The Lure of Love (11 page)

She did as he
asked and was immediately rewarded with the sight of several meteors streaking
across the sky.

“Wow. That’s
beautiful.” She watched as a single meteor followed. “What is it?”

“It’s the
Perseid meteor shower. Happens every year at this time.” He turned to her and
there was something about him that hadn’t been there this morning. His face
looked softer, happy almost. He’d been appealing this morning, but this new
Matt was someone against whom she had no defenses. She smiled at him in the
darkness, and then went back to watching.

“This is the
best I’ve ever seen it,” he said, his tone almost reverent. “In the city, the
ambient light gets in the way.” He waved an arm in an arc across the sky.
“Nothing here to interfere with the brightness of the stars either.”

“I’ve noticed
that too,” she said. “When I first got here I wasn’t sure if I could adjust to
life away from the city but it’s been surprisingly easy.”

He turned
toward her, his head supported by an arm. “This would be a great place to raise
kids, wouldn’t it?”

She looked at
him, startled. “I suppose so. I hadn’t really thought about it.”

“You don’t
want kids?”

She laughed.
“I’d like to get married first.”

“Details,
details.” He chuckled, then went silent for a moment before he spoke again.
“I’m of two minds about it. I’d love to have children, but in a way I’m glad we
didn’t. Especially now, with everything that’s happened.”

“I can
understand that.” She turned her head so that she could look at him. “You were
great with the kids today.”

“We had fun.”
He searched her eyes. “How did Jamie like it?”

“I haven’t
had much time to talk to her, but I think she was delighted.” She thought for a
moment; with his experience in real estate his opinion could be helpful. She
decided to tell him about Brooke’s proposal.

“Jamie has a
lot on her mind right now. Brooke came up with the most amazing concept today.”
She told him what Brooke had in mind. “It would be fun for me, too. I’d get to
do a new menu that caters to women who are watching what they eat. Not bean
sprouts and tofu like some of the places I’ve heard about, but healthy.” She
was having a difficult time judging his reaction. “What do you think?”

He lay back
down and stared up into the sky.

“My first
thought was that it doesn’t fit with the fishing lodge concept, but that’s not
necessarily true. Wow! Look at that one.” He went silent for a few moments and
she waited until he was ready to speak again. “These days people are thinking
outside the box when it comes to developments. I hate that overused expression,
but in this case it fits. For example, some of the residential developments on
the lower mainland are incorporating businesses and services you’d never have
imagined twenty years ago. It’s exciting.” He turned to look at her again. “I
think her idea could work.”

He sat up and
turned toward her, the sky forgotten for a moment. “I’d like to ask you
something. If you don’t feel comfortable answering, I’ll understand. Has Jamie
been having financial problems?”

Leeza sat up
as well and took a deep breath. “Jamie told us earlier this year that it’s
touch and go financially. All of the fishing resorts are having the same money
problems. The high rollers who used to fly in on private jets aren’t coming in
the same numbers as they did ten years ago. The staff are still getting paid of
course, but I don’t think there’s much left over. Thank goodness for Brooke,
that’s all I can say. Jamie is great at what she does, but Brooke has more
business experience. She’s made sure we maximize our web presence.” She gave a
little laugh. “At least I think that’s the way she says it. She’s smart; that’s
why I feel good about the potential of this spa thing.”

He toyed with
his cell phone, deep in thought. “But it won’t start paying off until at least
next year. Possibly longer if there are delays.”

Leeza nodded
thoughtfully. “There is the other land, of course but Jamie has held out
against the people who wanted to develop it. I think she’d do it if it meant
saving the Resort, but it would break her heart.”

His head came
up. “What other land?”

She pointed behind
him, to the north. “She owns the land between the road and the lake for about a
mile in that direction. As she likes to say, her grandfather had vision.”

He frowned.
“I’m trying to remember what that land looks like. Billy and I drove in that
direction today when we went into town. What sort of development did these
people propose?”

Leeza lifted
her shoulders. “You’d have to ask her, but I think there was some talk of high
density. Jamie is stubborn and has been holding out against that.” Her tone softened.
“She grew up right here and hates the idea of anything that would spoil the
lake.”

“I don’t
blame her. Do you think she’d mind if I took a look at it?”

“I can’t
speak for her, but I think she’d welcome your input as long as you’re not
talking about jamming in a bunch of vacation homes.”

“I’ll look it
over tomorrow.” He was silent for a few moments and Leeza studied what she
could see of his face. A sliver of moon had crept up behind the trees on the
far side of the lake, bathing them in silvery light. His cheekbones and jawline
were sharply defined, in striking contrast to his generous mouth. She looked at
his mouth and swallowed involuntarily. She was drawn to this man like a moth to
a flame. A fitting image, when she considered how she’d get burned if she got
involved with him. The rational part of her mind told her that, but she wasn’t
listening. She wanted this man with a fierceness that must be obvious to anyone
who looked at her.

He spoke,
breaking into her thoughts. “Listen to me going on about property. I asked you
out here to see the meteor shower and I end up talking business.”

“That’s okay.
The meteors were spectacular.” She looked into the sky, afraid to let him see
the longing in her eyes. “Thanks for inviting me to see them.”

“That was
purely selfish. I enjoy your company.” He looked at her for a moment and seemed
to be debating with himself. “Would you like to have breakfast together
tomorrow, or do you have to work?”

“No!” She was
rewarded by a look of disappointment in his eyes. “I mean no, I don’t have to
work.”

“That’s
great.” He stood up, and pulled her to her feet. For a moment she thought he
was going to kiss her, but then he dropped her hand at the last minute.
“Somewhere around nine? Is that okay with you?”

“Perfect.”
She bent to pick up the sleeping bag.

“No leave it.
I’ll get it later.”

“Later?” She
looked around. The place wasn’t exactly a hive of activity.

“I mean after
I walk you to your place.” He pretended to shudder. “Who knows what kind of
critters are out there?”

She laughed.
“My cottage is just over there.” She pointed downhill to the back of her
cottage.

The walk was
far too short; they were there in moments. Two steps led up to the small
screened porch. They stopped, neither knowing what to say.

“Well, I
guess I’ll say goodnight,” she said at last. “See you in the morning.”

“Right.
Goodnight then.” He waited until she’d gone inside and then turned away.

Leeza watched
him through the window until he rounded the corner. Matt Weber was a hard one
to figure out. At one point she’d thought he might be interested in her, but
now she wasn’t so sure. If he was interested, he was keeping it to himself.

Who are
you kidding?
she said to herself, not for the first time.
He’s married
and in all sorts of trouble.
She was setting herself up for a fall and she
knew it. Trouble was, she was willing to accept the consequences in order to
find out.

* * *

Matt walked
toward the sleeping bags. Thankfully he could see them in the thin moonlight.

He picked up
the first one and started to fold it but Leeza’s scent lingered in the fabric.
He brought the soft flannel to his nose and inhaled.

What was he
going to do about his growing attraction for her? It couldn’t have come at a
worse time in his life. She had everything going for her here, and with the new
spa development, she had a bright future ahead of her.

He couldn’t
say why he was attracted to her; he just was. Maybe it was because she was the
polar opposite of Cassandra. He thought of his wife; tall, blonde and
undeniably elegant, they had been working together in the business for just
under six years. He shook the sleeping bag and started to fold it, still
thinking of Cassandra.

They had been
in love when they were married…hadn’t they? They’d met at a training seminar
when they were both in the process of getting their real estate licenses. They
made a striking couple; everyone said so. It had seemed only natural when they
started dating, and none of their friends or business acquaintances had been
surprised when they announced their engagement.

He’d wanted
kids but he hadn’t pushed very hard. Cassandra had been intent on chasing the
brass ring and they were young…children could wait.

He shook the
second sleeping bag a little more vehemently than necessary; dust and grit flew
into his eyes. Served him right. He’d been just as guilty as Cassie when it
came to fighting his way to the top. He should have slowed down, insisted that
they at least try for children. But no, the moment he’d seen the preliminary
plans for the latest development, he knew he wanted to be the exclusive agent
for it. Even if it meant putting his plans for a family on hold again.

His name was
golden now in real estate circles. Or at least his name
had
been golden.
Right up until those fraudulent charges had been leveled against him.

Acid flooded
his stomach at the thought of what he faced. He had to believe that he would be
exonerated, but in the meantime, his reputation had been shredded. It was hard to
shake off the effects of a character assassination such as he’d endured. He
tucked both sleeping bags under his arm, walked to the parking lot and shoved
them into the back of his SUV. Tonight was the first time they’d been used; he
wondered if he’d ever use them again.

He paused and
leaned against his vehicle, deep in thought. Had Cassie been in on the mortgage
fraud? He hated to think that he might have misjudged her all these years. They
were doing well. Actually they were doing more than well; he couldn’t imagine
that she needed more money. But then he couldn’t have imagined that she’d leave
him for Cole either.

His thoughts
drifted to his partner. Cole Jackson didn’t need that kind of money either…did
he? Matt had heard rumours about Cole’s gambling and had even asked him about
it once, but his partner had assured him that that’s all they were…rumours.
It had pained him to inform his lawyer about the whispered comments, but he was
in a fight for his business life, and everything had to be considered, even the
fact that Cassandra might have been implicated.

His thoughts
went back to Leeza and he found himself smiling. Leeza would never do anything
like that. He knew it as surely as he knew the sun would rise tomorrow.

And how do
you know that?
asked a voice in his head.
You scarcely know the woman.

And yet he
did know her. He couldn’t explain how or why, but he felt that he could see
inside Leeza’s soul. What he saw wasn’t sleek and elegant; it was
straightforward and honest…if a bit prickly. He liked that about her.

He pushed
away from the car. Liking her was as far as it could go. He enjoyed her company
and her unique take on life, but there could be nothing else. Not if he knew
what was good for him.

Leeza’s
good for you
whispered the little voice.

“I know
that,” he murmured to himself. “And that’s even more reason to keep my
distance.”

So why was it
becoming more difficult all the time?

Craig was
getting up from the table when Brooke entered the dining room the next morning.

“Hi!” she
greeted him. “What are you up to today?”

He clutched
his stomach. “Don’t say ‘up’.”

Brooke
empathized with him. She wasn’t fond of small aircraft either. “You’ll enjoy
it, Craig. You really will. Besides, Jamie’s the best pilot around, and I’m not
saying that because she’s my boss.” She looked out the window. “Look, it’s
beautiful weather. Perfect conditions.”

“Hi Craig.”
Billy appeared out of nowhere. His words were directed toward the film maker,
but had eyes only for Brooke. “Finished already? I thought maybe we could all
have breakfast together.”

Craig looked
longingly at the chair he’d just deserted. “I’d like that, but I promised Jamie
I’d go up with her.”

“Too bad. Why
don’t we all get together tonight, then?”

Craig nodded.
“Sounds good.” He looked out at the Beaver and spoke in an undertone. “If I’m
still alive that is.”

Brooke laid a
hand on his arm. “You don’t
have
to go, you know. Jamie would
understand.”

At the
mention of Jamie he brightened. “No, I have to try. Flying is everything to her
and I promised her I’d give it a shot.” He gave them each an unconvincing
smile. “See you later.”

Brooke turned
to Billy. He looked right at home today in jeans and a stylish plaid shirt.
“Looks like we’re having breakfast together. Was that what you had in mind?”

“It sure is.
He looked up as Matt entered the dining room and looked around. “Here’s Matt.”
He gestured him over. “Come and join us.” He pulled out a chair and Brooke sat.

Matt paused.
“I’m supposed to be meeting Leeza. Have you seen her?”

Brooke
nodded. “I got some coffee from the kitchen this morning and she was buzzing
around in there.”