“What happened to you?” Christian asks from behind me, pulling a lock of my hair. “You look like you’ve been through the dumpster.”

  I spin on him. “Thanks, that sums up how I feel.” Dumped in the trash, I add silently in my head. “It’s this awful nature,” I spit, swatting a mosquito on my arm. “I’m not made for it. It’s time for the draw. Are you ready?”

  “Tell me where I have to go sell myself for the good of the environment and I’ll be there.”

  “Just follow me, Mr. Smarty Pants.”

  I drag him to the small platform that will become the beach’s new gazebo, and we wait for Lana, who joins us shortly afterward.

  “Do you have a hairband I can borrow?” I ask her.

  “Sure.”

  Lana hands me one, and I wrestle my hair in a high bun to make my earlier indiscretions a little less obvious.

  Christian’s wife passes a hand over my upper arm. “Did you put sunscreen on? You’re getting pretty red.”

  Oh, perfect. A sunburn would complement my bruised pride like dandelions with daydreams.

  Oh shut up! Now I’m even talking like a doe-eyed, small-town girl with a giant crush on the mayor.

  “I can lend you some of mine,” Lana insists.

  I thank her and have just enough time to apply the lotion before we have to announce the winner.

  By the end of the day, the shore is unrecognizable. Without all the trash and rubble, and after the landscaping team has finished their job, the lake has turned from dump to wonderland—a paradise of wavy sand dunes and deep blue-green water sparkling in the glow of the setting sun.

  Unfortunately, the smell doesn’t match the view. Not yet, at least. Especially not from where I’m standing, close to the dumpster truck. With the last garbage bags loaded, I urge the driver to leave for the landfill.

  To end the event, Lana, I, and the other members of the support staff have to re-collect all the grabbers and safety vests that one of Lana’s affiliate environmental organizations kindly provided for the day.

  Then the temporary white tents have to come down, and, finally, we can leave the restored nature undisturbed for a night until the construction works resume tomorrow. I can already envision the pedestrian pier and the new boating docks on the water. And the kiosk, gazebo, picnic tables on land… this beach is going to become a major attraction in the area.

  At least for as long as the mayor can keep it clean. But I have to commend Travis’s vision. This looks like an entirely different place after today.

  I walk up to Jerry and Celia now, as they help pull down the last temporary gazebo.

  “Celia, I’m heading back to the B&B, are you coming or…”

  She looks up at Jerry and they exchange an almost imperceptible nod.

  “Don’t worry, boss, Jerry will give me a ride later.”

  Mmm, I suspect not. In the past few days, I’ve woken up to texts from Celia saying she was already on set and I needn’t wait for her. My assistant only comes back to sleep at the B&B when we have early appointments in town. And I’m not sure if it’s the day spent in the sun or all the fresh air, but she has a bright glow about her.

  Yeah, a sneaky voice says in my head, ’cause she’s getting some—contrary to you. Or have you forgotten what it looks like to be all sexed up?

  “All right,” I wave at them. “See you later.”

  I bump into Willette next and blush with a mix of heat and embarrassment at the memory of kissing her son.

  “Hey,” I say. “You need a ride back to the ranch?”

  “No, honey, thanks, I came in my truck. I’ll mingle a little more with my friends and meet you back at the house.”

  I say goodbye to Willette and, keeping my head low should another Hunt be in the vicinity, I speed-walk to my truck. Thankfully, it’s the first among a long line of vehicles lining the road to the lake. The sheriff’s department lifted all the parking restrictions for the day, making it easier for volunteers to reach the location.

  Letting out a sigh of relief at not bumping into anyone else, I climb into the truck. I start the engine and pull onto the street without even needing to turn on the navigator. Only a fortnight in town, and I already know my way around Emerald Creek like I’ve lived here my entire life.

  Yeah, because there are only three streets to know.

  Back at the ranch, I feel weird being here alone. Well, if you don’t count the cows, chickens, goats, llamas, and Fluffy, who has officially joined Hildi in my furry fan club.

  I sit on the porch steps and watch the sun set over the paddock where Betsy is grazing grass. My gaze travels the length of the picket fence and to the pretty wildflowers growing at its base in shades of lilac, yellow, and baby blue.

  After a few minutes of contemplating, Fluffy joins me, sitting on the step beside me. Hildi is next. The goat hops up the steps and drops her muzzle in my lap.

  I take my phone out of my bag and snap a selfie that I send to my friends in New York. I caption the picture:

  To Taylor, To Holly

  I had a weird day.

  Holly’s reply comes in first.

  From Holly

  Did you tame a lynx?

  To Taylor, To Holly

  Believe it or not, this is a cat named Fluffy!

  Two seconds later, my screen lights up with an incoming group video call from Taylor.

  I pick up. “Hey.”

  Taylor winks at me. “I see you’re embracing the bucolic lifestyle.”

  “Hi, gals.” Holly picks up next.

  Taylor is calling from her tiny patio with the tall Manhattan skyscrapers in the background, while Holly is sitting on a bench in Central Park, wearing workout clothes. She probably took a break from jogging to answer the call. Both views make me so homesick my eyes sting with tears. I blink in quick succession to fight back the salty water.

  “Why is your hair up?” Holly asks. “It’s never up.”

  “Never is a strong statement.”

  Holly’s eyes narrow. “I smell smoke. Again, why is your hair up?”

  “It got tousled, and this was the only practical solution.”

  “How did it get tousled?” Taylor asks.

  I kept Travis out of our chats for as long as I could. I didn’t want to give the man more importance than he deserved, but after today… I sigh. “The mayor of this awful town tricked me into going for a swim with him in the most beautiful pond at the foot of a waterfall… then he kissed me… and then he informed me we should never do it again because he’s not into casual relationships.”

  Holly mock-fans herself. “That sounds heated. Is the mayor a good kisser?”

  “Unfortunately, yes,” I admit begrudgingly.

  The best I ever had.

  Taylor frowns. “Why is this the first we hear about this mayor? What’s the story?”

  To my chagrin, I bring them up to speed on my two-week acquaintance with Travis Hunt. From his first appearance riding a horse, to the ensuing bare-chest show, the City Hall trap, the head bashing in the shower, and all the other times I bumped into him. The only thing I don’t confess are my quasi-sexy dreams about him.

  Holly’s screen goes suddenly black.

  “Did the line drop?” I ask.

  “No, sorry.” Her voice crackles through the phone’s speakers. “I’m googling Emerald Creek mayor.”

  “Yeah, don’t waste your time,” I say. “The town’s website has no picture.”

  “The official page says the mayor is a Theodore Abraham Hunt,” Holly continues, unperturbed.

  “Yep, that’s him, but everyone calls him Travis. Don’t ask me why.”

  Next, Holly gasps.

  “What?” Taylor and I ask at once.

  “I found a picture of a Theodore Abraham Hunt, who used to work for Goldstein, Caldwell and McDougal. I’m forwarding it to you gals. Is that him?”

  My phone pings with an incoming message and I switch apps. I jerk my knees up and down, waiting for the photo to load, which causes Hildi to raise her muzzle and bleat in protest.

  “Shh.” I pat her on the head and she goes back to sleep.

  The picture finally loads and for a second, it takes my breath away. It’s definitely a portrait of Travis, but younger and with a New Yorker feel about him. His blond-brown hair is swept back in a sleek haircut, he’s wearing a suit probably even more expensive than the ones I saw him wear around town, and he’s smiling at the camera, the image of an ambitious associate.

  “Yep, that’s him all right.”

  I go back to the video call and study my friends’ expressions.

  Holly is chewing on her lower lip while Taylor has both eyebrows raised.

  “So you’re basically dating Harvey Specter and forgot to mention it?”

  “That’s the thing, we’re not dating. The man kissed me and then refused to put out.”

  They both laugh.

  “Not funny,” I say, dropping my elbow onto my knee and placing my chin in my hand.

  Fluffy chooses this moment to bump his head against my cheek and try to crawl into my lap, pushing Hildi out.

  “Aw, look at you, Snow White,” Taylor teases me. “Now you’re only missing a couple of birds perching on your shoulders.”

  “With my luck, they’d take a dump on me.”

  “Jokes aside,” Holly continues. “Do you like the guy?”

  “No, I detest him. I’m just weirdly attracted to him physically. That’s why I wished we’d done it already so I could get it—him—out of my system.”

  Before my friends can comment, a puff of dust from the road downhill warns me of Willette’s imminent return.

  “Shoot, girls,” I say. “I have to go. Travis’s mom is coming home.”

  “And you don’t wish to discuss all the naughty things you want to do to her son in front of her,” Taylor teases me.

  “Shh,” I hiss. “She’s getting out of her truck. We’ll talk later.”

  The last thing I hear as I lower my phone to end the call is Holly yelling, “Keep us posted on this mayor situation—” then I press the red button and the line goes silent.

  “Hello, there.” Willette waves at me. “I see you’ve made friends. Hildi isn’t bothering you anymore?”

  “No.” I pat the goat’s head. “We’ve reached an agreement.”

  Hildi grunts.

  “Good.” Willette gives a nod toward the goat. “She’s a fair judge of character.”

  “I don’t know about that, but—” Hildi pushes her head against my hand. I rub the spot between her horns. “—she seems to have taken a liking to me.”

  Willette’s lips twitch. “Perhaps she isn’t the only one. Did you like the waterfall visit with my son today?”

  I blush tomato red. How does she know about the waterfall? Does she know Travis and I kissed? Did he tell her?

  Her lips curve up into a knowing grin.

  I don’t think Travis told.

  I rub the back of my neck. “It was… interesting.”

  “Potawatomi is the most gorgeous spot in town,” Willette says. “I’m glad Travis showed it to you.”

  “Yes.” I shift my feet. “It was beautiful.”

  “Also refreshing, I imagine.”

  Heat spreads across my cheeks again. I seriously doubt Travis told his mother about our little swim or the kiss, but she seems to know, anyway. Is she a secret witch? She has the goats and the herb garden after all…

  “The best view,” I deflect.

  Willette smiles and takes the first step up the porch. “Well, I’m glad you and Travis are finally getting along, and I hope you won’t hold his fight for our town against him. You have no idea how much it meant to us folks to finally see our beach as clean and beautiful as it was today. We could’ve never done it on our own.”

  “Well, I still don’t appreciate being strong-armed into things.”

  “Aw, well, Travis can get a little naughty sometimes.” Willette winks at me, making me blush again. Then she pivots the subject altogether as if we hadn’t been covertly discussing my involvement with her only child—both personal and professional. “I’m getting dinner started. Care to join me?”

  The last thing I want is to spend more time under Willette’s scrutiny. I clear my throat. “No thanks, I’ll just make myself a salad and eat in my room. I’m exhausted.”

  Willette chuckles. “No wonder Hildi likes you so much. You follow the same diet.”

  I shake off the animals, ignoring their protests, and stand up, wishing Willette a good night. Then, forgetting the salad altogether, I rush up the stairs and go hide in my room.

  I’m in such a hurry for privacy, I almost close the door on Fluffy’s tail. The cat sends me a warning glare before paddling into my room with an offended pout.

  “I didn’t say you could come with me.”

  Fluffy ignores me and jumps onto the bed.

  I collapse onto the mattress next to him, ego bruised and cheeks still heated—I’m not sure if the warmth comes from sheer embarrassment or solar burns. To be on the safe side, I douse my face and arms in after-sun lotion, hoping I haven’t damaged my skin too much today—or my heart, for that matter.

  15

  EVERY GRAY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING

  The next few days are uneventful. I don’t run into Travis, either at the ranch or in town—where I show my face only once to get groceries. I spend most of my time on set, behind the safety of security gates. By the time Friday comes around, I’m close to being back to my normal self. And not just me, the production is back on track as well. All smooth sailing, like Winthrop demanded.

  In my room at the B&B, before going down to breakfast, I scroll through my notes from last night to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything for today’s and tomorrow’s shoots. As I turn the last page and read the schedule for Sunday, my heart sinks. The day after tomorrow is the date of the Dubois County Fair. I’ll need to attend the event since part of my negotiation with the mayor was that he let my crew shoot enough external footage for all of the movie’s carnival-like scenes. Cliff will build a stand at the fair for the wide shots, while all of the close-ups have already been shot back at Lake View Acres.

  On the downside, there’ll be no avoiding the mayor at the fair.

  I close my eyes and sigh. Even if I haven’t seen him all week, thoughts of Travis have been crowding my mind every day from dawn till dusk. Actually, whether I’m asleep and dreaming about him or awake and worrying about the next time we’ll run into each other, he’s been on my mind night and day nonstop. I’ve tried to keep busy and not think about him, but I can’t help it. And now I’m getting anxious at the prospect of seeing him again.

  Oh, for goodness’ sake, be a grownup. I sound like a teenager who wants to skip school after her crush turned her down.

  You’re a tough woman, Samantha Baker. And you’ve held your own against bigger fish.

  Right.

  I stuff my notes in my bag and head down to breakfast, ready to tackle the new day. But as I enter the kitchen, something is off. Instead of bustling around with pots and pans, Willette is seated on a chair with her head in her hands.

  “Willette.” I rush to her side. “Are you okay?”

  Travis’s mother looks up at me with a glazed-over stare while beads of sweat dot her forehead.

  I touch her temple. “Oh my gosh, you’re burning up. Come…” I help her to her feet. “I’ll bring you to your room.”

  Willette’s bedroom is on the ground floor so that she doesn’t have to take the stairs all the time. But even if her room is close, she’s a dead weight to carry, and it takes us forever to reach her bed. When I finally drop her onto it, her head lolls to the side, her lids already half closed.

  Celia didn’t come home last night, so Willette and I are alone.

  “Willette.” I shake her gently. “Is there someone I can call, a doctor?”

  She mumbles something unintelligible.

  Should I give her a Tylenol to reduce the fever? Maybe, but I don’t want to hand out medications to an elderly woman without knowing her medical history.

  Fluffy comes into the room and looks at me interrogatively.

  I pat the foot of the bed. “Come here, keep her company while I decide what to do.”

  There is only one thing to do.

  With a heavy sigh, I exit the bedroom and go back to the kitchen to retrieve my phone from my bag. I don’t have Travis’s personal number. But I know where to find him.

  I search online for the mayor’s office number and dial with a mix of resentment and anticipation.

  “Emerald Creek mayor’s office, good morning. How can I assist you?”

  “Hello, this is Samantha Baker, I need to speak with the mayor urgently, his—”

  Before I can finish the sentence, the secretary cuts me off. “Hold on, please, I’ll see if he’s available.” The line cuts to classical music.

  She put me on hold! I groan in frustration and tap my foot impatiently, waiting for the secretary to come back on the line.

  She keeps me waiting for a minute or so before the line clicks back. “Hello, Miss Baker, the mayor is in a meeting at the moment. Did you want to leave him a message?”

  I grip the phone so hard I’m afraid it might crack. “If this is him playing hard to get again, you can tell him that his mother is burning up with a fever and I don’t know what to do. Should I call an ambulance or a doctor to see her? Please tell the mayor I’ll be waiting here until someone shows up. Have a nice day.”

  I hang up before she can reply.

  I hate not knowing what to do and being powerless to make things better. So I google what to do in case of a high fever. All websites agree the most important and basic thing is to keep the patient hydrated. Fresh water seems like a pretty safe remedy to administer, so I fill a glass and bring it back to Willette’s room.

  She looks like she’d normally be light as a feather, but when her body is a dead weight, she’s heavy to move. With great effort, I manage to shift her to a half-reclining position and make her drink half the glass.