“Oh. I, uh…um…”
“Shh, now. It’s all good.” He closed his eyes, willing his body to stop reacting the way it was.
“Do you like to fish?” she asked.
There, that helped. Fish. Think about fish.
“Yes. I like to fish.” He sounded emphatic—even to himself—as if he was trying to convince her of it.
“Fly fish?”
“Haven’t ever tried it, darlin’. But I’d like to.”
She sat up so quickly, he almost fell out of bed. “I could teach you.”
He smiled. The way her face lit up was adorable. “I’d like that.”
She was out of bed, pulling him with her.
“Come on, let’s get a move on. The fish aren’t gonna wait around all day for you.”
“Do I have time for a shower?”
“A shower? Who are you? No, you don’t have time for a shower, cowboy. Jeez. Little dirt gonna hurt ya?”
Jace laughed out loud. “Nope, not at all. Let’s get at those fish.”
He’d barely gotten his boots on by the time she was marching off in the direction of the main lodge.
“Where you goin’?” he shouted after her.
“I gotta talk to Red about a couple things before we go. You wait here.”
5
Jace sat in the Adirondack chair and pondered his situation. Being with Bree was not something he could’ve predicted. She’d asked him to stay, last night, but that was it. What about later? After they fished, would she expect him to hop in his truck and drive back to Montana? He sure hoped not. Even if it couldn’t be forever, he longed to hold her next to him again. Would she let him?
Bree was walking toward him, fishing gear in hand. He rose to meet her.
“What’s all that?”
“Red’s gear. He’s letting you use it today. He also gave me permission to take you to one of his secret fishing spots, although I doubt it’s a secret to anyone who knows Red. Are you hungry?”
Was he? Hungry for her, no question. Hungry for food? Now that she mentioned it, he was.
“Don’t want to hold up the fishing trip,” he laughed.
“It’s okay. Red is having the kitchen put a basket of goodies together for us. I’m sure it’ll just be a few minutes until it’s ready.”
A couple of minutes later, Red brought them the promised picnic basket.
“I made her swear not to tell anyone about my fishin’ spot. You gotta do the same,” Red teased.
“Cross my heart,” J
ace answered.
“Same thing she said,” Red laughed. “And here she is, takin’ someone there already.”