got in and did the same, heading to the highway, loving the growl of the engine as he did so.
“Where are we going?”
“The inn, in Skaneateles. Do you remember it?”
“Not really. I know the town, but don’t have any specific memories of the restaurant. Did we go there often?”
“We went to the pub a few times, but not all dressed up like this.”
“Speaking of which, you look great, by the way. I wasn’t sure what to wear. I was so relieved when I saw you were dressed up, too.”
Bo grinned. “Sorry about that. I wondered the same, on the way to the door, if I had overdone it.”
“I’d say we did just fine.”
“Agreed.”
They drove through the winding roads of the countryside between Syracuse and the small Finger Lakes town to the southwest of the city, enjoying the view. Bo drove slowly along the main street by the lake, enjoying the attention the car always drew, but this time, it was eclipsed by the attention Erin drew after he parked and helped her out.
There wasn’t a head that didn’t turn as she strolled down the street, and he tucked her arm into his possessively, letting people know she was absolutely taken.
And then he caught himself, realizing he’d forgotten again that this wasn’t what it seemed to be.
Erin seemed to pick up on his tension, and put her other hand on his arm, facing him.
“Bo? Everything okay?”
He smiled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Yes, sorry. I forgot if I’d locked the car,” he lied smoothly.
She relaxed again, too, as they progressed up the stone steps in the inn and were shown to their table.
It was a reminder that this was a fantasy, but he saw no reason not to completely enjoy it anyway. He ordered some wine and watched Erin as she studied the menu, not wanting to look away, as if she might disappear. As if he was imagining it all.
But when she smiled at him over the top of the card, her eyes bright, he knew it was 100 percent real. As were the very dangerous emotions clutching at his chest.
Their waitress arrived and took their orders, and Bo put the worrisome thoughts away for the evening. Right now, he was here with the most beautiful woman he could imagine, and he wanted to embrace it. Live in the moment, that’s what they always said, right?
This arrangement with Erin was what it was, but that didn’t stop him from having feelings for her—which was why he’d done all of this in the first place. Because he cared. He’d never stopped caring. It didn’t change anything.
“I think I remember walking down by the lake...out on the pier? Something funny happened? We laughed really hard?”
“Yes, that was one day last summer. There was a guy proposing to his girl out there. He wanted to make a big deal, and managed to crawl up on the rail, proposing from there for everyone to hear. When she said yes, he got so excited that he lost his balance and fell in the lake. He was fine, and had to swim the few yards to shore. He was yelling how much he loved her all the way in,” Bo said with a grin, remembering, too.
“Yes,” she said, staring out the nearby window at the water. “I think I remember some of that. A young man.”
“Very. Who was also fined by the local police as soon as he hit the shoreline, but he didn’t really care.”
They laughed, and it lightened the mood. Their wine arrived, and an appetizer, then their entrées. Bo loosened up as they chatted about this and that, nothing having to do with the fire or anything serious.
But then Erin asked, “So, the new job? Do you have any more news?”
“It’s official. I’m heading down the second week of August, and they should have a new investigator ready to take my place here in a week or two. He’s experienced, so it won’t take long to bring him up to speed. We got lucky in that way. I’ll need to go down a week ahead to get an apartment, that kind of thing.”
“You’re excited,” she said with a smile.
“I am. It’s what I’ve been working for all these years. It will be challenging, but I can’t wait, really.”
Her smile faded, and he wanted to kick himself.
“I mean—”
She reached over, covering his hand with hers. “No, I completely get it. And you should be excited. I’m excited for you. This is incredible.”
“Thanks,” he said, letting it drop and turning his hand so that he could rub his thumb over the inside of her palm.
The touch made her eyes darken, the mood shifting quickly between them.
“It might have been presumptuous of me, but I reserved a room upstairs for the night. But we could go home, if you want to,” he said.
Erin wrapped her fingers around his, squeezing. “A room here is a nice idea.”
Bo’s heart picked up speed as he paid the check and took her hand, pulling her to his side.
“I couldn’t agree more.”
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