“They won’t mind at all,” he assured her, bringing Aurora back from her drifting thoughts. “Just be prepared to be askedall about photography by my sister. To the point of possibly missing your flight again tomorrow. Julia takes the pictures for the retreat’s website along with any brochures we create for the business.”
Aurora laughed. “Thank you for the warning, but totally not necessary. I’m more than happy to answer any questions she might have. And missing my flight again to stay here on this beautiful Alaskan island wouldn’t be that much of a hardship to endure. I promise.”
“You say that now,” he replied with an almost sobering expression. Then Gage stepped out onto the cabin’s cozy front porch. “See you in an hour.”
Aurora watched as he closed the door behind him, wondering if Gage had taken her playful response about staying on longer for something other than the teasing banter she’d meant it to be. Not that staying in a place like Conley Island would ever be a hardship in her world.
CHAPTER FIVE
Aurora pulled her cell phone from her backpack and called the number to reschedule her flight. “Latest possible,” she told the representative who had availability on a flight leaving Juneau at 7:55 p.m. the following day. That way she could still explore a bit more of the island, or of Juneau if Gage needed to fly her back earlier in the day. Whatever worked best for him.
Laying her phone on the table, she walked over to her slightly mangled carry-on. Lifting its handle, she wheeled it carefully over to the full-size bed with its rustic pine log headboard. Careful to keep the wheels just over the edge of the mattress so as not to get any dirt on it, she set the compact suitcase atop the buffalo plaid quilt. She struggled with the broken zipper but finally managed to open it the rest of the way. Sifting through her somewhat damp clothes, she gathered up her shower items and then walked over to look through the bag holding her purchases from town. Her choices were limited. At least until her clothes dried, which she intended to lay out around the room before leaving for dinner.
She was just about to head into the bathroom when her cell phone rang. Pausing what she was doing, she hurried over to grab it. She brought the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Are you at the airport?” her best friend asked on the other end of the line.
“No. I’m on Conley Island and will be staying here tonight.”
“Conley Island?”
“It’s a short flight here from Juneau. I had a very kind man offer me one of his family’s cabins for the night.”
“Aurora,” Emmy gasped. “That kind man might not be as kind as you think. At least I know you’re alive,” her best friend grumbled on the other end of the line.
“He is,” Aurora retorted with a grin. “So stop worrying.”
“Hey, I watch all those cop shows. I know how convincing those kidnappers can be when they prey on beautiful young women.”
“No one is preying on anyone here,” Aurora replied. “But thank you for the compliment.”
“You’re welcome. So let me get your text straight. You missed your flight and then met a guy in a diner who offered to fly you off into the wild blue yonder. You then accepted, without so much as a background check on this Alaskan version of Captain Kirk who flies a plane instead of a really cool spaceship.”
Aurora couldn’t help but laugh, despite appreciating her friend’s concern. “His name is Gage. And no, I did not run a background check. Glady, the owner of the diner we were in, suggested I stay at his family’s retreat. I highly doubt a woman who’s created a longtime eatery in Juneau is going to risk it all to send her customers off with serial killers.”
“Ha!” Emmy replied. “That shows how much you know about criminals. The accomplice is there to throw people off the trail.”
“Emmy, I’m an experienced traveler. I’m here on Conley Island of my own free will. Oh, and still breathing, in case you missed that fact,” Aurora countered. “Seriously, I do appreciate your concern, but Gage Weston is really charming. The retreatis very real. I’m actually standing in one of their very adorable guest cabins.”
“Okay. So, you’re still breathing. Tell me all about this Alaskan Captain Kirk.”
Aurora rolled her eyes. “He pilots a floatplane, not a spaceship. His family has owned this part of the island since before Gage was born. He has one younger brother named Reed, who I met when we arrived at the docks, and a younger sister named Julia, who I will be meeting at dinner this evening. Speaking of which, I hate to rush you off, but I need to shower before heading up to the main lodge for dinner at five thirty. Can I call you later?”
“How about tomorrow?” Emmy replied. “I have a speed dating event I’m leaving for in about thirty minutes.”
“You just got home.”
“You’ll never find Mr. Right if you don’t put yourself out there.”
Aurora nodded in silent agreement. “I can’t believe you signed up for another one after the last disastrous one you and I went to.”
“Hey, we were newbies. This time around, I know not to ask the man I’m getting to know if he’s ever had his face painted without first explaining that I’m an artist who does a lot of work with paints and canvas.”
“And if the man assumes something incorrectly,” Aurora added, “like that you do face paintings at birthday parties and such, you will not be immediately offended.” And dump a glass of water over the attendee’s head.
“I learn from my mistakes,” Emmy told her. “Have you?”
“Ben wasn’t a mistake. Thinking we should get married was.” Aurora glanced at her fit watch. “Emmy, I hate to rush you off, but I have less than an hour to get showered and be ready to go by the time Gage comes back to get me for dinner.”
