The Lure of Love (15 page)

“Good.” He
drove quickly and competently. She hadn’t expected anything else.

There was
very little traffic on the road and they arrived in town earlier than Leeza had
anticipated.

“Let’s stop
for our coffee,” she said. “I’m not crazy about drinking it in the car.”

They sat down
at an outside table and Matt raised his face to the sun. “I could get to like
this. I spend far too much time inside.” He broke off the top of his muffin and
started to eat it. “Seems to me I’m either in the office or in my vehicle,
getting from place to place.”

She was
having a hard time tearing her eyes away from his hands. His fingers were long
and elegant and she remembered how they made her feel every time he touched
her. “Are you nervous about possibly losing your license?” she asked. “I don’t
see how you can be otherwise.”

He thought
about her question for a moment. “I’m a lot of things right now. Sure, I’m
nervous about my future but I’m also angry. At my partner and at my wife, but
mostly I’m angry at myself.”

“Why? Why
would you be angry with yourself? You didn’t know that any of this stuff was
going on.”

He shoved the
uneaten part of the muffin in the bag, crushed it in one hand and sat staring
at it. “That’s just it. I should have been more aware. I was too busy chasing
the dream.”

She had to
ask. “Do you think you would have found it?”

His head came
up slowly. “No, I don’t think so. At least not my version of the dream.” He
inhaled deeply. “How did we get on this subject?” The expression in his eyes
softened. “I don’t know what it is about you Leeza Campeau, but you make me
spill my guts every time.”

“I’m sorry.”

He slid his
hand across the table, picked up her hand and interlocked his fingers with
hers. “Don’t be sorry. I like it.”

She looked
down at their hands. “So do I.”

He brushed
his lips against her fingers and then released her hand. “Come on, let’s go. I
want to see this famous waterfall.”

They pulled
into the gravel parking lot half an hour later and Leeza was delighted to see
that there were no other cars. She jumped out and studied the information board
while Matt pulled out his camera bag. The well used trail led into the gloom of
the forest and a few steps in Matt paused to listen.

“It can’t be
far,” he said. “I can hear the waterfall from here.”

 It was a
short walk into the falls and they soon found themselves on a secure lookout.
Water spilled over the edge of a precipice, falling a hundred feet below into a
narrow canyon. Mist rose, eerily beautiful in the morning light.

“Is there any
way down there?” Matt turned back toward a side trail.

“Yes.
According to the information board there is a trail that leads down. They say
it’s not for novices, but I don’t mind trying it.”

He looked as
though he’d been handed a precious gift. “All right! Let’s go.”

The trail
snaked through the forest, supported in some places by cedar logs to hold the
soil in place. After several switchbacks, they found themselves in the bottom
of the canyon looking up. As they were catching their breath, the sun crested
the trees, illuminating the spray and splintering into multi coloured diamonds.

“Careful!
Those rocks are slippery.” Matt had ventured farther downstream to photograph
the cascading water from a different angle. He looked back at her and laughed,
his face free from the worry and stress that had plagued him the last few days.
In that moment, Leeza knew that she was in love with him. It was one of the
sweetest and yet saddest moments of her life.

He raised his
camera and took a picture of her, then put it away and hopped back over the
rocks to where she was standing.

“What?” he
said, coming dangerously close. “You had a look on your face back there.” He
brushed a stray piece of hair from her forehead. “What were you thinking?”

She was
thankful for the mist on her eyelashes. Otherwise he might be able to see she
was crying.

“My God,
Leeza, don’t cry.” His voice rumbled in his chest as he pulled her close.
“Please don’t cry.” He tilted up her chin. “I can’t stand to see you unhappy.”

He stared
into her eyes for what seemed like forever. Then, with a groan of frustration,
he brought his lips down over hers. His mouth was soft and sensuous, and he
plundered her mouth with a passion that made her forget to breathe.

He pulled
back. “I’m sorry” he murmured, but the smile on his face said otherwise.

“Don’t be
sorry.” She slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for another
kiss. It would have gone on forever if it hadn’t been for the two young
children that came running down the path and stopped to stare at them.

He closed his
eyes and she couldn’t tell if he was relieved or frustrated. The children ran
down to the water and he pulled her aside. “It’s not working, Leeza.”

She couldn’t
believe her ears. “What’s not working?”

He shook his
head. “I’ve been trying so hard not to be attracted to you.” Those long,
sensitive fingers slipped into her hair and he kissed her again. “I’ve wanted
to do this ever since we met.”

The
childrens’ parents appeared on the trail and gave them a curious look. “See
what I mean?” he said with a devilish grin. “Bad timing.” He grabbed her hand.
“Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“Where are we
going?” Leeza didn’t really care. She just wanted to be with him.

“I don’t
know. Somewhere private. We’ll figure it out when we get there.”

They
practically ran up the path to the parking lot. He tossed his camera bag into
the back, opened her door and then climbed into the driver’s seat. He reached
across and took her hand. “Leeza, before this goes any farther, I want to make
sure…”

His ringtone
sounded. He rolled his eyes impatiently and gave her a quick kiss before taking
it out of his pocket. When he saw the display, his demeanor changed and he sat
up straight. A cold chill of apprehension slithered down Leeza’s spine.

“Yes?” He
stared ahead through the windshield as he listened. She watched his face for
clues, but he’d turned impassive.

“Do you know
what they’ve decided?” He’d changed in a matter of moments from laughing and
relaxed to tense and businesslike.

“No, I
suppose not.” He glanced at his watch. “Yes, of course I want to be there. It’s
my future we’re talking about; it’s our future.”

He rubbed his
free hand across his eyes as he listened, nodding. “Yes, I understand. I’ll be
there. Nine o’clock.”

He ended the
call and collapsed back against the seat, eyes focused on some distant point.

“That was
Cassie” he said, still looking out the window. “The Board has come to a
decision and they want me there tomorrow morning.”

He turned to
her, his expression bleak. “I’m sorry, Leeza.”

She wished
she could come up with something clever to say. Some light, airy remark to show
that she wasn’t dying inside. Instead she just nodded, and willed herself not
to cry.

He stared at
his watch, tapping it with a finger as he calculated. “If I leave right away I
should get in just before midnight.” He was talking to himself. “My lawyer
wants to huddle with me before we go in front of the board.” He raised an
eyebrow. “I might even get a couple of hours of sleep.”

How could he
be discussing such mundane things when her world was shattering? She looked
across at him and wanted to hate him, but she couldn’t. He’d been transformed
in a matter of moments, exchanging laughter for tension, but she still loved
him and wanted him so fiercely she thought she might self-combust.

He turned to
her as though becoming aware of her presence. “I didn’t think I’d hear this
soon,” he said, his expression gentle. He touched her face, his fingers
lingering there for a moment before he dropped his hand. “It couldn’t have come
at a worse time.”

She forced a
smile. “Maybe it’s just as well.”

A frown
marred his brow. “Do you really mean that?” He leaned closer. “Leeza?”

She lifted
her chin and looked him right in the eye. “We should get going. You’ll have to
pack and check out.” She leaned over and checked the gas gauge. “Maybe get some
gas.” If she kept thinking of practicalities, she might not break into in a
million pieces.

He stared at
her for a moment, nodded at her words and pulled out of the parking lot.

They were
silent on the way back to the Lodge. What was there to talk about? How they’d
almost done something they’d both regret? It had been a close call, she told
herself. She was lucky it had turned out this way.

She watched
him out of the corner of her eye. He hadn’t really changed. He was still the
same outrageously appealing man she’d fallen in love with. But he was married
to someone else, and he was leaving. It was better that he’d been called away
now, before she drowned in those chocolate eyes. Better in every way.

Then why did
she feel as though someone had reached into her chest and yanked out her heart?

* * *

Leeza jumped
out of Matt’s vehicle the moment he pulled into the Lodge parking lot. He
climbed out slowly, feeling like a failure and followed her into the Lodge.

Brooke looked
up as he entered the great room.

“Hi,” she
said. “How was the waterfall?”

Matt had
almost forgotten. “Beautiful” he said, his tone flat. “I’m on my way up to my
room to pack. I have to check out.”

“Is there
something wrong?” Brooke searched his face for a clue.

He shook his
head and made the universal telephone sign with his right hand. “I got called
back to the Valley. They’re going to give me the results of the hearing
tomorrow.”

She brightened.
“Why that’s good, isn’t it?”

He seemed
surprised at her question. “I suppose so. I just wasn’t expecting to hear so
soon, that’s all.”

Brooke
wondered if his odd behaviour had anything to do with the way Leeza had
practically run past her a moment ago. “I was just about to head over to the
campsite office, so perhaps you could leave the key in the room. There’s no
bill to be paid, so if I don’t see you when you leave, good luck.”

“Thank you.”
He moved toward the staircase.

“But I’ll see
you later, right? When you help Jamie with the development.”

He paused for
a moment. “I see the Beaver is gone. Maybe you could tell her I’ll call her
when everything’s settled.” He shot a quick look toward the kitchen and then
headed up the stairs.

* * *

“Excuse me,
but is Leeza here?” Matt stuck his head into the kitchen a few minutes later.

The sous chef
looked around as though she might pop up from behind the counter. “No, she just
left. Sorry.”

“Right.”
Matt’s gaze swept the room then he backed out. She was avoiding him and he
couldn’t blame her. But he couldn’t afford to hang around any longer. He went
outside and tossed his suitcase in the back of his SUV beside his camera bag.
The waterfall seemed like a long time ago.

He slammed
the hatchback and stood with one hand braced on the back of the vehicle,
surveying the lake. Leeza was right; it had turned into a beautiful day. Small
children played at the water’s edge, watched over by their mothers. Off to his
left, the sound of a bat striking a ball echoed sweetly across the compound.

Odd, he
thought, how the place had become so familiar in the few days since he’d
arrived. He wasn’t sure how a city boy with limited outdoor experience had so
quickly become attuned to life up here. He cleared his head with a quick shake
and climbed into the driver’s seat. He had a long drive ahead of him.

* * *

“And he left?
Just like that?” Leeza had just filled Jamie in. The three women were sitting
in the dining room after lunch was finished. Leeza had tried to eat a salad,
but the uneaten food remained on the plate.

Leeza
shrugged. “He did come to look for me, but I just couldn’t face him. There
wasn’t much left to say; I was right beside him when he was talking to his
wife. He said he wanted to be there because it was about their future.” She
made a grim face. “That’s pretty clear if you ask me.”

Brooke was
looking thoughtful. “Not necessarily” she said in her usual deliberate manner.
“After all, the call came as a surprise and he hadn’t had much time to think
about it.” She narrowed her eyes. “It might not mean anything at all.”

Leeza gave a
wry smile. “I’d like to think that, but I refuse to grasp at straws.”

Jamie was
watching her curiously. “What happened with you two this morning?”

Leeza flushed
and Jamie pounced. “Aha!” She turned to Brooke. “There’s more to this than
meets the eye, evidently.”

“Nothing
happened…yet.” Leeza took in a few shuddering breaths. “We were looking for
somewhere private to go when the phone call came.”

Jamie and
Brooke exchanged glances.

“So you see?
It’s just as well he left.” Tears spilled down Leeza’s cheeks and she ran from
the room.

* * *

“I wish I’d
had a chance to say goodbye to Matt.” Billy watched the condensation roll down
the side of the cold beer glass. “He’s a good guy.”

Craig looked
out over the water. He never tired of watching Jamie land; he was waiting for
her to bring back some guests from a distant lake. “I didn’t talk to him that
much, but I liked what I saw.” He glanced into the Lodge and lowered his voice.
“Jamie says that Leeza is taking it hard.”

“I heard that
too. Brooke says she barely slept last night.” He looked at his watch. “Matt
was supposed to get the results of the hearing today. I wonder if we’ll hear
from him.”

Brooke
hurried across the great room and motioned them to a grouping of chairs in
front on a TV set. “I have the news on in the office and they’re going to do a
report on Matt in the next segment.” She rushed off. “I have to find Leeza.”