I smile.
I like dog people almost as much as I like dogs. “We’ll be back. Make yourself comfortable. And I’m serious that you can have the bedroom if you want it.”
“Good here. Thanks.”
He grabs his laptop again while we head for the door. He mentioned that he’s working remotely this week rather than taking the whole week off for vacation, so I expect he’ll be grabbing his computer a lot when we’re here.
Not spending his time getting to know his fake fiancée.
Which is probably how it should be.
Outside, crickets are chirping. Frogs out on the lake behind the cabin are singing too. There’s no moon, so the stars are bright overhead, and I even see a shooting star.
The temperatures have dipped enough that it’s easy to take a full breath of the night air while Chili does his business, even if it’s still warm. We make a very slow walk to the mailbox, but I don’t mind.
I walk a couple of older dogs who can’t be rushed either. They make me slow down and take in the world differently than when I’m clipping along with a half dozen energetic friends on leashes.
And tonight, I get to enjoy the night and mull over everything that’s happened since I arrived in Tinsel this afternoon. I want to call Yazmin, my roommate and New York bestie, but with the windows to the cabin open, I don’t dare.
I don’t want Dane to think I’m spilling the beans of our secret to anyone who’d blabber here.
But I do text her on the way back to the house after I grab the single envelope from the mailbox.
FYI—I kinda did a thing and got accidentally engaged to my home BFF’s brother. We’re trying to fix our families’ long-standing hatred of each other. If my mom or grandma call, can you please tell them that you adored Dane the few times you’ve met him, that you like that he’s vegetarian like you, and that you’re thrilled for us getting married in Vegas next month?
She calls instantly.
I don’t answer, but text her again.
Can’t talk. I’ll call tomorrow when I’m alone. Tell my mom I’m madly in love, and then tell me everything you tell her if she messages. Promise?
Girl, you owe me a story and dinner for this. I. Am. Dying. WHAT IS GOING ON?she texts back.
My big mouth and a very kind man who can see the good in things that I can’t. Promise I’ll call ASAP with more deets, I tell her.
Waiting impatiently, she texts back.
Chili and I reach the house, and that’s when I realize something’s weird about the envelope I grabbed from the mailbox.
It doesn’t have a name or address on it.
Someone dropped it off.
And when we open it up and see what’s inside, all three of us—even Chili—gasp.
Today’s been full of surprises.
And it seems there are even more on the way.
Chapter 5
Dane
Amanda’s up early, moving through the kitchen fixing coffee not much later than the sun.
Guessing she slept about as well as I did last night.
Wonder if she’s having second thoughts about continuing our fake engagement.
