Stay With Me, Contemporary Romance (Last Frontier Lodge Novels Book 5) by J.H. Croix

coffees and pastries from Eli. “Anything for me?” he asked with a grin.
    “Something for everyone. There’re two hot chocolates in that tray of drinks. One for you and,” he paused and turned to the couple with a smile “and an extra in case your son wanted one.”
    The woman in the couple smiled broadly and held her hand out. “Donna Canton. You must be Eli.” Donna had an athletic, outdoorsy quality to her and was dressed for the day in a yellow windbreaker and jeans paired with black rubber boots. She had short dark hair and bright brown eyes.
    Eli shook her hand. “You got it. If the hot chocolate is a no, don’t worry about it. Otherwise, I trust these guys have taken care of everything you need?”
    Donna grinned. “You’ve just made Aaron’s day! He loves hot chocolate, and it’s definitely a bit chilly this morning.” She rubbed her hands together quickly and gestured to the man standing beside her. “This is my husband George.”
    George reached over to shake Eli’s hand. “Great to meet you. We’re looking forward to catching some halibut today.” George was essentially a male version of Donna with short dark hair and eyes and in matching jacket, jeans and boots. He had a laidback, easy quality to him. He lifted his chin in the direction of their son. Ryan had climbed back into the boat and was patiently helping the boy set his fishing rod in the row of holders along the back of the cabin in the boat. “That’s our son Aaron. He’s beside himself about this fishing trip, so be prepared for tons of questions.” Aaron shared his parents’ hair, eyes and outfit, although he had a fluorescent orange life jacket on over his yellow windbreaker.
    Eli relaxed slightly. He was accustomed to taking completely inexperienced people out to fish, however it was always a relief when they came sensibly dressed and appeared to have an idea of what the day would entail. He glanced to Jessa who stood quietly at his side. “This is my friend Jessa. She’s never been out for a charter trip in Alaska either, so she’s joining us for the day.” Eli hadn’t thought ahead about how to introduce her, but he settled on ‘friend.’
    Jessa quickly struck up a conversation with Donna and George, while Eli went into action with Cliff and Ryan to get the boat ready to leave the harbor. He continued to be impressed with Ryan, mostly because he didn’t hesitate to work, asked for help if he wasn’t sure how to do something and then carried on. Within a few minutes, they were motoring out of the harbor, one of many boats in a slow parade out into Kachemak Bay.

    * * *
    “ H ey , stop it!” Jessa demanded as she wrestled with the halibut she’d just reeled in. The halibut was rather docile, so she supposed she was talking to the fishhook, which she couldn’t seem to get out. She heard a low laugh and glanced up to find Eli kneeling down by her side.
    “Need some help with that?”
    She brushed her hair out of her face and sighed. “Is there a trick to this?”
    Eli shrugged and reached over. With a quick twist, he eased the hook out. “A little practice helps.”
    The subtle brush of his hand against hers sent a wash of heat through her. When she glanced over at him, his green eyes were inches from hers. With his sun-burnished skin, chiseled features and just all around rugged sexiness, she wanted to kiss him so badly it almost physically pained her to hold back. For a few seconds, the air around them came to life. Eli’s eyes darkened, and she heard him take a sharp breath. A loud thump nearby snapped the moment. Jessa turned to see Ryan laughing as he helped George with the halibut he’d just dropped when he brought it over the side of the boat.
    She stood up with Eli following. His eyes caught hers again, and her breath hitched at the bare desire she saw there. With a subtle shake of his head, he turned away and strode to Ryan’s side, quickly engaging in an easy banter with Ryan and George. The rest of