fidgeted nervously. “Now I’ve made you angry. I’m sorry. It was none of my business.”

  The smile was back again. “I understand what you meant.” He looked at his plate and seemed surprised to find it empty. “I’m taking some time off. I was in the navy for eight years, but one day I realized it wasn’t for me.” His gaze roamed out over the lake. “There’s no unemployment in the military, and they have a great pension plan, but it wasn’t what I wanted long term.” It was a story he’d practiced so often he almost believed it. He hated to lie to her, but there was no way around it. “So here I am. Dave and Mike were friends in school. I came up here to visit, and the rest is history, as they say.”

  “Oh.” She studied him openly. “I thought there was something about you.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “You know...you seem confident.”

  “It’s all an act.” He grinned and stood up. “I’m going to wash my hands. By the way, that was a great meal. Best I’ve had in a long time.” He paused. “Do you mind if I fish for a while? I brought my rod and reel.”

  “Not at all. Are we allowed to make a fire here? It’ll keep away the mosquitoes.”

  “I think that would be okay as long as we’re careful. Do you want me to help?”

  “I’ll let you know. I’ll gather some firewood first, and any rocks if I can find them.”

  He made his way along the shore to a small point and walked out until the water lapped at his knees. Silhouetted against the sky, he looked like something out of a tourist brochure. She watched him while she gathered wood for the fire, amazed at how comfortable she felt with him.

  She scraped out a small indentation in the sand and encircled it with rocks she’d found closer to the woods. Then she piled dried grasses and twigs in the bottom, layered larger pieces on top and lit it. Within moments it was crackling away.

  “Looks good.” Jackson returned carrying two trout.

  Amanda inspected the fish. “These are beautiful. What are they?”

  “Rainbows. About three pounds, I’d say. I kept them so you could show Carlos how to cook them.”

  “I wish I liked fish a little better.”

  “You don’t like them?” He looked surprised.

  “Not particularly, no.”

  He put the fish in the canoe, washed his hands, then came back and sat down by the fire. “That’s one thing we differ on, then. That’s a good sign.”

  “It is?”

  “Yes. What will be talk about when we’re old and grey if we agree on everything?”

  Amanda’s pulse started to race. “When we’re old and grey?”

  He looked at her steadily over the fire. “There’s something between us, Amanda. You can’t deny it.”

  She shook her head. “There’s something between us all right, and his name is Vince.” She held up her left hand. “I’m married, Jackson. Remember?”

  “I can’t forget it,” he said, his voice low and intense. “I think about it all the time.”

  She lowered her hand and stared into the fire.

  “You’re not happy, Amanda. I could tell that about you the first moment we met.” He didn’t try to move closer and she was grateful. She wouldn’t be able to resist if he touched her.

  “What is it? Tell me.”

  “It’s my husband. He’s changed so much from when I first met him.” She paused “He’s nasty.” She glanced over at Jackson, took a deep breath and continued. “I was dancing in one of his clubs. I don’t know why he picked on me, but he did. I’d been working in the kitchen, but needed more money to take care of Gran, so I became a dancer. I was flattered when he first asked me out. He was a bit demanding, but he could turn on the charm when he wanted to. Anyway, when he asked me to marry him he said he’d take care of Gran. By that time she wasn’t aware of her surroundings, but I’d promised never to put her in an institution and he said he’d pay for a private care facility.” She looked over at him again. “He’s kept his word on that, but that’s about all.”

  His eyes were thunderous. “He doesn’t hit you, does he?”

  She paused to think, to gather her thoughts. “No, but he might as well. He told me recently that he doesn’t want to have children.” She poked at the fire with a stick. “I want children. I want them so much.”

  “Me too. I want lots of kids.”

  She sent him a pleading look. “Don’t, Jackson. Don’t make it harder.”

  “Sorry.”

  “The thing is, when we first got together he said he wanted to have children. Now he says that wasn’t what he meant. Anyway, I went to get tested and there’s nothing preventing me from getting pregnant, but he refuses to be tested. I think he’s afraid to find out that he has a low sperm count or something. As if that would make him less of a man.”

  “He’s a selfish bastard.”

  She nodded. “So then he suggested that I go to the golf club to meet some of the women. He does a lot of business there.” She looked down, unwilling to meet his eyes. “They wouldn’t talk to me. Gave me the cold shoulder. I eventually found out that he told some of their husbands that I was a stripper.”

  “Sounds like a real piece of work.”

  Amanda gave a sad little laugh. “That’s what my friend Agnes said, only she wasn’t quite that nice about it.”

  Agnes?

  “Yes. Agnes goes to the club several times a week. She’s seventy and she’s about my only friend right now.”

  “Then I like Agnes.”

  “You would, actually. She’s quite a character.”

  He thought for a moment. “Why don’t you leave him?”

  “I should, I know, but I don’t want Gran disturbed. If I told him I wanted a divorce he’d cut me off in a minute and I’d have to move her.”

  “I see your dilemma.” The fire had burned down while they were talking. A log crackled and sparks rose into the sky on the heat column. He looked up, watched them until they winked out. “Will you let me call you later?”

  “Later?”

  “I’ve promised to stay until mid-September and I don’t want to lose contact with you. You could give me your cell number.”

  “I could do that.” She smiled at him across the dying fire. “As a matter of fact, I’d like that, as long as you understand that there are no promises.”

  “That’s all I’m asking.” He looked into the sky. “We’d better start back. It’s a good thing it stays light so late in the summer.”

  They doused the fire using the food containers and loaded the canoe. On the way back they were mostly silent, Jackson paddling while Amanda looked at the sky.

  “Oh!” she said. “A shooting star.”

  “Make a wish.”

  “I don’t know what to wish for.” She did, but she didn’t want to admit it.

  “I know what I’d wish for.” The look in his eyes said it all.

  * * *

  Jackson guided the canoe to the dock and held on while Amanda climbed out. His flip-flops were sitting there and he slipped into them.

  “I’ll help you with that stuff,” she said, reaching into the canoe.

  “No, leave it. I’ll do it when I get back.”

  “From where?”

  “From walking you back to your cottage.” He opened a door in the side of the boathouse and flipped on a light switch. About a dozen flashlights occupied a small shelf; he chose one, tried it, then turned off the light.

  She laughed, shook her head. “Remember that first night? I thought you said you didn’t know where there were any more flashlights.”

  He grinned; he didn’t look at all guilty. “I needed an excuse to walk you back to your cottage.” He placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her off the dock. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

  The light by her back door guided them down the path. He switched off the flashlight. “Home again.” He stepped closer and her heart thudded in her chest. He raised a hand and trailed his fingers along the underside of her jaw. In that moment of time, nothing else existed. His thumb brushed against her lips and her legs almost collapsed.

  “Amanda.” The word hung between them for a moment and then she was in his arms. “I want you so much,” he murmured against her hair. His heart was beating rapidly in time with hers. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “I’ve wanted you ever since the first moment I saw you.” He lowered his head and she met him willingly, joyfully. His mouth covered hers and a low, primal growl rose up into his throat. He tasted her lips with his tongue and desire surged through her body like wildfire.

  She forced herself to pull back from his embrace. “Jackson” she whispered, touching his face with her fingertips. “We can’t.” It was the most difficult thing she’d ever done.

  He looked down into her eyes and nodded. “I know,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I know.” He continued to hold her as they both struggled to regain their composure.

  “This isn’t over,” he growled after a few moments. They took the last few steps to the back door and he opened the screen. “See you tomorrow?”

  She nodded.

  “Good.” He brushed his lips against hers and then he was gone.

  She stepped inside, closed the door and watched him walk down the path, touching her lips where he’d kissed her. How could this be real when she’d only met him a few days ago? She stood looking out the door long after he disappeared from sight. If only she could be as confident as Jackson that they had a future together. But she couldn’t...not when she knew what waited for her when she got home. Vince was not only controlling, he was vindictive. And he’d do everything in his power to keep her and Jackson apart. Prickles of fear tiptoed down her spine.

  * * *

  “This better be good.” Traynor was always grumpy when woken up and Jackson couldn’t blame him but this was important.

  “Hi, Boss.” He could hear movement and pictured his superior swinging his feet out of bed. “I was out canoeing tonight and I thought of something.”

  “And you woke me up to tell me that?”

  Jackson checked his watch. “It’s not that late.”

  An ill-tempered grunt was the only response.

  “I was canoeing in Sandy Lake with Amanda and we were admiring one of those big places on the south shore.”

  Another grunt.

  “She said something about the owner of a place like that having deep pockets and I got to thinking. Maybe the big kahuna in this operation has a place on one of the lakes. We’ve checked out everything else.”

  Traynor was silent and Jackson wondered if he’d fallen back asleep. “You there, boss?”

  “We should have considered that, but it’s still a good idea. I’ll get somebody on it first thing in the morning.” He disconnected.

  Jackson smiled at his phone. It had been a good day all around.

  Chapter Nine

  Amanda watched for Jackson all through breakfast but he didn’t show up. She was beginning to wonder where he went when he disappeared like that. After the crowd thinned she took the trout out of the cooler, thankful that he’d cleaned it last night. She looked at Carlos. “You’re sure you don’t know how to cook fish? You’ve surprised me with just about everything else.”

  He eyed the trout suspiciously. “I’ve cooked Dorado mostly; nothing this small and never for a restaurant.”

  “Okay then.” She picked up a lemon and sniffed it appreciatively. “We’ll start with the lemon.” She turned and found him staring out the window toward the boathouse. “Carlos?”

  “Should he be out there alone?”

  His tone set off warning bells in her head. “Who?”

  “Logan. He’s in the canoe with the dog. Look.”

  A brisk wind had pushed the canoe about twenty feet away from the dock. Amanda froze for a moment, trying to remember where Kathy and Dave were. It didn’t matter now; Logan was out there and he was in trouble. He had his arms through the holes of a life vest but it wasn’t done up; the snaps in front were flopping loosely. To make matters worse, he was struggling with the paddle and Rocky had his front feet up on the thwart, barking at him.

  Amanda ripped off her apron and ran out the side door. Closer to the dock she stopped running and glanced around wildly, looking for a boat. They were all out on the lake, taking advantage of the morning rise.

  “Logan” she called, striving to sound casual. “I think maybe you should come back.” She was at the end of the dock now and he’d drifted another ten feet. She was kicking off her shoes as he stood up, waved at her and lost his balance, dumping himself and Rocky into the lake.

  “No!” Within seconds she’d stripped off her T-shirt and her jeans, mindless of the fact that she wore a lacy bra and panties set. She dove in and set out for the canoe with a strong, steady crawl. The life jacket popped to the surface and Logan followed it, took a gasp of air and then disappeared below the surface again. The canoe had somehow remained upright.

  She concentrated on the spot where she’d last seen him. It seemed like forever until she got there and as she arrived he popped up again, arms flailing in the water as he looked around.

  “Hi there,” she said, grabbing him by the shirt. “Let’s just stay here for a sec and tread water.”

  He clung to her fiercely and coughed up some water, but was otherwise unhurt. “Where’s Rocky?” he asked. The paddle floated by and Amanda grabbed it.

  Her words came out in short bursts as she swam toward the canoe. “Last time I saw him he was headed for the shore.” They reached the canoe and she held on, catching her breath.

  “I’m going to hold the side of the canoe steady while you get in. Sit on the bottom, in the middle. Okay?”

  Logan nodded his understanding and clambered over the side while she fought to keep it level.

  “Okay, here we go.” She grabbed onto the line at the bow of the canoe, rolled over onto her back and started kicking. She didn’t intend to lose sight of Logan again. Her feet finally touched bottom just as Jackson came roaring up in a small outboard. Several campers were standing on the dock applauding, and one stepped forward to tie up the canoe.

  Jackson ran the outboard up on the sand, tilting the outboard motor just before it hit bottom. He leaped out and started unbuttoning his shirt.

  Amanda frowned at him and then looked down at herself. No wonder there were so many men on the dock willing to help her. “Thanks” she murmured as Jackson put his shirt around her shoulders.

  Jackson turned his attention to Logan. “What happened, buddy?”

  It was difficult to tell who was shivering harder, the youngster or the dog. “Wanted to go fishing” he said defiantly. “You went fishing last night.”

  “Yes I did but that doesn’t mean you can take the canoe out alone. I promised to take you fishing and I will, but we’ll be using one of the outboards.” His tone was firm but kind.

  Dave came running from the workshop, still holding a wrench. “Logan!” He scooped up the wet child and held him against his chest. “Don’t you ever do that again” he murmured into the boy’s ear. “We’ll talk about this later. He raised his head and spotted Amanda. “Thank you for saving my boy.”

  “From what I could see, he got in the canoe and the breeze pushed it out into the lake.” She played down her part. “It wasn’t too far, but it was over his head.”

  Dave nodded, but he was having a hard time concentrating on her words. “Maybe you’d better get dressed,” he said finally. He leaned closer. “I don’t want any of the older campers to have a heart attack.” He put Logan on the ground. “As for you, young man, it’s about time we got you some swimming lessons. Come on, let’s get you into some dry clothes.”

  Amanda started to shake as she watched them walk away. She wrapped her arms around her middle. “He could have drowned,” she said between chattering teeth.

  “You’re coming down from an adrenalin high.” Jackson had picked up her discarded clothes and was guiding her into the boathouse. “Let’s step in here for a moment.”

  They went inside and he took her into his arms. It was as natural as if they’d been together for years. She began to cry, sobbing silently into his shoulder.

  “It’s okay,” he murmured, smoothing her wet hair. “Let it go.”

  It felt so good to be held by him. The solid warmth of his body, the feel of his bare skin, the scent of his after-shave. She sighed contentedly. “I’d like to stay here forever,” she said and pulled back, looked into his eyes.

  He kissed her, slowly at first and then the kiss deepened. Desire raged through her body and she could feel her resolve slipping.

  “Jackson,” she said breathlessly...

  “Amanda!”

  They broke apart. It was Carlos, and he was right outside the door. Jackson pointed to the pile of clothes that he’d tossed carelessly onto the floor and guided her behind the door where she couldn’t be seen.