Page 31 of Under the Northern Lights
He nodded.
“I’ll stop by to see them before we leave for Juneau. When they’re not busy feeding their guests. I suppose your father and Reed won’t be back in time from fishing for me to see them before I go?”
He shook his head. “Probably not. We’ll be flying out before they’re scheduled to return.”
She frowned. “Please tell them goodbye for me. Hank too.”
“I will.”
“I had so much fun playing games with your family. Even with Reed, who I’m not sure I’ve forgiven yet for scaring the daylights out of us.”
“He did do that,” Gage agreed. “I know Julia really enjoyed having you here. Especially when you girls showed us who ruled the game roost.” He smiled. “I appear to have met my match.”
Aurora laughed. “I had help. Your mom and sister were so good.”
“You weren’t so bad yourself.”
“Thanks. I had a lot of practice growing up. Julia reminds me so much of my sister, Jade.” Who Aurora found herself missing very much. But Jade had a life of her own now. A husband to make new memories with.
“I’m glad you had fun,” Gage said.
“I’ll let you get back to your coffee. Would you mind very much if I sit by the fire to warm up for a bit?”
“You don’t even need to ask,” he told her. “The lodge amenities are for our guests as well. In fact, the company is welcome. I’m used to being in the midst of a loud, somewhat nutty family, guests coming in and out of the lodge, and flying people to and from the island. With the exception of when fishing season here comes mostly to an end, and life slows down a bit.”
“You’re welcome to join me and finish your coffee over by the fire if you like.” Pulling off her knit hat, Aurora stuffed it into one of her pockets before removing her jacket.
“I might just take you up on that offer.”
She settled in and moved to warm her hands by the fire.
Laying her clothes out near the wood stove in her cabin the night before had helped to dry them out. Only her flannel shirt, which was of a thicker material, was still slightly damp. She’d taken care of that with the hair dryer she’d found in the cabin’s bathroom vanity.
“I can add some wood to the fire, if you’d like,” Gage said, pulling Aurora from her thoughts.
“No, this is good. I’m warming up already.” She rubbed her hands together. “It was chillier out than I expected this morning.”
“Only going to get colder now that winter is setting in,” Gage said as he settled onto the sofa behind her.
Hands feeling less stiff from the cold, Aurora turned from the fire to find him looking her over with a grin. Immediately self-conscious, she looked down to see what he found so amusing. Had she misaligned her shirt buttons in her hurry to get out and get sunrise shots that morning? Nothing seemed askew.
Aurora lifted her hands, fire-warmed palms up. “What’s so amusing?”
Gage shook his head, tempering his grin. “Sorry. Not amusing.”
“Then what?” she demanded with a frown.
“I was just thinking that for a city girl, you look like you could have stepped right off the page of one of those outdoor magazines you sell your work to.”
She folded her arms across her chest and arched a brow. “So, what you’re saying is that I remind you of an elephant trampling down the vegetation in the savanna?”
“What?”
“Or maybe a mountain goat scaling steep cliffs in the Rockies?”
He shook his head. “Not even close. I was referring to the pages in travel magazines and brochures where the pretty girl in casual hiking gear sways readers into traveling to whatever destination she’s advertising.”
Aurora felt a heated blush creeping up her neck and it wasn’t from the fire behind her. “Hardly.” She laughed. “I’m just a girl who likes to be prepared for whatever outdoor environment my work takes me to.”
