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“You’re welcome,” she stated, and this time, he laughed.

“Well, whether they’re sensible or not,” he said, “that white’ll never be the same again after my country’s done with ’em.”

She merely smiled. Little did he know that she had two more pairs exactly like this in her suitcase that she scrubbed each time they were sullied. She wasn’t about to let that little quirk of hers come out, though. Didn’t want him thinking she was crazy or anything.

“So what part of the states do you come from?” he asked as the trail opened up, revealing wider gray skies and a green, sloping landscape. “Somewhere I take it that doesn’t get much rain or mud?”

“I’m from North Dakota,” she replied. “So we get plenty of rain and mud—and snow.”

“Ooh, North Dakota,” Finn said with an impressed look. “I’ve never had one of your sort on me tour before. I see South Dakota all the bleedin’ time, but North? Naw. You lot mustn’t get out much.”

His teasing would definitely bug the heck out of Daphne—her aunt didn’t have the time for such nonsense—but not Maisie.

No, she could see herself being driven crazy by him in a different way entirely, though, because right now, she was reveling in his attention.

“No,” she corrected. “Our state’s just so incredible, no one feels the need to go anywhere else.”

He raised his eyebrows, giving her an impressed look before making an invisible “one” in the air with his finger. “Point, Maisie,” he said, then he tucked his hand back into his pocket.

She simply grinned.

Was he getting to know her better because he wanted to or because that was just part of the job? Now that she thought about it, was it breaking the rules for him as a tour guide to be alone with her? Finn hardly seemed bothered by it.

Despite the number of tours Maisie had been on over the last few months, she admittedly knew very little about the policies of each one. Then again, she’d never really had to worry about any of that until now, what with Daphne being with her twenty-four-seven, ensuring they did everything by the book.

Would Finn get into trouble? Could Maisie get kicked off the tour? No, that would be ridiculous. They were just talking, anyway. And really, Finn didn’t seem the type of guy for her to have to be concerned with. Other than his flirting, she supposed. But that was perfectly harmless. And the three English ladies were just ahead of them on the trail. There was probably nothing to worry about.

“So if you love North Dakota so much,” Finn continued, interrupting her thoughts, “that raises the question, what made you finally leave your precious home?”

“Well, I’m kinda in between homes right now. I live half the time in North Dakota with my mom and dad on their ranch, then the other half, I live with my aunt in Boston.”

Was she talking too much? She felt like she was. But then, Finn didn’t look bored.

“Boston,” he repeated. “So me statement about the taxes in the harbor was dead on.”

“It absolutely was.”

“And your aunt is the one who didn’t make it to the bus this mornin’?”

“Yep.”

“I reckon she doesn’t have them Kizik shoes.”

Maisie laughed, shaking her head. “Actually, she doesn’t. But she couldn’t come because of some business stuff she was dealing with. She’ll be with me tomorrow, though.”

“Shame she missed today, so it is,” he responded. “At least she’ll get to see Carrick-a-Rede on Thursday though. That’s the best bit of the tour, like.”

At the mention of the small island—and the rickety rope bridge that connected it to the mainland—Maisie’s smile fell, and a wave of nerves rushed through her insides. That was the one part of the tour with which she hadn’t been thrilled.

She didn’t like heights. She didn’t like them at all. Of course, no one would make her cross the rope bridge if she didn’t want to, but she knew Daphne would continue to press it until she relented. Her aunt was always overly persuasive.

“You’ve got to live a little, Maisie,” she always said.

But Maisie did live. With her two white Kiziks planted firmly on solid ground.

“You don’t agree with me?” Finn asked, interpreting her silence.

“Oh, um…” She scrambled for something else to say. “No, I can see why the rope bridge would be your favorite, but the best part of every tour for me is the food I get to eat.”