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For Lila, the encounter on the ferry and the details Travis had shared, left her struggling. She saw potential trouble on the face of every stranger. Which was ridiculous. She didn’t have enemies. She didn’t have the stolen items. Common sense and logic had to prevail. The only smart move for the thief was to cut their loss and find a new target. Preferably a target well away from the island.
They’d been out and about all day, with no issues. She hadn’t seen any signs of tension, aside from that short chat with Will. Surely the lack of trouble meant the threat had passed. He didn’t need to stick around and guard her out of some sense of misplaced guilt. It wasn’t his fault stolen goods had landed in the potato bin. And, contrary to his belief, she didn’t fault him for a thief’s decision to follow her and make sure she hadn’t claimed all those items for herself.
She wanted to forget the stolen goods, forget the fears from her past that had reared back up again and upset her stomach. She was over this, hadn’t had a single blemish or misstep since moving in with her grandparents. Letting the past intrude on the present was silly in the extreme.
And yet, here she was, being consumed by the ugly memories.
Travis’s thigh gently bumped hers under the table and she reacted, her hand gliding over his knee before she realized her intention. Her cheeks heated, along with the rest of her. Goodness, she was a wreck.
She wanted to forget the yacht, the crush, the entire mess. And she could. Would. As soon as Travis left. But while he was here, she was stuck lying to the most important person in her life.
Finished with his meal, he sat back and draped his arm across the back of her chair, his thumb painting light strokes on theback of her shoulder. She should’ve known he’d go all in on the boyfriend role. The kiss was her first clue, but even before that, his work ethic had been obvious during their months with Juliet.
The combination of easy touches, smoldering glances, and the way he smelled was pure temptation. She couldn’t have created a more perfect boyfriend if she designed him herself.
And it was obvious to Lila that the wheels were already turning in Gram’s head. Connie liked Travis. Worse, she liked Travis with Lila.
It would hurt her when he left, hurt her more when Lila confessed the elaborate lie.
But that was tomorrow’s problem, she thought as yet another neighbor stopped at the table to speak to Gram and welcome Lila home.
If the thief was close, as Travis suspected, they were sure getting a demonstration on small-town dynamics. She sipped her wine, pondering. Maybe the plan was to show that getting to Lila wouldn’t be easy and the smart decision was to move on.
She’d have to ask him later. When they were alone in the suite.
That would be a good diversion from all the other things she could ask him. Like whether or not more kisses were on offer.
As the neighbor moved on, Travis gave her a little squeeze, drawing her attention. “If I didn’t know better, Connie, I’d say that you set all this up.”
Gram waved that off. “How on earth would I have managed that? This is just how small towns work.”
“You’re trying to scare him off,” Lila said. The gleam in Gram’s eyes disproved that theory, but she’d stick with it.
“Not at all.”
Travis shifted, his leg brushing hers again and her body relished the contact. “My theory is she’s trying to make it obvious that people are watching.”
“And gossiping.” Lila raised her glass in a silent toast. “He’s got you pegged, Gram.”
Connie only chuckled.
Maybe it was the wine, or the hot shivers sizzling under her skin. “I’ve got news for you,” Lila said. “The island grapevine isn’t a deterrent to any of the shenanigans that might happen in a location that isnotunder your roof.”
“Lila!” Gram exclaimed in mock horror. “That doesn’t strike me as polite dinner conversation.” Then she dissolved into laughter. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Hm. I wonder where I got it.” Lila reached for her water glass and changed the subject. “We bumped into Will Frasier today.”
“He looks good, doesn’t he?” Gram leaned close and lowered her voice. “Has a standing order for baked doughnuts once a week. He claims Chief Caldwell doesn’t know the difference.”
“He invited us to a barbecue this weekend so I can meet his wife.”
“She’s lovely,” Gram said. “You’ll be instant friends.”
“You didn’t say anything,” Lila accused.
Gram patted Lila’s hand. “It happened so fast, over the holidays. And he’s so happy.”
“I noticed.”
