Catch of the Year (11 page)

Paul planted a quick kiss on her lips. His hand stroked over her shoulders.

“A beautiful night for a beautiful experience, wouldn't you say?”

She nodded, touching her fingers to his forehead, following his hairline with gentle caresses, wanting to say more, yet knowing she'd better not.

The air had cooled. Jade shivered.

“Time to light the fire.” Paul knelt, took out a match and struck it. The kindling caught, twigs crackled, and soon flames shone on his face.

“Are you hungry?” he asked. “Shall I cook the fish?”

“Not just yet.”

He leaned across, picked up her wine glass, and handed it to her. He lifted his own in a salute.

“Here's to the spirit of the lake. I thank her for her favor.”

His mouth quirked. The dimple peeked. She sighed. Now she knew exactly how much pleasure that dimple promised.

Two hours later, after eating a simple meal, and making love again, Jade propped her head on one elbow and looked down at Paul.

“I should go back.” The words came out slowly, reluctantly.

“Don't. The dawn will wake us.”

She was more than content to remain in this intimate cocoon they'd woven together. How close she felt to Paul. How glad she was to have experienced his mouth blending with hers, his body joining with hers. The journey they had taken tonight had changed her. Truth was she'd never be able to look at him, be around him without remembering these incredible hours.

Regret trickled through her as she reminded herself this could lead nowhere. Whatever they'd created together this weekend was destined to die, and soon. The moment she climbed on her Harley tomorrow morning and headed for the city, their fling would be over.

For a long while, she lay nestled into the crook of his shoulder, her head on his chest, his arm under her neck. Relaxed, her eyelids became heavy and she drifted off to sleep.

• • •

On Monday evening, beer in hand, Paul sat outside on the stoop watching the changing colors in the sky and thinking about the weekend. An image was imprinted on his brain and he saw, again, Serendipity standing naked before him, her skin silvered by the moonlight, a goddess. God, that woman was wonderful. If she were here, right now, they'd be able to do all sorts of marvelous things together. But she was gone.

How curious it was. With her he hadn't felt that first, hesitant barrier he usually experienced in the early days of getting to know a woman. Somehow, she'd already felt familiar to him. Despite the fact that the time they'd spent together had been short, he felt connected to her. He'd sensed her amazement as her natural sexiness revealed itself and felt glad and, yes, powerful, that he'd been able to satisfy her.

Serendipity had set him free. She was special. A woman who could make the sun shine for him, set his life aglow. He wasn't ready for this to end. Somehow or other, he had to find a way of seeing her again so they could take their relationship further.

His thoughts startled him. After such a short time, could he really feel so strongly?

The ringing of the phone interrupted his reverie. Had to be Steve, because he was the only person who'd call him at this number.

“Hi buddy. Feeling better? Had a good, restful weekend?”

“Yeah. I'm good. And the weekend wasn't
that
restful.”

“No? Why not? Were the fish jumping out at you?”

“Pretty much. But that wasn't all. See, I met this biker chick.”

“Ah ha, oh ho, now I'm getting the picture. I thought there was an up note in your voice … so what's she like? Sexy?”

“You bet.”

“Stacked?”

That took him aback. “Well yeah. But it's not like that.”

“Sure it isn't. Some guys have all the fu — I mean luck.”

A tinge of irritation rose in Paul. “You're so shallow, Steve. What do looks matter?”

“This, from the guy who works on visuals all the time? Come on, give me a clue what type she is … . Which kind of Jennifer — Aniston or Lopez? — that kind of thing.”

“Actually, the weird thing is, when I first met her I thought she looked exactly like Jade Jellicoe.”

“The iceberg? Hmm. I suppose there's nothing wrong with her appearance. Maybe even quite a lot right. It's the attitude that's off-putting … . But doesn't it feel strange?”

“Doesn't what feel strange?”

“Doing it with someone who looks like the aloof J.J.?”

The crude expression annoyed Paul. Defining what they'd experienced in these kind of terms simply didn't sit right. Serendipity was more than a set of perky breasts. So much more. This was something unusual. Even a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing.

“I don't see Jade. Only Serendipity.”

“Serendipity? That's her name?”

“Yeah.”

Silence.

“Well, I wish you — ”

“Wish me what?”

“I wish you serendipity of course.”

If only.

“Kind of you, but the pity of it is, the weekend's over and she's left.”

“Ah well. Find a replacement.”

Paul's annoyance increased. Like Serendipity was interchangeable? For a few seconds he thought of hanging up. “We'll see.” Time to switch the subject. “Everything okay at work?”

“Forget work. I'm not going to tell you a thing. All I'll say is I'm missing my art director.”

“Well, so far, he's not missing you,” Paul replied.

Steve was a good writer, and an even better housemate, but Paul didn't want to be pulled back into the city world — or any further into this conversation. He was having much too good a time at the lake and Serendipity was just too special to discuss.

• • •

On Wednesdays, Jade had a regular lunch date with Suzy Wu, the creative director. Generally, Jade stuck to her policy of not socializing with anyone at the agency. Suzy was the one exception. Their personalities had meshed from the very first day they'd met, and she found she could relax with her.

Thin gold bracelets jingled as her elegant friend put down her coffee cup. Scarlet lipstick set off the pale perfection of her skin and contrasted with her dark hair, which she wore fashionably straight, the sides just touching her cheeks and framing her face.

“Did you have a good time over the weekend?” Suzy asked.

Jade pushed aside her own cup. She rested her forearms on the restaurant table, one hand clutching each elbow. If she didn't share at least a
smidgen
, she was going to go into meltdown. Giorgio, the restaurant's proprietor, would definitely not approve.

The discreet Suzy would be her ideal confidant, although Jade wouldn't tell her the whole story. She wouldn't mention Ontario's greatest lover by his real name. No way. She'd call him … .

“Peter and I had the dreamiest time you could possibly imagine.”

“You met someone? You really did?”

Jade told how she and Peter/Paul had hung out together in Tobermory and how the next day he'd appeared in her hometown and they'd gone fishing. And met again the following evening.

Suzy's eyes twinkled in amused understanding. “On the lake at night, huh?”

Jade nodded. In a habitual gesture, she touched a hand to the hair lying just below her jaw bone, checking that the smooth, ash-blond wig that she wore to work to further ensure nobody associated her with Serendipity was still properly in place. “Uh-huh.”

“With that beautiful full moon shining?” Suzy's lips curved upward.

“Absolutely. The whole setting, the gorgeous night, all just made for romance.”

Suzy leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Soooooo, tell me. Was the sex good?”

Jade sat back and took in a long breath. She looked around. The restaurant, with its quietly efficient black-and-white clad waiters, soft lighting, and damask tablecloths, also gave an impression of discretion.

She let out her breath. “Youuuuu bet.”

“Ah.” Suzy's fist hit the table. “I knew it.”

“You did?”

“Sure. The moment you walked into the office, I thought, Jade looks different. Something extra-specially good must have happened over the weekend.”

Jade grinned. “Your observation was correct.”

The waiter appeared, bearing two plates of salad.

“Glad to hear it.” Suzy shifted to give him room. He slid one dish in front her and the other in front of Jade.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

As soon as he left, Suzy said, “Tell me more. Tell me all, in fact.”

All? No, she couldn't do that. But some of it. “Ho-kay. Otherwise, I'll just burst from everything that's bubbling and churning around inside me.” Jade bit into a round red tomato, and the sweet yet tangy juice filled her mouth. “Think a warm evening on a private beach, moon and stars shining up above.”

“Ah. Yes.”

Jade stared at the back wall, reliving their first time together. Amazingly, her body responded to the vivid images her mind conjured up. She sighed. “Never had better … or anything close.”

“Dynamite chemistry, huh?” Suzy began to pick at her salad.

“I guess that's the explanation.”

“Makes all the difference. It's why I got married.” Suzy gave a small, secretive smile.

“After this weekend, I'm beginning to understand the appeal.”

Startled eyes met hers. “You? I imagined you as the dedicated, independent bachelor girl.”

Jade took a last sip of coffee. Her fingers lingered on the handle of the cup. “I admit independence is important to me, but sometimes I get lonely.” She pressed her lips together. After a pause she went on. “It never bothered me before, but when I got back to my dreary apartment on Monday night, it felt, somehow, not just empty but soulless and a bit hollow.”

“This sounds serious, Jade. I think you've got it bad.”

Jade picked up her fork. She wasn't prepared to consider such a possibility.

“It was a fling. Over and done with.” The fork stabbed the air, emphasizing her next words. “There's absolutely
no
chance of taking this any further.”

“Why not?” Suzy looked puzzled. “Didn't you get this guy's phone number? Or give him yours?”

“No. I mean, yes. I mean, no.”

Up went Suzy's beautifully defined eyebrows. “So which is it?”

“I didn't give him my phone number, but I could get it touch with him if I wanted to.”

“Great.”

“Not going to happen.” Jade gave a quick shake of her head and munched in a deliberate fashion on parmesan-sprinkled romaine lettuce.

“Why not?”

“Because this was just a fling. We wouldn't be compatible.” Rather, she thought, having her private life exposed wouldn't be compatible with keeping her job. Which would mean no helping her parents with their mortgage and no more saving for her own place. Worst of all, she'd have to let go of her plans to pay for Adrian's studies.

Time to change the subject before she was tempted to confide any further.

“So far this has been all about me. How are things with you?”

Suzy picked up her water glass and took a sip. “Actually, remember you were talking about bubbling and churning? Well, I have news.”

Having said that, Suzy went quiet. The waiter appeared, removed the salad plates, and placed the pasta they'd ordered in front of them.

Jade prepared to dig in. “Exciting?”

“And a bit scary.”

Thinking of the way she'd felt with Paul, she said, “I suppose the two can go together.”

Suzy bent her head, glanced from side to side to check if anyone was in earshot and then said in a low voice, “I'm expecting.”

Jade frowned. “You're expecting what? A promotion? A transfer? You're going on a trip?”

“No, no. I'm
pregnant
.”

Jade's fingers opened. Her fork clattered onto her plate.

“Wow! Congratulations! How far along are you?”

“Five months.”

“Five months!” she echoed. “I don't believe it. You don't show at all.”

“Yes, I do. Why do you think I'm wearing loose overshirts?” Suzy patted her small stomach.

“Never thought about it. Just thought you looked elegant, as ever … maybe a teensy bit plumper, but it suits you.”

“Thanks.”

Jade was still trying to get her head around Suzy's news. “So what's your plan? Get someone to take your place while you have the baby and take your maternity leave?”

“No. I'm going to quit.”

“Quit?” Jade squeaked.

“Yes. We've tried a long while for this baby. A couple of years ago I had a miss at three months. That's why I haven't told you before about the pregnancy. I wanted to be as certain as possible everything would be okay.”

Jade's eyes went round.

“You're going to give up all this … and stay at home with the baby?”

“And I couldn't be happier about it.”

“But, but won't you miss the vibe — the frantic pace, the pressure?”

Suzy raised one eyebrow. “Listen to those words. No, I don't think so. If I do, I can always work again or do something part time. But I want to do the best for this kid, bring him up myself. You know how they say the first years are so vitally important?”

Jade nodded, stunned at what she was hearing.

“Well, I'm going to bliss out with my baby boy.”

How warm, how
motherly
that sounded. Jade felt an answering chord deep inside and had the fleeting thought it sounded like Paul's guitar. Perhaps there was something about the earth-mother instinct after all. Years ago, she'd slammed the door on thoughts like those. But now she remembered Marigold being with her, those early years, seemingly having all the time in the world to play with her, to sing to her, to look after her. Only, with the difficult times that had come later, she'd forgotten.