“Uh, maybe we could talk later,” Maverick hedged.
“Oh, dear.” Iola clucked. “Is he treating you right? If he’snot, you cut him loose. Don’t you worry. We’ll find you another date.”
“Hey,” I protested. “I’m standing right here.”
“I know,” she said in a flat voice.
“Why do you assume I’m the one who’s going to mess it up?”
Iola patted my cheek. “Aw, honey. We all know your track record with relationships, don’t we? It’s a small town.”
Maverick bit his lip and looked away. Shit. Was he worried about that? We hadn’t really talked about our exes. It hadn’t seemed relevant—or an especially great way to impress the guy I wanted.
“Damon hasn’t messed anything up,” Maverick said, “but we’re not really dating openly yet. So…let’s just talk later.”
Iola smacked her forehead. “Oh.Oh!Why didn’t you just say so? Me and my big mouth. Honestly! Just call when you’re ready, my dears.”
She took off into the crowd, calling after one of her friends, but I was reeling.
Earlier today, I’d told my family I had a boyfriend. But standing next to Maverick, who’d just hedged his bets with Iola, I suddenly wasn’t so sure we were on the same page.
CHAPTER 24
Maverick
Linc Tate approachedwith his reporter’s notebook in hand. “Hey, guys! Enjoying the festival?”
“Yeah, it’s great,” Damon said, voice a little flat.
I cast a concerned look his way. He’d seemed in a great mood when he first showed up, but he’d wilted over the past hour. Was it because people were noticing us together? Maybe this was all too much for him. We hadn’t even discussed him coming out or whether he even wanted a real relationship with me.
We’d had a couple of private dates and some great sex, but if he was ready for something real, he’d have taken me out somewhere, right?
Linc nodded, gaze scanning the crowd. “It’s hot as hell, though.”
“Can I get you some water from inside?” I offered.
He turned a brilliant smile my way. “That would be great. Thanks, Mav.”
Damon crossed his arms over his chest. “Where’s Darren?”
Linc blinked. “Oh, I’ve been out here working, but he’s meeting up with me any minute now. We’re hitting the beer garden with some friends to celebrate finally setting a date.”
“A date?” Damon asked.
Uh-oh. Linc seemed to realize he’d misspoke just as Lula Miller of all people zeroed in on us.
“You set a date?” she crowed. “You’re the mystery grooms!”
“Oh, no. A date for, um, our vacation…”
Lula shook her head. “You’re not fooling me, Linc Tate-soon-to-be-Rafferty! I’ve heard all about this mystery wedding from Silas. He loves to torment me with this secret, but here you are setting a date! It has to be you and Darren!”
“Oh, look!” Damon exclaimed loudly. “There’s a poodle in the pet parade that looks just like Iola!”
“What?” Lula spun.
I grabbed the door to Rainbow Garden and waved Linc inside. While Lula peered into the crowd, we dashed inside. I locked the door behind us.
