I laughed. “Aren’t they all?”
She sighed wistfully. Maggie’s romances were the onething that could distract her from work. She was all slave driving workaholicuntil she started a regency romance. Then she would lock herself in her officefor days at a time while I took care of business for her.
I didn’t mind. She needed more breaks. If she wantedto get lost in her romances occasionally, more power to her.
“I need to run into town,” she told me. “I have to goto the bank and the hardware store and meet with my accountant.”
“And probably take a long lunch so you can finish thatbook.”
She tapped the book on the counter. “Wouldn’t that benice?”
“Go for it,” I encouraged. “I’ve got things here. Justbe back by three-thirty so I can grab Jules.”
“You sure? Cabin eleven came in this morning tocomplain about his wake-up call? He said he never got it.”
I busied myself with restacking the outgoing mail.“That’s weird, when I called this morning nobody answered. He must have sleptthrough it.”
“You didn’t put him on the automated system?”
“I will today. He wants a personal call every morning,but that is too far above and beyond the call of duty.”
She grabbed her jacket from the office and stopped bythe counter to pick up her book again. “Honey, is everything all right betweenyou two?”
A cold splash of panic trickled through me, but I keptmy expression curious when I asked, “What do you mean?”
She raised her eyebrows. “I mean, there’s a hell of alot of something going on between you two and I can’t decide if you’rewelcoming it or running from it.”
Unexpected laughter bubbled out of me. Did I soundcrazy? I was running from it. I was running as fast as I could from it. But toMaggie, I added a shrug and said, “Can’t a girl do a little of both?”
Her eyes narrowed. I’d executed my lie perfectly.There had been no quaver in my voice or nervous glancing around. I haddelivered my lie with every ounce of confidence I possessed.
She still didn’t believe me.
“All right,darlin’, if yousay so.”
“Have fun in town,” I teased her. “Enjoy your duke.”
She paused at the door, halfway inside and halfwayoutside. Shooting me a wink I was not expecting she said, “You too.” Then shewas gone and I was left foundering and furious and trying not to text her ahundred messages correcting her.
By the time Gus pulled into the parking lot out front,I wasn’t even surprised.
Let me clarify, I wasn’t surprised to see him. I was alittle concerned to see that he drove a red Subaru Forester and not a blackMercedes sedan.
“Cabin eleven,” I told him as soon as the office doorjingled. “Here’s a map.” I pushed the directions across the counter that I hadhastily prepared for him.
His eyebrows jumped to his hairline. “Huh?”
“Sayer’s cabin,” I said slower, “is number eleven.This map will show you how to get there.”
He matched my tone and speed. “I already know whereSayer is staying. So I don’t need a map.”
Oh.
“Well, why are you here?”
His top lip curled. “Do you mind telling me what Iever did to you? Fuck, Caroline. We used to be friends. Now the stick up yourass is so big, I can’t even get a hello out of you.”
I blinked at him. “You’re not here to rekindle ourfriendship, Gus. I’m not an idiot.”
