“If you must know, I have a few errands to run,” she said as she crossed the foyer to the front door. “But don’t worry. I’ll be back in plenty of time to help with the arrangements.”
She was on the road in less than a minute, speeding toward the dam. With each passing mile, the memories came, one after the other, flooding her senses with the stickiness of warm summer nights.
When she reached the dock, Ellie parked the car and took a moment to reacquaint herself with the area. At the end of the ramp, around a new section of dock, a half dozen silver boats bobbed, their hulls gleaming in the sunlight. Off to the left were anchored a dozen more boats, all bearing the nameJ&G CHARTERS. And in the center of the complex, where the little shack had once stood, was a newer, larger structure.
Ellie searched for the johnboat she and Jack had used to navigate the lake, but it was nowhere in sight. Summoning every ounce of courage she had, Ellie got out, took a breath, and descended the hill. When her feet touched the wooden planks, she recalled the day she and Jack first met. And when she passed the spot where they used to sit with their feet in the water, tingles ran down her spine.
“May I help you?”
Ellie turned to find a good-looking man in his early thirties standing in the doorway. “Yes.” She slapped on a smile. “I’m looking for Jack Bennett. I believe he works here.”
A smile ruffled his lips. “That’s one way of putting it. Jack owns this place, and I work for him. You must be Ellie.”
“Yes, how did you—?”
“Jack talks about you all the time.” He gave her the once-over. “He was right; you’re beautiful.”
Heat touched her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, where are my manners? I’m Matthew Malone. Jack and I served together in the war.” He introduced himself with a handshake.
“Nice to meet you, Matthew. Is Jack around this morning?”
He nodded toward the water, then glanced at his watch. “He’s out making sure everything is ready for our charter, but I’m expecting him anytime. There’s some fresh coffee inside and some rocking chairs at the end of the dock if you’d like to wait for him.”
Ellie thought for a moment, still trying to grasp that Jack often talked of her. “Yes, I think I will. Thank you.”
She filled a cup of coffee and strolled to the end of the dock, letting the cool morning air fill her lungs. Relaxing into the rocker, she turned her eyes toward the water. And as the sun topped the trees, she pulled the sunglasses from her hair and slipped them on.
* * *
Less than a mile away, Jack rounded the point. Scanning the horizon, he noticed someone sitting at the end of the dock. He leaned forward in his chair, looked closer, and felt his heart jump. “I’ll be damned.”
“Got room for one more?” She lifted herself out of the rocker and offered a cheeky smile.
Seeing Ellie with her shades on took Jack back to the day they met. He watched her for a few seconds, wondering why she’d come. “Hop in,” he finally said. He helped her into the boat, and they set off for open water.
“Things sure have changed around here,” she said, breaking the ice.
“Twelve years is a long time. You didn’t expect it would be the same, did you?”
At his abrupt tone, she lost her smile. “No. I suppose not.” They eased along the shoreline, hardly making a wake. “Does it ever get old, trolling these same waters?”
Jack shook his head in a swift arc. “Never. Lakes are like people, ever-changing, which means there’s always something new to discover.” Talking about the water was far easier than dealing with his feelings, but when Ellie looked away, he couldn’t help glancing at her hand. She wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. “Are you still teaching at the university?”
She nodded as her gaze returned to him.
“Is it everything you hoped it’d be?”
Lines pulled at the corners of her mouth. “Yes, I love it there.”
“I’m glad,” he said, responding with a smile of his own.
“So what are you up to these days besides fishing and writing?”
“Isn’t that enough?” He bit back a smile. “Actually, I fish less than I used to. Nowadays I mostly scout and run the business side of things. It’s all thanks to George. You remember George, don’t you?”
A smile breezed over her. “How could I forget? Is he still around?”
