Chapter Six #2
“Hell yeah. But I did my homework. Learned everything I could about the business. And then worked like crazy. You have to wear a lot of hats to operate a heli-skiing business. I soon figured out the key to success is hiring good people. Once they were in place, things got a lot easier.”
“How much time do you need to spend at the lodge?”
“I’m there for most of the winter season. One thing about a heli-skiing lodge, it’s not a nine-to-five proposition.”
“Neither is being a lawyer.”
“At least for me it’s work that I love. I can’t wait to get up in the morning and dive into whatever project I’m working on that day. And I never count the days to my next vacation. Could you have said the same for your job back in Missoula?”
“No. But my job paid our family’s bills. And Lord knows there were enough of those.”
Jake squirted dish soap into the Dutch oven, then filled it with hot water. “I’m not suggesting anyone shirk financial obligations. I certainly never have.”
“I don’t doubt it,” she said. “I’m sorry if I seem to be questioning your life choices. You’re lucky you’re able to make a good living doing something you love. I love the law, too. At least, I used to…”
She stopped talking for a moment and stared off into the distance. He sensed a deep sadness within her. Was it her husband’s tragic death? Disillusionment with her career? Her problems with Holly?
It might be all three. Maureen was a complicated woman. “What made you decide to study law?”
“It was a calculated decision. I wanted to enjoy my career but I also wanted to make a good living. Our mother did a wonderful job raising me and my sisters, but money was always tight. To me law seemed to offer the intellectual challenge I enjoyed as well as the financial security I craved.”
“You said you loved the law at first… What happened?”
“Too much winning at the expense of true justice. For the past three years I’ve been handling labor disputes for large corporation clients. Bringing in a big win doesn’t provide much satisfaction when it comes at the expense of a hard-working employee with a mortgage and three kids.”
“Did you consider a different branch of the law?”
“I felt a lot of pressure as our family’s sole wage earner. I felt chained to my job and my juicy paycheck.”
“Rod didn’t work?”
“He had his degree in geology but he never worked in that field. When we were dating he had a job with the State Forestry Service. He liked the work but after Holly was born he quit to be a stay-at-home dad. Since he made a lot less money than me, the decision made sense.”
“And you were good with that?”
She thought before she answered. “At first, definitely. Over time I became a little resentful. I envied all the time he got to spend with Holly. Looking back I’d say that was the beginning of the problems between me and Rod.”
He wasn’t surprised to hear her admit to problems in her marriage. “Rod was a fool if he didn’t appreciate his good luck at having an amazingly beautiful and intelligent wife.”
Maureen gave a rueful smile. “Thank you for that description. I don’t think Rod saw me that way. Certainly not the last few years.”
Jake put down the washcloth and took her hands. “And yet, here you are. Beautiful and so smart.” He’d meant to reassure her, but as he gazed into her eyes he felt deeply drawn to her. His gaze dipped to her mouth and he heard her give a quick intake of breath.
“Jake.”
A hot energy pulsed between them and he had an insane urge to kiss her. But as he moved toward her, she pulled back.
“Jake, I’ll be honest. There are some weird vibes in this room. I’m not sure what to make of them.”
“Do you call it weird,” he asked carefully, “when a man is attracted to you?”
“I—no. It’s not that.”
“You’re not attracted to me, then?” He told himself he could handle rejection. It didn’t come often, but he could handle it.
“That’s not exactly the problem here.”
A corner of his mouth rose in a smile he couldn’t suppress. “Then…?”
“Rod and I were married a long time. I haven’t dated for about fifteen years.” She wouldn’t look at him. Instead, she licked her dry lips as she struggled, for the first time since he’d met her, for something to say.
“I get it,” he said. “I keep telling myself we’re business partners and practically family thanks to Dylan and Cathleen. Getting involved romantically would be a risky proposition.”
“That’s very true.”
“And yet…whenever I’m near you, I find myself very tempted to do just that.”
She eyed him cautiously.
“Don’t worry. I’m not about to attack you here in the kitchen with your daughter in the next room.”
“Of course not,” she said lightly. But she sounded breathless and looked a little flustered. Not Maureen-like at all.
Ninety minutes later when the movie had ended and Maureen and Holly were leaving Jake stood at the door to wave goodbye and hoped his smile masked his inner turmoil. He couldn’t remember when a woman had tied him in knots the way Maureen Shannon managed to do.
It wasn’t simply attraction. He had plenty of experience with that. What drew him to Maureen was much more complicated.
And infinitely more fascinating.