Page 92 of Peaks and Promises

I glanced down at my Copper Kettle shirt. “I just need a minute to change.”

He tipped his chin again. And there was nothing wrong with it. He wasn’t being a jerk or unfriendly. But even in the close confines of the small kitchen, the distance between us felt like a chasm.

I went to the bedroom to change out of my work clothes, opting for a pink tank top and denim capris. Pulling my hair out of my workday ponytail, I let it fall and gave it a little fluff. Good enough.

When I came out, Reese waited near the door. I followed him into the garage and we got in his SUV and left.

The sky was brilliant blue, and even in the late afternoon, the sun had hours before it would set. It would take some time for me to get used to the long summer days now that I lived farther north.

A gravel lot provided parking for the weekly farmers market. The tires crunched as we entered and Reese found a spot. I didn’t miss the way he surveyed our surroundings. Regardless of the awkward distance between us, his vigilance made me feel safe.

I fell in step with him as we made our way to the stalls. People wandered, many carrying canvas shopping bags filled with produce and other finds. More than a few eyes flicked to Reese. He still garnered attention when we went out, and I wondered how long it would take for the town’s fascination with him to wane.

Glancing around, I looked for Nate and Marlene. Reese walked next to me, but the distance remained—literally. He kept a foot away from me, scanning the market as he went.

A woman with beautiful long red hair smiled at Reese as she passed us. There was no flirtation in her expression, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a twinge of jealousy.

“Roan,” she said with a nod.

“Cara,” Reese replied.

“Roan?” I asked after we’d gone by.

“It’s an alias I use sometimes.”

“And she knows you by your alias because…”

“She was a client.”

“Oh.”

I glanced back and saw a man in a Tilikum Fire Department T-shirt embrace her and bring her in for a kiss. Two little boys with ice cream cones stood next to them. They were a cute family. And obviously I had no reason to be jealous. Even if she’d known Reese for other reasons, he wasn’t mine. Our marriage wasn’t real.

Another woman approached, but this one had silver hair and was dressed in a lavender velour tracksuit with an oversize handbag dangling from her arm. She stopped in her tracks and whipped off her large purple sunglasses.

He stopped. “Aunt Louise?”

I paused while Louise clapped her hands together and clutched them beneath her chin as she approached. She didn’t seem to notice me.

“Reese Haven. I stopped by your folks’ to visit the other day, but no one was home. What a treat it is to see you.”

“Thanks. Nice to see you, too.”

“Listen.” She stepped closer and her voice took on a conspiratorial tone. “I heard you brought a wife home with you, which is just lovely. But a bit of talk reached my ears that the honeymoon is already over. Or maybe there never was one to begin with.”

“What?” He sounded confused.

Louise waved a hand. “Oh, you know how it is. The gossip line and all that. Never can be sure. But if there’s trouble at home, or maybe there isn’t anyone else at home, no need to worry. Your aunt Louise is something of an expert at finding the one for the eligible bachelors in town, if you catch my meaning.”

Reese opened his mouth, but didn’t seem to know what to say. He glanced at me, then back at Louise.

“Aunt Louise, this is…” Hesitating, he sidestepped to get closer to me. “My wife, Summer.”

The words my wife sent a flurry of tingles through me. I moved my hand, thinking Reese would clasp it in his, but he didn’t reach for me.

“Oh my.” Louise pressed her hand to her chest. “I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t realize you were together. I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that my nephew has been gone for such a long time and one hardly knows what to believe. I wasn’t sure if you actually existed or were just a story.”

“You thought I made up the story about having a wife?” Reese asked.