“We’re fishing for sockeyes,” Sadie told her dad.
“Ah, then you’ll want some bright-red lures. Come with me. I’ll show you where they’re at.” Conner wasn’t naïve, and if he was, the apologetic look on Sadie’s face would’ve clued him in. It felt so strange to be having a conversation like this at thirty-two years old. Conner paid attention to Jerry’s instructions about the lures and what he needed to do if he wanted to actually catch something, all the while waiting for the inevitable.
When Jerry handed the package of lures to Conner, he held on until he had his attention. “I know Sadie’s an adult, but she’s still my little girl. She’s been through a lot.”
“I have nothing but respect for her,” Conner said without missing a beat. Unable to keep his gaze from flickering toward the checkout counter at the fiery redhead who was as close to stealing his heart as any woman ever had been. “That’s how I’ll treat her.”
“Good.” Jerry clapped him hard on the shoulder. “Knew you would. Just had to be said. I’ll be at home cleaning my shotguns tonight. You know, in case you get bored and want to see them.” He winked at Conner as he cackled.
“Sadie’s a lot of amazing things,” Conner dared to add, pausing to ensure Jerry was really listening because what he had to say was important. “She’s incredibly smart. Has a brilliant mind. But she dismisses herself too easily. She has some ideas about the store, but she’s too shy to share them with you. You should ask her about them sometime. Hear her out.”
Jerry seemed taken by surprise at this news, his eyebrows drawing in thoughtfully. He answered with a single nod before he was pulled away by a customer. Conner hoped it would be enough to at least start that conversation. Sadie might be a little miffed with at him at first, but he hoped it’d be worth it.
“Guess this is what we need for tonight.” He held up red lures when he returned to the counter, unable to keep his eyes off the beautiful woman behind it. Her red locks were pulled into a carefree bun with a couple of spiral curls dancing near her ears. She wore the softest shade of pink lipstick, and he looked forward to messing it up later.
“Should I get any snacks?”
“Edith has us covered.”
“Oh, wow. That was kind of her.”
“She even packed some peanut butter dog biscuits from The Forget Me Not for Boomer. You don’t mind if he comes along, right?”
“I’d be upset if you left him at home.”
“Hopefully you still feel the same if he capsizes the boat.”
Sadie’s eyes widened in surprise. “We have a boat? I’ve never been fishing in an actual boat before.”
* * *
SADIE
“Scratch the boat,”Conner said, rubbing the back of his neck as they both stared down at the rickety structure barely floating beside the dock. If it stayed this close to shore, it wouldn’t fill with enough water to sink. But they certainly couldn’t take it out on the river without ending up at the bottom of it.
“It’s okay,” Sadie said, refusing to feel an ounce of disappointment. After all, this setting despite it being in the wilderness and a prime spot for bear sightings, was gorgeous. Straight out of a romantic movie. Well, with some imagination and a few touches, it could be a movie-worthy scene.
She pressed both hands into his bicep, and nearly forgot her name. Was it made of pure steel? How was she in the outdoors with a man who should be so far out of her league it was laughable? How was shethishappy? How was this real life? The answers, she realized, were safest left a mystery. “We can fish from the end of the dock.”
“I didn’t bring any chairs.”
“I brought a blanket. That’s all we need.” Boomer nudged her thigh with his pushy nose. “Yes, Boomer. It’s big enough for all three of us.”
The sun gave way to the horizon as they carried everything to the end of the dock. She spread a dark blue and green striped blanket she’d pilfered from Dad’s camping tote and spread it out for everyone to sit comfortably. She’d planned to use it to keep her warm, but she had Conner for that.
He laid two poles, extra line, and lures off to one side. And a picnic basket large enough to feed her whole family behind where they’d sit. It was already perfect, but the two battery-powered candles he positioned beside the basket made her heart melt the rest of the way. He scanned the arrangement, but seemed too hesitant to sit. “I should’ve brought you flowers.”
“Conner, it’s perfect. Just like this.” She reached for his cheek and tugged his face down. She had to lift on tiptoes to meet his lips in her practical shoes, but it was worth it. She didn’t need her wedge sandals causing her to topple into the water. It might be romantic to be rescued, but the Alaskan water was way too frigid for her to want to test out that theory.
He kissed her softly. Thoroughly. Her toes curled, just like the heroines in romantic comedies always claimed they did. When he broke apart the kiss, she was breathless. Dizzy. From the looks of it, he was, too.
“You’re a pretty great kisser,” she said.
“You’re pretty great yourself.”
She kissed him again, just to test the theory.
She could so easily get lost in him. The thought should frighten her. Get those flight instincts kicked into overdrive. After her toxic relationship where one day things were amazing and the next they were a nightmare, what she was building with Conner should leave her feeling edgy and afraid it would all implode at any second.
