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“No one in this town wants to gossip about that. Even if it was completely innocent, that’s not what people are going to say.”

“People are going to talk, aren’t they?”

“Welcome to Winslow Heights.”

She’d known it was going to happen if she got involved with him. Other people’s opinions of her didn’t really bother her, but it still felt…weird. She didn’t think she was all that interesting. Surely, there were more fascinating subjects to talk about?

Today, I had three coffees, not two. Whoa!

If the good people of Winslow Heights knew the truth about her day-to-day life, they would be bored to tears.

They walked through the downtown area, and then on to the park. The moon was full, and the streetlights were on, so she could see that the trees were ablaze with fall color. It was muted in this light, but she made a mental note to come down during the day and soak it all in before it was gone. Before she knew it, the park would be covered in glistening white snow. Her sister-in-law had mentioned that the town Christmas tree had a lighting ceremony the weekend of Thanksgiving. Fall might be her favorite season, but the holiday season came in a close second.

“That fountain is pretty,” she remarked as they approached the circular area in the middle of the park. “I’ve always loved the sound of a fountain.”

“They do turn it off as soon as the temperature dips below freezing,” Sam explained. “But it’s running right now. Should we make a wish?”

“It’s a wishing well?”

“I don’t know that it started out that way, but it’s full of coins. The town cleans it out a few times a year and donates the cash to the local food bank.”

“There must be a lot of people making wishes in Winslow Heights,” Alli observed, digging a quarter out of her purse. “Sure, why not? What should I wish for, I wonder? World peace? To lose that last five pounds?”

His gaze swung to her, sweeping her from head to toe and making her blush. She could feel the heat suffusing her cheeks.

“I think you look perfect just the way you are.”

She could say the same back to him. Except she couldn’t at the moment. Her tongue didn’t seem to be working right, and her body was flushed with warmth that had nothing to do with the weather.

He pulled a quarter from his pants pocket, held it up, closed his eyes, and then tossed it in. Afterward, he opened his eyes and turned back to her.

“Your turn.”

“What did you wish for?”

“If I tell you, it won’t come true. So, now it’s your turn.”

She should have known he’d be a stickler for the rules.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She didn’t believe in wishing for money. That was too obvious and greedy, but that still left her with more than a few possibilities.

Just how many wishes do I get?

How about…? I’d like to make this relationship work with Sam. I want to see where this can go. I want to do well in my new job, and I want us to find out who killed Leigh. Is that too many? Genies give three wishes, so maybe it’s not too many.

She tossed the quarter into the fountain where it dropped with a soft plop, making rings in the shallow water before drifting to the bottom.

“What did you wish for?”

Really? Was he actually going to ask that?

“If I tell you, it won’t come true.”

“Touché. I guess our curiosity will go unsatisfied when it comes to this.”

He was looking for satisfaction? What kind? Because she could think of one variety that she was on board with.

She linked her arm through his, guiding him toward the park exit.