Free Alaskan Summer by Marilou Flinkman Page B

he’s tired it’ll be easier to get him in the boat.”
    Ryan looked at the concentration showing in Laurette’s face. He smiled and continued to encourage her while she fought the fish. When he saw the fish coming in again, he reached for the handle of the net. “Keep reeling him in.” He moved next to Laurette at the stern. “When you see the weight on your line coming out of the water, stop reeling. Hold the pole up so the line stays tight, and bring the fish toward me. I’ll have him netted in no time.”
    He slipped the net under the salmon and brought it into the boat. The look of wonder and joy on Laurette’s face filled him with warmth. She put her hand up for a high five. Ryan fought the urge to pull her into his arms. Instead, he clapped hands with her, shouting, “Well done!”
    He pulled the hooks from the salmon’s mouth and held it up for Laurette to see. “This your first?”
    “Yes.”
    Her look of astonishment made him smile. “You’re a born fisherman. Time to get the hooks baited and catch some more.” He dropped the salmon into the cooler. “I can’t let you outfish me.” Ryan couldn’t resist putting his arm around her shoulders. Her upturned face and glowing countenance made it hard to resist kissing her.
    What’s wrong with me? he scolded himself, turning away to pick up the net. I work with this girl. I can’t be treating her like a girlfriend.
    Why not? he countered. I’m attracted to her.
    And she’s going to leave at the end of summer.
    “Will you show me how to bait my hook?” Laurette asked, interrupting his warring thoughts.
    Bending close to Rette, showing her how to maneuver the small baitfish onto the hook, he pushed his conflicting thoughts aside. He soaked up her excitement. When she looked up at him, he thought he read the same feelings in her eyes.
    Could it happen? Could she care for him?
    The baited hooks went back into the water and they let out their lines. Ryan smiled to himself seeing how hard Laurette concentrated on her fishing pole.
    Before long she had another fish. He stood by, coaching her. This time when the fish jumped, it spit the hook out. “You can’t catch them all.” She looked so sad he wanted to kiss her more than ever.
    Behave! his conscience screamed. She’s too nice a girl to have you romancing her. You have no future that could include a girlfriend.
    “Let me try to bait the hook myself,” Laurette begged.
    Ryan backed off. He handed her a herring and watched her struggle to follow the directions he had given her the first time. She was determined; he’d give her that.
    “Is that okay?” She held the line and baited hook up for his inspection.
    “Go for it. Put your line out eighteen pulls.”
    He had the trolling motor going and his own line in the water. He watched as she carefully counted the pulls from the reel to the first eye in the pole.
    Laurette stood at the stern. “What’s that mountain over there? It looks like Fuji in Japan.”
    “It’s Mt. Edgecumbe. Everyone thinks it looks like Fuji. Would you like to climb it sometime?”
    “No, I’ve never climbed a mountain,” she protested.
    Ryan chuckled. “It’s an easy hike. Have to take a boat to the island. There’s a cabin there, and the path starts right behind it. We could do it in a day.”
    “I’ve done a little hiking, so I think I could manage.”
    “We’ll keep an eye on the schedule and see when we could get some time off—hey, fish on!” Ryan grabbed his pole and started reeling his fish in. “Think you can net this?”
    “Will you make me swim home if I miss?” Laurette teased.
    “No. Just do your best.” As the fish came closer to the boat, he explained when to dip the net in front of the salmon. After he guided the fish into it, he helped Laurette pull net and fish into the boat.
    “We’re a great team!” she shouted, giving him another high five.
    They ate their sandwiches in between catching fish, but part of Laurette’s got tossed