“I’m fine,” she insisted.
Thunder’s head appeared at the open window, his ears forward and his eyes steady. For a moment, she warmed toward the dog. How could she not? He was adorable as he stared at her with those friendly eyes.
“Taking a walk?” Wyatt asked.
“Something like that.”
The truck idled alongside her. “You’re not heading toward the trail, are you?”
“No. I thought about it, but I know how stupid that would be.”
“It would be,” he agreed. “Storm’s coming in faster than expected. The whole town will be shutting down soon.”
“I figured as much.”
“Listen, there’s a restaurant called Ember & Oak up ahead. They serve the best dinner in Blue Ridge Hollow—other than my mom’s, of course.”
She chuckled. “Smart man for realizing that.”
“Why don’t we grab something to eat and talk? I’d like to learn more about Mackenzie. And I have a feeling we both need to eat.”
It sounded like a purely professional dinner together. That was manageable.
She nodded. “I suppose I should eat.”
“You should. Want a ride?”
“Why not?”
He leaned across and pushed open the passenger door.
She climbed into the truck and shut out the cold. Thunder sniffed her from the back seat, and she stiffened, bracing herself for any sudden moves on the canine’s part.
Instead, he lay down on the back seat.
She released a breath.
As Wyatt pulled back into the street, Kori glanced in the side mirror and paused.
Was that a shadow in the distance—one that had quickly retreated when she looked back? Or was she imagining things?
She wasn’t sure.
It was probably nothing.
Still, her fingers curled slightly against her palm.
“Everything okay?” Wyatt asked, his eyes still on the road. “I mean, other than your sister . . . ?”
Kori swallowed hard before nodding. “Yes, everything’s fine.”
She hoped her words were true.
