“Why the Lakes? It seems like a long way to come for peace and quiet. Do you have a connection with the place?”

“My grandmother was born in Carlisle, although she moved to the US when she married my grandfather. And to answer your question, the book is set here so that as well as availing myself of the peace and quiet, I’m using it for inspiration.”

“Are you telling me you’ve drowned someone in our lake?”

“Not literally, but in my book? Yes. But I’ve changed the name of the lake, so don’t be concerned about it having an adverse effect on tourism.”

She was about to say that fewer tourists on the roads in the peak summer months wouldn’t be a bad thing, when she spotted Joel striding along the path.

“Ah—there’s Joel, and I need to talk to him about boring plumbing issues. What time can I come back and clean the cabin?”

“Does after two work for you? I plan on going for a walk then.”

She calculated that she could freshen the place and still be in time to pick up Zoe from school. “That’s fine.”

“Great. And if there’s anyone you would like me to turn into a victim just let me know. Always happy to help.”

“Your generosity is noted.”

She was just thinking that he was surprisingly easy to talk to when he gave her a smile of such breathtaking charm that her heart gave a couple of extra beats.

Unsettled by her own reaction, she returned the smile and hurried to meet Joel.

At least her conversation with Brendan Scott had been positive. He wasn’t leaving, and she was relieved about that. It would have been hard on their bottom line if he’d left at this stage of his booking. She ignored the little voice in her head that was telling her there were other, more personal, reasons that she was pleased he was staying.

It was a little bizarre that she had a famous author and a famous actor hiding out at Forest Nest at the same time. What next? Royalty?

She jogged the last few steps to Joel. “Hi. I was just on my way to find you.” She paused to catch her breath and saw his expression. “What’s wrong? You couldn’t fix the leak in Aspen? We’re going to have to rehouse the guests?”

“No.” He put down the box of tools he was carrying. “Nothing like that. I went looking for you—”

“You were my next priority after Brendan Scott. Has something happened?” She’d never seen him so serious, and now she was worried because the last thing she needed was for things to go wrong in peak summer season when they were fully booked.