Chapter 4 #2
“Figured you wanted to know how to reel it in.” His deep voice, the light cologne he’s wearing, and the feel of his body against mine have me frozen in place.
I choke. “I think I know how that’s done.”
His hands cover mine, and I instantly release the pole, dropping my hands in my lap. He draws in the line with quick, efficient strokes, and the fish breaches the surface of the water.
It’s the size of a minnow.
What the hell? I had a dolphin on the end of that line.
I scoot to Jaeger’s previous position as he makes a grab for Mr. Slimy and gently unhooks my fish’s lip. He tosses the minnow overboard, and the little guy arcs and swims away.
“Why’d you throw him back?” I worked hard for that fish, and Mr. Worm sacrificed his life.
“Catch and release. We’re not keeping them, even if you had caught one big enough to eat.” His mouth curves.
Sounds like a guy’s dating motto. “Hey, now. I don’t see a fish on the end of your hook. I guess it takes a delicate touch.”
His eyes dart to my fingers curled in my lap and a warm sensation runs down my spine. He looks me in the eye. “Feel free to exhibit your delicate touch anytime you like.”
It’s official. Jaeger’s brain is in the gutter too.
Now I’m in trouble.
He re-baits my hook and hands me the line.
Time to nip this attraction in the bud. Most hot guys drop about ten notches after I get to know them. I’ll ask Jaeger a few pointed questions. That should douse the ardor.
“So whatever happened to you? I thought you were a star athlete. Skiing, wasn’t it?”
A beat passes. He stares at the water. “Downhill.”
I wait for him to continue. He seems relaxed, but still, like I’ve hit on something important.
“I don’t ski anymore.” He adjusts his feet into a wider stance on the boat’s metal bottom, elbows braced on his knees. “A bad injury took me out of competitive sports.”
Definitely a sore spot, though he appears calm enough.
According to my brother, Jaeger was an amazing athlete.
He was on track for the Olympics, from what I recall.
That’s a big deal in a small town. It’s also one reason I never thought he noticed me.
I was Tyler’s skinny little sister. Jaeger had a serious girlfriend and barely glanced my way when he visited.
“What do you do now?”
He takes a swig of the beer he’s been nursing since we rowed out. “I carve wood.”
An image of the logs with bears carved into them on the side of Highway 89 flashes through my mind. Wow, this poor guy’s life has seriously declined since high school.
“What about you?” He looks over, studying my face. “You just graduated. What’s your next step? I’m assuming the casino gig is short-term.”
God, if it wasn’t, my mom would kill me.
She busted her ass at the casinos for twenty-two years to keep us afloat.
I have one of those deadbeat dads who calls a couple of times a year and, despite his brilliant brain, can barely hold down a job long enough to cover his expenses, let alone pay child support.
Dad’s never had his act together, which meant my mom had to be the adult and raise Tyler and me.
She gave up asking Dad for help long before they separated when I was two.
“Yeah, short-term.”
Jaeger continues to stare, and I realize I haven’t exactly answered the question. I clear my throat. “I’ve been accepted into law school.”
He nods, but the gesture is stiff. “Where?”
“Harvard.”
A long pause follows, and I can’t tell if the silence is all me and the worries I have over school, or something else.
Law school is what I’ve worked for, but somehow, it doesn’t feel real, or…
right. My visit to the campus last semester solidified those concerns.
I’ve never seen so many preppy kids in one spot.
Talk about not fitting in. I grew up around the casinos with a single mom.
I’m smart and scrappy, not privileged. The adjustment to campus life at Harvard is going to be huge, and the loans crippling.
If I work my ass off this summer, I’ll have enough for half of my room and board—for the first year.
That doesn’t include tuition, which costs five times as much.
That’s where my high-paying legal position will come in handy after I graduate.
I’ll essentially be working to pay for my education.
“So, you’ll be leaving soon?” His tone is flat.
I don’t answer right away. I can’t say anything, because even though I pursued this path, I’m not excited about it. No one wants to invest a fortune in school, but it’s more than that. There are programs that cost less. I’m just not excited about law, period.
There, I’ve allowed the thought nagging at the back of my mind to rise to the surface. This is what I’ve worked for and what I should want, but I don’t. I’ve changed, or my needs have changed. All I do know is nothing feels right anymore.
My mom wanted her kids to be doctors and lawyers—important people. I think that’s why she went after my dad all those years ago. He’d graduated from Berkeley with honors. Mom discovered too late that sometimes a hardworking man is more successful than a brilliant one.
She couldn’t afford full tuition and board for college, but Mom paid half of Tyler’s and my college educations by working two full-time jobs at the casinos.
She wanted better for us. We did well in school and her efforts weren’t a waste.
Which is why I can’t tell her I don’t want the brilliant future laid out for me.
Jaeger asked if I was leaving soon and I still haven’t answered. “I guess,” is what I finally say, unable to give him anything concrete when the earth feels unsteady beneath me.
Jaeger’s gaze drills into me. “You—”
“Jaeger,” Mason calls out in a loud whisper. “We’d better go.”
Jaeger swivels his head, and I see a motorboat approaching behind him. It’s a little ways away, but heading straight for us.
Jaeger reels in his line and drops his pole in the bottom of the boat. He grabs both oars. “Hold on.”
I set my pole down and Jaeger’s first thrust of the oars jerks me back.
We’re gliding across the surface fast enough to make hair sweep from my face in the breeze.
His arms are like machines, cutting through the water, shoulder muscles bunched and rippling beneath the long-sleeved shirt he threw on over his T-shirt earlier.
I can’t stop staring. He may have given up the Olympics and professional sports, but he’s fit. Must be all that whittling.
Jaeger gets us back to shore in a tenth of the time it took us to get out. He hops from the boat onto the sand and pulls me and the boat up the beach until only half the vessel lies in the water.
He hands me his keys and reaches for me. “Hurry. You girls wait in my truck.”
I pocket the keys and grab hold of his fingers, eyeing the ground to determine the best way to jump to shore without dunking or injuring myself. Jaeger made it look easy, but he’s twice my size.
I brace my foot on the tip of the bow, but my sandal slips on the metal surface. I overcorrect and fall backward.
Jaeger whisks his arm around my back and lifts me from the boat, my chest pressed to him.
For a second, my feet are suspended, my face level with his.
He’s holding me up with one arm like an embrace, palm flat beneath the side of my breast. His chest is solid and warm against mine, but it’s his mouth inches away that has my complete attention.
My breaths come in short gasps. Everything else escapes my attention. It’s just him and me—the last two people on Earth.
Jaeger loosens his grip and I slide to the ground, my legs wobbling as they hit the sand.
The world rushes back, and I look around.
I catch sight of Gen and stumble over, but I glance back, wondering if that moment where time suspended itself was a dream.
Jaeger is pushing the boat toward the dock, and I still can’t decide if I imagined it.
I link arms with her. “What’s going on?” My voice sounds breathless.
“Mason says the boat on its way over is the ranger checking for licenses. Nothing serious if we get caught, but the fines are steep.”
We climb inside Jaeger’s truck and I maneuver into the back seat of the cab. It’s light out and I can see his vehicle more clearly. Silver exterior and clean. The truck is brand new. Not bad for a bear-carving salesman.
“You catch anything?” Gen asks, her eyes glowing from our adventure.
“Yeah, but we threw it back. Catch and release.” I don’t mention the size of my fish. “How about you?”
“Nothing. Mason says he’ll get me a license and we can go another time.”
An hour ago, I would have considered that the worst form of torture, but now the idea has merit. There’s something to be said for sitting on a calm lake drinking beer as the sun rises. Or maybe it’s the company that makes the difference.
Even after he mentioned his wood-carving career, I’m drawn to Jaeger. He created a new life for himself after he was forced to give up his dream. I can’t help but respect him for it.
My attempt to get to know him and be able take him down a few notches in my esteem totally backfired.
“What about you? Did you have fun with Mason?” I quirk my brows.
Gen nods with a bemused smile and looks out the window. “He’s a good buddy.”
A good buddy? Jaeger’s seducing my panties off with his dirty fishing talk, and Gen and Mason are forming a friendship?
No, no, no. Either Mason steps up his game, or Gen and Jaeger are getting paired next time. Let her panties drop for the guy. I have a boyfriend.
“What about you? How was Jaeger?”
“He’s a good guy, Gen. You should consider him if things don’t work out with Mason.”
Gen tilts her head and eyes me. Her lips part, like she’s about to say something, but the passenger door opens.
“All good!” Mason announces.
Jaeger slides into the driver’s seat and our gazes collide in the rearview mirror. I look away.
“Ranger checked our licenses and let us go,” Mason continues. “We’ll plan ahead next time and get you one-day passes.”
I don’t say anything, because I like the idea of doing this again.
Only next time, Gen goes with Jaeger.