9. Whales Are Very Much My Thing #3
His hands rest tenderly on my elbows. “I thought there wasn’t time to make me a fisher.”
Matt moves his hands to my forearms. “Move it back over your right shoulder.”
With his help, I bring the rod back, the hook twinkling in the light.
Pointing out at a rocky outcrop where the water swirls and bubbles white, he says, “You’re aiming for that back eddy right there, where the current is reversing.”
Except I’m not doing much at all. Matt’s grip tightens, and he controls the cast. The hook flies through the air, the reel hissing for several seconds until it hits the water, exactly where he wanted it.
“Now, we wait,” Matt says, moving to lean on the railing beside me, so he can keep an eye on the line. “No promises. Just have to be patient.”
I’ve all but forgotten about my close encounter with the bear. “You’re trying to distract me,” I say with a knowing smile.
Matt’s head tips back with laughter, bearing his throat to me. I’d like to kiss his Adam’s apple. “That depends. Is it working?”
I bite my lip. “Yes.”
“Good.”
I like him, which is not safe. Liking people too much is a good way to get disappointed. “I’m surprised you’re not angry with me.”
“For what?”
“For being stupid and nearly getting trounced by a bear,” I say. “Talk about a city girl, right?”
Matt shakes his head. “Happens to us all at one point or another.”
“You’re being nice.”
“Yeah, so? You’d rather me be mean to you?”
I hesitate. “No.”
“That’s good. I like being nice to you.”
I whip my head toward him, my cheeks heating up.
However, Matt isn’t looking back at me. His entire body tenses, eyes focusing on the water.
The line tightens.
“This is it,” he says. “Get a hold on the reel and . . .”
I don’t have to do much. In an instant he’s behind me again, helping me keep a grip on the rod and reel the catch in. Matt makes it seem effortless, though, the rod bends as the fish fights hard to free itself.
“That’s it,” he says, voice ragged in my ear.
I suddenly want to know exactly how he sounds in the bedroom. The biceps pressing up against me don’t help either. I hold my breath until the moment the fish becomes visible over the railing. A silvery back, pinkish bottom, and a mouth like two hooks press together.
“There she is,” Matt says. “That’s your fish, Lillian.”
I let out a stunned, excited gasp. “Really? That easy?”
“Not usually.” Matt chuckles. “But today’s your lucky day.”
We pull the struggling salmon onboard. Matt holds her effortlessly as I get my samples as quickly as possible. Then, he tosses her back in. I can’t ignore that it probably was like throwing money away for him. “You didn’t have to do that,” I say. “Any of this, but especially that.”
Matt shakes his head. “Man of my word.”
Then, he comes up to me, toe to toe, towering over me. His eyes search my face. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’m fine.”
“Be honest. I’m actually asking.”
That’s nice. “I’m . . . better now.” For a multitude of reasons.
All having to do with Matt.
By the time Matt drops me off at the cabin, I’ve forgotten the horror of my run-in with the bear and let it turn to complete and utter mortification.
“Well, this is me,” I say stupidly once Matt puts the truck in park.
He grabs the strap of my backpack from the floor.
I ignore the fluttering in my chest as I get out of the truck and go to the cabin door. Matt follows, backpack slung over his shoulder like it’s a bag of feathers. I type in the code and pop the door open. “Um, thank you for everything today.”
“Of course.”
“For the thing with the bear, especially. That was so embarrassing.”
“Happens to the best of us,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, no, it doesn’t. And you know it.”
Matt smiles softly and shrugs.
“Just don’t tell anybody, for my pride.”
“Secret’s safe with me, Lillian.”
I swallow. I don’t even want to think about how much work is left to do and how I’m going to figure out another way on the water. The likelihood of someone being as kind as Matt is low. “Anyway, thanks again.”
“You’ve got to get samples from the other rivers, right?”
I let out a tired laugh. “Yeah. Don’t remind me.”
Matt watches me for a moment from under his dark brown brows. “I’m going out on the boat with Jesse and Tuma tomorrow to do a bit of fishing on the Egegik. You should come if you’re up for it.”
I blink in disbelief. “Um . . . what?”
“Yeah, you could get your samples, and you said you wanted a look at some of the fish, right?”
“I thought this was a one-time secret thing.”
Matt nods. “It was.”
Was. Past tense.
“I think it might be good for them to see you in your element. That you’re not the big, bad wolf.”
I laugh louder than I intend. “They definitely wouldn’t think that if they saw me with those bears.”
Matt laughs but lets it peter out before he speaks. “What do you think? Tomorrow?”
There are so many reasons that make me want to say no. All the doubts and insecurities that have been aching in me for the past few days. But it’s not possible for me to reject an invitation from Matthew when I feel all mushy and warm around him. Saying no would be a betrayal to my heart.
“Okay. Tomorrow.”