“It was great. Where did all the boats come from?”
“Most of them are owned by people who live around the lake. But there’s also a lot of people who come from farther away. They stay for a few of the regattas around Flathead Lake, then go home. As we get closer to summer, the number of boats increases.”
As Noah drove out of Bigfork, he couldn’t help but be impressed by what he’d seen. Between the boat races and the craft and food stalls, there was something for everyone. “Does every town around the lake have a weekend market?”
Cassie smiled. “Not all of them. Bigfork’s market is usually on a Wednesday night, but they changed it to coincide with the regatta. Whitefish and Missoula have theirs on a Tuesday, and I think Alberton and Lilly have theirs on a Thursday. I haven’t been to any of the other markets, but there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy.”
Noah pulled into a gas station. “I’ll be back soon.” A picnic wasn’t the same without something to drink. He wanted to talk to Cassie about the jewelry award. The longer they stayed at the picnic area, the more time he would have to convince her to come to Manhattan—even if it was the last thing she wanted to do.
When he got back to the SUV, Cassie was standing beside his vehicle, looking toward the lake.
“Is everything all right?”
She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “I saw a bear. He’s enjoying the sunshine like everyone else.”
Noah left the drinks inside the vehicle. “Is he still there?”
She nodded and pointed to her left. “Over there. You can just see his brown fur.”
He followed her hand and squinted into the distance. “You’ve got better eyesight than I do.”
Cassie stood in front of him and pointed straight ahead. “Can you see the bear now?”
He leaned forward until his head was beside hers. A warmth that had nothing to do with their body heat made Noah sigh. If he wanted Cassie to come to Manhattan, thinking about her in any way other than professionally wasn’t going to work. So instead of enjoying the delicate floral scent of her skin or the way her hair brushed against his shirt, he focused on the lake, searching for anything that looked like a bear.
“Over there,” she whispered. “Under the tree.”
Noah tried to see the bear. Just when he was about to give up, a quick movement drew his attention and he smiled. “I see him.”
With more grace than most people he knew, the dark brown bear ambled farther around the lake. It wasn’t until he disappeared that Noah realized he was holding Cassie’s waist.
He stepped away. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay. I don’t mind if you use me as a leaning post.”
Noah didn’t know if he was relieved or worried by Cassie’s wide smile. Was he the only person who felt as though his life was shifting? That each day he spent with her pulled him farther into her world. A week ago he’d never been to Montana, let alone to a small town on the edge of Flathead Lake. Now, he couldn’t imagine going back to Manhattan without her.
“Do you need anything else before we drive to the picnic area?”
Noah shook his head. If talking to Cassie about New York didn’t change her mind, he could always drive his SUV until they ran out of gas. At least that way he’d have her undivided attention—until they saw another bear.
Cassie wasglad Noah had suggested stopping at the picnic area for something to eat. It was so much better than sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with the people who were watching the regatta.
The picnic spot had a great view of Bigfork. It was similar to Sapphire Bay except that, with four times more people living there, the town looked like a modern-day metropolis.
The spires of at least three churches rose into the air. Instead of one main street, Bigfork had a series of roads linking different parts of the town to Flathead Lake.
Cassie wondered if Sapphire Bay would look like this in ten years. The number of antique stores and galleries had already increased, along with the cafés and restaurants. All Sapphire Bay needed was a health clinic and a pet store and they’d be able to offer the same services as towns like Bigfork.
“Smile!”
She turned around and frowned. Noah was holding his cell phone, snapping random photos. “Whatever you do, don’t post any photos of me on Facebook.”
Noah smiled. “You’re not wanted by the FBI, are you?”
“Not quite,” Cassie muttered. Although the reporters who’d followed her dad were probably worse than any law enforcement agency. “I don’t like people knowing about my personal life.”
“You’ve said that a few times. Why?”
