For the Love of His Life by Fiona McGier

ones on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I do between five and ten miles each time.”
    “Is there a trail back there that long?””
    “The trail goes into the wilds, all the way to Canada if you head the right way. I’ve used a pedometer before to figure out landmarks so I know which way to go depending on how long I’m going to run.”
    “Then you end it with a swim?”
    “Uh-huh. I stretch then I cool off in the lake. Of course this early in the season, it’s still pretty cold. When it gets warmer I’ll do shorter runs and longer swims.”
    “Would it be alright with you if I run with you, since you know the way?” Raul asked casually as if the answer meant nothing to him.
    Veronica’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Really? You want to run that far? Do you think you can keep up with me?”
    Raul felt his color darken as a blush spread up his face and he bit back the arrogant reply he wanted to make.
    “I know you don’t think I can handle it, but I’m not as decrepit as you seem to think I am. I can hold my own…” The inadvertent double-meaning of his words did nothing to lessen his embarrassment.
    Veronica eyed him speculatively, “You think so? I’m usually done with the pies by ten, if not sooner. Then I change and head out. If you want to go with me you’ll have to be up by eight, or at least by nine, to have time to eat and let your food digest enough for you to run.”
    Raul met her gaze defiantly, “Then that’s what I’ll do. I think it’ll be better than trying to run along the road, breathing car exhaust and risking running into a bear or a moose.”
    Veronica grinned. “They’re not out during the daylight hours. They might be out at dawn, but they sleep until dusk usually.” She looked closer at him. “Who’s been telling you big critters like that run along the road?”
    “Jake was telling me last night about it,” he defended himself.
    She nodded. “But like I said, they’re not out now…only at night.”
    She changed the subject by waving towards the plates on the table. “Looks like you had a good breakfast. You’ll need to eat more and drink less if you want to get into the kind of shape you’ll need to be in to pass yourself off as a mountain man.”
    “Yeah, I figured that,” he said as he pulled out a cigarette and began to search for his lighter.
    “Gram-Marie will have a shit-fit if you smoke on her deck. You’ll have to go out into the parking lot for that.”
    Raul sighed loudly. “Is there anything the old woman doesn’t have rules about?”
    A small smile played on Veronica’s lips and he forgot to be annoyed while he admired their shape.
    “She does like things to be done just her way,” she began. “But she’s been running this place alone since Grampa died two years ago. And she’s been doing a damn good job too.”
    “She’s not alone here,” Raul corrected her. “You do the pies and help out. Then there’s the cooks and the waitresses, right?”
    “Yeah, I also do the books for her. I got my degree in accounting. I do the books for Dad’s business and for some of the other places in town, and along the Gunflint Trail.”
    “But you don’t live here, right?”
    She shook her head, “No. I have a cabin up the road a piece, near Sugar Lake. It’s not much but it’s mine. I bought it from the owner of one of the lodges. I do his books too.”
    “Doesn’t seem like enough work to keep a smart woman like you busy all the time.” Raul wasn’t sure what he was trying to say, but the words spilled out anyway.
    Veronica’s tone was sharp, “No? So…what? Now you’re suggesting I’m…what? Lazy?”
    He shook his head in contrition, “No! Of course not! It’s just you seem so…so well-balanced and so…on top of things.” He was scrambling because his thoughts weren’t coming fast enough for him to make things right.
    And that’s because all I can think of is how much I want to be on top of you! Or have you on top of me! What the