With an oath, he tossed a lure back into the box and stood.He paced, hands on hips, then stopped to stare across the river.When he finally turned around, he dragged a hand down his jaw."This is crazy."He stepped close to her."Is it just me, Lucy?"He scowled down at her with a fierce expression."Am I the only one, the only one pretending like nothing's wrong?And why is it wrong?Hell, maybe it's right.Fuck.I don't know anymore…"
She couldn't catch her breath, couldn't seem to speak.His hands closed around her shoulders.He wanted an answer, wanted things she was too afraid to give.And she couldn't seem to make herself answer.
"Come on, let's just fish," he said, changing his mind, crouching down to retrieve the rods and a bag of what looked like corn."Here."He tossed her the bag.
She was reeling from his words, from the fact that he felt just as lost and frustrated as she did."What's this for?"
"The trout like them.That's our bait."
"Better than worms, I guess."She opened the bag of corn and made herself focus on the job at hand."Do you mind if I take some pictures of the rods and tackle box?They'll look good by the river.For the article."
"Sure."
After she took the photos, they found a nice rocky spot on the edge of the water and cast their lines.Some of the tension wore off, and she found she enjoyed the quiet, and the repetitive motions of casting, waiting, reeling in, waiting some more.They didn't talk, yet, strangely, it felt like one of the most intimate moments of her life.
Until she got a bite and screamed, jerking the line and hooking a large brown trout.Fishing just went from calming to exhilarating in two point five seconds.
"Easy, Lucy," Ian called as he hurried to help."Reel him in steady."
As the trout reached the shore, its body began flapping wildly.Lucy screamed."Oh my God!What do I do?"
Ian knelt, held the fish still on the rocks, and removed the hook."Nice job."He lifted the fish and grinned."Say hello to dinner."
"No, don't say that!"Suddenly the idea of eating the poor thing made her rethink.
"You eat fish don't you?"
"Well, yeah, but they come from the freezer section at the grocery story or magically appear on my plate at a restaurant.They don't look at me like that," she gestured to its gaping mouth and round eyes.
"This is where they come from.The rivers, the lochs, the oceans.That lunch you raved about the other day, that was a pike Hamish caught.This is part of the farm, part of the experience, Lucy.Our guests will have the freshest fish and meats and eggs and cheeses…"
Ian put the fish in the cooler.
He was right.Of course, he was right.She knew where her food came from.She just never thought about it much.This was farm life, estate life.Scottish life in the country.And, yes, part of the experience."Should we catch a couple more for Fran and Hamish?"she asked.
Ian smiled."They're off tonight to see their daughter, Sara.Dev and Jamie are eating at the pub tonight.It'll just be the two of us."
"You were serious about making dinner."
He brushed his hands on his jeans."You doubted my cooking skills?"
Lucy returned his smile."Guess we'll see…"
"You don't get off that easy.You're going to help."
Her eyebrow arched.Lucy and cooking did not go well together."You sure about that?"
He cast his line."Sure.The kitchen is ours.You ever cook a real Scottish meal before?"
"No.But let me guess, all part of the experience."
"Now you're catching on.Might as well learn something new, right?"
"Yeah.Easy to do when I have my own personal guide.Not sure what I'm going to do without you once I get home."
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wanted to take them back.Damn it.And they were doing so well.What would she do indeed.It was hard to imagine going back to New York and the tiny apartment she shared with Kate and Grammy Lin.Not having Ian around, exposing her to new things.Not that she needed him to.If it was one thing he'd taught her in the short time they had together, it was that she needed to push herself out of her shell, out of her fear, and take risks, try new things.
Ian gave her a lop-sided grin, obviously trying to make light of the moment, as he reeled in his line with practiced ease."You're going to miss me, Walker."
